Project Beauty Expo Supports Indie Brands by Women of Color

Feb 15, 2018

Ladies First highlights women and girls who are making the world better for the rest of us.

In 2014, Brittany Brown had just graduated from college. Inspired by the popularity of YouTube beauty vloggers, she decided she wanted to learn more about the industry from a professional standpoint. She went to school to be an esthetician and eventually created her own line of natural skin products called Monee’ Cosmetics. But Brown realized that something was missing in the beauty industry. As a young Black entrepreneur based in Baltimore, and whose market niche was still gaining traction, she found it hard to get her name out there and exhibit her own line.

“During those years, natural beauty wasn’t something that spoke to a lot of women. Though they were transitioning to natural hair products, they were nervous about putting certain products on their skin,” she explains.

After two years of running Monee’ Cosmetics, Brown decided to fill that gap in the industry on her own and launched Project Beauty Expo in 2016. Her experience as a brand founder made it clear that traditional expos — where retailers learn of emerging beauty brands — were not working in favor of independent brands. She recalls how difficult it was for her to run her own business without the proper tools and resources.

“I participated in many events and something that I felt was lacking was the opportunity for independent businesses to have the ability to exhibit on an even level playing field,” says Brown. “Throughout the year, you run into the same brands over and over again and it becomes white noise in the background, rather than discovering brands by women of color that you might not find normally.”

Naturally, PBE’s first year was demanding because they were challenging a traditional concept in the industry. Brown explains that some larger brands had expectations so translating the concept and the value of the expo to them was a challenge. Regardless of the initial struggle, when Brown thinks back to the feedback she’s received she remembers that two of the brands who exhibited at PBE sold out at the last expo.

“That really speaks to me because we want these brands to grow,” she says. “We want to help elevate them to a higher level and create more exposure for them.”

Brown gets excited knowing that some of their most groundbreaking moments are happening because of Project Beauty Expo, and notes that some of the exhibiting brands received their first press write-ups as a result of the event.

Brown ensures PBE is an intimate experience for both exhibitors and attendees by handpicking each brand that participates and focusing on the education of the products. She values connecting with the product and supporting the founder more than anything.

The theme for this year’s expo is self-care, something that Brown says is considered a luxury for women of color.

“We want to shed light on those brands that make self-care more prevalent,” she says. “We’re giving these women the opportunity to see that it needs to be [a part of] their routine every day. And it’s a conversation that needs to happen throughout the year.”

While the main expo is held every August in New York City, Brown has recently launched a new event series titled Women Behind the Brand. She describes it as “more of a roundtable talk that gives our exhibitors the opportunity to connect with our community on a smaller, more intimate level.” They discuss things like possible investment and remaining true to your brand vision.

The most recent Women Behind the Brand series was held in January in NYC with the founder of Plant Apothecary, and Brown hopes to hold another one in LA in March. Brown is confident that events like this are shifting the landscape in the beauty industry as a whole. The series aligns with Brown’s plans to spread PBE throughout the world and to touch as many lives as possible.

“Our plan is to grow PBE into a larger media company. Our goal is to impact the community for women of color and spread awareness for self-care and help women facilitate relationships between brands.”

What are some indie beauty brands you support? Tell us @BritandCo!

(Photos courtesy of Project Beauty Expo)

The Sunny Cup Helps Our Planet Be Better, Even Beyond Sustainability

You’re sustainable. You use reusable bags for grocery trips and swore off plastic water bottles in favor of saving the earth, but have you ever considered the environmental impact of your period? The tampons or pads that you just used during your last cycle make up one small speck in the nearly 200,000 metric tons of landfill waste derived from period products every year. Yep – it’s an unfathomable number, and it doesn’t even begin to account for the period litter scattered across the world’s beaches *or* the microplastics derived from them (which we have yet to quantify and truly understand their impact).

In a time where our planet really needs it, a lot of us want to practice sustainability, but it’s time to actually mean it. The founders of Sunny Period agree. In response, they developed the Sunny Cup, a first-of-its-kind reusable menstrual cup that inserts like a tampon with the help of a unique applicator.

Cindy Belardo, 26, and Drew Jarvis, 23, might have come up with the Sunny Cup from opposite sides of the country, but both knew they needed to find a solution for traditional menstrual cups that just weren’t meeting their respective needs.

