Elise Sole

Moby is under fire for critiquing the U.S. food stamps program. (Photo: Getty Images)

Moby is taking heat for criticizing the U.S. food stamp program in an op-ed titled, “Food Stamps Shouldn’t Pay for Junk Food.”

On Tuesday, the musician wrote in the Wall Street Journal that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, a federal effort that helps 40 million Americans buy food via a payment card, does not promote health.

“Even though SNAP is generally well-intentioned, what it puts on shelves is not always helpful or healthy,” wrote Moby. “SNAP rules allow stores to distribute candy, soda, cheese products, energy drinks, processed meats and lots of other items that end up seriously compromising the health of SNAP recipients.”

Moby disclosed that while he was growing up in Darien, Conn., his mother relied on food stamps to feed him. He also noted that research shows people collecting SNAP have worse diets than others and are more likely to be obese when compared with people at the same income level who don’t participate in the program.

Arguing that the solution isn’t to end SNAP but rather to reform it, Moby writes, “A better approach would be to focus the program on cheap, healthy foods like beans, vegetables, fruit and whole grains.” He says, “Congress should fix SNAP, not gut it. The U.S. can have healthier people, lower health-care costs, and a trimmer budget at the same time.”

In February, President Trump suggested revamping SNAP as “America’s Harvest Box” and offering shelf-stable (processed) food selected by the government in lieu of people purchasing their own food with payment cards. The proposed plan would slash SNAP benefits by $17.2 billion in 2019 and was criticized for being highly impractical and inefficient.

“What we do is propose that, for folks who are on food stamps, part — not all, part — of their benefits come in the actual sort of — and I don’t want to steal somebody’s copyright — but a Blue Apron-type program where you actually receive the food instead of receive the cash,” Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters, according to NBC.

Moby’s suggestion was met with equal disdain — many called him names such as a “vegan millionaire” and labeled him out of touch.

vegan millionaire: poor people shouldn't be able to buy candy or meat https://t.co/kI06mA0sIc

— Ben Walsh (@BenDWalsh) April 10, 2018

Moby, who’s rich, should STFU and stop pairing with the WSJ to punch the poor & advocate for controlling what they do. Being poor is stressful, eating healthy takes time many people don’t have. https://t.co/32FJFJ96ma

— Alexis Goldstein (@alexisgoldstein) April 10, 2018

We now turn to subject matter expert Moby, who has identified the key problems with SNAP: It is too good at feeding poor people, and not good enough at making them feel bad for eating the same foods as non-poor people. https://t.co/k2A0hxdDe1 pic.twitter.com/xSnt3juaBZ

— Gray Kimbrough (@graykimbrough) April 10, 2018

It’s a bit more complicated than that in that Moby is arguing against subsidiIng the junk food industrial complex. I would argue SNAP could encourage more healthy choices without telling poor families they can’t treat their kids to the snacks other kids enjoy. Dignity matters. https://t.co/PE160Aaqdg

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) April 10, 2018

Things Moby's op-ed doesn't address:

1.) Food deserts 2.) The fact that healthy food can be expensive 3.) The fact that some families on SNAP might not have the time/equipment to prepare healthy foods

— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) April 10, 2018

didn't realize food stamps could be used to buy Moby albums pic.twitter.com/o4ziTE1Tds

— Kevin Nguyen (@knguyen) April 10, 2018

Moby’s plan is problematic, according to Craig Gundersen, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois. “The reason SNAP works so well is that it gives dignity and autonomy to families,” he tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “The notion of the government telling people what to feed themselves is insulting and could cause SNAP participants to drop out of the program altogether.”

Noting that Moby, a long-time vegan, follows his own unique diet, Gundersen says there’s an inherent danger in imposing specific menus on the public. “By his theory, how would SNAP cater to people with specific dietary needs stemming from allergies, religious beliefs, or medical issues?” says Gundersen. “It’s a slippery slope.”

There’s also a financial downside to Moby’s plan, he says, including rising food prices. “Companies would also have to label or categorize food either SNAP approved or not,” he notes. “And while that may be feasible for large organizations, it would be a massive undertaking for mom-and-pop companies, some of whom may opt out altogether.”

Gundersen added, “Being poor is stigmatizing enough — do we really want to embarrass people in the checkout line? We owe poor people dignity.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

If a test could predict you’ll get a terminal illness in 20 years, would you take it?

A Competitive Eater Suffered a Rare ‘Thunderclap’ Headache Brought on by the World’s Hottest Chili Pepper

Ivanka Trump’s tweet about healthy-children programs backfires

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

Melania Trump fans are calling for the first lady to become a magazine cover star, with some tweeting her most glamorous photos.

The issue was raised on Saturday when actor James Woods tweeted, “If the Trumps were Democrats, Melania would be on every cover of every chic women’s magazine in the world every month,” alongside a photo of the first lady wearing a strapless blue gown.

Melania Trump isn’t landing magazine covers, and her fan base isn’t pleased. (Photo: Getty Images)

If the Trumps were Democrats, Melania would be on every cover of every chic women’s magazine in the world every month. pic.twitter.com/yLDSkfKufT

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) April 7, 2018

His comment echoed across Twitter in the form of 18,500 retweets and more than 58,000 likes.

FLOTUS is one of the best-dressed, most elegant and beautiful women on the planet! Are they afraid she will make everyone else in the magazine look bad???

— Lady Patriot (@lynn_weiser) April 9, 2018

When will @FLOTUS be on your cover @voguemagazine? Michelle Obama was on your cover THREE times starting in March 2009. Dec 2016's cover stated she was, "The First Lady the world fell in love with".

Is your political bias so blind you can't see we the people love Melania Trump? https://t.co/1cM1AD8mTR

— Jessie Jane Duff (@JessieJaneDuff) April 9, 2018

It's a flagrant a snub Vogue hasn't had Melania grace a cover by now. Fashion is not a conservative or liberal market. Photographers & designers love her.

Vogue can see Melania is popular throughout the world. Missing out on a record selling magazine is foolish.

— Jessie Jane Duff (@JessieJaneDuff) April 9, 2018

Why don’t we create a trump magazine and feature what we want instead of waiting for one to feature them @FLOTUS @realDonaldTrump

— Kaya Jones (@KayaJones) April 9, 2018

On the surface, the first lady has enough cred to cover every fashion magazine on the newsstand. The former model from communist Slovenia worked in Milan and Paris before moving to the United States in 1996, where she scored covers for Sports Illustrated, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ.

After meeting Donald Trump at a fashion party in 1998 and marrying him in 2005, Melania retreated into private life to care for the couple’s now 12-year-old son, Barron. However, her classic beauty and position in society remained a focal point for mainstream publications, blogs, and Instagram accounts.

Back in February, NBC explored Melania’s absence on magazine covers, comparing her to first lady Michelle Obama, who covered Vogue on three different occasions. One magazine editor who spoke to NBC anonymously said, “For some people, it’s a moral issue,” referring to that fact that some readers feel the administration is steeped in racist policies. “There is no way to do the Trumps without infuriating either the base or the resistance. It is a no-win.”

Another possible reason Melania doesn’t appear on covers stems from personal politics, according to Samir Husni, director of the Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi. “Some magazine editors may be putting politics ahead of money and vice versa,” he told NBC. For example, in October 2016, Vogue publicly supported Hillary Clinton for president, writing that the former secretary of state was the “perfect” presidential candidate.

And when Wintour did mull over the possibility of putting Melania on the cover of Vogue, telling the Wall Street Journal in February 2017, “We have a tradition of always covering whoever is the first lady at Vogue, and I can’t imagine that this time would be any different,” that lead to threats to boycott the publication. In the previous month, when Vanity Fair’s Mexico edition ran a cover photo of Melania posing with a plate of jewels (from a year-old issue of GQ), the magazine took heat for projecting materialism and “a lack of sensitivity.”

NBC pointed out that Melania’s avoidance of interviews is another factor. Plus, her silence — on policy, her personal platform, her husband’s alleged extramarital affairs — wouldn’t amount to compelling cover stories. There’s also the fact that, while Tommy Hilfiger and Mark Badgley and James Mischka of Badgley Mischka have made supportive statements about dressing Melania, many fashion designers, such as Tom Ford, Zac Posen, Christian Siriano, and Marc Jacobs, have refused to dress her.

