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Christina Milian Opens Up about Domestic Abuse on Her Reality TV Show

By December 17, 2015 at 3:26 pm

Christina Milian just dropped a bombshell on all her fans…she was a victim of severe domestic violence and abuse. The 34-year-old singer and actress opened up on Christina Milian Turned Up and had a frank and touching talk with her mother about her terrifying past.

In a recent episode of CMTU, Milian was getting ready for a publicity event promoting the app Stop Attack.

Credit: ET / HuffingtonPost

Stop Attack is a real-time, emergency assault response app available for Android and IOS. The app allows you to take footage in real-time of any physical or verbal attacks and stores it on a cloud system. Not only can you record the assault, you can also send alerts and notifications to people you choose so people know that you are in trouble.

Milian’s attachment and promotion of the app comes from first-hand experience of being a victim of domestic violence when she was a teen.

Credit: ET / HuffingtonPost

“The domestic violence started slowly and evolved,” Milian told HuffPost Entertainment. “First the controlling phase, ‘Who’s on your phone? Who is this person? Your mom is way too up in your business. You’re 18. You’re an adult.’ He was getting in my head – brainwashing me.”

Carmen Milian, Christina’s mother, was immediately taken back to that time.

Credit: ET / HuffingtonPost

While Christina was in the relationship, her abuser threatened to hurt her family if she ever left and Carmen remembers that fear that kept her daughter going back to her abuser.

The mother-daughter duo believe that the app has the potential to save lives, especially in cases of abuse like Christina’s.

Credit: ET / HuffingtonPost

Even though it was Christina who was being abused, Carmen spoke of how the whole family was impacted by the relationship. She remembers seeing her daughter cover the bruises to keep the family from seeing the evidence as they feared for her life.

“It’s one of the hardest things as a parent to see your child go through an abusive [relationship],” Carmen said during the episode.

Credit: ET / HuffingtonPost

On Twitter, Christina explained why she revealed her story of domestic abuse in such a public way.

And fans have been reaching out to the Afro-Cuban entertainer with positivity and gratitude for showing such strength.

Some fans appreciate Christina for using her voice to bring light to the issue of domestic abuse.

And others are starting to see Christina in a different light.

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9 LGBTQ+ Latinas Making The World A Better Place Through Representation

Culture

9 LGBTQ+ Latinas Making The World A Better Place Through Representation

By March 11, 2021 at 2:50 pm
BY  | March 11, 2021 AT 2:50 pm

Women are a driving force for change. It has been proven time and time again in history. LGBTQ+ Latinas are part of this tradition whether it is in activism, media, or representation in comic books. Here are 9 LGBTQ+ Latinas who are doing their part to make the world a better place.

Stephanie Beatriz

Stephanie Beatriz is known for her character Rosa on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” The actress wanted to create a character that someone like her could relate to and she made it happen. Rosa came out in the show as a bisexual Latina and it gave Beatriz a chance to play a character that reflects her real identity. For the first time, bisexual Latinas have someone on television that speaks to a very real and important identity.

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson publicly came out of the closet as bisexual in 2018. The actress revealed her relationship with musician Janelle Monáe and fans were there to support her. Thompson made a real splash in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when she portrayed Valkyrie in “Thor: Ragnarok.” She will be slaying again as Valkrie in “Thor: Love and Thunder.”

Bamby Salcedo

Bamby Salcedo is unapologetically trans and fighting for trans lives and rights. Salcedo founded the TransLatin@ Coalition to create a network for trans Latinas to connect and help each other thrive. Salcedo is often in protests for trans lives including against Pete Buttigieg during a CNN/HRC Town Hall.

Victoria Cruz

Victoria Cruz is a gatekeeper of LGBTQ+ history. The indigenous trans woman was there for the start of the Gay Liberation movement in 1969. Cruz has been a leader in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Cruz has continued to her fight for trans rights even in the face of transphobia in the LGBTQ+ community. As the LGBTQ+ community tends for forget its history, Cruz is here to remind them of how important the trans community is in gaing LGBTQ+ rights.

