Meet The Top 3 Founders In Our Selfmade Pitch Competition!

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When you launch a business, you have to know how to sell it: to customers, to potential investors, and to the people you bring on board. In the Selfmade Fall 2024 Pitch competition, we challenged our female entrepreneurs to sell us their big idea and compete to win over $10K in prizes to build and grow their business. The judging panel was made up of a group of inspiring women in business, including Emily Merrell, founder of Second Degree Society and Ready Set Coach; Niki Shamdasani, CEO of Sani Lifestyle Brand; and Joanne Oparu Ayebo Eriaku, business transformation strategist and founder of SOAR AI School of Readiness.

Selfmade is a unique, hands-on business membership for female founders. Our coaches support our mission to help make the dreams of female founders a reality. "Our mission is to even out the odds and offer a clear route to success for business owners who've been marginalized," Emily said during the competition.

Pitch day was filled with uplifting, celebratory moments as all members cheered on the 10 finalists. Winners were judged on creativity, inspiration, authenticity, uniqueness, and evidence of impact. The finalists were phenomenal in their pitches, but the judging panel had to make the tough decision of picking three women who really stood out. Here are the winners of the Selfmade Fall 2024 pitch competition, plus our amazing finalists below!

Meet the Selfmade PItch Winners

Hyacinth Tucker

1st Place Winner

Hyacinth Tucker | The Laundry Basket

A US Army veteran and wife, Hyacinth owns and operates The Laundry Basket, a laundry subscription service that provides expert, laundry-on-demand and dry cleaning services in Maryland, DC, Northern Virginia, Northeast Ohio, and Toronto Canada. The company is committed to sustainability, offering zero-waste practices in partnership with non-profits like Impact Zero. They are also paving the way for minorities and veterans to build careers and businesses through their workforce development program. Hyacinthhas a masters of business administration and is a mom of two. When she’s not running the show, she loves traveling, reading, and playing games with her family.

Monica Casillas

2nd Place Winner

Monica Casillas | Amor Movement

Founder Monica Casillas recognized that many young Latinas faced the same challenges she did in high school, experiencing the weight of generational traumas and their impact on growth and potential. Driven by her own experiences and determination, she set out to create a transformative movement with love as its guiding force. The mission behind Amor Movement is to ignite the passion and leadership potential in young Latinas in high school. The nonprofit is dedicated to equipping these future leaders with essential life skills, professional development, and civic engagement opportunities, empowering them to break barriers and create the lives of their dreams.

Yolanda McCray

3rd Place Winner

Yolanda McCray | Skyler M Style & Wellness

Yolanda's passion for clothing, accessories, and custom products inspired the creation of Skyler M Style & Wellness, named after her Cocker Spaniel who passed away from cancer in 2019. Skyler M Style & Wellness is an online boutique and pop-up shop in South Carolina that offers clothing, accessories, and custom gifts. They are also launching gift and subscription boxes that empower women to embrace their unique style while prioritizing wellness. Their carefully curated products offer a blend of fashion and self-care, solving the common struggle women face in balancing both.

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Meet Our Other Amazing Finalists!

Thinking about becoming a member of Selfmade? Founders can join Selfmade for just $39 per month and have a chance to pitch your business at our next pitch competition! Here's how our Selfmade community is breaking barriers and connecting you with like-minded founders:
  • On-demand courses
  • Live coaching
  • 1:1 mentorship with leading industry experts
  • Opportunities for pitching your business (such as this pitch comp!)
  • Digital events
  • AND of course, our community of 4,000+ women founders, just like you!

Learn more about the Selfmade Founder Fund and join us!

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Header image via Meghan Lamle on Unsplash

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

Finding a community of people who love reading books as much as you do is top tier — especially when you gather to talk about your favorite book club finds. Since we're having a hard time choosing our favorite celebrity book club at Brit + Co, we're introducing you to another one filled with all the cool girl reads. That's right — the Belletrist book club by besties Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss is the next thing that should be on your literary list.

It's also worth mentioning Belletrist is partnering with online bookstore Tertulia to bring you an exclusive paid membership subscription! Members will receive Emma and Karah's picks each month along with access to interviews, and a "limited edition Belletrist hat," (via PEOPLE). Karah said, "Our aim has always been to deepen the connection between readers and books, and help facilitate conversation with community members."

