It’s summer, which means pants are a no-go. Why struggle (and profusely sweat) in perhaps the most restricting piece of clothing known to womankind? Instead, opt for a maxi skirt that gives you total breathability and freedom of movement.
These maxi skirts for summer embrace comfort all the way, so you can frolic around in style this season. From neutrals to brights and ginghams to polka dots, these 15 skirts will give your summer ‘fits an instant boost.
This tiered maxi skirt with an elastic waistband is a staple you need to have in your closet for summer. It's super easy to pair with essentially anything you've already got, plus it just looks effortlessly chic for any occasion. Dressed up or down, the lightweight twill material will feel like an absolute dream against your legs.
The Sunday Best Mars Skirt is available in 4 other colors and sizes XXS-XL for $98.
The raw vertical seaming on this mid-rise style lends it an especially casual air, which is just want you want for those scorching-hot summer days. Though it masters the art of breathability, this skirt will also last you well into fall and winter, depending how you layer up and style it.
The Caught In The Moment Maxi Skirt from Free-est comes in 4 other colors and sizes XS-XL for $70.
Okay, drop waist effect! This maxi skirt that comes in an eye-catching blue hue adds a touch of whimsy to your look. It's easy to slip into and secures with a side zipper. The tight ruching along the hips makes this piece anything but ordinary.
The Flat White Drop-Waist Maxi Skirt comes in sizes XXS-XL for $138.
You gotta love a flirty sheer skirt for summertime! This one flaunts a loose crochet construction, so it's still impressively breathable. The mix of crochet patterns add visual interest alongside the contrasting black lines. This 100% cotton skirt is part of a matching set and even has a mini-length liner underneath for additional coverage!
The Crochet-Style Maxi Skirt from Abercrombie & Fitch is also available in white-on-black and sizes XXS-XL for $90.
The dainty waistline with a tiny bow in the center on this skirt is to die for! The length fully falls to the floor if you wear it low-waisted, which can be a super fun silhouette to play with if you normally don't rock it. This piece is created from deadstock or discarded fabrics that would have gone unused otherwise.
The Urban Renewal Remnants Slub Linen Maxi Skirt comes in 5 other colors and sizes XS-XL for $65.
You can wear this maxi skirt any way you want. That's right – it can also be worn as a dress! It boasts a tiered, layered silhouette with a unique asymmetrical hem, so it's sure to be the staple of your 'fits. There's also a super wide waistband with lotsa elastic for easy, effortless, everyday wear.
There are 4 additional color options for the Free-est The Convertible Skirt. It's shoppable in sizes XS-XL for $88.
It's giving cool French girl to the max. This maxi skirt – part of a matching set – is pretty simple in design. Though it doesn't have many extra bells or whistles, the chic polka dot pattern calls attention to your look instantly. The waistband on this number is fully elastic, so everyday wear is as comfy as can be!
The Whimsy + Row Marni Maxi Skirt is also available in solid white or pink and sizes XS-XL for $162.
Denim maxi skirts may be trending right now, but they're not always entirely practical for warm weather. Luckily, this one's a bit more breathable since it's made from a gauzy material. The three-tiered design gives it shape while the smocked wide waistband hugs your figure in the most flattering way.
The Crinkle Gauze Denim Maxi Skirt from Gap is shoppable in sizes XXS-XXL for $70.
The dramatic tiering on this maxi skirt lands a bit more on the formal side. It's part of a matching set, so you could complete your look for a wedding or dinner party pretty easily! The gorgeous yellow shade of this number is dotted with tiny blue blooms and the waistline is part stretchy, part not-stretchy with a side zipper for security!
The Abercrombie & Fitch Drama Tiered Maxi Skirt is also available in a pink colorway and sizes XXS-XL for $90.
We're obsessed with this sultry smoky blue color. Made from a "drapey satin fabric with a lustrous, glossy sheen that’s extremely soft to the touch," this maxi skirt comes complete with a broken-in, cozy fit. It's made from recycled waste material and wood-based fibers, so it's *sustainably* stylish. It pulls on easily with an elastic waistband.
The Babaton Slip Satin Maxi Skirt comes in 5 other colors and sizes 00-12 for $98.
This mermaid-cut maxi feels super whimsical, and it's perfect for giving a little twirl! It pulls on and secures to your liking with a drawstring tie. The frayed, detailed tiering supplies extra oomph with this 100% cotton piece.
