For those of you who are college graduates, what I'm about to share may serve as a walk down memory lane. And for those who are about to go (or are currently enrolled), please take it as a bit of a cautionary tale.
Whenever the topic of college, as it specifically relates to sex ever comes up, I usually say that it reminds me of really wack free hotel situation. In most cases, there's barely any dating going on. Typically, you like some guy and he likes you (and I even use "like" loosely), then either after getting tipsy at some party or talking for a couple of hours on the phone, one of you walks over to the other's dorm, has sex and probably doesn't even spend the night.
Lordy, lord. Although I took heed to some wise advice my freshman year (something along the lines of avoid having sex on the yard as much as possible), minus my late fiancé, I had three other partners while I was in school. For one guy, in particular, I walked clear across campus, 80 percent of the time, to get it on with him. Right. He didn't even come pick me up (and yes, he had a car). One of my male besties (to this day)? There was a chick who used to call him and (get this) plead to come over and give him fellatio. Sometimes I'd be in his room and he'd literally say, "OK, but hurry up because I've got plans later." SMDH.
College sex, boy. All that freedom yet oftentimes not enough self-esteem or self-awareness to know what to do with it.
Thankfully, God willing, you start to live a little more life and your standards and expectations begin to shift—greatly so. Now that I am in my mid-40s, I can promise you this: The trash talking, quickie sex and low bars that I used to settle for aren't even a bleep on my radar. My fellow Black sistahs, please hear me and hear me good. Whether you're in your early 20s, my age or older, allow me a moment to share with you the kind of sex you should always expect—with no hesitations or apologies; the kind of qualities that grown women have learned to fully and consistently expect.
Passionate
I'm a passionate person. Unapologetically so. And if there's one thing that was a total non-negotiable back when I was gettin' some (click here to read about where I'm currently at on the sex tip), it's that my partner had to be passionate too. Personally, I prefer a man to be that way across the board, but since we're talking about sex right now—deep kisses, face holding, verbally expressive…intense, erotic and even lust-filled in the sense of having a strong sexual appetite and being extremely enthusiastic (almost as if it's the first time) every time we're together. Whew chile. Grown women know exactly what I talk about. A passionate lover rarely disappoints. That's why this trait tops the list.
Creative
I'm a Gemini and if you know anything about us, you know that a signature trait is we tend to get bored fairly easily; that's why a lot of us are able to thrive and succeed in a creative space. But I think that when it comes to sex, all grown women would agree that a man who approaches it from the headspace of being originative and inspired is the kind of man who not only catches but keeps our attention.
You know what I'm talkin' about. A man who wants to try new positions. A man who initiates exploring the less sought-after erogenous zones. A man who doesn't settle for how good sex was the last time; that's in the past. He is all about outdoing himself the next time. A creative man doesn't have to be the biggest or even the best ever. The mere fact that he constantly seeks to bring something new and sexy to the table makes him a winner in a grown woman's book.
Fulfilling
Back when I was in college, there's a guy that I used to fantasize about all of the time. He was a deep dark chocolate. His body was muscular perfection. His smile was radiant. Oh, that man was fine. Little did I know that he had an interest in me too and so, after about four semesters, we decided to hook up. Unfortunately, what I created in my mind isn't what went down. He was so busy trying to show off all of his tricks that I felt like he was trying to turn me into his handy little contortionist than actually checking to see if I was enjoying the sex or not.
I was in my early 20s at the time, so I didn't stop him to tell him how wack he was. But bae-bay, let a man try that foolishness now and see what happens. I don't care how much a man thinks he knows about sex or has decided in his mind that he's blowing my mind, if I'm not satisfied by the experience, I am not impressed nor appreciative.
Grown women want to be fulfilled. Not once in a while. Constantly. In order for that to happen, a man has to be interested in what we want; not just willing to give what he thinks we will like. Oh, and if he's grown too, he won't want us to fake it to please his ego. If the climaxes ain't real, he'll keep trying until they are.
Emotionally Mature
Emotional maturity is such an attractive trait when it's applied in any room of the house. But the way that it translates into bedroom action is emotionally mature people act responsibly (they use birth control); they are flexible (they're open to exploring new things that they wouldn't normally consider on their own); they are non-judgmental (about their partner's sexual past); they take a realistic approach to things (sex doesn't look like it does in the movies; it takes time to feel and figure your partner out) and they know that there's more to a healthy relationship than off-the-charts sex. Therefore, when they aren't getting everything they want outside of the bedroom, they are (yep) emotionally mature enough to let the sex go.