Created in 2017, Belletrist features bookswith tales that'll have you on the edge of your seat, and we've got 31 worth adding to your TBR pile!

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Didion & Babitz by Lili Anolik (November 12, 204)

Belletrist's latest book club pick is Didion & Babitz, written by the brilliant author Lili Anolik. Talking to PEOPLE, Emma Roberts revealed the reason she chose this read. "Joan Didion was the first writer I truly loved as an adult person," she said and even went as far as admit she feels a personal connection to Didion's words.

As brilliant of a writer as she was, Joan had a complicated relationship with Eve Babitz. They started as close friends, but time gave way to sour feelings. Truthfully, Eve was the only person who truly understood Joan and was able to decode the mysterious nature of her former friend. It is through her letters that Anolik was able to pen this eye-opening novel.

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Intermezzoby Sally Rooney

Peter and Ivan Koubek may be brothers, but that doesn't mean they have the same interests or thought patterns. Peter is the oldest and has been managing a very successful career as a lawyer while Ivan is twenty-something social misfit. Their lives drastically shift with the death of their father, leading to Peter finding vices to numb his pain and Ivan growing closer to an older woman name Margaret.

Somehow, the two Koubek brothers find themselves and love as they stumble through the world in the aftermath of their father's death.

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Five-Star Stranger by Kat Tang

What would you do if you rent someone to play the perfect role in your life? In Five-Star Stranger, Stranger finds himself striking a high chord with those who've used his services in the past. He's been able to assume several identities for the right price and has never gotten involved with his clients.
But someone has their eyes on destroying his careful image, especially since he's been pretending to have a family that involves a woman and her child. This makes him begin exploring his abandonment issues which have led him to offer himself up for strangers' brief needs.

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Memory Piece by Lisa Ko

During the '80s, teenagers Giselle Chin, Jackie Ong, and Ellen Ng dealt with insecurity surrounding their identities. The other thing that had in common was their ambitions which created a deep bond between them. But adulthood became something they weren't entirely prepared for.
Giselle finds herself in a social world she's unfamiliar with, Jackie is battling capitalism within the coding industry, and Ellen's facing legal injustice in the NYC neighborhood she lives in. As they grow, their friendship moves past surface level and they're met with changing goals in Memory Piece.

Piglet by Lottie Hazell

Piglet's career as a cookbook editor is flourishing and she couldn't be happier. After all, this type of success is meant to be celebrated at every turn and she's been reveling in it. Surrounded by people she loves and who love her, she feels like nothing can stand in her way. But when Kit commits an offense that's soul crushing, Piglet's appetite for more than her life has afforded her increases. Caught between living the life she has and desiring more, her 'erratic' behavior becomes her saving grace.

Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie

Kathleen Cheng feels like her life is a huge wreck after her relationship ends and she decides graduate school isn't for her. This leads her back to Oakland and she's not quite comfortable with being clueless about what to do with herself. This wouldn't be so weird if her mom, Marissa Cheng, wasn't different from the mother she had growing up. This version of her mom is happily in love and enlists Kathleen's help to plan her wedding.

When Kathleen gets a job at Marissa's fiancé's startup, she slowly begins to work through limiting beliefs about love and life, and forms a close bond with someone as a result. By the end of Holding Pattern, readers will love seeing how one's disruptions in life can be used to push them in a much better direction.

What Happened To Ruthy Ramirez?by Claire Jiménez

When Ruthy Ramirez goes missing, it rattles the Ramirez family but they ultimately decide to learn to live with their loss. However, a chance sighting by her sister Jessica leads them down a path that they hope will give them answers about what happened to her. What the Ramirez women don't anticipate is how their journey to finding her will change them in more ways than one.

I Could Live Here Foreverby Hanna Halperin

Trigger Warning: This book contains drug use.

There are some people who believe in love at first sight and Leah Kempler is one of them. After meeting the most charismatic man she's ever known (Charlie Nelson), she falls head over heels in love with him. He's perfect if you don't count the weird habits everyone around Leah is worried about. It reads as a cautionary tale that unfolds the truth behind loving someone to the point you can't see any damaging red flags.

The Guestby Emma Cline

The Guest tackles the issue of who belongs to upper society and what happens to those who are shunned from it. Despite being told to leave Long Island, Alex decides to take matters in her own hands by staying. However, she has plans to make her presence known whether people like it or not.

