Spoilers ahead. Hailee Steinfeld never fully understood her African American roots. She knew her father was Jewish and her mother Filipino, but Black American? Never crossed her mind — until Sinnerscame along. In writer-director Ryan Coogler’s vampiric horror, Steinfeld plays Mary, a white-passing woman in the Mississippi South straddling her feelings for her childhood-friend-turned-long-lost-lover, Stack (Michael B. Jordan) and her mixed racial identity. To bring the role to life, Steinfeld had to dig deep into herself and generations past.
“It’s not often necessarily about yourself all the time. It’s about the character,” she tells me ahead of the film’s release on April 18. “But with Sinners,I was constantly thinking about my situation, my family, my ancestors, my grandfather in each [scene] we were in and talking about.”
Steinfeld says she spent hours speaking with her mom, learning about their family history, particularly her maternal grandfather’s racial identity as half Filipino and half African American. But it wasn’t just his identity that she uncovered; it was also his upbringing, his parents, and the broader lineage of her ancestors. It was a process she hadn’t realized she needed — one that helped her make sense of things in her own life. “This role has brought me closer to myself, to my family, and my family history,” she says.
It also helped that Coogler fostered an environment that encouraged this exploration. The essence of Sinners, Steinfeld tells me, is community. For Mary, it’s the absence of community that drives her arc. But it was the cast and crew that made Steinfeld feel truly accepted on her own journey. And while Steinfeld may not personally relate to Mary’s struggles, she damn sure plays her racial complexity well. A compliment she attributes to ongoing conversations with Coogler, who helped guide her in portraying the tension of not being Black or white.
“A lot of [my portrayal of Mary] had to do with Coogler,” Steinfeld explains. “The way that he wrote her and the conversations he had [helped] guide me to play this character that lived in both worlds.”
In Sinners, Mary is introduced as heartbroken and beaten down, grappling with her mother’s death, the white folks who terrorized her mother for being the child of a mixed-race couple, and the surprise return of Stack. I liken Mary to Juliet from the Shakespearean classic. There’s a sweet, aching pain to her. It’s not just the loss of her mother or her mother’s failing marriage that defines Mary, but the profound sense of disconnection she feels. It’s a subtle, poignant nod to the concept of “passing.”
The thing about “passing,” as Stack subtly explains in the film, is that how well you blend in white society depends on who’s looking at you. In the ‘30s, even the smallest hint of Blacknesschanged everything from where you lived to where you worked and who you could date. These days, things have changed — thanks to landmark civil rights cases like Loving v. Virginia and more mixed-race families from all over the world — but this racial caste system still very much exists.
Sinners also offers a contemporary look into this racial dichotomy by subtly addressing the one-drop rule — a 1662 legal doctrine that declared anyone with any Black ancestry, regardless of how small, to be considered African American. Mary’s character is a reflection of how hypodescent dictates personal autonomy, notably the consequences of being subjected to it. No one would ever mistake Mary as a Black woman, but that doesn’t mean she’s white, either. Being a quarter Black means she’s caught “in the middle” of this rigid racial classification and that none of her choices are truly her own — not the way she moves through society, not how she navigates relationships, not even the way she sees herself.
Even Mary’s transition into a vampire is a direct metaphor for how multi-racial individuals toe the racial line. Her transformation comes from a seemingly innocent (in her eyes) conversation when white partygoers try to enter Stack’s bar. Since she is the only one in the room able to move seamlessly through white society, Mary offers to decipher the intentions of the white patrons — whether their approach is friendly or, as it often is, far more insidious. And it is insidious because just 10 minutes into the conversation, she’s bitten. This privilege of “passing” ultimately becomes Mary’s undoing. And her white privilege is the downfall of her Black community.
This privilege of “passing” ultimately becomes Mary’s undoing. And her white privilege is the downfall of her Black community.
That’s not to say vampire Mary is some unfeeling, cold monster bent on devouring every human in sight. Her emotional wounds aren’t erased by her transformation; in fact, they’re only amplified. It’s this deep, unresolved grief and hunger for connection that drives her to turn Stack and try to bring others into the fold. “She’s not out to kill,” Steinfeld says. “She’s just out to connect and to be closer. Her desires haven’t changed.”
And though being a vampire allows Mary to regain autonomy — after all, who’s going to tell the woman with superhuman strength and razor sharp fangs she can’t be with a Black man in the 1930s South? — it’s not necessarily a happy ending.
Or, at least, Steinfeld doesn’t think so. “[Immortality] is a daunting thing,” she admits. I concur — neither of us declares we want to live forever. But for Mary, immortality means she can be with Stack, even if it means never seeing her mother or her best friend, Annie (Wunmi Mosaku).
While I won’t spoil whether Mary gets her happy ending (go watch the film and read our ending explainer to find out!), it’s clear that Mary is more than just a character to Steinfeld. And yes, Mary’s journey in Sinners doesn’t offer easy answers to audiences nor to Steinfeld herself. But what is clear is how the role helped Hailee understand her own identity — both the seen and the hidden parts of herself.
Steinfeld hopes her next role, whatever it may be, is going to be even more complex and layered than Mary. The actress is ready to move beyond familiar territory and take on challenging roles that push her boundaries. And honestly? I can’t wait to see what she does next.
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My nails have been through a lot over the past three decades. I was a compulsive nail biter throughout most of my childhood and teen years, and it wasn’t until college that I kicked the habit for good. From there, I’ve struggled with brittle, weak nails on and off depending on my anemia, stress levels, diet, and other factors. Even though I no longer instinctively chew my nails like I once did, I was still prone to picking if I noticed a scraggly edge or a hangnail. Until one day, I decided that I’d be a lot less likely to pick if I had a better alternative than taking matters into my own hands — literally.
I was first introduced to glass nail files a few years ago through Bare Hands’ Dry Gloss manicure kit, and ever since then, my natural nails have never looked better. Most manicurists have sworn by glass files for years, thanks to their ability to shape nails without snagging, but I had no idea that the right tool could actually prevent me from damaging my nails and help them grow. Recently, I was traveling and broke a nail; instead of picking at it, I ran to the closest beauty store and picked up a glass nail file to reshape and prevent further damage. The one I found? Ulta Beauty Collection’s version, which came in a travel-friendly sleeve perfect for keeping in a makeup bag or purse for on-the-go use. It also turned out to be the best impulsive buy for my natural nails. Read ahead for a deep dive into the benefits of glass files — and exactly why they’re worth the investment.
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Why are glass nail files better for your natural nails?
You might not think twice about the kind of nail file you’re using, but there’s a good chance it could be causing more harm than good to your natural nails. “Traditional emery boards cause microscopic tears at the tip of the nail,” explains Dr. Dana Stern, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of nail care brand Dr. Dana. “Glass files create a perfectly smooth edge that seals keratin [which nails are made of] and prevents splitting, peeling, breakage, and even premature polish chipping,” she adds.
How should you use a glass nail file?
According to Dr. Stern, glass files are best suited for filing the free edge (aka the “top”) of the nail to shape and shorten. Unlike other types of files, glass versions can be safely used to file the nail in any direction. With other, more abrasive materials, you are usually instructed to only file nails one way to avoid creating a jagged edge.
How often do you have to replace glass nail files?
Happily, glass files are a sustainable, reusable alternative and can be cleaned between uses. “In salons, any porous item should be considered one-time-use as they can potentially harbor infectious material and cannot be sterilized,” Dr. Stern says. “Another advantage of glass tools is that they don’t dull and are therefore continuously reusable.” Keeping your glass file in a protective case will help shield it from chemicals and getting scratched (or scratching other things).
How do glass nails help natural nails grow?