Even if Melania has aspirations to be a cover star, the first couple’s distrust of certain media outlets might be problematic. In November, Melania criticized Vanity Fair for suggesting that she didn’t enjoy her role as first lady, and her communications director issued this statement:

“Once again, part of the liberal media, this time Vanity Fair, has written a story riddled with unnamed sources and false assertions. As a magazine tailored to women, it is shameful that they continue to write salacious and false stories meant to demean Mrs. Trump, rather than focus on her positive work as First Lady as a supportive wife and mother.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Ivanka Trump’s tweet about healthy-children programs backfires

Melania Trump reads to children, President Trump touts the economy at White House Easter Egg Roll

What body language experts think about Hope Hicks and President Trump’s goodbye kiss

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

A tweet from Ivanka Trump emphasizing healthy lifestyles for children initiated backlash over the administration’s approach to health care.

On Sunday the first daughter tweeted, “We need to promote healthy lifestyles for America’s youth. In a recent survey, 9.5 million U.S. children reported that they did NOT once participate in any of over 100 sports or activities listed.”

We need to promote healthy lifestyles for America’s youth. In a recent survey, 9.5 million U.S. children reported that they did NOT once participate in any of over 100 sports or activities listed. #YouthSports @AspenInstitute

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) April 8, 2018

Mark Hertling, a retired 37-year Army general, tweeted back, ”Ummm…there’s this thing called the President’s Council on Fitness, Sport, and Nutrition. Been around 60 years. Used to have 25 appointees…I was one of them. @MichelleObama helped & generated momentum in this area. No one is on the Council now. @FitnessGov. Check it out.”

Ummm…there’s this thing called the President’s Council on Fitness, Sport, and Nutrition. Been around 60 years. Used to have 25 appointees…I was one of them. @MichelleObama helped & generated momentum in this area. No one is on the Council now. @FitnessGov. Check it out. https://t.co/R6xh1n0Qi7

— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) April 8, 2018

Hertling’s comments were in reference to Trump’s various changes to the Obama administration’s children’s health programs.

Ivanka Trump’s tweet to promote healthier living for children wasn’t well received. (Photo: Getty Images)

In February the president reworded the title of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, swapping the order of “Fitness” and “Sports” to emphasize team sports. On the website for the modified initiative, not only are the council co-chairs and members omitted (the page states, “To be announced”), its content was last reviewed on March 21, 2017, suggesting its low priority on the Trump agenda.

And in May 2017, according to Reuters, Sonny Perdue, Trump’s secretary of agriculture, announced changes to school lunch programs, such as serving fewer whole grains and fattier milk. Under Obama, the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act required schools to serve more produce, cut sodium, and set maximum calorie limits, as part of Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign.

Hertling also tweeted, “One more thing…it falls under @HHSGov Ask their secretary…oh, never mind.”

One more thing…it falls under @HHSGov Ask their Secretary…oh, never mind.

— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) April 8, 2018

He may have been referring to recent chaos in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services — Secretary Tom Price resigned in September after criticism about his use of expensive private jets and was replaced by Alex Azar, a former pharmaceutical rep.

Ivanka’s tweet also earned criticism from those opposing the dismantling of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), one of the current president’s long-term goals.

And you’re not helping. In fact, your fathers administration is harming children in so many ways: cuts on healthcare, no more presidents fitness council, NRA money, deregulation of environmental laws, disregard for wildlife and SO MUCH MORE!

— Micaela S (@Micaela60093570) April 9, 2018

And some found Ivanka’s message hypocritical because of the president’s love of fast food and his current weight, which experts say is nearing obesity, despite the White House physician noting his “excellent” health.

Healthy lifestyles? Why not start with your commander in chief who seems to subsist solely on KFC and other fast food?

— aeternumvaledg (@aeternumvaledg) April 9, 2018

One remaining Obama effort is the White House Kitchen Garden, which Melania Trump used in September, inviting local schoolchildren to plant vegetables. “I’m a big believer in healthy eating because it reflects on your mind and your body,” Melania said, according to Politico. “I encourage you to continue to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, so you grow up healthy and take care of yourself.”

Michelle Obama planted the garden in 2009, to provide fresh vegetables to the staff, and it ultimately triggered the idea for “Let’s Move.”

Melania Trump in the White House Kitchen Garden in September, planting vegetables with local schoolchildren. (Photo: Getty Images)

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Melania Trump reads to children, President Trump touts the economy at White House Easter Egg Roll

Fox News claims that Melania Trump is treated more harshly than Michelle Obama

What body language experts think about Hope Hicks and President Trump’s goodbye kiss

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

A transgender teen whose high school principal threatened to cut her photo from the yearbook because of the student’s “too feminine” attire has won the right to dress how she pleases.

On Tuesday, the Caddo Parish School District in Shreveport, La., released a statement that said, “Caddo Parish stands by the First Amendment right of students to express themselves, and that belief is supported within the [school board’s] approved dress code policy.”

Transgender teen Kami Pham won the right to wear makeup and heels in her yearbook photo. (Photo: Courtesy of Tatjana Cotton)

The victory was well-deserved for Kami Pham, 19, a senior at Southwood High School who fought to wear makeup, a wig, and heels in her school photo and at her graduation ceremony May 9.

After Pham had submitted her yearbook photo — which featured her wearing a bright pink shirt, jeans, a black wig, and makeup — her yearbook adviser informed her that Principal Jeff Roberts said the pictures were “too feminine.” Pham was given the option of finding a new photographer and paying for a new picture in one business day.

“I was given no notice to redo a photo someone else had a problem with,” Pham tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Plus, I took those photos almost one year ago. No one said anything to me until last month.”

What’s more, Pham’s friend Tatjana Cotton tells Yahoo Lifestyle that teachers are accustomed to Pham’s look. “She wears nail polish and bright colors to class,” she says.

A group of Pham’s friends launched a petition to fight for her rights. (Photo: Courtesy of Tatjana Cotton)

A few days later, Pham intercepted Roberts in the hallway and asked if she could wear heels, a wig, and makeup to her graduation ceremony. She was told her request went against the school dress code.

However, when Pham and Cotton reviewed their dress code on the school website, it was clear Pham hadn’t violated any rules.

In late March, Cotton and a group of friends launched a petition, “Stop LGBT+ discrimination in North Louisiana schools,” that contained an open letter to Roberts and acquired almost 5,000 signatures.

“Our principal since 2010, Jeff Roberts … believes in a bigoted ideology that those in the LGBT community are not welcome here, and will not be able to find a place at Southwood,” the petition stated. “Roberts, citing a nonexistent rule in the Caddo Parish Student Handbook and Southwood High School Dress Code, claimed that Kami’s photographs were not to be printed in our yearbook or displayed on our senior wall, because she chose to wear a wig and ‘feminine’ attire, which Roberts went on to deem ‘inappropriate’ for someone whose birth certificate identifies them as male.

“We also demand that Kami be allowed in our yearbook, as well as on our senior wall, as well as a formal apology from Jeff Roberts for discriminating and violating the first amendment rights of a student and abusing his authority as principal.”

A representative from the school did not return Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment.

“I thought we were going to get around 100 signatures,” says Pham. “It felt good to get that much support and made me push harder.”

On Tuesday, Pham was granted a meeting with the student council president and brought along a former employee of the American Civil Liberties Union for backup. “We pretended she was my grandmother,” Pham says.

A few hours later, Pham received an email confirming that her chosen photo will run in the yearbook. She’s also looking forward to wearing heels, makeup, a wig — and a tuxedo — to her graduation ceremony.

“What I did was good for LGBT people,” Pham says. “They shouldn’t be afraid to be themselves.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Teacher suspended after discussing her sexual orientation in class

Walmart is banning Cosmopolitan to protect young girls from sexually explicit material

Mom makes ‘entitled’ teen shop at Goodwill: ‘Money isn’t everything’

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

Women are more at risk than men of dying from cardiovascular disease. (Photo: Getty Images)

A young, healthy woman is sharing her experience of having a heart attack “that came out of nowhere” in a viral Facebook post.

