Bitcoin's price increased until today then lost half its value in a matter of hours.

The post Bitcoin Is A Virtual Currency And Its Value Went Up And Up Before It Sank Like A Stone appeared first on MadameNoire.

Get Coinye rich!

The post Kanye Sends Cease-And-Desist Letter To The Anonymous Makers Of “Coinye West” Digital Currency appeared first on MadameNoire.

Bitcoin is all over the news. Here are the basics for understanding the digital currency and whether you should own any piece of it.

The post Spending A Little Coin. Bitcoin, That Is: The Basics About The Digital Currency appeared first on MadameNoire.

And Coin aims to organize all your cards in one place.

The post Digital Money For Everyday Use: Venmo Makes Paying The Bill Easier appeared first on MadameNoire.

The exchange appears to be offline and investors fear they've lost all their digital cash.

The post Mt. Gox Bitten By Bad Bug? Bitcoin Exchange Stops Activity, May Have Lost $350M! appeared first on MadameNoire.

Hundreds of millions have been lost in the process.

The post Mt. Gox, One Of The Biggest Bitcoin Exchanges, Is Bankrupt appeared first on MadameNoire.

She comes from a strong musical legacy. And she's using technology to reach broader audiences with her jazz, hip-hop, R&B and spoken word sound.

The post Grammy-Nominated Carolyn Malachi Uses Technology (And Bitcoin) To Further Her Brand appeared first on MadameNoire.

Fans will also be able to purchase future G-Unit Records releases with bitcoin.

The post Fans Can Now Use Bitcoin To Buy 50 Cent’s New Album appeared first on MadameNoire.

When it comes to dating someone who is estranged from their husband or wife but not divorced, many of us would say that until the fat lady sings, that’s not a healthy situation to enter into. We just wouldn’t be comfortable dating someone still married, even if unhappily. Despite the efforts made to cut ties, until they’re fully cut, there’s a chance for reconciliation, and there’s also a chance for drama. No good.

But what about dating someone who isn’t married, however, shares a space with someone they were romantically involved with for some time? Keyword: were. Would you be comfortable being with a man who still lived with their ex?

This is based on a woman I know who has been more than ok with dating a guy who still lives with his former longtime girlfriend. They’ve been getting closer over the last few months, but if they want to spend quality time together, they have to go to her place. When they want to hang out in general, he has to leave the woman he’s shared so much with, aside from a ritzy apartment, to go hang out with his new chick, only to return home to his old one. And when she wants to hang out with his friends, they’re not necessarily sure how to act around her because they’re used to and friendly with his ex. Awkward.

Still, plans to move. He has allegedly been looking around for apartments so that he can have a fresh start. However, his living situation with his ex hasn’t been contentious. They get along well. Sometimes she shares meals that she’s cooked with him, and it’s an overall peaceful situation. If it were a negative one, he would feel more of a fire under his behind to get up, get out and get moving, but when things are good, what’s the rush?

While his new girlfriend may be rolling with the punches, I thought their situation was interesting enough to share. It’s not a rare one, though.

There are women who date guys who live with exes who are still emotionally attached. One woman wrote in to Glamour about a guy she was interested in dating who had a roommate/ex tagging him in posts on social media and listing herself as “In a Relationship” with him on Facebook.

There have been women who’ve waited impatiently for their boyfriends to move out of a home they share with their ex-wives:

How long am I supposed to sit around and wait for him to move out? It’s been a year and three months since we started dating. I really like him. Honestly, I love him and he knows that. We have great times together, but the only problem is him leaving his situation. At times I get frustrated because I want to be able to go to his house and enjoy those moments together. I don’t consider him my boyfriend, only because I don’t feel comfortable saying that he is because of his living arrangement. I’m scared that after all the time I have invested in him, he might one day just say that he is all set and wants to work on things with her. I know this is a ramble, but I’m just lost and confused.

