Photo: (Liora K. Photography)

After comments made by Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries resurfaced last week, people were outraged at the idea that one man would boast about alienating “unpopular kids” from his brand’s target demographic. One blogger, Jes of The Militant Baker, responded in a unique way.

She thanked Jeffries for creating an opportunity for social change and held an “Attractive & Fat” photo shoot while wearing the brand’s shirt. Jes is definitely not one of the “cool kids,” at least, not according to Jeffries. See, she wears a size 22, which means the CEO would never put her in one of his catalogs modeling his clothes. The blogger wrote an open letter to Jeffries, and in it she included a few images from a photo shoot she held with a conventionally "attractive" male model, someone who the CEO would have considered a “cool kid.”

In her letter, Jes writes that the only thing he’s done through his comments about thin being beautiful and only offering XL and XXL in your stores for men "is reinforce the unoriginal concept that fat women are social failures, valueless, and undesirable.” She notes that, while his apology doesn’t change how his brand chooses to market its clothes, it does create “an incredible opportunity for social change.” Jes chose to post with the model because “(n)ever in our culture do we see sexy photo shoots that pair short, fat, unconventional models with not short, not fat, professional models. To put it in your words: ‘unpopular kids’ with ‘cool kids.’” Jes arranged the shoot to include several “sexy” shots, some of which feature her naked. She followed her letter with two postscripts. In the first, she lets Jeffries know that if he wants to offer her “a substantial amount” to stop wearing the brand’s clothes he can just shoot her an email. In the second, she points out that his Large t-shirt “comfortably fits a size 22,” noting that’s something he might want to “work on.”

I love Jes’ response to Jeffries’ comments! We know Mike Jeffries might not consider the blogger to be one of the “cool kids,” but she’s definitely considered one in my book. Here’s the loving yourself no matter how you look or what size you wear!

Photo: (Getty)

In the days since the massive tornado leveled Moore, Oklahoma, celebrities have offered an outpouring of support to those affected. It was on the minds of “The Hangover Part III” stars as they walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere. Blake Shelton just announced he’s putting together a benefit concert for relief efforts. And yesterday Kevin Durant quietly donated $1 million to his local Red Cross.

Durant, who plays basketball for the Oklahoma City Thunder, made the donation through his family foundation. We love that the basketball player did such a wonderful thing in such a quiet way! Instead of announcing the news himself, he allowed the Red Cross to share the information on their channels. For those who have money to donate, the Red Cross is recommending donations be made to the local Red Cross in Oklahoma City.

If you don’t have money to send to the Red Cross, don’t worry! There are still plenty of ways you can follow Durant’s lead and give back to those in need. You can find ways to help those affected by the tornado here or by taking action below. Remember, every action, no matter how small, does a lot of good.

Photos: (Getty, Tyler Robinson Foundation)

Usually bands inspire the teenagers who come to their shows, but sometimes it works the other way around. Imagine Dragons met Tyler Robinson at one of their shows, and the band was so impressed with the young man’s struggle with cancer that they dedicated a song to him. Robinson passed away in March, but Imagine Dragons made sure they honored the teen’s memory by creating a foundation in his name.

Robinson had been battling Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, since the age of 16. One of the lyrics that got him through his treatments was a line from the band’s song “It’s Time” — the “road to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell.”  If you’ve watched the band’s video “Demons,” you've probably heard of Robinson: The band dedicated the song to him, after all. But fans are just now getting to see the connection the band shared with the teen, whom they met after a small show.

Guitarist Wayne Sermon recalls, “We found out after the show that he had been battling cancer for a while. We met with him and were instantly struck by his character.” The group created the Tyler Robinson Foundation, Sermon said, because they want “to use his name to spread a positive message. We felt like that was the right thing to do.” According to its website, the foundation is “dedicated to providing financial assistance to families with children battling cancer.”

Although Robinson is no longer here, his memory lives on in the hearts of many — including Imagine Dragons. Watch the band's video below, which includes footage from the concert where the band first met Tyler.

