hustle hard, H-town

Oprah's TV network spotlights Houston women in new reality series

It looks like Houston will be home to a new reality series about successful women living their best life and trying not to get into huge fights with each other during brunch.

Next month, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel will premiere Heart & Hustle: Houston, where a quintet of upwardly mobile, African American women thrive in Texas’ largest city.

“Heart & Hustle: Houston brings a fresh, dynamic perspective — one that centers Black women not just in conflict, but in community, healing, and growth,” OWN President Tina Perry said in a press release. “It’s a powerful look at ambition, resilience, and the bonds that hold friendships together, even through life’s toughest moments.”

Let’s break down the ladies who’ll be giving us the heart and the hustle:

Alaina Saulsberry, 38
“H-Town’s Glam Girl”
Known for her beauty brand Color du Jour, Saulsberry is touted as a mentor who balances work with family commitments. After 15 years of marriage, the relationship is in a rough patch. Will she choose personal happiness or preserving stability for her two children?

Courtesy of OWN Network

Rosea Pichardo.

Chloe Cook, 44
“The Straight Shooter”
Known as “THE premiere event planner of Houston,” Cook took a step back from the event business to take care of her young daughters after the tragic loss of her husband. However, the gal is getting her groove back thanks to her recent relationship with much younger man Jordan. Unfortunately, her eldest son Neiko (who is only three years younger than Jordan) isn’t feeling the whole May-December thing. Can Chloe balance being a mother and a MILF?

La’Torria Lemon, 36
“The Hopeless Romantic”
The head of Lemon-Lime Light Media, entrepreneur/philanthropist Lemon has been called “a force in the entertainment, hospitality, and PR industry.” She’s a charming personality, but don’t get it twisted: She’s ready to bring the claws out whenever someone comes for her. After losing her father, Lemon is on the hunt for the love of her life, so she can settle down and have some kids. Can she find a good man just like dear old dad?

LeBrina Jackson, 35
“The Southern Belle”
Full of “passion, drive, and compassion,” elite spa owner Jackson is one of the few Black women in the spa and wellness game. The resident caregiver of the group, Jackson is there for her family, friends, customers, etc. She uses her past (specifically, her family’s history) to break generational curses and build a better tomorrow for her peoples. Can she still take care of others, while also finding some time to take care of herself?

Muneera Page, 43
“Mrs. Perfect”
Meet the big, bad momma of the crew: a devout wife, mother of four daughters (including a set of twins), and career woman whose journey “embodies the power of faith, resilience, and boundless ambition.” With a two-decade career as an electrical engineer in the oil and gas industry, Page has taken a career 180 and pivoted to content creation. Can she live a life of meaning, purpose and transformative impact, while also inspiring folks around the world?

Roe Pichardo, 39
“Nightlife Queen”
Finally, we have the party girl. Pichardo is an entrepreneur, hospitality innovator, and cultural curator who’s “redefining the art of connection.” She’s got a rep as a major player in the restaurant and nightlife world (Editor’s note: She appeared on CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast during her time as the general manager of James Harden’s restaurant Thirteen). Despite staying tough in a male-dominated industry, those close to her know she’s a sweet, loving soul. Can she still take her businesses to the next level, while also learning to be more vulnerable around her loved ones?

These questions and more will be answered when Heart & Hustle: Houston premieres on OWN on Saturday, August 2, at 8 pm.

Movie Review

Reminders of Him taps into grief, grace, and the power of moving on

Photo by Michelle Faye / Universal Pictures

Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers in Reminders of HIm.

Texas author Colleen Hoover has gone from being a popular writer to a full-on celebrity in the 2020s. The new film Reminders of Him marks the third adaptation of her books in just 19 months (a fourth, Verity, is scheduled for release in October 2026). All of her books that have been adapted so far — most notably It Ends With Us — are female-led stories that feature elements of romance and trauma, catnip for studios looking to appeal to the underserved demographic of women.

Leading the way in this film is Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe), who returns to her hometown of Laramie, Wyoming after spending years in prison for killing her boyfriend, Scotty (Rudy Pankow), in a car accident. That relationship resulted in a daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic), whom Kenna gave birth to while imprisoned and is now being raised by her grandparents, Patrick (Bradley Whitford) and Grace (Lauren Graham).

Yearning to be a part of Diem’s life, Kenna tries to reconnect with Patrick and Grace, only to be rebuffed by Scotty’s best friend, Ledger (Tyriq Withers), a former NFL player who now owns a local bar. In running interference, Ledger starts to become closer to Kenna, discovering that her tragic mistake shouldn’t be the only thing that defines her.

Directed by Vanessa Caswill and written by Lauren Levine, the film features mostly surface level examinations of its themes and average performances, yet it winds up being effective thanks to a willingness not to rush through its storytelling beats. The filmmakers take the slow and steady approach toward the coupling of Kenna and Ledger, setting up their bond through a series of heart-to-heart conversations that makes any romance feel earned.

The majority of the focus is on Kenna reclaiming her place in the world, and on Ledger coming to terms with the fact that the person who killed his best friend is not inherently a bad person. The film definitely could have gone deeper in its explorations of grief and anger, but the sheer amount of time it takes in addressing the characters’ doubts and fears turns out to be sufficient for a film that’s not aiming to be considered a dramatic masterpiece.

It also helps that Caswill and Levine do a solid job of establishing the variety of characters that inhabit the film. Kenna and Ledger don’t always feel like fully-formed people, but they become so through their interactions with each other and the other townspeople. Lady Diana (Monika Myers), a girl with Down syndrome who lives in Kenna’s apartment complex, and Roman (Nicholas Duvernay), Ledger’s co-worker at his bar, help to broaden the appeal of the two leads.

Monroe has, to this point, been best known for starring roles in horror films like It Follows and Longlegs. While she does somewhat well in this role, her delivery is often more flat than you’d expect for a character going through what she does. Withers thankfully doesn’t remind viewers of his recent bomb Him, demonstrating a crossover appeal that should serve him well in the future. Whitford and Graham don’t get to do much, but their combined experience gives their roles exactly what is needed.

It may sound like damning with faint praise, but Reminders of Him is a competently made film that knows how to serve its core audience without insulting anyone who may not automatically be all-in for such a story. The filmmakers don’t try to force any of the key moments down the audience’s throat, and that stands out in a genre that’s not always known for its subtlety.

---

Reminders of Him opens in theaters on March 13.

movies film