Consider the look of forgotten legend Nina Mae McKinney, who was known as the Black Garbo back in the 1930’s. Flawless. Timeless. Click here to read my Black Voices homage to her.

And behold, my forever inspiration, Josephine Baker. Drink in the stunning photo I found on the amazing Flickr site Discover Black Heritage. To me, Josephine is the definition of gorgeous. I wrote about her for Vogue Black this week, and they’ve posted some amazing photos of her to accompany the article. Click here for that.

If Nina Mae McKinney had any one beauty trademark, it’d be a flawlessly manicured brow. I just got mine whipped into perfect shape at the B Bella Salon. It was one of those perfect walk-in afternoons, and Rosa threaded and waxed my brows into amazing shape! Two thumbs up for B Bella!

Lately I’ve been using MAC’s Brow Set gel to keep the brow situation under control. I hate an over manicured, over darkened, thin, harsh looking brow. That’s how they did it back in the day, but in my opinion, it doesn’t work in today’s day and age. Brow Set in Beguile perfectly matches the color of my eyebrows, and gives me definition without making my brows cartoonishly dark.

When I want a really defined cat’s eye for everyday, I love a bold, strong eyeliner. Right now Avon’s Glimmersticks Eye Liner is giving me everything I need. Rich pigment that doesn’t smudge, lasts for hours AND it’s on sale, so it’s less than $4! Score!

You can’t do Twenties glam without a delicious, dark lip. Right now I’m practically obsessed with Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in chocolate cherry — it’s a deep red brown that manages to not be too bricky. And I just got my hands on Three Custom’s uber hot new Noir Sheer lipstick, and it’s just as gorgeous as I expected. This lippie looks black when you open it, but when you slick it on, it’s more of a deep burgundy plum that is sheer but buildable. It looks super pretty on, regardless of your skin tone — I’m here to testify that this lipstick is glorious on brown girls, but Twenties glam doesn’t have to end with us! According to Gouldylox, Noir looks equally pretty on pale Irish lasses, just so you know.

Twenties glam also calls for uber long lashes – so look out for a lashtastic post next week!

Got any makeup recommendations for Twenties glam, my bellas? Share with me!

Related posts:

1. Get That Holiday Glam!
2. Josephine Baker, beauty eternal
3. Viva Glam! Drag Queen Makeup

I gave a long overdue shout out to one of my besties in the beauty blogosphere, Julia of All About the Pretty. I’ll tell ya, I touched her arm when we were at Fashion Week in September…her skin is like silk and velvet and all things soft and sumptuous because of the body scrub she’s been doing for years now.

Some of the hubbub and criticism of Vogue Italia’s new additions have died down, since Vogue Italia’s editor in chief wrote her rebuttal (in which she quoted ME! In Rachel Zoe’s words, I die!) And also, the announcement that the legendary Bethann Hardison is now the editor-at-large of Vogue Black quieted some naysayers.

Some of the hubbub has died down, but not all. And my attitude towards it can best be described as resigned bemusement.

I realized something recently — almost every website I write for has a variation of the word black in the title. Black Voices, Black Atlas, Afrobella, and now Vogue Black. It’s not that I’m exclusive about what I write about, I’m just passionate about celebrating our unique beauty.

Most of the time, when I read criticism of the sites I write for, it’s from white supremacists who are mad that black people have their own channel on the teevee and are living in the White House and going on fancy vacations and whatnot. To paraphrase. So I was kinda surprised that this time, the shrill voiced outrage was coming from women of color — about the fact that Vogue made a site dedicated to black beauty. I’ve come to the conclusion that I must be clueless.

To me it’s like – hey! Vogue’s catching up to what I’ve been doing since 2006! But to others it’s like how DARE Vogue create a channel just for us! Why separate us into another channel? The 1950’s are over! Thanks for setting us back * insert number of years*, Vogue! SMH! And if you admit to liking it even a little bit, people accuse you of having a “separate but equal mindset.”

I’ve seen articles online where it’s that serious. And I just don’t feel that way.

