The following story was told to Ava Feuer and edited for length and clarity.

If you had told me five years ago that this would be my life, I wouldn’t have believed you. Not only did I not think I deserved my relationships or accomplishments, but I also never believed I could even make those things happen for myself. Let me explain: When I was in the third grade, my parents told me that they were getting divorced. I know that their divorce wasn’t about me, but I still mark it as the first time I felt my confidence waver. I always thought they were totally fine, and the fact that I had missed whatever warning signs made me completely unsure of myself.

Unfortunately, it didn’t get much easier as I got older. When I started high school, I was super reserved and lived in constant fear of judgment. No matter what I said or did, I was afraid it would be wrong. After a few years of this, I decided to apply for an independent study — thinking it would help me perform better in school — and I ended up finishing high school from home. I graduated a year early, which was great and all, but I still wonder whether I made the right choice. From time to time, I see people who I was acquaintances with in high school, and it reminds me that I don’t really have any friends from that time. On the other hand, being alone forced me to learn to be with — and become good friends with — myself.

I was super reserved and lived in constant fear of judgment.

I’m 22 years old now. I’ve been married for three years, and my husband and I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter named Adeline. A lot of women say their confidence wavers after becoming a parent — I guess they feel that, in a way, they lose a sense of themselves — but for me, it’s been quite the opposite. As soon as I got pregnant with Adeline, I knew that I didn’t want her to feel the way I had felt about myself almost my whole life. I didn’t want her to think, I can’t do that because I’m not smart enough, or I can’t do that because I don’t have friends. In short: I didn’t want what held me back to hold her back, so I gave myself no choice but to go after what I wanted and to be happy.

It's important to me that she sees me as a confident woman, so I became very careful not to speak negatively about myself or perpetuate the idea that I wasn't good enough. I want her to always know that if you want to do something, you just have to believe in yourself and do it, because otherwise, it’s not going to happen. People can’t do that for you. You have to do it for yourself.

To be that strong, confident woman for my daughter, one major thing I had to overcome was my fear of showing people my teeth. I really tried not to open my mouth much, so I either kept quiet or looked down when I spoke — rarely making eye contact. I know it was probably in my head, but I felt like everybody’s eyes went straight to my teeth. So when I saw a social media ad for SmileDirectClub invisible aligners, I immediately started to figure out how we could swing it. From start to finish, my teeth were straight in just four months. Now, I’ve started making eye contact when I talk to people — whether that be to prospective friends, clients at the kids' hair salon where I’m a manager, or store owners I approach to sell Adeline’s Bow Line, my collection of children's clothes and accessories. I don’t know whether it was my confidence coming through or what, but I was able to access my inner positive voices instead of just the negative ones.

Turns out, putting yourself down takes up a lot of brain space, and that limits the room to actually act on your hopes and dreams.

Turns out, putting yourself down takes up a lot of brain space, and that limits the room to actually act on your hopes and dreams. It took away the power to go after what I want. When I thought I couldn’t do certain things, I figured there was no reason to try. But when I put myself in the positive mindset of believing that I can, it's so much easier to throw caution to the wind and just go for it.

I used to wonder, If I post this selfie, is everybody going to think I’m obsessed with myself? But no, it’s okay. I’m allowed to like myself. It’s good to be humble, but no one should frown upon people being confident in themselves. Celebrating myself and my success doesn’t mean I have some sort of perfect life. I just know that even if you don’t feel like you’re enough, it’s worth acting like you are because eventually, you’ll believe it.

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Some Halloween costumes require months of planning and lots of cash to pull off. Others are as simple as following the right makeup tutorial or popping on a wig. But you don't have to shell out cash on an a cheap Party City hairpiece or an expensive, lace-front wig for your costume. You can rock plenty of pop culture costumes with your natural hair on display.

The beauty of embracing your natural texture, whether it's Afro or wavy, is that your hair can transform into almost any style you please — making it the perfect Halloween accessory. So instead of hiding (or straightening) your natural hair, consider a costume that makes your curls the center of attention.

To help plan your style for October 31, we've rounded up some easy-to-do Halloween looks that you can pull off with your God-given curls, including buns, braids, and — yes— even bonnets.