My Husbandby Maud Ventura; Translated by Emma Ramadan

Sometimes our suspicions are nothing more than figments of our imaginations because nothing is capable of going well for a long period of time — right? In My Husband, one woman comes to terms with her own insecurities and how they're harming her marriage.

When We Lost Our Headsby Heather O'Neill

When We Lost Our Heads explores an unlikely and sometimes dangerous friendship that develops between two girls. Although Marie Antoine and Sadie Arnett are banned from spending time together, something keeps drawing them near each other. Is it fate, or something unspoken in their hearts?

Cherish Farrahbu Bethany C. Morrow

Young Farrah Turner is a walking contradiction whose inner turmoil influences her actions when her parents' problems lead her to stay with her best friend's family. The Whitmans readily welcome Farrah into their home but Farrah begins to suspect she's not the only one who has ulterior motives. Will her friendship with Cherish Whitman survive or will everything Farrah thought she knew about the community she lives in be exposed as something else?

How to Be Eatenby Maria Adelmann

Maria Adelmanturns folk and fairy tales upside down in this gripping page-turner. From a woman who's trapped in a relationship with a man who has an odd-colored beard to one who's been searching for her perfect love, How to Be Eaten will show readers the darker side of comfort tales by daring us to think beyond what we think we know.

Like a House on Fireby Lauren McBrayer

Like a House on Fire is a painfully beautiful tale of a woman who begins to question the life she's living. While Merit is grateful for her husband and kids, she can't help but feel unfulfilled. However, things begin to change after she's hired by Jane at the architect firm Jager + Brandt. Will Merit rediscover who she is or find that the missing piece of her life involves someone who isn't her husband?

Motherthingby Ainslie Hogarth

Trigger warning: This book mentions suicide.

Motherthing takes the classic 'mother-in-law from hell' trope to a dangerous level when a couple moves in with the husband's mother. Despite Abby Lamb's best efforts, her mother-in-law is more interested in making her life as miserable as possible. Just when she thinks things can't get worse, her mother-in-law commits suicide and begins wrecking supernatural havoc. Will Abby be able to keep her marriage and job intact in the midst of dealing with hatred from beyond the grave? Read Motherthing to find out!

Outlawedby Anna North

Through no real fault of her own, Ada becomes an outlaw after 'failing' to become pregnant after getting married. Outlawed seeks to challenge the burden placed on women during frontier days with this tale filled with courage and hope.

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitanoby Donna Freitas

Who would you be if you have a certain number of times to make different choices? The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano looks to answer this by sending its main character of the same name down a journey that involves motherhood. Unsure of whether this role fits in her life or not, Rose is faced with the consequences of her decisions throughout this thought-provoking novel.

Build Your House Around My Bodyby Violet Kupersmith

Sometimes ghosts are meant to help us more than they haunt us and that's what Build Your House Around My Body aims to show readers. Filled with key two vanishings and unexplained happenings at a familiar farmhouse, history is in for a surprise in this poignant tale.

I Love You But I've Chosen Darknessby Claire Vaye Watkins

Dealing with the effects of postpartum depression, a writer comes face to face with the past she thought she'd outrun. From finally coming to terms with her father's involvement in a dangerous cult to more unspoken things, she realizes it's now or never when deciding to find her footing.

We Wish You Luckby Caroline Zancan

Hannah, Leslie, and Jimmy are three graduate students whose charisma is the talk of the campus. They're downright irresistible for a number of reasons and when the brilliant Simone joins their trio? There's no stopping them — until Simone does the unthinkable.

The Vanishing Halfby Brit Bennett

The identical Vignes twins may look alike, but their lives couldn't be more different. While one sister chooses to remain in the south with her daughter, the other builds a life that involves being dishonest about who she really is. When their paths cross again, will the sisters recognize each other or will they take fault with the lives they've individually built?

Blue Ticketby Sophie Mackintosh

Blue Ticket opens the door to a lottery that differs from winning a life-changing amount of money. Instead, women are given the choice to lead lives based on the ticket they receive. However, pregnant Calla is terrified of the consequences of her making a choice that differs from the ticket she's been given and ends up on an unforgettable journey.

