Ever put together the perfect outfit, step out feeling like that girl… then hate every single photo at the end of the night? Yeah, we’ve all been there. Don’t worry babes, this one’s for you.

First things first: practice, practice, practice. I know it sounds extra, but learning your poses at home makes all the difference when you’re out. Stand in front of the mirror, test your angles, and figure out what works for your body. Once you know your good side, you’ll never be caught slipping again.

Next tip, and this one’s a classic: suck it in. Chin up, chest out, shoulders back, tummy tucked. Hold it just long enough for the photo… then breathe, sis. We’re not passing out for a picture.

And finally, a smile goes a long way. Unless you’re intentionally serving a Tyra Banks smize, a smile instantly brightens your face and pulls the whole look together. It’s the easiest way to elevate any photo.

Remember, confidence is the real pose. Once you feel good, the camera will catch it every single time.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Alfred Anderson 

MODEL: Davina Rutherford

In life, we often get consumed by society’s norms and expectations to the point where we forget who we truly are. As men, we are frequently stigmatized and ridiculed if we don’t follow a specific path that was laid out long ago. Learning and accepting that everyone is meant to be different and not identical is the moment life starts becoming your story, not someone else's. Here are three things that can help you stay true to yourself. 

Hobbies are something everyone needs in life. They are recurring, reliable, and accessible. When I say hobby, I mean something that keeps you active and genuinely happy. A hobby exists to release stress from the outside world and redirect your mind toward something you enjoy. You may ask yourself, How do I find a hobby if I never had one to begin with? Personally, my answer is simple. 

Try New Things that challenge you! When you step outside your comfort zone, you unlock parts of your mind you didn’t know existed. Trying new things allows you to become more open-minded and better prepared to face unexpected situations. Think of it as training for your mental space. It also opens the door to new conversations and perspectives, because once you try something new, you learn from it. 

Read a Book. Reading is fundamental in life. You can never go wrong with gaining more knowledge, especially from people who have lived through experiences and chosen to share their lessons with others. I’m not saying idolize anyone, but to take small trinkets of wisdom and use them to shape a better life for yourself. No matter the genre, the simple act of reading improves comprehension, mental sharpness, and even social awareness. The initiative alone makes navigating life a little easier. 

Credit can feel like a cheat code, swipe now, worry later. In The Bahamas, credit cards and loans often help us cover emergencies, school fees, car repairs, or even just make it through a tight month. Used wisely, credit can be a helpful tool. Used carelessly, it quietly becomes a trap.

The problem isn’t credit itself. It’s how easy it is to underestimate it. A credit card isn’t extra money; it’s borrowed money with interest attached. That interest adds up fast, especially when only minimum payments are made. What starts as a small balance can turn into years of debt.

Loans work the same way. Whether it’s a car loan, personal loan, or student loan, the real cost isn’t just the monthly payment, it’s the total amount you’ll repay over time. Longer terms may feel easier now, but they often cost more in the end.

Credit becomes an enemy when it’s used to maintain a lifestyle instead of support real needs. It becomes a friend when it’s planned, tracked, and respected. Knowing your limits, paying on time, and borrowing only what you can realistically repay turns credit into leverage, not stress.

Credit isn’t good or bad on its own. It reflects the choices behind it.

Rest Is Not Laziness

In The Bahamas, rest has often been misunderstood especially through the lens of older generations. For many of them, survival meant working nonstop. Long hours, multiple jobs, and little room for pause weren’t choices; they were necessities. So rest became associated with laziness, and being busy became a badge of honor.

That mindset still lingers. If you’re not constantly doing something, it’s easy to be labeled as “soft,” “spoiled,” or not hungry enough. But the world Gen Z is navigating is very different. The pressure is mental as much as it is physical. Hustle doesn’t just happen on job sites anymore, it lives on our phones, in our inboxes, and in the expectations to always be available.

Wanting rest today isn’t about avoiding hard work. It’s about protecting your mental health. Burnout doesn’t always look dramatic; sometimes it looks like losing joy, motivation, or peace while still showing up every day.

Honoring rest doesn’t mean disrespecting the sacrifices of those before us. It means learning from them and choosing sustainability over survival. Rest is not laziness. It’s how this generation is learning to live longer, healthier, and more balanced lives.