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Kanye West will not shut up. The musician has been incredibly vocal about what brands Kim Kardashian West should post on her Instagram, even going as far as having her turn down a $1 million sponsored post. He is opening up to President Donald J. Trump about apparently being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder. He's also found time to Periscope his thoughts on his IQ score, mind control, and his forthcoming album Yandhi, all live from Africa. But one thing that wasn't on West's agenda? Getting dressed up to visit the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

I welcome American entertainment stars Kanye West and @KimKardashian to Uganda. I held fruitful discussions with the duo on how to promote Uganda's tourism and the arts. I thank Kanye for the gift of white sneakers. Enjoy your time in Uganda. It is the true Pearl of Africa. pic.twitter.com/BO0iD0sFCP

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 15, 2018

While in Uganda shooting a music video West, alongside his wife and his father, former Black Panther Raymond West, toured the State House Entebbe. For the occasion, which involved meeting with Museveni and his children, Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Diana Kamuntu, to discuss promoting the country's arts and tourism, West opted to wear a pair of loose-fitting gray sweatpants and a hoodie. It was an ironic move, considering Museveni issued a ban on any drivers and motorcyclists wearing hoodies this summer. It also certainly wasn't the type of attire one might expect for meeting with a head of state — but then again, when has West ever done what everyone thinks he should?

"I welcome American entertainment stars Kanye West and Kim Kardashian to Uganda. I held fruitful discussions with the duo on how to promote Uganda's tourism and the arts. I thank Kanye for the gift of white sneakers. Enjoy your time in Uganda. It is the true Pearl of Africa," Museveni said in a tweet.

But West's attire wasn't the only thing shocking part of the visit. In addition to gifting Museveni an autographed pair of Yeezys, we wouldn't be surprised if the two discussed their shared admiration for President Trump. "America has got one of the best presidents ever. Mr. Trump. I love Trump,” Museveni said in January 2018, according to the BBC. "I love Trump because he tells Africans frankly. The Africans need to solve their problems, the Africans are weak."

West is in Africa to record Yandhi, a move he announced in an interview with TMZ earlier this month. "We have to go to what is known as Africa," West said. "We have to go and find out what it is really called and just grab the soil. And have my kids stay up in the studio. And have the mic open in the studio so you can hear nature while we are recording."

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Spooky day is fast approaching and if you haven't started on a clever D-I-Y costume yet, you're probably screwed. But hey, that's why manufacturers invited the ready-to-go, pre-packaged costumes anyway. That, and to save the poor moms around the world from having to handcraft an "epic" Captain America costume each year.

If you're the average half-committed Halloween participant — the type that isn't interested in blowing a whole paycheck on an award winning cosplay getup or investing the manual labor and creativity required for a "hilarious" homemade costume — then these picks are right up your alley. We've found costumes that hit all the proper Halloween costume buttons: mildly funny with a splash of pop-culture and a smattering of movie/tv characters that aren't overdone just yet. Best of all, they all run under $55 which is probably less than your surge pricing Uber will cost for your post-party ride home.

If you're looking to embrace the cold truth that you may never love Halloween, or you may never love the extra effort others put into it, then invest in one of these pre-packed costumes. The ghosts of your past last-minute costume panic selves will thank you for it.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Breast cancer awareness is so much more than pink ribbons, painted bras, and feather boas. Whether you've personally fought cancer or know someone who has, it's important to recognize how vital it is to use one's voice to help educate others and work towards a cure. We partnered with Novartis on its Kiss This 4 MBC (metastatic breast cancer) initiative to shed some much-needed light on individuals who are living with stage 4 MBC and sharing their unique stories with others.

Unlike less advanced stages, MBC is breast cancer that has spread to other areas in the body. And according to a 2014 study, it will affect nearly 30% of all breast cancer patients. Watch above as Maggie Kudirka, a ballerina who at age 23 was diagnosed with MBC, shares why she became an advocate — and why she'll never stop expressing herself through dance.

Help raise much-needed visibility and research funds for people living with MBC by sharing why you #KissThis4MBC on social media. For each post publicly shared with the hashtag, Novartis will donate $15 to MBC research, up to $200,000.

