Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see 9M3NU in mag.
Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST MULTI Sydney Leroux in mag.
Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S Sally Hughes in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Sloane Stephens/Facebook
Over the years, we have always enjoyed when we have connected with 2017 US Open Grand Slam winner Sloane Stephens. Most recently, she was our DEC ISSUE #84 2022 cover. We always enjoy catching up with her about her sport as well as her philanthropic focus. Ahead of our AUG ISSUE #104 which drops on Aug 30th, we have an indepth interview with her that we are excited to share, but wanted to focus on her partnership with Athletes for Good which is a joint initiative between P&G, the IOC and the IPC that recognizes the efforts of athletes to improve their communities off the field of play, while also giving their best every day on their journey to their ultimate performance at Paris 2024. P&G awarded 20 Athletes for Good grants of $24,000 each to support causes championed by recipient athletes.
Sloane founded the Sloane Stephens Foundation in 2013, helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds dream big, both on and off the tennis court, by offering year-round tennis, education, mental health and financial literacy programs. The foundation uses tennis and education to charge the narrative of poverty, health inequity, and educational development. With programs up and running in the Compton Unified School District – reaching 15,000 children in the area so far, the Slone Stephens Foundation will use the Athletes for Good grant to continue to grow the community.
ATHLEISURE MAG: How did you and the Sloane Stephens Foundation connect with Athletes for Good?
SS: I'm incredibly proud to be a member of Team USA. They've provided so much support throughout my career, including a scholarship for my MBA degree. I saw this funding opportunity for P&G’s Athletes for Good in an email and immediately wanted to apply on behalf of the Sloane Stephens Foundation.
AM: What did it mean to you to be awarded the grant?
SS: It means so much to be recognized for the work of the Sloane Stephens Foundation and to stand alongside so many other hard working athletes who give back to their communities across the country. When I started SSF in 2013, I sought out to create opportunities for youth to have tennis change their life. I believe in the power of grassroots sports and want all kids to have an amazing first interaction with whichever sport they choose. I appreciate the support of P&G in making these dreams come true.
AM: Are there projects or initiatives that you will be able to grow or incorporate in your plans because of the grant?
SS: This grant funding supported our summer camp in Compton, which just wrapped up after an amazing 8 weeks. We're constantly looking to improve and add new elements to our summer camp to give our kids the best possible experience. This summer, we were able to incorporate group sessions with our social worker as well as art therapy led by our social workers every Friday.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S Kelly Cheng in mag.
Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see 63MIX ROUTIN3S Jordan Chiles in mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | DISNEY/John Fleenor
PHOTO CREDIT | DISNEY/John Fleenor
Last night, we saw that Grant Ellis was not going to be heading to Hometowns. We enjoyed seeing him throughout this season’s The Bachelorette’s as he competed for the heart of Jenn Tran. We were shocked that in the middle of the night they announced him as The Bachelor for Season 29! We can’t wait to see who will be on his season and to get to know more about him. But until then, we’ll look forward to what’s about to take place!
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Bachelor and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Golden Bachelorette
PHOTO CREDIT | Disney/Ricky Middlesworth
Last night, we enjoyed seeing who will make it to Hometowns for The Bachelorette’s as Jenn Tran made some serious decisions. We know that the highs and lows aren’t over, but this morning, we also heard that The Bachelor is going to be Grant Ellis who just missed the cutoff to go to Hometowns! We can’t wait for what his season will be like as it will begin to film soon. Of course, with so much going on in Bachelor Nation, we’re excited for The Golden Bachelorette! Joan Vassos whose series and season will premier on Sept 18th!
We loved her when we saw the connection she had with Gerry Turner during his season of The Golden Bachelor and many felt that she would give Theresa Nist quite a run! But then she chose to go home during Week 3 when her daughter had a medical emergency. Both were upset that their journey came to such a sudden end. But now, we’ll be able to see what her journey to love will look like. We know that she is a mother of 4, grandmother of 2, after 32 years of marriage she is a widower. We can’t wait to see who will be vying for her heart and how it all comes together!
Today, they announced the men that would be competing for her heart! As usual, we have shared all the men and who we think could make their way to Hometownws. Each week, we will continue to guess and see how it all goes! Until the season starts, enjoy the below.
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Golden Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Bachelor Disney/John Fleenor
PHOTO CREDIT | ABC The Bachelorette
This week, The Bachelorette is in Seattle - interesting that they are back in the States after being in Australia and New Zealand. We catch up with Jenn Tran and we realize that next week is Hometowns! She reminds us that this was the week that she was sent home before that key week. We see her with Charity who is down to give her some advice. With 7 men there, she knows that this number has to go down to 4! Charity gives her advice on what she should keep her eye out for and she also walks through each of the men.
Even the guys know that if they get that rose, their families will be able to meet her so the stakes are pretty high. The guys want the 1-on-1 to get that time. The date card arrives and it is attached to a large box. Marcus gets it. he gets a Letterman Jacket and heads out to meet Jenn.