Reciprocal
"Reciprocal" is such a great word. It means mutual. It means matching. It means equivalent. It means complementary. It means give-and-take. When you have a partner who reciprocates the energy, effort and time that you're putting into sex, it's hard to imagine it not being good. Shoot, better than that. A reciprocating partner is not comfortable with only gettin' theirs. They don't want you to be the only one who initiates, comes up with creative things to do or shows how romantic sex can be. If you take things up a notch, they are gonna try to outdo you in the very best ways possible because the last thing they want you to get out of bed thinking to yourself is, "I can think of at least 10 other things that would've satisfied me more than this guy."
When you're young, sometimes all you care about is size and maybe technique. When you're older, while those factor in, when you're able to find a man who is consumed with familiarizing himself with your body and conforming himself to the point where, as India.Arie once sang in the song "Brown Skin", "I don't know where yours begins, I can't tell where mine ends"—that's when you know you've got a winner regardless.
(Fun fact about size: The most intense nerve endings in our vagina is in the first two inches of its opening and the average size of a man's erect penis is 5". So yeah, focus on the reciprocal more than a man's size. I'm fairly certain that you'll get better sex if you do.)
Consistent
It's no secret that Beverly Hills, 90210 (the original one that is about to premiere somewhat of a reboot soon) was one of my favorite shows back in the day. Sometimes, while I'm writing these articles, I'll catch some of the reruns that still come on. I remember that one time, Kelly was talking about the best kissers she's ever had. She told her friends that, "Colin wins for intensity and Brandon wins for consistency, but nothing is like that night at the cove with Dylan." (Sigh. RIP Luke Perry.) You know what's funny? While some of y'all would take Colin (intensity) or Dylan (most memorable), my ears perked up at Brandon!
Think about it for a sec. Would you prefer a man who makes you climb the walls on your birthday and Christmas or someone who made sure you had at least an 8 (on the orgasm scale of 1-10) climax each and every time?
I've been with men who I had a really great experience with, a couple of times (even though we had sex more than twice). I've also been with men who, I knew what I was getting each and every time, and while it might not be a "Dylan", it was definitely a "Brandon". I was gonna be pleased and it was gonna be good. Maybe not always an A+ night but never ever below a B. NOT. EVER. I am cool with that; especially the older that I get.
Private
For the record, private and sneaky are not the same thing. If you and your partner are sneaking around, it's probably because you have something to hide. Be careful. Although secrets can be quite seductive, sometimes they can come with consequences that you're not totally prepared for. Private, on the other hand, is about wanting certain things to be sacred. It's about not needing to always give a, pardon the pun, blow by blow, even to your closest friends. It's about being totally OK with intimacy being and remaining, well, intimate. It's about enjoying the fact that a part of what makes sex so special is that it's between you and your partner only. If you want to keep it that way, even outside of the bedroom (or wherever you do it), that's OK. Totally.
Grown women? If they are married, the only details you might get is the sly grin on their face whenever their husband's name comes up. If they are single, you might not even know they've been having sex…until after the relationship/situationship is over.
There's no real rhyme or reason really. You just weren't the one they were involved with. Simple as that.
REAL
Why did I decide to end this thing with the word "real"? It's because real things revolve around truth and facts. A grown woman doesn't factor in how she feels about her sex life and her sex partner without taking the truth and facts about the situation into total account. She looks at the truth of what she and he are feeling. She accepts the facts of what comes along with the sex acts that she participates in. She doesn't fake orgasms, she doesn't do what makes her feel uncomfortable and she also doesn't automatically think that just because the sex is great that the relationship is healthy. She even takes in the truth and facts when it comes to how physical intimacy affects the matters of the heart too.
A grown woman knows that real sex is the best sex and she doesn't settle for less.
Just like a grown woman should.
Featured image by Getty Images
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It's kinda wild that, in 2025, my byline will have appeared on this platform for (what?!) seven years. And yeah, when I'm not waxing poetic on here about sex, relationships and then...more sex and relationships, I am working as a certified marriage life coach, helping to birth babies (as a doula) or penning for other places (oftentimes under pen names).
As some of you know, something that I've been "threatening" to do for a few years now is write another book. Welp, October 2024 was the month that I "gave birth" to my third one: 'Inside of Me 2.0: My Story. With a 20-Year Lens'. It's fitting considering I hit a milestone during the same year.
Beyond that, Pumas and lip gloss are still my faves along with sweatshirts and tees that have a pro-Black message on them. I've also started really getting into big ass unique handbags and I'm always gonna have a signature scent that ain't nobody's business but my own.
