
The Perfect Smile: 4 Influencers Give The 411 On Having Veneers

You know what they say, a smile is the prettiest thing a girl can wear. Bronx rapper and Billboard Hot 100 artist Cardi B gave many of us the much-needed plug for the perfect smile, thanks to a couple of bars she laid down in the summer 17 hit “Bodak Yellow". Now infamous, the lyrics were, “Got a bag and fixed my teeth/Hope you h-es know it ain't cheap."
bodak yellow GIF by Cardi BGiphy
And veneers ain't cheap, but most could argue that the investment is well worth the price tag. Porcelain veneers, which are a thin custom piece of porcelain used to re-create the natural look of teeth, typically range from $600-$2,500 per tooth. They can last up to 15-20 years with normal wear and tear.
Aside from Cardi, some of your favorite celebs and beauty vloggers in the game have opted to have veneers and many have shared their experience, highlighting things from the importance of commitment, all the way to scheduling an appointment, and the details in between.
The Veneer Process & How It Works
“Think of repainting a wall with a superior paint – you must sand, apply a primer and apply the coat of paint," Illinois dentist Dr. Karen Fields-Lever explains. “The process includes removing a small layer of the tooth in preparation for placement. An impression is taken for the lab where the veneer is constructed to fit the existing tooth. The veneer is then bonded to the tooth with a cement agent. Think of a fake fingernail, but with longer-lasting results!"
A few celebs and vloggers have revealed why they opted for porcelain veneers to achieve the perfect smile versus other inexpensive options such as Invisalign and braces. Keep reading to see what they had to say:
MakeupShayla
“I was insecure about my teeth. My teeth were crooked and yellow. Because my skin tone is darker, they didn't look as yellow, but I also couldn't bleach them because I had calcium deposits. I just had a lot of issues with my teeth. Originally, I was going to do Invisalign, but the doctor said too many things were wrong and Invisalign probably wouldn't be able to fix it, so I got my veneers. I have the top 11 teeth done and now it's like I can smile with confidence." - MakeupShayla via YouTube
MakeupShayla's before and after photo of her veneer process
Here's a quick clip from dentist, Dr. Sam Salah on MakeupShayla's veneer treatment:
MsVaughnTV
“The reason I landed on the veneer procedure versus any other procedure was because it was the best fit for me. When I was talking to the first dentist on ways to close the gaps in my teeth, he gave me all the aesthetic options. One of them was Invisalign. Invisalign is going to realign your teeth by pushing them together over a period of time. I was not a candidate for that because my teeth weren't just spaced, they were actually smaller than normal teeth. It was a hereditary thing passed down to me from my Dad's mother."What's funny is that those teeth skipped my Dad and came to me, so he has perfect teeth. I definitely wanted my smile to be like his. It wasn't like 'oh I hate my teeth' and I lived this life of self-hate. I just wanted to improve the aesthetic of my smile and that was pretty much it. I don't feel more beautiful than I felt before, I just feel like my teeth look a little bit better. Aint nothing wrong with that." - MsVaughnTV via YouTube
MsVaughnTV before and after photo of her veneer process
Cardi B
Cardi B endured insults for years on her teeth. After being thrusted into the spotlight, receiving even more ridicule from the industry, she got the bag and fixed her teeth.
“If you don't feel comfortable and you're tired of people talking about you, then go and fix it. It's alright to fix it. And why not go to the best? I personally recommend Dr. Catrise. Not only did practically half of Hollywood get their mouth done by her, but you come by the office and see who. A lot of artists actually recommended me to get my teeth fixed with her. She's truly the best." – Cardi B via YouTube
Amrezy
“My old teeth were obviously horrendous. I remember when I first got them done, how many people I blocked because when I first posted the photo they were like 'omg you look like a horse.' Lowkey, I knew I looked like a horse, but I didn't want to admit it because obviously, I had just spent so much money on getting them done. The last thing I wanted to hear was an insult. Even though they were right, that was the last thing I wanted to hear. My new teeth aren't as white as the previous ones. My old veneers were a part of the bleach shades, so I picked the lightest shade in the history of mankind."I don't know why and like I said before I didn't do my proper research the first time around and I made every kind of mistake I could have made. I picked the wrong dentist and I picked the wrong shade. The reason why these now look natural was the shape, my gums look natural, and the shade is part of the human shades and not the bleached shades. I'm actually happy that they aren't as white as before because the first thing you would notice when I opened my mouth were my teeth. They were glowing and not in a good way. So I definitely made every smart decision this time and my dentist was absolutely amazing." – Amrezy via Snapchat
Amrezy before and after photo of her veneer process
According to Dr. Fields-Lever, the best candidates for veneers tend to have abnormally spaced, stained, or chipped teeth. Others choose veneers simply to improve the aesthetic of their smile.