“I had not learned about menstrual cups before, and was so intrigued,” said Belardo. “But, the learning curve was something that was not ideal for me, and I really wanted to make it work. I knew that others would run into the same problem.”

Menstrual cups were downright frustrating to use.

“When I went to try menstrual cups, I was a little bit intimidated, but I was very willing to at least give it a shot. I spent an hour in the bathroom trying to put it in. I was laughing and crying, like “what the hell is this thing?” said Jarvis. “I ultimately realized, there's not really been much innovation with a period cup in years.”

That’s why they’re not only providing better solutions with Sunny, but working toward a more sustainable, more effective, and overall more inclusive approach to periods.

One menstruator will use an average of 9,120 tamponsor pads in their lifetime. More often than not, these single-use products (which are 90% plastic, BTW) end up in landfills, taking anywhere from 500 to 800 years to decompose, though plastic never truly decomposes.

In addition to the raw materials used to make tampons and pads themselves, manufacturing practices suck up energy and water sources, contributing to carbon emissions.

Menstrual cups can be reused for up to a decade with a lot less of an impact on the environment, but a very slim percentage of menstruators are actually using them. The Sunny Cup is reusable for up to a year, replacing an average of 225 tampons that one person can potentially use per year.

“I mean, billions of pads are going into landfills. You're not supposed to flush them, obviously, but people do,” said Jarvis. “After five years of prototyping, research, and development, we finally came up with a design that we feel will help beginner menstrual cup users switch to this really cool, sustainable option that saves you money and saves disposables from going into landfills.”

There’s a bias for tampons and pads because they offer convenience at the tear of a wrapper – but convenience isn't the only factor driving it. Many menstruators simply do not have the luxury of choice when it comes to period products.

This fact became a reality for Belardo in 2018 when she began working with menstruators in India through a research grant. Her team had the opportunity to survey 200 first-time menstrual cup users on their experience with the device.

“One important takeaway was the taboo around periods and the female body. That was not unique to the individuals we surveyed in India – it's here in the US and globally,” said Belardo. “It became very apparent that period poverty is a worldwide issue that needs to be addressed.”

Medical News Today defines period poverty as “the social, economic, political, and cultural barriers to menstrual products, education, and sanitation.” It’s estimated that 500 millionmenstruators around the world lack proper access to a few or all three of these things. Though not exclusively tied to a specific demographic, period poverty is most commonly present in low income, impoverished, and food insecure communities.

“Unfortunately, [period poverty] is everywhere. I think we don't really realize that where there's food insecurity, there’s poverty,” said Jarvis. “That can be in any community. You may not know those people are dealing with those circumstances.”

Period poverty can put a lot of stress on menstruators, depending on their situation. For those without proper access to period products, scarcity can cause physical stress. For those living in poverty, affording period products in the first place can cause financial stress. For those shamed for having a period, the embarrassment can cause emotional stress.

“When you don't have access to period products, a lot of young menstruators will miss school, which is driving a gap in education, and then ultimately leading into a gap in income for people with periods, which is disproportionately women, and is even more challenging for women menstruators of color,” expressed Jarvis. “Of course, that's no place that we should be living in.”

Societal stigmas and myths surrounding menstruation further the divide between menstruators and access to period-related resources. The belief that periods are gross, unnatural, or perverted comes from a lack of education and understanding, according to Belardo.

“We understand that periods are a bodily process that have been punished, stigmatized, and shamed by society, and we committed to educating and working with our community to co-create solutions to unmet needs,” said Belardo. “The only way we are going to see change is if we can shift society's understanding.”

Sunny is combatting period poverty in the states and abroad by simply normalizing periods. In addition to their menstrual cup, they’ve created a graphic novel for young people that aims to educate about periods. They continue to have candid conversations surrounding periods, sexual health, and period poverty through their social media channels. Sunny is also dedicated to donating products and resources to those who need them through Period.org, a non-profit that advocates for menstruators.

In addition to these things, Jarvis and Belardo are ensuring their efforts with Sunny are oriented towards menstruators of all backgrounds in order to serve the community at large.

“It's vital to openly combat the stigma associated with our bodies in order to advocate and sustain our community's mental health. Part of that is being inclusive,” said Belardo. “Truly including everyone in this conversation, cis and trans men, cis and trans women, non-binary folks, menstruators and non-menstruators, lower-income countries and higher-income countries, people of color, et cetera, so that we can normalize our bodies.”

