No! It was the elimination we were dreading. Michael Yerger, one of Survivor: Ghost Island's most likable players, was voted out of the game much to the dismay of fans around the country. The pain is real.

No sweat, though. It seems like he is a likely candidate to play the game again as Jeff Probst told EW.com he would "invite him back in a minute." His fans are seriously sad to see him go that there's already a fan-made petition to get him back on the show. Michael wants another shot, too. Badly. During our one-on-one interview, Michael explained why he stopped looking for hidden Immunity Idols despite his head being on the chopping block and discussed why Chelsea is playing a bigger game than anybody realizes. Plus, he told a great story about fans recognizing him on the beach during a modeling photo shoot.

SheKnows: It was heartbreaking to watch your elimination because you're such a smart player. What was it like for you watching that moment on TV?

Michael Yerger: It was great. Of course I was not looking forward to the boot because that's the end of the road for me and the million. Of course it's heartbreaking for me as well. I was with good company with Chris Noble and Desire Afuye [watching the episode.] We had a good time reminiscing and talking back about things. It was a great episode. I thought it was an exciting Tribal. I was pleased with the way I went out. I'm there to win. I'm there to compete and play hard. I wasn't excited to get the boot.

SK: Going into that Tribal Council, did you think there was any chance you might escape the vote?

MY: I was feeling, honestly, pretty confident. I thought we had something going. I had conversations with Laurel and Kellyn. I had sold Kellyn on the Idol thing, and I thought they were both really ready to take a shot at Wendell to blindside him and flush an Idol. I thought it was time, and they also sold me on it. I was feeling good. I also knew Tribal is live, and Dom loves Tribal. He always saves the good stuff for Tribal. I definitely had some fear in me still, but I didn't think it would go the way that it did.

More:  Survivor's Desiree Afuye discusses the game's biggest threats

SK: There was a twist in this episode that forced a double elimination. When I saw the group you were up against, it was obvious you would be the prime target. Were you thinking the same thing?

MY: 100 percent. The hardest part was watching that challenge because I literally felt like it was built for me. Some of the balance things, I'm not great at. This was a little bit more of brute strength and endurance type of thing. I was excited. Then I was like second out and it was so depressing [laughs.] It was frustrating to watch back. You're totally right, I knew from that moment I was screwed to be with that group.

SK: You had been hunting and finding hidden Immunity Idols all season. Were you still actively searching for an Idol before going to that Tribal Council?

MY: After Donathan found that Idol, I honestly did not think there would be another Idol out there. I thought they would regenerate one later. I didn't think the one Dom had found would be out there. I was not searching for Idols after Donathan had found his. Of course I was searching at the same time he did, but came up short. After that I had kind of written off Idols and was really trying to work my social and strategic aspects of the game.

SK: If you had survived the vote and Laurel went home instead, what was your next move?

MY: I would've really worked the Naviti crowd. Having Laurel gone with so few Malolo, I think the Navitis would finally wise up and really take into account that now we need to do something to actually set ourselves up to win the game. I think I would've had a plethora of options at that point to at least take out one of them before I was the next biggest target. Hopefully they would see the value in numbers and me being powerless. As far as going to the final three, I would've been fine taking Donathan or Laurel or Jenna or Kellyn or Sebastian. If we were able to get some of these bigger players out early enough when the time was right, I had the best shot at winning if I could just guarantee I was with two other people who thought they could beat me.

SK: Tell us about Jenna. Others have said they wanted to take her to the final vote because she would be easy to beat. Do you agree with that?

MY: I disagree. I would say that Sebastian or Angela would definitely be easier to beat than Jenna. She went through tribe swaps. She was on the losing end with Malolo for a long time, so she's an underdog to a certain extent. I think she played an exceptional social game. They really didn't showcase much of it, but she really got along well with everyone. She was not very outspoken. She's very calm, cool and collected, and really flew under the radar for a lot of people. I think she would've had a lot stronger pitch at final Tribal than people think. Someone like Angela really never knew what the vote was going to be. She never wrote down the right name and was completely out of the loop. She was sporadic and all of her moves were unaimed. I think she would've been a no-brainer. Sebastian maybe talked game five minutes his entire time out there.

SK: We haven't seen much of Chelsea's game. What is your take on her? Does she deserve this lacking edit?

MY: I think that she's playing a bigger game than people think because she's so silent and hidden in her moves. Her conversations are quick, to the point and hidden. They're with the same couple people, which of course is not great because she's taking orders at times rather than influencing things. She really is doing more than the TV is showing.

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SK: On the flip side, Domenick and Wendell are two very visible power players. What is the difference between them?

MY: That's a great question. I'm glad you asked that because they're both playing exceptional games. They're both in the same power position and have different types of relationships. They both have Idols with physical wins. They've got pretty much the same chart, so it's an even fight and a great power duo to protect each other for the time being. They're in a great spot. Dom is very outspoken. He's loud. He's funny. He's friendly. He really jokes around with people, gets along and tells great stories. He's just a lot of fun. He really attracts people like that, and people gravitate toward him. Somebody like Wendell is more calm, quiet and kind of goes off to himself a lot. He's a little bit more mysterious. He's very charismatic and smooth, but they're both playing exceptional social games in different ways. I think Dom has a lot more pull. He's playing a lot harder of a strategic game, and he's really on 100 like all the time. He sleeps, eats, breathes, drinks Survivor and he's just giving it everything out there. They're both playing great, and it's going to be exciting to see how things work out for them.

SK: Fans seem to adore you. Are you getting recognized and do you have any crazy fan stories?

MY: In LA everybody is doing something and there's a lot going on, so it's not really as much of a thing there. As I've traveled and gone different places, I've had some really fun and unique experiences and met some awesome people to talk Survivor and give some hugs. That's been really fun for me. Being a fan for so long, it's awesome to get to interact and be on the other end of things. I've had an amazing time. As far as a crazy experience, I was in Santa Monica on a modeling job. We were on the beach with some swimwear stuff. We had the lighting set up and everything when some girl and her friend just ran into the middle of set while everything was being shot. They just started jumping around and being all excited. She had apparently run a Survivor fantasy league for a few seasons in a row. It was so sweet. She was just super excited and amped up to meet a player in person. That was really fun.

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SK: How did you get on the show?

MY: I applied. I've watched since I was 8. For over 10 years I've been waiting until I could apply legally [laughs.] As soon as I turned 18 and they were casting, I sent in a video and heard back. It was really a dream come true.

SK: Would you play again?

MY: I 100 percent would. I've got a lot more game in me and a lot more to give. I want to win.