It may seem counterintuitive that a tool designed to shorten your nails can actually help them grow, but think of it as a long game strategy, like how regular hair trims can help avoid split ends. “Switching to a glass file is advantageous because the nail is less likely to peel, split, and break, so over time, you are more likely to achieve length with a glass file than a traditional emery board,” explains Dr. Stern.
For me, having neat, groomed nails — with or without polish or gel — discouraged me from picking at them, which would cause them to peel or break, and set my growth journey back to square one. I’ve been using the Ulta one several times a week since it lives in my bag and therefore accompanies me almost everywhere. I’ve found myself fixing my nails waiting in line at a coffee shop, or when I touch up my lipstick in the bathroom at happy hour. Despite the $9 price tag, it’s just as good as any other brand (including more expensive ones) I’ve tried; it’s lightweight but doesn’t feel flimsy or cheap. Plus, the grain is on the finer side, making it quite gentle on my nails. Within a month, my nails looked visibly better and were breaking and splitting less often. In the past, I swore by builder gel to achieve any meaningful growth. It’s been months since my last gel manicure, but with my wedding coming up, I’ll likely get one in the books soon — especially now that I’m set up for success with healthier natural nails.
Is there any recommended “aftercare” post-glass nail file use?
It’s not required, but then again, pampering your nails is never really a bad thing. “Nothing needs to be done [after using a glass file] for the nail per se, but I always recommend keeping the cuticle well hydrated,” says Dr. Stern, adding that a healthy cuticle is foundational for a healthy nail. Her go-to? The Dr. Dana Nourishing Cuticle Oil, which contains indigo naturalis (an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine for reducing inflammation), plus sunflower and jojoba oils to moisturize (yes — your nails need that too!) and support nail growth.
“When used regularly, cuticle oil will keep cuticles properly hydrated and allow nails to grow healthier and stronger,” Dr. Dana explains. I keep one on my nightstand as a reminder to use it at least nightly, but am trying to be better about using one a few times a day. I’m a fan of Olive & June’s Cuticle Serum pens, which absorb quicker than an oil for easier, grease-free use during the day.
Which glass nail file is best for me?
Not all glass files are created equal, and Dr. Stern specifically notes that the level of abrasiveness can vary among glass files. What’s more, not all of them are meant for natural nails. (Grittier ones may be used as a first step to remove gel polish, for example.) If you’re simply looking to replace your basic emery board, something like my new Ulta find or the Dr. Dana Glass Nail File will be a major upgrade and gentle enough for regular use.
Glass files also come in a variety of shapes, which can lend themselves to other purposes besides filing. Germanikure’s Moonfile has a slight arched shape (hence the name), which is ergonomically designed for a comfortable hold, but is also great for pushing back cuticles and gently exfoliating dead skin on the sides of the nail.
In addition to using a glass file, I also like to use a glass polisher tool — namely Bare Hands’ polisher — to gently buff the nail surface. It works by removing the superficial layer of keratin (which will look like mini clouds of whitish dust) on your nails, resulting in a naturally shiny appearance. According to the brand, the polisher lasts for around six months if you buff once a week for your nails. With less frequent use, it can last up to a year. Mind you, I’ve had mine for nearly two years and it’s still in pretty good shape.
Using a glass buffer comes with a caveat, though: Dr. Stern is quick to note that a glass file is not the same as a buffer, which is safe for the nail plate. “Using a glass file at the surface can dislodge nail cells, creating an uneven surface that is more prone to peeling and breakage,” she says. “Also, filing or even over-buffing the nail surface can result in a nail that is too thin.”
Besides using a glass file on the free edge of my nails, I buff the surface once every other week at a maximum to avoid compromising their integrity, and I think it’s helped my nails not only look better (they have a natural luster, so sometimes I skip polish entirely), but grow in healthier. (Think of it as maintaining a healthy skin barrier — less is more!)
Ready to become a card-carrying member of the glass file club? Shop our favorites below.
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I write this story from one of countless cafes in Seongsu, a hip area that’s been referred to as “the Brooklyn of Seoul.” Lined with quaint boutiques and a revolving door of pop-ups for some of Korea’s hottest fashion and beauty brands, it’s become a top shopping destination for locals and tourists alike. As such, it’s also a great spot to see what’s currently trending. After spending many afternoons scanning the sea of shopping bags in people’s hands, it’s clear that one category of K-beauty is especially popular right now: fragrance.
Tamburins, Nonfiction, pesade, Borntostandout: They may not be household names—yet—but they are among the most beloved perfume brands in Korea right now. Below, let’s take a closer look at the world of Korean fragrance houses, including a few under-the-radar brands on the rise.
As if on cue, on my way over to the cafe, a girl handed me a perfume blotter advertising a pop-up nearby. I had never heard of the brand before, but the sample smelled so good, I had to check it out.
FRA 422 is centered around sustainability and scent. (The “422” in the name is a reference to Earth Day, which is April 22.) As an employee explained to me, the brand only uses extracted essential oils from plants that aren’t endangered or at risk — or they formulate closely matched synthetic substitutes that are indistinguishable from the original scents.
To that end, the line is tightly curated with just five core perfumes, including a leather and oud number called Won and a rose and oakmoss scent named Kim. My personal favorite is Hani, a fresh citrus that’s grounded in amber and musk and wears like a second skin.
Tamburins is perhaps the most well-known K-fragrance brand of the bunch, thanks in part to its affiliation with luxury eyewear brand Gentle Monster, and global celebrity ambassadors like Jennie from BLACKPINK and actor Byeon Woo Seok.
With architecturally stunning retail spaces filled with objets d’art and packaging that elevates the experience of using one of their scented offerings, it’s easy to see why people are instantly drawn to the brand.
Since debuting in 2017, Tamburins has expanded its extensive lineup to include perfumes housed in egg-shaped bottles, solid fragrances for on-the-go, scented hand creams, candles, lip balms, and even car diffusers in distinctive scents like Pumpkini, a sweet pumpkin and coconut milk fragrance cut with invigorating shiso leaf and ginger.
Nonfiction was the first perfume brand I purchased when I moved to Korea last fall. I walked into one of their bright, airy stores one afternoon and immediately fell in love with their Neroli Dream scent (a softer version of Tom Ford’s iconic Neroli Portofino IMO).
The brand’s messaging is all about finding calm in your days through sensorial rituals that connect you to your inner self. This ethos is reflected throughout the minimalist packaging and the fragrances themselves, which are formulated using plant-derived ingredients that are never too overpowering.
In addition to the perfumes in its current lineup, Nonfiction also makes body and hair care products, as well as hand creams, lip balms, room sprays, and candles.
If quiet minimalism isn’t your thing, give Borntostandout a try — honestly, the name says it all. Launched in 2022 by a former investment banker and lifelong fragrance fanatic Jun Lim, BTSO was created for those who “rebel against the standards” — but still want to smell really good.
The brand’s smooth white flacons nod to traditional Korean porcelain wares and have memorable names like DGAF and Fig Porn emblazoned across them in crimson typeface; the fragrances themselves are equally memorable, thanks to unconventional accords that range from basmati rice to banana bread.
Sure, some of the scents may throw you at first sniff, but they dry down into something softer and more familiar as they wear. This might explain BTSO’s rapidly growing fan base and L’Oréal’s recent funding, as the brand plans its expansion into the U.S. and European markets.
Just a stone’s throw away from Borntostandout’s Itaewon store is pesade, where the ambiance is decidedly more relaxed. From the sleek interiors to the structural tables that showcase the brand’s timeless scents, everything about pesade feels refined and classic.
The brand’s unlikely source of inspiration comes from dressage, a discipline of equestrianism. A pesade refers to a dressage move where a horse balances on its hind legs at a 45-degree angle from the ground. Per the brand, “This particular movement symbolizes the harmony of power and balance, which is deeply connected to pesade’s philosophy.”