There are also women who date men who live with exes who seemingly have moved on and have their own new relationship to tend to. So that living situation should be no big deal, right? Wrong.

In the summer of 2011 I met a man who I have been seeing ever since. We are madly in love with each other. My kids love him too. But, he still lives with his ex wife, mainly because he cant afford to move out. They have a teenage son. I am often very insecure although he tells me its just a convenient living arrangement. His ex wife also has a new boyfriend. Is there anyone out there in this same situation? How do you cope with it? I find it so difficult.

The truth is, the last lady is right — this is a very difficult situation. As someone trying to survive in New York City, I think it’s understandable for someone to live with whoever they need to if they can’t afford to move out, especially if they were living with them before entering into a new relationship. (You can’t get away with introducing this living situation after you start dating someone new.) But there always needs to be a plan of action in order for someone entering the situation to not feel like they’re being left in the dark or played for a fool. You can work with a temporary situation, but one that seems unending, that feels uncertain and at times, inappropriate? You’re setting yourself up for a headache — and to end up feeling like a third wheel in your own relationship…

But as always, that’s just my opinion. What say you? Is it not a big deal if a guy you’re interested in lives with his ex-girlfriend or ex-wife?

The post Is This Petty? He Still Lives With His Ex appeared first on MadameNoire.

In February, Karrueche Tran was granted a restraining order that required Chris Brown stay 100 yards away from her, her mom, and her brother. Yesterday, a judge ruled that the restraining order stay in place for the next five years.

According to TMZ, during in-person testimony in court yesterday, Karrueche told a judge Chris Brown became aggressive after they broke up, demanding she return diamond rings he’d bought for her, and when she refused he started making threats.

“Karrueche explained that in text messages between herself and Chris post-breakup, he would say things like ‘I’m not being nice to you no more, if I see you out in public again and I’m there I will make you hate me even more, don’t be anywhere I’m out in public, I’m going to ban you from all events,'” TMZ reported.

“She claims he also texted her more violent threats like … ‘I can get my money back and I’m tired of playing games’ as well as ‘B-tch I will beat the sh-t out of you’ and ‘I promise you I will make your life hell.'”

Sadly, Karrueche also reportedly testified that Chris had beaten in the past.

Chris didn’t appear in court and a judge refused to let him call in to the hearing by phone. His attorney, David Gammill, however, attempted to discredit Karreuche’s claims, arguing she taunted Chris about the rings and never reported any of his violent behavior to the authorities. Thankfully, that argument was a moot point in the judge’s eyes and Karrueche’s restraining order still stands.

The post Karrueche Tran Granted 5-Year Restraining Order Against Chris Brown appeared first on MadameNoire.

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Kenya Moore’s love life has been a source of great interest and speculation ever since she joined “Real Housewives of Atlanta” and her fake relationship with Walter was exposed. But now the 46-year-old former pageant queen has a real man in her life — in fact, she has a husband.

According to People, the reality star jumped the broom in St. Lucia last week in an intimate beach ceremony with family and friends. And she told the magazine of being a newlywed:

“I’m just ecstatic. This man is the love of my life and I’m so happy to begin our lives together as husband and wife.”

So who is this man? Well, we don’t really know anything about him except that he’s a businessman she met one year ago and began dating a few months after. While his secret identity may raise a few eyebrows, I think Kenya may have finally learned its best to keep her relationships — and the identities of the men she’s with — private for as long as she can.

And while there are hints of what may have been her wedding getaway location on Intsagram, the photo captions don’t let on to any nuptials,and Kenya even shut off commenting on her pictures, which one could assume is so she can fully bask in her new marital bliss. We didn’t miss the fact that there are two champagne classes, two pairs of sunglasses, and two forks on that plate in the photo below however.

With the 10th season of RHOA beginning to film soon, I’d be quite surprised if Kenya kept her mystery man a secret once the cameras start rolling. This news may actually give fans an even bigger reason to tune in. Well this, and the news that NeNe Leakes is back.