The Farmby Joanne Ramos

The Farm is an alarming tale of what happens when one woman trades her freedom for nine months to secure a place where she's guaranteed food and shelter. The only problem? She's forbidden from leaving Golden Oaks during her pregnancy. Will she follow the rules or find a way to save her sanity at the cost of losing what once felt like a dream come true?

Marilou Is Everywhereby Sarah Elaine Smith

What happens when siblings are left alone for an extended period of time? They begin finding a way to survive even if it's unconventional or illegal. In Marilou Is Everywhere, young Cindy takes on missing Jude Vanderjohn's identity and begins living a better life. But as guilt starts to eat away at her, she has to decide if telling the truth is worth going back to the loveless and hard life she previously knew.

Red at the Boneby Jacqueline Woodson

Red at the Bone is a moving novel that seeks to understand one's family origins and the events that shaped life as teenaged Melody knows it. It peels back layers of the Tulsa race massacre that occurred in 1921 among other things that young people often have to face in a world that would rather turn a blind eye to who they are.

Wild Gameby Adrienne Brodeur

Having your mother confide in you can feel amazing...unless she's asking you to harbor secrets that involve her growing affair with your dad's best friend. Unfortunately for Adrienne, her mother does just that, changing the course of her life.

The Immortalistsby Chloe Benjamin

After four siblings decide to learn their fate from a mysterious psychic, their lives become defined in different ways. It's a tale that shows the lives people would live if they knew the exact moment they would die. Instead of reading like a tale that mirrors Final Destination, The Immortalists goes deeper and offers hope throughout its pages.

Godspeedby Casey Legler

Godspeed follows Casey Legler's life as a successful teen swimmer who's struggling with alcoholism that's caused by her intense training and feeling separated from those close to her. When she hits rock bottom, she somehow finds the strength to see herself differently and choose to live life in a way that doesn't feel so isolated.

My Sister The Serial Killerby Oyinkan Braithwaite

If the name of this novel doesn't intrigue you, I'm not sure what will! My Sister The Serial Killer follows Korede as she tries to come to terms with her sister Ayoola's killer nature — literally. However, things begin to change when Korede develops a crush on a doctor who's more interested in Ayoola. Will Korede do everything she can to protect her sister or will she decide to be truthful about who her sister really is?

The Rules Do Not Applyby Ariel Levy

Ariel Levy decides to raise a middle finger to the idea that she should be a softer woman, and she leans into the things people say she should change about herself. This takes her on an amazing adventure that's halted when she realizes she can't control everything like she thought she could. It's a novel that deals with understanding which parts of ourselves are okay to let go and which ones are worth holding on to.

Touchby Courtney Maum

Sloane Jacobsen may be a successful trend forecaster but she feels like her life is a walking contradiction. Suddenly, she finds that her professional work is being derailed by a change of heart — her own. Instead of believing that virtual relationships are rising, she feels the opposite. Caught between her heart and intuition, Sloane must make a choice that will change how she and others relate to each other.

To see the full Belletrist book club list, click here!

Which cool girl reads from the Belletrist book club will you add to your literary list before the end of 2023?

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

I'll never tell you how to define your level of success, but I don't mind helping spread a little inspiration if imposter syndrome keeps stepping on your new Adidas sneakers. Even I need a creative confidence boost, despite having a fun career that allows me to do things I love. But, have no fear because these 15 quotes about success will point us in the right direction this fall — and beyond!

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"Life is about finding yourself, embracing your strengths and weaknesses, and being true to who you are." —Oprah Winfrey

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"A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman." —Melinda French Gates

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"Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it." —Maya Angelou

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"Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today’s mighty oak is yesterday’s nut that held its ground." —Rosa Parks

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"In my moments of doubt, I've told myself firmly – if not me, who? If not now, when? If you have similar doubts when opportunities are presented to you, I hope those words might be helpful." —Emma Watson

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"Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you." —Margaret Thatcher

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"What would happen if we were all brave enough to be a little bit more ambitious? I think the world would change." —Reese Witherspoon

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"I know society says you should be a certain way, but I think [you should] stop and look at what is your natural way of being who you are." —Ari Horie

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"We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained." —Marie Curie

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"What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful and your voice matters." —Kamala Harris

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'Chance is the first step you take, luck is what comes afterward." —Amy Tan

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"Other women who are killing it should motivate you, thrill you, challenge you, and inspire you." —Taylor Swift

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"If you follow your heart, if you listen to your gut and if you extend your hand to help another — not for any agenda, but for the sake of humanity — you are going to find the truth." —Erin Brockovich

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"As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we’ll all be better off for it." —Sandra Day O'Connor

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"Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently." —Marie Forleo

Screenshot these inspirational quotes when you need more reminders you're on the right track.

