Tis the season to buy Black! Welcome to our ElevateHer Shop powered by SheaMoisture. Browse through this specially curated collection of 100-Black woman-owned gifts to shop this holiday season. You’ll find that something special for anyone on your shopping list. And don’t be afraid to treat yourself too, sis! These fly finds are unique, well-made, and will leave you feeling merry and bright.
Thanks to ElevateHer’s holiday partnership with SheaMoisture, we’re able to amplify Black woman entrepreneurs better than ever. Giving back is at the heart and soul of the SheaMoisture brand, as proven by their Community Commerce business model designed to create opportunities for women and minority-led businesses through investment funds and mentorship. This year, we’re proud to share the ElevateHer stage with a few trailblazing members of The Shea List, a growing community of Black Entrepreneurs backed by SheaMoisture that are taking their industries by storm.
Shop with us. Read with us. Get inspired with us. And most importantly, Elevate with us!
'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!
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image screenshot/ xoNecole YouTube
Gabrielle Union Reflects On Past 50/50 Comment: 'It's A Trauma Response'
Gabrielle Union has changed her views about splitting finances with husband Dwyane Wade. It all started in May 2023 when the Being Mary Janeactress shared with Bloomberg Originals that she and the NBA legend split everything equally, including the mortgage.
Later, Dwyane sat down with Shannon Sharpe on his Club Shay Shay podcast and revealed that it was actually his wife Gabrielle Union’s idea to split their mortgage payments 50/50. Gabrielle's comments sparked a swift backlash. Now, fast forward to today, the Bring It On star reflected on her past comments and the events that led to this recent revelation.
Speaking with Les Alfred on her Balanced Black Girl podcast, the mother of one said, "“I famously said, ’50/50 or bust,’ right? And I meant that financially, spiritually, and emotionally.”
She added, “There’s just a lot of days that I have 10% and I need him to be 90%. There’s days that I don’t have sh-t and I need him to be 100%. It’s a trauma response and 50/50 is, ‘I’m not going to be vulnerable enough to trust you with 100% of anything. Not my heart, not my cash.’”
The trauma response, she said, is due to a sexual assault she experienced in college. While working on Octavia Spencer's Apple TV series, Truth Be Told, Gabrielle revealed that the feelings surrounding her assault resurfaced. However, it made her have a vulnerable conversation with Dwyane about their finances.
“I had such anxiety. Like, I was crying, I was shaking. And he was like ‘you insisted on that.’ He’s like ‘I thought it made you feel better.’ I was like ‘it did and right now I want to take it back,’” she said.
“Now it sounds crazy to be like, ‘you Mr. NBA superstar who made a bazillion more amount of money than I do can pay the mortgage.’ Because I hate the feeling of releasing that to someone.”
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Amy Sussman/Getty Images