The post So Kenya Moore Just Got Married In St. Lucia appeared first on MadameNoire.

Father’s Day is approaching and I almost forgot about it. Before you judge me, know that my husband almost forgot as well. A few weeks ago, when discussing dates for a certain event, he innocently asked, “Oh, Father’s Day is that day?” Instead of using that question to fish for gifts like I probably would, he genuinely seemed surprised.

Maybe it’s because he truly doesn’t care about that day or he doesn’t expect much out of it, but this Sunday will be the third Father’s Day for my husband, and his attitude has been the same about it every year — indifferent.

I remember being so excited to celebrate his first Father’s Day. I ordered a customized frame with our daughter’s name engraved at the top and included a picture of him holding her at just 10 days old. Oh and a card. Can’t forget the card.

He loved the gift and brunch that we had that day. I think the card could have been omitted as he read it and then put it back in the envelope to never be seen again (as he does with most cards), but I thought it was a nice touch. Overall, he seemed to enjoy his day, but there was no true excitement. This could be due to his love languages (none of which include gift giving or words of affirmation) or to the fact that he, like many people, doesn’t consider Father’s Day to be much to fuss over.

According to an article, “Why Mother’s Day Beats Father’s Day For Both Spending and Deals” from TheStreet.com, The National Retail Federation estimated that consumers would spend over $20 billion on Mother’s Day while only $14.3 billion was spent on Father’s Day last year. A survey found that 46 percent of people planned to buy a gift for mom for Mother’s Day as opposed to 30 percent for dad for Father’s Day.

Why is this?

The article goes on to say that some participants revealed that they feel guilty if they don’t buy a gift for Mother’s Day, but the same guilt isn’t necessarily felt for or from dad.

Is the way we treat these man-made holidays a reflection of how differently we treat our parents? Is it a personal decision or one put upon us by society? Is it that most people are truly closer to their mom, whether they were raised solely by her or due to a mother’s innate nurturing characteristics, so we place more value on Mother’s Day? Is it because of the number of people who didn’t have a good relationship with their fathers, or didn’t have one at all? It could be many things.

Now that I’m a mom, I better understand the work that it takes to be a great mom and how undervalued mothers can often feel. Maybe that’s why I told my husband we needed to get both of our moms a gorgeous bouquet of flowers this year, as opposed to the usual cards. But I realized that we aren’t in the habit of giving anything to our fathers for Father’s Day. I don’t really think they mind, but now that think about it, I do.

However, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day shouldn’t be the only days in the year that we show appreciation to people who have given us life or stepped into that role. Maybe this year we’ll at least acknowledge the special men in our lives by doing more than just giving them a little card and a phone call.

But we will save the ties for the future — no need for them to go to waste.

The post Serious Question: Why Do You Care More About Mother’s Day Than Father’s Day? appeared first on MadameNoire.

By Nneka Samuel

Three-time Olympian. President of the Women’s Sports Foundation. Broadway actress. Co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Star of Prince’s 1996 music video, “Betcha By Golly, Wow” (a personal fave). Motivational speaker. History maker.

The long list of triumphant feats, titles and overall awesomeness worthy of now retired gymnast Dominique Dawes’ nickname, Awesome Dawesome, is seemingly never-ending. But the greatest, most important title she has ever held is that of mom.

Now a stay-at-home mother of two precious daughters, Kateri, three-and-a-half, and Quinn, nearly two, Dominique takes being her children’s first teacher very seriously. And though Dominique’s daughters aren’t quite old enough to fully understand the impact of her latest advocacy endeavor, they one day will. Dawes teamed up with the National Park Foundation’s (the philanthropic partner of the National Park Service) Parks 101 series. NPF’s President Will Shafroth referred to Dawes as an obvious partner because she is “incredibly energetic and passionate” and “authentically enthusiastic.”