The scents come in highly concentrated parfums ($210 for 100ml or roughly 3.4oz) and eau de parfums ($180) that last long after first spritz. With a diverse range of unisex fragrances to choose from, pesade is a place where one could easily find their 인생 향수 or “life perfume,” as the Koreans say.
Fans of Kinfolk will be delighted to know that the brand is still alive and well in 2025 — and has a physical store in Seongsu that has the same relaxed, yet dignified vibe of the indie lifestyle magazine.
The flagship space includes a flower shop, café, and the full range of Kinfolk Notes fragrances exclusive to Korea. Initially launched in 2022 with hand soaps, lotions, and creams, Kinfolk Notes has since expanded to include eau de parfums, diffusers, and candles.
With dreamy names like Splendor in the Grass, inspired by William Wordsworth’s poem and movie of the same name, and Blue Velvet (a reference to David Lynch’s neo-noir mystery), all of the fragrances in Kinfolk Notes bring the brand’s artsy sensibilities to life.
If you’re looking for more affordable K-fragrance options, I’d suggest W.Dressroom (which counts BTS’ Jungkook and Seventeen’s S.Coups among its wearers).
The brainchild of renowned designer Bum Suk Choi, W.Dressroom’s scents are uncomplicated in the best way. The straightforward names clearly indicate notes of the juice, and the comprehensive lineup includes everything from fruit-forward options to traditional florals and powdery musks. (Think: Bath and Body Works meets Grown Alchemist.)
My favorite is 97 April Cotton, a fresh laundry scent that I regularly douse on my clothes after sweaty dance classes. BTW, the brand’s “dress perfumes” have deodorizing and antibacterial ingredients in them to neutralize unwanted odors from clothes and spaces, making them great for a post-workout spritz or a smoky K-BBQ dinner.
For a scented souvenir to take back from Seoul, make a stop at one of Granhand’s eight stores scattered throughout the city (though their original outpost in Bukchon Hanok Village is still my favorite). Granhand’s perfumes are unique in name and composition. Take Susie Salmon, for example, a juicy blend described as smelling like “a midday nap after eating sweet fruits” or Lumberjack, a clove bud and cedarwood scent that smells like “a sip of whiskey in front of the fireplace.”
The brand also offers complimentary personalization for each purchase, so you can add your name or initials (or that of a loved one) for an extra sentimental touch.
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Major spoilers ahead. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners isn’t an easy watch. That is, it will have you sitting up straight, shifting towards the front of your seat, squirming in terror, and holding your breath. It’s unflinching, enthralling and entertaining, a wild ride that never lets up and pushes you to think, to imagine, to feel. The first hour unfurls like the climb of a rollercoaster, inching you towards an exhilarating descent into madness. The anticipation of the drop is its own thrill, with the dread of the film’s inevitably gory climax looming over the quiet character development of its first half. In an era of the easy, throw-it-on-in-the-background slop movies streamers churn out, Coogler treats his audience with respect, delivering a smart film that takes itself seriously while still having fun. Reunited with his muse, Michael B. Jordan,Sinners is Coogler at his most free. It’s a meticulous and ambitious masterpiece. It’s challenging and provocative. It’s also surprisingly romantic. It’s packed with metaphor and meaning, religious allegory and racial commentary, complimentary and conflicting genres, breathtaking performances and stunning sequences that barrel towards an electrifying conclusion that requires processing and unpacking — I’ve been thinking about it every day since I screened the film weeks ago.
But let’s start at the beginning. As we meet Smoke and Stack (both played with thoughtful precision by Jordan), the prodigal twins of Clarksdale, Mississippi, their ambitions are clear: after spending years as enforcers for Al Capone and bootleggers in Chicago, the boys are back to open up their very own juke joint. They prefer the South, the devil they know. As they tell their cousin Sammie (newcomer Miles Caton is a revelation), “Chicago is a plantation, just with taller buildings.” Smoke is more reserved and pessimistic, the “bad cop” of the duo, while Stack is unrestrained and slightly more boisterous, the risktaking, jazz-loving lil’ brother. Their love interests also showcase the differences between the identical twins: Smoke’s former love is Annie (a wise, raw, and riveting Wunmi Mosaku), a spiritual medicine woman still reeling from the grief of losing their infant child, whose potions and hoodoo knowledge come in handy later. And Stack’s old flame is Mary (a saucy and unguarded Hailee Steinfeld), his white-passing childhood friend with Black ancestry that shows up in her relations, not her face, who is still pissed at Stack for ghosting her.
Through Annie and Mary, we get to know the brothers more. Stack is reckless enough to get involved with a white(ish) girl but smart enough to distance himself to protect her from the optics of their seemingly interracial union (it is 1932 afterall). Smoke is still in love with Annie but their loss broke him, and them, and he’s burying himself in his business with his brother to try to forget. It’s naive to hope for a happy ending for either of the two pairings, yet you find yourself rooting for one anyway. It’s a testament to Jordan’s insurmountable skill that he has rousing chemistry with both Mosaku and Steinfeld — with entirely different dynamics and mannerisms with each — but it’s his scenes with Mosaku that scratched my brain. Together, they are devastating. Smoke and Annie’s romance, the love story at the center of Sinners, is slow and sensual, rooted in history and heartbreak. From their first scene, the viewer is invested, and so was Wunmi Mosaku.
[When I read] the scene with Smoke and Annie in the shop, I had never cared so much about two people I knew so little about. I felt like I knew their whole world.
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“[When I read] the scene with Smoke and Annie in the shop, I had never cared so much about two people I knew so little about, but felt like I knew their whole world,” Mosaku told Unbothered’s Claire Ateku during the film’s press day in New York City. The moment is the movie’s sexiest, a stirring, intimate love scene starring a dark-skinned Black woman with curves, something you rarely see onscreen, period, let alone in a massive blockbuster. “I felt like I understood their hope, their love, their grief, their connection, their understanding,” Mosaku continued. “When I read those seven pages, I just felt so inspired. I was like, oh, people are making art that matters — that excites and fulfills. And I said to Ryan, ‘thank you for writing something that has gotten me [to fall] back in love with my craft.’”
Ryan Coogler’s love of his craft is on full display throughout Sinners. This is an artist who cares deeply about his medium, and you can tell through every exquisite detail: the entrancing and addictive score (Ludwig Göransson), the staggering cinematography (Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the film was shot on IMAX 70mm cameras), the era-specific and intricate production design (Oscar-winner Hannah Beachler) and the impeccable costumes (thee legend Ruth E. Carter). But it’s in the storytelling where Coogler shines most.
After Smoke and Stack buy a building to turn into a juke joint from a shifty looking white man who swears the Klan doesn’t exist anymore (sure, bud), they each spend the day preparing for the grand opening that night. Sammie, also known as Preacher Boy, rides with Stack and they pick up affable drunk and local jazz celeb, Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo is as charming and enigmatic as ever) who will be the night’s headliner. Preacher Boy shows off his heavenly voice and affinity for jazz music, but his father, an actual preacher, rebukes the genre as the devil’s music, like most good Christians did back then. Preacher Boy seems to be loosely based on the legend of real-life blues musician Robert Johnson whose guitar was said to have been tuned by the devil at a crossroads, granting him musical prowess. In exchange for his soul, the myth goes that Johnson was given great guitar skills which launched him into blues infamy. In Sinners, Preacher Boy’s guitar is a hand-me-down from his cousins and the devil isn’t the blues, it’s a vampire in the form of a white man, Remmick (a terrifying Jack O’Connell).
