As tensions exponentially rise in Gaza, with Palestine's ongoing fight for liberation, activist Ahed Tamimi spoke with the Anadolu Agency on behalf of Palestinian women. Quite the controversial figure, Tamimi rose to public notability as a symbol of resistance in opposition to Israeli military occupation dating as far back as 2012; she was only 11-years-old at the time. Recently, Tamimi has resurfaced to vocalize how Palestinian women are specifically affected by the escalating violence. “The Palestinian woman has long… Read more

In the ridiculous world of NFT’s, there’s always something interesting and weird going on. And the latest story is that Cara Delevingne is auctioning off an NFT (non-fungible token) about her vagina for charity. The model and Suicide Squad actress is selling her vagina related NFT (video) to the vitrual market place. Delevingne, 28, collaborated with artist Chemical X in a video, in which she posted on social media. In the video, she talks about her vagina and what it means to her. “My first word was ‘mine.’ To me,… Read more

“Vegetarian halls”—havens where Asian women live communally—flourished both in Singapore post-World War II and in China before communism. Residents arrived there for various reasons, but most had one thing in common: they preferred to take care of one another rather than rely on men [Top to bottom]: a Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) statue in a vegetarian hall in Indonesia; vegetarian hall nuns in Malaysia; a vegetarian hall in Singapore “Men are bad. Why marry?” “Marriage is no good, men cannot be trusted.” “My husband is… Read more

Typically, when we ruminate over the inspirations behind some of the world’s most beautiful works of art, we tend to assume that artists are always drawn to the extraordinary. However, there are some who seek out simpler subjects, and through them, achieve something just as grand. London-based artist Gianna Dispenza’s solo exhibit, Overcome by Joy—being presented at the Charles Moffett Gallery in New York through June 5—is a celebration of the sentiment that there is beauty in the small things. In the following… Read more

Linda Perry first made waves in music as the lead singer and songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, a band that hit it big in 1992 with their platinum-selling song, “What’s Up?” But today, she is best known for writing and producing hits for the biggest names in pop music—she wrote "Beautiful" for Christina Aguilera; "What You Waiting For?" for Gwen Stefani; "Get the Party Started" for P!nk, and so many more bangers it’s impossible to count. Linda was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015, and recently, she’s written… Read more

If the idea of traveling in a tiny house on wheels gives you a thrill, I’ve got good news: that’s exactly what vacationing in an RV is like, and it’s way more accessible and affordable than you might think. With an RV (recreational vehicle), any scenic pull-over spot can become a place to stop for coffee; any location with a view, your favorite local restaurant. You won’t have to deal with creepy motel rooms, packing and unpacking at every stop, or finding a bathroom—you’ll have one on board! And as long as we’re still in… Read more

Julia Cameron is known for helping readers tap into their creativity to improve every aspect of their lives. She is the best-selling author of more than 40 books, most notably The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity (which has sold over four million copies since 1992) and her newest title, The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention. Here, she shares the routine that keeps her career going strong year after year. In The Artist’s Way, you recommend starting every day by writing three pages… Read more

On Monday, the Biden administration banned sex discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in healthcare, according to The Guardian. This decision reverses the Trump administration’s narrowing of the definition of sex and returns to Obama-era policies. The announcement concerns Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act that prevents healthcare providers and insurance companies from discriminating against patients on the basis of "race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in certain health programs and… Read more

BookTube is a growing community within the greater YouTube world that's home to a number of people who produce incredible content all about books. BookTubers usually create videos reviewing and discussing books from a variety of genres, including adult fiction, YA, fantasy, sci-fi, and more. If you're looking for a fun, diverse community of book lovers, then check out the following 10 BookTubers and their creative content below!1. Adri from @perpetualpages Adri is a queer, trans, and nonbinary Mexican-American… Read more

Nine-year old Amal is not a typical girl. Standing almost 12 feet tall, "Little Amal" is a puppet that's set to travel across Turkey and Europe in search of her mother. This ambitious public art project, called "The Walk," was created by a humanitarian theatre group called Good Chance. In this project, Little Amal will travel to 70 different towns, cities, and villages, including those based in Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and France, until she reaches the U.K. The Walk Project was meant to have taken… Read more