This will be their 2nd 1-on-1 date and she lets us know that he has held back a little bit so she hopes that he will step it up. It’s a big deal to see where they will go. Clearly, they will enjoy touring around Seattle, but Jesse Palmer hops off a trolley and let’s them know that they will experience The Emerald City and they will have a bit of Wicked magic that is following along on their date. Kelsey and Daisy are also on the date and they were on Jenn’s season when they all competed for Joey’s heart. Nice that they brought them here. In addition to doing various activities, the bubble portion is interesting because he’s able to share elements of his life with her that he may not have done on his own. Jenn also has balloons that share more about who she is which is great for Marcus. After revealing items about themselves, they continue to walk and meet up with the original Bachelorette, Trista who gives her words of advice within the Wicked theme! It’s a great date idea for them. Of course, they have a bit of heights in the date with the hot air balloon.
Back at the hotel suite, the 6 men know that this is a big date and they hope that they will get the remaining 1-on-1 date. They all feel that they need it for whatever they want to be able to share with her. The date card arrives and Spencer, Jonathan, Sam, Devin, and Grant are all listed. It seems like Jeremy may have the 1-on-1 date.
Back on Marcus and Jenn’s date, they make their way to dinner at T-Mobile Park. They are sitting on the field at a table for 2. She tells him that she wants to be his safe space and that he can be vulnerable with her. He appreciates that she wants to be that way and that she sees that he is trying to do this with her. He wants to be honest with her about everything. He lets her know that he does not come from a perfect family by any means. He lets her know that they were born into a rough situation and that their parents could not take care of them. They were left behind in a daycare facility and no one came back for them. He lets her know that they grew up in foster care and that people seemed to want to be their parents and they would end up being sent back. So he has a hard time being open, sharing his feelings and having a sense of roots. She is saddened to hear this and she understands that both of them have battled feeling loved as well as growing up in non-traditional families. She gives him the rose and he is going onto Hometowns.
The group date has them on a radio show for iHeart Radio show, Love On Air Seattle. They learn that they will get to answer questions that are provided by the radio team. Devin knows that Sam will definitely get himself in trouble as he’s not someone that can speak without putting his foot in his mouth. He talks, but what is he saying and everyone can feel that he’s not saying anything that answers the questions. Jenn visibly reacts and lets us know that what he is saying is not authentic. The radio team hears from the men and thinks that Sam should spend time with her to chat because it seems like he needs more time to get his thoughts across. The other guys get to watch the interaction on the screen, but the team remains with them. Jenn feels that when she asks him pointed questions, she does not get the answers that makes her feel comfortable. He tells her that when he got out of the limo, he felt that he would get his wife; however, she is not his type and that he thought it was going to be Maria or Daisy! He then explains that he wants a ferocious love and that he wants to be a father and a husband. But he never talks about Jenn and what he likes about her and he has the radio team watching him. The guys watching via the screen all see that he is not speaking with her and talking about her!
At the group date after party, she lets the guys know that one of her conversations frustrated her as she didn’t get what she was looking for. She lets them know that she is looking to make connections. We love how Grant lets her know that he likes her, respects her, and cherishes her. He sees a relationship with her and wants her to know that he is falling in love with her. She continues to chat with the other men and she appreciates how they are being clear with her. Jonathan sees a future and Spencer says that he is there for the right reason as well. She feels seen and understood. Devin tells her that he enjoys the thought of her coming home to his family which is an awesome way to tell her his feelings. She tells Devin that she is falling in love with him as well. We weren’t sure about Devin, but we can see the two of them would make a cute couple.
Devin asks Sam does he think that the person she is talking about is him? Sam seems to think that it could be anyone, but not him. Jenn asks Sam to talk with her as she feels there is a disconnect because he can’t back up his feelings for her. She doesn’t understand what is going wrong between them. She tells him that they had great chemistry previously, but during the date, she doesn’t feel that there is a connection and she wants clarity. Sam seems very uncomfortable communicating and is clearing his throat throughout their conversation. She keeps asking him why he likes her and he can’t articulate it and then he says that it’s because he loves her. She has no idea where the “L” word is coming from as she doesn’t feel that it is real. He just says that ferocious and reckless love is what they have and she lets him know that they need more conversations so that they can be on the same page with one another. Although she knows she wants to continue with him, she is seeing some flags and they’re not green. There is no group date rose that is being given out and she wants to be able to think about everything. She’s not sure that she wants to meet his family.
Even Sam realizes that their interaction wasn’t great and he’s walking the streets of Seattle thinking that that may be the last time that they get the chance to talk. Even the other guys realize that what went down doesn’t bode well for him.