On Wednesday, Beth Shelburne, a journalist in Birmingham, Ala., who works for local news station WBRC, wrote in a post that got 1,400 reactions, “I had a heart attack Monday night. I know, it’s still hard for me to process. I am currently in good hands at UAB, undergoing tests on what may have caused it. I am 43 with no known health problems, other than a large load of anxiety I carry around in an already stressful but fantastic life. Still, this came out of nowhere.”

  Many people have asked for more info on my heart attack: I had a SCAD: spontaneous coronary artery dissection. This was not caused by blockage. I am still in the hospital where we are trying to figure out the cause. SCAD affects mainly healthy young women, like me.

— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) April 5, 2018

Also, I cannot thank you all enough for the messages of hope, encouragement and prayers. You cannot possibly know how much that means to me. I am still in hospital undergoing tests to figure out what caused my heart attack, but grateful to be given another day with all of you!

— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) April 5, 2018

At first, Shelburne thought the early symptoms of lightheadedness and shortness of breath were actually a panic attack. “But what got my attention was radiating dull pain and pressure in my chest, throat & jaw, and down my arms,” she wrote. “That was something I had never experienced, so we went to the E.R. Turns out, that was the right thing to do…for now, I am incredibly grateful to JUST BE ALIVE. That is an amazing gift.”

A Facebook commenter chimed in that her friend, also Shelburne’s age, had suffered a heart attack recently. Another wrote, “I had a heart attack at 43. Had a personal trainer and no risk factors. Turned out mine was caused by severe spasms in 2 of my coronary arteries. Unfortunately, I had open heart surgery before they figured out the true cause.” 

Heart attacks often evoke images of overweight middle-aged folks (the average age of men having a first-time attack is 65; for women, 72), but according to Sam Kalioundji, MD, an interventional cardiologist at Dignity Health Northridge Hospital in California, young women — even in their 30s — are at risk.

“Cardiovascular disease, of which heart attacks are one type, is the leading cause of death among women for two reasons,” he tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Heart attacks have long been viewed as a male concern, so women aren’t educated about them as much. And women tend to present with atypical symptoms, which are easier to overlook.”

Factors that put women at risk are diabetes, high blood pressure and blood sugar, stress, family history, smoking (that includes vaping), depression, and lack of sleep and physical activity. “Ideally, women should get 40-60 minutes of exercise per day — not necessarily through tracking daily steps but actual, self-focused exercise,” says Kalioundji, adding that not being overweight isn’t a pass for unhealthy habits. “We often treat physically fit people who had heart attacks.”

Other areas of concern are trendy high-protein diets that include generous servings of red meat, which increase the risk for heart disease, as well as diet supplements.

Kalioundji notes that while some heart attacks are sudden, women tend to experience a gradual onset of discomfort, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, neck and abdominal pain — all signs that point to calling 911. “Oftentimes, a heart attack can feel like indigestion,” he says, adding that if the pain worsens with activity, it’s a red flag. “Never delay getting medical care.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Twin sisters with ‘debilitating’ OCD dead in apparent suicide pact

This Woman Claims Her Finger Was Cut at a Nail Salon, and Now It May Be Amputated

The FDA Is Forcing This Supplement Off Store Shelves

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

A little girl who wanted Spider-Man shoes triggered a debate about gender stereotypes.(Photo: Getty Images)

One dad is challenging Target to be more gender-inclusive by sharing a common parenting gripe.

On Friday, Qasim Rashid, attorney and human rights activist, tweeted the following:

“Hey @Target I bought my 4-year-old son Spider-Man shoes & now my 2-year-old daughter wants Spider-Man shoes too. But you don’t sell Spider-Man shoes that fit 2-year-old girls. Even when I search for them — boys shoes are the only result. She’s crying now. It’s heartbreaking. Thx.”

Hey @Target I bought my 4-year-old son Spider-Man shoes & now my 2-year-old daughter wants Spider-Man shoes too.

But you dont sell Spider-Man shoes that fit 2 year old girls. Even when I search for them—boys shoes are the only result.

She's crying now. It's heartbreaking. Thx pic.twitter.com/pxTI9R3OP3

— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) April 6, 2018

On Thursday, the father of three kids, ages 9, 4, and 2 made a trip to Target in their home state of Virginia to buy shoes for the two youngest children. However, after purchasing a pair of Spider-Man light-up shoes for his son and plain blue light-up sneakers for his daughter, the siblings started arguing.

“When my daughter saw her brother’s shoes, she scampered over to him and stole them when he wasn’t looking,” Rashid tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

Later that night, the dad visited Target’s website to search for Spider-Man sneakers for girls, to no avail, so he appealed to the retail giant for answers. In the process, Rashid inspired many to express their feelings about gender stereotypical kids’ clothing and toys.

I have a girl who asked for a shirt with "No pink, no sparkles, and no inspirational messages" last fall. Neither @Target nor @OldNavy had anything like that for girls in their stores when we visited. Boys clothes rule–they have pockets!

— Sarahahaha (@ssouth) April 6, 2018

When I was in pre-k I wanted TMNT sneakers. My mom got them from the boy section for me, and I thought they were great. Then I wore them to school for the first time and got teased as soon as a boy noticed and I never wore them out again.

— Maddie Rose (@maddie_rose_13) April 6, 2018

I ran into this same issue with my son and My Little Pony. He LOVES to watch the show but all the clothing merch is build for little girls, with ruffled collars, etc…

— Mindy (@MindyHamel) April 6, 2018

My 21-year-old daughter has been picking out clothes, toys, and shoes in the boys' and mens' section of Target since she was 4-years-old. Just buy your daughter the shoes! Just because Target organizes stuff by gender doesn't mean you have to buy it by gender.

— Howie (@bellzapoppin) April 6, 2018

Advertising and location are such powerful mediums. I would love it if we could see clothes not be sorted by gender in stores. Same goes for tools too!

— Sasiah (@SasiahHochle) April 6, 2018

Boys are boys, girls are girls. Teaching moments are not Target's fought.

— SportyGuy~ (@MMAviewer) April 6, 2018

My 4-year old boy just wants shoes and clothes with Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl on them. He likes strong women like his mom, I guess. But nobody makes those for little boys.

— Conrad Deitrick (@ConradDeitrick) April 6, 2018

Had a similar problem when potty training my oldest- she only wanted Thomas the train underwear which they don’t make for girls. Ended up just buying her the boy underwear ‍♀️

— Ann Feeley-Summerl (@afeeleys) April 6, 2018

“Even before my daughter was born, it was important to me that I raise her believing she is equal to the opposite sex,” says Rashid. “That’s driven by my faith as a Muslim and a result of living in a patriarchal society.”

He adds, “If I don’t teach her the concept of equality at home, she won’t expect equal treatment out in the world.”

Target has actually been making progress on this front — in July, the retailer released a gender-neutral back-to-school collection in sizes 4 to 16 and in 2015, eradicated gender-based signage in response to “families to feel frustrated or limited by the way things are presented.” For example, per a press release, in kids’ bedding and toy aisles, Target removed any suggestion of gender, including the use of pink, blue, yellow, and green.

While Target hasn’t responded to Rashid’s comment, his daughter is a happy customer. He shared a follow-up video of the toddler stomping down the hallway wearing her new shoes. Rashid tweeted, “Update: She took her brothers shoes and I’m just gonna let it fly like this.”

Update: She took her brothers shoes and I’m just gonna let it fly like this. pic.twitter.com/h2rpvPGnBL

— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) April 6, 2018

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: 

Target’s New Logo Is Confusing Shoppers

Chrissy Teigen Has a Target Line Coming Soon

Transgender teen wins the right to wear makeup, heels, and a wig in yearbook photo

Kate Hudson, shown with boyfriend Danny Fujikawa, is expecting her third child and her first with him. (Photo: Getty Images)

Kate Hudson surprised everyone with news that she’s expecting her third child, a baby girl.

The actress, 38, made the announcement via Instagram with footage of her gender reveal party, complete with hot-pink balloons, confetti, and a euphoric reaction from Hudson and her loved ones.