Now that you've been armed with some first-hand experiences to sink your teeth into, talk to me. For those who already have a set of veneers, what was your experience like?
And for those of you considering, what are your thoughts on the look and why do you want to have the procedure done?
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'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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This Is What It Really Means To Heal Your Relationship With Money
Riddle me this: If money were your partner, what kind of relationship would you be in?
Would the relationship be one that's supportive and secure? Would it be built on things like trust and mutual respect? Or would it be more like a rollercoaster, varying between hot and cold, stressful, ridden with anxiety and insecurity? For a lot of us, the parallels might be parallel-ing, as the relationship we have with money mirrors some of the same unhealthy patterns we’ve had in romantic ones: fear of abandonment, emotional avoidance, lack of boundaries, or the belief that we have to earn our rest, ease, or abundance.
Now, I've read enough of The Psychology of Money to know that our relationship with money is an emotional one. So, it's not just about what you make or how you spend, it's about how money makes you feel. And like any relationship in your life, if you're not paying attention to the emotional patterns controlling your reality, money can quickly become a source of shame, anxiety, stress, or self-sabotage. This is why healing your relationship with money has to start within.
That's something Sasha Suresh knows firsthand. As the founder of Jolii Cosmetics and Full Ritúal, an award-winning wellness brand, she’s built a 7-figure business rooted in soulful alignment, intention, and yes, financial abundance. But it didn’t begin there. Now through her 1:1 coaching and signature course The Million Mastery Method, Sasha teaches women how to rewrite their money stories, shift out of survival mode, and reclaim their power.
“There have been key moments when I realized that money wasn’t just about numbers,” she shares. “It was deeply connected to how I saw myself.”
For Sasha, that turning point was recognizing how financial anxiety was showing up as a mismatch between the value she created and what she believed she deserved to receive. “I also saw that the more money I made, the more fear I had about losing it all and the need to be wanting more and more. This recognition marked the beginning of my journey to heal and redefine my relationship with money because money is essentially just energy and should be viewed as just that. Money is the means for us to do other things and it is not the end all be all.”
Unpacking What's Holding You Back
A lot of us are carrying hidden beliefs about money we don’t even realize we’re repeating. These money beliefs might sound like:
- “Money is hard to come by.”
- “More money means more problems”
- “I’m not good with money.”
- “I'll be paying back this debt forever.”
- “I’ll never make more money.”
And while some of those beliefs may seem harmless or even rational depending on your financial situation, Sasha explains these are signs of unhealed money wounds. “There are so many signs indicating an unhealthy relationship with money and most of the time these go unnoticed because we’re so conditioned to see them as the norm and they’re a part of us,” she says. “I used to have major financial anxiety where even small financial decisions would cause me stress or I would be swiping my cards like there was no end to it. There was no in-between. My financial decisions were dependent on my emotions which can be very detrimental in the long run.”
She continues, “The tendency to undercharge for your services or accept a lower pay than what you truly deserve is a sign that your inner narrative about worth is still catching up with your actual value. And the most common of all might be avoidance – steering clear of detailed money management because it brings up old, unresolved feelings.”
At the root of it all? An unhealthy relationship with money and a nervous system that had learned to equate money with fear.
Where It All Begins
Oftentimes, our relationship with money is shaped long before we ever earn our first paycheck. In fact, our relationship with money tends to mirror what we saw while growing up from our parents or what we've experienced through societal conditioning. “If you grew up in a home where money was a source of stress or secrecy, you might carry invisible beliefs like ‘I need to suffer before I can succeed’ or ‘My value is tied to how much I earn,’” Sasha says.
She notes that many of us have internalized the idea that wealth must come through sacrifice, hustle, or even through compromising our morals. In some communities and cultures, money can even be viewed as a source of corruption.
“This conditioning often leads to cycles of overworking, guilt when money flows effortlessly, or self-sabotage to return to the 'comfort' of scarcity. We’re taught that success must be earned through hardship, so you might dismiss opportunities that feel joyful or aligned as 'not real work,'” she explains. “These narratives can create subconscious resistance to abundance, where earning more triggers guilt rather than celebration.”
Healing Your Money Wounds
Healing your relationship with money isn’t about making dramatic shifts overnight. It's about becoming aware of your wounds, knowledgeable of your patterns, and living a life more aligned with a different belief system that is rooted in feeling worthy, feeling safe, and allowing flow.
Below, Sasha shares some of the most common money blocks she sees in her coaching work, and how to begin healing them:
1. Scarcity Thinking
One of the biggest blocks to abundance is the belief that "there's never enough." A scarcity mindset creates a loop of anxiety that leads to clinging to every dollar like it's your last, rejecting opportunities even when there's alignment, or constantly feeling like you're behind in life even though you're right on time. “Your scarcity script writes your reality,” she explains. “If you narrate limitations, your world shrinks to match exactly that.”