She makes her way to Pike Place Market which we have been at a few times, Seattle is a great down and what a cute date for her and Jeremy to explore this Farmer’s Market. They get to catch a fish that is thrown across the market, there’s the awesome bronze pig that is there, flowers and so much more. She wants to talk more to see what their connection is. He makes her a bouquet and lets her know that he wants her to meet his family. They even hang out at The Gum Wall. He knows that there are other relationships that are further along than his; however, he still wants her to know that he is there. They even debrief over lunch about how her date was the night before and he asks her how she feels.
They continue into the night portion of the date at Chihuly garden and glass for dinner. Once again, we have attended this space and it’s amazing anytime of day, but at night - it’s spectacular. She lets him know that she needs to ask the serious questions and how they can fit their families together. They connect on their families and being able to integrate Jewish and Buddhist foundations for their children. She gives him the rose.
She enters the men’s hotel suite and wants to figure out where Sam’s head is at because she doesn’t know why he likes her, what he is attracted to about her and more. To get clarity she asks him again as she feels that he is only saying things to make her happy. He then tells her that he can’t put his feelings into words for her. The double talking that he is doing confuses her and she takes a moment to figure out where she’s at.
The guys ask one another what they think is going on - but they know that the energy is off. She comes back to Sam and says that they had a great journey, but in this conversation, she realizes that he didn’t ask her at all what she thought. She lets him know that she doesn’t understand how he loves her, but he doesn’t see her and really know anything about her. She explains that she has closed the chapter of her life of telling people how to love her and to be with her and that she is done with that. Sam’s time is over and of course he was so awful on the way out calling her “dull.”
Devin receives a rose and the last man who will make his way into Hometowns joining him, Marcus, and Jeremy will be Jonathan. Although Grant didn’t get a rose, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, social was a buzz with the selection of Grant being the next Bachelor! He came so close to Hometowns and we can’t wait to see him helm the 29th season of this show! But before we can watch his season, we will see Joan take her place next month as The Golden Bachelorette.
JENN GAVE ROSES TO | Devin, Jeremy, Jonathan, and Marcus.
JENN DIDN’T GIVE ROSES TO | Grant, Sam, Spencer
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
PHOTO CREDIT | The Bachelor Contestants/Ricky Middlesworth
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
This month we're excited to share a number of stories from athletes who will be competing at this year's Paris 2024 games! While the majority of athletes will assemble in Paris for this year's Summer Games, those who are competing in surfing will make their way to Tahiti in Teahupo’o. This month's cover story is with World Surf League's #2 ranked pro-surfer Griffin Colapinto who will competing with Team USA Surfing, and will make his first Olympic appearance this year.
In addition to the success that he has had throughout his career and this year, we know he has an array of fans which includes Matthew McConaughey who has shown his public support of him at a number of meets. In addition to surfing, he is also in a film that is currently in the film circuit, Trilogy: New Wave and will be released this September. He stars alongside Australian Olympic surfer Ethan Ewing and Hawaiian Seth Moniz. The film focuses on the non-competitive side of surfing.
We wanted to know more about how he got into the sport, going pro, Paris 2024, and his partnership with Procter & Gamble's Athletes For Good alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and his chosen charity which focuses on mental health.
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with the water?
GRIFFIN COLAPINTO: I fell in love with the water when I was about 3 years old!
AM: What was the moment that you realized that you wanted to surf professionally? Where did that journey come from as we know that you love the water, you loved surfing, and then you wanted to do it as a professional.
GC: Well, the journey started down at my dad’s surf camp. He started a surf camp down at Santa Clemente the year I was born and he ran that for 20 years. So I was just growing up with the beach and him and he was in love with surfing and the ocean and he was a lifeguard and a teacher so that carried over to running a surf camp in the summer time. He just created a rad family dynamic down there with all the instructors and I was just growing up on the sand every summer! That and I just started – I don’t know it was natural, I wasn’t forced into surfing and being a competitive person and playing games. I just took to it naturally because I was on the beach and the sand. I remember a lot of the kids that were down there and the instructors that were there would always be on the beach. I just wanted to be able to impress them with the things that I was able to do in the water. I remember taking a surf board out there in front of them and wanting to surf for them.
I had this one moment where I was probably 7 or 8 and I felt like I caught some air on a pipe and I remember looking at all of the instructors on the beach and they were cheering. That feeling right there triggered competitive surfing for me right there! Being able to perform for people made me really happy!
AM: What is an average week like for you when you’re out there surfing whether you’re training for competitions or whatever?
GC: Yeah, well! I definitely think that there is a lot of discipline on my routines whether I’m waking up early and doing everything that makes me feel good like meditation, writing, and surfing of course! Working out and all of those things are important. It’s also essential to give yourself time to rest and to recover and I also have fun! I enjoy golfing a lot so that’s a nice way to take my mind off of surfing because sometimes you can just plow yourself through into the ground too much! It's a good balance.
AM: Congrats on qualifying for Paris 2024! What are you looking forward to?