Header image via Brit + Co

If I'm completely honest, there are very few celebrity couples I care about the way I care about Tom Holland and Zendaya. Aside from the fact this couple is like a walking friends-to-lovers plotline IRL, and are both power houses on their own, these two actors and philanthropists are just unstoppable together. They also keep their relationship pretty private. Here's the latest news on it.

The Latest News On Tom Holland And Zendaya's Relationship

Image via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

July 2016 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Join Spider-Man: Homecoming

Tom Holland and Zendaya met and became friends when they were cast in the MCU's Spider-Man: Homecoming. Tom had already made an appearance in Captain America: Civil War, but the new Spider-Man movie was a huge deal for both Marvel fans and the couple themselves! Not only did Tom Holland and Zendaya spend time together on set, but they also hung out at the pool together during their free timeand goofed around during San Diego Comic Con.

Image via Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

November 2016 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Are On The Cover Of The Hollywood Reporter

Tom Holland and Zendaya basically broke the internet when they graced the cover of The Hollywood Reporter's Nov. 2016 issue. The shoot was filled with plenty of classic Hollywood throwbacks, but I have always *loved* the blue dress Z wears on the cover. "Over the moon with my first cover," Tom writes on Instagram. "So grateful that I got to share it with the one and only @zendaya. Thanks mate for helping me out."

"Honored to share it with the very best...Spider-Man himself @tomholland2013," Zendaya says in her post. "Thank you for this beautiful cover @THR."

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images

May 7, 2017 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Attend The MTV Movie And TV Awards

At the 2017 MTV Movie And TV Awards, Tom Holland and Zendaya premiered a clip from Spider-Man: Homecoming...and Tom did a flip onstage and then asked Zendaya to homecoming.

Image via Robert Marquardt/Getty Images for Sony Pictures

July 13, 2017 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Are Reportedly Dating

In July 2017, a source seemingly confirmed what many fans had been wondering for months: that Tom Holland and Zendaya had been dating. Considering the two other sets of Spider-Man leads (Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst and Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield) both dated, it felt like this was one relationship that was bound to happen.

"They started seeing each other while they were filming Spider-Man," the insider tells People. "They've been super careful to keep it private and out of the public eye but they've gone on vacations with each other and try and spend as much time as possible with one another."

"They're both really ambitious and they challenge each other — but, most importantly, they make each other crack up," says another insider. "They seem to have a really similar sense of humor and love joking around together."

Tom Holland and Zendaya actually took to Twitter (now X) to tackle the rumors. "Wait wait...my favorite is when it says we go on vacations together HA! I haven't been on a vacation in years!" Zendaya says, to which Tomreplies, "Does the press tour count[?]"

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

August 8, 2017 — Zendaya Shuts Down Dating Rumors

"We are friends," Zendaya tells Variety. "He's a great dude. He's literally one of my best friends. This past how many months we've had to do press tours together. There's very few people that will understand what that's like at 20 years old."

Image via Noam Galai/Getty Images for New York Magazine

May 8, 2018 — Tom Holland Supports Zendaya's Iconic Met Gala Appearance

Zendaya showed up to the 2018 Met Gala (which had the theme Heavenly Bodies) as Joan of Arc, and it's quickly become one of her most iconic and recognizable carpet looks. Tom loved it just as much as we did and wrote on Instagram, "All hail the queen. Killing it mate."

Image via Theo Wargo/Getty Images

July 2019 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Have A Very Chaotic Press Tour For Spider-Man: Far From Home

For Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon did dozens of junkets together, and many of the interviews have gone viral — like Tom and Jacob finally meeting their favorite Watch Mojo hostandthe cast playing games with Jimmy Kimmel. Junkets are always fun to watch, and this one is no exception!

Image via Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM

July 2, 2021 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Are Seen Kissing

After years of denying they were dating, Tom Holland and Zendaya really and truly broke the internet when pictures of them kissing in a car showed up on social media. This was such a vital moment that I remember exactly where I was when I found out.