I don’t see Vogue Black as some kind of intended honor bestowed unto our people by the high priestesses of fashion. Please. I don’t see it as an attempt to neatly corral our beauty thereby throwing us a wacktastic bone while keeping regular Vogue the same as it ever was. I see it as a new initiative that’s beginning to find its look and find its voice, that is celebrating a range of black beauty and focusing on our celebrities and cultural icons. Big stories from Vogue Black also appear on the front page of Vogue Italia, and I hope to see more integration of articles from Vogue Black, Vogue Talents and Vogue Curvy on the main Vogue Italia website. The future is still wide open and bright, as far as I see it.

We’re at a fascinating crossroads in the black fashion world. On one hand, Vogue — the quote-unquote “world’s most influential fashion magazine” — is giving black beauty its own spotlight for the first time in the brand’s 118 year history. On the other hand, we’re seeing sad times as we face the apparent demise of the historied and celebrated Ebony Fashion Fair, which has brought high fashion to black women for half a century.

I guess it’s obvious, I’m biased because I’m contributing towards Vogue Black. But I gotta tell y’all, I am optimistic. I believe that this another step towards some long overdue changes. But enough about what I think… I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Vogue Black is here. What would you like it to be? What kinds of articles and photographic inspiration would you want to see? Do you have any constructive criticism to share?

Related posts:

1. Say Hello to Vogue Black
2. Vogue Italia Comment Love!
3. In Or Out Of Vogue

I’m a contributor to Vogue Italia’s new site, Vogue Black!

*cue fireworks and the chorus of Hate Me Now*

And I’m not the only one! Andrea of Fly is also contributing to Vogue Black, and Gabi of Young, Fat, and Fabulous is contributing to Vogue Curvy, the new destination for full figured fashionistas.

For me this all began last November with an exciting e mail. And I kinda feel like I’ve been holding my breath the whole time. I didn’t tell my friends, or most of my family. And if you know me, you know HOW HARD THAT WAS. OMG.

Now finally, I can exhale and share the happy news.

When I was originally approached, it felt like someone told me I’d won the lottery or something. And today, to see it’s actually come to fruition…it’s amazing and overwhelming.

Vogue Black launched just yesterday and clearly the site’s got some kinks to be worked out. I have nothing to do with the photos or layout chosen for the posts — I’m sharing and creating original content and it’s as much of a surprise to me to see what photos accompany my words, as it may be to anyone else. Author bios haven’t been posted yet. The posts right now are very photo-heavy and content-light (as my friend Claire of the Fashion Bomb correctly pointed out). But it’s up, and I may be biased but I think it’s awesome. And of course, already the blogosphere is full of opinions about it.

The Cut wrote a particularly cutting post on the topic, questioning the separation of curvy and black beauty from the mainstream. That’s a lot of the criticism I’ve been reading — why does Vogue Italia feel the need to separate into different channels?

My answer is, because throughout the history of fashion, black and curvy has been overlooked. We deserve our own spotlight. Of course, ideally black beauty and full figured beauty would be part of the mainstream – BUT IT’S NOT. Someone please share a link from The Cut about plus size fashion bloggers or black beauty bloggers. Please. I’d love to read it. Because I’ve been reading them for a minute and I’ve never seen one. And who’s to say that material from Vogue Black or Vogue Curvy won’t make it into Vogue Italia? For me as a reader, I think it’s refreshing to find a channel that exclusively caters to what I’m looking for — beauty and fashion inspiration that relates to my reality.

Clutch Magazine just did a great post about this titled Are Black Fashion Bloggers Being Ignored? and I can honestly say that the answer is yes. I think black beauty and fashion bloggers have been just as marginalized and overlooked as black designers and models have been. And we are here, we care about beauty and clothes and hair, and we’re a purchasing market that’s being underserved and unappreciated. It’s amazing to me that Vogue Italia has made this move, when American Vogue and British Vogue don’t seem nearly as engaged. It kinda blows my mind that all of this has come from a country that I’ve never been to, so far away. Note to self – plan trip to Italy ASAP!