SK: Since you're such a big fan, who do you think is the best player ever and what's your favorite season?

MY: Oh, man. I really want to stick to what I said at the start of the season. I love Denise from Philippines. She's one of my all-time favorites. I love Malcolm, too. That pair, that duo to me, is one of my favorites of all time. As far as seasons go, I just loved Heroes Vs. Villains. Seeing all the players I had grown up watching all together duking it out, it was such a hard, intense season.

Do you want Michael to play the game again? Join the conversation by leaving a comment in the section below.

It's an exciting time to be Cheryl Burke. The dancer might be having the best birthday right now thanks to what happened on the day of her at-home celebration, Thursday, May 3. You see, after posting photos on her Instagram story that show her preparing for a fun birthday staycation, complete with family, friends and lots of soft pretzels, she got one final present from her boyfriend, actor Matthew Lawrence: an engagement ring.

More: All the Hollywood Couples Who Are Engaged Right Now

On her Instagram, Burke posted the following photo set that shows just how happy and surprised she was with the engagement. Unfortunately, she didn't post any video of the actual engagement as it happened, but the reaction says more than enough about how she feels.

"OMG! So far so good for 34!" she captioned the photo, using the hashtags "#amilliontimesyes," "#imengaged" and "#herecomesthebride." Okay, we're totally into this — these two are so cute!

According to People magazine, the engagement comes after the couple reunited in February 2017 after close to a decade apart. They initially met in 2006, when Lawrence's older brother, Joey Lawrence, was a contestant on Dancing With the Stars, which featured Burke at the time. The couple officially began dating in 2007 and only made it to the one-year mark before splitting up in 2008.

More: DWTS' Cheryl Burke & Ex Matthew Lawrence Are Giving Love a Second Chance

Since the couple reunited in 2017, it's been an incredibly loving relationship. The pair frequently post adorable couple's photos on their respective Instagrams, showing the world just how happy they are in each other's company. It looks like the second time has actually been the charm for these two, if we're being honest, and Burke felt that way, too, when she spoke to People in September 2017 about their relationship in 2007 versus their relationship in 2017.

'When we first dated, we were both young and immature, and I was so new to this world," she explained in regards to why things didn't initially work. "Now we are both adults and feel balanced."

More: Cheryl Burke Is Headed to Dance Moms, So Expect the Dance Routines to Get Better

There's no word yet on any kind of wedding plans (they've only been engaged for a day, people!) but you know we'll be keeping a close eye on these two as things come together. It's been a long and winding road to happily ever after for Burke and Lawrence and it's nice to see them enjoying every moment of it, together.

You know that the road to better health is, sadly, not paved with ice cream and lattes and that a lot of good nutrition comes from foods that come directly from the ground. And yes, there are scads of great nutrients in a lot of the healthy foods we eat. There is one component that has a positive impact on our health despite the fact that we don't really digest it — fiber. Let's take a look at why fiber is so awesome and where we can find it.

All about fiber

Fiber is a certain type of carbohydrate that is found in plant-based foods. It is formed by solid bonds between a ton of sugar molecules, which means it's hard to break down and digest. However, while this sounds like it's a perfectly pointless thing to consume, it has loads of benefits to the human body — yes, really.

There are actually two types of fiber — soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water (hence the name) and forms a gel-like substance in the stomach, and even though this sounds disgusting, you definitely need soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, passes through your guts pretty much intact. The best part is that fiber-rich foods usually contain both types of fiber, so you don't need to pick and choose to make sure you're getting enough of both.

Why is fiber so damn good for us?

SheKnows spoke with Dr. Morton Tavel, a physician and clinical professor emeritus of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, to get some more insight on this nutritional beast that we can find in some of our favorite foods. Here are some of the ways fiber can and will benefit our bodies.

Reduces cholesterol. Fiber helps block intestinal bile acids that promote fat absorption, which means that you're less likely to absorb dietary fat and cholesterol, Tavel explains. This can help lower low-density lipoprotein (also known as LDL, or bad cholesterol) levels in your blood.

Helps you feel full

Consuming more fiber can lead to better weight control, Tavel says, as it naturally helps you eat less and feel full for a longer period of time.

Can help prevent diabetes

Fiber, in addition to blocking fat and cholesterol, also slows the absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream. According to Tavel, this has a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels, as they rise more slowly and allow the pancreas more time to react with its production of insulin.

Gets your poop moving

Fiber can help bulk up your stool, which sounds awful, but it's actually a good thing, especially since fiber also helps speed up the movement of food (and poop) through your digestive system, Tavel says. This can lead to amazing poop sessions and can prevent constipation.

More: Five Lifestyle Habits That Can Reportedly Make You Live Longer

Where can you find fiber?

Fiber is in a ton of your favorite foods. Food that comes from the ground is the most likely spot you'll find it, but there are processed foods that do have some. However, your best bets are fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, and make sure you eat enough. Women should shoot for 21 to 25 grams per day, while men should target a bit more — 30 to 38 grams each day.

Fruits that are high in fiber:

• Raspberries (8 grams)
• Pears (5.5 grams)
• Cranberries (4.6 grams)
• Oranges (3 grams)
• Strawberries (2.8 grams)

Legumes that are high in fiber:

• Navy beans (19 grams)
• Dried peas (16 grams)
• Lentils (15.6 grams)
• Pinto beans (15 grams)
• Black beans (15 grams)
• Kidney beans (12 grams)

Grains that are high in fiber:

• Barley (10.6 grams)
• Wheat (8 grams)

Veggies that are high in fiber:

• Collard greens (7 grams)
• Winter squash (5.7 grams)
• Broccoli (5 grams)
• Spinach (4.3 grams)
• Green beans (4 grams)
• Cabbage (4 grams)
• Carrots (3.4 grams)

More: What to Eat If You're Going Through Perimenopause

If you eat some of these high-fiber foods, it doesn't take long to get your fill for the day. Your belly and your body (and your poop!) will be happier if you keep that fiber train coming.

Jessica Biel is a very busy woman right now. For the actor, mom and wife, 2018 has meant balancing the success of her USA Network show, The Sinner, with finding time to raise her son, Silas, and cheering on her husband, Justin Timberlake, at key events in his life like his Man of the Woods tour and recently receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The mere thought of juggling this kind of schedule can sound overwhelming even to those who consider themselves "go-getters," so how does Biel maintain balance in her life?

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As she explained to SheKnows over the phone in April, "I think that’s, like, the ongoing struggle, isn’t it? Trying to find that balance. I think as I get older, I have less and less time, and my body’s changing and everything. I absolutely fall back on self-care. That is just so important to be able to take time out of your busy schedule to do that."

