Photo: Xavier Scott Marshall via Urban Bush Babes
By Larkin Clark for Well+GOOD
You might recognize twin sisters Cipriana and TK Quann from campaigns with fashion brands like & Other Stories and Gap, or featured in pubs like Vogue and W. With style bloggers following their every move, some consider them Millennial icons (Cipriana even got a shout-out on HBO's Girls).
But the Quann sisters are way more than pretty faces. The twins have also made their mark with Urban Bush Babes, a lifestyle site that celebrates individuality, natural beauty, and women of color. (Cipriana is co-founder and editor-in-chief; TK is a frequent contributor.) They're big proponents of wellness, too, as demonstrated by a recent Jawbone UP3 Activity Tracker band collab. Why the fit move?
"Being healthy--not only for the body, but for the mind--is imperative," says TK, who's a rapper, singer, and songwriter when she's not in front of the camera or writing for Urban Bush Babes. "Wellness is a journey and the steps along the way can be very rewarding mentally and physically."
Cipriana agrees. "We are all about challenging yourself to be the change you want to see. Anything that assists in that direction in a fun, positive, and motivating way is the type of leverage we will wholeheartedly support."
Ahead, they share more of their wellness wisdom--and, of course, a few style tips.
The Jawbone Activity Tracker seems like a huge fitness motivator. What else drives you to stay healthy, especially with such busy schedules?
Cipriana: To be honest, some days are a struggle to go to the gym, or maybe I want to eat a cupcake every night before bed (or perhaps two or three). What motivates me to stay on track is the way my body responds when I give it the healthy attention it needs. The more energy I have the more I can accomplish, and making the most of my time is of the utmost importance!
TK: Sometimes you might not be able to make the gym or work out--however, it helps to always have a workout or "health clause," so to speak, in the fine print of your daily life outside of the gym or if you workout at home. My clause is that I always try to take the stairs.
That's a really smart idea. Do you have any other daily wellness rituals that you swear by?
TK: Sometimes life is crazy and you think you're unable to work out as much as you truly desire. However, I think most people can find at least 20 minutes out of their day to work out. A 30-minute rigorous workout is better than a lackadaisical hour.
Cipriana: One of my biggest daily rituals is I prefer to hit the gym at 6 a.m.
On Urban Bush Babes, you share a lot of great beauty intel. Do you have any go-to products?
TK: Whatever I use as a daily cleanser on my face is organic. I love Dr. Bronners Magic Soaps. However, beauty--in every sense of that word--starts from the inside. So what you put in your body is what will be revealed on the outside either in a healthy or unhealthy way.
Cipriana: My biggest staple is 100% extra virgin coconut oil. Besides being one of the few natural oils that can actually penetrate the hair shaft to the cortex (reducing protein loss and providing real moisture similar to water), it is multipurpose, so I use it on my hair and skin, and cook with it as well.
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