In 2013 I got ambitious for Black History Month, and decided to kick off a month-long series on black beauty history. I titled it 28 Moments in Black Beauty History, intending there to be a new post every day. Things were going great at the beginning. I wrote informative, research-heavy posts about Josephine Baker and…
Pop Culture
I Love Queen Latifah’s GRAMMY Makeup! Sam Fine Spills The Details
A little backstory before the post: About a week ago, I was in Los Angeles on an assignment and I had the good fortune of going backstage to a taping of The Queen Latifah Show. I went to visit my friend, celebrity makeup artist and beauty influencer Sam Fine — he’s Queen Latifah’s official makeup…
Island Pride – Tessanne Wins The Voice!
I’m not usually one for reality show singing competitions, but two main factors can suck me into any kind of television programming. #1 – show me a competitor with true, raw, undeniable talent and #2 – let me know that someone on the show is from the Caribbean and is proud to represent our…
What Beyoncé’s New Album Release Taught Me
In case you took a social media break over the weekend and missed the explosion, Beyoncé released a new album when absolutely nobody was expecting it. 17 songs. 14 videos. And all she did was post a sneak preview video on Instagram and say “surprise!” She sold 450,000+ in the first day. Her latest release…
How To Live A Life More Like Nelson Mandela’s
On December 5, 2013, the world lost Nelson Mandela. At age 95, he had lived an incredibly full life and news of his ailing dominated headlines this year, so hearing that Mandela had passed made me feel a strange mixture of sadness and acceptance. As Bishop Desmond Tutu expressed, “we are relieved that his…
Black Girls Rock 2013! Was All About Beauty And Inspiration
This post is sponsored by COVERGIRL! Last night BET aired the annual Black Girls Rock! awards and I was SO thoroughly entertained and inspired. I’m so taken with Beverly Bond’s creation. Her organization goes so much further beyond glitz and glamour. It’s about reaching back and lifting up our sisters, it’s about recognizing our accomplishments…
Iman! Gabrielle! Bethann! And…Me? My Essence Upfront Panel Experience
I’ve said this quite a bit when asked about what it’s like to be who I am and do what I do – my job is an ever evolving, always exciting exercise in perpetually rising to the occasion. That’s the most appropriate explanation for last Thursday’s experience. I was flown to New York City,…
Janelle Monae Is Electric. The Afrobella Interview
Beautiful, talented, enigmatic and introspective – an in-person experience with Janelle Monae gives you unique perspective on how the petite singer has ascended the pop music throne. When you see Janelle Monae in person, you’re awestruck at her gorgeousness and when she opens her mouth to speak or to sing, you’re compelled to listen. That…
Apparently I Look Like the Eggo Waffles Girl
There’s a commercial on TV quite a bit lately, and EVERY TIME it airs, I get tweets and texts and Facebook messages about it. Have you seen the latest Eggo Waffles commercial? Apparently lots of people think the little girl in it looks like me. Or could be my child. Either way, LOL! I…
Things We Can Learn From Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Lewis is a whole lotta woman. She’s a powerhouse actress, a groundbreaking performer of stage and screen, and a legend who has worked with the best in the business. And I can tell you from personal experience, she gives AMAZING quotes in interviews. I learned that from personal experience when I interviewed her…