As far as where to find me, I continue to be MIA on the social media front and I honestly don't know if that will ever change. Still, if you need to hit me up about something *that has nothing to do with pitching on the site (I'm gonna start ignoring those emails because...boundaries)*, hit me up at missnosipho@gmail.com. I'll do what I can. ;)
The Mecca Of Fashion: The Top Street Style Moments At Howard Homecoming
Outfits were planned, bags were packed, and cameras were ready to capture Howard University's collegiate spirit during its centennial Homecoming celebration. Not only does it hold the number one ranking as the most elite Historically Black College and University or its top performing academics, diversity of students and alumni, but the HBCU also leaves a legacy of style and grace.
The essence of effortless poise and refinement shines bright through the iconic university colors of indigo blue, red, and white. Every October, Howard University students, alumni, staff, and friends gather on the prestigious campus in Washington, D.C. to take part in time-honored traditions and events, which is Homecoming. This year's theme, “The Meccaverse,” was a week-long celebration of Howard University’s heritage, including the Homecoming football game and Bison Pep Rally, the Fashion Show, Greek Life Step Show, Homecoming Day of Service, Lavender Reception, and the iconic Yard Fest Concert.
As 2024 marked the 100th anniversary of the Howard Bison trek back to The Mecca and after two years of virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was to be a celebration of a lifetime. We enlisted HU alumnus Sharmaine Harris, a luxury retail buyer, as she revisited her alma mater as eyes on the yard for fashion-forward outfits mixed with personal style and campus pride for the weeklong celebration.
Before we get to the looks, discover how attending Howard University impacted her career in fashion and her day-to-day style:
Credit: Sharmaine and Friends
xoNecole: Describe your personal style. Did attending Howard have any impact on developing it?
Sharmaine: Howard taught me that there’s no such thing as being TOO dressed. There’s always a reason to “put it on” and look presentable, even if it’s just for a day of classes. Standing out was celebrated and encouraged with my peers embracing the opportunity, giving me the confidence to try new styles and trends.
xoNecole: How did Howard shape your career as a luxury buyer?
Sharmaine: I studied Fashion Merchandising, through which I was fortunate to have professors who were very connected to the industry and able to give first-hand accounts of opportunities and what to expect post-college. I was also able to build a network through my peers and other Howard Alum, which has opened doors to endless possibilities both within fashion as well as daily life.
The same confidence instilled in me through my style has also been rooted deeply within me as I step into any role or project I’m faced with throughout my career.
xoNecole: This year marked Howard’s 100th-anniversary Homecoming celebration. Can you describe what the weekend looked and felt like?
Sharmaine: I’ve gone to many Howard Homecomings since graduating, but this year’s 100th anniversary felt like a huge family reunion filled with nothing but love. It was beautiful to see so many Bison return home looking great and radiating joy. It was beautiful!
xoNecole: What makes Howard fashion different from other HBCUs?
Sharmaine: Being that Howard is The Mecca, we have such a diverse population with each individual having their own spin on fashion. Getting dressed is second nature for us, but the layered confidence is our secret ingredient to make any look come together. Through that comfortability to push barriers, we have a legacy of setting trends, as indicated by the many alumni we have in the fashion and entertainment industry.
Keep scrolling for the top street style moments from The Mecca's Homecoming weekend:
Credit: Lacey Gallagher
Credit: Alan Henderson
Credit: JaLynn Davis
Credit: Dylan Davis
Credit: Caleb Smith
Credit: Kendall W.
Credit: Jordyn Finney
Credit: Vanessa Nneoma
Credit: Dr. Mariah Sankey-Thomas
Credit: Caleb MacBruce
Credit: Tiffany Battle
Credit: Teniola
Credit: Ilahi Creary
Credit: Nicolas Ryan Grant
Credit: Dylan Davis
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
Featured image courtesy of Sharmaine Harris
Doechii Decoded: 10 Things You Should Know About The Hip-Hop Powerhouse
Doechii, born Jaylah Hickmon, is a rising star in the music world with a unique flair that sets her apart. Doechii's trajectory shows that she's not just another name in the industry; she's carving out her own space with her creativity, authenticity, and unapologetic style.
Raised in a household that loved music, she began exploring her creative side early on, dabbling in poetry, dance, and theater. By the time she was a teenager, she was already making her own music, writing lyrics, and experimenting with different sounds. Doechii initially shared her songs on YouTube and SoundCloud, steadily building a loyal fan base and refining her artistic identity.
This year the Florida native is leading the ladies in the rap pack with four Grammy nominations — Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Remixed Recording.
In March, Doechii took the pop charts by storm with her track "Alter Ego" featuring JT and Kaytranada. Shortly after, she released one of the year's most refreshing rap projects, Alligator Bites Never Heal. The project stands out as a lyrical tour de force, effortlessly weaving wordplay with raw emotion and vulnerability in a way that few artists of her generation can match.
