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A set of dark brown fingers is cradled by a pair of light brown hands; the hands are painting the nails on the figure, the sharp nails being coated in a chrome-like red, appearing revitalized as yellow sparkles shine around it. An orange ring lies down the middle fingers, while the background blends into a hazy cloud of blues and purples.

The History of Nail Art: From Past Traditions to Future Innovations

Allegra Walker, University at Albany - SUNY

How has the culture and beauty standards surrounding nail art shifted and developed from 3000 B.C. to the modern day?…

March 20, 2024

The heads of three women with dark skin float against a yellow void. Most of them are disconnected from their bodies, free floating -- except for one whose hand holds a sparkling orange drink -- against an ethereal rainbow glow with transcendent looks on their faces, creating a sublime effect.

The Soft Girl Era & it’s Popularity Amongst Black Women

Allegra Walker, University at Albany - SUNY

The Soft Girl era is not just a trend about aesthetics or fashion — it's a movement of empowerment and self-affirmation for Black women.…

March 9, 2024

A smorgasbord of photos cut and scattered across the frame bedeck a vibe of chaos. Wads of bills fly over mahjong tablets and a surfer, sushi intersects with face-adorned sticky notes and a young woman enjoying books in the grass, who in turn is paired with a curly-furred dog sitting above a paint supplies and a novel held wide open, not to mention several others. White lines are drawn in bold shading around the images, emphasizing specific effects and emotions.

How Vision Boards are Redefining Online Goal Setting

Allegra Walker, University at Albany - SUNY

Why are vision boards so popular on social media? What makes them so effective for personal development and progress?…

February 20, 2024

The Impact of Everchanging Health Culture on New Year’s Resolutions

Christine Bardos, Santa Clara University

Don’t let the fancy and flawed fad diets sway your resolution. …

January 10, 2024

For an article on Dramageddon and Sistergeddon YouTube controversies, five pink-tinted figures wipe tears (from left: Tati Westbrook, Nikita Dragun, Shane Dawson, Laura Lee, and James Charles). They are cropped together in a box that mimics a YouTube video box, with the text "We're Sorrry!!!!! :,(((((" and "1,000,000 views" and "Nov 7, 2018".

Dramageddon: The Controversy That Broke YouTube

Julia Ray, Northern Arizona University

What could some catty drama from beauty influencers shows us about the shift in modern parasocial relationships? A lot...…

November 28, 2023