Natalie Rivera is the creator and host of the podcast How I F*ck, where she and her guests explore the variance of human sexuality and sexual health. How I F*ck was born from Rivera’s natural curiosity and desire to give folks a space to tell their own stories. Rivera sat down with me to chat about the importance of sexual pleasure and the need for increased sexual representation across media platforms. Hi Natalie, I am so excited to talk. How did How I F*ck come to be? I came across an article in the Atlantic about a… Read more

Movies about having babies are a little more complicated today than they once were. Frozen eggs and sperm donations; in vitro fertilization; surrogacy; nontraditional family structures; and, of course, the question of whether bringing another human into the world is even a morally responsible thing to do, have all entered the conversation. Together Together, directed by Nikole Beckwith and out digitally on May 11, dives into the more emotion-based complications that can arise during a modern pregnancy. Ed Helms stars… Read more

Olaronke Akinmowo, an interdisciplinary artist based in N.Y.C., started The Free Black Women’s Library in 2015 to foster community by encouraging readers to take from and add to her growing collection of books by Black women writers. The FBWL has grown since then into a social art project that includes over 1000 titles, traveling interactive installations, and free monthly gatherings. Here, Akinmowo shares five reading recommendations for books that celebrate the broad spectrum of Black womanhood. Olaronke Akinmowo… Read more

Poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, and Sally Ride, the first female astronaut to go to space, are the first women who will be featured on a series of quarters within the next four years by the U.S. Mint. Each woman will be honored on the reverse, or tails, side of the coins, which will enter circulation in January 2022 as part of the American Women Quarters Program. The heads side of the coin will feature a new design of George Washington, according to The Seattle Times. The U.S. Mint will begin producing a… Read more

Known on Twitch as latinKatt, Katt is a streamer, content creator, and doctor. Mainly streaming the popular Twitch-favorite game Apex Legends, Katt also hosts her own podcast called Coffee Talk, in which she brings together small and large streamers to discuss various topics within the streaming and creator community, such as mental health, failure, relationships, and even diversity. I had the pleasure of getting to know Katt and learning about her journey thus far. I wanted to congratulate you on finishing school and… Read more

If you want further proof that women are damned if we do and damned if we don’t when it comes to fashion, look no further than the maxi coat of 1969. Women were on the tail end of a decade-long joke that focused on their mini skirts. “Mini Skirts Receive Minimum Acceptance,” “Mini Skirt Shiverers Truly Knock-Kneed,” “Leg-islators Find Short Skirts No Mini-Controversy” headlines had ribbed. But when the maxi coat was introduced—thanks to designers like Marc Bohan of Dior who were inspired by the military-tailored… Read more

The 2022 Golden Globe Awards show has officially been canceled by NBC. The annual ceremony was initiated in the ‘40s by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to highlight significant achievements in film and television on an international scale. In light of a report produced by the LA Times earlier this year uncovering some of the HFPA’s corrupt practices, the organization has been scrambling to salvage what’s left of its shattered reputation. This morning NBC announced its decision not to air next year’s Golden… Read more

City University of New York students are demanding the university system cancel class on May 13 for Eid Al-Fitr, the Muslim celebration of the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Over 13,000 people signed a petition created by Israt Islam on change.org, calling on the school to give students the day off for the religious holiday. The petition’s description says the holiday falls during a time where many courses will be holding review classes for finals. Muslim students will have to choose between participating in the… Read more

If, like me, you've spent the past 14 months finding comfort in feel-good YA, you have a lot to be excited about this spring. Some of your soon-to-be favorite additions to your bookshelf are out now — or out very, very soon. And the best part is, we're seeing all kinds of diverse, all-too-relatable heroes, heroines, and love stories, often paired with fresh takes on the genre's best tropes. (Fake dating fans, you'll definitely want to head to your local bookstore ASAP.) Read on for eight of our favorite new and… Read more

Widely considered one of the greatest athletes who ever lived, tennis superstar Serena Williams has won more combined Grand Slam titles than any other active player in the sport. Think you know why in the game of life it’s always advantage Williams? Then take the quiz! Serena Jameka Williams was born on September 26, 1981 in ________. a. Brooklyn, NY b. Montague, MA c. Saginaw, MI d. Palm Beach, FL One year before Serena got her start in the pros, her older sister ______ joined the circuit in 1994. a. Venus b. Diana c.… Read more