While Smoke was on the other side of town securing food, booze, supplies and a sign from Chinese American shopowners Grace and Bo Chow (Li Jun Li and Yao) to create the perfect space for his community to convene and celebrate, Remmick is turning a couple (whose well-placed Klan paraphernalia proves that the KKK is alive and well) into his own clan of vampires and just after the sun sets, they go straight to the juke joint to rain on an uninhabited night of Black joy. Through its vampires, Sinners asks, “who should we let into our spaces? And how much of ourselves do we give up when we do?”
It may seem a little on-the-nose to have blood-sucking, melanin-deprived vampires act as a stand-in for culture vulture white people who have pillaged Black land, music, and art for their own gain for centuries. But the metaphor isn’t hamfisted in Coogler’s hands; it’s perfect. Of course a vampire story is the ideal way to allegorize white supremacy, gentrification, and appropriation. Of course vampires come in and suck the life out of a Black celebration. Coogler brilliantly explores the different ways in which whiteness exploits and pilfers — violently, purposefully, and sometimes subtly. As the juke joint is thriving, hookups are happening and the party is raging, you’re left in suspense, wondering how it all falls apart and who is going to infiltrate this safe space. The answer is, of course, the whitest person Smoke and Stack know: Mary. She leaves to talk to the banjo-playing strangers who have asked to be let in. Whiteness is why she goes outside. Her proximity to Blackness is why she’s allowed back in. That, and Stack’s greed. Money, and his attraction to Mary, end up being his downfall.
Later, when Remmick has wreaked havoc and created monsters out of club goers, he promises freedom to Smoke, Annie, Delta Slim, Preacher Boy, and the other last-standing survivors — something he knows Black folks of that era are desperate for — and inclusion without the threat of racist violence, they just have to give up their souls… and succumb to vampire violence. So, to choose one life of bondage for another. Once again, Smoke picks the devil he knows. Remmick tries to convince him through a speech about how Black folks will never be free in the Jim Crow South, no matter how much money they acquire, using the racism of other white folks as a shield against the harm he wants to inflict (sound familiar?) and assuring love and acceptance. The lies Remmick sells can be read as a vampire just trying to lure his prey, but they are also the lies white supremacy sells to Black folks. Conformity, nor excellence, will save you. Like the cliches go, these vampires have fangs and hate garlic, but instead of sex, they are offering acceptance through assimilation. In Sinners, assimilation equals death.
When it’s revealed that Remmick just wants Preacher Boy’s voice — which we know can transcend time and space through the film’s more original, arresting, lyrical, and mindblowing scene (seriously, I gasped out loud in the theater) — the con comes into focus. Remmick isn’t a savior, he’s a leech. Not since Jordan Peele’s Get Outhas a horror movie tackled the terrors of racism in such a smart and unrelenting way (though many have tried). And doing all that with jazz as the soundtrack and the beating pulse of the film is genius. White people stole the blues. Sinners isn’t just about reclamation, it’s about preservation and a radical reimagining of what it means to conserve culture, no matter the cost.
Sinners is more than just a Southern gothic horror flick like it’s been billed. It is that, but it’s also an enthusiastic musical, a consequential period drama, and an earnest romance. It’s the latter that piqued my interest the most, and its execution is swoon-inducing. I already knew Mosaku was a star, but in this role, she’s assertive, luminous and so damn sexy. Some will say the title belongs to Sammie, but Annie is the heart of Sinners. She’s also its hero.
“I like to think of Annie as Smoke’s other other half, like Stack is,” Mosaku said. “Stack is one side of him, but Annie is another side of him. She’s his protector, lover, mother, safe place. She is his sanctuary.” Annie’s knowledge of the spiritual world also saves everyone’s — including Smoke’s — asses. “She moves with purpose. She moves with strength and power. She has such an anchored spirit and is so in tune with the other stuff that we can’t see or feel or hear. She sees and feels and hears it.” Near the end, Annie is the one to tell the remaining humans not to let their friend and the night’s acting bouncer, Cornbread (Omar Miller), in after he’s been turned. She teaches them how to stake a vampire in the heart. She also puts them onto the good ol’ garlic trick. Through her spiritual practices, she becomes their first line of defense and sacrifices herself (she tells Smoke she would rather die than become a vampire) to be their savior, like so many Black women do.
“Annie was someone who I really looked up to and was inspired by, and I found parts of myself within her, parts of myself I didn’t know existed within her,” Mosaku, who is British-Nigerian, shared. “With hoodoo, I didn’t know about it. I’m now introduced to Ifá through the Europe Yoruba, a traditional religion I didn’t know about. And so now I’m introduced to my ancestry, my ancestors, parts of our strength and healing and our traditions. I didn’t know I was missing it. That was quite profound for me.”
I like to think of Annie as Smoke’s other other half, like Stack is… Stack is one side of him, but Annie is another side of him. She’s his protector, lover, mother, safe place. She is his sanctuary.
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That profundity is apparent in Mosaku’s performance, and in the film’s sublime ending. You could read it as tragic — Stack is a vampire and Smoke, like Annie, dies in a blaze of glory as he takes out the racist landlord and his KKK gang as they try to take back the juke joint the next morning — but you could also interpret the film’s end as hopeful and almost happy, like I did. As Smoke is dying, after being shot by the KKK, he reaches into the afterlife and sees not just Annie, but their child. Their family is finally together again. He delivers a final blow to the cowardly villains and succumbs to his fate, seemingly joining his love and their baby.
Mosaku agrees: “I think it’s a happy ending… Ultimately, [Annie] feels sorrow for anyone who was turned into a vampire. She says it perfectly, they can’t feel the warmth of a sunrise and they have to live amongst all this hate in this world,” she said. “These two are now connected in the ancestor world forever and by creating life together. This is the right way to join the ancestors. Is the right way everything else is to be trapped in a world of hate and pain and sorrow. So yeah, I feel like ultimately, [Smoke and Annie] are reunited.”
Smoke and Annie get to be together for eternity in the spiritual realm, while Stack and Mary stay together in the physical world as vampires. Preacher boy Sammie lives out his life as a musician and in a shocking post credits scene (a nod to Cooger’s Marvel tenure), he gets a visit from his immortal cousin and his white-passing undead partner. Stack may still be walking, talking, and breathing, but he died that day at the juke joint. Stack calls the day of Remmick’s attack the best day of his life, because it was the last time he saw the sunrise and the last time he saw his brother. “For a few hours, before the sun went down, we were truly free.”
Sinners is a sentimental exploration of love and loss, of faith and consequence, of the duality of humanity and the perseverance of spirit, and for the unassailable fact that Black folks will survive and persist — in the face of evil, of racism, of white supremacy, of mystifying hate and insoluble madness. Smoke and Annie chose to hold onto to their souls and to cling to love; the one thing that can never be taken.
At 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25, Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez Zeferino was driving his partner to work in Skagit County, Washington, when he was pulled over by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in plainclothes and an unmarked vehicle. Within moments, agents shattered the back driver’s-side window of Zeferino’s car. In an effort to de-escalate, he stepped out — only to be immediately handcuffed, placed in the agents’ car, and driven to a border patrol holding station in Ferndale. Later that day, he was transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, where he remains detained. Hundreds of people gathered in Tacoma later that week to protest his arrest.
Zeferino is a prominent organizer and co-founder of Familias Unidas por la Justicia, known for his decades of advocacy on behalf of farmworkers in Central Washington. His work has led to major labor reforms, including state-mandated heat protections for outdoor workers — who are now required to take regular water and cool-off breaks once temperatures reach 80 degrees — and the passage of a 2021 law guaranteeing overtime pay for farmworkers. Zeferino is also a volunteer organizer with Community to Community, a food justice organization. His supporters believe his arrest is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on activists and organizers critical of its immigration and labor policies.
