When I was a little girl, around 5 or 6-years-old, I would watch Disney movies on my Mickey Mouse television, colored red with a yellow border around the screen and complete with two round black ears up top. The Little Mermaid VHS tape was usually loaded, and I was often seen standing on top of my white and pink treasure chest singing along to “Part of Your World.” I think the following lines were what stuck, as I was often a people pleaser of a child, always wanting to be the best but caught up in other people’s expectations that I could never quite perfect myself to meet.

When I think of ‘craft’ or ‘crafting,’ I think about Michaels, grandmothers, Joann’s, and Dani. Now, Dani wasn’t always top of mind, but over the last year or so she’s been taking over my Instagram feed with tie-dye tutorials, friendship bracelets, and furry pom-poms. Dani and I had an IRL conversation about color, having fun, and ballet.

I met Abena Boamah-Acheampong back in 2017 during a time that feels so foreign to me now. In hindsight, 2017 was a golden time for me. I was bright-eyed, passionate beyond measure, and hopeful of the future. Over the years, I lost sight of that. But Abena did not. Instead, she funneled that energy into the foundation of her brand.

We met Hanahana Beauty only in year one of official operation, but the lessons of intent and purpose are rooted in Abena’s foundation. During our conversation, Abena helped me return to the center and reclaim the intention I thought I had lost.

Read our conversation below as we discuss family, intention, community, and,
of course, shea butter.

This year’s Met was, admittedly, a shitshow from the get-go. From celebrities outing themselves as anti-vaxxers and refusing to attend the mandatory vaccinated event to influencer invitee controversy. Along with all that, I personally felt it was not a red carpet two years in the making, with far more fashion faux pas than anticipated. America: A Lexicon In Fashion allowed guests to pick from a broad spectrum of inspiration- from old Hollywood to colonial themes, from classic American designers and silhouettes to current political matters. Many celebrities simply snagged a gown/suit from their closet and arrived. Overall, the final product was disappointing. Without further ado, let’s get into the hits and misses of the 2021 Met Gala.