CONTENTS ON THE COVER
07 How to make a fresh start for the New Year
13 13 Staple pieces you in your closet in 2022
13 14
Do COVID vaccinations cause fertility issues?
13 16
Feature Article Christelyn Karazin discusses the rebirth of ThePink Pill
Also in this issue
10 Pick a word instead of a resolution for 2022
Editor-In-Chief Amani Sams Graphics Department Alyssa Hill Writers Kalyn Huggins Skye Miller Gabriela Henríquez Photographer Shaunelle Murphy
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Happy New Year everyone! A new year means new stories, new covers, and all new interviews. My team and I are dedicated to bring you all exclusive content. We are so honored to feature the founder of The Pink Pill, Christlyn. After her tragic experience on Clubhouse she has risen from the ashes and is ready to take her business to new heights! This issue is also packed with helpful articles to navigate through the New Year and start the first quarter of the year off strong. Don’t forget to interact with me and let me know what your favorite article was by tweeting me.
XOXO ,
Amani Sams @Amani_Sams @Aman_Mag
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How to make a fresh start for the New Year By: Skye Miller
A s we head into a brand-new year with fresh opportunities, it is also time for us to wipe the slate clean on anything that didn’t serve us in the previous year, giving ourselves a fresh start, and a chance to change up our routines, step outside of our comfort zones and seize the day– no matter what that means to you!
With the excitement of a fresh new start to the year, it also comes with its pressures, to have a ‘resolution’ and then of course, the pressure to stick it out. Often people make resolutions such as starting the gym, cutting out chocolate or alcohol, or starting that book that they keep meaning to. After the last couple of years, it is now more important than ever to cherish not just your loved ones, but yourself – in particular your mental health and well – being – so here are some ways for whoever is reading this to make a fresh start for 2022! If there aren’t any particular goals you would like to set for the year, you can make a list of goals for not just the year, but for the month or a particular week! An example of this could be setting yourself daily tasks such as cleaning out your kitchen cupboards or going out for walks twice a week. You could even go ‘smaller’ by writing down the mundane tasks like ‘’making your bed’’ just so you can cross it off and feel more productive. You can also start the year off with cleaning your house, your room or workspace to make your surroundings feel less cluttered, also investing in self-care products like luxurious bubble baths or face masks – clean body, clean mind. Having a clean environment and feeling clean too, can really help to free up some of your negative energy (if you have any), but even if you don’t, it doesn’t hurt! Investing in your future will make your future self so grateful! You can start to save money, even putting change in a jar, or £10 a week away can help, and by the end of the year you can buy something you wouldn’t normally treat yourself with or put it towards a house/holiday/other savings. Making a fresh start in the New Year can also be cutting out toxic people or situations that you didn’t feel ready to before. The start of a new year can be refreshing and if you didn’t feel like you could do that before now is the perfect time to mute, unfollow or block anyone or anything that doesn’t make you feel good, and that goes for social media and in reality! To go hand in hand with that, you should start to romanticise your life and master the art of ‘letting go’. What is for you will always be for you but you shouldn’t suffer in the meantime. Resolutions and expectations for the New Year always seem contradictory, save money but treat yourself, speak your mind but do not keep chasing someone/something, but at the end of the day, (or start of the year), all that truly matters is doing what feels right for you at the time and what helps you bloom into a better version of yourself. Happy new year to all!
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Pick a word instead of a resolution for 2022 By: Gabriela Henriquez
With 2022 just beginning, many already decided which were going to be their resolutions for this year -and many are still trying to figure them out. But this year I decided to take a different approach: pick a work instead of a resolution to guide me through the upcoming 12 months. My experiences over the years with creating resolutions have been both successful and a failure. For instance, in 2020 I decided that in 2021 I would have a healthier lifestyle, which I consider I was able to accomplish and maintain up to this day. Nonetheless, a resolution I picked in 2019 was that for 2020 I would be able to learn French. Due to the pandemic, and many other challenges we faced during that year, I was not able to learn a new language, and I still can’t find a way to fit that resolution into the things I want to accomplish in 2022. This year, I’ve decided to try something new, and I picked the word resilience as my mantra for 2022. For many, including myself, making a big list of resolutions doesn’t work because there is the constant pressure of trying to accomplish many things and maintain new habits. Within three weeks we may see ourselves in the position of losing track and we end up feeling bad for not being able to be consistent. A March 2021 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that people typically give up pursuing their New Year resolutions within the first month. Seeing the results of the study, I decided that I would pick a word as a guide for this year, but I also picked three resolutions I knew I will be able to accomplish by the end of the year.
