…According to you guys and the Glam Network, that is! That’s right, bellas — thanks to your support, yours truly won the title of Best in Beauty in this year’s Glam Network Awards! And a big ol’ photo of me is the front page photo on the slide show! Wow, wow, wow.
Thank you all so much for voting for me. Honored isn’t the word. I am so excited and proud and… hang on a second. I am tempted to get all teary eyed Sally Field “you like me, you really like me,” here, but Mama Bella reminded me that they play off over-long speeches at the Oscars. So I’ll save the fabulous dramatics and keep it short and sweet.
In August 2006, I dreamed up a blog that captured the essence of the kind of magazine I wanted to read, the kind that wasn’t at the store shelves. Something that was primarily about beauty, but didn’t make me feel like I wasn’t just as precious, delicate and gorgeous as the models of the opposite race, size, and hair texture as me. Afrobella started out with the intention of being a pure beauty blog with not much beyond product reviews and musings about natural black beauty, but along the way it evolved into so much more than that. Afrobella is an outlet for everything I care deeply about — beauty, hair, music, fashion, politics, whatever. The variety of topics has led to my exclusion in certain circles, but that’s OK. It’s also led to some wonderful ongoing opportunities, like the honor of participating in the blogger’s round table on NPR’s News and Notes. (I’ll be on again this upcoming Monday, April 28)! It’s been a wonderful ride, and the lesson I’ve learned is to follow my heart, and never limit myself.
It is such a pleasure and a privilege to be able to write about my obsessions and musings, to share my Caribbean culture, to put my thoughts about being a naturally beautiful black woman out there, and to participate in the exchange of ideas with so many of you all over the world. You make my life so rich and wonderful. I have so many big dreams for this blog and for myself as a writer — my mother always said, “Thursday’s child has far to go.” I’m on my way! Thank you all so very, very much for making one of them come true, and thank you to everyone at the Glam Network for your continued support.
My prize for winning is a Flip video camera, so I hope to start making some makeup and hair videos on YouTube soon.
Click here to see the slide show of this year’s Glam Network Award winners, which includes one of my first blog inspirations Beauty Addict, Hollyscoop, Popbytes, the amazing YourCause.com, and In Case You Didn’t Know.
YAY!!! I love you guys!! Thank you so, so much.
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April 24th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Congrats!!! As a fellow natural caribbean girl I “heart” this blog.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:32 am
You really deserve the honor! Congrats!
April 24th, 2008 at 2:38 am
Congraulations Bella!
April 24th, 2008 at 3:12 am
That’s awesome! Big congrats!
April 24th, 2008 at 5:25 am
Congrats Bella… hope this means you make some money.
April 24th, 2008 at 6:24 am
I never had a doubt in my mind that you would not win.
Congrats and keep up the great work.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Congrats Afrobella! I can’t wait for those You Tube videos.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Congrats:)) Keep up the good work.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Sungoddess — me too!!! LOL!
But the money sometimes takes a backseat to just being able to express myself and communicate with the world. Thank you all so much for your kind wishes, votes, and love. I really appreciate all of you!!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Ohhhhh Bella! Congrats! You inspired me to start blogging. Kept doing what you’re doing. Now many print will follow your lead and do spots on natural black hair.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:31 am
congratulations Bella!!
You deserve it!!
Just being curious: what circles have you been excluded from?
April 24th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Yay, Bella! Congrats!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Congrats Bella, your brother in Trinidad put me on to your blog and i haven’t missed a day since, your words are truly fascinating and come straight from the heart. Congrats again and God’s blessings to you in all your future endeavours!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Bella,
I am so happy for you and for us! I include “us” because it feels
you are representative of “us”. I believe that was your intent in starting the blog, having a place where we can celebrate ourselves. You have created(and continue to do so), a most interesting, informative, original and of course fun platform for all women of color.
I enjoy clicking “afrobella” on my favorites list every morning!!
Congratulations and much love from one of your biggest fans.
Love and Light,
Yolanda
April 24th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Congrats! We here at home all know just how much ability you have & now others are seeing it & recognising it publicly! Do you get a Glam “best blog” sticker for the afrobella site?
Continue to be true to who you are & where you came from and always remember to thank those that helped you along the way & your star will continue to rise..we love you much..
April 24th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Congratulations Bella!
A very well deserved win.
Peace & blessings to you.