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! But since there’s really no reason to restrict it to just one month, here is a list of new and upcoming works by AAPI authors to read all year round (or at least into late August): Yolk by Mary H.K. ChoiOut now.In this YA novel by the author of Emergency Contact and Permanent Record, comes the story of two very different sisters who, once close but now estranged, are forced back into each other's lives when it is revealed that responsible big sister, June, has… Read more

“I blew out the candles. I wished. I wished so hard. I had learned my lesson from fairy tales, though, to never make your wish too specific. Like, if you wish for a lot of money, you might get a big check, but because, like, you lost your arm in an accident or something. So, I left it vague. I wish to be okay. I wish for us all to be okay.” From debut author Sara Hosey comes a heart-breaking tale about abandonment, abuse, homelessness, and survival. Readers of Kody Keplinger’s Run and Tiffany D. Jackson’s Monday’s Not… Read more

During last year’s BLM uprising, Google Trends Data showed a 300 percent increase in the search “How to find a Black-owned business in my area?” Khadijah Robinson, a lawyer based in D.C., makes this #BuyBlack lifestyle easy with The Nile List (thenilelist.com), a site she launched in March 2020 that invites users to “discover dope Black-owned brands.” Simply search for any item you need, from necessities like coffee or laundry detergent to fun stuff like lipstick or bath salts, and up pops a list of direct shopping… Read more

Mother’s Day might be over, but here at BUST we dont need a holiday to honor moms. If you're looking for more ways to celebrate, a great pick would be Shantrelle P. Lewis’ debut documentary In Our Mother’s Gardens. Distributed by Ava DuVernay’s Array and now available to stream on Netflix, this film is a deep exploration of the matriarchal lineages of black and brown families. It’s a multigenerational interrogation of how the legacies of those that came before us continue to live on through the daughters and… Read more

When called to speak at last week’s Pose season three premiere party, Janet Mock gave the Hollywood machine the long overdue reading it deserved. Over the weekend, reports surfaced that Mock —writer, director, and executive producer for the FX hit-series —offered the crowded venue of industry peers and collaborators a testimony to remember, citing unfair pay, a male-dominated writers room, and the exploitation of trans and queer representation as just a few of her grievances. The importance of a show like Pose can’t be… Read more

Mother’s Day is May 9th, and all this weekend, major networks will be honoring their favorite TV moms with marathons and specials. Here are five TV moms that stand out to us as barrier-breaking women all on their own. 1. Tracee Ellis Ross as Dr. Rainbow Johnson in Black-ish Dr. Johnson, who goes by Bow, is hell-bent on providing for her children more than her parents provided for her. As a successful anesthesiologist with a social media addiction, her efforts are certainly comedy fodder for the audience. Her views are… Read more

Once again this year, the National Bail Out collective is raising funds to bail Black mamas out of jail in time for them to spend Mother’s Day with their families. Describing itself as “a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers, and activists,” National Bail Out works to counteract the devastating impact incarceration has on Black families and communities by coordinating bail outs, employment opportunities, and resources. Their work and advocacy also helps the public stay informed… Read more

Mother’s Day weekend is off to a great start at the Pinkett-Smith residence. On a recent special edition of the show Red Table Talk, Willow Smith orchestrated one of the best gifts ever, leading her mother Jada Pinkett-Smith’s former rock band, Wicked Wisdom, in an awesome rendition of their hit song “Bleed All Over Me.” The episode starts with Willow discussing all of the effort that went into planning this surprise months in advance. There was footage of her in rehearsals with the band, and of the entire stage… Read more

Thirty years after winning an Oscar for her work in Ghost, EGOT recipient Whoopi Goldberg will be dipping her toes in screenwriting for a movie about a superhero who is an older Black woman. “Since I was a little kid, I’ve been obsessed with superheroes,” The View host told Variety. “They’re all saving the earth all the time. But do you know who’s really going to save the earth? Old Black women.” The older Black woman character will be at the center of the storyline. She will acquire new powers, but she will have to… Read more

Billie Eilish’s new look isn’t the only thing people are talking about. During her interview with British Vogue, the “Therefore I Am” singer discussed sexual abuse of minors, including her own personal experience. The 19-year old singer revealed that her newest single, “You Power,” is about people, mainly men, who take advantage of individuals who are younger. She explains how, when she was younger, she never thought age mattered in a relationship. “I used to not understand why age mattered. And, of course, you feel… Read more