And Biel gave us the best tip for how to make self-care happen when it feels like you barely have a moment to rest. "I think you also just have to put it on your calendar. You just literally have to pencil it in, 'This is my time for me. This is my time for my family. This is my time to go on a date night or be with my son,' or whatever. You literally have to put it on your calendar and then, hopefully, it becomes habitual and just starts happening more regularly."

Biel also gave us the scoop on which self-care rituals and activities she uses to unwind. "I love bodywork and acupuncture. Massage, chiropractic care, all that stuff I love, love, love. I think it’s so helpful for the mind, for de-stressing, for everything. I really try keep on a good regimen of regular care and treatments in that way," she revealed.

Finding these moments for yourself, to make time for yourself and really soak it up, is part of the reason Biel has partnered with American Express for the Live Life Moments campaign. "I just love this campaign. I love this idea of really taking time out of our lives to make life moments a spontaneous experience where you're really in the moment," she says, continuing, "It's my life, you know? It's something that I'm trying to do on a daily basis. I fail at it all the time. But I think it's such an important, amazing platform to say, 'You know what? Everyone has their busy lives, and we're doing a million things at once, and that's important. But we're important. We're important too.'"

More: Jessica Biel & Justin Timberlake Open Up About Her Emergency C-section

Biel is one busy woman, but if there's one thing we can learn from her, it's that there is always (always!) time in your week to take a moment to be good to yourself.

The idea that along with aging chronic stress is a primary cause of our hair turning gray is accepted as conventional wisdom. We watch as presidents — most recently Barack Obama — gradually turn gray during their time in office and joke that stressful situations accelerate our graying process. But is there an actual medical reason why this happens, or is it simply one of the most visible parts of the aging process, and what we happen to notice first?

Though the science jury has been out on this particular question in the past, a new study offers some new insight into whether stress — or chronic illness — is responsible for those pesky gray (or white) hairs you constantly find yourself plucking in the bathroom mirror.

More: Now We Know What Causes Some People to Go Gray Before Others

Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the research — conducted at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Alabama, Birmingham — found a direct connection between the genes that control hair color and those that tell our bodies of an infection or illness.

Even though this connection seems like common sense to us, the finding was initially surprising to Dr. Melissa Harris, the primary author and assistant professor in the Department of Biology at UAB. "Genomic tools allow us to assess how all of the genes within our genome change their expression under different conditions, and sometimes they change in ways that we don't anticipate," she said in a statement. "We are interested in genes that affect how our stem cells are maintained over time. We like to study gray hair because it's an easy read-out of melanocyte stem cell dysfunction."

More: What Causes Gray Hair & What Happens When I Pluck Them?

These melanocyte stem cells produce the materials that are responsible for making and depositing pigment into the hair shaft. On research conducted on mice, when innate immune signaling was artificially activated on subject predisposed for getting gray hair, they ended up producing even more gray hair.

"This new discovery suggests that genes that control pigment in hair and skin also work to control the innate immune system," William Pavan, study coauthor and chief of the Genetic Disease Research Branch at the National Health Institute's National Human Genome Research Institute said in a statement. "These results may enhance our understanding of hair graying. More importantly, discovering this connection will help us understand pigmentation diseases with innate immune system involvement like vitiligo." (Vitiligo is a skin discoloration condition where patches of skin are different colors. It affects between 0.5 percent to 1 percent of all humans.)

Of course, it's important to remember that this research has only been conducted on mice (so far) and still is in early stages, but is an interesting addition to what we know about the graying process.

We're not crying at Kris Jenner's heartfelt and encouraging life update about Khloé Kardashian — you are. Jenner appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday to chat about what's happening in her life and, more importantly, to talk about the recent highs and lows in the lives of her daughters. While Jenner wasn't afraid to get candid about how her daughters, especially the new moms of the group (Kardashian, Kim Kardashian West and Kylie Jenner), she couldn't help but get a little quiver in her voice while talking about Kardashian specifically.

More: Khloé Kardashian Is Planning Her Return to Los Angeles — but Why?

When asked by DeGeneres remarked that Tristan Thompson's cheating scandal, which emerged just days before Kardashian gave birth, Jenner got a little choked up with her reply. "[It was] pretty unexpected, but Khloé is amazing. I’m so proud of that kid," Jenner continued, with the audience applauding her. "I get choked up because she’s such a good mom. Honestly, I get so emotional."

As reported by Entertainment Tonight, Jenner continued to explain to DeGeneres just how well Kardashian is holding up by opening up about the last time she went out to Cleveland to visit her daughter. "It was snowing, and she was nestled in the nursery and the baby and she’s just concentrating on that, just being a mom, her baby. That’s what her sisters are doing as well. She’s so excited about motherhood," Jenner noted. "She’s figuring it out just one day at a time and she’s just the best mom already and that baby is so cute, little True."

More: Khloé Kardashian Fans Won't Stop Trolling Tristan Thompson

Okay, if you're not getting a little emotional right now then you might either be a sentient robot or in dire need of a check-up because this sensitive admission from Jenner is really touching to hear. It's hard to feel anything but compassion for Kardashian considering the very difficult situation she's in right now. Balancing the duties of being a new, first-time mom is one big hurdle. But, to also balance life as a very public figure who also has to carefully wade through the junk that comes with allegations that your partner and father of your child cheated, which is endlessly dissected by the world, only makes this whole chapter in Kardashian's life that much tougher (we'd imagine, anyway).

But thankfully, Kardashian will always have the support of her family, an aspect of this whole thing that Jenner reminded DeGeneres of in her interview. "I think we do what we always do and that’s spring into action with love. We all hopped on a plane and flew to Cleveland, ‘cause that’s what we know to do. I’m there to support my kids no matter what happens. I just do the best I can just like anybody else would for their family. There’s a lot of us. We all get together and we do things together and we’re a force to be reckoned with."

BRB, we need to grab some tissues.

Relationships, particularly long-term ones, are a lot of things: difficult, complicated, illuminating, fulfilling, heartbreaking and joyful. After being married for nearly a decade, I would know. Three years ago, my husband and I went through the hardest year of our marriage. My mother died, my teenage brother moved in with us and both of us realized our center would not hold.

One of the major revelations I had during our struggles was that I’d spent much of our relationship trying to make my husband happy. Not by doting, necessarily, or performing large acts of love, but in subtler ways. When he was sad, I felt responsible to turn his mood around. If he wasn’t having a good day, I felt like it was my job to make his life better. But the truth was it wasn’t working.