1.Doechii Has Genre-Bending Style
Doechii is known for blending genres like rap, R&B, and pop with influences from punk, hip-hop, and electronic music. Her sound is distinct and showcases her versatility.
2.Her Viral Beginnings with "Yucky Blucky Fruitcake"
She first gained significant attention in 2020 with the viral success of her song "Yucky Blucky Fruitcake." The track, which features a raw storytelling style, quickly became a hit on TikTok, introducing her to a wider audience.
In a blend of all the emotions—relief, pride, and irritation, Doechii raps "I am a Black girl who beat the statistics," in “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake.” While her vocal nuances and cadences on the song are reminiscent of Nicki Minaj, the unique origin story at its core is all Doechii.
3.Doechii Signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE)
In 2022, Doechii became the first female rapper to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), joining a roster that includes Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Isaiah Rashad. This marked a major milestone in her career.
On October 17, Mr. Morale himself expressed his admiration for Doechii by declaring her the "hardest out" in an Instagram Story post. This post highlighted the cover art of her acclaimed mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, which is a testament to the Florida native's talent. Doechii returned the favor by reposting the IG Story and expressing her gratitude to K. Dot for recognizing her. "Thank you, Dot, you're the greatest," wrote the 26-year-old rapper in response.
4.Performing on Major Platforms
Doechii has performed on major platforms like the BET Awards and MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). Her high-energy performances have captivated audiences, showcasing her charisma and stage presence. Not to mention, she joined Isaiah Rashad at Coachella this year and gave it all the way up as the musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May 2022.
5.Doechii's Hit Singles Like "Crazy" and "Persuasive"
She released the singles "Crazy" and "Persuasive," both of which received critical acclaim. "Persuasive" became a summer anthem, and a remix featuring SZA further elevated the track's popularity.
As of late, “Nissan Altima” and “What It Is” have the girlies in the chokehold.
6.Creative Visuals and Fashion Sense
Her music videos are known for their bold, artistic visuals. Doechii's fashion choices often feature eclectic, avant-garde styles, which add to her artistic identity and set her apart in the music industry. Whether it’s a killer suit, balloon skirt, or custom couture, she’s gonna eat the girls up every time.
7.Doechii Is an Openly Queer Artist
Doechii identifies as queer and often incorporates themes of gender fluidity and sexuality into her music. Her openness about her identity has made her an icon in the LGBTQ+ community.
To commemorate Pride Month this year, the Swamp Princess crafted a heartfelt letter addressing the LGBTQ community, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support. This support empowered her to courageously challenge societal expectations and embrace her authentic self without reservation.
She wrote, “My creative work is heavily influenced by both my Florida roots and the vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Whether I’m working on choreography or undergoing a glamorous transformation, I draw inspiration from my memories of resilience and artistry of drag queens in Ybor City and the energy of ballroom culture in NYC.”
8.Doechii's Inspirations and Influences
Her influences range from Missy Elliott and Nicki Minaj to genre-defying artists like Tyler, The Creator to the greats like Kanye West, Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, and Outkast. Doechii cites their innovation and boldness as key inspirations in shaping her own artistic journey. In an interview with NME, Doechii shared, “These are artists who are the most honest, the most creative, and I’m really inspired by them. They gave me the courage to do what I’m doing right now.”
The rapper continued, “I wrote my first song when I was in the 6th grade. I knew this girl who was a huge Nicki Minaj fan. She put me onto Nicki Minaj and I was immediately hooked and wanted to start a group. I wanted to rap, so I wrote my first song and we did it at a talent show, and we won!”
9.Her Debut EP 'she / her / black bitch'
In 2022, she dropped her EP she / her / black bitch, a powerful project that explores themes of identity, race, and womanhood. The title and content reflect her experience as a Black woman in America, aiming to reclaim and empower.
10.Her Advocacy for Mental Health and Self-Love
Doechii is vocal about mental health, self-love, and the struggles of navigating the music industry as a young artist. She uses her platform to encourage fans to embrace their authentic selves and prioritize their mental well-being.
When sitting down with Netflix and Baby Tate for a roundtable discussion, Doechii shared, “Same as Tate, I recognize my shadow self and my demons as something that I work with. Now I kinda tell them what to do and we really cool now. If anything, I used to be really ashamed like, why do I even have a dark side? … Then I realized that my shadow side and my demons can actually help me see myself in a more human way. I kinda forgave myself, and them, and now we work together. We cool but not too much."
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Featured image via Giphy