

Netflix debuted their new series First Kill on June 10 to rave reviews. The series is a queer, teenage, vampire love story that is focused on a vampire named Juliette and a vampire slayer named Calliope. Juliette Fairmont, played by Sarah Catherine Hook, comes from a wealthy vampire family while Calliope “Cal” Burns, played by Imani Lewis, comes from a long line of vampire hunters. The two families’ hatred for one another goes back generations and it all comes to a head when the Burns family moves to Savannah, Georgia and the teenagers attend the same high school. The Netflix series is based on the short story by V.E. Schwab with the same and it is reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet as the main characters fall in love despite their families’ beef with one another.
Imani opened up about the show in an interview with the New York Post. "What makes this story unique is that it’s two queer teenage girls. I don’t think we see enough of that,” she said. “And, their fight isn’t with their sexuality, it’s this lineage that they were both born into. I think it’s interesting that they were both trying to prove themselves in obtaining their first kills, but they end up going on this different journey. I think it’s so awesome how it all plays out."
Get to know the killer cast below:
Imani Lewis aka Calliope “Cal” Burns
Imani’s character Calliope and her family are new to the sleepy town of Savannah, Georgia and while she comes from vampire hunters, she has yet to have her “first kill” (coincidentally, just like Juliette.) The 23-year-old actress, who hails from Queens, NY, explained what drew her to Calliope in the NY Post.
“I resonate with Calliope in so many different ways,” she said. “I tried to perform her from a place of strength, strategy, diligence. Being a young actress in a game where everything is a hustle, I related to her discipline and her hunger to prove that she’s worthy. I resonate with that feeling in the entertainment world. The character goes through these emotional changes. I love her combat, I love her agility, but I enjoyed them both equally when it came for her journey with herself and figuring out who she was.”
Aubin Wise aka Talia Burns
Aubin Wise plays Calliope’s mother, Talia Burns, and she teaches her daughter the ins and outs of being a vampire hunter. In real life, Aubin is a mother to a baby boy named Kai and has acted in several TV shows such as Atlanta. She is also a Broadway actress and has played in the popular Hamilton as two characters Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds.
Aubin recently responded to First Kill fans calling her a MILF. “I’m officially a #MILF love love love this 😌🙌🏾❤️,” she wrote.
Jason Moore aka Jack Burns
Jason Moore plays Jack, who is Talia’s husband and Cal’s father. While Cal and Talia are starting to question who the monsters really are, Jack is old school and believes that it is his mission to take down evil which he believes are the vampires. Just like Aubin, Jason’s background is in theater but he has also acted on TV shows such as the Netflix series The Punisher.
Dominic D. Goodman aka Apollo Burns
Dominic D. Goodman plays Apollo Burns and is one of Cal’s brothers. His character is more of a risk-taker than his brother Theo as he likes to go into battle with the monsters. Dominic revealed in an interview with Elite Daily that he actually performed his stunts. “This was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life, and I've done football, basketball, track and field, military training in college,” he said.
Phillip Mullings Jr. aka Theo Burns
Phillip Mullings Jr.'s character Theo Burns is more level-headed in comparison to his brother Apollo, which is also the opposite of his character Mike Alexander on Tyler Perry’s BET+ series Bruh who is a bit of a player. He doesn’t seem to have that issue in his personal life though. He recently got engaged to his Bruh co-star Alyssa Goss. He recently thanked First Kill fans for showing support for the series and his character. “SPOILER ALERT: if you haven’t finished First Kill… do that before you look at this post,” he wrote “The response from you ALL has been overwhelming in the most beautiful way. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Here are some moments I’ve cherished.”
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Featured image by Courtesy of Netflix
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Have you ever wondered why it seems as if you can never catch a break financially? Or do you find yourself complaining that you're "broke" more times than you would like to admit? I want to let you in on a little secret: your money mindset plays a major role in the overall success of your finances.
Those myths that you keep telling yourself, and believe to be true may be what's holding you back, boo. Most of the time you're thinking these things on a subconscious level and may not even realize the damage that's being done. But once you gain clarity and call out your limiting beliefs for what they are, you'll finally be able to break free and reach new levels financially.
Let's dig into a few myths that have a direct impact on your money and are keeping you BROKE.
1. “Money is the root of all evil.”
Nah, this right here is a straight-up LIE! The truth is this: the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil. When you think that money is the root of all evil, you're limiting yourself from keeping money, as well as receiving more of it. Without even knowing it, you might be scared of going after opportunities that will get you to the money.
Think about it. How can money be evil? Money is simply a resource that we control. Instead of believing and saying that money is the root of all evil, replace it with this supporting belief instead:
"Money is a resource and a means to do good and live well."
2. "I'm broke."
Broke is a mindset, boo. Your financial situation is shaped by how you think about money, which influences how you manage your money. Guess what? If you keep crying that you're broke, you're going to remain that way. All you are doing is reinforcing that limiting belief into the universe and your actions aren't gonna line up with what you need to do in order to get ahead.
It's imperative that you get a grip on this way of thinking and behaving, or else you'll never be able to break the cycle. I challenge you to think more in terms of abundance and believing that you can be wealthy. Are you up for the challenge?
3. "I can afford it."
You say that you can afford that pair of shoes and then turn around and realize that you don't even have enough money for gas the morning after. You can't just look at your checking account balance in the moment and think that everything is all good. Trust me, I've been there. This is where having a clear-cut, written budget comes in handy.
A budget is really just a spending/savings plan. It's a strategic system that lets you know how much money is coming in and going out every month. In reality, a budget can:
- Help you understand your financial situation and whether you can really afford something or not.
- Help you save for the things you want and do more of what you enjoy.
- Help you avoid getting caught short by bills you can't pay.
- Help you escape the paycheck-to-paycheck life.
4. "I deserve to treat myself."
How many "treats" do you need, sis? If you really sit down and keep it 100 with yourself, do you really deserve those so-called treats? Are you taking care of your responsibilities like you should be? Instead of buying things that you don't need (with money you don't have) and labeling them as a "treat," you should be treating yourself by investing in your future and saving some coins.
If you spend all of the money that you earn instead of saving and investing it, you will never create the financial abundance that you do desire to have.
Here's a tip: Try putting both your short-term and long-term savings on auto-pilot so you don't even notice the money that you could be missing. When you don't have to look at it, you aren't tempted by any "excess" that you might have.
5. "I need to make more money and then I'll be better with my finances."
If you can't manage the little that you have now, what makes you think that you're gonna be able to manage more money? The more money you make, the more you're gonna spend if you don't get those habits in check early on. You're going to go right back to complaining about your finances and crying that you're still broke and in need of even more money. You'll never be satisfied. There will never be enough money. Remember, there are former millionaires who are struggling out here in these streets because they wanted to live a "fake fancy" lifestyle and ball out of control.
Start by being content with the income that you currently have and handling it with better care. Learn the ins and outs of sound financial management now, so that when you're finally blessed with more, you'll be able to manage it with ease.
I challenge you to start thinking better, which will ultimately lead to you doing better. It's time to prioritize your finances in a way that you haven't done before if you want to level up this year. It's time to activate your discipline. It's time to finally do something different.
Make the commitment to yourself and decide that absolutely nothing's gonna stand in your way of breaking that broke mentality.
What’s better than being in love? Building an empire while doing it. Watch Making Cents to see how real couples turn their money dreams into money moves.
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Featured image by Shutterstock
Originally published on January 5, 2018