+ Watch Imagine Dragons "Demons”

For more information on how to take a stand in the fight against cancer, check out the action widgets below.

Photos: (Getty)

The tornado in Oklahoma has rocked the country, and everywhere people are offering their condolences and giving donations to help rebuild after all the destruction. Members of the MTV fam, too, have joined in on giving support.

Nev Schulman of “Catfish” summed it up well and also gave good advice on how you can help the cause. Donating to the Red Cross is one of the ways we suggested you take action, so we totally approve seeing it here again!

When one of us suffers, we all suffer. Text REDCROSS to 90999 to help support families affected by this and all disasters.

— Nev Schulman (@NevSchulman) May 21, 2013

Snooki joined countless other people in getting #PrayForOklahoma to trend on Twitter:

#PRAYFOROKLAHOMA ������

— NiC0LE P0LiZZi (@snooki) May 21, 2013

While the news is full of destruction and horror, Vinny Gaugdagnino shared a vid that has a bright spot:

This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen . #Oklahoma news.sky.com/story/1093711/…

— Vinny Guadagnino (@VINNYGUADAGNINO) May 21, 2013

It’s a news clip interviewing Barbara Garcia, a woman whose house was destroyed by the tornado. She was holding her dog when the tornado hit, and she and her animal companion were separated. The short vid starts with her not knowing where her dog has gone or what condition it might be in. But then we see the dog come out of the wreckage, alive and safe. (Exhale enormous breath of relief.)

It will take time to rebuild the structures ruined in the tornado, and some things that were lost will never be replaced. It’s a time to come together to help those affected. Check out How to Help Victims of the Oklahoma Tornado for other tips on how to give back. From donating to sharing information, there are ways to help.

Photo: (Getty)

With news of the massive tornado that ripped through Oklahoma yesterday, it’s easy to forget that things like movie premieres still have to go on as planned. The stars of “The Hangover Part III” (out Friday) walked a more solemn red carpet in Hollywood last night, and Zach Galifianakis shared his feelings on the natural disaster.

Galifianakis told USA Today that “you feel silly doing a red carpet thing” in the face of such tragedy. The actor continued, noting that being a celebrity at a time of national crisis is “very bizarre…and silly.” His thoughts were obviously on the people whose lives were uprooted due to the tornado, saying we all have to “just hope and pray that things will turn up.”

Like Galifianakis, other celebs have stepped up to offer their support in the hours since the tornado hit. Some have offered their condolences, while others have tweeted ways to take action. NBA pro-baller Kevin Durant, who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, donated $1 million to his local Red Cross chapter for relief efforts to help rebuild the state he represents on the court.

If you’re looking for ways to help those affected by the tornado, you can find information here. Check out the action widgets below for more ways to give back to those in need.

Photo: (MTV)

I have a routine I follow every Monday night. Once I finish all of my work for the day, I grab a Dr Pepper, make sure I have a box of Kleenex next to me, and settle down to watch “World of Jenks” on MTV. I’ve spent the last two and a half months with Andrew Jenks, Kaylin, Chad and D-Real, and last night, the show’s Season 2 finale, I had to say goodbye.

I’ve been hooked on the show since the first season, so when I heard the show was coming back, I was ecstatic I’d get to see what was going on in Chad’s life now. I was introduced to Kaylin, a talented fashion designer who had dealt with two different types of cancer, and D-Real, who was fighting gun violence on the streets of Oakland. Their lives couldn’t have been more different from mine, but that’s why I tuned in: perspective.

So it’s appropriate that when I finally got to catch up with Jenks on the phone today he echoed the same idea. This isn’t just a show about gun violence, autism or cancer -- it’s a show about perspective and the lives these three young people are living. Since we only see a fraction of the time Jenks spent with Kaylin, Chad and D-Real, I wanted his insights on what he’s learned from the three of them while filming the show.