Xica Bahia
April 24th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Congratulations Bella!!! You are much loved
April 24th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Props!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Congratulation, thats really awesome!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:18 am
rock on
April 24th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Hooray! You totally deserve it!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:42 am
I feel extremely privileged to have stumbled across your site when I did. Congratulatiions!!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Wow, that’s fantastic! Yeah for following your heart and dreams! Congratulations on such a well-deserved award!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Little sister I will be taking a drink for you later in Trotters! Congratulations again, I don’t think you’ll ever stop making me proud!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:56 am
This made me smile this morning. Congrats Bella!!! VERY well deserved. I’ve come across so many that majorly heart your blog. Although I don’t always comment, I’m always stopping in to check out what you’re talmbout *smile* I have so many posts saved for future reference. Keep shining lady!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Finally! MY VOTE COUNTS!! yeah!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Congrats! You deserve the accollades
April 24th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Congratulations! You certainly deserve the honor. You are a bright spot in the day of so many!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:05 am
CONGRATS, Bella!!!!! Very well deserved, you know we got your back. Keep up the great work. Best blog ever, the first time I found your blog I read EVERY page in two days. Love it!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:19 am
SO HAPPY to be part of the ABSOLUTE AWESOMENESS that is AFROBELLA! As long as you’ll be writing, I’ll be reading! Someday I hope to be able to see Afrobella on the newsstands next to Cosmo, Glamour, Ebony and Essence…it’s so different from anything else out there! I hope you’re working on that—Afrobella in print would be AMAZING!!!! It can be a possibility—NEVER STOP DREAMING! Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS Bella! You are super talented and you deserve all the praise for your blog! I love it!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:19 am
This makes a great day better! Many congratulations and blessings to you, Afrobella
April 24th, 2008 at 10:20 am
congrats bella! you rock!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Awesome! You definitely received the recognition you deserve! You inspire me in so many ways. Keep it up Bella!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Congratulations!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I am soo happy for you!!! I’m a recent convert from another beauty blog for women of color. You inspired me to start wearing my hair natural and stop wasting my money at a Dominican salon each week and just embrace my curls. I love your *honest* commentary and the fact that you review stuff that doesn’t end up in a magazine ad the next month (i.e you just don’t review new products that you got in the mail yesterday from a pr person).
Bella, keep up the good work on blogging about beauty, the islands, and pop culture in general!!
April 24th, 2008 at 11:27 am
A person I voted for won something?!…. There’s hope that it can still happen!
Congrats bella! I think I am as excited as you are!
April 24th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Congrats Bella! JOB WELL DONE!
April 24th, 2008 at 11:34 am
A well deserved CONGRATULATIONS to you!! I am so proud of you and this site- and to think I found this site by accident. Can’t wait for the You Tube videos!! You are beautiful(as always) in the photo on the GlamNetwork site. Yippeee for Afrobella.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Congratulations, Bella. You so deserve it. You put your heart and soul into your blog and it shows.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Hey Afrobella!
Congratulations
You deserve it!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Bella!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Congratulations! I love your blog and it’s great to see it get the recognition it deserves!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I’m doing a little happy dance under my desk at work, reading all of your comments. You guys are the BEST. Love to everyone!!
April 24th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Congratulations on your award, it is very well deserved.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
CONGRATULATIONS!! Well deserved!! while you are doing your happy dance at your desk, imagine a soca song and spin some pooch!
April 24th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
congratulations, Bellaaaaaa!!!! you so deserve this award – all us babybellas are uber-grateful for your site….where else could we learn about the ish you’re serving up?? looks like you’ll be out of “here” sooner than later…hurrah!
April 24th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Go Bella Go!! Congratulations! Your blog is the ONLY blog I MUST check daily.
Thanks for all the time and effort you put into your blog. We appreciate you Bella.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Awwww …. you’re fantastic, Bella! Well deserved … xo
April 24th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Congrats. I’m so happy for you. I love this site. Its been six months since I’ve had a relaxer. I’ve been wearing different braids styles to let the perm grow out. Yesterday when I took out my braids and washed my hair I had the biggest fro’ I was literally afraid. I almost went out and got a perm but I thought of this site and got some cornrows instead.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I’m new to this whole blogging era, but Bella I must say you have truly been an inspiration to me… You’re like my big sister!!! lol… Keep up the good work and make sure you stay ‘Afrobellicious’!!
April 24th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
CONGRAT!!!! YAY, BELLA, YAY!!!
April 24th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Congrats!
April 24th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Roooooollllll it gal, “ya smart and ya pretty”
Yea Bella!
April 24th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
we love you too, bella. congratulations! the people have spoken!
April 24th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
OMG you truly deserve it! CONGRATULATIONS!!
April 24th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
WHOoOooOOoOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Go AfroBella!!!
Congratulations! I love love love your blog. Its my go to guide for everything!!!
keep up the amazing working lady!
xoxoxoxox
April 24th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
CONGRATS!! you deserve this and so much more. You go bella!
April 24th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Congrats Bella!!! You deserve it!!! Much success to you!!!
