Gladdys! Celebs in Gladiator Sandals
Celebs in Gladiator Sandals
Pam Grier
THE ARENA, Pam Grier, 1974. Well before Gladiator sandals became a trend, Pam Grier knew how to make the look work for her in the film The Arena.
Everett Collection
Sarah Jessica Parker
If the ladies of 'Sex in the City taught us anything about life, it would have to be that it's all about the SHOES! Sarah Jessica Parker donned some sexy gold gladiator inspired heels in this scene of 'Sex & the City', the movie.
James Devaney, WireImage.com
Sarah Jessica Parker
James Devaney, WireImage.com
Liya Kibede
Model Liya Kebede is shown wearing a sexy pair of satin styled gladiator shoes at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival in NYC.
Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images for Chanel
Liya Kibede
Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images for Chanel
Lauren London
Rising star Lauren London was looking lovely at the 2008 BET Awards sporting leather gladiator heels.
Maury Phillips, WireImage.com
Lauren London
Maury Phillips, WireImage.com
Lucy Liu
Actress Lucy Lui showed off her legs and a pair of metallic gladiator sandals at the premier of Kung Fu Panda in Hollywood, California.
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
Lucy Liu
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
Mariah Carey
Mariah kept it young and spunky with white laced heels in Tokyo.
Koichi Kamoshida, Getty Images
Gallery by Hayat Mohamed, Photo Editor: Monique Gray
Latest from BV Life & Style
Black Voices brings you the best information and inspiration you need to enjoy your life. Health, beauty, fashion and love advice abound, in addition to great comments and suggestions from our site visitors.
Filed under: Lifestyle, Life and Style
By Denver Louis, BlackVoices.com
Get ready for something different.
The Food Network is launching a ground-breaking new reality series this October with the premiere of 'The Chef Jeff Project'. 'The Chef Jeff Project' follows Chef Jeff Henderson, a former prison inmate turned successful executive chef, as he attempts to transform the lives of six struggling young adults through the power of food.
Chef Jeff has become one of the most inspirational chefs in the country after finding his passion for cooking while incarcerated for drugs, and subsequently turning his life around. In 2001, he made history in Las Vegas, when he became the first African-American named "Chef de Cuisine" at Caesars Palace. He eventually became an executive chef at several top restaurants including Café Bellagio, which he joined in 2004.
Jeff's extraordinary story, 'Cooked,' became a New York Times bestseller and is now being turned into a major motion picture by the team that made 'The Pursuit of Happyness.' Chef Jeff also launched his first cookbook, 'CHEF JEFF COOKS: In the Kitchen with America's Inspirational New Culinary Star' (Scribner). Jeff currently lives in Las Vegas with his wife and three children
'The Chef Jeff Project' premieres on Sunday, October 12th at 10PM ET.
Food Network Stars
"The television show has been a dream for me, the movie has been a dream, but at the end of the day, it's going to be the impact that I have on young black males in our community."
Food Network
"I was very rebellious when I first went in. I was very angry and felt I was a victim and blamed everyone but myself. It didn't change until I accepted responsibility. Brothers in the system sat me down and gave me my first book in there. I knew how to read a little bit, but the first book I ever read was in there."
Food Network
"I got fired on my first job in prison and got put in the kitchen. The brothers in there were running the kitchen; they had all the leftover chicken, casserole and meat and I'm thinking that this is the spot to be in. I never dreamed of cooking."
Food Network
"One thing about me is that failure has never been an option. I have a lot of tenacity and I've been able to accumulate a lot of success because of my work ethic."
Food Network
"Twenty-something years ago, I could have never dreamed of being where I am. I was a hustler and a dealer and that was my life. I didn't live for the future, I was living for the moment. Since I've seen success, I know I'm still not there yet."
Food Network
"These kids have young self esteems and the show is about praise. No one hugs these kids and gives them encouragement or tells them that they're smart. So what you don't have a GED or you don't know 12 x 12. It doesn't mean that you can't be successful. My whole thing is to build them up with some tough love."
Food Network
"I got really proud of them when we were done. I didn't train them prior to the show, everything that they learned from me was done there, on camera."
Food Network
"Several years ago, I started my own catering company, Posh Urban Cuisine in Los Angeles and I always hired youngsters who had a passion for cooking out of Job Corp, Pro Start and local high school students and young people out of L.A. Trade Tech."
Food Network
"When the kids went back to the hood, I wanted them to feel like hey maybe I really can make it in this business."
Food Network
"When I'm able to inspire a youngster off the street and they start to believe in themselves and think that they can be anything other than a thug or dope dealer, that's my success,
Food Network
What were your dreams before you ended up in prison?
I wanted to be successful and have all the finer things in life when I grew up; whether it was L.A. or San Diego. I come from a family where my father wasn't there when I was young, growing up, or even as an adult. My mother raised my sister and I, and I always wanted to see her do better. I wanted her to get out of that apartment complex and get that big house with the swimming pool and the big tree with the big lawn and things like that.
So how long were you in before you got into cooking?
I would probably say a couple of years. I was very rebellious when I first went in. I was very angry and felt I was a victim and blamed everyone but myself. It didn't change until I accepted responsibility. Brothers in the system sat me down and gave me my first book in there. I knew how to read a little bit, but the first book I ever read was in there. It was the first time I ever read the newspaper, the first time I ever watched '60 Minutes,' '20/20' and been around intellectual brothers. They were spitting a lot of knowledge and at the end of the day I realized that I deserved to be in there because I and many other African- American men, we influence generations of people selling that poison.
'Brothers in the system sat me down and gave me my first book in there. I knew how to read a little bit, but the first book I ever read was in there.'
At what point did you realize that cooking was going to be your salvation?
I got fired on my first job in prison and got put in the kitchen. The brothers in there were running the kitchen; they had all the leftover chicken, casserole and meat and I'm thinking that this is the spot to be in. I never dreamed of cooking. A couple of guys in prison, Big Roy and Friendly Womack, pulled me to the side and said youngster come on, we gonna teach you this game. I got good at it very fast because I was very focused and very tenacious. At that time I began to realize that maybe I can be good at this and I started getting praised for my food. And it feels good to be praised for something positive in life. And just like that a chef was born, that's how the whole cooking thing became a manifestation.
Where did the idea for a show come from?
Several years ago, I started my own catering company, Posh Urban Cuisine in Los Angeles and I always hired youngsters who had a passion for cooking out of Job Corp, Pro Start and local high school students and young people out of L.A. Trade Tech. So I always wanted to expose these youngsters to a different side of the food world because I wanted them to grow beyond cooking soul food. In order to make money and rise in the chef world, you need to know how to make international cuisine, Italian, French, Mediterranean. So I took these youngsters into Beverly Hills into these multimillion dollar establishments and estates and took them around L.A.'s upper echelon of black celebrity's and they were blown away. When they went back to the hood, I wanted them to feel like hey maybe I really can make it in this business.
How were the show's participants chosen?
There was a casting call in Los Angeles and they went to Job Corps, youth organizations, and juvenile probation facilities. They did an interview process and they brought in probably over 150 kids and they chose six of them. I never met them until the first day of the filming. They wanted me not to meet them because they didn't want me to be biased by getting to know them ahead of time. A lot of reality shows are scripted, but there's no script here. I wouldn't allow it. I wouldn't allow any elimination or pitting against each other. They all get a great surprise at the end and everyone wins at the end of the day. These kids have young self esteems and the show is about praise. No one hugs these kids and gives them encouragement or tells them that they're smart. So what you don't have a GED or you don't know 12 x 12. It doesn't mean that you can't be successful. My whole thing is to build them up with some tough love.