“We've had people get frustrated by that at times. But the reality is, we're a period care company, and we are addressing people with periods and we're not going to exclude anyone from that,” said Jarvis. “We knew that it was going to be political because we wanted to include everybody with a period. We realized that while we are passionate about earth-friendly products, inclusive education, and global impact, we were always going to be more than just a period product.”

Learn more at SunnyPeriod.com. Sign up for our email newsletter to stay in the know about all things health + lifestyle!

Photography by Scott Vo Photography.

Some quotes have been edited for clarity.

11 Paleo Desserts That Don’t Make You Feel Like You’re On A Diet

Paleodesserts typically avoid processed ingredients, grains, dairy products, and refined sugars – but that doesn’t mean they have to be bad. Sure, they primarily focus on using whole foods, but there are tons of paleo desserts out there that don’t feel like you’re eating on a diet at all.

Common ingredients in paleo desserts include almond flour, coconut flour, coconut oil, dates, and various fruits like berries or bananas. You can feel really good about eating these 11 paleo desserts. They’re nutrient-dense and perfectly sweet! From snack-sized bites to fully-fledged cakes, we’ve got you covered.

Paleo Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies are superior when it comes to paleo desserts, or any desserts for that matter. These addictive bites take on the flavors of pumpkin and chocolate, all without leaning on process ingredients! (via Brit + Co)

Cherry-Cranberry Almond Paleo Scones

These paleo scones are just as good as the ones you'd snag from your local coffee shop. Cherries and cranberries dot the sweet dough for a fresh touch, plus there's a delicious cranberry glaze to top it all off! These paleo desserts would work so well for serving a large party crowd – or, you could save the leftovers all for yourself. (via Brit + Co)

Fudgy Paleo Brownies

Though you might assume paleo desserts say 'no' to chocolate, this brownie recipe will instantly prove you wrong. The batter, made primarily from almond flour, coconut flour, and cocoa powder, gets balanced out in terms of moisture with coconut oil, eggs, and maple syrup. Dark chocolate is the key to this dessert's success! (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Paleo Gummy Bears

Our list of paleo desserts wouldn't be complete without the more fruity snacks! These paleo-friendly gummy bears only require three ingredients and a gummy bear mold with a dropper. You can make any flavor you want depending on the type of fruit juice you use – just make sure it's labeled “not from concentrate” and is organic to abide by the paleo guidelines. (via Clean Cuisine)

Berry Paleo Banana Bread with Lemon Glaze

Banana bread is the ultimate treat you can snack on in the morning, afternoon, and at night. This paleo version is doctored up with even more healthy stuff like three types of berries and an addictively tart lemon glaze. Swoon! (via The Endless Meal)

Coconut-Coated No-Bake Energy Bites

For paleo desserts that you *don't* have to actually bake, energy bites are the sweetest solution. These can be crafted within minutes using a short list of ingredients: prunes (healthy fiber FTW!), almonds, chia seeds, and surprisingly, orange juice! Pop one in your mouth for a workday snack, or wait for bedtime to indulge in this daily sweet treat. (via Live Eat Learn)

Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding

This spoonable paleo dessert is also plant-based, gluten-free, and made with 5 ingredients. The creamy base is made with 2 ripe avocados, which get masked with the flavors of cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and the natural sweetener of your choice. (via Veggie Society)

Paleo Coconut Cream Pie

You may be a bit skeptical at just how good a keto, paleo, vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free pie could really taste, but we promise this one is ahh-mazing. The coconut flour, coconut milk, coconut whipping cream, and *actual* shredded coconut form the signature flavor without taking over too strongly. You'll wanna eat slice after slice! (via No Eggs or Ham)

Paleo Thin Mints

Wanna enjoy your fave Girl Scout cookies year-round? Look no further than these paleo thin mints that incorporate the minty, chocolatey flavors you love, without any harmful additives. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Paleo + Vegan Caramel Apple Slices

Us any apple variety you love alongside some melted dark chocolate and caramel to create these mouthwatering apple slice pops. You can go crazy with with topping 'em with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and the like, but it's really up to you on how to best enjoy them. (via Rachel Mansfield)

4-Ingredient Chocolate Chia Pudding

This chocolatey chia pudding is too tasty. With an ample serving of chia seeds, cocoa powder, almond milk, and maple syrup, this is a certifiably healthy paleo dessert. (via Two Spoons)

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The Darkest Shade: How Beauty Brands Can Be More Inclusive And Which Actually Are

Growing up in the age of YouTube beauty vlogs, there weren’t many women of color talking about makeup. Jackie Aina, Nyma Tang, and Alissa Ashley were some of the first to talk about this industry from a Black woman’s perspective, and Tang pioneered the conversation by creating content where she found the darkest shades of makeup, and comparing it to her darker skin tone. Many Black women related to her struggle — the inability to find any beauty product that could extend past the names mahogany, mocha, or dark chocolate was frustrating to say the least.