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Fashion month, and the industry in general, has serious steps to take before it can call itself truly inclusive. Paris Fashion Week this season felt like a step back in time: Arguably the biggest show of the week, Celine, saw just nine models of color out of 96) and there was a lack of plus-size models on the European runways.

This past season, according to The Fashion Spot, a record 91 transgender women and non-binary models walked across 229 shows. Though they still only account for 1.23% of castings, their impact continues to be felt throughout the industry. One such model challenging the status quo is Belgium-born, London-based Maxim Magnus, who fell into modeling via a friend's university project and has since starred in a Gucci campaign and walked for the likes of Alessandra Rich, Paula Knorr, and ASAI.

Following a whirlwind spring 2019 season, we chatted with Maxim about being a role model for the transgender community, her beginnings, dealing with the haters, and so much more.

Hi Maxim! Tell us how you first got into modeling.
"I fell into modeling because I was studying for my degree in fashion communications and a friend asked me to model for one of her projects. Some of my teachers then approached me and told me I should start modeling, which at the time I didn’t think was the best idea. One of my teachers then made an appointment at Linden Staub and came with me to the appointment. I haven’t left since."

You've had an amazing first year in the industry. Which shows have been highlights for you?
"I’ve walked in some shows with people who are insanely talented. My first ever show, which I also opened, was for Paula Knorr. The same season I also walked for ASAI. I’ve walked for my friend Charles Jeffrey, whose mind goes beyond anything I can explain. This season I walked my first show in Paris, which was Alessandra Rich. It was a truly amazing experience. Both she and her clothes really empower you."

You starred in Gucci's spring 2018 campaign — what was that like?
"Shooting that campaign was amazing, especially because Adam [Csoka Keller] and Eveline [Benčičová], who cast and directed it, were so amazing. They were really excited to work with me from the beginning, and vice versa. It's always been a dream of mine to work with Gucci. When the campaign was launched it almost felt surreal — like a dream. It was my first time shooting a fashion film, too."

How was your spring 2019 fashion month?
"This fashion month has been insane. Eleven-year-old Maxim would be screaming in her bedroom if she knew this was going to happen. I have been dreaming about this moment for the longest time, and as exhausting as it was, I want to do it all over again. When I’m at shows, I get butterflies in my stomach and I get so excited about all the creations coming down the catwalk. London was amazing because of the creativity and young talent that resides there. It’s where a lot of my friends are so it’s all really fun. Milan and Paris were both new to me so they were quite overwhelming, but oh so amazing! I can’t believe I got to watch Miu Miu in my first season!"

Who within the industry inspires you?
"I admire lots of people because there are so many hardworking and inspiring individuals. Anyone who goes against the grain, isn't a sheep, and dares to question things really inspires me. People who don’t get sucked into the fake side of the industry. Charles Jeffrey, Matty Bovan, Adwoa Aboah..."

You're a role model for young trans people — how have you chosen to use your platform?
"The best way to educate people and to reach out to people is by being honest, by telling my story and telling the whole truth. It’s easy, especially when there are people giving you backlash, to start an angry conversation to prove your point. But at the end of the day, that’s not going to benefit anyone. I think it’s so important to use your platform for something great. Even though I went through hell, I have been so privileged to have had the upbringing I did and to be able to do amazing things, that I feel I owe it to the world and to my community to speak up and tell my story. I believe that by doing it in such a way, it will educate so many people, and I always say, if I’ve impacted one person, that’s already enough, because that person will then inspire someone else, and it will be a chain."

Did you have any trans role models growing up?
"I think the biggest inspiration for me was Gigi Gorgeous. Her honesty and strength made me feel like I wasn’t alone, and that’s so important in this world. In the fashion, it would be Andreja Pejić, who made history for transgender individuals in the industry. I’ve now had the chance to spend some time with her [Magnus walked the Green Carpet Fashion Awards in Milan with Pejić in September] and she has such a beautiful soul."

Do you think the industry is becoming more diverse and accepting?
"I definitely think it is becoming more diverse and accepting, but the rate at which it's happening is far too slow. It shouldn’t be a trend to be diverse — it should be incorporated into the industry as a whole, and that’s something the industry hasn’t fully grasped yet. From the outside, it can seem like a very open and accepting industry, but it certainly doesn’t always feel like that from the inside. I have been on shoots where the team has misgendered me on multiple occasions, which is something that shouldn’t happen."

