You don't have to have any degrees to be a business owner but you have to have a degree to work for one. Let that sink in for a minute.
I'm a third-generation college student, so I am an avid believer in getting an education, but there was something about that quote that truly hit me in my spirit. After graduating from a four-year school and finding myself folding panties for $7 an hour, I just knew there had to be more to life than going to work and paying bills.
Gifts are called gifts for a reason, and there's no better time to use them than the present. When you use the term "side hustle", most people's minds automatically gravitate toward the idea of working for a rideshare or delivery service, but I challenge you to adopt a new mentality when you consider the art of getting your side hustle on. Instead of looking for a part-time job as a source of passive income, create one.
When sh*t hits the fan, nobody has your back like you do, so do yourself a favor and secure a supplemental bag by starting your own business in an untapped market. Get ready to say goodbye to your days as an Uber driver by adopting one of the ten lucrative side hustles listed below:
Start A Drop Shipping Company
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Before you say, "Well I don't have any money to start my own business," peep the power of drop shipping, sis. This option allows you to start your own e-commerce company with very little investment capital.
While you may struggle initially with low margins and shipping errors, a drop shipping business allows you to earn a passive income by setting up an online business and selling products to consumers through a third-party manufacturer. Companies like Shopify make this process easy and with the right business strategy, very effective.
Affiliate Marketing 101
If you have a blog or website that generates a substantial amount of traffic, affiliate marketing can be the side hustle you didn't know you needed.
This marketing method will allow you to generate a passive income simply by plugging a product on your media outlet. With affiliate marketing, every time a customer buys that product by using the link on your site, you'll receive a small portion of that sale.
Sell Art On Etsy
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While arts/crafts can be one of the most difficult side hustles, it can also be one of the most fulfilling. Customers like me are always looking for one-of-a-kind black art to purchase, so why shouldn't it be yours?
Etsy is perfect for the eclectic creative who isn't quite ready to quit their 9-to-5 just yet but may be looking to grow their online brand in the meantime.
Produce An E-Book
Monetize your knowledge by writing an e-book or teaching an online course on a site like Skillshare. The best part about your gift is, no one can do it quite like you. Share your knowledge and grow your online presence by compiling what you know into an easily comprehensible informational guide.
Social Media Management
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If you can schedule posts, create content, and analyze insights, you can jumpstart your social media-centric side hustle ASAP. Companies like Freelancer and Upwork often post opportunities with small businesses in your area that could seriously use your expertise.
Help Job-Seekers Write Their Resumes
Anyone who's ever had to write a resume knows that it's no easy task, but you've never been one to take the easy route, have you? Do a good deed for the day and earn some extra cash on the side by lending your imagination to some potential job-seekers. Sites like LinkedIn and Fivver are full of potential clients who are ready for you to make all of their career-related dreams come true.
Become A Virtual Thrift Store
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It's a fact that most of the stuff you have in your closet, you don't need, but luckily, your next trip to the thrift store is an amazing opportunity to launch an online business.
As we all know, shops like Goodwill and Buffalo Exchange have plenty of uncovered gems. Develop a full-scale business around selling used books, clothes, and decor by creating your own marketplace on social media or Amazon and with sites like Depop, Poshmark, or even Etsy.
Try Being A Personal Chef
Put some of grandma's most classic recipes to the test by becoming a personal chef. Helping others meal plan or even launching your own catering service can serve as a pretty excellent use of the flick of your wrist. Cooking for your cousin's baby shower may seem like a small gig now, but it could be the first step in a life-long career in the culinary industry.
Sit Your Way Into Securing A Bag
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Dogs, houses, and kids can be a girl's best friend when it comes to earning passive income. Sites like Care.com and apps like Rover offer a number of care-taking opportunities at pretty fair rates. While these jobs don't require a degree, more lucrative gigs can become available with certain licenses and certifications.
Teach A Language
Who knew that your 3rd-grade Spanish class could offer you the opportunity to become your own boss? There are people all over the world looking for language tutors, and sharing your bilingualism on sites like Upwork and Freelancer could potentially earn you a few coins.
