Dominique Fluker

Los Angeles

Lifestyle Editor at Essence

Lifestyle editor @ESSENCE. Founder of DBF Interiors. Master's grad @USCAnnenberg. Views are mine [email protected]

Articles

Black Maternal Health Week: Helpful Resources For Expectant Mothers

1 week ago | essence.com | Dominique Fluker

Getty It’s Black Maternal Health Week. Here’s everything you should know to protect yourself and those you love. Motherhood is a gift, and organizations in the United States aim to help preserve and expand the parenting conditions for expectant and hopeful mothers.
After The Storm: New Orleans Is Still Healing 20 Years After Katrina

1 week ago | essence.com | Dominique Fluker

This story appears in the May/June 2025 issue of ESSENCE, on newsstands April 24. “It was silent. I’d never heard the city so quiet. There were no birds, dogs or cats, but more importantly, no music. In all my years of living, I had never heard New Orleans like that.” This is how Ausettua AmorAmenkum, 69, recalls her return to her home, following the destruction Hurricane Katrina brought upon her native town in August of 2005.
Black Maternal Health Week: What’s The Difference Between Midwives And Doulas? | Essence

1 week ago | essence.com | Dominique Fluker

Getty It’s Black Maternal Health Week. Here’s everything you should know to protect yourself and those you love. Today is the first day of Black Maternal Health Week, which is designed to honor and uplift the many Black women who are struggling and fighting for adequate health rights in and outside the hospital.
Home Style: How To Turn Your Bathroom Into A Beauty Room

1 week ago | essence.com | Dominique Fluker

This story is featured in the March/April 2025 issue of ESSENCE. Traditionally, the bathroom has been a preferred area of the house to prepare for whatever the day will throw at you—from big meetings at work to errand runs to a date. But what if you could create a place for that prep plus much more? A corner that can serve as a soft, relaxing haven as well as the ultimate glam spot? According to Justina Blakeney—interior designer, artist and founder of home brand Jungalow—it’s more than possible.
In Case You Missed It, Toni Braxton And Birdman Are Married

2 weeks ago | essence.com | Dominique Fluker

Getty He wasn’t man enough for me, or I love me some him? Fans of Toni Braxton are wondering which song to play when it comes to her peculiar union to Birdman. According to documents obtained by TMZ, rapper and businessman Birdman “Bryan Christopher Williams,” and iconic songstress Toni Braxton secretly married at a private reception on August 8, 2024, last summer.
In Case You Missed It, Toni Braxton And Birdman Are Married

2 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Dominique Fluker

9 hours agoMichelle Obama has finally spoken out about rumors that she and her husband, former US President Barack Obama, may be getting a divorce. During an appearance on Sophia Bush’s ‘Work in Progress’ podcast, the former first lady spoke about the rumors that were sparked after her absence from recent political events.
Let's Talk About Sex: 4 Ways To Experience Pleasure Beyond Penetration

2 weeks ago | essence.com | Dominique Fluker

There’s more than one way to receive pleasure in the bedroom, and unfortunately, if penetration is the only thing on the menu, you’re missing the main course. Licensed relationship and sex therapist, Nikquan Lewis, has witnessed people doing “all the right things” in bed but still feeling disconnected, bored, or unsatisfied.
20 Years Later, 'The Emancipation Of Mimi' Is My Blueprint For Self-Liberation

2 weeks ago | refinery29.com | Dominique Fluker

Story from UnbotheredADVERTISEMENT“These chickens is ash, and I’m lotion.” Let's be real, that line from Mariah Carey's It’s Like That still lives rent-free in my head. No exaggeration. It's my instant confidence boost, my "don't forget who you are" moment, my quick reality check. Some people have daily affirmations, and I have this to stand on. I remember when I first heard Carey's iconic album, which turns 20 next Saturday (April 12). I was 13 and just about to transition into high school.
7 Must-Have Items For National Self-Care Day

2 weeks ago | essence.com | Dominique Fluker

Version 1.0.0 Tomorrow is National Self-Care Day. We deserve rest, care, and joy, so prioritize your mental health and well-being today, even if that means taking off early from work, indulging in an afternoon nap, or cooking a healthy meal for yourself. You can also find relaxation with specific self-care products, like candles, diffusers, eye masks, and even a sex toy.
What Happens When Decluttering Triggers Trauma? 3 Professionals Provide Solutions

3 weeks ago | essence.com | Dominique Fluker

Getty Springtime is a perfect time to begin decluttering your home, given the theme of renewal and freshness. But what happens when some items you’d like to toss have special meaning or a connection to difficult memories?