“He’s been a really outspoken member of our community and an important member of our union,” Edgar Franks, Zeferino’s longtime colleague and friend, tells Refinery29 Somos. “We think that this was politically motivated to silence a lot of the organizing and the activism that has been happening to better the lives of immigrants.”
“We think that this was politically motivated to silence a lot of the organizing and the activism that has been happening to better the lives of immigrants.”
Edgar Franks
Just days before Zeferino’s arrest, immigration reform advocate Jeanette Vizguerra, an undocumented mother of four, was detained by ICE agents at a Target near Denver, where she worked. Vizguerra made international headlines in 2017 when she sought sanctuary in a Denver church for three years to avoid deportation during President Donald Trump’s first term. That same year, she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. But on March 17, 2025, she was surrounded by ICE agents on a work break and taken into custody without a warrant. She is currently held at the GEO Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado, where supporters rally weekly to demand her release.
While ICE has been targeting organizers and participants of pro-Palestine protests in college campuses across the U.S., the detainment of Zeferino and Vizguerra indicates that the Trump administration is widening its scope of political enemies.
But this isn’t exactly new. There’s a long history of ICE targeting activists, according to George Carrillo, a political organizer and CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council. He cites the arrest of Elvira Arellano — founder of the immigration advocacy group La Familia Latina Unida and an advocate for asylum status for immigrants — in 2007, as well as the detainment of Maru Mora-Villalpando — who led anti-detention center protests — in 2017.
“ICE often denies targeting activists, but internal emails and the timing of arrests tell a different story.”
George Carrillo
“The pattern is hard to ignore,” Carrillo tells Somos. “Documents and reports, including from the NYU Immigrant Rights Clinic, highlight surveillance and arrests tied directly to advocacy efforts. ICE often denies targeting activists, but internal emails and the timing of arrests tell a different story.”
Tony Tian-Ren Lin, a sociologist and senior advisor at the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, says this overt targeting represents a chilling evolution in U.S. politics. “Activists used to be targeted under cover,” Lin tells Somos. “We know that in America, the FBI was following and taping Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. We know the Black Panthers were targeted as well as the Young Lords. But what we are seeing today with ICE, they just arrest people off the streets, and that’s very new and very alarming.”
Lin also notes the contradictions in current immigration enforcement. “In the past, you could have said that [the U.S.] extracted the labor it needed and then, once they could not extract any more labor from you, they’ll throw you away,” Lin explains. “Now, when they still need your labor, and they could still extract labor from you, they’re throwing you into a Salvadorian jail. That’s the irrationality of it.”
“Activists used to be targeted under cover. … But what we are seeing today with ICE, they just arrest people off the streets, and that’s very new and very alarming.”
Tony Tian-Ren Lin
For Franks, activists are being detained because they are advocating for better working conditions and immigration reform. Their work is powerful and it threatens the status quo. “With how active I believe [Zeferino] has been throughout his whole teenage years to now, he’s always been out there, he’s a pretty public person, talking about issues that have to do with farmworkers and immigrants,” Franks says. “He’s been a really outspoken member of our community and an important member of our union and for workers.”
Carrillo sees a larger, systemic threat. “When there’s full party control across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, the essential checks and balances of democracy erode,” he says. “ICE targeting Latine activists goes beyond silencing voices. It raises deeper concerns about the rule of law.”
“All these detentions and deportations, they only make us want to organize better and more urgently.”
Edgar Franks
The targeting of Zeferino and Vizguerra, in particular, sends a message to immigrants not to make political stances or organize around the issues in their communities. But for Franks, this shows how successful Latine activists have been in advocating for immigrants’ rights. “I think Latino organizing, especially in the immigrant sector, has been really effective one way or another,” he says. “And it’s always been done through direct action, through policy, through marching. and protest. Despite a lot of the hardships, there were gains that were being made, so the targeting of organizers is being done to discourage people from pursuing those fights.”
But here’s the thing, Franks adds: “All these detentions and deportations, they only make us want to organize better and more urgently.”
Activists and communities aren’t backing down. As Carrillo put it: “While ICE’s actions challenge the resilience of Latine changemakers, the fight for justice continues, fueled by community solidarity and the unwavering commitment to protect those who speak truth to power.”
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No matter how many decades pass, some scent memories still hit me like a bus when I encounter them again: The smell of bookstores — specifically Barnes & Noble — takes me back to my childhood days of being a voracious reader. The smell of Subway sandwich shops (how do they all smell exactly the same, regardless of where you are in the world?) reminds me of my freshman year of college, when I frequented the chain several times a week. To me, Grand Central Station smells like brand-new dollar bills with metallic undertones (don’t ask why). Hopefully, I’ll be adding one more to the list: My upcoming wedding.
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What is scentscaping?
Beyond my dress and the guest list, one detail I’m thinking a lot about is scent. I want every part of my wedding, from the ceremony to the dancefloor, to evoke “love is in the air.” In wedding circles, it’s referred to as “scentscaping.”
“Scentscaping is the art of creating a signature scent around your event or wedding,” explains Allison Cullman, vice president of brand marketing and strategy at online wedding planner Zola. But it’s not just a beloved perfume or cologne worn by the bride and groom (though Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, Chloé’s eponymous scent, and Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia are all timelessly popular picks for brides). Scentscaping is about scenting the space itself to elevate and enhance the experience for guests. We do, after all, have five senses — so why should wedding music, florals, and plated dinners take a front seat while scent is overlooked?
“Scentscaping usually involves infusing the scent subtly into multiple touchpoints — from scented stationery to diffusing scent in the reception — throughout the wedding,” says JJ Vittoria, founder of Olfactory NYC, a custom fragrance studio (located not only in NYC, but with outposts in Boston, Miami, and Washington D.C.). Famously, the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William was scented with Jo Malone Orange Blossom (which prompted a frenzy of fans clamoring for the floral citrus scent), whereas Meghan and Harry opted for Diptyque (the exact scents remain a royal secret). I’m no royal, but as it turns out, these bougie practices seem to have mass appeal when it comes to making your special day extra special.
When scentscaping is done right, you may not even notice it. You’ll know you’re having a great time, but it may not click until later that scent played such a major role in your positive feelings. “I’ll give an example,” shares Cullman. “There’s a particular hotel in Miami that I have such incredible scent associations with: It was so warm and welcoming, and blended into the vibe versus taking your breath away or being overpowering.”
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Why is scentscaping so popular?
From candles to diffusers, scentscaping is becoming popular for several reasons: “When we asked couples, ‘How do you want your wedding to be perceived by others?’ the top word was ‘memorable’,” says Cullman. As couples seek more meaningful and memorable weddings, custom scents are becoming a popular part of the planning process. With the rise of personal fragrance, it’s no surprise that scent is now being used to enhance wedding spaces, too. (According to a CEW report, fragrance was the fastest-growing beauty category from January through September 2024, rising 14% in prestige and 2% in mass, with home fragrance in particular swelling to $14.2 billion alone in 2025.)
There’s also science to confirm the link between scent and memory: Scent is processed by the brain’s olfactory bulb (the part of the brain that processes smells) and takes something of an express route to the areas related to emotion and memory. That’s why it’s not uncommon to experience a wave of nostalgia after smelling a loved one’s perfume or a beloved childhood treat (for me, it’s Fruit By The Foot). “[Scentscaping] adds to the multisensory experience of the wedding for the guests as well as the couple, creating a distinctive association of that specific scent with that special day,” says Vittoria. “Like a wedding photo, smelling the scent in the future will create recollections of that day.”
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What are some popular notes for scentscaping?