Because it wasn’t my job.

Will Smith recently went viral for sharing a similar philosophy from his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, about relationships.

“I asked [Jada], I said, ‘What do you think was one of the biggest revelations that she had had about love?’ and she said, ‘That you cannot make another person happy,’” Smith says in the video. “You can make a person smile, you can make a person feel good, you can make a person laugh, but whether a person is happy is deeply and totally and utterly out of your control.” 

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This is what I discovered with my husband, and I wondered if other couples had experienced something similar. So I spoke with two relationship therapists, and it turns out that, yes, trying to make your partner happy leads to all kinds of unintended consequences.

“I think about it as a profound collapse in boundaries when couples are continuously trying to make each other happy at the expense of themselves,” says Kate Balestrieri, licensed clinical psychologist and executive director of Triune Therapy Group. She's noticed that oftentimes, our desire to please our partner means we’re telling little white lies that build or trying to placate them, and it can lead to us creating a false persona. That's not good if you want a strong relationship. “We’re actually denying our partner the ability to see who we really are, and that’s an impediment to true intimacy.”

Trying to make our partners happy can also have consequences for your partner's ability to do it themselves. “You want the spouse to be able to learn how to self-calm and manage their own moods,” says Lisa Bahar, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Newport Beach, California. “Otherwise, you’re robbing him of an opportunity to take care of himself.” 

More: How to Stop Obsessing Over a Past Relationship

Not to mention it can make your spouse hesitant to express their true emotions. “You’re saying to them indirectly that other [unhappy] emotions are not OK,” Balestrieri explains. They might feel a need to perform happiness for you or shut down any less-than-positive feelings. In my relationship, it led to my husband's reluctance to share his thoughts with me because I would try to "fix" whatever his issue was. What I needed to do was trust him to handle his own feelings and acknowledge that struggles were part of the human experience.

How to work on your behavior

This pattern often shows up in small ways, Balestrieri admits. She gave an example of binge-watching a TV show because that’s what you think will make your partner happy or love you more when you’d really like to be doing something else.

Balestrieri says the first step to change your behavior is to slow down and start asking yourself, “What are my needs?” Individuals who tend to be people-pleasers often aren’t skilled at identifying their own needs and so focus on their partner’s instead. She recommends the Center for Nonviolent Communication’s list of needs in order to gain language to express yourself.

Once you’ve identified what your needs are, you can start by trying to communicate them to your partner and show up more authentically. Using the TV example, this might look like saying, “I’d like to write in my journal instead of watch TV right now,” or “I’m not in the mood to watch TV. Is there something else you’d like to do?”

More: The Best Dating Apps for LGBTQ Women

Although expressing your own needs — and letting go of your attempts to control your partner's moods — might be scary at first, it won’t necessarily lead to an argument. Balestrieri says that by saying no when you mean it, you're teaching your partner that your yes is truly enthusiastic too rather than one made of obligation. That kind of guidance can be helpful for your partner.

But that doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing. This change gives both partners a chance to look at their own behavior, which can be scary, and sometimes one partner can feel like they’re being left behind. “It’s a mutual growth opportunity, but it doesn’t always happen at the same time,” Bahar says. Be patient and keep communicating your concerns, check in with your needs and pay attention to your behaviors, even if it takes a while for your partner to be totally on board.

And know that you won’t be perfect. “It’s OK to be messy when you’re learning new behavior,” Balestrieri says. That’s not an excuse to be a jerk — it’s just reality. When you inevitably screw up, investigate what happened and talk to your partner about both of your experiences so you can learn and grow from it.

The change is worth it, and you’ll notice all sorts of benefits. “It keeps the relationship alive," Bahar shares. "There’s more inspiration, there’s health and well-being… you’ll have new conversations."

I know that was true for my husband and me. It was hard, but learning that I couldn’t make my spouse happy — and that I had to focus on my own well-being instead — was worth it.

We’re both happier for it.

As if they knew you needed an end-of-week pick-me-up, Einstein Bros. just did your breakfast and lunch plans a solid by releasing six new limited-time sandwiches. Inspired by regional foods, all of them are exactly what your bagel dreams are made of.

More: Starbucks Is Adding 2 New Frappuccinos to Their Permanent Menu

First, the headliner, which will stay on the menu indefinitely: A mac and cheese bagel made with Annie’s Organic Macaroni & Cheese cooked into a potato bagel then covered in seven cheeses, including a slice of cheddar. The schmear possibilities are endless.

They’ve also created two limited-time-only Midwest-inspired sandwiches featuring the mac and cheese bagel— one with thick-cut bacon, cage-free eggs and cheddar cheese (Cheesy Mac Breakfast) and another with ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo (Cheesy Mac Lunch.)

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Their Southern-inspired limited-time-only sandwiches are the Crispy Chicken & Tater breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Breakfast is a cheesy hash brown bagel with cage-free eggs, crispy chicken breast, cheddar cheese and Country Pepper Schmear. I could not think of a better use of Country Pepper Schmear if I tried. Lunch is a cheesy hash brown bagel with crispy chicken breast, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo.

They also have Southwest breakfast and lunch sandwiches on green chili bagels. Breakfast is egg whites, turkey sausage, pepper jack cheese, tomatillo salsa and reduced-fat plain cream cheese. Lunch is turkey, bacon, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo.

The new menu items are part of their Flavors Across America series and the sandwiches can be found at participating locations starting today.

We're just a couple weeks away from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding on May 19, and the excitement is reaching fever pitch. All the details are solidified, from the venue to the guests to the kind of cake that will be served, and fans of the British royal family are getting very excited about the big day.

One might expect there to be a lot of extravagant or pricey details. The kind of wedding the royal family can arrange is on a level most folks only dream of, but knowing what we know about the kind of costs these details will incur, we have just one major question: Who is paying for the royal wedding?

More: Everything We Know About Meghan Markle & Prince Harry's Wedding So Far

Tradition dictates that the bride's family would pay for a majority of the wedding. As such, you might think that the ultra-traditional royal family would adhere to a rule like that. However, Markle comes from the world of us regular folks. Even with the earnings from her acting career and any help that her family could offer, it's tough to imagine that they could foot the entire bill for a royal wedding.

No, this time around, the tab is going to get picked up by Harry's family. Kensington Palace said in a statement in November 2017, "As was the case with the wedding of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Royal Family will pay for the core aspects of the wedding, such as the church service, the associated music, flowers, decorations, and the reception afterward."