All I can say about today is, we’re living in interesting times. Already people are blowing up my inbox and my Twitter page with questions, already some are throwing shade (I see y’all!), and already an interview with me has been posted on The Glamazons blog about today’s news! It’s some kinda wonderful. And I am making sure to be thankful for ALL of these blessings. As Mama Bella told me this morning, “Ask God to guide you in what you say and do, in every minute, every hour of every day.”

I am, mom. And I will continue to do my best to make you and Dad proud!

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Vogue Black. I sincerely applaud Vogue Italia for making this forward-thinking decision, and I hope it isn’t a symbolic, brief act. I believe that this is just the beginning, and I really hope that it leads to beautiful, big opportunities for all of my sisters in the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle blogosphere. I’m BEYOND excited and honored to be one of the first to be featured. Now let’s see — who’s got next??

Related posts:

1. Bellas! My Second Vogue Black Post is Up
2. Vogue Italia Comment Love!
3. Afrobella Meets En Vogue!

For example… on Saturday my husband and I strolled on over to the nearest bookstore. He needed to get computer books. And I needed to buy a few of the magazines I’m featured in this month!

That’s right, bellas. I’m in at least three magazines that I know of right now at your local newsstand.

Last December, I was flown out to San Francisco for a top secret photo shoot. Finally, the secret can be revealed! I’m in this month’s Fast Company — in a feature called The World’s Most Innovative Companies 2010. My advertising network, Glam Media is #37 on the list! Click here to read more. I’m on page 91, in a big beautiful photo alongside the bloggers of Hostess With the Mostess, Coquette (and her baby!), Stiletto Jungle, and Kristopher Dukes. The photographer — the amazing Mike McGregor, made the photo shoot so fun and engaging. SO excited about this, and thanks to Glam Media for absolutely everything. I love being part of the Glam fam!

My SECOND bit of big news is a new and exciting direction for me. You can find me on page 103 of this month’s Essence Magazine (the one with the Obamas on the cover). I’m featured in a Creme of Nature ad, along with some truly outstanding bloggers. Renee of CutieBootyCakes, Sunshyne of HairliciousInc.com, Leila of BGLHonline.com, Nadege of relaxedhairhealth.blogspot.com and I each have a photo and a quote about our favorite Creme of Nature hair product — I’m talking about the lemongrass rosemary leave in conditioner I had a giveaway of for my birthday in 2007. And if someone had told me back then — three years from now you’re going to be a product endorser in a magazine ad, I would have laughed out loud and told them to stop trippin’. But now, it’s here, it’s happening, and IT’S ABOUT TIME.

So many cosmetics companies pay celebrities, celebrity makeup artists, and celebrity hairstylists big bucks to be on their payroll and endorse their products. Finally a beauty brand has recognized that bloggers have been speaking to their readers, and our readers are their consumers. And increasingly, their consumers are turning to the blogs for information instead of impersonal magazine editorials. This feels like the beginning of a very interesting chapter for the blogosphere, and I heartily applaud Creme of Nature’s initiative in recognizing us bloggers out here grinding every day!

The Creme of Nature ad is also in Sister 2 Sister and a few other magazines, I believe! Let me know if you see it anywhere else.

2010 is already proving to be an incredible year. All of the hard work I’ve been putting in, is proving to be so very worthwhile. And guess what? It ain’t anywhere near over yet, and the best is yet to come!

Related posts:

1. Guess Who’s a Glamour Magazine VIP Beauty Blogger?
2. Final Final Creme of Nature Giveaway!
3. You Get the Presents!

I can be astoundingly picky when it comes to photographs of myself. I. Love. This. Photo. It was taken by amazing photographer Dan Chen, for an upcoming project that I am SUPER excited about (but can’t share with y’all just yet, but I can’t wait to tell you about!)

BTW, I mentioned this fabulous top when I mentioned my Silhouettes blogger boutique — do you like it? If you do, click here to buy it, and click here to check out my blogger boutique!

Today I am honored and excited to share an interview I did with Renae of In Her Shoes. We touched on everything from the best advice my mother ever gave me, to an average day in my life, to my thoughts on life in Chicago. Click here to read it. And if you’re not savvy to In Her Shoes yet, click here to read this amazing, inspiring blog. And click here to follow Renae on Twitter! She is a GREAT person I am delighted to know.