When Fenty Beauty released their extensive shade range in 2017, the industry finally crept up to the cusp of something new. For the first time on both ends of the spectrum, women of color were represented fully by a complexion line. Other brands followed suit, but not fast enough. To this day, many brands still aren’t inclusive of darker shades in their products.

Unfortunately, colorism is extremely prevalent in the beauty industry, despite the cries for brands to do better. Luckily, a generation of Jackie, Nyma, and Alissa fans are now old enough to raise their voices about inclusivity. More and more creators continue to point out the hypocrisy of only using certain models, or only inviting certain influencers to events. TikTokers Golloria and Anayka She are part of the new generation, raising the torch to call out beauty brands that actually are inclusive, and those that…really aren’t. Golloria often repeats that “tone inclusivity is the bare minimum," reminding us that there's always room to grow.

Brands should be listening closely as they could be missing out on an entire market that wants to sing their praises. Here are some beauty houses that I love, featuring extensive range and true quality. Let’s sing said praises:

Fenty Beauty

Image via Fenty Beauty

While Fenty Beauty isn’t the first, the Rihanna-led brand is a pioneer in extensive shade ranges. The hype surrounding their first launch was well worth the lines. I’m a fan for life, not only because the products are amazing, but because there’s something for the fairest to the deepest among us.

Favorite Fenty Products

Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation ($40)

This foundation comes in 50 different shades. Yes, you read that right!

Match Stix Contour Skinstick ($32)

You'll find these contour sticks in 10 different shades.

Danessa Myricks Beauty

Image via Danessa Myricks Beauty

As a makeup artist, Danessa Myricks found that not all products were found equal between her clients. Her makeup line is focused specifically on multi-use for all skin types. Myricks’ site has the best realistic examples of her products on each skin tone type.

Fave Danessa Myricks Beauty Products

Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder ($36)

You'll find this oil balancing balm in 11 different shades.

Colorfix Foils ($18)

These bold colors are safe to use on your eyes, lips, and face!

Maybelline

Image via Maybelline

This drugstore brand took the long way to finding extended shade ranges across products. However, being the old reliable comes with growing pains, and Maybelline eventually made inclusivity more of a priority. The first foundation I ever bought with my own money was from the FitMe line. At the time (and to this day), the beauty brand created something for everyone at an affordable rate. I still go back to it because while it’s nostalgic, it also gave me great skin days. (Special nod to the 15 baby lips I also bought.)

Fave Maybelline Products

Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder ($9)

Maybelline offers eight different shades in this powder to top off your foundation with.

Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation ($9)

Out of the 40 different shade options here, I love the warm coconut best!

Ami Cole

Image via Ami Cole

Ami Cole is a newer brand on the scene but it’s made a large splash in rethinking the classic beauty routine. The brand started with just three products and is expanding every day. Stay with me — the original skin tint has a limited shade range, but it focuses specifically on women of color. The skin tint is my favorite product and somehow feels universal with only six shades. It’s perfect for the no makeup makeup look so I highly recommend for anyone with a deeper skin tone.

Skin Enhancing Tint ($32)

The six shades of this tint are meant to show off your skin, not cover it up.

Lip Treatment Oil ($20)

Not only does this look great, but it also nourishes your lips! Win-win!

What inclusive beauty brands do you love? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to sign up for our email newsletter for all the latest beauty news!

Header image via Ami Cole.

Grab Your Slushees & Check Out Where The "Glee" Cast Is Now

ICYMI, the 15th anniversary of Glee is coming up on May 19 and we're feeling all the feels. But we're not the only ones! "It's incredible, like, that's my family. We did something that was groundbreaking," actress Amber Riley says in an interview with ET. "I'm always grateful to Glee for being the catapult for my whole entire career, and for giving me such a vast knowledge and vocabulary of music."