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The show is exactly what you’d expect when you put a media pro and a sports legend together—a mix of real talk, unfiltered moments, and guest interviews that feel like family kickbacks. As the duo wraps up their first season, Rocsi sat down with xoNecole to talk about teaming up with Deion, the wildest moments on set, and why streaming platforms like Tubi are shaking up the talk show world.
Scoring the Gig & Clicking Instantly with Deion
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence
Deion Sanders had been dreaming of hosting a talk show, and when Tubi came calling, it was only right he made it happen. But before he found the perfect co-host, he held auditions with different women for the spot.
Lucky for us, Rocsi threw her hat in the ring, and the connection was instant. “You just can’t buy chemistry like we have,” she tells us. “We are legit like big brother, little sister—fighting, cracking jokes, telling each other off. When you watch the show, it’s like watching family.”
Mixing News, Culture & Sports—Minus the Snooze
With We Got Time Today, Rocsi and Deion cover everything from the latest headlines to celebrity tea and, of course, sports. But instead of stiff, rehearsed segments, the show keeps it loose and unpredictable.
“We’re not breaking the mold—it’s not rocket science,” Rocsi jokes. “We just bring our own flair, our authenticity, and our personalities to it. Deion has firsthand experience in sports, so when we talk about athletes, he brings a different perspective.”
And the best part? Unlike traditional talk shows that rush through quick interviews, We Got Time Today actually takes its time. “A lot of shows might give you one or two segments with a guest,” Rocsi says. “With us, we actually sit down and have real-life conversations.”
Her Top Guests (So Far!)
From music icons to relationship experts, the show has already had some unforgettable guests—but a few stand out for Rocsi.
“Ice Cube was our first guest, and he’s just legendary,” she says. “Kirk Franklin had us cracking up when he broke into a full choir freestyle for our Christmas special. And anytime we get Dr. Bryant on to put Deion in the hot seat? That’s my favorite!”
And of course, there’s Nick Cannon. “Nick was amazing,” she adds. “You already know he’s going to bring the energy and say something wild.”
Tag-Team Hosting with Deion: The Inside Scoop
While Deion Sanders is best known for his football greatness, Rocsi says he’s also one of the funniest people she’s ever worked with.
“He’s goofy—like, really goofy,” she laughs. “A lot of people didn’t know that side of him, but now they do. He can crack a joke, and if you’re too sensitive, good luck, because he will go in. But the best part? I throw it right back at him! Sometimes we just look at each other like, ‘Okay, that was a good one.’”
But beyond the laughs, she admires his insane work ethic. “Watching him juggle everything he does is just super admirable,” she says.
How "We Got Time Today" Brings That "106 & Park" Energy
Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images
For those wondering if We Got Time Today feels like 106 & Park 2.0, Rocsi says it’s a whole different vibe.
“The only comparison I’d make is that it’s a destination for the culture,” she explains. “It’s a platform where our people can come, feel safe, and have real conversations. But other than that, this is Deion’s world—we’re just having fun in it.”
The Talk Show Shake-Up: Why This Show Hits Different
Unlike traditional networks, We Got Time Today lives exclusively on Tubi, proving that streaming platforms are changing how we watch talk shows.
“Tubi is giving more people opportunities and making content more accessible,” Rocsi says. “Deion is a huge Tubi fan—he literally loves Black cinema—so it just made sense for him. And honestly? He’s got me watching it too!”
Real Ones Only: Women Holding Each Other Down
Rocsi credits her best friend, Chantelle, for always keeping her grounded. “She kept pouring into me, reminding me of who I am,” she shares. Even Deion Sanders makes sure to give her flowers, often calling her “the hostess with the most.”
In the industry, she’s built lasting bonds with women like Julissa Bermundez, Angie Martinez, and Angela Yee. “Julissa and I still kick it—her house is basically Sephora, so I just shop there,” she jokes. She also cherishes her friendships with Melyssa Ford and Robin Roberts, who have offered unwavering support. “Robin has always been there for me,” Rocsi says, reflecting on the wisdom she’s gained from the legendary journalist.
With the show’s first season wrapping up, Rocsi is grateful for the experience and excited for what’s next. “We’re having a good time, and the audience can feel that,” she says.
And if you haven’t tuned in yet? Well, Rocsi and Deion got time—so you might as well make some too.
Catch We Got Time Today now streaming on Tubi!
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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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