The Parks 101 series is an ongoing celebration meant to encourage the exploration of lesser-known stories of countrywide, national landmarks, and Dominique partook in a day’s worth of Washington, D.C. site visits with tours led by park rangers. Organized around the theme of equality and justice, she went to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument and the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site – all a stone’s throw away from her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland.

Read on to learn more about Dawes’ involvement with the National Park Foundation, how she keeps in shape and whether or not her children will be future gymnasts.

MadameNoire: Why did you partner with the NPF? 

Dominique Dawes: As a mother, I am my two young daughters’ first teacher in life. And what a wonderful way to teach kids through their experience in visiting the national parks. Not just in the nation’s capital, but throughout the U.S. And it’s interesting because as I was preparing to come to these different parks in D.C., I was thinking, what has my experience been at national parks? And it’s amazing how many spectacular sites I’ve seen since I’ve been married these last four years with my husband and also with my daughters. Both of our baby moons – we actually chose to go to national parks. We actually went to Skyline Drive in Shenandoah. For my 35th birthday, I actually hiked Old Rag with my coach. That was a hard workout. I was sore after that. Even for our honeymoon, we spent much time out in the northwest in Oregon, going to Crater Lake and Multnomah Falls. Went to Ecola National Park, a part of Canon Beach and went to Alaska and saw Denali. I never thought I was like the outdoorsy type and into parks until I actually took some time and thought about these amazing memories and experiences that I’ve had with my husband and with my family.

How will you share this with your children? 

When [my kids] get older, my husband and I definitely look forward to sharing our country’s history, our country’s culture and all those beautiful natural resources we have through all of these national parks. People know the name of the Everglades or Yellowstone, the big parks are the ones people really talk about. It’s the lesser-known ones that we want people to explore and go visit and have amazing memories with their families. You can go to findyourpark.com to actually look around and find parks that are within driving distance to you and your family and go visit those.

What would you say to people of color who aren’t visiting national parks and don’t really think about them? 

I was aware of [the lack of diversity] but I will say from my experience of going to parks, I don’t look around and notice it so much. My thing is as a family with two young daughters, we look for things that are going to be affordable and that will be able to build lasting memories. And that’s what I say to minority families that are maybe not sold on or haven’t thought of visiting their national parks, to think of those things. With my husband and I with two toddlers, we are not trying to spend a great deal of money to have an experience with our toddlers. National parks are usually free of charge, or there’s a small donation. I would encourage families to look into those experiences because affordable and lasting memories – those are two key things that families are always looking for these days.

What fitness activities do you do with your children? 

I’m always looking for positive and engaging activities with my young girls and not ones that I’m just sitting and we’re stagnant, but ones where we’re moving and we’re being active. And even though that  doesn’t compare to let’s say running a marathon or training for an Olympics, we are active. We’re walking around. And that’s the experience that you can get at many of our nation’s parks and many of the national parks out there. You can go on a wonderful hike or just be able to see beautiful sites. So you’re being active and you’re also seeing amazing sites. I think it does really tie into physical fitness a great deal. Like I mentioned earlier, when I turned 35 and hiked Old Rag, that was a serious workout. All the sweating I endured for those many hours I remember was a great way to get in shape and stay in shape.

I used to hike weekly with my coach but I am a little skittish when it comes to animals. I’m horrible. So I’m not necessarily hiking the trails that I used to with my coach because she would try to pull me out of my comfort zone. But I will say with my young girls, they’re pretty young, so we’re not taking them to national, historical parks on a regular basis. But recently, I had a speaking engagement in Sioux Falls and my husband and two daughters traveled there with me. We saw the beautiful Falls and then drove across the border into Minnesota and went and visited Pikesville National, which took me back to my Native American roots. So that was a wonderful experience for my husband and I. I don’t know what my girls took away from it other than they were in the car with mommy and daddy. But that’s just a way to be active with my kids and to get a little fitness at the same time.