She encourages shifting this mindset by asking yourself: What if I acted like abundance is already here? Making aligned decisions from that place can be transformative.
2. Fear of Success or Rejection
Sometimes, the fear isn’t about failing, it’s about what might happen if you succeed. You may wonder if more money will change how others perceive you, or worry that you’ll lose yourself in the process. “This fear often manifests as procrastination, undercharging, or downplaying wins,” she says. A helpful shift is to start celebrating through what Sasha calls “micro-victories.” “Each celebration rewires your nervous system to associate success with safety, not threat.”
3. Undervaluing Yourself
If you constantly discount your services or avoid negotiating your worth, that’s usually tied to deeper beliefs around not being deserving. “If you don’t feel deserving, you’ll leak wealth everywhere—discounting services, tolerating underpayment, or avoiding negotiations,” Sasha echoes.
“Your self-image becomes your financial ceiling,” she explains. She recommends tuning into where your resistance is coming from. Try writing “I am worthy of abundance” ten times slowly, really feeling each word. Notice what emotions or discomfort come up. That’s where your work begins. As Sasha says, this is where your inner narrative about worth can catch up to your actual value.
4. Emotional Avoidance
If you're prone to avoiding money altogether, i.e. skipping bills, ignoring your budget, avoiding your bank account balance, or pushing off conversations about finances altogether, these could be signs of deeper unresolved feelings or shame.
To begin healing, Sasha suggests starting small and approaching money from a place of compassion rather than resentment. Acknowledging your finances through intentional money management, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day, is a powerful first step toward creating a better relationship with money.
How Healing Your Money Mindset Creates Space for Growth
Healing your relationship with money doesn’t just change how you manage it, it changes how you show up. Sasha knows this shift well. As a wellness founder and the creator of the Million Mastery Method, her business began to grow in new ways when she did the internal work around her money story.
“When you begin to see money as a tool rather than a source of anxiety, your decision-making improves. This is exactly what happened for me in my business – as I shed my limiting beliefs around money, I became more authentic in my interactions with clients and partners,” she says. That clarity translated to more ease, more aligned clients, and more income, without the burnout or over-giving she once defaulted to.
“When you’re not battling internal money anxieties, you have more mental and emotional energy to dedicate to creative and strategic endeavors. This increased focus opened so many doors for me without me chasing them,” Sasha explains. “With a healed money mindset, setbacks become lessons rather than confirmations of scarcity. You’re more resilient and adaptive, which is essential for long-term business success. Your business starts to feel like an authentic extension of who you are, leading to a deeper sense of fulfillment and sustainable growth.”
So, Where Do You Begin?
According to Sasha, the first step in healing your relationship with money doesn’t begin in your bank account, it starts in your body. It's about shifting the way you feel about money before you ever shift the actual numbers. “Start by envisioning and feeling what financial abundance looks and feels like, and let that inner truth lead you in making decisions,” she says. That vision can be as simple as imagining yourself feeling safe while checking your bank account, confidently setting your rates for your services, or tipping without hesitation.
These small but powerful acts create new emotional pathways that support the idea that money is not something to fear, instead it’s something you can trust yourself to handle. “When you align your inner world with the abundance you desire, every single aspect of your life changes,” Sasha explains. “From the way you price your services to the opportunities you attract.”
Anything worth having doesn't come easy, and that goes double when it comes to inner alignment and getting your relationship with your money right. Sasha is honest about this and the discomfort that sometimes arises as we heal, our money wounds included. “Things will get uncomfortable and may not come to you naturally,” she says, “but just know that getting to the other side of your fear, self-sabotage, and anxiety means you’ve reached your desired state—which is a state of ease, flow, and abundance.”
That’s what financial healing really is: a reclamation of your sense of safety, your self-worth, and self-trust. It’s a recommitment to self-belief. When you start showing up as the version of yourself who believes she is worthy of wealth, aligned decisions and opportunities begin to follow. You no longer have to force abundance, it starts to meet you where you are because you already are.
“Embrace this inner transformation,” Sasha encourages, “and you'll find that financial healing becomes a natural extension of your newfound self-belief.”
Money, after all, isn’t inherently good or bad. “It’s energy that reflects your boundaries, your self-worth, and your vision,” she reminds us. “You don’t have to choose between wealth and integrity. When you align money with your mission, you step into your power.”
Love is cute and all, but building an empire together? That’s the real flex. Tap into our new series Making Cents to see what financial compatibility really looks like when love and legacy go hand in hand.
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