Were you worried that something would go wrong given the fact that you had such a young, inexperienced group and that you were catering actual events?
One thing about me is that failure has never been an option. I have a lot of tenacity and I've been able to accumulate a lot of success because of my work ethic. When I picked the catering events, I made sure I didn't make them too big where if we crashed, we wouldn't be able to produce. I knew if I were to lose one or two of the young people, I would still be able to pull it off with what I had. This group never really worried me too much. There were a few times they did, but as I pumped them up, and built them up, failure did not become an option for them either. I got really proud of them when we were done. I didn't train them prior to the show, everything that they learned from me was done there, on camera.
At what point did you really sit back and think what your success could be?
Twenty-something years ago, I could have never dreamed of being where I am. I was a hustler and a dealer and that was my life. I didn't live for the future, I was living for the moment. Since I've seen success, I know I'm still not there yet. The television show has been a dream for me, the movie has been a dream, but at the end of the day, it's going to be the impact that I have on young black males in our community. I think it's something that I will be doing the rest of my life. Giving back to them empowers me and brings me solidarity and a sense of peace. That's my success, when I'm able to inspire a youngster off the street and they start to believe in themselves and think that they can be anything other than a thug or dope dealer.
'The television show has been a dream for me, the movie has been a dream, but at the end of the day, it's going to be the impact that I have on young black males in our community.'
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What do you get when you mix, couches, drinks, a few diverse no-holds-barred brothers and some cameras? The simply answer is TV's candid sensation, 'Black Men Revealed.' This seasons hosts Ryan and Doug Stewart, already famous for their nationally-syndicated radio show '2 Live Stews', jumped at the opportunity to come on for the shows 2nd run.
With a variety of guests that range from doctors and comedians, to actors and even pimps, the guests are often as diverse as the topics.
Black Voices' own Denver Louis had the opportunity to speak to the two brothers on many of the same frank topics that are covered on their show.
How did the two of you get involved with the show?
Ryan: We do Tom Joyner every Thursday morning on Radio One with his affiliation, and maybe they heard some of the stuff or maybe Tom gave them a call and told them to give us a shot when they decided they wanted to go into a different direction for the second season. They reached out to us to see if we were open to doing the idea and Doug and I jumped on board because we were excited about doing a project that didn't involve sports. We went and met in DC and it's been a blessing and it's been pretty fun.
Why is it called 'Black Men Revealed?
Doug: Well basically because it's giving you an inside look at the conversations black men have on different issues. I think people get confused sometimes. They believed from the title that the show is some self-help show but that's not it at all. It's basically five guys sitting around in a setting that we would normally be in. In this case we're in a bar and we're just talking and these are the actual type of conversations that brothers have on an ongoing basis. You're pretty much just getting a camera and a mic placed in the middle of it and you're getting it really raw.
So are the conversations on the set really amongst you and not necessarily for the audience?
Ryan: Yes honestly, when you look at the episode you can feel the vibe. You'll see a waitress serving us with drinks and people lounging in the background in a laid back atmosphere. We were told not to look at the cameras or pay attention to the cameras just to sit there like we were at talking to our friends and I feel that's part of the uniqueness of the show because even though we were on television and the cameras were there, that wasn't the focus. The guests were busy talking with us with the particular topics at hand
Have you guys had any guests you seemed to be outrageous and maybe a little to hard to control compared to other guests?
A couple weeks ago we did the show called Bed, Bath and Beyond, which was basically about fantasies and we had a pimp on with a pimp cane and 'pimps up and hoes down'. He was pretty comical. And the comedian on that show, his name is Special K, he and the pimp got into it several times which made for great entertainment but when it comes to the guest everyone is pretty cool. Comedian Arnez J was another one or our comedians that was really off the chain and had a good time. So it never got out of hand, but when you're talking about a pimp and how people look at pimps, that struck a nerve with a lot of people who were viewing it.
Why do you feel there aren't many shows with black men discussing their insights?
Ryan: There are several shows, back in the day,' The Cosby Show,' 'Good Times,' 'Sanford & Son'. Those were sitcoms that were focused on our folks and our situations that we deal with. When it comes to a panel like this, TV One should be given a pat on the back for stepping out and putting educated black men together to talk about these issues that we deal with and face in our community. I just think that the black men have been misunderstood. I think the black man is still often hunted when it comes to the different races and the fact that he's not understood and he strikes fear to a lot of people and all those things combined is a good reason to do this show. I applaud TV One for putting it together for a second season with us.
What do you guys feel about homophobia in the black community? Interactions, perceptions, do you think the black community may be more homophobic than other communities?
Doug: Well I don't feel the black community is more homophobic than other communities. I mean to a degree. I really think that the guy that we had on made a very good point if you watch that show, where he talked about the reason why the "down low" phenomenon has hit so hard in the black community is because a gay guy can go home and tell his wife he likes to have relationships with men and the black woman would more so than other, he believes that she would go and blow up his spot as the way he put it. She would go tell everybody else and make a mockery of the person. Where in the white community it would be more understood if a white guy were to go home and tell his wife that he likes to have relations with other men it wouldn't be talked about with such disdain and it wouldn't be brought out to the community harshly either. So I do think that's a huge issue. We come from more simple values and we come from simpler backgrounds. In the heart we're much more conservative with family values. We might be a little bit more unwilling to understand or accept homosexuality but I believe that it's not just isolated to our community.
How does this term metrosexual fit into the black community? With stars like Diddy and Kanye being candid about their style. Is it changing hip-hop?
Ryan: Nah. Hip-hop is always going to be hip-hop and there are tons of variations when it comes to it. You've got the hardcore and then you've got the...the whole metro sexual term to me is something that someone came up with to basically say that this particular metrosexual person is not your average camouflage timberland wearing brother. This guy looks in the mirror and pays attention to his hair and being groomed, cares about how he looks. The term metro sexual has been created to define guys who care about their appearance. When you talk about being bi-sexual or being gay, I don't think the term metro sexual has anything to do with a man liking men or women. I think it's more of a situation of a guy who cares about how he looks and cares about how people think he looks. Puffy's big into the suits now and designing clothes and he's not ashamed to tell people that and when you see him on TV he'll pat his hair and fix his tie. He wants to look good and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
Ryan has your perspective on marriage changed since you've tied the knot?
Ryan: My perspective hasn't changed on marriage, it's always been the same. I got married at the age of 34 and I think a lot of guys get married young and I was never the kind of guy that wanted to marry young. I wanted to get through school, kick it and travel the world and party like a rock star and spend my own money and not have to worry about anyone else. It was something I wanted to put off for a little while which I did. My thoughts about marriage has always been the same it's just that I'm almost 8 months of being married.
Do you think that since you waited to get married at a later age that you may be better suited for marriage?
Ryan: Definitely. If I would've gotten married straight out of college or even 5 years after I got out of college it wouldn't have been what it is now. I was just too curious and still had the feeling in my blood to hang out and party where I wouldn't go home, I'd just kick it. The things that I were doing right out of college and playing in the NFL just weren't conducive to being married. I knew I wanted to do those things that's why I didn't go down that road but now that I have that stuff out of my blood I can focus on my grind and can relax and be at home and not worry about what's on the streets. I think it's definitely better for me. It's the kind of thing that you've got to pick and choose your poison and you got to do you. Guys look at things differently. Someone like Doug did it right, out of college and was happy with it, good for him but I think you need to know your limitations as well as your capabilities before you get into it.