There you have it: The royal family is paying. Well, more to the point, as Elle magazine notes, Prince Charles will likely be paying for a majority of the wedding. Harry's dad earns an estimated $27 million annually, so with the wedding's estimated cost coming in at around $690,000 (as luxury event planner Aimee Dunne told CNN Money), Prince Charles could probably handle it.

We're also forgetting a crucial detail: the royal family likely won't have to pay for every single thing. There's a chance certain companies will work with the royal family pro bono or at a reduced cost to gain exposure. But also, according to The Daily Beast, things like Champagne are provided free of charge for the occasion. Bonus: Queen Elizabeth II will likely offer up her carriage for the traditional carriage ride to the chapel as well as the use of St. George's Chapel and Frogmore House for the reception.

More: How to Watch Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Wedding

The wedding is also expected to generate millions in revenue from folks coming to the UK to participate in the royal wedding festivities — $689 million, to be exact. So, even though the royal family and, to an extent, British taxpayers will be footing the royal wedding bill, the returns will be sweet.

Besides, this is a rare, special event that we all get to participate in (in a sense) and celebrate. Regardless of the cost, it will all be worth it, don't you think?

Ryan Reynolds may seem like the epitome of the calm, cool and collected movie star, but in a recent interview with The New York Times, he spoke candidly about living with anxiety.

“I have anxiety, I’ve always had anxiety,” he told The New York Times. “Both in the lighthearted ‘I’m anxious about this’ kind of thing, and I’ve been to the depths of the darker end of the spectrum, which is not fun.”

While this may sounds like another "celebrities: They're just like us!" throwaway line of an interview, the fact that the actor and former Sexiest Man Alive was so open about living with the condition is significant. Here you have someone known for playing confident male leads and superheroes saying that underneath the facade, sometimes he's a "nervous wreck."

More: Kristen Bell Opens Up About Living with Anxiety & Depression in Powerful PSA

Reynolds refers to his early 20s as his "unhinged phase" — back when he was on a sitcom called Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.

“I was partying and just trying to make myself vanish in some way,” he told the newspaper, explaining that he would frequently wake up in the middle of the night riddled with anxiety about his future. Initially, he "self-medicated" (though didn't elaborate on which substance(s) he used), but after a few of his friends died of overdoses, he decided to give up that lifestyle, The New York Times reported.

And why does this matter? To begin with, anxiety disorders — like the one Reynolds is living with — are extremely common, affecting around 40 million adults in the U.S. (or about 18 percent of the population over the age of 18) according to Anxiety and Depression Association of America. But despite how widespread it is — and the fact that anxiety is highly treatable — only 36.9 percent of those with the condition seek treatment for it. And when someone like Reynolds — known for playing a superhero — normalizes the discussion around anxiety and mental illness, it makes it a little easier and more acceptable for the rest of us.

More: Talking About Depression Is Good — Investing in Mental Health Is Better

So, how does he deal with his anxiety on a day-to-day basis, especially with all the interviews and media appearances coming up ahead of the release of his new Deadpool movie? For starters, he said that he does a lot of his interviews in character — so it's essentially like acting again. Another coping mechanism is using the meditation app Headspace. But more than anything, he knows that as soon as he steps onstage, the anxiety will begin to melt away, he told the Times

“When the curtain opens, I turn on this knucklehead, and he kind of takes over and goes away again once I walk off set,” he said in the interview. “That’s that great self-defense mechanism. I figure if you’re going to jump off a cliff, you might as well fly.”

If you’re looking for resources for helping a friend or loved one or trying to get information about treatment for yourself, you can turn to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling them at 1-800-273-8255.

Fans of late-night TV will be intrigued to know that one host is getting a big change to the format of his show. TV Line reports that TBS is cutting the runtime of Conan O'Brien's show, Conan, from an hour to a half-hour for its 2019 season. This might feel like a bad sign for the show, but from where O'Brien sits, this decision is actually good.

More: Every TV Show That's Been Renewed in 2018 — So Far

In a statement to TV Line, O'Brien gave his reaction to TBS' announcement. "Since I inherited my Late Night show in 1993, TV has changed exponentially. I’d like to think I have evolved with many of these changes, but now it’s time to take the next leap."

That next leap, according to O'Brien, will include more comedy. "A half-hour show will give me the time to do a higher percentage of the comedy in, and out, of the studio that I love and that seems to resonate in this new digital world. It’s still going to be me hosting a very silly show, but I want segments on my half-hour program to link to digital content, deepening the experience for my younger fans, and confusing my older ones."

The reason for the cut is not immediately clear. There have been no reported issues between O'Brien and TBS or any other pressing problem that would result in such a major change to the show's format. TV Line notes that back in 2017, there were rumblings that a change like this would happen because of O'Brien's desire to pursue other projects. Now, it's finally come to pass, and O'Brien will stay diversified in his workload as he continues to host Conan.

More: Every TV Show That's Been Canceled in 2018 — So Far

Big format changes to any given show, such as moving to a later time slot, frequently seem like a bad omen. If a network tinkers with the inner workings of a show, changes to the formula can only go one of two ways — successful or not successful — and sometimes a perfectly good show can go down in quality and/or viewership as a result. But if O'Brien is finding the silver lining in this situation (to fill the show with more comedy), then we'll stay hopeful for Conan's continued success.

When's the last time you thought to yourself: "I wonder if I've had enough fiber today?"

We'll venture to guess it's been a while... or you never have. And there's no shame in that. But it is important to note that dietary fiber is much more than just a crazy term or fad that can be ignored. Eating a fiber-rich diet is extremely important and absolutely imperative to keep bodily functions running smoothly.

Yet to most of us, fiber still remains a mystery. Here's exactly what it is, how it works and why you need it.

More: 10 Tips for Getting Your Digestive Health Back on Track

What is fiber?

Fiber is the part of plant foods that your body can't digest or absorb. It is also referred to as roughage or bulk.

"By classification, fiber is considered an indigestible carbohydrate," explains board certified emergency physician and a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Dr. Elaine Rancatore.

But fiber is very different from other carbohydrates — and much lower in calories.

The benefits of fiber

Don't let the term "indigestible" throw you off. Although fiber is not digestible, it is good for the body in many ways, says naturopathic physician Wendy Wells.

"Eating fiber increases the immune system in your gut, feeds the good probiotic bacteria there, keeps the digestive lining healthy and absorbs and pulls out excess hormones, cholesterol, fat and toxins from the body," Wells says.

And pulling out those toxins is part of what make fiber so important.

