Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
The Perfect Model
Most of the modeling industry has strict appearance rules, which most people don't check the box for. But by it being 2019, many models are defying the odds and showing the world that it is okay to be "different" from other models and to accept what makes you stand out.
Dar'Jae ShyreePublished 5 years ago in VivaWillow Smith and 30 Other Bisexual Female Celebrities
Willow Smith recently came out as bisexual. The 18-year-old daughter of Hollywood power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith joins a growing list of young female celebrities who have opened up about having a non-heterosexual orientation, and she even revealed that her ideal relationship would be a polyfidelotous one with one woman and one man.
Treva BowdoinPublished 5 years ago in VivaThe Pink Lioness
I once despised the color pink, trampled anything labeled 'girly' with unforgiving black until my feminine side was washed in darkness. The day my body began to shift and the innocence of childhood melted away, I became uncomfortably aware of the male gaze piercing the backs of my legs, sweeping my broadening chest, gnawing on my widening hips like starved dogs. So I clipped my hair to the scalp and changed my appearance to look more like them and less like me. On that day, my wings were clipped too. I left them on the side of the road, torn and bloody, oozing with the desire to be accepted for all of their soft, gentle beauty, all their delicacy, all their wild strength. But they were pink, and where the world spotted pink, the world spotted weakness. I ran from pink and dove into black. The parts of me they told were too boyish, too wild, not pretty enough, not good enough, grew fangs and talons and attacked anyone who came just a little too close. The gossamer of my existence morphed into glass spears and drilled holes in every road I tread. The violence and aggression I despised, I became. I grew battered walls to protect myself from battered masculinity. I threw away the woman in me and got lost inside a monster no human soul was ever meant to see—the illusion of power. The loneliness of invulnerability. The lioness inside my soul grew a protective mane and disguised herself as a ferocious lion. And then, the stars intervened.
Eden RowlandPublished 5 years ago in VivaThe Future of Girls: An Interview with UN Ambassador Chowdhury
WE are women, but we ALL should be for women. At least, according to the opinion of heralded Global Dignitary and United Nations Ambassador, Anwarul Chowdhury.
Ally WoodardPublished 5 years ago in VivaPetite Curve Matters, Pt. 2
"I'm not a model." You don't have to be. "I have never done this before." That's perfectly okay, there's a first for everything. We are all here to help guide you.
Aurea GonzalezPublished 5 years ago in VivaWe Need to Stop Apologising for Our Appearance
As I met my friend for lunch, I noticed her lovely pink nails and complimented her choice of colour. “Sorry they’re a mess, I haven’t had time to get them done recently,” she said. That’s when it struck me: women apologising for their appearance is an all too common occurrence. And there’s undeniably no reason it should be like this. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her nails that day. And even if there was, she doesn’t owe me anything?
Simran Lavanya SarafPublished 5 years ago in VivaWomen in 2018
Living in 2018 should be a lot easier than was fifty years ago. Women have equal rights as men. We have the right to vote and the right to freedom of speech. The last time I checked we were no longer slaves. Right? Well, I thought so. I thought that living in 2018 would mean women empowerment and that I would not have to relive what women used to put up with. Now, let me explain.
Marissa HallPublished 5 years ago in Viva8 Phrases that Threaten a Woman's Self Esteem
This story, and others like it, for that matter, is a hard one for me to tell. Namely because it involves divulging personal feelings surrounding people who've left a few scars emotionally, as I am the type of woman who has never wanted to give these types of people the time of day. However, in my healing process, I have found it necessary to call attention to these things in an effort to help women find (and keep) their own voice.
La'Porscha BiancaPublished 5 years ago in VivaSummer Ready—Or Not?
Hey everyone—it is officially summer time! If you are anything like me, you are sadly unprepared for the summer time when it comes to going to the beach or the pool. I live about three miles from the beach and I still do not even have my beach body ready, if I am completely honest. The winter completely wrecked me with my health as far as being able to work out. I know it is no excuse, but it was to the point where I could hardly do much without a ton of pain. Thank goodness—now that it is summer time—I am feeling much better and almost completely pain free!
Katheryn ComptonPublished 5 years ago in VivaThe Controlling Fear
That night was the night that changed my life forever. Changed my view on men and even changed the way I walk around town. I would have never gone to that dance if I knew what was going to happen. Now, every time that I see him, my body goes cold and I struggle to catch my breath. That monster ruined my life for good and there is no changing that now. I just wish that someone would believe me when I tell them the truth about him.
Natalie C..Published 5 years ago in VivaMisogyny in Makeup?!
Hello Friends! When it comes to makeup, there's a bit of an assumption that, outside of boys in beauty, it's a bit of a lady tribe. After all, with pioneers such as Madame CJ Walker, Estee Lauder, and Elizabeth Arden there should be a plethora of women killing it in the beauty biz. However, the state of women in positions of power, even in a female-focused industry, might leave lip kits dropped and acrylic fingers raised, as we explore the topic of misogyny in makeup while donning an electric yellow wing.
Making Concrete Standing: Scream Your Voice in Activism
Your heart increases the amount of beats with every solid formation you preach upon yourself, as strong as the foundation you've built you happened to tell yourself "no" in the making, in hopes that that'll work out better than your biggest idea.
Robyn HensonPublished 5 years ago in Viva