“Surprise! If you’ve wondered why I’ve been so absent on my social channels it’s because I have never been more sick!” Hudson wrote in the video’s caption. “It was the most sick first trimester of all my children…We have been trying to keep this pregnancy under the radar for as long as possible but I’m a poppin now! And it’s too darn challenging to hide, and frankly hiding is more exhausting than just coming out with it! My kids, Danny, myself and the entire family are crazy excited! A little girl on the way.”

SURPRISE!!! If you’ve wondered why I’ve been so absent on my social channels it’s because I have never been more sick! It was the most sick first trimester of all my children. Boomerangs have made me nauseous, Superzoom is an easy way to have my head in the toilet, food instagrams make me queezy and thinking too much about insta stories made me even more exhausted than I already had been. If you’ve seen me out and about smiling and pretending like everything is amazing…I was lying! BUT! I have broken through on the other end of that and rediscovering the joys of insta/snap. We have been trying to keep this pregnancy under the radar for as long as possible but I’m a poppin now! And it’s too darn challenging to hide, and frankly hiding is more exhausting then just coming out with it! My kids, Danny, myself and the entire family are crazy excited! A little girl on the way

A post shared by Kate Hudson (@katehudson) on Apr 6, 2018 at 10:15am PDT

Hudson already has two sons: Bingham Hawn, 6, with ex-fiancé Matt Bellamy, and Ryder Russell, 14, with ex-husband and Black Crowes lead singer Chris Robinson.

Hudson and boyfriend Danny Fujikawa, her unborn baby’s father, went public with their relationship last May at the Hollywood premiere of Snatched, starring Hudson’s mother, Goldie Hawn. In March 2017, a source told People of the romance, “Kate’s a free spirit who has always been attracted to musicians. But Danny also appeals to her because he is talented, bright, and cosmopolitan like she is.”

The source added, “Kate’s enjoying herself. At this point it’s not serious.”

Of course, that’s different now. Going forward, Hudson’s family life will be even more wonderful — and full of unexpected challenges.

Hudson is part of the growing trend of blended families, which is on the rise, according to 2014 data compiled by the Pew Research Center. Not only are two-parent households declining, but divorce, remarriage, and cohabitation are increasingly common. “There is no longer one dominant family form in the U.S,” per Pew. “Parents today are raising their children against a backdrop of increasingly diverse and, for many, constantly evolving family forms.”

Those families often encounter a set of emotional and logistical challenges, says Deborah Gilboa, MD., a parenting and youth development expert. “One big hurdle is that daily schedules get more complex because each child has his or her own needs, passions, and abilities,” she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “That requires parents to be super-organized, clear, and draw boundaries.”

Because children rarely distinguish between siblings that are half, step, or biological, Gilboa says, parents should be mindful of each other’s unique circumstances in regard to finances and availability. So, she notes, “that way, you’ll help prevent situations in which a child feels excluded because, for example, only one sibling received a gift.”

Also, adults in blended families have the added pressure of managing their own emotions — in maintaining positive relationships with their ex-partners, they must often do the same with extended families and, in some cases, new romantic partners. At family events like birthday parties and graduations, emotions can get complicated.

However, there are many advantages to any type of growing family. “Kids in large or unconventional households usually have more diverse life experiences and flexibility,” says Gilboa. “And because their own families are unique, they become more open-minded and accepting of others.”

She adds, “At face value, it’s easy to see how blended families could be problematic, but handled positively, they’re great opportunities for kids.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Kate Hudson enlisted Sia to help shave her head

‘The most beautiful girl in the world’ just turned 17

There’s a reason Carrie Underwood’s ‘gruesome’ injury has kept her out of the spotlight

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

We haven’t seen much of Carrie Underwood since she was reportedly hospitalized with facial injuries after an accident. (Photo: Getty Images)

Carrie Underwood is facing the camera again after what she called a “gruesome” accident that made her “look a bit different.”

On Friday, the country star Instagrammed a faraway shot of herself rehearsing for the April 15 Academy of Country Music Awards. On Wednesday, she had shared a black-and-white image in the studio, exposing only half her face.

A post shared by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on Apr 4, 2018 at 8:01am PDT

Underwood, 35, has largely stayed out of the spotlight since November, when she fell on stairs and reportedly broke her wrist.

A few days after Christmas, Underwood surfaced in an Instagram selfie that showed her face concealed with a scarf. “When in 5 degree weather, wrap your @caliabycarrie scarf around your neck and face…you keep warm AND look like an awesome winter snow ninja!” she joked in the caption.

When in 5 degree weather, wrap your @caliabycarrie scarf around your neck and face…you keep warm AND look like an awesome winter snow ninja! #WinWin #StayThePath #LetItSnow #BabyItsColdOutside ❄️ ⛄️

A post shared by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on Dec 27, 2017 at 12:30pm PST

Then on New Years’ Day, in a private message to her fan club obtained by People magazine, Underwood said that along with breaking her wrist, she sustained injuries to her face that were serious, requiring “between 40 and 50 stitches.”

She wrote, “There is also another part of the story that I haven’t been ready to talk about since I have still been living it and there has been much uncertainty as to how things will end up. It’s crazy how a freak random accident can change your life.”

“In addition to breaking my wrist, I somehow managed to injure my face as well,” Underwood added. “I’ll spare you the gruesome details, but when I came out of surgery the night of my fall, the doctor told [Underwood’s husband] Mike that he had put between 40 and 50 stitches in.”

Admitting that she was “not quite looking the same,” she said: “I am determined to make 2018 amazing and I want to share things with you along the way. And when I am ready to get in front of a camera, I want you all to understand why I might look a bit different.”

Some fans have dismissed Underwood as being “shallow” for keeping a low profile, and talk show host Wendy Williams even suggested that the singer was hiding to recover from a face-lift, angering Underwood’s fans.

Whether you’re famous or not, facial injuries carry weight beyond the physical effects. People disfigured with facial scars or asymmetry score significantly higher for anxiety and depression, according to a study published in the Journal of International Oral Health. Other research shows that facial trauma patients experience body-image issues, posttraumatic stress disorder, marital problems, increased risk of alcoholism, and “lower satisfaction with life.”

“People with facial injuries often undergo what we call ‘cosmetic anxiety,’ and it can greatly affect one’s self-esteem,” Gerald Young, PhD., the founder and editor-in-chief of the journal Psychological Injury and Law, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “For celebrities, the feelings can stem from not only a desire to preserve their aesthetic but also their public persona.”

Humans are driven to focus on the face. “Faces are salient markers of who we are physically, and our species inherently categorizes facial models — even babies do it according to race, gender, and attractiveness,” says Young. For the latter, facial symmetry is traditionally associated with beauty, and because women are often judged harshly for their appearance, injuries can result in traumatic feelings.

But cosmetic anxiety is not always about vanity — any changes to one’s face can feel deeply personal. “We often develop identities associated with our positive personality traits, and if one’s physical appearance changes, it can affect how they view themselves,” says Young. And that’s in addition to any psychological factors that accompany the injury, such as anxiety, shame, or posttraumatic stress.

Young says there are two common approaches to helping such people: Directly treat any psychological disorders that result from the injury or tailor coping mechanisms to the individual. However, he says: “The question is, how can one move forward looking different and still be themselves at the core?” 

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Carrie Underwood Shares New Photo Five Months After Getting Facial Stitches, and She Looks So Happy

Carrie Underwood Shares a New Selfie Post-Fall, and Her Fans Couldn’t Be More Supportive

Carrie Underwood’s Husband Wishes Her a Happy Birthday — and Teases Her for Throwback Hairstyle

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

French model Thylane Blondeau is celebrating her 17th birthday on April 5. (Photo: Getty Images)

French model Thylane Blondeau, dubbed “the most beautiful girl in the world,” is feeling sentimental ahead of her 17th birthday on April 5, and is sharing a precious childhood photo.

The L’Oréal brand ambassador is already a modeling pro, having walked the runway for Jean Paul Gaultier when she was only 4 years old and appearing on the cover of Vogue Enfants, a supplement in Vogue Paris, at age 6, a job that earned her the title, “the most beautiful girl in the world.”

17 !!!!!!