Tell us about being co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

I loved being one of the leaders there for a good six and a half years and working with Drew Brees and Michelle Obama, a part of her Let’s Move initiative. It was wonderful to not just talk the talk but also walk the walk, and to go to schools or to go to events or be at the White House and not be there solely to give a speech, but to be active with the young people that they would bring in. I would love that opportunity again.

Are your kids involved in sports?

I would assume that it would be too early [to get my kids involved] under the age of six years old, but no, my three and a half year old, Kateri, and my nearly two-year-old, Quinn, we do open gymnastics classes multiple times a week. Just open for them to play. Kateri is already in a structured gymnastics class at my coach’s gym in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I take her once a week and she has a blast when she chooses to listen and when she choose to sit in the class. She, many times, runs out in the waiting room and hangs out with me.

And then on the weekends, my husband and I have a little soccer class that we have them in. It’s really because I’m home all day with the kids, and it will drive you nuts if you stay home, inside, with two very active kids. So from the start of the morning, I’ve never felt like I’ve had to exert so much energy in my life, even training for Olympics. But I am on the go with these two girls, going to a nature center in my neighborhood, walking trails, going to the park, doing these little classes, which are fun. I do love to share with people and say that when you become a parent and you choose to spend a great deal of time and make that sacrifice and commitment to be home with your kid, if you have the ability to do so, I would highly recommend people to do that. Because then you start choosing to see life through the eyes of a child and you start seeing how beautiful life is, how appreciative we are and how a lot of the little things that we would stress over really are not that important. Each and every day, though, it’s a challenge and I love complaining to my husband about how hard it is. But it is truly a joy being at home with these two little angels.

The post Fitness Fridays: Dominique Dawes On Doing Gymnastics With Her Kids, Her Love Of Hiking National Park Trails appeared first on MadameNoire.

Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage, right? That’s what Hill Harper thought for most of his life as well, which is why the single actor had yet to become a dad. But when a friend encouraged Harper to look into single parent adoption and a stroke of fate landed him in the path of a mother who was looking for adoptive parents, Harper found himself becoming a single father at 51.

“I always thought I was going to get married, have my own kids and I was going to adopt,” Harper told Good Morning America today. “I had talked about adopting and I had talked about wanting to be this dad, and she said, ‘You’re going to be a great dad but I think you’re waiting too long. You may get to a point where you’ll decide you’re not going to do it. Even though you’re not married, why can’t you just be a dad now?’”

Although Harper took his friend’s advice and spoke with an adoption person she knew in the summer of 2015, he said by the end of learning the process he told the guy, “I’m just not ready. I’m not there.”

The universe seemed to have other plans, however.

“[F]ast-forward to right before Thanksgiving of that year, I get a call from him,” Harper explained. “I was shooting a show called ‘Limitless’ at the time. I was in my dressing room and I didn’t know why he was calling me. He says, ‘There’s a wonderful young woman who is having a son in three weeks. Would you be interested in adopting him?’”

Although Harper was initially caught off guard, once he talked to the birth mother, his decision was solidified.

“I really felt like it was God telling me to do it,” he told People magazine. “And I’m so glad that he chose me, and [Pierce’s mom] and God and the universe chose me.”

Pierce, his son, was born in December 2015 and Harper was right there in the delivery room and even cut the umbilical cord.

“I was so scared. I think because it was such a huge decision. But looking back now, all the fears I had were ridiculously small compared to the joy of having him in my life and having the opportunity to be a father…[Adopting Pierce] was the greatest decision I’ve ever made and I’ve never been happier.”

Pierce is now 18 months old and slowly making his debut on the actor’s Instagram, proving his dad’s point that he loves music as you can see in the video below.

“I never felt I could love this deeply,” Harper said. “I love him and he’s my son.”

The post Hill Harper Adopted A Son: “I Really Felt Like It Was God Telling Me To Do It” appeared first on MadameNoire.