The Free-est Like A Mermaid Skirt is available in 6 other colors and sizes XS-XL for $78.
This maxi skirt carries total profesh vibes with its fine pleats, but it comes out to play with a sheer chiffon material. It's just perfect for that hot, sticky summer weather you know is on its way. This piece is lined with a mini skirt on the inside, so you'll have some nice breathing room!
The J.Crew Collection Maxi Skirt also comes in black and sizes 00-24. It's currently on sale for a limited time for $135 (was $198).
With a playful mismatched squiggly trim at the bottom and youthful gingham pattern, this piece is sure to be the #1 statement of any of your outfits. It boasts a cute little bow at the elastic waistband, which is meant to fit low-waisted. Pair with sandals or your fave sneaks for an adorable summer look!
The Neon Rose Ricrac Gingham Maxi Skirt comes in sizes XS-XL for $64.
This red turns heads. Made in an ultra-high rise silhouette, this maxi skirt with a fully elasticated waistband flaunts a light lining on the inside for added coverage, so you can feel cozy all day long. You can even snag the matching top for an easy summer outfit to wear to dinners and dates alike.
The Crinkle Flowy Maxi Skirt from Abercrombie & Fitch comes in 3 other colors and patterns and sizes XXS-XL for $70.
This is summer festival fashion at its finest! This skirt is super lacy for utmost breeziness and even has some built-in shorts so you can wear 'em with ease.
The Wild Fable Mid-Rise Lace Trumpet Maxi Skirt is also shoppable in black and is available in sizes XXS-4X for $25.
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Lead image via Urban Outfitters.
George and Amal Clooney are one of the celebrity couples I’d personally be upset over if they ever break up. Like...my heart just wouldn’t be able to handle it because their love story is one for the books — not to mention all the power couple fashion moments we'd miss out on!
I was introduced to George Clooney’s work via Quentin Tarantino’s movieFrom Dusk ‘Til Dawn (thanks, dad) and have always found him to be a force of nature, but I didn’t take him for the ‘settling down’ type. Imagine my surprise when the man who once claimed he’d never get married eventually found himself smitten with Amal Alamuddin, an intelligent Human Rights Lawyer.
Since their fateful first meeting at George’s home years ago, the two have gone on to get married, have children, and even established the Clooney Foundation for Justice together. If you can’t get enough of their relationship either, here’s a full timeline of their love story!
Image via Andrew Goodman/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night
In 2018, George sat down with David Letterman on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction to recount various moments from his life, including when he first met Amal. He remembers being at home at Lake Como when one of his friends asked if they could bring a plus one with them.
To make things even wilder, his own agent let him know his bachelor days would soon be over. “I got a call from my agent who called and said, ‘I met this woman who’s coming to your house who you’re gonna marry,’” he said.
Once he met Amal and began talking to her, it was apparent they had chemistry that resulted in them exchanging emails. George told The Hollywood Reporter, “I thought she was beautiful, and I thought she was funny and obviously smart…Then she sent some pictures from when she was here, and we were writing each other, emailing, talking, mostly about what was going on in each other’s lives, and over a period of time it became clear we were more than just friends.”
I’m being dramatic, but I think this dispels the idea that it’s impossible to find love if you don’t leave home.
Image via Cindy Ord/Getty Images
George also told The Hollywood Reporter about how their first official date came to be. He was in London overseeing the music for Monuments Men and decided to invite Amal for a visit. “Then we went for dinner…and when we came out, there were 50 paparazzi there. But she handled it like a champ. And pretty quickly, things escalated once I was in London,” he said
While they dated and got to know each other, they told CBS that they wrote each other letters. While they described that courtship, Amal added that some of the letters George wrote to her came from...his dog? Talk about bringing someone into your inner world! TBH, I'm more than here for it — let your sweet, goofy flag fly, George!
Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner
I always say there’s no denying when you’ve fallen in love with someone, and that couldn’t be more true for George and Amal Clooney who got engaged after six months of dating. Seriously, the way George proposed is something out of a romantic fairytale because he planned it. Not only that, but he cooked for her and sent her on a short scavenger hunt — except she didn’t know she was supposed to be looking for a ring.