+ "Bullets Kill People"

Jenks revealed that since the show has wrapped, D-Real has had another baby and is still struggling to understand and cope with the death of his brother. D-Real has already spoken out about ending gun violence, so I wanted to hear what Jenks had to say about helping to decrease gun violence. He believes that it’s really our duty to “understand what gun violence really means.”  One line that struck a chord with Jenks is that “people don’t kill people; guns don’t kill people; bullets kill people.” He went on to say that it’s not about taking away anyone's  Second Amendment rights, but about making sure no more young people die from the unnecessary violence that happens every single day. If you want to help fight gun violence by getting illegal guns off the streets, check out the MTV x Caliber collaboration.

+ The Word "Pimp" Is Not A Good Look

Kaylin might be a talented designer, but she also put her artistic skills to use to create a comic book that chronicles a satirical, fantasy-based take on dealing with cancer. In one part of the book, Kaylin’s character decides to add a ton of awesome features to her chemo chair. While filming, the word “pimp” was used to describe the improvements to the chair; when Jenks was editing the footage, he learned that mtvU has a campaign to fight human trafficking, in which they try to educate viewers on the role that pimps play in perpetuating this human rights atrocity. He said it was interesting “to hear how (the word) has become so much a part of everyone’s daily conversation,” especially now that slavery is “worse now than it ever has been before.” If you want to learn more about how to take action against modern-day slavery, check out Against Our Will and the Backstory.

+ Getting Schooled Matters

Jenks got a firsthand look at the funding cuts that are happening in schools around the country and how it's affecting students. When I asked him what fans should do after the finale airs, the first thing he mentioned was tuning in to his YouTube channel to learn more about Chad’s amazing school, which made "Chad into the person he is" today. Westchester Exceptional Children's School, which serves students from 36 school districts in New York and Connecticut, focuses “on meeting the educational, social and emotional need of students with autism, medically fragile children and students with communication and behavior disorders.” You can find more information about helping Chad’s school here.

Photo: (MTV)

For more ways to get involved in some of the causes profiled here, check out the action widgets below.

Photo: (GiveAndTake.com)

Adam Grant recently stopped by MTV to talk about his new book, Give and Take. Who is Adam? Oh, just Wharton's youngest (and highest rated) tenured professor. NBD. After several years of researching what CEOs know that the rest of us don’t, Grant came to a pretty crazy conclusion: The secret to success is ... being a “giver.”

With unemployment of recent college grads still at an all-time high, it can seem like clawing your way to the top requires taking anything from anyone until you get there. Thankfully, Grant’s research reveals that that is NOT the road map to success — this is what is:

+ Be a giver.

A “giver” is a reciprocator, someone who constantly gives to others with no strings attached and is happy to do so. Givers are the mentors you call to go over every bullet point in your resume, the teacher who stays after class to chat about that paper with you, and the classmate who never fails to give you all the credit you deserve for that group project. According to Grant, the most successful CEOs fall into the “giver” category. Although being a giver can set you back initially (givers sometimes have a hard time going for that promotion, raise, etc.), in the long run givers win. By being so awesome to work with, givers gradually build a solid network of connections. Who you know can be super-crucial for landing that job you’re after.

+ Don't be shy — use your "weak" connections.

Just because your mom and best friend aren’t execs at your dream company to work for, doesn’t mean your camp friend’s sister’s dog walker’s neighbor isn’t. If you’re hitting dead ends in your network of close friends, cast the net wider.  According to Grant, you’re almost twice as likely to get a job through “weak ties” than strong ones. It can feel super-random to hit up that guy you gave directions to that one time. But when you’re an all-star giver, you tend to make a good impression on people — even if you’ve met only once.

+ Spot the takers.

Unfortunately, the world is not completely made up of givers. Takers are people who use others for personal gain without even considering returning the favor. They are your freeloading roommate who eats the last cookie, that coworker who acts like it was all THEIR idea, and your deadbeat ex-boyfriend who always “forgets” his wallet. Spotting takers can be tricky. Most takers don’t realize that they’re like this, which can make it difficult to stage a “taker” intervention. Even if you can’t beat 'em, though, you don’t have to join them. Grant suggests doing small favors for others instead — especially connecting people you feel can help out each other.

For more info, check out Adam Grant’s book, Give and Take.