GC: Yeah, it’s pretty wild! So our Olympics, we will be in Tahiti which isn’t near Paris, but it’s going to be on its own little adventure over there! It should be pretty exciting from what I have heard! They have put in a lot of work over there in Teahupo’o and although I can’t say what it will be like yet, I’m excited!
AM: And you’re ready for it!
GC: I’m ready!
AM: Tell us about Athletes For Good as we know it’s an initiative between P&G, IOC, IPC – can you give us a little background on that?
GC: So the Athletes For Good, P&G granted us money to donate to our favorite charity. I donated funds towards To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) a mental health organization that provides the tools and mental health resources for anyone that is going through challenging times in their lives due to suicide or maybe there is a close family member in their family that did commit suicide and needs someone that they can talk to about it. You can go to TWLOHA and you can get a local counselor nearby and they just provide rad things like that. It is definitely a big deal these days with social media and everything going on and it can take you away from the source of where we came from. I’m really proud to be able to represent it.
AM: Had that been an organization that you had been involved with before? What drew you to picking TWLOHA in terms of where you wanted the donated funds to go to?
GC: Well, I originally got into mental health through surfing. My dream of being on the World Championship Tour and being a World Champion, it comes with a lot of challenges, and anytime you have a big goal in mind, there is going to be a lot of ups and downs with that. So, through that, the mental side of things plays a big role and I realized that and it opened my eyes to a lot of different perspectives and other people. I just kind of realized that there are a lot more people on similar paths that go through hard times. For me, I was super fortunate to grow up with amazing parents and to grow up in a beautiful community with a lot of support and I still find myself on days struggling with some slight depression and not very happy and not knowing why. I just felt that there are people who got dealt with a bad set of cards, a lot worse than me and I can only imagine what they are going through. So that’s what drove me into this space and it's really cool that P&G gave us this grant and I’m excited!
AM: You mentioned that when you’re taking time for yourself, you play golf! Are there other things that you do to take time for yourself to be in the place that you need to be so that you can infuse that energy into other areas of where you also want to be?
GC: Just kind of being aware of how I am feeling and what is best for me in the moment. As an athlete, it’s easy to over do it, to over exert yourself and to just be addicted to the hard work and you feel like you need to work, work, work, work, but in reality, half the battle is just being good at resting too! So learning that has been a big part of it and I feel that slowly but surely, I’m getting better every day!
AM: Which is an awesome skill to have too!
You can find out more about Athletes For Good that recognizes the efforts of athletes to improve their communities off the field. Griffin shares more information about TWLOHA and why he is involved with them in his IG post.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | FRONT COVER, PG 16 + 20 Trevor Moran/Red Bull | BACK COVER, PG 18 + 22 Ryan Miller/Red Bull | PG 24 P&G |
Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see RIDE THE WAVES Griffin Colapinto in mag.
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PHOTO CREDIT | Adrian Blackwell
We always love an immersive culinary experience where we enjoy great dishes as well as getting to know about an event or focus that will allow us to see the impact of our attendance long after a great meal is enjoyed. We’re excited to share that you have the opportunity to enjoy Outstanding in the Field on Governors Island on Aug 29th at 3pm. Executive Chef Andrew Ayala and Executive Pastry Chef Salvatore Martone from Midtown’s Michelin-starred French Restaurant, Le Jardinier by the Bastion Collection will have a one-of-a-kind meal that is not to be missed! This dinner’s guest oyster farm is Fishers Island Oyster Farm, the guest winery is Hermann J. Weimer Vineyard, and the guest beverage producer is Mountain Valley Spring Water.
We love that there are various components that bring this event together and as you can still get tickets to this event, here is some background. Outstanding in the Field is known as a roving restaurant that takes place in a designated city on a certain date where there are no walls. Many restaurants that we have interviewed within our issues are so proud of how they source their ingredients from purveyors, farmer’s markets etc. Since 1999, this organization arrives with their long tables in fields, orchards, and seashores - this is because this is where the harvested ingredients come from that will be part of your meal. They have done this in 50 US States as well as 24 countries in the world. The ability to truly connect farm to table and to showcase and celebrate those who labor to feed us is important.
PHOTO CREDIT | Adrian Blackwell
PHOTO CREDIT | Adrian Blackwell
In their effort to connect with local chefs, farmers, and artisans to create these unique experiences, it’s no wonder that the chefs of French restaurant, Le Jardinier will be participating this year! Executive Chef Andrew Ayala participated in the Miami ideation this past winter to showcase Florida’s produce and we’re sure that he will find inspiration for what the Northeast provides in the summer and sourcing seafood off the coast and experimenting with peak season ingredients.
The event will kick off with a cocktail hour and then will have a multi-course meal and the Manhattan skyline will serve as a backdrop on Governors Island which is only accessible via ferry. Tickets are still available for $425/pp.