According to Vittoria, florals (groundbreaking!) are a popular choice for spouses-to-be, but lately, he’s noticed a trend in wedding scents inspired by the destination itself: “We recently made a scent for a couple getting married in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. [It] was an aquatic green scent with notes of elemi [a tree that emits a spicy, fragrant resin] and fig to encapsulate the lush green locale,” he explains. “We’ve also had citrus for a Florida wedding and even a ‘Big Apple’ scent for New York.” Vittoria, who got married in Vermont, created a maple scent for guests to enjoy during the day — and take home as favors: “We’ve had guests looking to get refills already,” he shares.
I’m getting married at a ski resort and have already been looking for something that complements the mountains and cozy cabin ambiance of our venue. During a recent trip to Olfactory NYC, I created a bespoke sandalwood, cedarwood, rosewood, (all of the woods!), and musk scent that felt warm, sensual, and utterly comfy. I ordered it as an eau de parfum to wear down the aisle. To complement my custom perfume, I ordered Bois de Balincourt diffusers from Maison Marie Louis to scent my reception space. (Pro tip: Check if your venue allows open flames before ordering 100 mini candles.)
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How do you choose a signature wedding day scent?
If you’re ready to “scent” your own upcoming nuptials, Cullman advises having a conversation with your partner about what scents you love — and perhaps more importantly, don’t — so that you can align on which emotion you want to convey or elicit with your custom scent. “It really depends on a couple and their preferences, where they’re getting married, the type of vibe that they’re trying to create,” she says. Another aspect not to overlook? In a deluge of stressful deadlines, contracts, and logistics, teaming up with your fiancé(e) can be a highlight of the planning process: “The act of making a custom scent is a fun, relaxing activity to incorporate into the wedding day lead up,” Vittoria adds. At the very least, my curated scentscape will enhance the cozy mountain wedding vibe for our guests — and at best, instantly transport me back to the day I said “I Do.”
The Best Candles & Diffusers For A Spring/Summer Wedding
Diptyque’s iconic Tubéreuse scent is a popular choice for weddings year-round, and it’s easy to see why. The intoxicating white floral is sweet yet fresh, and perfect for creating the ultimate romantic mood at any wedding. We recommend this one in room spray form, but the French fragrance maison also makes large room candles (pictured), should you wish to have your scent double as décor.
Maison Louis Marie’s diffusers are a gorgeous addition to any wedding décor, and the brand’s new Nouvelle Vague scent (which also comes in candle form) is actually inspired by an iconic destination wedding locale: The Amalfi Coast. Summery citrus accord meets subtle white florals with a hint of Tuscan fig and agave throughout, making this a beautiful choice for any warm-weather bride.
Jo Malone is already a go-to brand for scenting high-profile nuptials, and if we had to choose one fragrance for spring weddings, it would be this one. Peony & Blush Suede (also available as a diffuser) juxtaposes sweet floral and fruit notes with grounding suede notes for a springtime scent that’s anything but boring.
Bring your creative vision to life by making a custom fragrance diffuser with Olfactory NYC. Start with your choice of 16 base scents, and then make it your own by layering various accords for a result that’s as unique as you are.
Phlur’s bestselling Missing Person scent is all about capturing the essence of a loved one’s presence, making it an especially sentimental choice for weddings. Featuring delicate, skin-like notes of white musk, sheer florals, soft woods, and jasmine, it’s a nuanced, evocative scent that’s perfect for any intimate ceremony.
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Whether you’re heading to a music festival, embracing sportscore during baseball season, or are simply looking for an accessory to complement any summer outfit, there’s one item that’s a must-have: a small, clear bag that allows for hands-free fun.
Many venues, especially major stadiums, now require that any bags brought inside be clear, so the contents can be easily seen by security. Starting a few years ago, this created a frenzy of last-minute Amazon bag purchases and an overall flood of PVC plastic bags on the market. The upside of this demand is that there are actually a lot of cute, clear stadium bags to choose from. From clear crossbody bags and clear fanny packs to tote bags and mini backpacks, these in-demand styles are so trendy that you can wear them beyond game day.
Ahead, we’ve compiled the very best clear purses — with many customizable options coming from Amazon and Etsy — that fit within the typical stadium-approved 12 x 6 x 12-inch dimensions. We even found designer clear bags from brands like Kate Spade Outlet and Tory Burch. While you may think this will be a one-off purchase, you may be surprised that you’ll want to use a clear purse time and time again, whether you’re bringing it to school, out to brunch, or for a stroll in the park.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
If you’re a Tory Burch fan like us, then your game days are about to get very exciting — all thanks to the clear iteration of the bestselling Mini Miller Crossbody; complete with a structured, camera bag shape, statement logo, and thick, leather embossed straps.
Tory Burch Mini Miller Clear Crossbody Bag, $, available at Tory Burch
We all know and love Lululemon’s top-rated bags, including its viral belt bag, and now you can find a clear version that’s perfect for baseball games or stadium concerts.
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L Clear, $, available at Lululemon
From the warm brown leather trim to the structured shape and statement square handle, Staud has taken the clear bag into new, very luxurious territory. Not to mention, it’s an incredibly practical design too — we especially love the structured, flat-bottom base so the bag never loses its shape and the covered leather coin purse to secure your valuables.
Staud The Stadium Mini Shirley Bag Clear Tan, $, available at Staud
Looking for a little everyday luxury? Hammitt elevates its functional crossbody bag with statement gold hardware and an array of colorful trim options.
If you’re looking for a sustainable and stylish clear bag made from Global Recycled Standard-certified recycled PVC, look to Margo Paige. We’re loving this super chic and super roomy crossbody bag — with its trendy half-moon shape, statement metal ring handle, colorful trim, and cool, chunky resin chain, it certainly stands out from the usual clear bag crowd. This is a design that works for everything, from brunches to business meetings.
Margo Paige Semi-Circle Crossbody, $, available at Margo Paige
For true hands-free ease, you can’t beat a fanny pack — they can work both ways, either attached around your waist or slung crossbody. The bright, striped straps on these Stoney Clover bags add a fun, preppy twist to an otherwise very simple design too.
Stoney Clover Lane Stadium Clear Fanny Pack, $, available at Stoney Clover Lane
Not only can you wear this bag in two ways (either as a crossbody or around your waist as a fanny pack), but you can also customize the trims and straps based on your team’s colors. We also love the mini zippered pocket on the front — perfect for stashing away your ticket for easy access.
Think Royln Clear Stadium Bag, $, available at Think Royln
We can always rely on Béis to create a top-quality bag. This one has a detachable handle so you can easily switch between a crossbody or a top-handle tote, and the large, boxy shape holds all your essentials plus more.
Béis The Stadium Tote in Clear, $, available at Béis
Simple and stylish, you can never go wrong with a classic top-handle bag. Want to go hands-free? Never fear; Veronica Beard provides a matching white leather crossbody strap.
Veronica Beard Shopper Bag, $, available at Veronica Beard
In our series Salary Stories, women with long-term career experience open up about the most intimate details of their jobs: compensation. It’s an honest look at how real people navigate the complicated world of negotiating, raises, promotions and job loss, with the hope it will give young people more insight into how to advocate for themselves — and maybe take a few risks along the way. Been in the workforce for at least five years and interested in contributing your salary story? Submit your information here.
Age: 33 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Current industry and job title: Lead product manager, product management Current salary: $170,000 Number of years employed since school or university: 11 Starting salary: $51,000 in 2014 Biggest salary jump: From $64,000 to $105,000 in 2018. Biggest salary drop: From $150,000 to $0 in 2023.
Biggest negotiation regret: Not using the 10% rule when negotiating for a job. Always ask for 10% more than they offer you.