Doug, you've been married 12 years straight out of college, do you think you may have an upper hand on brothers that have recently married?
Doug: It's been fine for me. It's actually 13 years. There's ups, downs and a lot of growing pains. There's a lot of things you're going to face when you get married, I don't care who you are. For me it's been fine and I'm happy with my family and I'm happy with the way my life is.
The College Survival Guide
A Fridge
Regardless of whether you have a wonderful sized meal plan, your fridge may come in handy with leftovers or when you feel like stocking it with bottled drinks.
Computer
The convenience of a computer is essential when sending your kids off to college. Forget the hike to the computer lab across campus students need a computer in the comfort of their room. A printer comes in handy as well. Depending on whether your child plans to carry his laptop around campus, you might opt for a desk top since they're lighter on the pockets.
Snacks
You will surely survive with off of a meal plan but it doesn't hurt to stock up on snacks when you don't feel like leaving your dorm room. Bottled water, pop corn, cereal and Ramen noodles are all low budget snacks to stock up on. Just be weary of the freshman 15.
Things from home
Some college students suffer from homesickness the first year. It's best to surround yourself with things like photos of the family, pillows or even stuffed animals. Anything that reminds your child of home.
MP3 Player
With all the stress that comes from school and exams, sometimes it's nice to block out the chaos in your life and even your roommate with music. It's nearly impossible to find students walking to class who aren't jamming to tunes.
Budget
Students who enter college often come in at the ripening age of 18. A great time for credit cards. Parents beware, your child may end up ruining their credit at a young age
Alarm Clock
When you're in college you don't have the luxury of getting awaken by your parents. It's now your responsibility to get to class on time so alarm clocks are a must. But keep your roommate in mind. You shouldn't wake him up ever morning with a blow horn alarm.
Cleaning supplies
Now you don't necessarily need to bring in the rubber gloves, mop and gas mask but it doesn't hurt to bring along Clorox all purpose wipes for spills or dust. Vacuums and brooms come in handy too depending if you have a carpeted dorm.
Bedding
What most parents aren't aware of is that most college beds are twin sized but extra long and require special sheets. When shopping keep your eye open for sheets that clearly state 'extra long' or else your child may come up short.
Shower shoes
You really don't know what some people do in the shower these days. College showers are known to be creeping with germs so spare yourself the fungus and purchase flip flops for the shower. You'll thank us later!
What role does swagger play in any relationship?
Ryan: There are women who are attracted to swagger and I don't think it has anything to do with color. There's girls who grow up and have fantasies of being with a prince or a ball player and the dude that's cool. The cool dude and the swag is just attractive. Just like when it comes to men and how they want their woman to be; smart and witty and when they walk into a room they command attention. That's just where it is. You got to have swag to get a woman, they cool guy usually does get the girl but the cool guy who walks into the room and everyone goes "who's that?" he's going to be perceived to be more attractive than a guy who's laid back and nonchalant. So I think swag plays a big role in what women want and what women see. The fact that some people say Jay Z is an ugly duckling doesn't mean anything because he's one of the coolest guys in hip-hop and what he does in his industry. That's going to be attractive to women and they're going to look past a big nose and a big forehead when it comes to a guy who commands respect and gets that whenever and wherever he is.
Have either of you been a part of interracial relationships and why do you feel black women have such an issue with it?
Ryan: I've had black friends, Latino friends, Asian friends and white friends. To me, it's about being happy. It's not about what someone perceives or what someone thinks when I walk into the room with somebody. I could not give a damn about what you think about me hanging with a white person or a Latino chick. If whatever reason I've decided to go down that road, it has nothing to do with anybody but me. We talked about marriage a second ago. When it comes to me an my wife, Doug and I get into debates about how I do something versus how he has done things in his marriage. That's something where to each is own. You can't judge anyone else or their relationship based on your own relationship and your experiences so if a black dude with a white woman or a white man with a black woman isn't your fancy, good for you but for the people that it is, good for them. It's about them being happy and them being content in their relationship and that's what should matter.
The College Survival Guide
A Fridge
Regardless of whether you have a wonderful sized meal plan, your fridge may come in handy with leftovers or when you feel like stocking it with bottled drinks.
Computer
The convenience of a computer is essential when sending your kids off to college. Forget the hike to the computer lab across campus students need a computer in the comfort of their room. A printer comes in handy as well. Depending on whether your child plans to carry his laptop around campus, you might opt for a desk top since they're lighter on the pockets.
Snacks
You will surely survive with off of a meal plan but it doesn't hurt to stock up on snacks when you don't feel like leaving your dorm room. Bottled water, pop corn, cereal and Ramen noodles are all low budget snacks to stock up on. Just be weary of the freshman 15.
Things from home
Some college students suffer from homesickness the first year. It's best to surround yourself with things like photos of the family, pillows or even stuffed animals. Anything that reminds your child of home.
MP3 Player
With all the stress that comes from school and exams, sometimes it's nice to block out the chaos in your life and even your roommate with music. It's nearly impossible to find students walking to class who aren't jamming to tunes.
Budget
Students who enter college often come in at the ripening age of 18. A great time for credit cards. Parents beware, your child may end up ruining their credit at a young age
Alarm Clock
When you're in college you don't have the luxury of getting awaken by your parents. It's now your responsibility to get to class on time so alarm clocks are a must. But keep your roommate in mind. You shouldn't wake him up ever morning with a blow horn alarm.
Cleaning supplies
Now you don't necessarily need to bring in the rubber gloves, mop and gas mask but it doesn't hurt to bring along Clorox all purpose wipes for spills or dust. Vacuums and brooms come in handy too depending if you have a carpeted dorm.
Bedding
What most parents aren't aware of is that most college beds are twin sized but extra long and require special sheets. When shopping keep your eye open for sheets that clearly state 'extra long' or else your child may come up short.
Shower shoes
You really don't know what some people do in the shower these days. College showers are known to be creeping with germs so spare yourself the fungus and purchase flip flops for the shower. You'll thank us later!
Do you think black men are as adamant as black women when it comes to interracial relationships when the dynamic is a black woman and a white man?
Doug: I don't think so. You always hear there's eight black women for every black man. I think the numbers are so few and statistic shows that a lot of black men are in jail. There's somewhat of a homosexual problem in the black community and I feel that the numbers bare out, there's less men for black women so I think they do take it more personally that a black man would be dating a white as opposed to how a black man feels about a black woman dating a white man.
What have you guys learned from all of these conversations on the show?
Ryan: Everybody is different. We did nine shows, eight with all men panelists and one with a female panel. At the end of the day we all have different thoughts and ideas and we don't look at things the same. I think that the conversation and the dialogue based on who you're talking to and how they grew up can go in a totally different direction. Yes we're all black men and we were all educated but at the end of the day we're all different people and we see things differently. I think we're all a product of our environment. You could look at something totally different or feel totally different about something than someone else who's sitting right beside you.
Doug: I believe that we're misunderstood; the show even proves the point that black men are still misunderstood. I thought it was great to have this format because a lot of issues we talked about people come up to us on the street or e-mail us saying "I never knew dudes felt like that way" or "I never knew ya'll have conversations that deep." There's really a need for this type of show and I hope that TV One continues the series on.
Let's talk about your radio show, "Two Live Stews." I heard you guys worked three hours daily with no pay before you got a gig, what motivated you to work so hard?