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Why pick a word? By choosing a word you are selecting the approach you want to take for all the resolutions and decisions you are about to take in the year. A word allows you to center your focus on different habits and goals at the same time. A word works like a mantra for me. And the word resilience reminds me to recover fast from any difficulties I might find during the year. Also, it reminds me to adapt to situations and continue to push myself until I achieve what I’m looking for. It’s different to have a word in your mind, than an endless list of resolutions you want to accomplish in 12 months.
Evaluate several words before picking “the one” Before deciding the word resilience was going to be my mantra for 2022, I evaluated other words. My top three were patience, resilience, and gratitude. In the end, I decided to pick resilience because I figured that it would align best with the specific milestones I had chosen for this year. When picking your word, analyze what feels right for you and what word is going to fit with your lifestyle. The options you have are infinite. Look in the dictionary, Google, ask your friends and family. Write the options down, give them a thought for a couple of days, and then move forward with the chosen one.
Look at your word daily Another strategy that I decided to use this year is to write the word down and put it in a place where I can see it every day. Thus, every time I wake up, go to sleep, or walk around my room, I have a big piece of paper in front of my bed with the word resilience. I figured that if I visualize my word, I’m able to make it go into my subconscious and every time I might face adversity, I would have already seen my word at least and I would remember that I must continue pushing to overcome the challenge in front of me. I used to do this with my resolutions in previous years. Nonetheless, as they were extensive lists with many things to accomplish at the same time, it was hard to keep them all in my mind, and in the end, I would only do about half of them.
Embrace your word Keep in mind that the word you picked is your word. You are the only person in charge of using that word as your guide throughout the year. A word has a freedom that resolutions usually don’t, so you are the only one responsible for using the word either in one or in a thousand milestones you want to achieve. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Enjoy this year and the challenges and adventures you are about to experience while keeping your word at the top of your mind.
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Staple pieces you in your closet in 2022 By: Kalyn Huggins
It’s the beginning of the year so you know what that means... a new wardrobe! We are all learning our styles and creating your own looks. Since the pandemic people have started expressing themselves more through their style and we’ve been drawn to the streets for the latest trendsnot the runway, I think we can all agree that it’s been an interesting moment in fashion. This year will be about bright bold colors, prints, oversized silhouettes, and more to indicate we are ready for whatever 2022 brings. Here are 6 staple pieces you need in your closet for 2022. Catsuits This sexy and bold piece is a must-have, it is an easy statement look. Catsuits have had some unforgettable celebrity moments recently including Kim K’s jaw dropping hot pink SNL Balenciaga bodysuit. Oversized Blazers Though blazers are one of the most classic pieces, the oversized silhouette is unmatched. You can dress it up or down, Hailey Bieber is a notable example of how to rock an oversized blazer. Leather Pants Leather pants are an easy day-to-night piece. Their edgy, sleek, and chic all at the same time. Straight Leg Boots Straight leg knee-high boots are everything now. Channel your inner cowgirl and make a statement with color or prints. Bra Tops On the spring/summer 2022 runway bra tops were everywhere. You can wear it by itself or layer under a shirt or jacket. Miniskirts You can’t go wrong with a mini skirt, show off your legs this year. Until its warm enough to wear your miniskirt you can pair it with leggings or a catsuit. AMANMAGAZINE.COM | AMAN MAGAZINE | 13
COVID-19 Vaccines: All