"Many of the health problems we face start from a poor or sluggish digestion caused from built-up waste material in our colon," says nutrition expert Siv Sjöholm. "Fiber helps us digest and pass the foods we eat. By increasing our fiber intake, we decrease the risks of common diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity."

More: These Are the Early Signs of Digestive Problems in Women

But the benefits of fiber don't stop there. Nutrition and wellness coach Michelle Pfennighaus outlined these added bonuses:

• Fiber slows the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream to help maintain stable blood sugar levels and help prevent Type-2 diabetes.
• Fiber lowers bad LDL cholesterol and promotes heart health.
• Fiber helps keep you feeling full and satisfied and more in control of your appetite and weight.
• Fiber keeps your digestive system healthy and regular, helping you to avoid constipation and the risk of diverticulitis.
• Fiber reduces the risk of certain types of cancer, including colon and breast cancer.

The different types of fiber

There are two types of dietary fiber, and you need both.

Insoluble fiber adds the bulk needed to clean out the colon and regulate bowel movements. This fiber, or roughage, acts like a sponge. As it absorbs water, it swells inside your intestine and produces a feeling of fullness. The insoluble fiber moves through the digestive system to remove waste, toxins and materials your body doesn't need.

Soluble fiber comes from fruit, some vegetables, brown rice, beans, barley peas, lentils, oats and bran. Soluble fiber mixes with water and digestive enzymes made by the liver to create a gel. This gel works chemically to prevent and reduce the body's absorption of substances that may be harmful. It is soluble fiber that helps control blood sugar and reduces cholesterol.

More: The High-Fiber Foods You Should Be Eating More Of

How to eat more

To increase your fiber intake, try adding these foods to your diet:

• Fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, lentils
• Nuts and seeds
• Whole grains

A version of this article was originally published in April 2012.

There are a lot of reasons to be in total awe of Kelly Clarkson. She has boatloads of musical talent, she has a goofy, endearing charisma that makes her totally relatable and she's dominating television right now as one of the judges on The Voice. But at the moment, the biggest reason is Clarkson's net worth, which has recently been revealed.

More: Kelly Clarkson Has a New Look That Is Totally Bangin'

On Thursday, Elite Daily reported Clarkson's numbers. Unlike many other American Idol alums, Clarkson is sitting pretty on a pile of cash in the sum of $28 million. Pretty comfortable — and her earnings show no signs of stopping. She could return to The Voice, she's continuing to make music and she'll be hosting the 2018 Billboard Music Awards. We wouldn't be surprised if "financial domination" and "Kelly Clarkson" become synonymous, the way this trend is going.

Image: Giphy

More: Kelly Clarkson Continues to Dominate TV With a New Hosting Role

This kind of net worth is somewhat unheard of in the American Idol community, as Elite Daily emphasizes. However, that fact also manages to tell us a lot about the level of success that Clarkson has achieved since she left the show. She's the second highest-selling American Idol alum, right after Carrie Underwood. The singers' record sales total somewhere around 14 million copies and 16 million copies, respectively; Chris Daughtry, the third highest-selling artist, comes in at around 7 million copies. That seriously huge gap shows that Clarkson is incredibly profitable after eight albums, numerous tours and plenty of TV appearances.

More: 12 Things You Never Knew About Kelly Clarkson

So, say what you want about Clarkson. She'll just be sitting pretty with her mini-mountain of cash, her incredibly successful career and all the good vibes the world has to offer.

Let's face it: This isn't the dream chapter of her life Khloé Kardashian was hoping for. Multiple sources claim the brand-new mother is in "hell" thanks to the actions of baby daddy Tristan Thompson, who's been allegedly cheating on Kardashian for months. Damning photo and video evidence emerged of Thompson with numerous other women within days of Kardashian giving birth to their daughter, True, on April 12.

Kardashian's sister, Kim Kardashian West, told Ellen DeGeneres frankly on Monday, "I don't even know how to describe it. It's so fucked up."

Kardashian West continued, "I feel like Khloé always dives into relationships and puts her whole heart into everything. I mean, she moved there, and I've seen her be in a really tough situation before in her last relationship [with Lamar Odom]."

More: The Kardashian-Jenners React to Khloé Kardashian's New Baby

According to Kardashian West, Thompson was treated like family, and the clan is utterly appalled the NBA player would repay their trust this way — especially during such a vulnerable time in Kardashian's life.

What comes next for Kardashian and Thompson? Neither of them is saying, but Kardashian West told DeGeneres, "'[Khloé's] so strong — she's doing the best that she can. It's a really sad situation all over... She wanted to have some alone time with the baby and figure out what her next steps are. It must be so hard to have your heart broken and fall in love — all in a day or two."

No one from the Kardashian-Jenner posse is currently talking to Thompson according to a source who spoke with E! News. And apparently, Kardashian is now deeply conflicted about her future with Thompson. "Khloé is taking it one day at a time with Tristan. She is glad he is helping her out with True, but she has also been spending a lot of alone time reflecting," the source stated. "They don't speak much about the situation, and Khloé feels like she is living in her own personal hell. The only thing keeping her happy right now is True and the support from her family. Everyone is ready for her to come home and thinks it will give her more peace. Tristan has desperately been trying to keep Khloé happy and make their relationship work, but she thinks it's too far done."

Jenner told DeGeneres that Kardashian — Good American jeans founder and host of Revenge Body — is just trying to stay focused on her new daughter. “She’s so excited about motherhood and trying to get the nursing thing down, which is a little tricky,” Jenner said. “She’s trying, she’s really trying. She’s figuring it out one day at a time. She’s just the best mom already."

And Jenner had nothing but gushy praise for her ninth (!!!) grandchild. “That baby is so cute, little True.”

When DeGeneres pressed Jenner further on the cheating scandal, Jenner said, “I think we do what we always do and that’s spring into action with love. We all hopped on a plane and flew to Cleveland because that’s what we know to do.”

And if we were Tristan Thompson, we'd watch our back right now. Jenner continued, “There’s a lot of us," Jenner continued, "and we all get together and we do things together and we’re a force to be reckoned with.”

The Kardashian-Jenner posse is indeed a force to be reckoned with. We're guessing Tristan Thompson is shaking pretty badly in his high-tops right now, planning his next move. He's got a lot of repairs to do if he expects to be welcomed back into this clan — and be the dad little True deserves.

For Mindy Kaling, pulling off a con in upcoming heist film Ocean's 8 wasn't a tall order — because she was already expertly conning her costars at the time. Kaling and Sandra Bullock recently talked Ocean's 8 with The New York Times, and the conversation turned to bonding off-set.

