

It's unusual to see an artist who built her career on social media abruptly abandon the scene. PinkPantheress, who prioritizes her mental health over fame, demonstrates the value of using social media for career advancement, as well as how to put it aside for one's mental health. PinkPantheress' origins begin with her getting her big break on TikTok using 2000s music samples, but it is far from the conclusion of the story.
With hits like "Boy's a liar Pt. 2," PinkPantheress is demonstrating that she is a contender in the new music scene two years after her refreshing breakout as she enters the Billboard top 100 and quickly starts releasing albums and EPs. It's about time you heard about the new TikTok sensation, since her lyricism and whisper-like voice will soon be played in more venues than they already have. Check out the six things you should know about the new internet phenomenon, and quickly become a fan.
PinkPantheress’ Real Name & the Meaning Behind Her Stage Name
PinkPantheress is one of several contemporary artists whose stage identities are quite different from their real names. PinkPantheress, whose real name is Victoria Beverly Walker, received her nickname while watching a television show. PinkPantheress' stage name was derived from her TikTok account of the same name, which was motivated by the Pink Panther movie franchise and a game show question from The Chase in the UK.
According to PopSugar, PinkPantheress shared, "When I was picking a TikTok username, which ended up being the catalyst for this whole situation that I seem to find myself in now, I tried to just go for 'pantheress' because I'd heard it in a game show where the question was 'What is a female panther called?' and I was like, 'That's sick.'" PinkPantheress explained, "I tried to have it as my username and it was taken so I just put 'pink' in front of it, because Pink Panther is a great film."
PinkPantheress' Parents & Early Life in England
In 2001, PinkPantheress was born across the pond in Bath, England. The singer, songwriter, and record producer was born to a Kenyan mother who worked as a caregiver and an English father who taught statistics. Eventually, she and her family moved to Kent, England, where she spent most of her adolescence. Afterward, PinkPanthress moved to South London where she started studying film at the University of the Arts London until 2022 when she made the choice to discontinue.
PinkPantheress Likes Her Privacy
PinkPantheress prides herself on maintaining privacy in her personal life. Even her real name wasn't known to admirers until a year ago. Surprisingly, despite her TikTok fame, PinkPantheress' need for attention is still modest. In a 2021 BBC interview, she claimed social media to be "a very crowded place." Later on stating, "I don't feel like I need to overshare and I really do respect my own privacy." The interview, which takes from two years ago, reveals this to still be the case as the new social starlight's interests and personal life still remain little to mostly unknown.
PinkPantheress Credits Green Day and Paramore As Big Musical Influences
PinkPantheress, a self-described pop-punk enthusiast, has mentioned My Chemical Romance as one of her all-time favorite bands, as well as Green Day and Paramore as influences. She adores the songwriting of the well-known emo-punk bands, and in her teenage years, she often covered a number of their songs. In addition to emo music, horror films inspired PinkPantheress' foreboding aesthetic. PinkPantheress demonstrates how well horror can influence art by drawing inspiration for her debut mixtape, To Hell with It, from timeless horror movie posters and 90s cartoons.
PinkPantheress' "New Nostalgia" Sound
PinkPantheress describes her music as "new nostalgia," with strong influences from the music of the 1990s and 2000s. Not to mention that the majority of her compositions were created utilizing samples of other songs from the UK garage, DnB, and pop scenes, which PinkPantheress' ethereal vocals then layered over. She adds her unique spin to each sample by either slowing the music down or adjusting the tone to show a different milieu within an existing sound, even if this does not imply that her tracks lack originality. Because of how different this music is, one can even speculate that this new retro atmosphere may be a separate genre.
The Success of "Boy's a liar Pt. 2"
The idea of a rapper and emo-grunge pop artist seems out of place at first, but with its cool unflappable tone and unabashedly mocking of oneself, it's just right. Over a Jersey dance beat, produced by Mura Masa, Ice Spice gives bars that are funny responses to a partner who turned out not to be worth the effort. Meanwhile, PinkPantheress glides over the track in a hypnotic, breathless melody that will leave you in a trance with a sad realization: boys are liars.
Number 5 on the Billboard, and having reached the highest of 3 thus far, "Boys a liar Pt. 2" is steadily climbing the charts. With only five weeks on the chart, PinkPantheress and Ice Spice have made this conversation between two friends a seamless, contagious bop. Short and sweet, this song will have you uncontrollably dancing in your seat. PinkPantheress provides a remix we hadn't known we needed, but so desperately crave.
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Taysha Robinson is a writer and high school English teacher, based in metro-Atlanta. A self described philomath, you can find her reading books and articles of every genre, attending educational conferences, and hiking wherever the terrain will allow.
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.
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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