He revealed even more details about the moment during his interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I did all the stuff, got down on my knee and did all the things you’re supposed to do. I had a playlist with my Rosemary [Clooney] songs on it, and I was waiting for this song, ‘Why Shouldn’t I,’” he said.
Needless to say, Amal happily accepted his proposal! Ironically,I’m starting to realize there’s not always a set timeline for people to get engaged or married after dating. Some people only date for a few months while others date for years before deciding to get married. It’s all very personal.
Image via Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI
It wouldn’t be right if the couple didn’t get married in Italy, the country where they first met. Of course they were free to get married wherever they wanted, but leave it to the Clooneys to keep the romance going.
People reported the lovely couple wed at the Aman Canal Grande resort and guests like Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and John Krasinski were in attendance.
Image via Jason Merritt/Getty Images
For the first time ever, George and Amal Clooney made an appearance on the red carpet at the beginning of 2015. They attended the Golden Globes together where George received the famed lifetime achievement award.
Towards the end of his speech, George praised Amal in only a way that a man truly in love with his wife could. He said, "You make every single day — every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — feel as special as tonight..."
Image via Duncan McGlynn/Getty Images
By 2016, George and Amal Clooney decided to found the Clooney Foundation for Justice — an organization that aims to shed light around social injustices found across the globe. They've prioritized spending their own money to help those in need without a second thought and have even donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Image via Clemens Bilan/Getty Images
Almost three years after getting married, a source close to George and Amal Clooney revealed the two were expecting a baby together. They told People, "They’re all very happy," referring to the couple's family.
George later revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he was shocked when he discovered the couple would actually become parents to twins. He recalled their experience in the ultrasound room. "He goes, 'Well, there's one.' And I said, 'Great.' And then he goes, 'And there's the second one.' And I was like, 'What?' We just sat there, staring at that piece of paper they give you, and I kept thinking there was a mistake," he said of the exchange between the doctor and the couple.
Image via Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
People also reported the birth of George and Amal Clooney's twins — Alexander and Ella — during the summer of 2017. "This morning Amal and George welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney into their lives. Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and doing fine. George is sedated and should recover in a few days," they revealed in lighthearted joint statement.
Later that year, George and Amal Clooney graced the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival in support of George's film Suburbicon. George — an ever dapper gentleman — wore a classic black tuxedo while Amal wore a lilac Versace gown.
Image via Gareth Fuller - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Things were quiet for the couple until the spring of 2018. They attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's highly publicized wedding. They were just a few of the celebrities that were seen in the crowd.
Image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
A couple of years later, George and Amal Clooney were the proud recipients of the joint Catalyst Award from the Elevate Prize Foundation. The amazing work they'd been doing in connection with the Clooney Foundation for Justice hadn't gone unnoticed and they were praised for their amazing philanthropic work.
While accepting the award, George gave a moving speech about their foundation's purpose. "One of the Elevate Prize Foundation's core values is human safety and freedom...Our goal at the foundation is to free the innocent and punish the guilty. I think we're both inspired by the young people out there challenging injustice in their communities, a new generation that won't accept the status quo," he said.
Image via Joe Maher/Getty Images
Image via Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
They then attended the L.A. premiere of Ticket to Paradise where George looked debonair in a grey suit. Amal wore a gorgeous Alexander McQueen number that was an appropriate nod to the film's paradise theme.
Image via Mike Coppola/Getty Images
George and Amal Clooney attended the Kennedy Center Honors where he, along with honorees, received a nod for lifetime achievements. They were a picture of perfection on the red carpet, especially Amal. She dazzled in a lovely Valentino gown that looked amazing on her frame.
Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
While attending the DVF Awards in Venice, Amal received the DVF Leadership Award. During her acceptance speech, Amal thanked George for being by her side. People reports she said, "Venice is the place where almost nine years ago we were married. I just wanted to say, you, my love, like this city, take my breath away, and you make our lives magical. It is sometimes hard to believe you exist, so thank you for being the brightest light in my life.”
Before the end of 2023, People reported George and Amal Clooney hosted their foundation's second annual Albies at the New York Public Library to continue highlighting the importance of securing human rights for all.
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Header image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
As the sun starts to stay out later and later, the oncoming summer heat beckons only the cutest summer outfits! Even though it's definitely sweaty season, you still want to look your best, which is why each of these maxi dresses are the perfect closet pick. These maxi dresses (all under $100!) are flowy, floral, breezy, and beautiful. Prep your tip-top looks with these summer-ready maxi dresses!