What do you wish more people knew about being trans?
"That you don’t become trans and that it’s not a choice. I don’t expect people to understand what we’re going through, but the least people can do is respect us for what we have to go through, as we didn’t choose this path."

You have a lot of followers, which can often mean trolls — how do you handle online abuse?
"I don’t engage with them, which I think is the best way to do it. I think you can always tell the difference between someone who is being malicious and someone who is misinformed. When the person isn’t educated properly, I always try and have a calm conversation and try to explain stuff, but when they are just being mean, I delete the comment and move on. I care less when people are being malicious towards me, but when I see someone hating on others, that’s when I comment back."

What's up next for you?
" I’m still so young and so many crazy things are ahead of me. I’m currently trying to figure out what my next step will be, but I definitely think we have an exciting year coming up. If I look back at my first year in the industry, so many amazing things have already happened, and I can only be excited for what’s next."

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Hot tools — blowdryers, curling irons, straighteners, and the like — are seasonal in nature. Many of us stow our curling wands and dryers in the darkest corner of our bathroom cabinets, left untouched all summer. Then all of a sudden, it's a brisk Saturday with zero chance your hair will air-dry in time for dinner, so you dust off your dryer, praying it still works, and plug back into your cold weather routine.

If it doesn't work, or you've come to the realization that both your hairdryer and curling iron might need an upgrade, then it's probably high time for a seasonal restock. Sound like you? Then head over to Ulta Beauty because it has the hook up.

Check out all the hot new styling tools that you missed while air-drying all summer, ahead.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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If you yourself haven't played Fortnite by now (or watched over your roomate's shoulder), you've certainly encountered one of its many viral dance moves. (The word "flossing" no longer applies just to teeth.) Fortnite is everywhere: It has exceeded $1 billion in sales and, apparently, has caused the divorces of at least 200 couples in the UK. And it's not going anywhere. So what better way to jump on the bandwagon than to rep your fave characters this Halloween?

Whether as a skin (the name for the different outfits you can dress your characters in), a bush, or a llama, here's how you can join in the Fortnite fun with these easy DIY Fortnite Halloween costumes.

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Fact: It's time to stop overlooking your socks. Gone are the days of socks being nothing but the practical lining between you and your shoes. After popping up on what feels like every single runway this season — from sheer knee socks at Prada to tie-dye ankle socks at Collina Strada — it's safe to say that hosiery is one accessory you don't want to overlook. So before you stock up on bargain packs of boring basics for the cold weather ahead, try giving a pair with a little more oomph a go.

When it comes to socks, there's no limit to the possibilities. And brands agree. From fast-fashion go-to's like & Other Stories to high-end wonders like Gucci, you'll find countless pairs of amazing socks in varying fabrics, prints, and textures. Sure, knitwear is deserving of all the love it gets this time of year (they don't call it #sweaterweather for nothing), but that isn't exclusive to sweaters.

Next time you slip on a loafer, boot, or even a sandal, try adding one of the fun socks ahead to the mix. See, a little thing can go a long way.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Bigger, more expensive home buys (like furniture) might be apartment essentials, but they aren't what pull a space together; it's the little things that truly make a space special. Achieving an apartment atmosphere that oozes effortless luxury can be as easy as expertly placing a few unique and affordable items. And you even don't have to go thrift shopping in order to find them.

From velvet throw pillows to funky ceramic planters, bohemian baskets, croissant-shaped catchalls, and more, we've rounded up 29 home goods (all for under $29) that will add flourishes of personality to any space. Scroll ahead for polished and whimsical decor finds that you might as well have discovered inside the depths of a flea market, on your favorite vintage shop's shelves, or buried upstairs in your grandmother's attic.

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It's official: We can't get enough of Lady Gaga (not news, but worth a reminder). Not only is she busy advocating for women and promoting one of the year's most buzz-worthy films, but she somehow also found time to get engaged to Hollywood talent agent, Christian Carino. And boy, did he do her right with the ring. A pink oval diamond — which, I might add, is the size of an old-school piece of Dubble Bubble — surrounded by a dozen colorless diamonds. Oh, and according to what Kathryn Money, VP of strategy and merchandising at Brilliant Earth told Page Six, that pink diamond "weighs in at between 11 and 13 carats" and could easily cost "over $1 million." Dare we say more?