The teen drama played a huge role in the careers of stars like Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, and Alex Newell, and so many members of the cast of Glee has starred in a number of other titles. Their continued success proves just how talented they are, which is why I rounded up all their latest projects so you can spend more time watching them! Here's where you can see the cast of Glee in 2024.

Lea Michele as Rachel Barry

Images via Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images/Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Without a doubt, the most notable thing Lea Michele has done since the end of Glee is FINALLY starring as Fanny Brice in Broadway's Funny Girl. It was a super meta moment that brought reality and Glee lore together, and the entire internet lost their minds. You can also watch her in Scream Queens and New Year's Eve. Lea is currently expecting her second child with husband Zandy Reich, and has been very vocal about her struggle with PCOS.

Corey Monteith as Finn Hudson

Images via Frederick M. Brown/Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Before he was on Glee, Corey Monteith had roles on Smallville and Supernatural. He's also reportedly the inspiration behind Taylor Swift's "Mine" from Speak Now. You can also see him in Monte Carlo and Final Destination 3. Corey passed away on July 13, 2013.

Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel

Images via Frederick M. Brown/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Chris Colfer is one of my personal favorite members of the cast of Glee, especially since Kurt is such a sweetheart. You can see him in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie and RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars, and you can read his The Land of Stories book series! The actor and author has been in a relationship with Will Sherrod since 2013.

Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester

Images via Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Fox/Presley Ann/Getty Images for DAOU Family Estates

Jane Lynch is one of the most iconic members of the cast of Glee thanks to her portrayal of Sue,and since the show wrapped, she's been involved with a number of other hit projects. You can see her in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Wreck-It Ralph, Selena Gomez's Another Cinderella Story, and Only Murders in the Building. The actress lives with her wife Jennifer Cheyn, who she married in 2021.

Jenna Ushkowitz as Tina Cohen-Chang

Images via Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images/Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Gold Meets Golden

Jenna Ushkowitz joined the cast of Glee after her run in Spring Awakening on Broadway. She's done a few other Broadway shows like Waitress, and won Tonys for as a producer on Once on This Island and The Inheritance! You can also see Jenna in Lady Gaga's "Marry the Night" music video, as well as Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj's "Swish Swish," and listen to her And That’s What You Really Missed podcast, which she co-hosts with Glee star Kevin McHale. Jenna married David Stanley on July 24, 2021 (Kevin was her "man of honor" — cute!!) and in June 2022, gave birth to their daughter.

Kevin McHale as Artie Abrams

Images via Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images/Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Gold Meets Golden

In addition to starring in Glee (and listening to his And That's What You Missed podcast, of course), you can see Kevin McHale in Bratz, Zoey 101, and American Horror Stories. He's been in a relationship with actor Austin P. McKenzie since 2016.

Ali Stroker as Betty Pillsbury

Images via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images/Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Ali Stroker was a finalist for The Glee Project (a reality show that gave contestants the opportunity to appear in the show) before guest starring in season 4. Since the 2013 episode, Ali has starred in Lifetime's Christmas Ever After and also had a small role on Only Murders in the Building. The actress also became the first person with a disability to both receive a Tony nomination and award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for portraying Ado Annie in Oklahoma!

Dianna Agron as Quinn Fabray

Images via Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Fox/Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

After playing Debbie Marshall on Milo Ventimiglia's Heroes, Dianna nabbed the role of complicated cheerleader Quinn on Glee. She's also had roles in Burlesque, I Am Number Four, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and The Chosen One. In 2022, Dianna finished her third residency Café Carlyle which is sooo giving Quinn Fabray.

Alex Newell as Wade "Unique" Adams

Images via Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Trevor Project/Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

Alex Newell stole hearts as Unique on Glee, and since the finale, they've also starred in Empire and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, as well as Broadway's revival of Once on This Island and Shucked (for which they became the first openly nonbinary performer to win a Tony).

Melissa Benoist as Marley Rose

Images via Kevin Winter/Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Melissa Benoist just starred in Max's Girls on the Bus (watch our interview with her here!), but she might be best known for the title role in The CW's Supergirl. You can also see her in Patriot's Day, The Longest Ride, and Whiplash. Like other members of the cast of Glee, Melissa starred on Broadway and made her debut as Carole King in Beautiful. After splitting from Glee co-star Blake Jenner in 2017, Melissa got remarried to Chris Wood in 2019 and gave birth to their son in 2020.