Best salary advice: I actually got great advice from an ex-boyfriend to add up the dollar value and the personal value of employee benefits, and then use every penny of those benefits.
I wanted to get started in tech since the benefits and hours seemed better compared to other industries. I liked that everyone in tech seemed to work 40-50 hours a week and the starting pay was higher. There were also better perks like more vacation days, gym reimbursements, 100% covered health insurance, and stock options.
I did a new graduate development program at a mature tech company where I rotated teams every four months for a year. I stayed in the last role of my rotation. It wasn’t where I wanted to end up, but that is where the need was for the company. This company has mass layoffs every two to three years so it is best to be in the department where the most need is. I had friends in the development program that ended up in departments that had layoffs the following year.
I actually taught more senior people on the team how to use analytics tools and Excel tips and tricks. Despite all of that, my manager wouldn’t give me any of the analytics assignments I asked for. Instead, I had to train the new hire who eventually took on the analytics assignments and I got stuck with really boring, tactical tasks like sending email newsletters. I learned how to automate a lot of my tasks and was only doing two to four hours actively working a week. I was bored, and after speaking to people who had worked there for a while, moving teams could take up to two years.
They also talked about how a lot of the skills they ended up honing in their roles were specific to the company, which made them less marketable to other companies if they ever wanted to move into a role outside of the company. After a year and a half in this role, I decided I needed to move into a role at a younger tech company where I could learn more and gain skills that made me more marketable in the future.
I landed a role at a mid-sized company that was growing really fast. The interview process was known to be really competitive so I felt accomplished to have beat out so many other candidates.
This company had more perks like free food all day, happy hours, nap pods, and a commuter benefit that made my transportation to and from the office free. The work was more exciting, and because of how fast the company was growing, there was always something to do. The company’s mission resonated with me so I felt like the work I did was purposeful. However, the company argued that because they had a great culture and mission, they didn’t have to compete with the job market on salary.
When other companies started opening new offices in the city around this time, it became clear that they were underpaying employees compared to other tech companies. I initially tried to negotiate my salary when I joined. I was asked what my previous salary was and I told them what I made. That was a mistake. I know now that I could have just told them what my expectations were or just said a higher number. I asked for a signing bonus but was told that they didn’t do that. That was a lie.
I later learned from people on my team that they had all received signing bonuses when they joined. Once I learned these things, I felt disillusioned. All of the perks seemed like smoke in mirrors.
There were a lot of questions about why the company would not publish salary ranges. Then, a group of employees started sharing salaries amongst themselves in an Excel sheet that ended up being shared across the entire company. This document shared individuals’ roles, levels, salary, gender, and race. It revealed that women and people of color were pretty consistently underpaid compared to their white male teammates. The pay discrepancy became the main topic employees brought up during every company all-hands and on the company-wide forum. All the noise and this evidence forced the company to do a pay review across the whole company to decrease the pay gap among people at the same level and role. The company also committed to publishing salary ranges on their job descriptions.
I was one of two people on my eight-person team to get a raise. The other person got a $5,000 raise and I got a $12,000 raise. It felt like a slap in the face as the only person of color on the team and one of the highest performers. The only upside in this entire situation was that I decided to purchase a home and my income before the pay raise made me eligible for a state-funded first-time home buyer program. Since I had cut back on expenses, I paid off my student loans and was offered an affordable mortgage.
By this point, I had already decided I wanted to pursue a career in Product Management because I learned that product managers were doing very similar things to what I was doing in my role but getting paid twice as much. I tried to move into these roles internally, but was repeatedly told I didn’t have enough experience.
The original offer was $95,000. I asked for $105,000 because someone once told me to ask for at least 10% more than whatever is offered as a rule of thumb. I cited my high performance review ratings from my last company as evidence that I could provide a lot of value. The hiring manager liked that approach and upped the offer to $105,000. Prior to getting this role, I made a deal with myself. If I could land a six-figure product management role by the summer, I wouldn’t go back to school for my MBA. Some of my friends got their MBA to get into Product Management so I felt good about being able to land a role without the debt.
The new salary was a life-changing amount of money for me! I had similar perks to the last company with the free food and commuter benefits that kept my expenses low. I also had a better 401(k) match. It was a 100% match up to 5% of my salary, when my last company offered 3%. I also had a guaranteed annual bonus of 10% of my salary.
The hiring manager was really excited about my experience. He proved himself to be an advocate and a sponsor for me. The work I was doing wasn’t as sexy, but I felt valued.
The company offered an annual $5000 education reimbursement and another $3000 to attend conferences or workshops.
I was the only woman of color on my team, but the company was very diverse. There were many other women of color in product management, including leadership. I was really content.
I had a great relationship with my manager at the time. He challenged me in my role and advocated for me to get a promotion and a raise to his leaders. I felt like my manager was really transparent about everything, especially when it came to pay. I was satisfied with the outcome. It took other associate product managers at the company over two years to get promoted so I felt validated that I was able to get a promotion in less than a year.
Then, I got a new manager. My new manager made my life and a lot of other people on our team’s lives hell. I was really excited to have a woman of color as a manager, but she was a big disappointment. During this time, one of the product managers left and I was asked to take on his product and manage his team until they could find a backfill. After five months of doing two jobs, I asked for a raise to $130,000 and a promotion. I created a presentation with how I got to the $130,000 number based on the new scope of my role and the value I was bringing. My manager kept giving me the runaround. I was exhausted and I was starting to feel undervalued again and unconfident since most of my ideas were being shot down.
I ended up using my education and conference budget to get a career coach who I was referred to by a friend who pivoted into her dream role within eight weeks. This career coach’s program helped me land an offer to my dream role in the same amount of time!
I got an offer to join a mission-driven startup that created an app that I had already been using. I learned about the role from a networking group I was a part of. Another member of this group referred me to the role so my application was prioritized.
I said I expected $130,000 in the interview process. They gave me that number in the offer and I asked for 10% more in salary 30% more in stock options since I had some data from similar startup offers that offered the amount of stock options I asked for. There wasn’t much else to negotiate since there was unlimited vacation and the company was fully remote. The recruiter said the budget for the role was $150,000, but since I was new to the industry, they felt like the middle range was fair. They did get me 30% more in stock options.
I was content with the offer. This role lived up to my expectations. It was my dream job. I was excited to get online to solve the problems we were addressing. I enjoyed getting to know everyone on my team and other people in the company. Everyone was really cool! I am still friends with many of them to this day. I got to travel pretty frequently to meet other people on the team and attend conferences. It was great!
The space I was working in took a nose dive in late 2022 along with many tech companies. My company started to do mass layoffs every few months. After being spared for the first two layoffs, I got caught in the third one. I thought I would be safe because my team delivered the most revenue for the company in 2022 so I was a little surprised but not totally surprised.
I was promised a promotion to Senior Product Manager and a raise to $180,000 before the layoff talks happened. I loved my job and wanted to stay, but everything was changing anyway so pretty soon it would have been a miserable place to work even if I hadn’t been laid off. I was given four weeks pay as my severance and health insurance for two months. That severance ended up being generous compared to what employees in the three other layoffs that year received as the company’s funds continued to dwindle.
I made the most of my old company’s benefits while I could, including using a career coach again. I had never been laid off before so I was unsure of how to speak to it during interviews. The career coach helped me with a script on how to speak to the layoff. I said I was a part of a layoff that impacted 25% of the company. I cited my performance and the metrics I surpassed to make clear that I wasn’t let go based on performance. I also had great references from my last company since I built so many friendships along the way.
I made it to the final interview round at four companies and got two offers within six weeks post-layoff. I focused on hybrid roles so that I didn’t have to compete with people from all around the country. I ended up taking an offer to join a large non-tech company that is historically profitable during recessions so I felt at ease knowing it would be pretty stable. I was offered $125,000. I asked for $155,000 after seeking advice from a friend. They agreed!