you need to know about pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility Written By: Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), agree that the COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to pregnant individuals who are eligible for vaccination. Pregnant women face more risks of severe illness and death when compared to nonpregnant women of their same age. Those who are pregnant are at higher risk for being hospitalized in an intensive care unit and requiring a high level of care, including breathing support on a machine, and are at higher risk for dying if this happens. The CDC explains that, based on how the vaccines work in the body, experts believe that they are unlikely to pose a specific risk for people who are pregnant. However, the data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant people is still limited. Studies in animals that received a Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/ Janssen) COVID-19 vaccines before or during pregnancy found no safety concern; and the companies are monitoring data from people in the clinical trials who received vaccine and became pregnant afterwards. Although there is still little information about pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility, here are some of the common questions answered by experts. What is known about pregnant women and the safety of the vaccines? Pregnant people were not included in the clinical trials since there are historical restrictions on including those who are pregnant on trials. But some trial participants inadvertently became pregnant, and a small number of these people received the vaccine. The CDC was tracking by January 27, 2021, more than 30,000 vaccine recipients who were pregnant at the time of their shot. Nearly 1,800 have provided detailed descriptions of symptoms after vaccination and pregnancy outcomes, and they appear to have the same vaccine side effects as nonpregnant individuals. No miscarriages, stillbirths, or preterm births linked with the vaccines have been reported to the date. Furthermore, the CDC Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force in the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices released an update on March 1, 2021 in which they explained that in the enrolled population there have been 275 completed pregnancies, including 232 live births. Vaccine safety data will continue to be collected for pregnant people and follow-up observation is planned for the first year of infant life.
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Can I get the vaccine if I am breastfeeding? Women who were breastfeeding were also left out from the clinical trials. Thus, there is no data available on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating people, the effects of vaccination on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production or excretion. Nevertheless, the CDC explains that “COVID-19 vaccines authorized now are non-replicating vaccines, meaning they are able to create an immune response but do not reproduce inside host cells. Because non-replicating vaccines pose no risk for lactating people or their infants, COVID-19 vaccines are also thought to not be a risk to the breastfeeding infant. Therefore, lactating people may choose to be vaccinated”. If I get the vaccine, will breastfeeding pass immunity to my baby? Four Obstetrics and Gynecologists told the University of Chicago Medicine web publication that if a woman is vaccinated it is likely that the antibodies produced in the mother’s body in response to the vaccine “will be passed to the fetus through the placenta and may provide some protection against COVID-19, the same way a flu vaccine can help protect your baby against the flu”. It is still unknown if breastmilk will contain antibodies produced by vaccination and if that will help protect breastfed children. Again, there is little data on this subject matter and more studies need to be performed and published. Will the vaccine affect my fertility? At the moment, there is no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems. The CDC recommends that if you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, you may receive a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to you. Scientists are still studying COVID-19 vaccines carefully for side effects and will report findings as they become available. The ACOG and the SMFM state that there is no evidence that vaccines affect fertility. While human vaccine trials did not specifically study fertility, no signs of infertility were noted in animal studies. If you still have concerns… Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility are topics of much concern among women when it comes to health. As a consequence, your obstetric provider or doctor can advise you about the benefits and risks of getting the vaccine, taking into account your personal health risks and your exposure to the virus. The CDC recommends to pregnant people that they should weigh the following when deciding whether to get the vaccine: “the individual risk of acquiring the virus (both to community transmission and your occupation); the potential damaging health outcomes of contracting COVID-19 while you’re pregnant; the side effects that you may experience after receiving the vaccine; and the safety and efficacy data currently available”.