To honor this generation's Queen of Pop and her big news, we've rounded up the best 12 pink engagement rings on the market. From sapphires to morganite to diamonds, millennial pink is officially making a splash in the wide world of weddings. And since a million dollars is a little more than most of us spend on jewelry (even of the engagement kind), the rings ahead all go for four figures or less. Sure, traditional rings have their perks, but we're ready to take notes from Gaga herself and opt for something way less expected.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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As she becomes more serious about running for president in 2020, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is attempting to clear the air about her Native American ancestry after President Donald Trump's constant racist taunts calling her "Pocahontas"  by taking a DNA test. But the Cherokee Nation has called her efforts to prove her heritage "inappropriate and wrong."

On Monday, Sen. Warren released a video in which Stanford geneticist Carlos Bustamante tells her "the facts suggest that you absolutely have a Native American ancestor in your pedigree," with estimates ranging from 1/64th to 1/1024th.

Trump, of course, paid no attention to the facts and continued to call her the racist name. "Pocahontas (the bad version), sometimes referred to as Elizabeth Warren, is getting slammed," he tweeted Tuesday. "She took a bogus DNA test and it showed that she may be 1/1024, far less than the average American. Now Cherokee Nation denies her, 'DNA test is useless.' Even they don't want her. Phony!"

My family (including Fox News-watchers) sat together and talked about what they think of @realDonaldTrump’s attacks on our heritage. And yes, a famous geneticist analyzed my DNA and concluded that it contains Native American ancestry. pic.twitter.com/r3SNzP22f8

— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) October 15, 2018

He continued: "Now that her claims of being of Indian heritage have turned out to be a scam and a lie, Elizabeth Warren should apologize for perpetrating this fraud against the American Public. Harvard called her 'a person of color' (amazing con), and would not have taken her otherwise!" In Sen. Warren's video, professors and students from Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania law schools refute Trump's allegation that she used her ancestry to get ahead. Although she checked the box on some official forms, there's no evidence that Sen. Warren was hired anywhere due to her heritage.

The bigger problem, though, isn't Trump's statements — he will continue talking whether or not she responds. Now that she's taken the DNA test, she's being criticized for playing into America's racial essentialism, which Trump uses to create partisan distraction. See: the racist birther theory about President Barack Obama he kept up well into the 2016 election.

Another sign Sen. Warren's move was miscalculated is the Cherokee Nation's criticism. "Sovereign tribal nations set their own legal requirements for citizenship, and while DNA tests can be used to determine lineage, such as paternity to an individual, it is not evidence for tribal affiliation," the Cherokee Nation’s secretary of state Chuck Hoskin, Jr. said in a statement on Monday. "Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong."

He continued: "It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonoring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, whose ancestors are well documented and whose heritage is proven. Sen. Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage."

In the video she released, Sen. Warren says: "I'm not enrolled in a tribe, and only tribes determine tribal citizenship. I understand and respect that distinction, but my family history is my family history."

But others argue that by bringing DNA into the picture at all, Sen. Warren is using her white privilege to define her identity. "For Elizabeth Warren to center a Native American ancestry test as the next move in her fight with Republicans is to make yet another strike — even if unintended — against tribal sovereignty," Kim TallBear, associate professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies, said in a statement, pointing out that Sen. Warren has not met with Cherokee Nation members who have challenged her claims. "This shows that she focuses on and actually privileges DNA company definitions in this debate, which are ultimately settler-colonial definitions of who is Indigenous."

after too many media inquiries, here is my statement on the #ElizabethWarren DNA testing story. pic.twitter.com/cqD8PQqI0N

— Kim TallBear (@KimTallBear) October 15, 2018

As a small silver lining to this embarrassing fiasco, the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC) has received an influx of donations thanks to Sen. Warren.

In July, Trump said he'd give $1 million to Sen. Warren's "favorite charity, if you take the test and it shows you're an Indian." After she completed the DNA test, Sen. Warren took him up on it, tweeting that he should send his check to the NIWRC, a nonpartisan organization working to end gender-based violence against indigenous women.