This event is also in partnership with the Billion Oyster Project, an organization that engages local students and youth volunteers to restore New York Harbor’s lost oyster reefs.
We’re looking forward to attending this event and will have details on it as well as interview with in our AUG ISSUE #104 which drops on Aug 30th.
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Read the JUL ISSUE #103 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LOOKS | Iro RTW 2025 in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Sarah Barlow
We love watching a reality show where we learn something that we can implement in our own lives or be a source of general knowledge to share with our friends, family, and colleagues! There’s nothing better than a educational docu-series that is also a great source of entertainment. We caught up with Alison Victoria, Executive Producer and Host of Windy City Rehab as well as a recent nominee for a Daytime Emmy! We wanted to know more about her passion for interior design and building homes, coming to HGTV, all of the shows that we should have in mind as we settle down in our favorite spot, and what it means for her to receive the award accolades that have come her way. We also loved hearing about how she gives back and the importance of powering others either in the business or even when it comes to getting that first home!
ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the first space or home that made you realize that you love interior design or being able to create something new?
ALISON VICTORIA: My childhood bedroom. I shared a tiny room with my sister. I started by rearranging the space. It was like, how do I get my bed further from hers? How do I make this room feel like it’s my room? Then I started turning old Laura Ashley dresses into pillows and painting the furniture. Around that same time I was spending a lot of time at the house of my best friend Britt, I remember convincing her to tear up her carpet and get to the hardwood flooring. We ended painting everything peach.
AM: How old were you when you were ripping up the flooring?
AV: 11.
AM: And who was your inspiration?
AV: My mom always loved design and she designed our whole house so I definitely absorbed a lot of that from her.
AM: How do you define your design aesthetic?
AV: I think of it as vintage and modern. I take the heart from objects of the past and add in the optimism of the future to create something new. It’s eclectic and full of life, but it’s design that accentuates the way we live now.
AM: I am the Co-Founder/Creative + Style Dir. Of Athleisure Mag, I am also a fashion stylist. So if I have someone reach out to me I’m looking for people who want to have statement driven looks whether it’s based in athleisure, evening wear, out and about etc. But it’s about people who are looking to take their style and add various elements which includes visual texture as well as accessories. Someone who may be more of a minimalist or maybe they’re into a goth aesthetic, may not be a project that I opt to take on initially. I’m wondering what you look for when it comes to attaching yourself to your various design projects?
AV: It really comes down to personality and the connection that I feel. Sometimes I connect with the people over the project and sometimes it’s the other way around. I’m an artist and when I feel inspired, I design.
AM: I have been aware of you and your work for a number of years; however, I happened to check out your show during the pandemic that was when you turned your warehouse into your home.
With all of your work in the industry, how did you come to HGTV to become the Executive Producers of your shows as well as a TV Host?
AV: X years ago, I got a random email from a production company that was looking for a ghost designer to work on a show in Chicago. I responded, “I’m your girl.” I had no idea what that meant but I knew it was a start. I realized quickly that what it meant was long hours for no money, no credit, and no air time, but it was an entry point.
There were no shortcuts. It hasn’t been a straight line, but I had a dream of what I wanted to do with my life and how I wanted to run my business and I’ve put all of my energy towards those goals.I try to always represent my real vulnerability in the shows I produce and the shows where I’m in. I hope others fin something useful in how that looks, and as long as they do, I will keep going.
AM: You’ve been nominated for the Daytime Emmys and Critics Choice Real TV Awards for Windy City Rehab, what does this mean to you?
AV: Oh my gosh! Dreams do come true! My dream was to be nominated for an Emmy. I didn’t even go as far as to say that I wanted to win. Just being nominated is a huge honor. I love to design, I love making people’s dreams come true. Combining the two and then receiving the recognition just takes it to a whole new level of like, wow, people are actually getting this. And not only are they getting it, they are recognizing it as great television. As an Executive Producer and as a creator of my show, that means much more to me then if I was just talent. I created it, I’m an EP, I’m on air talent, and I’m the designer so it couldn’t mean more to me to be nominated. Now the goal is to win.
AM: Can you tell us a bit about the show for those who haven’t watched it and what you’re excited for?
AV: Windy City Rehab is in its 5th season. The new season is airing on September 24th. It’s a docu-series and it’s one of the first docu-series ever on HGTV where you truly follow my life and my design. There are no overly produced parts of my show. It’s very real. The good, the bad, and the ugly of my life and this business. The show looks at how I navigate successes and setbacks and it gives you glimpses into my personal life and how that marries with my professional life. There’s no smoke and mirrors in my show. What you see on Windy City Rehab is what I’m experiencing in my life. I am the same person you see on the show. I’m not an actress.
For me, it’s about showing people who I am, what I believe in, and how I stand up for myself and my clients. The result are beautiful spaces, but how we get there is the most interesting part.
AM: So you’re working on your own production company, Briefly Gorgeous Productions. Tell me about this and why you wanted to do this?