The cozy knit of this $40 maxi dress will make you wanna wear it all summer long. The fuss-free straps make it an easy one-and-done kind of outfit – all you need is some cute sandals and statement earrings to complete the look!
We'll be following in Hailey Bieber's style footsteps all summer long. This $22 white lace number recalls her iconic pregnancy announcement pictures, but it also just so happens to be practical for the season's hot weather with a breezy, breathable vibe.
This serene green gown ($88) features an adorable bustier top with a cute bow tie, while the long skirt fits loosely against your figure.
Knit dresses are everything, and this $40 striped one is begging to be taken on your beach vacation ASAP!
Rosettes are undeniably having a moment right now, and this light yellow number ($78) lets you shine to the max. It has a wonderful open back for getting a tad sultry with it!
This $20 maxi dress is so comfy and cute, you'll wanna snag it in all of the colors (of which there are six more)!
This $40 metallic slip dress can be worn alone or under a cropped tee just as easily to play with layered summer outfits!
This laid-back Free People dress ($98) is *the* statement piece your closet is craving for summer outings. It's a comfy fit and makes getting easy a total breeze. All you need are some super cute summer shoes.
For a more illustrative look, this colorful maxi ($88) makes a daring move with whimsical images of butterflies, flowers, fruits, and more. The darling straight neckline is the perfect touch of femininity!
This chartreuse number ($40) boasts a cheeky side cutout that adds an artful show of skin to your look!
Jump on this season's hottest fashion trend by donning a denim maxi dress. This $42 one features flattering paneling and a flirty leg slit to keep things cool even in the hottest of temperatures.
Found a maxi dress you love? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to sign up for our email newsletter to find your next favorite outfit!
This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.
Lead image via Lisa Says Gah.
Nails breaking constantly? Wishing you didn't have to rely on tips at the salon? Desperate for that long nail look? You’re not alone. Despite it being used as an annoying and vapid phrase women would say in TV shows, breaking a nail is very painful and can ruin a (usually expensive) manicure. But don’t fret — we’ve rounded up five simple ways to get your nails to grow longer and stronger.
Photo by cottonbro studio/PEXELS
But first, what causes unhealthy, brittle, breakable nails? A lot of factors that may not instantly come to mind. According to WebMD, these factors can contribute to weak nails:
Photo by Karolina Grabowska/PEXELS
Dealing with some of these factors? While we can’t help you with the underlying health issues (please see a doctor if you think you may be dealing with something!), there are many easy things you can do to improve your nails and encourage growth.
You may only use cuticle oil when your manicurist applies it, but that doesn't have to be the case. Cuticle oils are an inexpensive and easy way to promote nail health and growth by keeping your nails hydrated. Cosmetically, cuticle oils encourage longer-lasting manis and leave your nails looking shiny and polished. But they do much more below the surface: cuticle oils create a healthier environment that allows strong growth for your nails.
Interested in adding cuticle oil to your beauty routine? Check our a few of my faves:
Photo via Cora Pursley/Dupe
Biotin is an important type of B vitamin that helps our bodies turn food into energy. It’s also one of the top recommended supplements for hair and nail growth, and for good reason. Many scientists say a daily biotin supplement can improve nail strength in as little as a few weeks.
“Since it is water soluble, biotin (or vitamin B7) can’t be stored in the body and must be acquired from diet or through supplementation,” shared Rachel Kilroy, Director of Product Innovation at Solaray, the original pioneers in supplement health and wellness. Solaray has developed a new supplement that provides biotin in a unique way.
“Solaray’s Timed Release Biotin strategically supports nail health with a powerful 5,000 mcg of this important nutrient, delivering half of the biotin rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 8 hours for sustained support,” Kilroy continued. “With consistent use, this vegan formula—lab verified for purity and potency—can provide comprehensive support for longer, stronger nails.”
Supplements not your thing? Biotin can be found naturally in many foods, like cooked eggs, whole grains, soy and other beans, nuts and nut butters, salmon, mushrooms, and cauliflower.
Photo via Daniella Cappellari/Dupe
Nails require a balanced, healthy diet for proper growth and strength. According to Medical News Today, making small tweaks to your diet can make a big impact on your nails. Adding in nutrients like more iron or calcium in your diet will have your nails growing long and strong.