Thank you SO much for the opportunity, Renae! I hope you like my interview, bellas!

Related posts:

1. Afrobella’s Silhouettes Blogger Boutique!
2. Even More Tips to Stay Fly on The Cheap
3. Summer Shoes!

I’m thrilled and delighted to announce that fabulous plus size boutique Silhouettes has chosen lil ol’ me to be the second blogger to have a Blogger Boutique on their website! AND they wrote the sweetest post about me. I am tickled to bits.

Click here to visit my blogger boutique!

I included items for every kind of mood.

Hanging out with your boo? This chenille sweater is long, warm, cozy, and cute.

Hosting a dinner party? This beaded tunic is a statement maker that’s still comfortable (and looks GREAT with jeggings).

Going out for a night on the town? This kimono sleeve dress is elegant enough on its own — with bold jewelry and a smokey eye? Sexy sexy sexy!

I hope you like my picks. This is certainly a great start to 2010. Someday I’d love to collaborate with a great plus size retailer to someday design my own line of clothes — I feel like I’m getting closer to my dream!

What do you think? What’s your favorite pick?

Related posts:

1. Get In My Shoes!
2. So You Want To Be a Blogger?
3. Afrobella Teeshirts! Get Your Afrobella Teeshirts Here!

Like take this dress for example. If this was being sold in the USA, I’d already own it. I would have worn it to my Red Pump Project fundraising event last night. But alas, I may have to make my first ever trip across the pond to experience this kind of shopping glory.

But in the meantime, the dear sweet folks at Dorothy Perkins reached out to ME, lil ol’ me, to be featured on their Style Society blog, as part of their Going Out, Staying Out series.

Click here to read all about what it’s like for me when I’m getting ready for a night out.

Related posts:

1. The Afrobella Holiday Dress Guide
2. Afrobella Round the Web
3. For My UK Bellas!

This sparked an internal guilt trip that I won’t recount in great detail, but I want to let you all know that I’m gonna try my bestest to do better. It’s hard out here for a full time blogger, y’all. I’m trying my best to keep all the plates spinning and sometimes I lose track of my main focus. It’s extra challenging now that I’m the main hair blogger for AOL Black Voices, and contributing posts about ethnic beauty for The Fairest — I may be assigned a certain topic, or need to do a product review there ASAP, and then I forget to post it here on Afrobella as well. Or sometimes (to be really real with you), I just get burned out on writing about hair all the time and then I’ll switch it up to keep my passions burning.

Either way, mea maxima culpa and I’m gonna do better! Here are some of my recent reviews:

I love, love, love the hair products of Karen’s Body Beautiful. On my cruise, I took products from two hair care brands with me — Jane Carter Solution (review to come!) and KBB. The Hair Butter kept my hair frizz free and pretty from Chicago’s coolness to South Florida’s heat. Click here to read my whole review.

I recently did a review on luxury hair products — click here to read details on such high end brands as Leonor Greyl, Phyto, and Oribe. I’m gonna work on a longer, more detailed how-it-really-works-on-natural-hair post for y’all soon. But trust me, don’t sleep on Leonor Greyl!

And finally — let’s talk makeup!

Over on Who’s The Fairest, I break down the prospects now that Prescriptives is about to shuffle off this mortal coil. Clicky click for breakdowns of my favorite products by expected giants like MAC, Make Up For Ever, and Three Custom, as well as some unexpected recent faves like Black Opal and Fashion Fair. Yes that’s right, I said Fashion Fair! More to come on that historied cosmetics brand soon!

Related posts:

1. The Best of 2009 — Hair!
2. Who’s The Fairest? (I Am!)
3. Kinky Curly Comes to Trinidad!

A while back I was contacted by the folks at WowOWow.com with a specific beauty question. What is the biggest beauty mistake the over-40-year-old woman makes?

I just turned 30, so my own style identity is evolving from twenty-something, I-still-see-clothes-I-like-in-the-juniors-section sneakers-and-jeans-to-every-occasion into something more toned down and true to my life experience. So how could I answer this question? I spoke to all the women in my life who are over 40, before formulating a response. Click here to read my answer. I think I did them all proud.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love clothes. I love shopping, I love pretty things and just because I am full figured doesn’t mean that I’m not a fashionista. So when the Silhouettes blog wanted to interview me about plus size fashion I was SO! EXCITED!