AV: I created Briefly Gorgeous Productions to help bring truly vulnerable reality TV to smart audiences. I have already created two successful shows but there are so many great stories to tell. Some of those stories will be in the home space but some will be in totally unrelated, but equally interesting, areas of life. I love to laugh, I love seeing real people doing real things, and I love watching lives evolve. There is comedy, tragedy, and triumph in every story. Briefly Gorgeous will make sure the stories are told with true integrity.
I knew that if I could do this for me, I could do this for others. Windy City Rehab has always connected with viewers because they see and feel the authenticity. I want to continue that with everything produced through Briefly Gorgeous productions. This is just the beginning.
AM: That’s really great to hear.
You’ve also worked with Habitat for Humanity and you’re a spokesperson for the Women Build Campaign. I’d really like to hear more about that.
AV: I’ve been doing it for 5 years now and for me, owning your first home, it’s one of the greatest days of anyone’s life – always and forever. Especially as a single woman. When I got my first home, I was the proudest that I ever felt – probably other than getting nominated for an Emmy!
AM: Ha – right!
AV: Anyone that is able to have a house through Habitat, has to put in their own sweat equity. I have the greatest team and they volunteer and come out to help. We work together and help the homeowner build her dream home. We empower her through hard work, empower her through just having fun, and we make sure that she has the support. I love that!
AM: That’s really fantastic.
Are there any upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for as I know you are a very busy woman who is doing tons of things.
AV: Windy City Rehab season 5 is premiering Sept 24th! It’s 12 episodes and I believe this is our best season yet!
Scariest House in America with Retta premiers in October.
Ugliest House in America season 6 premieres this winter and I am going to be on a big show that will be announced very soon!
I mean, I’m not stopping! It’s go time! It’s time to win that Emmy.
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PHOTO CREDIT | Michael Simon
We had the pleasure of catching up with Keegan Michael-Key who is an actor who always leaves us in good spirits! His ability to make you laugh and think is something that we appreciate. We enjoyed talking with him about his work as a teacher, investing in children’s lives through learning, partnering with Lysol to promote clean environments in school and at home, and of course his work on one of our favorite shows Abbott Elementary and other projects we’re excited about!
ATHLEISURE MAG: We have been a fan of yours for a number of years and have loved your shows and of course most recently, Abbott Elementary. But you actually have teaching experience at Penn State and at Second City. Can you tell us more about this?
KEEGAN MICHAEL-KEY: Yes, I was a graduate student at Penn State and I taught Fundamental Acting, Non-Majors and I had a really fulfilling and fun time doing that. I had a great time with the students and I also interestingly learned a lot and it helped reinforce the training that I was getting.
When I was a performer at the Second City Theater, both in Detroit and also in Chicago, I spent a good deal of time teaching improv as well as communications techniques to people. And also in Detroit at the Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit, I spent time going to classrooms and teaching children improv skills. That was also a very fulfilling experience too. So I have done a lot of teaching in my past and I really really loved it.
AM: That is such a great story! When did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?
KMK: I realized that I wanted to be an actor probably when gosh, I would have been around 14 or 15 and that would put me in high school. I was encouraged by a family friend and my drama teacher in school was really hands on and very supportive. She really helped to pull me into that world! Once I was in it, I was in love!
AM: Why do you feel that hands on learning is so important and can you tell us about HERE For Healthy Schools?
KMK: Yeah, to answer the first question, I think that when kids have an opportunity to do things hands on and interactive, I really feel that the information that they are being given that the teachers desires for them to receive, really gets into their minds better and they can practically handle things and move through things. It’s more effective learning and that is kind of why I wanted to work with Lysol at the HERE for Healthy Schools Program this particular year. Because, what they are doing with the initiative this year, is that they are putting together the Lysol Minilabs Science Kits and the kits are going to contain educational materials that are designed to be hands-on so that the kids can learn about germ education, healthy habits, and how to keep the classroom environment as well as the general environment clean.
AM: Whether you have children that are going back to school, maybe you’re an aunt or uncle, or you just live alone solo, what are some healthy habits that we need to know about so that we’re not transferring germs and we’re reducing all the ick?
KMK: Ha – all the ick! You know, I think that the first thing across the board that everyone can do and that we can always teach children, is of course, washing our hands. Washing our hands after an activity, washing our hands after using the bathroom so that we’re not the germ spreaders if that makes any sense? We’re so mobile as humans, and then we’re the ones spreading the germs! So cutting that off at the pass if you will and then also, when you think about countertops, and desktops, and door handles which are things that we come into contact with every single day, and many times during the day, it’s just a wipe here or a spray there that can hopefully keep the germs down. Then we’re allowing ourselves to be in a cleaner environment!
AM: 100%!