Dieticians recommend a colorful diet for nail growth consisting of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meat, avocado, sweet potato, and whole grains.
Photo via Sash Gabriel/Dupe
Constantly doing dishes, managing bath time, gardening, or swimming? The water may be the cause of your breakage.
Your nails are like sponges, constantly expanding and contracting when water goes in or out of the nail cells. This can strain your nails, causing them to weaken, peel, and then break.
When possible, grab a pair of rubber gloves to wear while cleaning to protect your nails from the water and make sure to fully dry your nails after they’re in water. Hand creams are also a win for your nails after water exposure.
Bad habits that are addicting. While peeling off your gel manicure can be so satisfying, it’s one of the worst things you can do for your nails. Same with constantly picking or biting your nails. As someone who used to constantly bite her nails down, I can assure you my nails are much healthier and stronger after kicking that habit.
Want to quit that habit? Try a nail bite deterrent, like this one from ella+mia or this one from LONDONTOWN and watch your nails grow before your eyes.
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Header image via Laura Walt/Dupe
I've got a thing for Reese Witherspoon's book club which is why I couldn't wait to get my hands on Yulin Kuang's debut novel How to End a Love Story. Chosen as Reese's Book Club's May Pick, it features a romance that almost shouldn't make sense. I mean, when's the last time you realized you trauma bonded with someone? Except Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard's character arcs as well as the entire plot of How to End a Love Story doesn't even feel like that.
Instead, Yulin uncannily peels back the layers of what it means to be a layered human being who happens to be carrying trauma, talent, success, imposter syndrome, and burning desire in their hearts. Even that doesn't scratch the surface of who Helen and Grant are. Trying to capture their essence feels like I'm stumbling over my words which points to how great this novel is and that means Yulin's goal has been accomplished.
Though she loves perfectly executed rom-coms and is fortunate to be working on them in the filmmaking space, she doesn't consider How to End a Love Story as one. "...I was searching for something more aligned with the Brontë sensibility of romance in the writing of this book. Less warmth and charm, more id-level storytelling and unchecked carnal desire," she explains.
Image via Zach Wallnau
Some people seem to be born knowing they're destined to right, but some of us stumble into it and realize, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this." For Yulin, her journey to her debut novel How to End a Love Story takes the latter route. Her first dream, you make ask? To be an Olympic figure skater.
"...that didn't pan out so I turned to storytelling," Yulin admits. That pivot led her to set her sights on becoming an author as she began honing her creative writing skills via your classic marble composition notebooks. If you're still wondering if she kept some of them, the answer is yes!
The screenwriter and author then found herself drawn to other aspects of writing and film. She says, "I eventually fell in love with screenwriting and directing while in undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, and I spent my first decade post-grad concentrating on my filmmaking career."
It's a reason why her hard work and the stars aligned for her to adapt Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.
When I ask what helps her approach the book-to-film trajectory, she credits writing fan fiction. This feels similar to Christina Lauren's own experience, further proving that fan fiction deserves the utmost praise for helping some of the best literary and film minds who ultimately birth what I could only describe as masterpieces.
Yulin says, "Fan fiction is where I first learned you could play with characters originated by someone else to discover what you’d make them do in your own version." Although it would be easy for anyone to snap their fingers and have their first pitches accepted by everyone, she learned to lean on what writing fan fiction taught her.
"Early in my career, I would pitch on book-to-film adaptations and I’d be like, 'Change nothing, just shoot the book!' And I wouldn’t get those jobs, because I didn’t have a clear “take” and because you can’t actually just shoot a book – adaptation is an art form unto itself. So onceI started approaching adaptation with more of a fan fiction mindset – 'What is my take on these characters and this world?' – that helped me approach the book-to-screen trajectory more successfully," she proudly says.
However, this doesn't mean she never questioned if she could still find ways to create new ideas. "...in 2021, at a time when everything else I was working on was an adaptation, I found myself wondering if I had anything original left within me," she remembers.
It's natural for creatives to experience moments of doubt, but Yulin has been able to turn the tide and discover untapped ideas in her mind. Just don't expect her to set her own expectations about any adaptations she's working on.
She says, "Know that I am an avid reader of romance and a frequent consumer of this genre across mediums, and I will be bringing everything I know going into these adaptations. But more specifically to Beach Read, which I have more creative ownership over as the writer/director."