Click here to read my interview which is all about being plus sized my whole life, and the kinds of fashion that we women of size DESERVE.

The Silhouettes Style blog is written by the fabulous Sarah of StyleIt — she is giving me pure LIFE and so much fashion inspiration with her On the Plus Size feature. Two snaps in a circle for Sarah, and for Silhouettes!

As a strong believe in blog sister love, it was an honor and joy to interview Curly Nikki recently. And it was wonderful to be interviewed back! Curly Nikki recently featured yours truly on her blog, in an interview all about natural hair, my current favorite products, and what the future holds for me. Click here to read it, and click here to support Curly Nikki’s next big move — she’s blogging for Tyra, y’all!

Writing is my main avenue of expression, but of late I’ve been seriously missing being a contributor to radio programs. RIP News and Notes! There still isn’t another program that fills the void. Lately I’ve been lucky enough to participate in some awesome radio interviews.

It began with a special AOL Black Voices podcast on Good Hair. It was fascinating to hear our varied perspectives, and I look forward to participating in future AOL Black Voices podcasts!

The Good Hair discussion continued when I was asked to be on one of my favorite radio programs — Cocoa Mode with Shawna Renee. And even better, the other guest on the show was my girl Deanna Sutton from Clutch! It was a great show and I’m happy to be part of the extended Cocoa Mode family. Call me anytime, Shawna!

And just last night I was honored to be a guest on Womanist Musings on Blog Talk Radio. Wanna hear the show? Click here to listen to the broadcast, which featured myself, the bloggers of Womanist Musings, and professional stylist Shaha, who blogs at Natty Locs by Shaha. Show these bellas some love!

2009 has been a brilliant and blessed year. I can’t wait to see what 2010 brings!

Related posts:

1. Afrobella On Your Radio!
2. Afrobella on BAP Living Radio!
3. Get In My Shoes!

If you visited Newsweek.com’s Human Condition blog today, you may have been greeted by this beautiful photo of two bright eyed, big haired girls. Those adorable little afrobellas are my nieces. Dominique and Isabella! And the article was my response to the latest rebuttal by Allison Samuels.

Hey response to the bloggers, if you will, was titled We Are All Team Zahara, and reignited ire throughout the blogosphere.

One of my favorite bloggers, Latoya Peterson tackled the Baby Z hair police head on in Jezebel. (LOVING all Latoya’s work over there, BTW).

Post Bourgie cosigned Latoya’s take, and Ta-Nehisi Coates took on the topic for The Atlantic.

Then Newsweek invited some bloggers to respond on their site.

Tami of What Tami Said wrote Natural Hair Is Not Unhealthy.

Author Roslyn Holcolmb who blogs at Stormcrow wrote Hair Don’ts Hold Us Back.

Nichelle of 55 Secret Street wrote Its Time To Fully Embrace Natural Hair.

And now you can click here to read my final thoughts about Zahara’s hair. If you could leave a comment on Newsweek’s site, it’d mean so much to me!

I hope that puts an end to these shenanigans, at least until the next trip to a toy store, where this little girl will emerge held by her mother, and surrounded by bodyguards, gawking onlookers, and photographers by the dozen.

If you’ve got a little girl in your life dealing with similar hair issues as Zahara Jolie Pitt and even Chris Rock’s little girls — struggling with loving their hair in its unfettered state and appreciating their natural beauty — you might want to get them an inspiring book for Christmas. Of course there’s I Love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, the sometimes controversial Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron, and Happy to Be Nappy by bell hooks. Now you can add I Love My Cotton Candy Hair by Nicole L. Updegraff to the list. The book takes into account the diverse background of a modern interracial family, the hair issues of biracial kids, and ultimately it’s “a story about loving yourself just the way you are.” A message any kid (and most adults) should be able to get behind.

Related posts:

1. Team Zahara!
2. Zahara On The Town
3. A Little Afro Love