"THEY ARE END GAME DREAM COUPLE," one X user tweeted. "I don't know if I want to be Tom Holland to kiss Zendaya or be Zendaya to kiss Tom Holland," another user joked.

Tom Holland and Zendaya were later seen attending a friend's wedding...and sitting very close to each other.

Image via Tom Holland/Instagram

September 1, 2021 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Make Their Relationship Instagram Official

On Zendaya's 25th birthday, Tom Holland posted the sweetest picture from the Spider-Man makeup trailer on Instagram. "My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays," he says in the caption. "Gimme a call when [you're] up xxx."

Image via Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

November 17, 2021 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Open Up About Their Relationship

In an interview with GQ, Tom Holland opened up about his relationship with Zendaya and how their relationship to fame has impacted everything. "One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn’t really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world,” he says of their July 2 kiss. “I’ve always been really adamant to keep my private life private, because I share so much of my life with the world anyway...We sort of felt robbed of our privacy.”

“It was quite strange and weird and confusing and invasive,” Zendaya agrees. “I think loving someone is a sacred thing and a special thing and something that you want to deal with and go through and experience and enjoy amongst the two people that love each other."

“Our relationship is something that we are incredibly protective of and we want to keep as sacred as possible," Tom later told The Hollywood Reporter. "We don’t think that we owe it to anyone, it’s our thing, and it has nothing to do with our careers.”

Image via Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

December 15, 2021 — Zendaya Posts A Tribute To Tom Holland As Spider-Man

Before Spider-Man: No Way Home hit theaters, Zendaya posted a pair of photos featuring Tom in his superhero costume on set, and in a costume as a kid. "My Spider-Man," the caption reads. "I’m so proud of you, some things never change and good thing♥️." Adorable!

Image via Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

February 22, 2022 — Tom Holland Says He'd Love To Be In Euphoria

Zendaya shattered records when she became the youngest person to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Rue in Euphoria. Tom also made headlines related to Euphoria when he said he'd be interested in making a cameo in the series. "I would be in Euphoria. I think I would be a really good Maddy," he jokes during a BuzzFeed puppy interview. "I'm a big Euphoria fan. I love the show and I love season 2. I visited a lot while they were shooting it and I really, really enjoyed it...I would love to guest star or just be an extra in it. Or maybe I am and you just don't know."

Image via Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images

April 20, 2022 — Zendaya Talks About Tom Holland's Support During Euphoria

"I think it's great to have that support and love around you, because you need that," Zendaya tells Entertainment Tonightduring Euphoria's Emmy For Your Consideration event. "This isn't an easy job, so it's good to have that to free you up from it every now and then."

Images via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME and Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

June 1, 2022 — Zendaya Celebrates Tom Holland's Birthday

For Tom's 26th birthday, Zendaya posted a rare photo of her with Tom, captioning the post, "Happiest of birthdays to the one who makes me the happiest <3."

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

March 20, 2023 — Zendaya Wears A Ring With Tom Holland's Initials

I am always in favor of cute, meaningful, and minimalist jewelry, and apparently, Zendaya is too! When Zendaya's nail artist posted a video of the actress' new ballet pink manicure, fans quickly noticed the "TH" ring Z was wearing.

Image via Ethan Miller/Getty Images

April 27, 2023 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Go To An Usher Concert

2023 was the year of concerts for everyone, including celebrities! While Zendaya attended CinemaCon to promote Dune 2, she also went to an Usher concert with Tom Holland. "Childhood dreams come true, going to an @usher concert," Zendaya said on her Instagram story (via People).

Images via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images and Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

May 4, 2023 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Attend An NBA Game

Tom Holland and Zendaya had another date night in May, complete with the perfect athleisure, popcorn, and relaxed smiles.

Image via Xavi Torrent/Getty Images

January 12, 2024 — Tom Holland Confirms His Relationship With Zendaya Is Still Going Strong

After Zendaya unfollowed everyone on Instagram ahead of her new movie Challengers (Blake Lively pulled a similar move before her film A Simple Favor, as did Taylor Swift before Reputation), rumors started swirling that the pair had called it quits. When asked whether they had broken up, Tom says (via TMZ), "No, absolutely not."