Photo: (Getty)

Multitasker Demi Lovato (singer/actress/"X-Factor" judge/role model/activist — wow!) will do lots of things at once, but she knows there’s a time and place for texting — and it’s def not while you’re driving. That’s why she’s gotten involved with the It Can Wait campaign.

The always-helpful Demi Tweeted:

Take the pledge and join me in promising to never text and drive. #ItCanWait itcanwait.com

— demetria lovato (@ddlovato) May 20, 2013

There might be a million reasons to text your BFF, or maybe you want to catch Demi’s new music video on your phone, or maybe you’re just itching to see what’s trending on Twitter. But, seriously, #ItCanWait — texting while driving makes it a whopping 23 times more likely that you'll be in an accident.

Like Demi said, there’s a pledge you can take with this campaign. (Cue our friends from "Real World St. Thomas," who took part in #ItCanWait's vital campaign.) The pledge is pretty straightforward: “No text message, email, website or video is worth the risk of endangering my life or the lives of others on the road. I pledge to never text and drive and will take action to educate others about the dangers of texting while driving. No text is worth the risk. It can wait.” If you take the pledge, you can share it on Facebook, Twitter or email to encourage your friends to join in. Spreading the word and sharing the stats might get a few dedicated texters to rethink when and where they get text-happy. Because, as Demi can attest, there are much better (and safer) forms of multitasking out there!

Photo: (Getty)

In high school, there was always that one person you were in love with who didn't love you back, that one teacher who made you believe the sky’s the limit (Shout out to Mr. Reeves!), and that one musician who you worshiped so hard because he or she read could your mind like NO ONE ELSE.

For me, that musician was Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie. He would've been 41 years old today — just a few months older than Ben Affleck, Cameron Diaz, Sofia Vergara and Gwyneth Paltrow.  I adore Biggie because he had one of the best rap flows (Sorry, Kendrick!), which went hand in hand with his raw, powerful lyrics and P. Diddy-produced beats. He’s the rare rapper whose music is timeless. I listen to it with as much ardor today as I did back in the day.

On March 9, 1997, he died at 24 years old, due to an issue that’s still prevalent in our society 16 years later: gun violence. Biggie was murdered during a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. There’s been a lot of speculation on who killed Biggie, and the biggest question remains unanswered: Was it related to his rivalry with Tupac Shakur? To this day, his murder case remains unsolved. However, his legacy clearly lives on.

Sixteen days after Biggie’s death, his album Life After Death hit No. 1 on the charts, and he’s released two more albums posthumously, Born Again and Duets: The Final Chapter. In 2009, “Notorious,” a (not so great) biopic of his life was released. An upcoming cartoon is in the works too, which I hope is waaaay better than the film. It’s titled “House of Wallace,” and will feature the voices of his children, Tionna, 19, and C.J., 16.  And let’s not forget all the Biggie swag. T-shirts emblazoned with his face are sold at Urban Outfitters. Want a Biggie iPhone case or tote bag? Of course they exist.

Photo: Biggie Smalls is the illest! (Urban Outfitters)

I always wonder: If Biggie were alive, would he still be making groundbreaking music like his former classmate Jay-Z? Or would he have taken a long sabbatical from music like Dr. Dre? Perhaps he’d have left the scene entirely a la Ma$e? Bottom line, though: He made a lasting impression on my life and those of many others.

+ Big’s Songs Are Hauntingly Honest

Photo: This image is totally my Facebook cover photo. (HipHopWired.com)

In his debut and most critically acclaimed album, Ready To Die, Biggie rapped about struggling with depression, paranoia and suicidal thoughts. The main chorus of “Everyday Struggle” includes the refrain, “I don't wanna live no more/ Sometimes I hear death knocking on my front door.” He was open with his emotions at a time in rap when it was all bragging about women, drugs, violence and money (Which to be fair, Biggie also rapped about.) In “Suicidal Thoughts,” Big confessed, “The stress is building up/ I can't, I can't believe suicide's on my f*cking mind.” While these songs sound incredibly bleak, they were honest and raw. As a high school student who struggled with depression, I felt less alone when I listened to his music. However, it’s important to note that if you or someone you know is feeling hopeless about life, listening to music shouldn't be your only therapy. Please check out Half of Us for resources on how to get help.