And since How to End a Love Story is truly Yulin's own creative body of work, it makes sense that main characters Helen and Grant have pieces of her personality as well as her characteristics.
"I gave Helen all my hopes and insecurities from high school and gave her the alternate universe path where I had pursued publishing instead of Hollywood. I examined what might have happened if I’d grown into certain qualities I’ve actively tried to grow away from," she says of Helen Zhang.
Right away, readers get the sense that Helen is a whip-smart and hardworking, but her penchant for being cautious about her success also peeks through. Though she's written highly successful YA (read: young adult) novels, Helen waits with bated breath for the moment people will call her bluff. She's relatable because many of us wonder if we're simply cosplaying as versions of ourselves who've reached any level of success.
On the other hand, there's Grant Shepard. He's seemingly this cool, calm, and collected screenwriter who has a complicated past with Helen. Yulin says, "I gave Grant a lot of the qualities I’m proud of and/or have coveted as a working screenwriter, and I certainly relate to many of his thoughts on screenwriting and the current state of our industry."
The more the reader learns about Helen and Grant, the more it becomes obvious that there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they are complicated...but who isn't?
"At their core, Helen and Grant are just two kids from Jersey trying to make it in Hollywood, and of course I relate deeply to that," she says.
Based on Yulin's genuine interest in romance novels and the fact she's well-versed in adapting them, she knows what it takes to make rom-coms flourish. Her first take? "Romantic tension is key to any romance – I always need to know why our couple can’t be together now. The second that tension is gone, so is audience interest," she points out.
This explains why we can't get enough of reading books about it, listening to albums dedicated to it, or watching films that depict all levels of romance. Still, there are some people who approach the genre with a side eye.
"There seems to be a natural human suspicion of things that make us feel too good – like, 'That can’t possibly be good for us, that’s just candy!' I wonder if it’s something evolutionary at work," she says before doubling down. "You can’t argue with the fact that people absolutely fucking love rom-coms, and I will die on the hill that a well-earned happily ever after is both harder to achieve and more narratively satisfying when it’s pulled off successfully."
She's the type of writer who really appreciates a big kiss that's handled correctly onscreen, but she's also not afraid to "groan every time it's fumbled." But, she knows everyone still won't see romance the way she and so many others view it, but she doesn't really care.
"Ultimately, I don’t concern myself too much with changing minds that don’t want to be changed.There are enough smart people who recognize the power and value of rom-coms, and I’d rather spend my precious time creating art to surprise and delight the people with good taste."
Need I say that this is yet another reason why How to End a Love Story works so well?
As much as she's vocal about screenwriting and rom-coms, Yulin also has thoughts about the way society-at-large talks about BIPOC creative artists. "There’s a real, 'This is important, eat your vegetables,' vibe to things. And while that might be true, it’s not the most appealing way to market or discover art," she says.
She admits this could be due to how many diversity-in-film panels she's attended. As a Black woman, the conversations I see every year during Black History Month seem to have a certain "Let's check this box so everyone can be happy" vibe, so I can imagine attending panels about diversity and inclusion can start to sound repetitive after awhile.
Yulin doesn't hold back when she says, "I’m a little jaded when people ask me diversity questions at this point. I don’t want to attract the kind of readers who are only showing up to be supportive of my Asian-ness. It’s a bit like showing up to a date where someone says, 'I’m so excited that you’re Asian!!!'" This is an analogy I can so get behind because it makes a lot of sense!
It's one thing to have representation, but I like to think it's always obvious when people are approaching the conversation in a way that 'others' BIPOC people. We're literally not asking for a trophy, but more so an acknowledgement that we shouldn't be excluded from conversations, spaces, and careers or treated differently.
This sentiment is shared by Yulin who says, "That’s the thing about me that I didn’t do on purpose, and while I’m glad you’re excited, I hope there are things that I did do on purpose that you find exciting, too" and feels there is a way to be a genuine ally.
"...support AAPI creatives by all means, and perhaps begin by celebrating us as individual artists even after the designated month ends. And where applicable, talk about our work like it’s candy, not vegetables. I’d rather be irresistible than important," she states.
Take a page from Yulin Kuang's book and pick up a copy of How to End a Love Story today! You won't regret it!
Looking for more reading recs? Be sure to check out our storefront for more of our fave books!
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Lead image via Amazon
