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The Ritual Report: How This ‘Girl Dinner’ Helped Me Reclaim My Feminine Health
ESSENCE Senior Beauty & Style Editor Akili King believes ‘glow’ is more than skin deep. In The Ritual Report , she shares personal healing practices—from acupuncture for skin and grounding benefits to
The WNBA ‘felt like a lifeline’ for LGBTQ+ fans. Anti-trans attacks are testing that refuge.
Irene Vázquez found the WNBA at just the right time. It was the summer of 2020, and emergency pandemic guidelines had kept them physically separated from their friends and support system for months. T
The Right to an Abortion Doesn’t Actually Pay for An Abortion (Podcast)
In this solo episode of B*tch, Listen, Imani Gandy asks what it means to protect abortion rights on paper when people can’t afford to use them in practice. Her theory: Funding is the first thing a coa
Afghanistan: Taliban Forcibly Disappear 6 Rights Workers
(New York, August 12, 2026) – Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have forcibly disappeared six staff members of the nongovernmental group Women and Children Legal Research Foundation (WCLRF) for nearl
US: Federal Agencies Abandon Civil Rights Duties
Click to expand Image Demonstrators hold signs in support of voting rights outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on October 15, 2025. © 2025 Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images (Washi
Pakistan: Investigate Deaths of Woman, Girl in Police Custody
Click to expand Image A police officer stands guard in Peshawar, Pakistan, August 5, 2023. © 2023 Mohammad Sajjad/AP Photo (London) – Pakistani authorities should ensure a prompt, independent, and tra
Keeping Score: Trump Disapproval Hits a New Low; Continued ICE Violence; AOC on Freezing Her Eggs: ‘Don’t Be Weird About This’
In every issue of Ms. , we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Ke
Meet Beverly Beal, Jr.: The Detroit IP Attorney Pouring Back Into Her City
In honor of Black Business Month , ESSENCE continues thoughtful conversations with changemakers charting their own course as entrepreneurs. Next up is Beverly Beal Jr. who has a resume as unique as he
People Think Anne Hathaway’s Pregnancy Is Fake, And It Highlights Awful Scrutiny About Women’s Bodies
This is not the first “bumpvestigation” targeting a powerful woman in the public eye.
How Black Heart Association Is Bringing Heart Health And Community Care To New Orleans
In New Orleans, celebrations of Black freedom have long been rooted in culture, connection, and showing up for community. This Juneteenth, that spirit of service took on an added focus on health equit
Rihanna Shares Rare Photos of Her 3 Kids During Barbados Vacation
That Rihanna reign just won’t let up! Sis is winning. (And she stays winning.) Yes, she’s a billionaire. Yes, she has broken records and become a trailblazer in music, fashion, beauty and business. Ye
Ms. Talks @ Martha’s Vineyard: Michele Goodwin and Dorothy Roberts on America at 250, the Right to Love and Family (Aug. 19)
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, Ms. will bring together two of the country’s leading legal scholars and feminist thinkers—Michele Goodwin and Dorothy Roberts—for a special Ms. Talks conversation on Martha’s Vi
Trump administration urges Supreme Court to issue a decision in mail-in voting dispute
The Trump administration on Wednesday reiterated its request for the Supreme Court to move quickly to block a ruling by a federal judge in Massachusetts that prohibits the government from implementing
WATCH: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Hunts For Justice In Final ‘BY ANY MEANS’ Trailer
Today, Paramount Pictures has released the final trailer for BY ANY MEANS , the upcoming crime thriller starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg. Inspired by real events, the film takes audien
I Spent $2,000 on This Braid Style—And I’d Do It Again
This summer, I went on a mission to achieve my dream braid style: microbraids with enough free-flowing hair to keep the look lightweight, movable, and effortlessly cool. Think Zoë Kravitz’s signature
Keri Hilson Says It Was ‘A Tough World’ Being An NBA Wag: ‘I Did Not Enjoy It’
We are in the era of the celebrity WAG . The wives and girlfriends of athletes are no longer high school sweethearts or unnamed baddies. They are singers. Rappers. Even athletes themselves. And while
Detaining Families, Policing Pregnancy: Trump’s Immigration Crackdown on Women and Children
Trump’s latest attacks on birthright citizenship are part of a much broader effort to police American identity, punish migrant women for entering the U.S. and ultimately regulate their reproduction. I
Eric Benét On Music, Mental Health And Finally Showing His Funny Side
Since emerging in the 1990s, Eric Benét has become one of R&B’s most consistent singers and songwriters, earning four Grammy nominations while creating records such as “Spend My Life With You,” “Somet
Lauryn Hill Reminds Us Plum Is The Ultimate Transitional Lip Color
There’s one more item that Lauryn Hill should add to her list of iconic things she’s known for. In addition to the out of this world vocals and lyricism, acting skills, head-turning natural hair looks
SCOTUS has issued its decisions. Now Congress has the floor.