Princella RedCorn, communications officer at NIWRC, told Refinery29 that there has been a huge increase in donations since Monday, although she could not specify the exact number — mostly small, individual gifts. None from the president, however.

"We will continue to do this lifesaving work with or without the President's donation," NIWRC board chairwoman Cherrah Giles said in a statement. The organization said that while the conversation has centered around Sen. Warren's ancestry claims, it would be more worthwhile to focus on the high levels of sexual and intimate partner violence indigenous women experience. According to a May 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice, 56.1% have experienced sexual violence and 
55.5% have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner.

"We appreciate Senator Warren's push to bring awareness to violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and families, who all too often are invisible to most Americans. As marginalized communities, we often struggle to bring tribal interests to the center of the debate."

By the way, @realDonaldTrump: Remember saying on 7/5 that you’d give $1M to a charity of my choice if my DNA showed Native American ancestry? I remember – and here's the verdict. Please send the check to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: https://t.co/I6YQ9hf7Tv pic.twitter.com/J4gBamaeeo

— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) October 15, 2018

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When Halloween movie marathons roll around every October, we have to wonder: When did gratuitous gore become the norm for scary movies? How did carnage get conflated with creepy? And what exactly is it about blood and guts that's supposed to be so terrifying, anyway?

We decided to dig up the most frightening gore-free films we could find. And you know what we discovered? When you strip away shock-value violence from the genre, an impressive trove of genuinely well-made fright-fests remain. These scary movies range from seminal classics like Rosemary's Baby to more modern fare like Paranormal Activity. (That's right, folks, there's more to modern horror than Saw!) Packed with psychological thrills and masterful suspense sequences, these 16 films are bloodcurdling, not blood-filled. (We can’t promise they won’t make you queasy, though. A truly terrifying film will do that to you, anyway.)

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Between Wild Wild Country and the endlessly disturbing details of the NXIVM bust, cults are dominating the mainstream news cycle in a way they haven't since 1969. And yet, provided you're not breaking any laws, having a "cult following" remains a very good, generally benign thing.

That is exactly what Sunday Riley has — a breathless legion of devoted fans and Sephora VIBs who worship the smart, high-performance skin-care line as if it's the only one on earth. The brand (which is named after a real person, by the way; she just prefers to stay behind-the-scenes at the company) has 224,000 followers on Instagram with just 13 individual products, which is no small feat for an independent company based out of Houston, Texas.

While we can't possibly confirm whether or not the lineup will work for your skin, we can say that all 13 are worth giving a shot, if only to size up their five-star reputations for yourself. So what are you waiting for? Maybe it's time to join the cult.

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Gillian Jacobs might be known best for embodying complicated, polarizing characters, from the overall-wearing Mickey in Netflix's Love to the self-righteous Britta in Community. But truly, it might be the Jacobs behind her Shatterbox film Curated that truly freaks us out.

The premise: Nancy, the protagonist, and her husband take a trip to pick up a few items at her late grandmother's estate, where they meet a curator who gives them a rather long — and unsettling — tour of the house.

The tour gradually gets stranger and stranger (human fingernails are involved), until it hits a grotesque peak. No spoilers, but basically, per Jacobs, "The film is about inheritance and a grandmother passing along her house and an identity, where the two people who entered aren’t going to leave."

The story is inspired by Jacobs' homebody maternal grandmother, who loved her family but felt a special, powerful loyalty to her house.

“People would stay at my grandmother’s house from around the world and leave objects, clothes, and musical instruments," Jacobs said. "You would think she was a world traveler, but she never left the house.”

Jacobs spun her “kitchen sink family drama into a thriller piece," she said, but the early stages of the film centered solely on the character of the grandmother. With a shared love for creepy and odd stories, she collaborated with writer Amelia Gray to create this horror piece.

“Amelia was able to fictionalize my grandmother and the world and make it different enough and far enough way to make a more interesting short film rather than just a biography," Jacobs said.

Directing a short horror film might seem like a far jump from Jacobs' past comedic work in Love and Community, but Jacobs absorbed her knowledge from thousands of hours on set. "I’ve seen things go well and things go poorly. If you’re paying attention and you’re really trying to take in the set as a whole, you can learn a lot. It’s a pretty great way to learn about filmmaking as a whole," Jacobs said.

