

Whether she's a petty professor educating students on the art of being petty, your ride or die best friend helping you spy on yet another ex-boyfriend, or Starter Pack's Ayana Martin trying to figure out adulting like the rest of us, Jasmine Luv's hilarious comedy is sure to leave you in tears.
With her natural comedic gift paired with her relatable content, it wasn't long before Jasmine Luv gained a following and unknowingly launched her career in entertainment. While she always knew she had a great sense of humor, she never thought this would actually be a career she'd end up pursuing, taking it upon herself to create content by and for women, being the voice we all needed. What some might not know is that at the height of becoming a Vine sensation, she was working as an accountant before discovering her true calling.
So she did, and never looked back!
Now just two years later, the multi-hyphenate has since garnered over 1 million followers on Instagram, received accolades as an "It Girl" on the BET Social Awards, was named one of the "top online influencers" by VH1, and is currently the leading lady in AT&T/Hello Lab's new show Starter Pack.
Stepping out of her comfort zone, believing in herself, and following the gift God has given her, changed her life and career as she once knew it to be. Jasmine Luv's rising career is proof that success does come from following your dreams, you just have to be brave enough to take a leap.
Here's her story:
Who is Jasmine Luv?
Jasmine Luv is a funny, witty, down to earth girl who ultimately just loves to make people laugh and have a great time. I love to be positive and give out positive energy. I'm just an all-around positive girl who wants to make an impact in a positive way.
Was comedy and acting your childhood dream or was it something that just happened for you?
So it's funny, I've always been that funny friend, like the clown in my friend group but NEVER would I have imagined that I would be doing this for millions of people.
I went to school and got my Masters in Accounting. After school, I found an accountant job and I realized I just wasn't happy there. I liked what I did but I didn't LOVE it, so I just started making videos on Vine. Back when Vine was popular, I would see nothing but men on Vine doing funny videos. At the time I was just like, "Ok, wait, hold on, there's nothing that I can relate to for women." I knew personally that I was going through a lot of situations at the time, you know from petty bestfriends, or crazy relationships (laughs). So from there, I just started to go home after work, get in front of the camera, write my sketches out, film them, and put it out there. It then started to grow a fanbase and from there, I was just like, "Wow I really enjoy this, this is something I really LOVE," so in 2016 I decided to quit my accounting job to move out to L.A to pursue entertainment and grow as an entertainer.
Take me back to the early stages of your career, what was the grind to break into the industry like for you?
I moved out here in July of 2016 off of a brand deal that I was offered. It was a year worth of monthly deals, so in my head I was like, "Ok great, this is the money that I'll be able to pay my rent with and it should be no problem." I always tell this story because it's crazy (laughs). It was in July, I had went and got my nails done, and mind you the nails out here are ridiculous compared to South Carolina - it's on a whole different level. So, I had already spent like $100 on nails, just to go to my car and get this email. The email read, "Thank you so much for understanding, however this brand deal contract is voided because we ran out of money." I was like, "How in the world do you do that?" They obviously had some trouble that they weren't telling a lot of influencers so, just like that, the contract was done. I was so nervous because that's what I came out to L.A on.
So the first couple of months in L.A were definitely rough but I learned a lot out here; I started to grow [as an entertainer] and things eventually started to get better. I feel like everyone goes through that out here. You have those rough few months but eventually it gets better.
How has social media impacted your career?
Social media definitely helped me, and not even ways that are financial but it taught me more about myself and what I loved. Like I said at first I thought it was accounting that I loved, and then I realized something totally different. It was just like, "Wow, I enjoy writing, I enjoy producing and directing." Social media taught me more about myself.
"Social media taught me more about myself."
What advice would you have for others looking to use social media to build their careers?
For other people who want to get into digital and social media, I always tell people you have to love it! It's not something where you're just like, "Oh, I want to be Instagram famous," or "Oh, I want to make money." You have to love it because people see that. It comes through your videos and it comes through your message.
Secondly, you have to be patient! A lot of people want to put that video out in hopes it's going to go crazy and when it doesn't happen, they get discouraged. Don't get discouraged just keep doing it and putting it out there. If you love it, people will see it and it will eventually grow. So, [I'd say] patience and doing what you love - mainly those two things. If you love what you do and are patient with it, it will eventually take you to where you want to be.
"If you love what you do and are patient with it, it will eventually take you to where you want to be."
To keep up with Jasmine and her rising career in comedy be sure to follow her @Luv_jjp. Also catch her as the hilarious leading lady, Ayana Martin on AT&T/Hello Lab's new show Starter Pack.
*Some responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Featured photo by @snapagogo
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Ashley McDonough is a writer and producer in New York City. When she's not busy writing or producing culturally conscious content, she is patiently waiting for Oprah and Stedman to adopt her. Keep up with her journey via social @Ashley_Milani or check out her work on www.AshleyMcDonough.org.
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Does hearing the phrase, “you’re such a good girl,” during sex turn you on? If so, you might have a “praise kink.” When I hear the term praise kink, the church girl in me wants to immediately play “The Lady, Her Lover and Lord” while riding reverse cowgirl. But that’s not what is meant by the term praise kink.
A “praise kink” is a sexual fetish that focuses on overt praise, exaggerated compliments, and an outpouring of verbal affection.
What Is a Praise Kink?
The concept of praise kinks isn't new, but thanks to TikTok, a lot of people are now realizing they might identify as praise kinksters. Currently, the hashtag #praisek1nk is trending with 568.9 million views, with tons of creators posting about their love for compliments and words of affirmation during sex. I, too, love a good compliment during sex. I once had a lover sing my praises about how good I was at a certain bedroom activity. His affirmations gave me WAP, but does that categorize me as having a praise kink?
How To Know if You Have a Praise Kink
Just because you love receiving praise doesn’t mean you have a praise kink. Someone with a praise kink experiences an intense level of sexual excitement from being praised or verbally affirmed by their partner during sex. You might have a praise kink if hearing your partner tell you how pretty you are makes you cum or if the thing that makes sex go from good to great is hearing your partner's thoughts about how good you are at giving head. And if, during solo play, the thing that gets you all hot and bothered is recalling the times your partner called you a good girl, it’s probably a praise kink.
Generally, a kink is a sexual activity that is needed for someone to enjoy sex. When it comes specifically to praise kinks, if you need reassurance from your partner that you're sexy, or good in bed in order to orgasm, you have a praise kink.
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Examples of Praise Kink Phrases To Try With Your Partner
If you’re new to the term and looking to explore, you probably have questions about what phrases to use. It may take a lot of communication and some trial and error to figure out what phrases work best for you and your partner. Ultimately, the best phrases to use vary from person to person and are based on what sex acts you and your partner enjoy, or what parts of their body they like complimented.
To get you started, here are some generic praise kink examples to try out with your partner:
Praise Kink Examples:
- You're such a good girl/boy.
- You're so good at [insert skill].
- You look so hot when you [insert activity].
- Your [insert body part] is irresistible.
- You taste so good. I can't get enough of you.
- You just have the perfect [body part].
- Just like that… you’re doing so good.
- Who taught you how to be so good at [something?]
While many examples of praise kink involve specific verbal affirmations, praise can also come in the form of brief words or phrases like “yes,” “keep going,” or simply a moan. No matter what type you prefer, praise kink is all about finding what feels good and exciting, and turns you and your partner on the most.
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Originally published on November 4, 2022