Ryan: The opportunity just came to us by me going to Georgia Tech and knowing people that could make some phone calls to sit us down with the program director 79 the ZONE. Out of 500 plus stations in the country that do sports talk radio, there was a need for black folks to be in radio. Black people listen to talk radio but there weren't any black hosts when it comes to sports. It was sort of a natural fit that we were blessed to get into. It's been seven years now.
Why do you think there are so few black sports anchors, commentators, or sports reporters in general?
Doug: Just like anything else the people who make the decisions and do the hiring aren't black. I always tell people, that's the purpose of affirmative action programs because a lot of times people respond to and relate to people like themselves. Not saying that's wrong, but it's just the way it is. It's so humanistic. 95-98% of the program directors and the people who make the decisions in sports talk radio are white.
And how do you feel that affects the content and how black athletes are covered?
Ryan: Based on what I said earlier, that's going to sway the content. If you have white people who don't understand black folks or who aren't apart of black conversations, the content is gong to be from their point of view and from their angle. A lot of people always say that Doug and I always take the side of the athlete, and the black folks but that's not the case at all. We roast black folks that do things crazy, we roast white folks that do things crazy. But because we were athletes growing up and we played sports late into our lives, the way we look at different issues is going to be reflected upon that. When you got the majority of people on AM radio and TV being white, then their views and their thought aren't going to be the same as black folks. The more black people that get involved in radio and television, the views and opinions will kind of balance out. Until then, you're going to have a biased view being heard.
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The saying "beauty is only skin deep" surely doesn't apply to Kristen White. The recent Miss Black USA winner and graduate of Tennessee University proves you can have it all; beauty, brains and a heart. White, an advocate for missing and exploited children created an organization of her own called Project Protect, to help in the prevention and awareness of child abduction. White recently sat down with Black Voices to discuss her future goals with her organization and offered some advice to young women in pursuing their dreams.
How long have you been involved in pageants?
I've been doing pageants since I was 20 years old. I had participated in three pageants prior to Miss Black USA; national and local pageants. Miss Black USA is the first pageant of its kind that I've participated in. I wasn't pushed into pageants at all, it was really something I chose to do on my own.
How has being Miss Black USA helped you personally?
This pageant first and foremost is a scholarship program, so it has helped me a great deal financially in paying off my schooling. I attended college at Tennessee University and majored in Business Administration. The pageant has also allowed me to get involved even more with my community. I have my own organization called Project Protect: Missing and Exploited Children Awareness and Prevention. This program is an educational reference program I developed to spread the message of awareness and prevention of missing and exploited children. With the title of Miss Black USA I hope to carry the message of Project Protect even further.
What message would you like to send to young black females?
Always follow your dreams. And that sounds so cliché, but it's the truth. If there is something that you really believe is your purpose that God has put you in place to do, then do that. That's not to say that is won't take hard work, that it's not going to take perseverance, that you're not going to be tested or that you're not going to experience struggles. If it is definitely something that you can articulate as a dream, then you have to go forth with it and be able to put the work into it. Also understand how important education is to that dream and how much of a vital role it plays in you achieving that dream. Whether it's a technical school, a vocational school or a four year institution, always hone your craft. Always try to be the best you can be at whatever it is you are trying to pursue; in education, in being abreast of all of the things out there to make you the best person at it are very key.
Miss USA 2008
NEW YORK - AUGUST 05: Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart attends the Marie Claire screening Of "Holly" at the Hearst Tower on August 5, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - AUGUST 05: Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart attends the Marie Claire screening Of "Holly" at the Hearst Tower on August 5, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NEW YORK - AUGUST 05: Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart attends the Marie Claire screening Of "Holly" at the Hearst Tower on August 5, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Getty Images
NEW YORK - AUGUST 05: Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart attends the Marie Claire screening Of "Holly" at the Hearst Tower on August 5, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - AUGUST 05: (L-R) Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart and Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza attends the Marie Claire screening Of "Holly" at the Hearst Tower on August 5, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
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NHA TRANG, VIET NAM - JULY 14: In this handout image, provided by the Miss Universe Organization, Miss USA Crystle Stewart one of the top 15 semi finalists performs on stage during the final of the 57th Annual Miss Universe Competition at the Crown Convention Centre on July 14, 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam. (Photo by Miss Universe Organization via Getty Images)
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NHA TRANG, VIET NAM - JULY 14: In this handout image, provided by the Miss Universe Organization, Miss USA Crystle Stewart one of the top 15 semi finalists performs on stage during the final of the 57th Annual Miss Universe Competition at the Crown Convention Centre on July 14, 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam. (Photo by Miss Universe Organization via Getty Images)
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Top-ten contestants (L-R) Zana Krasniqi, 19, Miss Kosovo, Laura Dundovic, 21, Miss Australia, Claudia Moro Fernandez, 22, Miss Spain Elisa Najera, 21, Miss Mexico, Taliana Vargas, 20, Miss Columbia, Crystle Stewart, 26, Miss USA, Marianne Cruz, 23, Miss Dominican Republic, Vera Krasova, 20, Miss Russia, Claudia Ferraris, 19, Miss Italy, Dayana Mendoza, 22, Miss Venezuela pose on stage in swimsuits at the final of the 57th Miss Universe contest held on July 14, 2008 in the central coastal resort city of Nha Trang. Some 80 contestants from over the world took part to the event. AFP PHOTO/HOANG DINH Nam RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images)
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Crystle Stewart, 26, Miss USA 2008, parades in a swimsuit at the final of the 57th Miss Universe contest held on July 14, 2008 at the central coastal resort city of Nha Trang. Crystle is among top-10. AFP PHOTO/HOANG DINH Nam (Photo credit should read HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008, parades in a swimsuit at the final of the 57th Miss Universe contest held on July 14, 2008 at the central coastal resort city of Nha Trang. Crystle is among top-10. AFP PHOTO/HOANG DINH Nam (Photo credit should read HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images)
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Do you think beauty pageants today are more or less popular than they were 10 to 20 years ago?
I definitely think they are more popular today, because there are so many that are available right now that weren't available back when I was a little girl. So that definitely speaks for itself. I just think of them as positive. When I look at Miss Black USA, it's all about promoting African American women and all of their achievements. These women are striving for excellence and that's a great thing. Again, it's promoting education and community service, and really showing what we as women can do in our communities and our respective organizations. It's a positive message. Anything that is showing you the true meaning of beauty, aesthetically but also physically, mentally and emotionally is a very good thing.
How did you become the spokesperson for Exploited Children's?
Because of my own organization Project Protect, I've been adamant for years about protecting children from abduction and exploitation. Project Protect and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have been working together since 2005, well before I took part in the pageant. It seemed like a great fit for me and I'm honored to be the spokesperson for the organization. I hope to partner up with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Polaroid Camera Company to sponsor KidCare events. These events will enable parents to have mini-bio books, which include a current picture of their child, to provide to law enforcement in case of an emergency. I truly believe that together we can educate people and make them aware of this ongoing issue, and be able to protect children from abduction and exploitation.
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Read MoreFiled under: Lifestyle
By Denver Louis, BlackVoices.com
They're Back!!!
After the success of their first show 'Down Home With the Neelys' -- which became the highest-rated series debut in the five-year history of Food Network's "In the Kitchen" weekend block, the Neelys are back with a second helping.
Beginning this month, the Neelys will host a second Food Network show, 'Road Tasted with the Neelys,' a cross-country search for specialty stores and family-run businesses that make hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind edibles.
With the knowledge of what it takes to launch a successful family business and a passion for all things food, they'll also show viewers how to get these fabulous food stuffs delivered right to their doors.
Once again Black Voices' own Denver Louis had the opportunity to speak to this fun loving couple about their new show, their amazing success and their family life.