Please note that SCOTUS Outside Opinions constitute the views of outside contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SCOTUSblog or its staff. A healthy federal government depends on an
Are Republicans falling out of love with the Supreme Court?
Public opinion polls fielded and released this summer showed a by-now-familiar partisan gap in views on the Supreme Court. Republicans are not only more likely than Democrats to approve of the way the
The 19 Best Scalp Products For Itchy Braids
Nothing ruins braids quicker than an itchy scalp. You’ve sat in the chair for hours, shelled out hundreds of dollars, and all of a sudden, your scalp has never felt itchier. Even reaching for a hair o
The new birthright citizenship battle
President Donald Trump celebrated the news that Justice Samuel Alito will be back for the Supreme Court’s 2026-27 term in a Monday night Truth Social post . “Great news for our Country!,” Trump wrote.
She bought ‘GLP-1’ patches on TikTok. She got scammed instead.
Victoria Schmidt was scrolling through TikTok last July when the advertisement first appeared: a video of a woman promoting patches purporting to contain GLP-1 medication. The woman described herself
New HIV Guidance Aims To Protect More Women
A leading medical group now advises OB-GYNs to “proactively” discuss and prescribe HIV prevention drugs with their patients. “You could have one partner,” said a doctor who helped author the guidance.
Flock is just the latest example of using surveillance to stalk women
Flock Safety claims over 5,000 law enforcement agencies use its license plate readers to help locate missing persons, catch thieves and identify suspicious vehicles. The company is most known for its
‘Feminists need to push back’: how did the women’s movement become so divided – and how can it reunite?
Just a few years ago, women would fight for other women whatever their background or politics. Today, many loudly dismiss the struggles of those who are not like them. But the solidarity is still ther
“They’re Putting Kids’ Lives at Risk”: How Abuse in a Tennessee Businessman’s Juvenile Prisons Remained Under Wraps
Thomas Jarvis, now 20, was attacked twice at juvenile justice facilities overseen by Jason Crews, a Tennessee businessman. In both instances, facility leadership failed to report the incidents to the
Wisconsin Democrats choose David Crowley over Francesca Hong’s progressive vision
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a center-left Democrat who primarily ran on economic issues, squeaked out a narrow win Tuesday in a highly competitive primary for governor of Wisconsin, Deci
Peggy Flanagan could make history for Native American women in November. She’s not the only one.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan easily won Minnesota’s Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat, according to Decision Desk HQ, putting her a step closer to becoming the first Native American woman elected t
Ronald Isley Reveals He Was Recently Hospitalized For Five Weeks
You never really know what people are going through. Isley Brothers lead singer Ronald Isley gave some insight into a health battle he recently faced while on the stage in front of longtime fans. The
The Best Linen Pieces To Shop Before The Summer Ends
There’s something about linen that instantly makes an outfit feel more effortless and airy. Lightweight, oversized, and endlessly versatile, the summer-ready fabric is the boiling hot days where you s
Challenge brought to Trump’s new birthright citizenship order
Just five days after President Donald Trump signed a new executive order that seeks to narrow the availability of birthright citizenship – the current guarantee of automatic citizenship to almost all
Hip-Hop Turns 53! Celebrating LL Cool J, Nas, Jay-Z And Other Icons Still Shaping The Culture
“You never thought that hip-hop would take it this far…” When Christopher Wallace, better known as the Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie, rapped these catchy lyrics in his hit, Juicy, no one could have predi
Head Start could soon be overhauled. Here’s exactly what would change.
The Trump administration is pushing a total overhaul of Head Start that could fundamentally reshape the 60-year-old program that has provided childcare and key support for America’s lowest-income fami
How to talk to your kids about body image — without toxicity
Want more stories like this? Subscribe to our menopause newsletter . We’re once again in a cycle of headlines that feels acutely focused on celebrity and weight and eating disorders. And unfortunately
A Midterm Liability for Republicans: Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Is Deeply Unpopular
It’s been over a year since President Donald Trump signed the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill (HR 1) into law—a sweeping 2025 budget-reconciliation package that extends and expands tax cuts, funds de
States across the US are stepping up to protect contraceptive access
States across the US are stepping up to protect contraceptive access sramashwar August 11, 2026 Exclude from search No Video Type YouTube Short
State policy attacks on abortion access in the first half of 2026
State policy attacks on abortion access in the first half of 2026 sramashwar August 11, 2026 Exclude from search No Video Type YouTube Short
New Kentucky Media Campaign Fights Back Against Abortion Ban After Criminal Prosecutions
Across Kentucky, pregnant women are facing growing surveillance and the threat of criminalization for pregnancy outcomes that are often beyond their control. Recent prosecutions have underscored how m
Weakening the protection against sex discrimination?
