“Black Women Being Loved Out Loud: A Global Renaissance” celebrates a cultural awakening where Black women across the world are choosing softness, joy, and self-love without apology. From Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘soft girl era’ to Chanté Joseph’s viral reflections on visibility, this essay explores how Black womanhood is shifting from survival to serenity — proving that being loved, seen, and centered is the most powerful revolution of all.

In “Barbie and I,” Ceonna M. reflects on her lifelong relationship with dolls—from childhood afternoons spent reenacting Barbie’s Swan Lake to rediscovering the magic of doll collecting during the pandemic. Through Barbie and Bratz, she explores how Black womanhood, self-image, and joy evolve within a culture that often tries to define them. What begins as nostalgia unfolds into a meditation on identity, representation, and finding power in play.