Kaling confessed, “We went to dinner once when I was two weeks pregnant and I couldn’t tell anybody."

Bullock pointed out that Kaling told the gang she was on antibiotics and couldn't drink alcohol. Slick, Mindy.

More: Mindy Kaling's Oscar Date Was a Familiar Face

“[Sarah] Paulson and I kept trying to get you to order a cocktail," Bullock reminisced, "and you’re like, ‘I’m on strict antibiotics.’ And we’re like ‘What kind of antibiotic is that?’”

The story got a little out of hand at that point. “Then, I said they were antipsychotics,” Kaling revealed in a hilarious anecdote that sounds like a plotline straight out of The Mindy Project. “I had to spin a web of lies. I just wish I had been able to actually drink with them.”

No wonder. Who wouldn't want to belly up to the bar with Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Cate Blanchett, Awkwafina, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter??

Kaling delivered a baby girl, Katherine Swati, in December 2017. And apparently, motherhood was worth missing out on those cocktails with the Ocean's 8 cast; Kaling spoke to Hoda Kotb recently on Today about loving it.

More: Mindy Kaling's Great Baby Daddy Mystery

“She’s so great," Kaling said of Katherine. "I just love being a mom. It’s just incredible. She bleeds over into all parts of my life. Sometimes I find myself staring at my phone at a photo of her in a meeting. I’m just looking lovingly at a photo and everyone’s like, ‘What are you doing?’ I don’t know… it’s a great feeling.”

Almost as great a feeling as doing body shots with Sandra Bullock, we're sure.

Dating with a disability or chronic illness can be pretty difficult. When I was dating, it seemed like almost everyone I encountered was uncomfortable around people living with disabilities, outright disgusted by us or fetishized us.

It’s common for able-bodied people to find it difficult to humanize us, let alone want to date us. My girlfriend, an able-bodied person, has taught me that not everyone treats individuals with disabilities as less than. Nonetheless, I still think back on the experiences I’ve had of people making assumptions about me and the lives of others living with disabilities.

It can be disheartening knowing that people are talking about you behind your back, critiquing something that intrinsically makes you yourself. I know I wouldn’t be the same person if I weren’t ill and living with a disability. It is so much a part of my life that at this point I can’t imagine not having a disability. That doesn’t stop it from being really hard at times.

I used to work in retail for a store that can be found all over the country. I was a seasonal associate, there only for the Christmas season to make a bit of money while I found a long-term job. It wasn’t long before my illness, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, caused me to faint during a shift.

The ambulance was called, and I was taken to the hospital. A day or two later when I was back at work, a few of my coworkers asked me questions about POTS while we were putting new toys on the shelves. By that point, I was used to people being curious about it and didn’t mind answering most questions. One guy, who had been quiet until this point, asked if I’d every passed out while “my boyfriend was plowing [me].”

More: Sexual Health in Your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s & Beyond

Too stunned to know what to say, I turned back to my work. The same guy proceeded to say if he had a girlfriend that fainted, he’d make his girlfriend agree to let him finish, “that way it wouldn’t be rape.”

A few of the other guys working nearby laughed and the conversation devolved into jokes they would play on a girl if she fainted near them. I had to walk away and lock myself in the bathroom until I was calm enough to get back to work. After refusing to talk anymore about my health with my coworkers, I was harassed until management told me my assignment with the store was over. While I really needed the money, it was still a huge relief not to go back.

Another man once insinuated that the cane I use for joint pain and balance could double as a portable sex toy, while a woman I used to work with asked me if people with disabilities had sex before talking about how most of us probably just shouldn’t have sex "just in case." The “in case” implied pregnancy, insinuating that folks with disabilities shouldn’t have biological children even if it was perfectly safe and healthy to do so.

While not all the intrusive questions I’ve been asked about my disability and illness are related to sex, they do tend to be the ones that stand out the most. I’m not sure if it is because I am a rape and abuse survivor, because I’m a lesbian and often feel threatened by the straight men asking the questions or any number of other reasons.

More: 5 Facts About Vaginas You Need to Know Now

Now that I’m in a long-term relationship and having sex more often, I’ve gotten to the point in my life when all the strange assumptions people make about our sex life just seem absurd. I am living with a disability and a chronic illness and have a healthy sex life.

There are some days when my pain levels are too high to even think about sex, but most couples aren’t able to have sex all the time even if they’d like to. Between jobs, family and any number of other things, life gets in the way and makes it impossible.

My life is full. My sex life is full — not in spite of having a disability, but in addition to it. Not every person with a disability wants to have sex, while many of them have healthy sex lives like I do. One thing most of us wish is for able-bodied people to stop questioning and speculating about our sex lives. We are people too.

By Kelley O'Brien

With the announcement of her latest campaign (which we know you're going to love), Jessica Chastain remains total #FeministGoals. She has always been a vocal supporter of women, but she's now tackling an issue that is more important than ever before: closing the gender gap in leadership roles across all industries.

More: Jessica Chastain Shows Compassion for a Woman Who Tried to Shame Her

On Friday, Chastain announced on Instagram her involvement with Ralph Lauren for the Lead Like a Woman campaign.

"I'm so happy to partner with Woman by @RalphLauren in their #LeadLikeaWoman campaign," she wrote to her followers. "It's all of our responsibility to shed light on the leadership disparity between women and men. I am so proud to be a part of this campaign to help spark the conversation. Tell me how you #LeadLikeaWoman." But what is this campaign, exactly?

According to People magazine, the initiative is piggybacking off the release of the Ralph Lauren fragrance Woman, which Chastain is the currently the face of. The initiative seeks to open up a dialogue about why there is such a great divide between the number of men and the number of women who hold leadership roles. It also intends to explore ways to close that gap and get more women into leadership roles going forward.

The Lead Like a Woman campaign website says that the conversation will be sparked by "a series of three digital short films meant to provoke important discussions about women and leadership. [Chastain], along with business leaders, entrepreneurs, chefs, directors, producers and philanthropists, [will] provide their thoughts on leadership."

More: Jessica Chastain in Tears Over "Alt-Left" Twitter Debate

Chastain has been consistently vocal in her support of her female peers and in fighting for gender equality. Two stories from January will no doubt have you applauding her efforts. First, Chastain voiced disappointment over the revelation that Michelle Williams had been paid significantly less than Mark Wahlberg for doing reshoots for All the Money in the World.

"I heard for the reshoot she got $80 a day compared to his MILLIONS. Would anyone like to clarify? I really hope that with everything coming to light, she was paid fairly. She's a brilliant actress and is wonderful in the film," Chastain tweeted.