+ His Songs Are Inspiring. Really.

Photo: Biggie loved rocking Coogi sweaters and other bright prints like this one. (Getty)

On the more up side of things, Biggie also made Oprah-like inspiring songs. In his classic hit “Juicy,” he talks about changing his life from “negative to positive.” The main chorus has the infectious line, “You know very well who you are/ Don't let ‘em hold you down/ Reach for the stars,” And let’s not forget that Biggie made this saying popular, “Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way.” In “Sky’s The Limit,” Big’s song with R&B group 112, he talks about getting bullied for being poor, and he raps such words of wisdom as, “Stay far from timid/ Only make moves when ya heart's in it/ And live the phrase sky's the limit,” Seriously, guys, Biggie has more inspiring words than Rachel Roy’s Instagram.

+ Biggie Loved His Fam

Photo: Biggie and one of his muses, his mom, Violetta. (Getty)

Before Kanye’s admiration for Donda, there was Biggie’s immense love for his mom, Violetta Wallace. He often mentioned his mom, a preschool teacher, in his songs — when she was proud of him, the times he thought she disapproved of him. He also rapped about providing for and loving his children and being the best dad he could be. At a time when it wasn't cool to rap about your mom, Biggie totally geeked out on his mama and other relatives.

I could write paragraphs upon paragraphs on Biggie, but I’ll stop now so we can celebrate his life. Check out the action widgets below so you can spread love, the Biggie way.

Photo: Carlos and Kim Caudillo stand in debris after a powerful tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma. (Getty)

Authorities are reporting 24 deaths (down from 91, as previously reported) after a deadly two-mile-wide tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma, yesterday. Nine kids are among the victims and the news is full of images of the debris that used to be homes. If you're looking to help, we’ve put together a list of immediate ways to take action. As time passes there will be more ways to help those affected so check back for an updated list.

+ American Red Cross

A quick and effective way to help is to text REDCROSS to 90999, because that donates $10. If you’re in the area that’s been hit, you can let loved ones know you’re okay by registering on the Safe and Well section of the Red Cross site. Likewise, if you know someone from the area and are looking for info on them, you can search there for verification that they are OK.

+ United Way of Central Oklahoma

The United Way of Central Oklahoma has started a disaster relief fund specifically to help Oklahomans who have been affected by the recent tornadoes. If you’re not able to give money through the website, you can send it by snail mail to United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK 73101. Make sure that you write “May Tornado Relief.”

+ Operation USA

Operation USA has also jumped on board to help, and like with the other orgs, the best way to help now is to send money. You can text AID to 50555 to donate $10, or you can send a check to 7421 Beverly Blvd., PH, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

+ HopeMob

In this time of great sadness, there is an opportunity to feel some hope. HopeMob has teamed up with Convoy of Hope to raise $15,000 in one week. In less than a day they've raised more than $30,000, and you can help keep that number rising! HopeMob is a rare fundraising site since it offers fee-free fundraising -- they're not charging any additional fees to users. How so? They're covering transaction fees by going out and fundraising on their own from corporations and foundations.

+ Architecture for Humanity

Architecture for Humanity, which was involved with "Restore the Shore", will be helping Moore and the surrounding area rebuild. They'll be making sure to work with local and regional construction professionals, and they're in this for the long-term. Donating will help them in their efforts.

+ Love Is Louder

Love is Louder is gathering together specific messages and images of support to share with the people of Oklahoma. Make sure when you're spreading your love on Twitter and Instagram you use the hashtags #loveislouder and #Oklahoma. These will be collected and shared on the Love is Louder FB page for all to see.

+ Tweet

A good way to show that you care about the community would be to Tweet your support and condolences. #Oklahoma is trending, and you can also give other words of love and hope in your 140 characters. You can also Tweet info on ways to help — like linking to this post or sharing how to donate via text.