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Christelyn Karazin Discusses the rebirth of The Pink Pill
Christelyn Karazin is an author,columnist, and an ambassador. She is also known for her well known brand that promotes and encourages women of color to navigate in high-class social circles, expand their dating preferences, and network their way to success! The content queen is starting this year off with a bang as she reintroduces new and long time fans to a revamped Pink Pill brand! Interviewed By: Amani Sams What made you start “The Pink Pill” Brand? Very interesting story. In 2012, I came out with my book ‘swirling;. It was met with a lot of surprise, a lot of discussion, and a lot of push back. Not the push back that somebody might assume. That maybe the push back would be from white people. It was from black people. There were of course a lot black men who were not crazy about what I was saying. Even though I never said not to date black men. I said to include all men. But they didn’t enjoy the idea of competition involved with that so they went after me pretty hard. Many black women said “oh no, I could never be with a white man” , “This is stupid, black women aren’t ever going to do this”, and “This book is unnecessary”. When I came out with the book interracial relationships [and] interracial marriage for black women were 10%. That was since they started keeping track in the 80s to 3 years later in 2015 that number for the first time in 2 decades jumped 33% to 12%. So a lot of the women who said “oh no, I can’t do that”, started seeing their friends, their neighbors, people in the town that they lived in happy with men of other races and it really put a dent in their cognitive dissidence because a lot of black women thought there is no way “white men ain’t gone take no black woman home”. But then they started seeing in their everyday lives they saw couplings. They saw black women with non black men pushing strollers with rings on their fingers. Once the initial shock of having the discussion about Black women entertaining their options wore off, these women circled back to me and said “okay, I’m open to this”. When I came out with The Pink Pill it was a collection of questions that I had been getting for years. The Pink Pill launched in 2018, it was a course unlike any other course because it was based on what I knew my audience wanted to know about. The goal is to not make you a white girl dipped in chocolate. The goal is to get your confidence up so that you feel secure going into these spaces. So you can be the distinction and stop feeling like you have to apologize for how you show up bit understand how you show up is an advantage. The spin off was The Pink Pill for college. I created The Pink Pill for college for all the things I wished somebody would have told me. We waste a lot of time. Networking starts there [and] it will have an effect on every aspect of your life.
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-Tell us about “The Pink Pill: Underground”. The Pink Pill Underground is a place where we can go and really delve in deeper in these conversations because what happens a lot of times is that particularly for black women society has this idea that black women shouldn’t be strategizing on their own behalf. You know that offends people. I developed the Underground so we could have these private conversations. We have many virtual events and trainings and it’s just a way where we can develop our level up in peace without prying eyes. You can’t even find The Pink Pill Underground on Google. There are [also] things you have to do to get in. Not everyone can get in. I don’t do anything halfway. -What plans do you have for “The Pink Pill” in 2022? What can long-time supporters expect? Pink Pill supporters can expect [a] complete revamp of the original Pink Pill. We’re going to update it, we launched in 2018 and it is going to be even more comprehensive. It’s going to have more high profile experts to come in and talk. We want to expand the underground. Our limit is 1,000 so we don’t want to go over that. You’ll also see more of the content that you want to see from me. -You recently went through a debacle on Clubhouse because of your brand. What would you say to these people today? I would just ask them to check their motivation. Do you not want black women and girls to maximize every opportunity to be successful in life? And if their answer is “no” then you need to check your motivation.What are you expecting a black girl or woman’s life to look like? People that claim to love black girls and women, why would you want to stifle them? I am not telling Black women not to do anything. I’m telling them to do those things and other things. I say this often ‘Cui Bono’. Cui Bono is latin for who benefits. Who benefits if Black women aren’t told these things. Told the things that other races of women are told. -What advice do you have for entrepreneurs that have gone through a similar situation? Get up and get up again! Keep getting up, you only fail when you stay down. It’s only over when you’re knocked down and can’t get back up. Just like in a boxing match, you get knocked down [but] you’re still in it if you get back up. So just keep getting back up and learn from your mistakes. Be rebellious. Say “you know what people may want to stop me, but ain’t nobody gonna stop me. I’m gonna stop when I’m good and ready”. Be defiant about people telling you that you should give it up and you shouldn’t try anymore. Be defiant and keep getting up. -In addition to “The Pink Pill”, you also have a publication called ‘Beyond Black & White’. What type of content do you offer on that website and how do you juggle both? Freelancers! Beyond Black & White was actually the first thing that I did. I came into the social media space having no idea that my career would evolve in a way that it did. When I got the book deal in 2010 my agent said [I] should start a blog; So I can write about [my] experience. It just became something huge. It became this thing, this icon. It is an imprint of our evolution as Black women. If you go through the archive and see the collective head space, you can see our progression. There are different conversations that we’re having that we didn’t have 10 years ago. There are different goals.
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