Ndeya Berryman makes waist beads in the living room of her East Palo Alto, Calif. home on Friday, July 27, 2012. African waist beads are becoming more popular with women of all ethnicities, ages ...

Waist bead strings do not stretch, creating a reminder effect. When the wearer eats, the bead string feels tighter as their stomach expands. If a person gains weight, their waist beads sit higher ...

Khloé drew even more attention to her toned torso by rocking silver waist beads. The accessory, which originated in Africa, symbolizes femininity, fertility and beauty.

Donna Storey’s waist bead journey began as a result of her weight loss journey. The Baltimore native, entrepreneur and author of “Waistbeads and Western Society: A Sisterhood…” told the ...

Chicago's Hapi Danielle is an artist, entrepreneur, community activist, poet, and all-around dynamo who has dedicated her life to the betterment of people.

In Ghana, waist beads were nicknamed Jel-Jelli, Jigida, Giri-Giri, Djalay Djalay and Yomba. They were worn by girls to help form their bodies into shape.

In Ghana, waist beads were nicknamed Jel-Jelli, Jigida, Giri-Giri, Djalay Djalay and Yomba. They were worn by girls to help form their bodies into shape. “Belly beads are worn to accentuate the ...