I RUN MY FINGERTIPS over the smooth cotton covers, then flop onto the bed, a huge grin on my face. I’d forgotten I could feel like this: belly all aflutter, heart pounding. How long has it been? Years? Half a lifetime? Freshly showered, I’m naked and a shiver races through me as the air conditioning touches my skin. Lying exposed feels daring, naughty, and I giggle like a teenager, exhilarated by the prospect of a night of mind-blowing sex. I squirm, the fluttering in my belly spreading to my loins and becoming a warm,… Read more

India is currently facing the worst COVID-19 crisis in the world. Last month’s death toll spiked to 58,000, adding to the 220,000 total deaths in the country. So far, the number of cases has reached 20 million, but according to Reuters, experts believe the number is higher. India is in dire need of support and help. Vaccines are limited, hospitals are crowded, oxygen is in short supply, and crematoriums are overflowing, PBS reports. Healthcare workers are overwhelmed, trying to treat as many people as they can while… Read more

Once a feel-good retro hobby, the popularity of roller skating has skyrocketed since the pandemic put a premium on outdoor, socially distanced fun. Here, Brooklyn’s reigning skate queen Lola Star shares all her tips for getting up to speed By Lola Star Photos by Lauren Silberman Author and Brooklyn-based skate queen Lola Star photographed at Industry City Roller skating is pure magic. It is my church, therapy, gym, and social club all rolled into one dazzling experience. When I lace skates onto my feet, an ecstatic… Read more

Reese Witherspoon's book club LitUp will be taking applications for an all-expense paid fellowship program for underrepresented, unpublished women. The Legally Blonde and HBO hit-series Big Little Lies actress is on a mission to have all voices heard. Five chosen candidates will embark on a three-month mentorship with a published author to help them learn about book marketing, to connect them with top agents, and to get their books ready for the market. The program is powered by The Readership, a pay-it-forward… Read more

In a stunning, vulnerable memoir-in-essays, author Larissa Pham explains and explores her desire to connect—with people, with places, and even with objects—and, in turn, reminds readers that we aren’t alone, either. Ultimately, she finds this feeling of connection through art. Using work by artists like Louise Bourgeois, Nan Goldin, and Yayoi Kusama as a prism, Pham shares her experiences with, and thoughts about, pain and trauma, sex and obsession, crushes and breakups, and intimacy in all its forms. Within these… Read more

Billie Eilish swept the world off its feet with her single “Ocean Eyes” when she was just 13 years old; five years later, she will be hosting the 2021 Met Gala. Her fans have grown up with her and her ever-developing style, keeping her a household name that tugs on every member of Gen-Z’s heart. The Met Gala’s lineup of young superstars hosting this year’s ultimate tribute to fashion are Eilish, actor Timothee Chalamet, poet Amanda Gorman, and tennis player Naomi Osaka. Each are under the age of 30 and are already… Read more

Remembering Carrie Fisher is often a hard task because, unlike most celebrities, she was a person. Her mental health and substance use struggles were tabloid fodder for years. After coming to terms with her mental health, Fisher became an activist for individuals living with substance abuse disorder and bipolar disorder. Both things are touched on in her books Wishful Drinking and The Princess Diarist. In middle school, I picked up Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. This, as indicated by its title, is not a book for… Read more

If you’ve ever gone swimwear shopping online as a plus-size person, you know the drill: head to a separate section of a brand’s website to peruse a limited selection, or hope that some of the swimsuits designed for slimmer bodies come in your size, too. And, when they do have larger sizes, they’re usually old-lady style swimsuits with giant skirts or other drape-y parts attached meant to hide your body. But what if there was a company that didn’t make you feel like an afterthought? It turns out, there is one.… Read more

Growing up, Lilly Dancyger idolized her father, a sculptor in the 1980s East Village art scene. When he dies, the trauma of the loss reverberates through her adolescence, eventually causing her to spiral into self-destruction. She struggles to adjust to a life without him, carting around stacks of his journals, promising herself that she will read them one day. However, when she finally opens them, she is disappointed to find that his journals detail his plans for his sculptures and very little about the life that he… Read more

As if periods were already too much of a hassle, German brand Pinky Gloves seems to take the cake for one of the most frustrating and unnecessary inventions for menstruators in recent history. After receiving extreme backlash for their newest product, designed for people to make as little mess as possible when changing their hygiene products, founders Eugen Raimkulow and Andre Ritterswürden went to Instagram to address the outrage. In a long-winded apology that was translated from German, the duo describes their… Read more