Jessie Williams is synonymous with the term #WokeBae, but one of the reasons fans go so crazy over the “Grey’s Anatomy” actor is because he’s truly one in a million. In a sea of famous folks with a platform to spark meaningful change, he’s one of few who will actually stick his neck out to speak out on societal ills and deal with the consequences later. And in his mind, that really shouldn’t be that rare of a thing.

“You can have your cake and eat it too,” the 35 year old told GQ, speaking on the idea that only certain people can be activists or speak on politics. “You can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

Though he does acknowledge when it comes to celebrities — and social media — “You can definitely f-ck things up,” he adds, “[I]t’s feeble minded to say that just because you’re a basketball player you can’t care that your tax dollars go to an organized patrol force that kills people. We absolutely can do both—give me a break.”

Unlike many of his peers, social activism has always been a part of Williams’ life, which may be why he’s also less afraid to take a stance than some of his counterparts.

“I’m more comfortable around social-justice work,” he told the mag. “I’ve been doing it much longer, and it means more to me.”

But in the same way that acting doesn’t limit his willingness to speak out, Williams is very cognizant of spending as much time honing his craft as he does holding a light up to social injustices.

“I need both to sustain a balanced life. One is more dire and academic. And the other is an absolutely necessary creative outlet for me to stay sane.”

The post “You Can Have Your Cake And Eat It Too:” Jessie Williams Calls BS On The Idea You Can’t Be Famous And Woke appeared first on MadameNoire.

Telling you you’re worth it

Bringing up bikini season

Body analysis

Referral programs

Reminding you of holiday eating

Putting machines in windows

Scare tactics

Strutting their hottest trainers

Having different membership levels

Odd inspirational quotes

Suggesting you’re incapable

Posting before and after pictures

Suggesting you aren’t committed

Threatening to take the deal away

Insisting contracts keep you committed

The post Offensive Ways Gyms Get Your Business appeared first on MadameNoire.

Credit: Getty

Most people are aware that Jada Pinkett-Smith and Tupac shared a special relationship. Over the years, Jada has shared aspects of that relationship with the public from time to time, but the actress says the way she and Pac were portrayed in All Eyez on Me does not do either of them any justice.

As you know, All Eyez on Me hit theaters worldwide today on the birthday of the late rapper. And upon seeing the film, Jada had some harsh truths to expose about the biopic which she shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Forgive me… my relationship to Pac is too precious to me for the scenes in All Eyez On Me to stand as truth.

Pac never read me that poem. I didn’t know that poem existed until it was printed in his book.

Pac never said goodbye to me before leaving for LA. He had to leave abruptly and it wasn’t to pursue his career.

I’ve never been to any of Pac’s shows by his request. We never had an argument backstage.

The reimagining of my relationship to Pac has been deeply hurtful.

To Kat and Demetrius this is no fault of yours. Thank for bringing so much heart and spirit to your roles. You both did a beautiful job with what you were given. Thank you both.

Happy birthday Pac, you are cradled in my heart for eternity. I love you.

While neither Kat Graham, who plays Jada in the movie, and Demetrius Shipp Jr., who took on the role of the Pac have yet to address the tweets, fans responses to Jada’s message were mixed, with many questioning why the movie was made without her input and others declaring they still plan to see the film.

Jada is alive and thriving yet no one consulted her about the #AllEyezOnMe movie? And they got the story wrong? pic.twitter.com/BblFAnFaNH

— rosechocglam (@rosechocglam) June 16, 2017

Jada Pinkett watching the Tupac movie like…. pic.twitter.com/fWGgk10ysl

— HipHopWired (@HipHopWired) June 16, 2017

Jada has the real script. #AllEyezOnMe pic.twitter.com/eCauN61SXm

— K a r i o. (@itsKARY_) June 16, 2017

Anytime Will Smith see Jada talking about 2 Pac pic.twitter.com/MXDtZW0zzo

— Devanté (@_JuGatti) June 16, 2017

Am I still going to watch all eyez on me after reading Jada's thread? pic.twitter.com/A0neTgSMBA

— 💋 (@Canadianlka) June 16, 2017

What do you think about Jada’s reaction? Will you still see All Eyez on Me?