Obviously, you have so many awesome things that are coming up obviously Season 4 of Abbott Elementary is slated to premiere on ABC on Oct 9th! Every time that we see you on the screen we just know that it’s going to be good. What can you tell us about – obviously not a lot – as we prepare for the next season?
KMK: Well, without giving away next season, you can stream Season 3 now of Abbott Elementary now which I am really happy for people as you can enjoy repeat viewings if you feel so inclined! I have a small arc on the show in the season where I play the Superintendent of Schools in Philadelphia which is where Janine, Quinta Brunson’s (A Black Lady Sketch Show, History of the World: Part II, Weird: The Al Yankovick Story) character works now and she feels encouraged to affect more change in the school system. You get to watch that story play out and really the big thing that you get to watch playout is this struggle between her love for everyone and the students at Abbott Elementary and then this more macro environment with the Superintendent and there is this struggle of being pulled between these two things. Can I do more good here? Should I go back to Abbott and be more of a boots on the ground? She’s trying to figure out what way can she be more effective for the students?
AM: We enjoyed watching the 3rd season and getting that layer.
What attracted you to want to be on this show? So many people love this show and so many actors and other people are trying to find ways to get into this show!
KMK: Oh yeah!
AM: What was it for you that made you want to do it?
KMK: First of all, I think that Quinta is a real amazing talent and I have known her for years and I have watched her grow as an artist and the pride I feel for her is overwhelming because what she has done is such an achievement! But also, within that, is the humanity of the show. I think that just the thematic subject matter of the show is about nurturing and investing in our future which is about children. It’s also this kind of intrinsic, American underdog story – an underfunded school district, how do we pull ourselves up by the boot straps and do what we have to do for the betterment of these children. So that is really heartwarming in a way it is very inviting because they are letting the world in and it is inspiring. That is why I wanted to be part of it. It’s also very funny!
AM: Oh it’s very funny!
KMK: So funny!
AM: Well you’re also in Transformers One and Dear Santa! That’s 2 amazing additional projects that are coming out! We’re sure that you’re excited about them and can you tell us about them?
KMK: Well, Transformers One will be coming out in September 20th and it’s a really exciting project to work on. The director is a gentleman by the name of Josh Cooley (Up, Inside Out, Soul), very talented animation director. He directed Toy Story 4 that I starred in with Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us, Nope). We played partners – we played a little stuffed duck and a little stuffed rabbit that were connected to each other and we had such a great time that Josh asked me to come on and play Bumblebee in Transformers One which really is an honor because he’s a very popular character in the Transformers universe!
Dear Santa is a holiday movie that stars Jack Black (Jumanji universe, Kung Fu Panda universe, The Super Mario Bros. Movie) and he is absolutely fantastic and I hope you go see it and everyone that you know goes to see it! It’s really fun and it has a lot of heart. It’s silly and zany and it’s going to be great!
AM: Do you have any other projects whether it’s TV, film, or just philanthropic that you would like for us to know about that we should keep an eye out for because you’re always doing great things! It’s great to see you in a number of commercials as well as you are a busy man!
KMK: Ha ha yes I am praise God!
Well one thing in September that is coming up, I wrote a book with my partner at Elle Key (August, Fair Game, The Blackout), we wrote a book called The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey Through the Art and Craft of Humor, and the audio version of that book is coming out then. So again, I know that it is early for the holiday season, but if people want to, they have the opportunity to download that or to send it as a gift and it was a real passion project for us and we’re really proud of the book. So there is also that! So that’s about it for right now if that’s not enough!
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PHOTO CREDITS | ABC The Bachelor Disney/John Fleenor
PHOTO CREDIT | ABC The Bachelorette
This week, The Bachelorette reminds that drama never takes a rest! We remember from last week that Jenn Tran’s ex, Matt, has arrived and wants to be able to compete for her heart. The guys are excited to have blue skies for this cocktail party - not quite! Jesse Palmer connects with her to ask her how she is feeling with this addition and the fact that the men are not aware of what she is about to tell them when she joins them. She sits down and thanks them for a great week. She tells them that Matt came in from Auckland and wants to join in on the journey. She lets them know that not only is he there, but she will need to talk with him as well. The men are upset as they have so many questions - will he join the house, how strong are their connections, what does this mean? Devin announces that if Matt does join the group, he knows that his rose means something and he will leave. Grant tells him that he should trust the process.
After talking with Jenn, Matt walks into the room with the men and lets him know that he will not be staying because Jenn has moved on and sees her future with them. Once he leaves, Jenn tells the men the same thing and says that although she appreciated him saying that he loved her as she had never heard that, she was sending him on his way. The guys also didn’t get any time with her as she is heading straight to the ceremony.
Since there was a ceremony at the beginning of the show, she gave roses to Austin, Devin, Dylan, Grant, Jeremy, Jonathan, Marcus, Sam M., and Spencer. She sends John and Thomas home.