A post shared by Thylane (@thylaneblondeau) on Apr 4, 2018 at 3:21pm PDT

Thylane Blondeau through the years pic.twitter.com/LGkNEmNckQ

— Ana Slous (@anapaula551155) March 26, 2018

However, 10-year-old Blondeau went mainstream in 2011 when a photo shoot in Vogue Paris ignited controversy for being risqué. According to the Daily Mail, British Labour Party politician Helen Goodman, among others, called the magazine “disgraceful and totally irresponsible,” adding, “They have descended into the gutter by doing this.” 

The drama didn’t faze Blondeau — in September, the teen, who is represented by IMG Models, sat front row during New York Fashion Week at Michael Kors alongside Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis. 

Thylane Blondeau and Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis. (Photo: Getty Images)

In October, she walked the runway at Le Defile L’Oréal Paris during Paris Fashion Week.

Thylane Blondeau during Paris Fashion Week. (Photo: Getty Images)

And recently, French brand Juicy Couture announced that Blondeau will be the face of its SS18 campaign. 

SS18 #THISISJUICY

A post shared by Juicy Couture (@juicycouture) on Jan 25, 2018 at 6:55am PST

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: 

Tyra Banks shares the best advice her mother ever gave her: ‘Plan for the end at the beginning’

This 20-year-old had the best response to being told she wore too much makeup

Jessie James Decker — and her insane eyelashes — welcomes baby No. 3

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

Twin sisters who struggled with OCD were found dead from gunshot wounds in what police are calling a double suicide or murder-suicide. (Photo: CBS)

Twin sisters who underwent revolutionary surgery to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder were found dead in what police are calling a “suicide pact.”

“It appears to be either a double suicide or a murder-suicide, according to investigators, the coroner, and pathology,” Sgt. Megan Richards of the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office in Canon City, Colo., tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “The scene did not show a struggle or that one woman was held against her will.” 

As teens, sisters Amanda and Sara Eldritch, 33, developed OCD, a mental health disorder that leads to intrusive thoughts and compulsive behavior. They became disgusted with the human body, even their own, and harbored various medical fears. “We would think we were poisoned,” Sara told Oklahoma City local station News 9 in 2016. “We would pick through our food to make sure it was OK.” The sisters also struggled with suicidal thoughts.

As adults living in Broomfield, Colo., they took 10-hour showers, washed their hands for 20 minutes at a time, and used up to five bottles of hand sanitizer a day. Before leaving the house (a rare occurrence), they underwent a preparation ritual of not eating or drinking until they were dehydrated, to avoid having to use public restrooms.

The twins in their youth. (Photo: CBS)

“We had a serious rubbing alcohol problem,” Sara told News 9. “We could go through five bottles a day, each, and that was on our skin.” Amanda added, “There was one point when we were using so much hydrogen peroxide on our faces that it turned our eyebrows orange.”

The sisters also told the outlet that they wore gloves to clean, do laundry, and cook, the latter of which they did by rinsing produce in boiling hot water. “Blueberries change color because they’ve been rinsed for so long under hot water,” Sara said. “We cook our food pretty much by rinsing it.”

At the root of their anxiety was a fear of dirt and filth. According to the International OCD Foundation, the sisters’ behavior is known as “decontamination compulsions,” which involves an aversion to not only dirt and germs, but bodily fluids, garbage, certain chemicals, and even soap.

It’s common for those afflicted to excessively clean, disinfect, or avoid certain places altogether. Per the website, “‘Washers,’ as they are referred to, are probably the most visible among those with contamination obsessions. It is not unusual for them to wash their hands 50 or more times per day. In more extreme cases, hands may be washed up to 200 times per day. Showers can take an hour or longer, and in severe situations can last as long as eight hours.”

Over the years, Sara and Amanda tried various forms of therapy and medication, without success. Then, in the spring of 2015, they were offered a rare opportunity.

Photo: Courtesy of GoFundMe

Sara and Amanda became the first people in their state to undergo “deep brain stimulation” to control their OCD, a treatment typically used on people with Tourette’s syndrome and epilepsy, among other conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, the process involves implanting electrodes in particular areas of the brain, which emit electrical impulses that control the abnormal ones.

While the surgery is generally considered safe, risks include complications like brain bleeding and, in the aftermath, stroke or seizure.

For the sisters, the treatment represented a major breakthrough — they stopped taking medication (which they called “Band-Aids”), and enrolled in cognitive therapy. They also became more comfortable with dirt and with shaking hands with people, shortened their showers to 30 minutes, and used rubbing alcohol only to clean their homes.

In an interview with a publication of the Littleton Adventist Hospital in Colorado, the sisters also said they enjoyed bike riding, cooking, and going on walks.

“We are currently surviving and striving for thriving,” Amanda told News 9. Her sister added, “We’re trying to feel like useful members of society. I want to be someone who could ever have a job, have their own home, friends, a social life.”

Their mother, Kathy Worland, also told News 9, “I’ve heard laughter from them, which I haven’t heard for years,” Worland said. “Even though they do have a debilitating depression at times, I’ve seen joy.”

Amanda told Littleton Adventist of post-surgery life, “We didn’t realize you didn’t have to be miserable all the time. The day is so much longer and brighter.” And they appeared on the television show The Doctors to share their experiences.

On Monday, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office released a statement that Amanda and Sara Eldritch’s bodies were found Friday in a car parked near the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, both with gunshot wounds.

A GoFundMe page that’s raised more than $10,000 was established on behalf of Worland, who described her daughters as “amazing young women with big smiles and even bigger hearts. … Sara and Amanda had an impact on everyone they met, and touched more people than they could have ever realized. While they will be missed so very much, Sara and Amanda will live on in the hearts and memories of everyone they left behind.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Dwayne Johnson praised for opening up about his battle with depression: ‘I was crying constantly’

How one woman battled depression and an eating disorder to lose 160 pounds the healthy way

When did it become to cool to be a ‘sad girl’?

Oklahoma textbooks are lacking relevant information. (Photo: Twitter/jamiebh73)

The Oklahoma teacher walkouts — a protest against low wages and cuts to school funding — have inspired people to reveal the dilapidated and outdated state of their textbooks.

The two-day protest unfolded a week after Republican Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma signed a $424 million tax plan, which included $50 million reserved for education funding, reported Oklahoma City local station News 9.

That $50 million, Oklahoma Education Association President Alicia Priest told CNN, will provide less than one textbook per student in Oklahoma. Currently, she said, many of her state’s textbooks are 20 years old.

Teachers are particularly frustrated by textbooks that are often held together by duct tape, contain outdated content, or are absent altogether from their curriculum. As a result, here are some major world events that modern-day Oklahoma kids potentially aren’t being taught.

my history textbook is so old it doesn’t even have the Oklahoma City Bombing in it. and that was in 1995. #OklahomaTeacherWalkout

— lauren ♡ (@nostalgicminter) April 3, 2018

The Oklahoma City bombing

One of the worst terrorist attacks in U.S. history was the Oklahoma City bombing, which occurred in April 1995 when a security guard named Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck full of explosives outside of a federal building, killing 168 people. But according to a Twitter user named Lauren, her history book is so old, it bears no mention of the event. In 2010, the State Senate voted to require the State Board of Education to include the bombing in the core curriculum, but until then, students received limited information. 

One of the reasons it’s not over yet…This is a textbook from my daughter’s class. It’s a history book and the current President in it is George W. Bush. We can do better Oklahoma. #OklahomaTeacherWalkout#oklaed #oklaleg @gophouseok @oksenategop @housedemsok @oksenatedems pic.twitter.com/F5FE3JcFQh

— Jamie (@jamiebh73) March 30, 2018

The Obama presidency

Judging from a history book provided by the Owasso public school district in Oklahoma, the U.S. is still years away from its first black president, Barack Obama; affordable health care; the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”; the death of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden; and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which, in part, changed the limited time for filing complaints of wage discrimination. As one mom named Jamie tweeted, “One of the reasons it’s not over yet…This is a textbook from my daughter’s class. It’s a history book and the current President in it is George W. Bush. We can do better Oklahoma.”

Two Oklahoma teachers shared these photos w/ me. Their students use these textbooks. It blows my mind. pic.twitter.com/kF6Azdlgy4

— Alexia Campbell (@AlexiaCampbell) April 2, 2018

The death of Saddam Hussein, former president of Iraq

The textbook The World and Its People (the green books depicted) was originally published in May 2004, which means that kids aren’t learning about President George W. Bush’s reelection or the 2006 execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for his crimes against humanity and its subsequent impact on American politics.