'Road Tested with the Neelys' premiered Tuesday, July 22nd at 9:30pm ET/PT
So you guys are superstars now!
Gina: No we're not! We're still Pat and Gina.
You do have the highest rated series debut in the 5-year history of the Food Network with 'Down Home with the Neelys'
Pat: It's really, really, really been a fun rise so far. When we first took on this venture, we didn't even approach the Food Network, the producers approached us and for the show to shoot off as it has, has been incredible. And then in a short period of time, we get a call from some executives from the Food Network asking us if we would be interested in hosting a primetime show. I'm like wow! I mean, we're currently writing a book, the restaurants are doing extremely well, so as I tell people, it's a good time to be a Neely.
So it wasn't really your idea to launch the new show?Gina: Well the show was already formatted on the Food Network called 'Road Tasted.' It's a travel show and the basic criteria are that you have to be able to have a website and ship particular product that is shown on the show. The Deen brothers hosted that show and we actually appeared on the show as they highlighted our Nashville restaurant. It's so funny because that was the actual show that Pat and I got discovered on and now we're hosting it, how crazy is that? It's like it came full circle.
Pat: Who would have imagined that? We were just regular folks and now we're hosting that show. It's really remarkable because Gina and I are able to see businesses from both sides. We're able to see it as hosts and see it as the person who has the national exposure come to them because we've actually experienced that side. We have a real good idea and appeal for the people who we are going to visit; a lot of family-owned businesses and small businesses that need the exposure but have a huge passion for their business that they have started from the ground up. We're enjoying it because we can really and truly connect with these people because they were just like we were several years ago.
Last time we talked I told you, you would have your reality show and look, you're almost there...
Gina: (Laughing) Yeah they got us on there prime time, but they still edit us, I don't think they're going to ever let us go full throttle, but it's a start.
Pat: Well the biggest thing I tell people is that we are always going to be ourselves, we can't help it. I mean God forbid they ever tell us to act, we have got to be Pat and Gina. Whenever you watch you are going to get us.
How do you select the cities that you visit?
Gina: Well that's up to the research team that the Food Network has in place. They do all the research, they make the selection and we go out and visit those places.
Pat: There is collaboration between us though...
Gina: They'll ask us what are some of the places we ever thought about visiting or would like to visit. For example, we always thought about going to Montana, so we ended doing a show in Montana.
How does it work, is it a road trip in your car or do you fly to destinations and then drive around?
Pat: We do a little of both. We fly around when there are long distances and sometimes when we get to certain parts of the country, we may drive to two or three different cities. And of course when we're in a particular city, we drive from location to location.
What has been your favorite destination so far?
Gina: I think San Diego so far and Montana as well, those have been my favorites.
Pat: I tell you what, I really enjoyed Denver. The weather was beautiful, and the mountains were incredible. And I must say Montana as well. You just don't expect to see mountains that are so beautiful; they call it big sky country. It's like looking at a huge wide screen television. What else that was amazing about Montana was the people, they were so nice wherever we were whether they recognized us or not. Hell, I thought I was in Memphis!
Meet the Neelys
We're such a close knit family that we make sure that our family doesn't feel like we've taken on this new life. We want to make sure that we reiterate that we're still here and we're still Pat and Gina and the family is still important to us and keeping our priorities straight.
Gina Neely
It's really, really, really been a fun rise so far. When we first took on this venture, we didn't even approach the Food Network, the producers approached us and for the show to shoot off as it has, has been incredible.
Pat Neely
The Deen brothers hosted that show and we actually appeared on the show as they highlighted our Nashville restaurant. It's so funny because that was the actual show that Pat and I got discovered on and now we're hosting it, how crazy is that? It's like it came full circle.
Gina Neely
We were just regular folks and now we're hosting that show. It's really remarkable because Gina and I are able to see businesses from both sides.
Pat Neely
Well the biggest thing I tell people is that we are always going to be ourselves, we can't help it. I mean God forbid they ever tell us to act, we have got to be Pat and Gina. Whenever you watch you are going to get us.
Pat Neely
Our other goal is to show people how to slow down and get back to the basics. We can get so busy chasing a dollar and trying to make this happen, trying to make that happen. Sometimes you just need to slow down and have some family time, talk to your kids and find out what's in their heads, what's going on, and just what's happening in your home. Take some time for fellowship.
Gina Neely
She makes a turkey meatloaf, and she also makes a dish that we've given our own name called, "get-yo-man chicken." She takes it and she cooks it and she bases it in a sauce, because I'm a big chicken guy. So she puts all these herbs on it and she puts a nice bed on it and I tell you what, after she cooks me a meal like that man, I'm out buying flowers and anything else I can get her.
Pat Neely
You look at the TV and entertainment cycles and everything is kind of out of wack right now when you look at all these realities shows and all this craziness, it's going to be nice to have something positive that everybody can look at as a family with a great message and for a great purpose. No matter what, we all need to cook and cooking is what brings us all together.
Gina Neely
We share in the duties. If there's one thing that we as African American brothers need to do, it is to get out of our shell about cooking. It's very manly and very healthy for you relationship to get in the kitchen with your wife or loved one and cook with her.
Pat Neely
Are there any future destinations that the two of you are looking forward to visiting?
Gina: I'm looking forward to visiting San Francisco and some southern states as well.
Pat: I'm thinking next season we'll get to visit some southern states. One thing about our production team is that they really try to select cities that are seasonably comfortable for us. We did a lot with the eastern coast and northern cities. In the immediate future, I'm looking forward to Sun Valley.
How will the new show affect the already successful 'Down Home with the Neelys?'Gina: It just makes us busier. We still keep a tight schedule and it's just a matter of getting everything off the schedule so we can get it done. I think that's the toughest part, the calendar, and just getting it all worked out.
Pat: I also think that it will enhance 'Down Home with the Neelys' because there are people that haven't seen our shows and these people that may be working during the day will be able to tune into the primetime show and hopefully they will start Tivoing 'Down Home with the Neelys.'
With all the success and all the traveling, when do the two of you find time for family?
Pat: When we're home...
Gina: It is an adjustment. Every time we have some down time, we definitely try to get everybody together even if it's just hanging out. We have to take that down time to keep the normalcy and balance to what we do.
Pat: For the 4th of July, we were around for the third, fourth and fifth and sure enough 55 to 60 people were over to the house. We had bbq, steaks, macaroni and cheese and all the things that we love.
Gina: Also, we're such a close knit family that we make sure that our family doesn't feel like we've taken on this new life. We want to make sure that we reiterate that we're still here and we're still Pat and Gina and the family is still important to us and keeping our priorities straight.
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Read MoreFiled under: Lifestyle, Travel, Race and Civil Rights, Travel
By Alexis Garrett Stodghill, BlackVoices.com
+More on African American Travel to Williamsburg
Never did I expect a vacation to make me feel as proud to be a black person as my trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. Contrary to what many people may believe, a trip to Williamsburg will open your eyes to the breadth, depth and variety of experiences of our ancestors in America. And it's delightful, too. Harvey Bakari, a manager of the African-American Program at Colonial Williamsburg, put it best: "The difference between hearing something and experiencing something makes you see your ancestry differently." Experiencing our history gave me a sense of our cultural foundations in this country. Coming back from a visit to Colonial Williamsburg, I can say that I am truly changed for the better.
Travel to Colonial Williamsburg
The Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance is made up of businesses and tourism destinations in Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown, all within the state of Virginia. These businesses and destinations do an excellent job of making the depiction of African-Americans in the history of America's founding engaging and realistic. This image is one of the first seen upon taking a tour of Historic Jamestowne, the site of the first British colony in America.