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

January 14, 2024 — Tom Holland Says He Loves Watching Spider-Man: Homecoming With Zendaya

During the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, Tom Holland told Extra how much he loves rewatching his first Spider-Man movie, especially when he watches it with Z. "Zendaya and I will, every now and then, watch Spider-Man 1 and reminisce about being 19 and making those movies again," he says. "I love those movies, and I love savoring those moments, so I try not to watch them as often as I would maybe like to because it’s so special. It's such a luxury, such a gift to be able to sit down and sort of relive your youth.”

Image via Tom Holland/Instagram

January 23, 2024 — Tom Holland Shows Zendaya Some Love

Since Tom Holland and Zendaya are very private, they don't often post about their relationship on social media. But when Zendaya debuted a new look at Paris Fashion Week, Tom Holland couldn't help but post a pic of Z to his Instagram story with three heart-eye emojis. We share the same sentiment, Tom, what a coincidence!

Image via Joe Maher/Getty Images

February 15, 2023 — Tom Holland Supports Zendaya's Dune 2

The London premiere of Dune 2 was *very* eventful. Zendaya basically broke the internet by wearing a Mugler "Machinenmensch" robot suit (before changing into this chic black dress from Mugler by Casey Cadwallader), a certain actress spoiled her appearance in the movie by showing up to the carpet, and Tom Holland and Zendaya were spotted at the afterparty together. I love the care and attention Tom shows Zendaya (I, too, would be overwhelmed if I was surrounded by paparazzi like in this video of the couple), and I hope they got to unwind after a crazy night!

Image via Tom Holland/Instagram

February 21, 2024 — Tom Holland *Also* Supports Zendaya's Challengers

After the new trailer for Challengers dropped, Tom Holland shared it to his Instagram story, promising the movie looks just as good as we're hoping. "You ain't ready for this one!" he says alongside the trailer.

Image via Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

February 21, 2024 — Zendaya Says Tom Holland Has The Best "Rizz"

When asked who has the best "rizz" (short for charisma) in the Dune 2 cast, Zendaya immediately pivots and makes the answer more personal! "Everybody's kind of got their own [rizz]," she tells Buzzfeed. "I think someone who has beautiful charisma, not on the Dune cast, but...it works for me, is Mr. Tom Holland."

"I'm more shy and kind of quiet, so it takes a little bit more to pull me out of my shell but he's great at just talking to people and getting to know people," she continues. "He's just naturally very good at that. Or as for me, I've definitely had to pull it out of me a little bit. He's got that natural gift."

Image via Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

March 17, 2024 — Tom Holland And Zendaya Watch A Tennis Game

Ahead of Zendaya's spring movie Challengers (in which she plays a tennis pro-turned-coach opposite Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor), she watched the BNP Paribas Open Men's Final at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Alongside Tom Holland and her assistant Darnell Appling, who she frequently calls her brother, Zendaya got comfy in a cream-colored tennis skirt, tank top, and zip-up hoodie ensemble. Spring really is here!! My favorite part of the afternoon is when Tom Holland and Zendaya sang along with Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody."

Image via James Gourley/Getty Images

April 9, 2024 — Zendaya Raves About Tom Holland

In her Vogue cover story for May 2024, Zendaya talks a lot about how fame has affected both her life and Tom Holland's. “His [career] changed overnight. One day you’re a kid and you’re at the pub with your friends, and then the next day you’re Spider-Man,” she says. “I definitely watched his life kind of change in front of him. But he handled it really beautifully.”

That star power was evident in 2022, when Tom Holland and Zendaya spent the afternoon at the Louvre in Paris...and almost broke the internet. “You just kind of get used to the fact that, 'Oh, I’m also one of these art pieces you’re going to take a picture of. I just gotta be totally cool with it and just live my life,'" Zendaya continues. (She also says that when the museum let them walk around after-hours, "it was like Night at the Museum.”)

This spring, Zendaya can't wait to see Tom Holland in his London production of Romeo & Juliet: "[I] could not be more proud. I’m going to try to see as many shows as I possibly can.”

Image via Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

April 10, 2024 — Challengers Premieres In London

Tom Holland showed up for the London premiere of Challengers, and got to support Zendaya in the sweetest way. In this video captured at the premiere, you can see Tom and Z share a hug and a kiss on the cheek during the evening. Even the smallest gesture can mean a lot during a busy night, and I love how in sync Tom Holland and Zendaya are!