It also helped to have women by her side. Jacobs’s manager Jill Kaplan, who is also a producer of the film, was one of the first people to push her to pursue this project. “Having other women in your life who really believe in you and see your potential and push you past your fear and discomfort has been incredibly meaningful and helpful to me,” Jacobs said.

On her Shatterbox set, Jacobs collaborated with women in all areas, including colorist Laura Jans-Fazio ( Mr. Robot, A Series of Unfortunate Events) from EFilm. “Gillian’s great to work with. She’s smart, fun, and has a communicative approach to the collaborative film making process," Jans-Fazio said.

“You see certain jobs that women do a lot: script supervisors, [or work in the] hair/makeup department. It’s much more rare to see a female grip, but women are capable of all of these positions. There was a female director [named] Dorothy Arzner who helped invent the boom mic. I relish the opportunity to work with women, and it was really fun to look around and see roles that women don’t really play," Jacobs said.

Jacobs studied female filmmakers from the early 20th century, and she recognizes that women contributing new ideas and learning diverse roles in the production world isn't a new thing. Women have been on set since the beginning of cinema, and Shatterbox gave her an opportunity to see it in action.

Watch Gillian Jacobs' Shatterbox film, Curated , above.

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When it comes to fall footwear, boots always seem to take the cake. From Western-inspired styles to polished block heels, the sheer range of the shoe is enough to keep them on our feet all season long. That said, we tapped R29's own senior fashion market editor Alyssa Coscarelli to show off how she styles boots from ALDO 's fall collection — taking her looks to new heights and making them completely her own. Think: classic black booties paired with a belted blazer dress, warm suede zip-ups with complementary neutral layers, and square-toe heels with a textured maxi-dress and patterned turtleneck. Watch how it all goes down above, and see for yourself how these boots were made for styling.

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Halloween costumes are like prom dresses. Chances are: You only ever wear them once. And yet, that doesn't seem to get in the way of people forking over serious cash for something they are going to sport for a single evening of revelry. (The wonders of consumer culture never cease to amaze, right?)

So what might a couple hundred bucks buy from this year's online costume rack? You could drop a ton of dough to dress up like Harley Quinn, since, like Hansel, she's so hot right now. Or maybe a Storm Trooper ensemble is more your style? You're in luck. You can get one at Target for a cool $1000. On the fairytale side of things, it is possible to purchase a replica of the silk gown Cinderella wore to the ball for $950. If none of these are meeting your costume needs, don't sweat it. There are plenty more where those came from. Just take a look.

Need more costume ideas for Halloween? Looking for spooky (and amazing) makeup inspiration? Chat with us on Facebook Messenger!

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There are few things in this world that scared us more than seeing Bill Skarsgård transform into Pennywise in 2017's It. But, while some people went to see the new iteration of the classic Stephen King novel just to judge it against the 1990 film, we went for a completely different reason: the Halloween beauty inspiration.

With the big night only a month away, we're eager to lock down a killer costume ASAP, and let's face it: Pennywise is (still) this year's Harley Quinn. There's something so creepy about the red-stained grin and fiery hair that makes it the perfect costume. But how can you stand out amongst a sea of clowns? Luckily, a handful of horror film fans have shown off their It looks on Instagram — and the results are almost as terrifying as the actual movie. Even better, each one is unique from the next.

Click ahead to check out the coolest Pennywise beauty looks. Just don't expect your friends to want to spend a whole lot of time with you should you dare to try one.

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If we could turn back time, we'd explain to Andre 3000 that what's actually cooler than being cool is being warm. While we're already regretting the heat-driven complaints we made up until just last month, there's no turning back from the arrival of fall. Weather grievances aside, we'll grasp any excuse for a closet overhaul, and what better way to celebrate that than with a genuinely good sale.

Need Supply 's Family and Friends sale just kicked off and it's taking 20% off everything. From new Ganni dresses to Adidas top-selling sneakers, the latest from Maryam Nassir Zadeh to Need Supply's in-house price-conscious brand Farrow, it's as close to a free for all fall arrivals sale as you can get. There's no time like the present to finally pick up that fuzzy coat or oversized sweater you've been thinking about.