Alexis G. Stodghill, BlackVoices.com
The Amtrak train goes directly into the center of Williamsburg, VA, which is an incredibly quaint and charming town housing wonderful restaurants, shops and the College of William & Mary. Three airports also serve Williamsburg: The Richmond International Airport (RIC), Norfolk International Airport (ORF), and the Newport News/Williamsburg Airport (PHF). It's very easy to drive here as well, making this a great for family trips.
Kate Hoving, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance
My first stop was to the historic site of the original Jamestowne fort. This wooden lattice and fort depict the dimensions of the living quarters of the first British colony in America, which became the seat of the American Revolution. The actual site is nearby.
Kate Hoving, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance
The grounds of Historic Jamestowne (with an "e") beautiful and relaxing, with gorgeous emerald greenery snaking along the James River. I was very much amazed by the scenic natural surroundings of the entire Greater Williamsburg area, which is protected by the National Park Service. It's worth visiting just to experience the fresh, lush untouched nature.
Kate Hoving, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance
The legend of Pocahontas and her contributions to uniting white settlers with the native people of Virginia is memorialized at Historic Jamestowne with this statue of her.
Kate Hoving, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance
Jamestowne is still an active archaeological site. This is the dig that is still going on to this day. Archeologists have collected over one million artifacts from this site that illuminate the conditions of the people who lived here during the 1600s.
Kate Hoving, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance
The Archaearium at Historic Jamestowne houses models of many of the artifacts that have been found at the archaeological site. There are many colorful, three-dimensional exhibits that show the types of challenges and triumphs faced by the settlers and native people as Jamestowne was founded and grew.
Alexis G. Stodghill, BlackVoices.com
Jamestown Settlement is a huge museum that brings the history of Historic Jamestowne to life. The spacious galleries and outdoor touring areas feature interactive displays, films, exhibits and full-scale models of artifacts. Award-winning black actor and filmmaker Tim Reid narrates an amazing film at Jamestown Settlement that covers how African nations participated in, and then tried to end, the Slave Trade in the "From Africa to Virginia" theater.
Kate Hoving, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance
At the Jamestowne Settlement, the curators do an excellent job of giving visitors a real feeling for what it was like to live in the past. This canoe was constructed according to the methods of the native Powhatan Indians, who were the neighboring tribe of the British settlers.
Kate Hoving, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance
This is a dwelling in the full-scale Powhatan village at the Jamestowne Settlement. It's great for older and younger visitors alike to see history come alive up close with buildings and items that you can smell, see and touch.
Kate Hoving, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance
Colonial Williamsburg and the historic sites of the Greater Williamsburg area are not just about slavery for the African-American vacationer. I bring it up right away, because I know this wound in America's history is a large one that turns many savvy black travelers away from a place that offers fantastic food, excellent architecture and rich cultural experiences. These attractions are surprisingly on par with those found at many beloved travel destinations. But there is something at Colonial Williamsburg you cannot get anywhere else: A human face placed on the darkest aspect of our past that teaches you positively about our heritage. By addressing it beautifully, the interpreters (as they call themselves) of African-American history at Colonial Williamsburg bless visitors with a gift: The gift of balancing the horror story of slavery with our equally real stories of agency, potency and survival.
Even if you never set foot in the historic part of the town, Williamsburg offers enough pleasures for the senses for a week-long relaxing getaway. To put you in the know, Williamsburg is quickly becoming one of America's top golf destinations. The outlet shopping is excellent, featuring amazing malls such as Prime Outlets, which is home to 90 brand name designer outlet stores. For the kids, you have the amusement park Busch Gardens, water parks and fabulous Virginia Beach nearby. These playful escapes are situated within gorgeous landscapes: rolling hills, pretty lawns and river views that frame your vision as you frolic between game-playing and sun-bathing. (Please click through the gallery above for great details on fun activities.)
All these treasures could be the ultimate lure for the experience of a life time for a black family, couple or any individual seeking to know more about the richness of black contributions to America. Harvey Bakari made it clear to me during my tour of Williamsburg's sites that the African-American program makes history tangible by fleshing out the negative qualities of the founding fathers while bringing the diverse experiences of blacks into fuller resolution. The slaves and the free blacks are depicted not as victims, but as heroic survivors. It is inspiring to experience, dispelling the expected unease one would have at seeing slavery portrayed by black actors.
You will learn the story of the black indentured servant who was defended by Thomas Jefferson as he sued his master for complete freedom. You will identify with the free blacks and slaves who used their barber shops even back then to congregate and exchange information. You will grow to know that Crispus Attucks was not the only black person to participate in the American Revolution. There is a whole program at Colonial Williamsburg dedicated to bringing blacks in the military during the Revolutionary War to light - and to life in dramatic presentations that are a hallmark of the program. You can hear about the petition by free blacks against an unfair tax on free black women in 1769 - and how these political pioneers had it overturned!
I saw the very steps where the Declaration of Independence was read. This document contained the seeds of America's new identity, yet these words became the foundation of America's hypocrisy: "All men are created equal." But somehow this bitter moment in history was transformed as Harvey explained to me that black leaders at the time upon hearing this Declaration, understood this to be our opportunity to press for true equality. While our founding ancestors knew that these words would not immediately apply to them, they seized the idea as a platform to fight for our freedom based on the ideals voiced that day. Thus, the fight for America's independence carried the first spark of our own civil rights movement within it. The realization of this -- mixed with the opening of history's dark door to reveal the great accomplishments of early black Americans that I have learned nowhere else -- instilled in me a new-found happiness. Pride in my heritage as an American. This replaced the sense of slavery as a gaping wound in my heart that no one wants to look at, neither whites, nor blacks.
Visit Colonial Williamsburg, and all the attractions that the Greater Williamsburg area has to offer. For those who want to transform the way they see themselves as a black person and an American, there is something special waiting for you. Baraki invites black travelers to "take a chance and see what Colonial Williamsburg has to offer. There is no buffoonery or images that will cause you to feel shameful about our heritage. People will get to connect with the characters on a human level, and have a very enlightening experience, which breaks down assumptions and perceptions about slavery."
And once that is done, you can go shopping, eat a great meal at a hot spot such as Trellis, and treat yourself to a revitalizing massage at the wonderful spa! With a large assortment of ever-changing programs concerning the black experience at Colonial Williamsburg, there will always be a reason to go back and enjoy the sights again and again. Look out for special events celebrating the 30th anniversary of the African-American Program at Colonial Williamsburg in 2009. Williamsburg is the kind of place you may want to make your "yearly trip" for its abilities to repeatedly delight, illuminate, educate and entertain you.
The Sights & Flavors of Greater Williamsburg
Williamsburg Lodge
My stay at the Williamsburg Lodge was relaxing and pleasant. The decor is that of a classic hunting lodge, and the food was great every day. It's centrally located, and staffed by an amazingly pleasant bunch who will make you feel right at home. There are many pretty nooks to chill and chat in, and the hotel is across the street from The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg. Very convenient!
The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg
Have an African-American-themed spa treatment to literally celebrate your roots -- the roots-based herbal treatments pay homage to the medicinal knowledge of our ancestors. The spa provides a relaxing, yet state of the art, atmosphere.
The Carrot Tree Bakery
The Carrot Tree offers great home-style cooking in a country kitchen setting. Try the Swedish meatballs, and finish it off with an scrumteous dessert.
