New York Fashion Week has arrived and melanin is in full effect. From Janelle Monae's electric performance at Ralph Lauren's Fall 2019 show and the Zendaya x Tommy Hilfiger collab at The Apollo to the colorful creatives and spectators who lined the streets of New York this past week, fearless Black fashionistas set the city on fire with style and beauty trends that we'll be rocking all damn season.
Among the celebrities spotted at NYFW this year was our favorite Canadian-Jamaican supermodel and certified baddie, Winnie Harlow. The now 25-year-old model made her debut on the catwalk in 2014 after being handpicked by Tyra Banks to participate as a contestant on the 21st season of America's Next Top Modeland has since made her mark in the industry as a trailblazer, collaborating with industry giants like KKW Beauty, Steve Madden, and Victoria's Secret.
Our melanin is as beautiful as it is complicated, which is especially true for Winnie, who was diagnosed with vitiligo at only four years old. After enduring years of teasing and name-calling, the model finally found her own light and makes it a point to continuously bless the industry with her glow.
Winnie recently sat down with Vogue and gave up all the details on how to slay the evening like a supermodel, including but not limited to the beauty tips and makeup products that kept her camera-ready all week long. While Winnie says she can whip up a mean beat any day of the week, the model shared that Fashion Week can make her beauty routine especially difficult. In the video, she explained:
"I really feel like my skin breaks out the most around Fashion Week. Um, and that's because of course, we have to create looks, we gotta do runway and all that and your skin isn't made for makeup. But prep the skin and prepare it for war pretty much is what I like to think of it as."
She also dropped this piece of advice for ladies, like myself, who have spent a lot of time, energy, and phone data searching for the perfect foundation: stop it, sis. According to Winnie, two is always better than one, and that's also her motto when it comes to choosing a foundation that matches her skin tone effortlessly.
"I feel like everyone has a really high expectation for foundations and makeup brands. I feel like makeup brands today are doing a really good job, but I don't think it's like super possible to put one shade on your face and just be like, it's perfect."
Using a combination of products from her latest collaboration with KKW Beauty and other cult favorites, Winnie gave us the recipe for the perfect beat and we have all of the ingredients.
For a better glimpse into Winnie's beauty routine for Fashion Week, scroll below:
DIY Makuka Honey + Aztec Clay + Apple Cider Vinegar Mask
Vogue/YouTube
"I tend to use my Clarisonic like every other day. I don't want to over-exfoliate my skin. So now I'm going to go in with a mask and I like to do this mask twice a month. I kind of eyeball it whenever I mix this mask. My goal is to create a paste-like consistency like this, so it doesn't drip everywhere because apple cider vinegar stinks."
NIVEA Q10 plus Anti-Wrinkle Night Care ($9.75)
Vogue/YouTube
"We're out [of this], but I have enough for today and I feel like I really like using a night cream in the day because I don't use like an eye cream or anything like that."
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($12.97)
Vogue/YouTube
"I'm going to go on top with my magic weapon, this Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot, and it's kind of like a concealer but not, I feel like this is like professional feeder makeup-type consistency. So I'm going to take a brush that looks kind of like a cat's paw to get a whole lot of product on here and I'm going to go ahead and dab that on top. I use this because I really want the makeup to stay."
KKW x Winnie Eyeshadow Pallette ($49)
Vogue/YouTube
"I had this amazing idea and I brought it to Kim and she was so excited that she was like, 'You know what? Let's hold off on that idea because it's gonna take a really long with production, everything. I'm so excited to work with you. I just want to like work on something right now that like we can get out this year.' And I was like, 'Ah, amazing. Perfect. I like that. Let's do that.' So she was like, 'Cool, let's, let's figure out what you want to create. What do you want to do?' And I was like, 'I really want to do an eye palette.' So Kim and I collaborated. I think we did really well on this palette."
FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Sun Stalk'R Instant Warmth Bronzer x Caramel Cutie ($30)
Vogue/YouTube
"Now I'm going to warm up my skin with this mineralized skin finish who I also like to warm up with this Fenty Beauty Caramel Cutie."
KKW Beauty x Winnie Highlighter Duo ($26)
Vogue/YouTube
"I wanted to be chocolate girl-friendly. So I made this beautiful golden bronzy highlight and this like iridescent, almost pink. And then I'm going to go in with that top shade and I'm going to highlight my nose."
Charlotte's Tilbury Lip Pencil - Foxy Brown ($22.00)
Vogue/YouTube
"So for my signature lip, I either use 'Chestnut' by Mac or I use 'Foxy Brown' by Charlotte Tilbury."
Charlotte Tilbury Super Pigmented Gloss ($22)
Vogue/YouTube
"Then I take this Charlotte Tilbury's super pigmented gloss, and I used this. I'll either use this or it lipstick, but I use this to kind of blend the color of the liner into my lips while kind of creating this gradient."
Mascara
Vogue/YouTube
"So last but not least, mascara. When comes it to putting mascara on your top lash, when you have lashes on, it's more important to get them on your actual lashes so then you can blend them in with your falsies."
The Finished Product
Vogue/YouTube
Check out the full video below!
Winnie Harlow's Afterparty Beauty Look — Just in Time for Fashion Week | Beauty Secrets | Voguewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com
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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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