This company also had pretty good benefits. The company covered a full round of egg freezing and a round of IVF and 20 weeks of paid maternity leave.
I was already getting bored and quickly outgrew the role. I started looking for a new job. What complicated this job search was the fact that I was early in a pregnancy. Some companies had policies that required you to be in role for 12 months before taking any parental leave. In those situations, I learned I would need to use vacation and sick time, which wouldn’t leave me with much time to recover and bond. I was trying to hold out to get my 20 weeks with my company at the time, but I was too frustrated with feeling bored and stuck while having to be in office most days.
I only considered companies that allowed employees to take maternity leave at any time. I found this list becoming more and more narrow as companies started to pull back on the length of parental leaves, issuing return-to-office mandates, continuing with mass layoffs, and reducing pay.
When I found this new job, they initially offered $150,000, which was lower than what I had been making in a less senior role. I asked for $180,000 to get to where I’d hoped to be pre-layoff. They said the best they could do was $170,000 with a $10,000 signing bonus. I accepted the offer. I was excited to be fully remote again, especially knowing I was going to be a mom. For now, this job is stable but I will consider changing industries when the time is right.
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Megan Thee Stallion was thee highlight of Coachella 2025. It was hard not to smile ear-to-ear while watching the Grammy-winning rapper make the Indio Valley Desert a thousand degrees hotter during her highly-anticipated performance on Sunday night (April 13). It wasn’t just the fact that her high energy earned her control over the entire audience, or the surprise performances from Queen Latifah, Victoria Monet and Ciara, or how sickeningly good she looked.
What made Megan Thee Stallion’s Coachella performance (dubbed “Megchella” by fans) so special was the glow she emitted during the entirety of the show. It was how happy she looked, how much fun she was having and how clearly proud she was of herself for the work she put in that led her to this coveted spot on Coachella’s mainstage. The energy, the surprise guests, the twerking on her surprise guests, and her stunning beauty just felt like added bonuses.
Seeing the 30-year-old rapper happy is a win for Black women. In the few years that Megan Thee Stallion’s star has ascended, the Houston Hottie’s (whose real name is Megan Pete) has experienced a bevy of trials and tribulations. In the midst of grieving her mother and grandmother, she faced a surplus of scrutiny — not enough support and protection — in the aftermath of Tory Lanez shooting her. On top of that, she was in the midst of a lawsuit against her record label, 1501 Certified Entertainment, and going through an ugly best friend breakup. Experiencing all of that back-to-back would be heavy for anyone.
When the world tried to tear her down, Megan Thee Stallion did the work to build herself back up stronger than before. As Black women so often do, she overcame. [Coachella 2025] was a victory lap.
taryn finley
In her documentary Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words, the rapper revealed details about her healing journey. She spent a month at a mental health facility, took social media breaks, limited her alcohol consumption, and began working out. When the world tried to tear her down, she did the work to build herself back up stronger than before. As Black women so often do, she overcame.
So when Meg hit the Coachella stage as an independent artist for the first time (she was signed to 1501 during her 2022 Coachella performance), it was a victory lap.
Meg kicked off the performance with “Ungrateful,” donning a black, floor-length fur coat and cowboy hat to give ode to her Texas roots. The rapper performed a medley of her hits, including “Mamushi,” “Cognac Queen” and “BOA.” She even showed that growth doesn’t mean you can’t be a little petty, taking Nicki Minaj’s “Big Foot” diss track and turning it into a costume for her background dancers.
One of the biggest highlights of her performance, however, was the Black sisterhood on display with her special guests. Fans went wild when hip-hop icon Queen Latifah joined Meg onstage for “Plan B.” Queen treated the crowd to a performance of “U.N.I.T.Y.” Victoria Monet also made a special appearance, giving a delicious performance of “Spin” alongside Meg and following up with “On My Mama.” The Houston rapper also invited Ciara on stage for “Roc Steady,” which sampled the Atlanta singer’s “Goodies.” The crowd screamed as they hit the iconic “Goodies” dance in unison.
“I love you so much and I’m so proud of you,” Ciara told Meg, bringing Meg to tears before going into “Big Ole Freak.”
Meg paid homage to these ladies and that energy was reciprocated. She brought the power of multi-generational Black sisterhood front and center. That sisterhood is the community that roots for us and picks us up when we need it most. And it’s the community who celebrates with us when we’ve hit a well-deserved milestone.
From the outside looking in, Coachella was one of those milestones for Meg. It further solidified her place as an entertainer as she finessed through technical difficulties while maintaining an electrifying performance. And fans on social media agreed.
#Megchella trended on X into Monday afternoon. “Meg is hip hop,” one user said, while another stated that she should’ve been the headliner.
[Megchella] is a hopeful reminder of Black women’s ability to stand up over and over again through life’s B.S. More importantly, it’s a beautiful look into the joy and freedom we all deserve to feel.
taryn finley
Towards the end of Meg’s set, her mic got cut. A Bluesky user caught video of the moments her mic was off. As the crowd chanted her name, Meg finished out her set and choreography with grace and professionalism, taking a bow as her performance came to an abrupt end.
Though Goldenvoice, the company that organizes the festival, didn’t give a reason why her set was cut short, unhappy fans believe the reason was to leave room for Post Malone, who was headlining.
“#Megchella was the greatest performance of the whole weekend and they cut her for Post Malone???,” one user asked. Another person said Meg should’ve been Sunday’s headliner.
Though next weekend’s performances won’t be livestreamed, Megan performs again on Sunday, April 20, the second weekend of Coachella.
Megchella was amazing to watch because of her talent and expertise. But it’s also so sweet seeing Meg at this point of her healing journey, and to be able to root for her knowing everything she’s been through. It’s a hopeful reminder of Black women’s ability to stand up over and over again through life’s B.S. And more importantly, it’s a beautiful look into the joy and freedom we all deserve to feel.
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Spring is the ultimate reset — golden‑hour strolls, that first jacket‑free afternoon, and the irresistible urge to swap neutrals for something brighter. But between decoding new‑season trends and finally slipping into lighter layers, I’m still figuring out not just how to dress but which fresh pieces deserve a spot in my rotation.
That’s where the Nordstrom sale section comes in. As a fashion editor, I’m always combing through it for the best finds — timeless staples, trend-forward styles, and everything in between. Right now, I’m especially drawn to pieces that feel fresh for spring: breezy dresses, elevated basics, wear-everywhere denim, and accessories that make the outfit. And yes, loungewear and swimwear are very much in the mix.
Click through for 30 of the best spring-ready picks hiding in Nordstrom’s sale section — all editor-approved, and all worth scooping up before they’re gone.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
60% Off Free People Come as You Are Frayed Hem Denim Maxi Skirt
Free People Come as You Are Frayed Hem Denim Maxi Skirt, $, available at Nordstrom
30% Off Nine West Gilma Slide Sandal
Nine West Gilma Slide Sandal, $, available at Nordstrom
60% Off Madewell Stripe Zip Front Cardigan
Madewell Stripe Zip Front Cardigan, $, available at Nordstrom
20% Off By Adina Eden Solid Chunky Drop Stud Earring
By Adina Eden Solid Chunky Drop Stud Earring, $, available at Nordstrom
60% Off Hudson Jeans S/S Forward Seam Tee
Hudson Jeans S/S Forward Seam Tee, $, available at Nordstrom
19% Off Jessie Zhao New York Blue Garden Reversible One-Piece Swimsuit
Jessie Zhao New York Blue Garden Reversible One-Piece Swimsuit, $, available at Nordstrom