A Chef's Kitchen
Dining at A Chef's Kitchen offers a unique educational experience, mixing fine dining with entertaining fun. Guests watch as their meals are prepared course by course in a setting similar to a cooking show studio, while the chef-owner pairs each dish with the perfect wine.
The Trellis
For a very high-end, chic dining experience complete with an excellent wine selection served by expert sommeliers, visit The Trellis restaurant in the heart of the modern Williamsburg area.
The Schooner Alliance
Take a boat ride on The Alliance, an exciting vessel with a cannon, sails and masts based in Yorktown. You can learn more about the Battle of Yorktown, a critical moment in American history, and enjoy a river cruise.
Historic Jamestowne & Jamestown Settlement
Historic Jamestowne is home to the actual site of America's first colony, while Jamestown Settlement is the elaborate multi-dimensional museum that teaches visitors about the various cultures and events that fed the beginnings of U.S. civilization. Be sure to check out "From Africa to Virginia," a special film about the slave trade narrated by director and actor Tim Reid.
Employment Opportunities at Colonial Williamsburg
Harvey Bakari, manager of the African-American Program at Colonial Williamsburg, would like to encourage more African-Americans to pursue careers in the museum industry. While playing free and enslaved blacks during America's pre-history can be a controversial career choice, jobs at Colonial Williamsburg offer full benefits, the opportunity for creative expression, contact with the public and the ability to change the lives and minds of those touched by the stories of our history. Please see the online listings for more information.
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Read MoreFiled under: Lifestyle
When you hear the name Dress for Success, one would most likely affiliate it with clothing. You wouldn't be too far off the mark since the organization does provide clothing for women headed to the work force. However if there's one thing I learned from chatting with CEO Joi Gordon, there's so much more to a business than its name reveals and it's safe to say there's way more to Dress for Success than nice suits.
Gordon set the record straight on all the great opportunities Dress for Success provides for women and how the entrepreneur plans to transform the image of an organization that gives out suits to an organization that empowers women to succeed in the years to come.
How can women become a part of Dress for Success?
Well women are referred to us by non-profit job training agencies. They're either getting job skills and coaching taking classes or in a program. Once they complete the agency requirement, the agency sets them up on an interview, and they are then referred to Dress For Success for the suiting. We see her 48-72 hours before her interview. It's not just that she doesn't have a suit that fits, it's that she doesn't have a suit at all. Over 50% of the women have never owned a suit. So for them the suit is a symbol of success and we boost self esteem and self worth and confidence by putting the suit on her and helping her see herself differently.
How does Dress for Success meet the demand for clothing?
Well clothing comes from women who go into their closets, dry clean their clothes and donate it to dress for success. So about 70% of what we get in comes from women, working women who are recycling their wardrobe and giving to an organization like ours. The other 30% comes from corporate America. From retailers and manufacturers who either cut specifically for us and donate or donate their excess inventory to Dress For Success.
Dress For Success offers mentoring and career guidance, how successful have these programs been for women?
Well very successful, I think we've started out as an organization that clearly was just really created to help women who needed to get into the work force by giving them suits. However we quickly realized that if we were truly going to be successful as a non-profit organization and really successful in the lives of women we needed to focus on what happens when she lands her job. Our focus was to create programs to keep women employed. Our Professional Women's Group which is in 50 cities, is really focused on workshops, seminars, career building, coaching, mentoring. 88% of the women who join the Professional Women's Group network are employed a year later and it really is because of the sisterhood and this network of support that they have.They know that these issues are not unique to themselves; theses are the issues of working women.
Top Summer Trends from Mikki Taylor
Bright colored toes are in this season. "Orange on the toes is a fabulous trend to play with to contrast that with a dark or a nude nail," says Taylor. Celebrities have been seen rocking this summer trend.
"If you're someone who's been wearing black or conservative colors, buy a fuchsia blouse, buy a yellow blouse; pair it with a some jeans and a sandal"
"The bang is making its way back and we'll see that it'll be at its height in summer about a month from now moving into fall and we're seeing it in all shapes: a blunt bang, a flipped bang, a wispy bang, a razored bang."
"Certainly color is back in a big way in fashion, color is in full bloom. Whether it is in solid like vivid greens and orange and yellow and roses or in dynamic artistic prints or bright floral."
"If you wear your hair straight, texturize it and use the best tools which are your two hands and finger comb it and see what nuances that brings you."
"If you're a person who's been wearing neutral makeup, experiment with a little color. Play with it on your lips, go from that brown to maybe a fuchsia and keep the rest of your skin bare and learn something new and sensual about yourself."
Can't stand the heat or always on the go? "The pony tails that are not so done are big hair trends," says Taylor. This effortless style is the look for the summer because it's simple yet still cute.
"Metallics are very big in beauty. We love metallics brushed across the skin, on the cheek or a metallic eye or mixed in with a bit of gloss."
Are there any current needs for clothing or sponsors?
Our biggest need is size 12 and up and that's why the 'Alli' partnership made sense for us. It is our greatest need. It's almost as if our donor base is size 10 and under and our client base is size 12 and up. So through 'Alli', they've helped us reach women who are also changing their lives, maintaining healthier lifestyles and building their own self confidence and their self worth through the way they look and the way they feel. They're now tapping directly into consumers saying to them; 'help another woman along the way'. As women are shedding their pounds, they are able to shed their wardrobe. They really, through their network of consumers, have educated their consumers about our organization and last I checked over 35,000 pieces of apparel were being pledged to be donated to us through their consumer base. My assumption is that that group was largely made of women size 12 and up so it's a great way of educating people about what our needs are.
How was the partnership with 'Alli' established?
It was really their way of celebrating their one year anniversary and changing millions of lives and they wanted to find an organization that they thought really spoke to and really paralleled what they were trying to do with healthy smart lifestyle changes. And I think that the synergy between their brand and what we do by making people feel good about themselves absolutely made sense and the added component of getting their consumers to donate their clothes to us made even more perfect sense. I think what they are teaching their consumers as far as making smart choices, is the same kinds of things that we're talking to our women about with respects to their selves and their lives. One of our greatest concerns is that our women, 70% which are single moms, need to make smart healthy choices in life because their children need them. So 'Alli' really made a lot of sense for us.
How did you get involved with Dress for Success?
I started out as someone who donated suits. I then went from donating a suit to sixty days later I joining their board. A year later I had left what I was doing to work full time at Dress for Success running their New York office. The founder left four years after that and I took over running the world wide office and I've been doing so for six years now. So I guess I really followed my heart and realized that one person can make a difference and for me the past ten years I've been a making difference every day.
In five years, where would you like to take the organization?
I think if you ask 10 women today, "Do you know what Dress for Success is?" I'm feeling really confident that 8 of them will at least say they've heard of us. But the impression of us is "oh yeah that's the organization that gives out suits. I want 5 years from now, actually 3 years from now, I want people to say "Oh yes I know Dress for Success, that's the organization that keeps women employed." And so that needs to be the focus of the work that we do because handing out suits isn't enough. She certainly isn't going to keep her job just because she's dressed well. So for me it's more important to focus on her after she lands her job and to create programs and support networks and tools for her to be successful on the job. That's when we're really going to be able to measure our success as an organization. Initially I want to see more global expansion. I want to see Dress for Success going into countries where women are just finding their voice and I'm seeing a lot more interest and energy around our organization going global. So for me I think we are only 11 years young as an organization so there's so much opportunity to change and evolve the organization into something that really is about supporting women's abilities to succeed.