Hillary Clinton was sworn in as secretary of state in February 2009, a portion of history not included in an Oklahoma history book. (Photo: Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state

Sixteen-year-old Muskogee High School student Raylynn Thompson told the Washington Post that her history textbook cuts off in January 2009, at the inauguration of President Obama. Back then, Hillary Clinton was still a New York senator, and while she had been offered the role of secretary of state, she hadn’t yet started the gig.

Oklahoma science textbooks may not cover climate change. (Photo: Getty Images)

Climate change

Mom Alisha Malaska told PBS that her son, who attends Bethany High School in Oklahoma, was learning about science from a 10-year-old textbook, which likely didn’t include facts about climate change. To be fair, climate change is a controversial topic in schools all over the country, as NPR reported in 2016. However, one possible reason for the lack of education is outdated textbooks.

Our textbooks are so outdated they "talk about going to your local librarian so they can talk to you about this new thing called the Internet," says Oklahoma teacher Allyson Kubat, who's rallying with thousands of educators for increased school funding https://t.co/pB0mGjPae3 pic.twitter.com/FD8Fd4ikiB

— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) April 2, 2018

The internet

Oklahoma teacher Allyson Kubat told CNN that her textbooks “talk about going to your librarian so they can talk to you about this new thing called the internet. And how to look up information on ‘microfiche.’”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Broken school chairs have become the symbol of the Oklahoma teacher walkout

Oklahoma teachers go on strike and rally at state Capitol 

Oklahoma teachers prepare for walkout as red state revolt spreads

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

Two daycare workers have been arrested for allegedly physically abusing kids in their care. (Photo: Sioux Falls Police)

Two daycare workers have been arrested for allegedly abusing children in their care by slamming them on the ground and stepping on them.

Teresa Gallagher, 31, and Kenedi Wendt, 22 — employees at Little Blessings Learning Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. — were arrested on 25 counts of child abuse, according to local news station KSFY, after a child complained to his mom in February.

The parent reported the incident to the police and the Department of Social Services, and the daycare center fired the women. Police inspected security footage from Feb. 14 to Feb. 23, which revealed the employees picking up the children, ages 3 and 4, and slamming them onto their sleeping mats, stepping on them, knocking their heads around, and pulling their arms.

Gallagher and Wendt are being held on a $25,000 cash bond and will appear in court Tuesday.

Representatives from Little Blessings, the Department of Social Services, and the Sioux Falls Police Department did not return Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment.

Police spokesman Sam Clemens told USA Today that even children stirring on their mats caused the teachers to abuse them.

“The video was pretty clear, but it was tough to figure out why this took place,” said Clemens. “All of it seemed to be happening really just kind of because.” He added that several parents reported that their children did not like nap time at school. None of the kids required medical attention, but some complained of back pain or headaches.

Cases like the one at Little Blessings made headlines in March. A daycare owner was recently sentenced to 21 years in prison for running an illegal business called Little Giggles, lying to parents and saying she was a registered nurse, medicating children with melatonin (a natural sleep aid), and leaving them unsupervised while she went tanning and to the gym.

Three employees at the Kiddie Junction Daycare facility in Illinois were also arrested for allegedly giving children gummy bears laced with melatonin before nap time. They were charged with two counts of endangering the life or health of a child and two counts of battery, and are to appear in court on Wednesday. And an employee at the Children’s Lighthouse Daycare in Spring, Texas, was arrested and jailed for allegedly grabbing a 4-year-old girl by the arm and slamming her to the ground.

While cases like these make the news because of their horrific nature, child abuse in a school or daycare setting isn’t as common as people may think, David Finkelhor, director of the University of New Hampshire’s Crimes Against Children Research Center, tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

In a February 2016 study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, Finkelhor and his team analyzed data from the U.S. National Surveys of Children’s Exposure to Violence regarding physical assault, sexual and verbal abuse, and neglect as reported directly by children.

Results revealed that less than 0.5 percent said they had experienced abuse over the previous year by a “teacher, coach, or youth group leader,” and under 1 percent said they had experienced this type of abuse over a lifetime.

“Daycare and preschools generally aren’t high-risk environments due to the added accountability, systems of checks and balances, and educational training that often help prevent abuse,” Finkelhor says.

Surprisingly, the fact that many classrooms have surveillance cameras may not stop abuse from occurring. “It’s possible that some teachers forget they’re being filmed, operate in an environment where their behavior is considered acceptable, or simply believe they’re not doing anything wrong,” he says.

Finkelhor’s research revealed that abuse is actually more common at home than at school — 6 percent of children said they had experienced abuse by a family member over the previous year, and 11 percent said they had over their lifetime, suggesting that some kids might be safer in school.

“Kids may be less safe at home — a private environment — where more vulnerable and problematic moments occur,” he says.

Finkelhor adds that parents who are concerned about potential abuse can ask schools how discipline is handled and how teachers are trained in conflict resolution. That’s also important for kids who attend more affordable home daycare centers, which are generally unlicensed and aren’t required to follow certain protocols. Parents can also call their local social services offices to obtain reports of any violations that occurred at the school.

And parents should maintain an open dialogue with their children about what adult behavior is acceptable, says Finkelhor. “You could say to a child, ‘If a person touches you or yells at you, I need to know. They may say it’s your fault, but it’s not.'”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Daycare workers dosed toddlers before naptime, a practice more common than you’d think

Daycare Owner Sentenced to 21 Years For Giving Kids Melatonin While She Went Tanning and to Gym

Parents claim daycare center waxed their children’s eyebrows

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

Jessie James Decker gave birth to her third child — but her thick eyelashes nearly stole the moment.

On Monday, the country singer, 29, posted Instagram and Twitter photos of her newborn son, Forrest Bradley Decker, born Saturday, noting in the caption, “We are so in love.”

It’s the third child of Jessie and NFL wide receiver Eric Decker who share sister Vivianne, 4, and son Eric, 2. Fans couldn’t help noting James Decker’s incredibly thick eyelashes: “Eyelashes on point,” “Lashes still on fleek girl,” and “Just gave birth & your eyelashes still look so good.”

Forrest Bradley Decker born March 31st weighing 9lbs. We are so in love ❤️

A post shared by Jessie James Decker (@jessiejamesdecker) on Apr 2, 2018 at 1:40pm PDT

The name Forrest, along with the other Decker children, was strategically selected, even before his conception, Jessie told E! News in October. She also revealed a hint about his moniker. “My friends know I’m a really big movie buff and I named Vivianne after a movie character…I’m naming this baby after another Southern character from a movie. One of my favorite movies.”

On Monday, an observant fan connected the dots.

I saw an interview where she mentioned she was naming after her favorite movie character name. And then she mentioned she liked Forest Gump. It's southern so I was like I BET THATS IT!

— Sara Pelletier (@SaraBPelletier) April 2, 2018

The married couple of five years, who star in the E! reality show Eric and Jessie, are officially outnumbered by their children but they seem to have a seamless system in place. In October, Jessie told Yahoo Lifestyle of her husband, “He’s so so nurturing, and so sensitive. There’s no gender role when it comes to being mother/father. He’ll do all the mommy stuff. And he doesn’t even have to, but he’s just that amazing. He’ll change every diaper if he has to and he’ll get up in the middle of the night and give Bubby a bottle. He’s just amazing.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Jessie James Decker calls out ‘fan’ who tweets that she (and Chrissy Teigen) are irrelevant

It’s a Boy! Watch Eric and Jessie James Decker Reveal the Sex of Baby No. 3

Jessie James Decker says ‘amazing’ husband Eric Decker does ‘all the mommy stuff’

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

NFL cheerleaders are banned from wearing sweatpants in public, pressured to lose weight, and have tightly controlled social media habits, according to a story published in the New York Times.

On Monday, the paper published a jaw-dropping look at the lives of NFL cheerleaders subjected to harsh team restrictions. For example, the Carolina Panthers cheerleaders must arrive at the stadium five hours early on game days, are allowed water breaks at specific times, must remove or cover up tattoos and piercings, and can’t change into their own clothing until after leaving the stadium.