The post Jada Pinkett’s Not A Fan Of All Eyez On Me: “The Reimagining Of My Relationship To Pac Has Been Deeply Hurful” appeared first on MadameNoire.

On this week’s episode of “Did Y’all See?” the co-host discuss Tinashe’s struggle “Guardian” interview, Charlamange da god vs. Chilli and Sasha Obama channels Beyonce as “Sasha Fierce” in sweet sixteen birthday pictures. Get into all this tea and more on “Did Y’all See?”.

The post Tinashe’s Colorism Controversy And Sasha Obama’s Birthday Slay | Did Y’all See? appeared first on MadameNoire.

When late pop star Michael Jackson first opened up about his struggles with vitiligo, the skin condition that causes white patches to appear on various parts of the body due to depigmentation, many people made jokes about his condition and assumed it was just an excuse for insecurities about his race and African-American features. Today thanks to famous faces like model, Winnie Harlow and child model, Angel Star we now know that vitiligo is something many people live with and learn to accept and embrace. But male model, Stephen Cone is reminding us that struggles with skin color and black beauty isn’t something American culture has a monopoly on. BET reports that the 23-year-old shared that growing up in London with dark skin wasn’t easy:

“Growing up I was bullied and teased for being ‘dark skin’ and not just from kids and other classmates, but teachers as well.”

“It really affected me. I didn’t know how to process it at a young age and embrace and love myself and my skin.”

Eventually, Cone began to be inspired by actors like Lance Gross and Idris Elba, actors in whom he saw reflections of himself in popular culture, but his awakening self-love was almost interrupted by a diagnosis of vitiligo. He shares he wasn’t exactly sure what was happening at first:

“I didn’t notice it at first.”

“Really, I thought it was a rash of some sort but my friend on our way to class pointed it out, and I joked around and said I had vitiligo. Which at the time I didn’t know I did. I was just trying to cover up the fact that I was actually embarrassed about what was going on.”

He says the diagnosis momentarily brought back feelings of isolation and self-hate:

“I felt like my younger self before the confidence.”

“When I first got the news I was hurt. The first dermatologist made it seem like there wasn’t much I could do. I was like, ‘Man, I just got comfortable in my skin. And now this is happening?!’ How are people going to look at me? How can I stand in front of a camera like this? I felt like I was just starting to look OK to people and now I look worse.”

Cone says thanks to his girlfriend he was able to overcome those feelings by sharing his story on social media, and giving a voice to black men who aren’t very vocal about building confidence and struggling with their appearance. He says her support along with other factors like God, friends and people who were familiar with his situation encouraged him to continue pursuing his dreams.

The unsigned model says forces in the fashion industry like Winnie Harlow are bringing an awareness to the public about vitiligo which he appreciates:

“First off she is beautiful; vitiligo or no vitiligo. And from what I know about her, I think she is an amazing voice and model for those who have vitiligo. I mean it! Because of people like her, we have even more awareness about this skin condition.”

Cone also expresses that there’s beauty in vulnerability and expressing masculine emotion, something that often isn’t highlighted in African-American culture:

“My advice to men is to continue to be strong because that is our identity; to be strong and to be leaders but in that we have to show emotion. It’s through our emotional experiences that we connect with others. That’s what I’ve learned with sharing my story.”

Cone is giving us all kinds of black boy joy with his message and a little “Kofi Siriboe” flavor. We have no doubt he’ll be the face of somebody’s national campaign in the near future.

Do you or does anyone you know have vitiligo?  In what ways do you embrace your beauty despite public opinion?

The post “I Didn’t Notice It At First” Model Stephen Cone Talks Developing Vitiligo Mid-Career appeared first on MadameNoire.