Alternative R&B dynamic duo Lion Babe is back on the music scene with a new song honoring the legendary Frida Kahlo. An iconic 20th century visual artist, Kahlo is widely celebrated for her original, highly introspective paintings that center themes of Mexican-indigenous identity, womanhood, and the human form. She specialized in self-portraiture, and is known to have used vibrant color schemes in her artwork. Lead singer Jillian Hervey and producer Lucas Goodman have been musical collaborators for nearly a decade, but… Read more

Recently, someone asked me about a possible connection between ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and sexuality. “Sex can be challenging sometimes,” they wrote, “and I’m wondering if it’s linked to my ADHD.” The answer here is that sex can be challenging, and one reason for that is that it’s not a stand-alone bodily function. Like other physical systems, it links up with all the other elements of our well-being, from circulatory to socioemotional. So yes, it is certainly possible that ADHD could connect… Read more

From a convent schoolgirl to a 1960s pop princess in the center of the swinging London scene, Marianne Faithfull is a bona fide legend who, after struggling with addiction and homelessness, reclaimed herself artistically with the brilliant 1979 album Broken English. After recovering from COVID-19 recently, Faithfull was inspired to record a spoken-word album of her favorite poems—“She Walks in Beauty” (Lord Byron), “Ode to a Nightingale” (John Keats), and other classics—collaborating with artists including Nick Cave,… Read more

Whether you recognize her from her breathtaking audition from season 15 of The Voice, or her viral TikTok hit, “Deep End”, Fousheè is more than just a talented singer, she’s a multifaceted visionary and a master with the guitar. Recently, she was hand-picked by guitar brand Fender to join the 2021 class of Fender Next. Known for its influence on providing artists a space to grow their exposure, Fender has currently reached 10 million fans worldwide through its outreach of video content, ads, and social media. I had the… Read more

Soleil Moon Frye first became a star at eight years old in the hit sitcom, Punky Brewster. That show, about a tiny, street-smart girl abandoned by her mother and fostered by an elderly man, ran from 1984 to 1988, making Soleil one of the most famous children in America. In the time since, Soleil continued to act, started directing, and started a family. But in the 1990s, no matter what she was up to, she always carried a video camera, carefully documenting her young life. Now, all that footage has been made into a… Read more

Lately, a number of people who menstruate have been reporting something new after receiving the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine: irregular menstrual cycles. But is there really a correlation between the two? In February of this year, Dr. Kathryn Clancy, associate professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, took to Twitter about her reaction to the vaccine. A colleague told me she has heard from others that their periods were heavy post-vax. I'm curious whether other menstruators have noticed… Read more

Over the course of the last decade, many of us have surely taken notice of the exponential uptick in content being produced in the audio-media landscape. The particularly booming podcasting industry has yielded an abundance of diverse content for listeners to enjoy anytime, anyplace. For over eight years, podcasting OGs Crissle West and Kid Fury of The Read have entertained millions of listeners weekly. Their concerted efforts have recently paid off in a major way, as reports surfaced online this week that they’ve made… Read more

Trigger warning: transphobia, discrimination against trans women Around the country, anti-trans bills are being passed through State Houses with ease. One of the most recent horrific pieces of legislation is coming out of Florida. Here is a break down of the bill: The "Fairness in Women’s Sports Act" will bar "non-females" from participating in women’s sports at the interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, and club levels. It passed the House 77-40 and is now in debates in the Senate. The bill states that sports… Read more

Film director and artist Robin Frohardt sends a powerful message through her short film, Plastic Bag Store: The Film. Using colorful objects and puppetry, Frohardt’s film depicts how wasteful humans are, and how we’re destroying our planet. The curtains open, introducing us to a market called "The Plastic Bag Store." Colorful, delectable items are on full display: cupcakes, cereal, fruit, vegetables. At first glance, these items appear to be real. But upon closer inspection, we see that the items are made of plastic,… Read more

In an age where superficiality has oversaturated today’s media, creators such as Kera Ariyel are here to remind you that it’s okay to not have it all figured out, and that vulnerability can be a beautiful thing. Kera Ariyel is a content creator and founder of Shift, a management company made specifically for marginalized creators whose worth is not recognized as equally as their work. I had the pleasure of getting to know Ariyel and learn more about her spiritual journey, the process behind creating Shift, and why it’s… Read more