Few were surprised by the court’s ruling in West Virginia v. B.P.J. upholding a West Virginia law prohibiting transgender girls and women from participating in sports corresponding to their gender ide
Meet the new Director of the Ipas Collaborative Fund
A Q&A with Dr. Anita Nyanjong The Ipas Collaborative Fund is a central part of Ipas’s approach to advancing reproductive justice and supporting locally led change. As we work to grow the Fund and its
Viola Davis Proves You Can Have Fun With Beauty At Any Age
“There’s a feeling like you’re no longer valuable when you get older,” Viola Davis told ESSENCE in an interview about her L’Oréal partnership back in 2021 . But, aging “is about liberating yourself fr
What is the Comstock Act, the 1873 Law That Could Ban Mailed Abortion Pills?
Nearly three dozen anti-abortion groups have called on newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche to dust off a 150-year-old law and use it to effectively stop telehealth abortion nationwide: Opini
Built to Withstand Trump-Era Attacks on Mifepristone: New Telehealth Provider Serves All 50 States for Sliding-Scale Fee
Telehealth provider At Home Abortion just opened Aug. 11, but the six doctors and nurses running the service have over 100 years combined experience providing abortion and other reproductive healthcar
Is Martha’s Vineyard Only For The Wealthy? Resident India Rose Debunks This And Other Common Myths
In Black America during the summer, there are some guarantees we can (almost) universally agree on: We’re getting invited to at least one all-white event, we respect that the cookout potato salad maki
Abortion in the United States Dashboard
The Abortion in the U.S. Dashboard is an ongoing research project tracking state abortion policies and litigation following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
AOC is freezing her eggs — and sharing the process online
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is taking social media followers behind the scenes as she freezes her eggs. The New York Democrat announced Saturday night on Instagram and the next day on ABC News
The real-life, offline campaign of Francesca Hong
MILWAUKEE — State Rep. Francesca Hong, Democratic candidate for governor of Wisconsin, looked out at a crowd of 1,300 supporters. Her earliest two were in the very front. “My parents chose Wisconsin,”
‘Even the nuns are mad’: Catholic sisters are standing for Haitians outside ICE offices
BLUE ASH, OHIO — The first Haitian immigrant reported to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office at 7:42 a.m. on Sunday. From the corner, the Catholic sisters watched, their positio
US Activates Long Unused Deportation Court
Click to expand Image An image of US President Donald Trump hangs from the Department of Justice Building in Washington, DC, May 18, 2026. © 2026 Andrew Harnik/Getty Images The United States governmen
Massachusetts expands abortion access to any point during pregnancy
Massachusetts eliminated its cutoff for when someone can get an abortion, making it the tenth state — along with Washington, D.C. — to allow the procedure at any point in pregnancy. “We believe that h
The Career Ladder Was Never Built With Women In Mind — So We're Building Something Else
To understand why this is happening now, on a larger scale than ever before, we have to look at what the last few years have revealed.
The Ritual Report: The Healing Powers Of A Generational Girls Trip
ESSENCE Senior Beauty & Style Editor Akili King believes ‘glow’ is more than skin deep. In The Ritual Report , she shares personal healing practices—from acupuncture for skin and grounding benefits to
Todd Blanche Confirmed as Attorney General After Anti-Abortion Comments
Plus: Voters in Kansas and Missouri reject ballot initiatives that may have further curbed abortion access. Each week, Rewire News Group editors scour headlines nationwide—from lawsuits over abortion
4 Essence Editors On Their Favorite Summer-To-Fall Nail Colors
There are officially 43 days left of summer (yes, I’m counting and dreading it!). But there’s one thing that makes the gradual transition to a new season a little easier: picking out new nail colors !
Justice Alito isn’t going anywhere
Thirty-three years ago today, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn-in . At the Court On July 27, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on its emergency docket to clear the way for the impl
Trump Accounts could benefit kids. But can they access them?
Trinity Coleman of Boones Mill, Virginia, gave birth to twins in May 2025. Under a new program created by 2025’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, each of Coleman’s babies is entitled to $1,000 in a tax-de