Carmen Carrera

Carmen Carrera first came into everyone’s home as a contestant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” This was before she started her transition. Since embarking on her transition journey, Carrera has had a very successful career as a supermodel, became a stepmother, and has been championing trans rights in the U.S. and Peru. The activist has spent years breaking down stereotypes about trans people wherever she goes.

Salice Rose

Salice Rose is a major name in social media. With more than 16 million followers on TikTok, Rose has created a place for people to feel safe and included. Using comedy and her spirituality, Rose has been able to tackle important issues, like coming out.

Gabby Rivera

Gabby Rivera was tapped to write for the America Chavez comic book in a move by Marvel that was widely celebrated. Rivera was able to give American Chavez, a queer Latin superhero, an authentic voice. Rivera is also the author of “Juliet Takes A Breaths.’ The young adult novel follows a Puerto Rican girl who comes out to her family right before going to an internship on the other side of the country.

Martine Gutierrez

Martine Gutierrez is a famed photographer and artist that has displayed work around the world. The art critic Barbara Calderon wrote about Gutierrez’s identity that has been an elusive yet broad identity. Calderon spoke of terms used to identify oneself yet none seemed to accurately describe who Gutierrez is.

Lido Pimienta

Lido Pimienta is an Afro-indigenous Colombian Canadian musician who is transforming Latin music, especially the scene with her sexuality. The queer musician is unapologetic about her identity for the sake of visibility. Pimienta feels a need to stay ver visible to change the long-running history of no queer visibility in media.

READ: Here Are Some Queer Films And Shows To Watch To Start Pride Off Right

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CelebritieslatinasLGBTQ+Pride

There’s A Fake Beauty Site For People To Report Domestic Violence While “Shopping”

Fierce

There’s A Fake Beauty Site For People To Report Domestic Violence While “Shopping”

By March 10, 2021 at 8:24 am
BY  | March 10, 2021 AT 8:24 am

Since the start of the pandemic, many communities have seen an increase in the amount of domestic violence reports. With more people staying at home under stay-at-home orders, many have been unable to escape their abusers. This has led to an increased need for resources for domestic assault victims.

Well, one teenager has thought up a pretty ingenious way to get that help into the hands of those who need it in a very discreet way.

Teen launches fake beauty site to help victims of domestic violence.

A teenager who was aware of the increase in domestic violence since the start of the pandemic, has taken it into her own hands to help out victims. She’s launched a resource for domestic assault victims disguised as a fake beauty site. The Facebook page called “Rumianki i Bratki” (Chamomiles and Pansies) allows victims to stuck in their homes to seek help.

“I heard about a French initiative, where people go to the pharmacy and ask for a special mask that lets the pharmacist know they are a victim of domestic violence,” Paszko said in an interview with the BBC. “I thought it was a brilliant idea, so I came up with the idea of selling cosmetics.”

Translated from Polish, the description of the Facebook page reads: “Chamomiles and Pansies is a store with natural cosmetics. We will help you with the purchase of the appropriate specifics, as well as with all other problems.” There are a total of nine products listed on the page, and each has a description detailing how the product can help.

The Facebook page offers a variety of services depending on what the victim is comfortable with.

When someone messages Chamomiles and Pansies inquiring about a face cream, they’re assisted by a psychologist posing as a salesperson. Using Facebook Chat, the psychologist is able to collect essential information. The psychologist can then send authorities to visit the home if the domestic abuse victim chooses to place an order and leave an address.

When Paszko first launched the site, she thought it would only reach her friends and extended family, but the BBC reported that more than 350 people have contacted the website. Since the initiative took off, Paszko has enlisted the help of the Center For Women’s Rights, a Polish nonprofit. It currently has over 22,000 likes.

Cases of domestic violence have been on the rise since the start of the pandemic.

More than 10 million women and men experience violence from an intimate partner  every year, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence based in Colorado. The National Domestic Violence Hotline reported a 9%  increase in emergency calls from March through May last year when many states issued lockdown orders. Police departments have reported increases of domestic violence cases around the country including 18% in San Antonio, 22% in Portland and 10% in New York City, according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

If you are experiencing domestic violence in the United States and need help you can go to TheHotline.org to chat with someone or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

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BeautyDomestic ViolenceInternetshopping beauty