The Times also reported that per a 2009 handbook, the Baltimore Ravens cheerleaders underwent regular weigh-ins,and the Cincinnati Ben-Gals are required to weigh within three pounds of their “ideal weight.”

According to a new report, cheerleaders for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers are allowed water breaks only when players are on offense. (Photo: Getty Images)

Last week, Bailey Davis, 22, a former cheerleader for the New Orleans Saintsations, filed a gender discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging she was fired for posting an Instagram photo of herself wearing a one-piece bathing suit.

I wanna break glass ceilings not fit glass slippers : @bryceellphoto #dance #leveltheplayingfield

A post shared by Bailey Davis (@jacalynbailey) on Jan 25, 2018 at 4:17pm PST

Davis said after she posted the photo, she received a text message from the team’s senior director that read: “Very poor judgment to post a picture like that especially considering our recent conversations about the rumors going around about u. This does not help your case. I’d expect you to know better” in regard to reports that Davis had socialized with a football player, a violation of the anti-fraternization policy which punishes cheerleaders — not players — for socializing with each other.

On Monday, Davis told Cosmopolitan that during her firing, the HR director “told me I had a dirty face in the photo” adding, “Then there were all the rules about the players. “No fraternization,” so I couldn’t ever be in the same place as a player. If I were eating in a restaurant and a player walks in, I had to leave. We couldn’t follow them on Instagram, or like their pictures. If an official photo from the Saints account was a photo of a player alone, we couldn’t like the photo. If they tried to follow me on Instagram or liked my photos, I was to block them and report it to HR. If a player spoke to me in person, I could only use two phrases: “hello” or “good game.” Anything past that was fraternizing. I was supposed to end the conversation and walk away from them.

The Oakland Raiders Raiderettes aren’t allowed to chew gum. (Photo: Getty Images)

Other outrageous cheerleader rules: In 2014, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Oakland Raiderettes were not allowed to chew gum or wear hair curlers on the way to work. And in the dining section of their etiquette handbook, cheerleaders were advised “if you don’t like your meal, try a little of everything and strategically move the rest around your plate.” And, “Gently unfold your napkin and place it on your lap. Fold it almost in half and place it with the fold side toward your body. If you need to leave the table, place the napkin on your chair, and don’t forget to say, ‘Excuse me.’”

While the Raiderettes aren’t flat-out forbidden from dating football players, relationships are strongly discouraged, reported the Los Angeles Times. “One such example concerns a player who gave Halloween parties every year and many of the Raiderettes attended. This same player was suspended from the team for drug use but also arrested for date rape. For you on the squad who have attended those parties, just think how narrowly you missed having your photo in all the local papers and/or being assaulted.”

The former Buffalo Jills cheerleaders filed a lawsuit against their management company for paying them minimum wage and forcing them to work for free on certain days. (Photo: Getty Images)

And in 2014, five former Buffalo Bills cheerleaders known as the Jills (the team suspended its operations) filed a lawsuit against the team’s management company for not paying the women minimum wages, requiring them to work for free on certain days, and experiencing sexual harassment. The lawsuit also claimed the women were forced to undergo rituals such as weekly “Jiggle Tests” to ensure extra skin didn’t flop around.

Per the lawsuit, “During the test, defendants scrutinized the women’s stomach, arms, legs, hips, and butt while she does jumping jacks. The physique evaluations largely determine whether or not any particular Jill would be allowed to perform at the Bills’ next home game. Jills that failed to meet defendants’ physical standards received warnings, and in some cases were penalized, suspended or dismissed.”

According to CNN, the Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders, and New York Jets have all been sued by their respective cheerleading teams for wage violations.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Trevone Boykin isn’t the first NFL player accused of domestic violence — and he probably won’t be the last

Male cheerleaders are coming to the NFL for the first time ever — because ‘boys can dance too’

Cheerleader goes on strike after being asked to perform for free

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

Winnie Mandela, the former first lady of South Africa and wife of Nelson Mandela, passed away at age 81.

She died at Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa after an unnamed illness, although various outlets reported that she suffered from kidney problems. “Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela was one of the greatest icons of the struggle against apartheid,” Winnie’s family told CNN in a statement. “She fought valiantly against the apartheid state and sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country.”

Winnie Mandela, the former wife of the late South African President Nelson Mandela, has died at age 81. (Photo: MUJAHID SAFODIEN/AFP/Getty Images)

The statement continued, “She kept the memory of her imprisoned husband Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the struggle for justice in South Africa one its most recognizable faces.”

The activist and mother-of-two was the wife of Nelson for 38 years, 17 of which he was imprisoned for conspiracy to overthrow the apartheid government for its racist policies. She also served as South Africa’s first lady when Nelson was elected president in 1994 although by then the couple’s marriage was in trouble.

Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela’s wedding photo. (Photo: Gallo Images/Avusa)

Winnie was both beloved and condemned for her politics, which included her arrest, torture, and imprisonment while fighting for civil rights and claims that she orchestrated the kidnap and murder of those who didn’t follow her orders.

Here are six other things to know about Winnie Mandela, “Mother of the Nation.”

Her marriage was lonely. Winnie Madikizela met Nelson Mandela while working as South Africa’s first black lawyer at age 22. According to the Guardian, Winnie was standing at a bus stop in the town of Soweto when Nelson — then married — spotted her and asked her to lunch.

The couple’s first date was unconventional, to say the least. “The next day I got a phone call,” Winnie said, according to Newsweek. “I would be picked up after work. Nelson, a fitness fanatic, was there in the car in gym attire. I was taken to the gym, to watch him sweat! That became the pattern of my life. One moment, I was watching him. Then he would dash off to meetings, with just time to drop me off at the hostel. Even at that stage, life with him was a life without him.”

After Nelson divorced his wife, according to the Washington Post, he proposed to Winnie by telling her to get fitted for a wedding gown and asking how many bridesmaids she wanted. “That’s how I was told I was getting married to him!” she said. “I asked, ‘What time?’ I was madly in love with him.”

However two years after their 1958 wedding, Nelson was arrested for treason and imprisoned on Robben Island. The couple spent the next 27 years communicating through letters and twice-yearly visits.

According to Newsweek, Winnie once said of her marriage, “I had so little time to love him. And that love has survived all these years of separation … perhaps if I’d had time to know him better I might have found a lot of faults, but I only had time to love him and long for him all the time.”

She was arrested and tortured for her activism. While working as an anti-apartheid activist, Winnie was arrested under Section 6 of the Terrorism Act. As a result, she endured days-long interrogations while sitting upright, sentenced to 18 months of solitary confinement, and banished to a remote town called Brandfort, South Africa.  

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela during her exile in Brandfort, South Africa. (Photo: Peter Magubane/Avusa Archives/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

“My whole body was badly swollen, I was passing blood,” she wrote in her memoir of the imprisonment, according to the Washington Post. “The whole experience is so terrible because I had left little children at home in bed and I had no idea what had happened to them.”

According to the Huffington Post, Winnie’s cell was so small she could touch all its walls by stretching out her arms. She wasn’t allowed to bathe and ate off an unrinsed sanitary bucket. She kept track of time by scratching a calendar on the wall with a pin.

She was suspected of murdering those who defied her. In 1986, Winnie gave a highly controversial speech in Soweto. “We have no guns — we have only stones, boxes of matches and petrol. Together, hand in hand, with our boxes of matches and our necklaces we shall liberate this country,” she said, per the Guardian. Necklacing was a form of death by placing a tire soaked with petrol around someone’s neck and setting it on fire.

Winnie went on form a group of bodyguards called the Mandela United Football Club, rumored to kidnap, torture, and murder those suspected of being police informers.

Nelson Mandela and wife Winnie upon his release from prison (Photo: Allan Tannenbaum/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)

In 1997, the New York Times reported that Jerry Richardson, Winnie’s head bodyguard, who served a life sentence for the abduction and murder of a 14-year-old boy named Stompie Seipei, did so on the order of “Mommy,” Winnie’s nickname. Richardson told South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, that Winnie ordered the killing because Stompie refused to cooperate in a plot to accuse a white minister of sexual abuse and for being a suspected police informer.

Winnie was convicted of Stompie’s kidnap but appealed her case, resulting in a fine of $3,200.