The latest viral clip about Tom Holland and Zendaya also has to do with Challengers. During another Challengers press tour stop, Zendaya's overjoyed to be presented with a bouquet of gardenias. “These are my favorite flowers!” she exclaims. When asked if Tom Holland buys her flowers, she points at the camera and jokes, “I hope he's watching!”

While not every girlfriend necessarily wants a bouquet, every couple definitely has to figure out each other's love languages so they can get to know each other better — and apparently A-listers are the exact same!

Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images for LVMH x Vogue x NBC

August 31, 2024 — Zendaya And Tom Holland Match On A Day Date

After a summer starring in Romeo and Juliet, Tom Holland took a late-summer stroll with Zendaya in Calabasas, California. They also ended up wearing matching white tanks (Zendaya styled hers with trousers and ballet flats, while Tom opted for cargo-esque joggers and white sneakers) for the ultimate twinning moment.

Bero

October 15, 2024 — Tom Holland Launches A New Company With Unexpected Help From Zendaya

After going sober in 2022, Tom Holland announced on October 15 he was launching a non-alcoholic drink company called Bero. “When I got sober, I started exploring the world of non-alcoholic beers and realized there was space for me to fit in,” Tom says in an interview with Forbes. “My first year sober was really difficult, and had I had Bero, I think it would have been easier.”

“Zendaya hates beer, like, absolutely hates beer," he continues. And when she helped with the taste testing, a joke helped guide the overall brand. "She does not drink beer at all, and the first round of testing she was like, ‘Wow, these are really tasty’, and I was like, ‘Well, that's probably not a good sign.'"

On

October 15, 2024 — Zendaya Reveals Why She'd Never Take A Dance Class With Tom Holland

While speaking to Teen Vogue for her partnership with On, Zendaya reveals she'd probably avoid dance classes with Tom Holland because "he's too good, it would piss me off," she jokes. "I would want to take someone who could be equally as bad as me."

"Kayaking, I would choose Tom because I think that, if I can remember correctly, with the kayak, you have to be in sync with the person," she continues. "And I think it would be hilarious because we are both very controlling and we both want to be in charge. So it would be funny to watch us be like, no, we're going to go this way. No, we're going to go that way. And I think it would be a good story after the fact."

Keep checking back here for the latest news on Tom Holland and Zendaya's relationship, and see what Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are up to as well!

This post has been updated.

Alright, this was definitely an interesting Halloween makeup tutorial to do for y’all, but it had to be done! There seems to be a handful of pop culture-inspired opportunities to rep this look on Halloween. From Bey’s awesome sad streaks in her “Why Don’t You Love Me” music video to the repeated "Girls will cry and girls will lie" in Sabrina Carpenter's "Lie to Girls," you can pretty much turn anything into a sad version as long it’s done well. Whether you are going for a scary or gory look — BTW, you can totally switch out the black liner here for a red one to make this bloody eye makeup (Max Mayfield anyone?) — you’ll still look pretty. Sad, but pretty.

The Best Cry Makeup Ever

Brit + Co

See how good this looks?! Let's get into it.

Prep: Flawless Face + Smokey Eye

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Follow this tutorial to get your base makeup started. Add a pretty dramatic smokey eye. Layer up the eyeliner on both your upper and lower lash line — you’re going to need the extra pigment to help get those sad little makeup streaks to fall down your pretty little cheeks.

Step 1: Concealer

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Normally I say keep it light on the concealer so it does not get cakey or look too heavy. In this case, you are going to be adding water and messing with the under eye area more than normal, so you want to go a bit more dramatic in this department. Apply an upside-down triangle shape and then blend in with a brush.

Step 2: Visine

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Add a few drops of Visine to your lower lash line. Be sure to start off by focusing on one eye, because you want to take the next step immediately so you don’t lose the Visine drop.

Step 3: Smear

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Use a thin makeup brush to gently encourage your eyeliner to bleed in the same pattern that the Visine drops are falling down your face.

Step 4: Highlight

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Add a pop of deep silver metallic shadow to the inside corners of your eyes. This is going to give the highlight and dimension we want, but it'll maintain more of a moody vibe.

Step 5: Repeat

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Go through these same four steps on the other eye! Easy peasy.

Brit + Co

Get your acting skills on and have fun with this pretty cry baby look! Play your go-to sad tunes to really get into the mood.

Brit + Co

So. Sad. (But so pretty!)

Check out more Halloween ideas on Pinterest and our Halloween page.

This post has been updated.