Chord Overstreet as Sam Evans

Images via Kevin Winter/Getty Images/Jeff Schear/Getty Images for Verizon

My personal favorite project from this Glee cast member is Falling for Christmas, which also stars Lindsay Lohan! You can also see him in iCarly, The Bold Type, and The Middle. The actor and singer dated Emma Watson in 2018, and in 2020, Chord released his song "Hold On," which has over 826 million streams on Spotify.

Jayma Mays as Emma Pillsbury

Images via Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Fox/Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

In addition to being a part of the cast of Glee, Jayma Mays has starred in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Heroes, and Red Eye. She married Adam Campbell in 2007 and gave birth to their son in 2016. Most recently, Jayma starred opposite Amy Adams and Maya Rudolph in Disenchanted!

Amber Riley as Mercedes Jones

Images via Frederick M. Brown/Hubert Vestil/Getty Images

Amber Riley's Mercedes is one of the best parts of Glee (and her rendition of "Bust Your Windows" is among the best performances on the show!!). Since the end of the series, Amber has starred in The Wiz Live!, The Little Mermaid Live!, and Monster High. She won Dancing with the Stars season 17 in 2013, and released her RILEY EP in 2020.

Darren Criss as Blaine Anderson

Images via Jason Merritt/Getty Images/Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Alzheimer's Association

Darren Criss won an Emmy in 2018 for his role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, which is only slightly more impressive than his involvement in the viral, deep-cut production of A Very Potter Musical (kidding!). You can also see him in Melissa Benoist's Supergirl and Muppets Haunted Mansion. Darren married his longtime girlfriend Mia Swier in 2019, and the couple welcomed their first child in 2022.

Blake Jenner as Ryder Lynn

Images via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Blake Jenner starred in The Edge of Seventeen with Hailee Steinfeld and Haley Lu Richardson, as well as Supergirl and What/If. Blake married Melissa Benoist while they were both in the cast of Glee, but the couple divorced in 2017. In 2019, Melissa revealed in an Instagram video that she's a survivor of domestic violence + injuries she received from a past partner. Blake responded in 2020, revealing he had been the partner Melissa referenced.

Dot-Marie Jones as Coach Beiste

Images via Jason Merritt/Getty Images/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for GLAAD

Not only does Dot-Marie Jones play a coach in the cast of Glee, but she's also a 15-time world arm wrestling champion IRL. You can see her in Lizzie McGuire,Material Girls, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and Killing It. Dot-Marie has been married to Bridgett Casteen since 2013.

Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez

Images via Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images/Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Naya Rivera's Santana was one of the best characters on TV, and she had incredible vocal chops to boot. You can see the actress in Step Up: High Water, CSI: Miami, and Even Stevens. Naya passed away in 2020 while boating with her son Josey in 2020.

Heather Morris as Brittany Pierce

Images via Frederick M. Brown/Amy Sussman/Getty Images

After you've binge watched Glee (again), you can see Heather Morris in Santa Fake, Cora Bora, Raven's Home, and So Help Me Todd. She competed in season 24 of Dancing With the Stars (she was also a backup dancer for Beyoncé, slay!), and shares two children with husband Taylor Hubbell.

Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester

Images via Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Fox/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Matthew Morrison has been in a number of musical productions outside of Glee, including the OG Broadway casts of Hairspray,The Light in the Piazza, and Finding Neverland. Most recently, he starred in Christmas movie Paris Christmas Waltz. Matthew shares two children with his wife Renee Puente.

Harry Shum Jr. as Mike Chang

Images via Michael Buckner/Getty Images for InStyle/Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix

Harry Shum Jr. starred opposite Nina Dobrev in Love, Hard on Netflix, and you can also see him in Step Up 2: The Streets and Step Up 3D, as well as Everything Everywhere All At Once. He plays a small role during the credits of Crazy Rich Asians, and will reportedly star in a spinoff about his character and Gemma Chan's Astrid. He shares a child with wife Shelby Rabara.

Mark Wayne Salling as Noah "Puck" Puckerman

Images via Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Fox/Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for The Viper Room

Before joining the cast of Glee, Mark Salling starred in Walker, Texas Ranger, Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering, and The Graveyard. He also released his Pipe Dreams album after founding Pipe Dreams Records. Mark passed away in 2018.