She was fired by her husband, then-president of South Africa. Two years after Nelson’s prison release in 1990 — captured in a famous photo of the couple raising their fists in the air — the couple separated, in part due to Nelson’s claims that Winnie had been unfaithful. Still, the couple stayed married while Nelson was elected South Africa’s first black president and Winnie served as deputy minister of arts, culture, science and technology, per Biography. In 1995, she was fired from her government role by her husband and the couple divorced in 1996. “I was the loneliest man during the time I stayed with her,” Nelson said, according to the Washington Post. 

Nelson and Winnie Mandela one day after his 27-year prison sentence. (Photo: Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images)

Her daughters are both politicians: Nelson and Winnie had two daughters during their marriage. Zindziswa Mandela-Hlongwane, 58, who serves as the South African ambassador to Denmark and Princess Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, 59, a Swazi princess through marriage, who was appointed the ambassador to Argentina. 

She made a political comeback. In 2018, Winnie received an honorary degree from Makerere University in Uganda for her anti-apartheid efforts, according to the BBC. She was also elected to the South African parliament although she stepped back from her duties in March due to health problems. 

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Atlanta school apologizes after second-graders perform black history show in blackface masks

Teacher suspended after discussing her sexual orientation in class

Bus driver steps in to braid girl’s hair after her mother dies

President Trump, pictured with first lady Melania Trump, has declared April National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. (Photo: Getty Images)

In what some are calling an early April Fools’ Joke, President Trump declared Saturday the start of “National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.”

According to CNN, April has been Sexual Assault Awareness Month since 2001 however in 2010, President Obama issued a proclamation that Trump has adhered to since taking office.

Trump, who in the past has faced sexual harassment allegations from 15 women (all of which the president has denied), issued a statement on the White House website.

There were several misspellings on the White House press release, which Twitter users noticed. (Photo: White House)

“During National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, we remain steadfast in our efforts to stop crimes of sexual violence, provide care for victims, enforce the law, prosecute offenders, and raise awareness about the many forms of sexual assault,” the statement read in part. “We must continue our work to eliminate sexual assault from our society and promote safe relationships, homes, and communities.”

Trump made the proclamation Friday amid two separate lawsuits filed by adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, both of whom claim to have slept with the president — consensually — during his 12-year marriage to Melania.

People on social media ridiculed the idea of Trump calling for accountability on the topic.

This proclamation is riddled with typos. No one even ran it through spellcheck. Assault is misspelled at least twice..Wow.. just wow. President Donald J. Trump Proclaims April 2018 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month https://t.co/BoJRyiMbw2 via @whitehouse

— Jenny Bean (@JennyBean1972) March 30, 2018

There is something profoundly disturbing about watching a man who proudly admitted to being able to get away with sexual assault discuss National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. https://t.co/yuhaBlLoqN

— EMILY's List (@emilyslist) March 30, 2018

Donald Trump declares April "National Sexual Assault Awareness and Irony Month."

— Paul Solomon (@FrankTheDoorman) March 30, 2018

President Trump, who stands accused of sexual assault or harassment by 19 women, names April 'National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month' https://t.co/elFrgqggLc

— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) March 30, 2018

Donald Trump just declared April 2018 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

Perhaps to celebrate, every day of the month he'll publicly address just one of the allegations against him. pic.twitter.com/fbkraN9osM

— Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) March 30, 2018

Trump has declared April "National Sexual Assault Awareness Month"

No. This isn't a joke.

It's like Charles Manson announcing an anti-murderous cult awareness month.

— Dawkins Dog (@DawkinsDog) March 30, 2018

Breaking: Donald Trump proclaims April national sexual assault awareness and prevention month. This is the perfect time to demand Congress investigate this hypocrite for sexual misconduct. pic.twitter.com/uooKRXNqlL

— ÆMarling (@AEMarling) March 30, 2018

Trump has proclaimed April as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. That's like Colonel Sanders being the Grand Marshall at the National Chicken Parade! #gthoh

— Frederick Owens (@owensbfrederick) March 30, 2018

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

What body language experts think about Hope Hicks and President Trump’s goodbye kiss

Melania Trump gives a speech on courage, and Twitter notes the irony

Melania Trump resurfaces in a striped $1,280 dress from designer who staged Planned Parenthood runway show

(Photo: SomethingGreek.com)

A mother claims her daughter was hit with a paddle and forced to eat rotten food as part of a sorority hazing ritual.

On Wednesday, speaking out for the first time, Sue Levy Giles said while her daughter Alexandria was pledging to the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha at the University of Pittsburgh in February, she and eleven other pledges were physically attacked in a dark basement. “She had been kicked, pushed, punched, and slapped. She had been forced to ingest rotten food,” Levy Giles told CBS Philly, adding that her daughter broke a tooth during the incident.

Levy Giles and the university’s dean of students did not return Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment.

However, Leona Dotson, communications chairman of the sorority sent Yahoo Lifestyle the following statement: “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has a zero-tolerance policy for hazing in our sorority and we take any allegations of this nature very seriously. We were appalled to learn of hazing allegations against a suspended member who is no longer a student at the University of Pittsburgh. We believe that all existing and prospective members have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. We ensure members’ rights by disciplining those who violate Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s policies and procedures.” Dotson added that AKA educates incoming members about hazing and provides an anonymous system for reporting abuse.

In February, the sorority made national headlines when all 12 pledges filed a police report after a mother noticed a bruise on her daughter’s arm while visiting her on campus.

At the time, Penn Hills Police Chief Howard Burton told NBC, “During the course of this, they were maybe hit with a paddle of some sort,” Burton said. “We’ve got a lot of girls who don’t want to talk about it. If they don’t want to be victims there’s not a heck of a lot we can do with that.” The sorority is currently under suspension.

Levy Giles — also a member of AKA — says Alexandria has always wanted to join the ranks of the organization, founded in 1908 for African-American women. “She would wear pink and green. Her room at one point was pink and green. She always looked forward to becoming a member of the sorority,” she told CBS Philly. “As a mom, I’m sorry but I wish I could have protected her but I entrusted her to the university. I entrusted her to my sorority.”

Despite classic research that shows more women than men believe Greek pledging should be a positive experience, there’s no shortage of sorority horror stories.

In 2010, a woman named Joanne (who used a pseudonym for security reasons), told ABC News that while pledging at an unnamed sorority at Penn State Altoona in 2008, she and other women endured verbal abuse while standing on their heads against concrete walls. If a pledge moved, a sorority sister would repeatedly bang their heads into the wall.

Other tasks included cleaning the floor with her fingernails, being pressured into drinking black water, and attending 2 a.m. group meetings.

The treatment caused Joanne to switch campuses but that didn’t stop the harassment. “All the sisters and pledges turned on me,” she told ABC News. “My car was keyed. I was getting threatening text messages every day. The second semester I couldn’t sleep because I would have nightmares.”

In 2012, Britteny Starling, a Zeta Phi Beta pledge at UC Berkeley filed a lawsuit against the sorority for beating her on the head until she recited the history of the group, forcing her to clean juice from the floor using her back, removing her shirt, and not allowing her to sleep at night or use the bathroom.

A former Dartmouth University student named Ravital Segal wrote in the Huffington Post that her experience pledging for Kappa Kappa Gamma included being blindfolded and force-fed alcohol in a car. As a result, she woke up intubated in the intensive care unit of a hospital cut and bloodied with broken teeth. “The doctor informed me that I had entered the hospital with a .399 blood alcohol content,” she wrote. “I soon learned that a .4 BAC is coma and death. I was literally one sip of alcohol away from dying.”

Why do pledges tolerate the abuse? Research shows that hazing triggers a disturbing cycle: The harsh treatment harms one’s self-esteem and people who undergo these induction rituals feel needier and more dependent on their peers as a result.

Joanne told ABC News that while she refused to drink the black water and left, “I ended up coming back [to carry out a different punishment] because they called me and yelled at me. I didn’t know what else to do.” 

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Teens are having scavenger hunts with sexual activity, drugs, and alcohol — and they’re a big problem

Teenagers are testing positive for HIV and syphilis in large numbers in this city

Mount Holyoke College for women tells professors to avoid the word ‘women’