Jesse catches up again with Jenn acknowledging that the night before was a lot and he also asks what she feels she wants to see as she moves forward. The 9 guys are chatting with one another when a date card arrives and Jonathan receives a 1-on1. His date includes a helicopter ride and we know that he is uncomfortable with heights, but is willing to do it for his date. She had a helicopter date earlier this season, but this one is taking them to a vineyard. The play hide and seek, toss grapes in each other’s mouths and of course they sit in a hot tub.
They make their way to the dinner portion of the night and we know that they have cutesy vibes with one another, but we also know that she wants to know more so that she can be connected with him.
While Jonathan opens up with Jenn about past relationships and things that took place with his family, another date card arrives for the group, Devin, Sam, Marcus, Spencer, Jeremy, Dylan, and Austin. Grant is getting the 1-on-1 date.
Jenn encourages Jonathan to continue to be vulnerable and to open up and he gets the 1-on-1 date rose. They have a cute kiss in the rain as it if was on cue!
It seems like for the group date that the guys arrive to a farm and we know that it will get messy. When they arrive, Jenn lets them know she has a few friends who will be on the date - sheep and it’s quite a lot along with a shepheard dog. She introduces them to a couple who are the owners of the sheep farm and they are looking for the best farmer and the winner will get to have more time with The Bachelorette. The try to get sheep through a gate which was an epic fail, they shoveled poo, and cut dingleberries from the sheep. The farmers award Devin with best farmer’s award and Austin feels that he didn’t do anything and someone in the group of other guys deserved it as they didn’t shirk their work.
So, the group date after party begins and Spencer asks if Devin deserved having the best farmer of the date and he responds that it’s about taking initiative. Devin hopes that he will get a rose as he’s taking all the time he can to continue to connect with her. Jenn says she wants to continue the connections and why they are choosing one another. Austin airs his grievances during the confessional because he knows he has not had a 1-on-1 date with her.
Austin finally gets some time with Jenn and he lets her know that he is always going to be up front and honest with her. He tells her that he always feels like he is always playing catch up and that he feels that he can’t do that. He lets her know that he doesn’t think it is fair to her or himself to continue the journey. Jenn says she is surprised and doesn’t want to hear this, but she can accept where he is coming from. Austin decides to go home and she is now concerned that she may not be enough for others in this group. The producers ask if she has shared this with them and she says that if she does, she is concerned that they will see how worthless she is She’s not feeling good enough or worthy enough and she thinks that there is a possibility that she may end up being alone.
Dylan fills them in as he was Austin’s roommate and he knows that he hasn’t felt like he has connected in the same way. She lets the guys know that today was crazy and she is vulnerable with them by sharing that she doesn’t feel that she is not good enough. Sometimes she doesn’t feel amazing. It was sweet to hear the guys rally around her and let her know that she means a lot to them and it’s ok to feel the way she does and to know that they don’t see her that way. They tell her in a group setting and they also say it individually as well. She opts to not give out a rose because everyone stepped up to cheer her up and to be there for her.
Now we come to the last 1-on-1 date of the week which is with Grant. As Jenn arrives to the date, she is in a much better head space and is ready to explore her connection with him. Their date involves horseback riding and Grant is excited to spend this time with her. He even talks about how he is aware of the feelings that she went through yesterday and he wanted to check in. They navigate the trail and they talk about how she would love to own a farm as she loves animals and they arrive at the beach as they continue to ride. She knows that its important to have strong relationships and she knows the weight of this date. As it rains on the beach with their picnic, they are vulnerable with one another.
They continue their date into dinner. Grant realizes that she knows the surface stuff about him, but not other elements that make him unique and he knows he has to share that with her. He gets into his imperfections and talks about his family and how he had a hard upbringing and that his dad had an alcohol program and he felt that he was being lied to. Even as recently as him leaving for the show, he let him know that he was checking into rehab and now he has been able to connect with his father being 2 months sober and it’s a new him that he gets to learn. They connect on the fact that they didn’t have that father figure and what it meant to them. She gives him the 1-on-1 rose and appreciates how he was vulnerable as well as sharing sentiments that are similar in their backgrounds.
The men arrive for the cocktail party before the rose ceremony. With 2 men secure with their rose, the other 6 are feeling that the stakes are pretty high. Grant shares that he thinks he is falling in love with Jenn. The guys uncomfortably absorb his announcement. Time is always a tough character in this scenario and all of them feel nervous. She arrives and says that they look great and she is happy to see them. She appreciates how they have shown up for her and it meant a lot to her. Because she saw how they supported her, she doesn’t feel the need to have a cocktail party and will see them at the ceremony.
JENN GAVE ROSES TO | Devin, Grant, Jeremy, Jonathan, Marcus, Sam, and Spencer.
JENN DIDN’T GIVE ROSES TO | Austin, Dylan, John M., and Thomas N.
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
PHOTO CREDIT | The Bachelor Contestants/Ricky Middlesworth
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