April 24th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
congratulations bella! you’re the only beauty blog i actually bookmark, so i think they are 100% right:-)
April 24th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
You go girl! I’m so happy for you!
April 24th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Congrats from a new reader who loves your blog!
April 24th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Congrats! I think this marks the first time that I’ve actually voted for someone and they won! Yay! =)
April 24th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
1 down, 1 to go. Now, if only we can vote Obama into office…
April 24th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Congratulations Bella! You do deserve all of the good things that have come from this blog… the spirit of the sisters (and brothers) that look to you for advice, the release you get from sharing your views with the world, and yes, even the freebies you get because a company wants you to blog about their product!
You done good girl!
April 24th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Well done.Keep going
April 24th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Well done.Keep going and doing your way. The best is still to come, I am sure about that.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Congrats beautiful Bella! You definitely deserve the recognition. Thanks to you, I am experimenting more and loving my natural hair. Please keep doing what you love.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Congratulations, Bella! You truly are the best ! !
April 25th, 2008 at 1:15 am
Congratulations Bella!!! This is my favorite blog by far.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Congrats! Keep doing what you’re doing.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Girl you deserve it again and again. You inspire, teach and give us so much knowledge on so many subjects and levels.
Girl go on and run for Senate!!! Need someone to help keep people CUTE…
Congrats and much love
Pam
April 25th, 2008 at 4:19 am
Congratulations and thanks for having this blog in the first place. This blog speaks to me not because we’re the same on the outside, but because we’re the same on the inside–even though the models in magazines are white, I feel they marginalize me as well, and I don’t even want to try and model myself after what is supposed to be ideal. I love to read the beauty posts (even though I have to modify some of them a bit when I try them!) along with the posts about music, politics, and life. Your site makes me realise that I can care about my looks and also care about my whole self, and what’s going on in the world. Unlike traditional beauty magazines, your site helps me feel like a person who is worthwhile beyond hair, makeup, and men. Thanks again, and your award is well-deserved.
April 25th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Congrat, this is absolutely wonderful!
I just discovered your site this year and I love it. Keep it up!
April 25th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Congrats!
Well deserved!
Brilliant – absolutely – BRILLIANT NEWS!!!
All the best, dearheart!
Anita
April 25th, 2008 at 10:39 am
You deserve this award! Congratulations!!!!!
April 25th, 2008 at 11:46 am
All the best! You’ve earned it.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
[...] this chick when I grow up. An old college friend and fellow writer/ blogger/ editor takes home the Best Beauty Blog from Glam Network. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers [...]
April 25th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Congratulations!! I knew you could do it.
April 27th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Congrats!!! I knew you’d take the top spot!
)
You deserve it, keep up the good work
April 27th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Congratulations – you put Miami beauty on the map every day!
April 27th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I am SOOOO late on this but…CONGRATULATIONS! I’m always happy when someone takes her passion and makes it work — for her and for other people. WTG Bella!
April 28th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
See what happens when I stay away for a couple of days, all sorts of wonderful happens!!! Like all the rest of the bellas have duly noted, Congrats, Congrats, Congrats, it couldn’t have gone to a more deserving bella!!!! To my Caribbean sista, you make me/us all very proud because you have given us a voice to our dreams, our loves, our dislikes, and most importantly our beauty!!!!
All that is left to say really is to for everyone to put their lighta inna di air ’cause “big tings a gwan” for you!!!!!
April 30th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Congratulations!!! This is very much deserved! I love reading your tips and inspirations. Keep up the great work! High-fives, Arlene
May 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I wanted to personally invite you to join Gilt Groupe http://www.gilt.com (Invite only online site providing members access to Men’s and women’s coveted fashion & luxury lifestyle brands- up to 70% off- exclusively online) as I just found out about it and it’s my new obsession. Love your site, love theirs, so thought I would make the intro…
Gilt Groupe is an invite only site, so their members are friends who refer friends who friends, but there is no fee associated with joining. You guys can send this link out though http://www.gilt.com/ggvip which brings you straight to a registration page!
They are have some great sales this week (all at 12pm EST)…Tuesday 5.6 Malo and Wednesday 5.7 Natori.
Happy Shopping!!
August 4th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
[...] I was the happiest bella, I swear. I got both performances on my Flip Video Camera, the one I won in this year’s Glam Network Awards, and I was so excited like YES!!! I will upload these on YouTube [...]
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September 10th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
September 10th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I love your site.
Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that I?ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. Sign: ndsam
September 11th, 2009 at 11:43 am
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I just came across your blog.
September 11th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hi,
I work on Tyra Banks’ publicity team. We would love to have a contact at afrobella.com to whom we can send updates on Tyra’s beauty-related projects. Please let me know who the best contact would be.
All best,
Hannah
September 21st, 2009 at 12:50 pm
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