Until Friday, October 19, use the code 20FORYOU to save 20% sitewide at Need Supply.

Your closet's not going to fill itself so allons-y! Shop the top 35 fall friendly picks we're buying ahead.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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For some, a lipstick is just a lipstick. But for others, it's a source of strength, creativity, and expression. In our series Power Faces, we'll explore the relationship between strong women and the makeup they choose to wear — or not. Our latest subject is Olympic sprinter Queen Harrison. This story was told to Jessica Cruel and edited for length and clarity.

I started running in middle school when we first moved to Virginia from upstate New York. I would put cute cheerleading ribbons in my hair, or wear high socks, just to stand out. Around my sophomore year of college is when I started wearing more makeup. At first, it was a little mascara and filling my brows in, then it was pink lipstick, and when I went pro, I was like, I’m wearing lipstick and winged liner when I race — and I got quite a bit of flack about it.

Other than FloJo back in the ‘80s, there were no women who were wearing makeup because it was looked at like, "You’re not taking this seriously. You shouldn’t care what you look like. It should just be about the performance." To me, I adopted, You look good, you feel good, you perform good. My goal is not to see how much makeup I can pound on my face to be noticed; it’s really about what makes me feel beautiful and fierce when I look in the mirror.

Leading The Pack

My pre-race ritual involves a lot of music, because music really gets me in my zone. I just take my time and experiment as I’m getting ready; it takes my mind off of the race so I’m not getting antsy or overanalyzing what I need to do on the track. Some people may think it’s a distraction when, in reality, focusing only on the race can start to make you nervous.

When I get to these track meets, I've done all the work and all I need to do is focus on executing and looking good while I’m doing it. I don't wear makeup every day. Sometimes, just putting my natural face forward is my power face, but you won’t ever catch me at a meet without makeup. It’s part of my uniform now, and it’s a performance. You’d never see Beyoncé at a performance with no makeup on.

I actually felt like it made [other girls on the line] underestimate me. It made them think, "Oh, she is just so worried about looking cute." Then I would win, and I’d still look cute. Then, next thing you know, you start seeing a couple girls wearing lipstick. It’s funny how it’s evolved now.

The Long Run

My goal right now, as a track and field athlete, is to break into the beauty realm where a lot of female athletes aren’t represented; we’re always left out of that conversation. That actually led to me having my own hair extensions line, Queenly Textures. There are so many hair companies now, but I’ve decided Queenly Textures will be marketed to the active woman. Women are multifaceted. We can still care about our hair and our appearance and still get 'ish done. I’ve always said I wanted to own a beauty salon and spa down the line, so I said, "Why don’t we get it started now and start moving in that direction."

Infiltrating the beauty world as an athlete is really important to me. If it means my looks on the track are going to have to keep going viral, then that is what we’ll do. I’ll keep running fast and. hopefully, I will bring track and field into pop culture, which is really the ultimate goal.

Inside Track

Lebron [James] said it really well when he said, "I am more than an athlete." I’ve always embraced that being elite in track and field is part of me, but it's not everything I am. I was doing a lot of things before I became an Olympian, and I’m going to be doing a lot of things after.

For women in sports, there is a lot of trying to control what is right for a female athlete to do. Are you going to complain about the size of our uniforms? If I don’t want to wear the uniform, are you going to say I’m a prude? If I have makeup on, are you going to say she’s not focused on track? If I don’t wear makeup, are you going to say she is not one of the sexy athletes? It’s always a policing of what a female athlete is supposed to be and look like.

A lot of times, women athletes are leery of showing their other sides out of fear of someone saying, "Just shut up and run track." I got to the point where I was comfortable enough to say, "If you want to get to know the track Queen, you are going to learn about Queen period. You’re going to see an eyeliner picture and an outfit picture the same as you’re going to see a racing picture."

I always try to show people it’s ok to be everything you want to be. There are no limits. If you want to be a track athlete, you can also be beauty obsessed. If you are an athlete and you want to do music, you can. If you are a dentist and want to wear lipstick to work, even though you are wearing that mask over your mouth, you can do what you want. I just plan on being the best version of myself. It’s not about what anyone else decides is the best — it’s what I decide.

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