Who have you kept up with from the cast of Glee? Check out Where Is The Gilmore Girls Cast Now? for more info on your favorite actors!

Lead image via FOX

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7 Temporary Hair Color Trends To Experiment With This Summer

Festival season is here and summer is shortly on its way, so and to me that signals that it's time to get funky with your hairchoices! Whether it be some fun braids ornew cuts, you can try them all! But my personal favorite has to be dying your hair.... temporarily of course! Growing up I've never taken the plunge and fully dyed my hair, but I always loved to play around with temporary dye as a way to feel the fun change...but not dye my hair pink forever on a late night whim (I would not advise anyone to try this — we all saw what happened in that Gilmore Girlsepisode). So if you're getting that drastic decision itch but don't want to fully take the plunge then we'd recommend these fun styles that the experts say you'll love!

How long does temporary hair dye last?

Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Revolve

Temporary hair dye should only last a week or a couple weeks at max depending on how often you wash your hair. On the Sally Beauty website, it says, "Temporary hair color does not penetrate the cortex or the hair. Instead, it coats the outside of the hair shaft with color that washes out in one or two shampoos." So just a couple of washes and there you have it; your hair is as good as new!

Temporary Hair Color Trends To Try Right Now

Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Licorice Red

This is one of the most popular styles at the moment with so many celebrities donning this style. One of my favorites has to be Dua Lipa with this shade of bright licorice red that looks fab on her! I would recommend this color if you have darker undertones because it would compliment the red in such a beautiful way. To achieve this stunning look, you can use ArcticFox's Semi-Permanent Hair Dye in the shade Poison! It's super pigmented and incredibly easy to use from the comfort of your very own home. We like the sound of that!

Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Dove

Blonde Highlights

Temporary hair dye allows you to have so much fun with your hair and venture out into things you've been wanting to try! Blonde highlights are so easy to try and if you've been wanting to take the plunge but were unsure before then temporary hair dye will be your bestie! Give this luxurious light ombre look a try like Ciara's stunning highlights pictured here.

Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Light Pink Highlights

This color is so much fun for festival season because you don't have to commit to doing your whole hair, you can simply dye a few sections lightly to give off a highlighted look. Hair expert and colorist, Andrea Cottin from The Hairstyle Review, says, "If you’re looking to change up your hair without commitment, temporary color can be an excellent option. One of my favorite brands is Good Dye Young who carries a product called “I’m Bored” and lasts 2-6 washes. To apply, simply emulsify and apply to freshly washed hair in sections and then blow dry." It't that simple!

Andrea also says, "It comes in lots of colors and my personal favorite is pink as it has been trending in the salon. Another option is by Brite. It’s 100% compostable, and gentle on your hair. It’s applied like a conditioning mask and lasts 5-30 washes. This might be a better choice for those who want a bit more longevity without committing to a permanent color." You heard it here first, folks! Pink is going to be the color of the season!

Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Root Touch-Up Brown

Did you know that if you're in a pinch and can't make it to the salon for a root touch-up that you can get temporary dye to fix up your roots? You just spray directly onto your roots for a nice touch-up to get a natural look like Lucy Hale above! Hair expert Marcy Cona, Global Creative Director at Clairol says, "Root Touch-Up Spray (Temporary): Recently, TikTok users have discovered that using root touch-up sprays are not only beneficial for gray coverage, but can also be used as a fun and easy way to transform your hair to try out a different shade temporarily. If you’re looking to experiment with a new hair color without the commitment, you can try this hack with Clairol’s Root Touch-Up Color + Volume 2-in-1 Temporary Hair Coloring Spray, available in a range of colors, including black, dark brown, dark to medium blonde, light brown, and medium brown."

Image via Ulta

Rose Gold Hue

This is a new development for me as I'm just finding out that you can dye your hair rose gold! Don't mind me sprinting to Ulta ASAP to grab the Kristen Ess Rose Gold Tinting Spray. This new color is sure to be your next summer and festival staple and I bet all the girlies will be asking you where you got it! Bonus? It washes right out so you don't have to worry about the color lingering post-festival season when you're back at your 9-5.

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Copper Red

We've seen ginger and copper-toned hair take the world by complete storm! I may be biased but as a fellow ginger myself, I think that gingers have the most fun! So try out this style for a fresh new look like Kendall Jenner did above for a few months. Temporary dye is the best way to see what colors best suit your face and complexion!

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Header image via Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

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