Shortly afterward, Octavia Spencer, who co-starred with Chastain in 2011's The Help, revealed that Chastain had fought for her to be paid five times more than the salary she had originally been offered. In fact, Chastain fought so hard for Spencer, an Oscar-winning actor, to be paid the amount she was worth that Chastain made her own casting in the film conditional on Spencer's salary.

"I love that woman because she’s walking the walk and she’s actually talking the talk. She said, 'Octavia, we’re gonna get you paid on this film. You and I are gonna be tied together. We’re gonna be favored nations, and we’re gonna make the same thing.' Fast forward to last week, we’re making five times what we asked for," Spencer told People magazine in late January 2018.

More: Which Films Did Jessica Chastain Subtweet at the Cannes Conference?

Chastain's involvement in the Lead Like a Woman campaign is further proof that she is doing necessary work. It's easy to be in awe of her efforts, but hopefully, you'll be inspired enough to follow in her footsteps and do the work, too, because having more women in leadership roles is a cause worth fighting for.

Octavia Spencer always keeps our interest piqued when it comes to the kinds of projects she chooses. Recently, she's been jumping from genre to genre in movies like the '60s drama Hidden Figures, based on a true story, and the otherworldly fantasy The Shape of Water. Spencer's newest project, which will delight true-crime fans to no end, sees her headed to TV and — bonus — not just any old network but Apple's streaming service.

More: Hollywood Movie Stars Who Aren't Above Doing TV

Earlier this week, Variety reported that Are You Sleeping? was officially picked up by Apple. The only casting linked to the show is Spencer, who will reportedly take on the still-unnamed lead role. Variety further reports on what the show will be about: "The drama will examine the nation’s long-held obsession with true-crime stories and the recent boom in podcasts dedicated to probing unsolved and disputed cases." Also, Are You Sleeping? is "based on the novel of the same name by Kathleen Barber, which questions the consequences when crime-solving plays out on a public stage."

If you're a fan of true crime, then you're going to be all in on this series. Spencer's powerhouse acting capabilities should be enough to get you through the door, but with lots of mystery about the style, tone and subject matter of the show's first season despite its intriguing premise, there's a good chance you'll want to come along for the wild ride.

More: 11 Podcasts That Are Coming to TV

It's not difficult to see why Are You Sleeping? has the potential to be such a massive hit. Podcasts like Serial, My Favorite Murder and Dirty John have led to TV shows like The Jinx, Making a Murderer and The Keepers landing on our screens. At every turn, the true-crime market has taken over, spawning in some listeners and viewers an obsession to dive into the facts of grisly crimes. Who wouldn't want to watch a show that attempts to unpack this trend and, better yet, watch Spencer do the unpacking? We don't know about you, but we're all the way sold.

For many people who menstruate, it was their mother who first introduced them to the world of period products and how to handle that time of the month. But for mother-daughter duo Francine and Carinne Chambers, their period partnership didn't stop there.

Francine is the president and cofounder of Diva International, which makes the menstrual cup known as the Diva Cup. Her daughter, Carinne, is the company's CEO.

"Carinne and I have always been best friends — not just mother and daughter," Francine tells SheKnows. "We’ve experienced a lifetime of brainstorming together on topics related to family, friends and every issue imaginable, so I knew that we would be great business partners."

More: Why Period-Shaming Is an Environmental Issue & What You Can Do About It

The story began when Francine was 14 and frustrated by the limitations of getting her period, Carinne tells SheKnows. "She thought that there had to be a better way and had the idea of the cup at that time," she adds.

But it wasn't until Carinne herself was 14 that Francine discovered menstrual cups existed and have been around since 1930, Carinne says, and she wondered why no one had brought the product to the market yet. The early models weren't exactly something you'd want to insert into your vagina (or anywhere else in your body for that matter), though.

"It was a very niche product, and the materials weren't great," Carinne explains. "It was made of latex rubber and was a brown, plungerlike thing — very utilitarian. Something you'd use for cleaning."

Francine would then dedicate nearly a decade to promoting the use of menstrual cups. At that point, Carinne had finished high school and college and says they were "at a crossroads," and after her mother's years of work in the space, they decided somebody needed to make a better, more modern version of the menstrual cup and bring it to the mass market. Between Francine's innovative ideas and Carinne's background in tech marketing (including stints at IBM and Microsoft), they set out to design the ideal menstrual cup.

After about two years of research and development — as well as going through the necessary regulatory hoops — they had the first version of their product.

"Here was this opportunity that we’re just so passionate about this concept and product and nobody's doing it," Carinne notes. "Looking back, I’m grateful that I was naive at the time and thought it would be very easy. I think a lot of entrepreneurs can relate to that."

Like any new business, Diva had challenges. But in addition to the challenges most start-ups face, Francine and Carinne were also dealing with period products — and manufacturers and distributors weren't exactly lining up to work with them.

So they started on a small scale — getting people to try the product and going to trade shows every single weekend.

More: How the U.S. Differs From the Rest of the World When It Comes to Periods

"The first few years, that was our life — literally standing at events and talking to people for 18 hours a day, three or four days in a row," Carinne says. "Any event we could do, we were there. We put all our time, money, energy into that. We just started getting people."

But despite the challenges, the mother-daughter team kept going.

"Since we were pioneering the menstrual cup industry, there were many obstacles to overcome. But because of our passion and determination, we never gave up until we had a solution," Francine explains.

Diva International was founded in 2001, and the Diva Cup launched in 2003 — back before social media was widespread or before crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or GoFundMe. In the beginning, it was just Francine and Carinne, working out of Francine's basement for the first seven years.

"We did a little bit of everything, and luckily, my mom and I had this amazing synergy — her skills complemented my skills and we worked so well together," Carinne says.

The Diva Cup landed in the first major retail chain 11 years after the business started.

Carinne says much of the Diva Cup's success is thanks to her mother's openness with talking about vaginal health. "I learned everything about how to talk to customers about the Diva Cup from her because she’s so open," Carinne adds. "She always made it seem like it wasn’t a big deal."

Now, Carinne has an 8-year-old daughter of her own. Looking back, she sees what a gift it has been working with her mother and thinks it'd be great if her daughter wanted to join the family business (though says it's unlikely to happen).

And Mom feels the same way.

"It has been a joy to watch Carinne mature and transition to being the CEO of Diva International as well as an inspiration to watch her develop our team and grow the business," Francine says.

Today, Diva Cup is one of the most recognizable menstrual cup brands thanks to the hard work of this unstoppable mother-daughter team.