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Read MoreFiled under: More Than Words, Lifestyle
By Linda Villarosa, Special to BlackVoices.com
Several years ago, I sat in front of my computer and began writing a novel. The theme was "passing." In college, I devoured novels by Charles Chesnutt, Nella Larsen and James Weldon Johnson. I was intrigued by the so-called tragic mulattoes of the 19th and early 20th century who were forced, in Larsen's words, to leave their blackness behind to enter the "hazardous business of 'passing,' thus breaking away from all that was familiar and friendly to take one's chances in another environment."
Because my novel is set in the here and now, a time when passing is passé, I needed to give my theme a contemporary spin. So I took the theme of passing and gave it a gay twist.
"Passing for Black" is the story of a thirtyish woman, Angela Wright, who leaves her fiancé for another woman. It's a coming out novel. For Angela, passing means hiding her budding lesbianism so that she can be accepted in the larger African-American community. Through her, I tried to examine the feelings we've all had-at least I have-of not being understood, not being able to fit in, not knowing where you're placed in all of the various identities and settings you live in. As Angela zigzags between her worlds, her goal is to find a place where she can simply be herself. The novel also probes issues of desire, family, friendship, religion-and hair.
"Passing for Black" came out three weeks ago, and a funny thing has happened on the way to the bookstore - few seem to know what to do with my book. Just as my main character is straddling two worlds, the book itself is leading a divided life of its own. In book publishing, niche marketing has become the new norm, and my novel is caught between two worlds-African American and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender). It's a familiar place for many of us who are black and gay or lesbian. Too often it seems like, to paraphrase the groundbreaking 70s feminist book ALL THE WOMEN ARE WHITE, ALL THE MEN ARE BLACK BUT SOME OF US ARE BRAVE, "all the gays are white, all the blacks are straight, but some of us are brave."
The cover doesn't help. My publisher, Kensington, has a number of imprints, including a hot and heavy LGBT line, and Dafina, home to African-American authors like Anita Diggs and Carl Weber. My book was published under Dafina, the black line. My cover-which I love-shows the main character looking cute but confused, her best friend, Mae, beside her. The jacket copy describes a chance meeting where Angela is consumed with desire for an intriguing stranger, drawn into intimate encounters that are both torrid and tender.
Famous Gay African AmericansLee Daniels
Began his career as a casting director working on projects such as 'Purple Rain.' He went on to become the first sole black producer of an Academy Award-earning film with Monster's Ball. Daniels went onto direct 'The Woodsman' and 'Shadowboxer.' He identifies as gay and has two children.
Jemal Countess, WireImage.com
Audre Lorde (1934-1992)
Lorde was a prolific poet and activist in the 1960s. In 1980 she co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press which became the first U.S. publisher for women of color. Her essay, "The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House" critiqued the feminist movement for its racism. She died of breast cancer in 1992.
The Cancer Journals, Audre Lorde
Octavia Butler (1947-2006)
One of the most brilliant science fiction writers of our time, Octavia Butler authored more than 14 books that built and destroyed notions of race, class, sex and sexuality. In 1995, she won a $295,000 MacArthur Fellowship, known as the "genius grant." In 2000, she received the Nebula Award, science fiction's highest prize, for her novel 'Parable of the Talents.'
Octavia E. Butler
Darryl Stephens
Is most famous as the lead actor in the Showtime series, 'Noah's Arc,' also known as the black gay male 'Sex and the City.' Though initially reluctant to talk about his sexuality, Stephens confirmed that he is gay in 2007 but remains guarded about his private life.
Barry King, WireImage.com
Bayard Rustin (1912-1987)
A premiere architecht of the Civil Rights Movement, Rustin organized the very first Freedom Rides as well as the 1963 March on Washington. Rustin who counseled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on techniques of nonviolent resistance, traveled to India to learn the Ghandian technique firsthand. He was openly gay and spoke out on gay rights later in his life.
AP
Paris Barclay
Paris Barclay is an acclaimed director of television, film and music videos including LL Cool J's 'Mama Said Knock You Out.' The openly gay Harvard graduate has since gone on to direct successful shows such as 'The Shield', 'Cold Case' 'CSI' and 'ER.' He has two Emmy awards, a Director's Guild of America Award and two NAACP awards for his work.
Michael Buckner, Getty Images
Andre Leon Talley
As Editor-At-Large at glossy fashion bible, VOGUE, Andre Leon Talley is the most recognized Black man in fashion. The Ivy leagued educated fashionisto is instrumental in promoting young designers of color and he has authored two books.
Brian Ach, WireImage.com
Barbara Jordan (1936-1996)
Served as a congresswoman in the US House of Representatives from 1973-1979, the first black woman from a Southern state to serve in the House. Jordan never publicly acknowledged being a lesbian but lived with a companion, Nancy Earl for over 30 years. Jordan was also the first black woman to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery.
AP
Johnny Mathis
One of the most successful artists of all time, Johnny Mathis is known best for his romantic ballads including classic 'Chances Are.' In a 1982 interview, Mathis came out saying his first love was a boy when he was 16 years old. However, he later maintained that should have been off the record.
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
Maurice Jamal
Maurice Jamal came out to his classmates at the tender age of 16 but waited five years to tell his family. The writer, director and actor is most noted for his film, 'Dirty Laundry' with Rockmond Dunbar and Loretta Devine. He says he finds it empowering to be an openly black gay man in Hollywood.
Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage.com
By page three, all of the sisters whose interest is piqued by the cover or who saw my book in Essence's list of sizzling summer reads or in Ebony's hot picks are going to find out that the intriguing stranger isn't a tall, dark and handsome guy. Instead, it's the hot, sexy Women's Studies professor.
Even odder and more confusing, because of the rapid rise of street fiction, my novel is frequently situated in the urban-street-ghetto-hip hop section of bookstores. Now I respect my girls Zane and Nikki Turner. I know both of them and am totally in awe of the way they've turned themselves into brands with their own imprints, and TV and movie deals. But my quirky little coming out novel, that looks at serious themes and has a mother-daughter relationship at its core, isn't street fiction. It's popular fiction.
Last week while I was speaking to a group of students about my book, a young man asked me about this topic. He then admitted that he didn't know the difference between "popular fiction" and street lit. So to school him, I read this paragraph from Nikki Turner's bestselling book, Riding Dirty on I95:
Paula began to move up and down on Cleezy, the sound of her wetness driving him crazy. "Faster." She sped up. "Faster." In no time at all Paula looked like she was riding a mechanical bull. Cleezy was in control, pumping faster and faster with each stroke, forcing Paula to keep up. Up and down she went, her titties flopping. Can you imagine me, with my horn-rim glasses and scholarly journalist background, coughing and turning 20 shades of purple, unable to spit out the word "titties" in front of those college kids?
Alright. Now, here's the other problem: My gay vague cover isn't bringing in the lesbians and gay men who would be my natural audience. In the few remaining independent LGBT bookstores and in the gay and lesbian sections of the chains-stuck in the corner in the back behind the coffee bar-that's where you find "Passing for Black."
At an appearance in L.A. a few weeks ago, I was sitting at a table full of my books. Two obvious black lesbians-it didn't take gaydar; they were holding hands!-walked right by me without stopping to even glance at my book. But what could I do? Drape myself in a rainbow flag? Scream out, "Hey, Ladies, I think there's something in this book just for you!" At the height of her meltdown, my main character Angela feels she's lost a grip on who she is: "In the modern melting pot, where race, gender, sexual and cultural identities collided, I realized that I was sick of the divided life I had been leading, always hiding, worried that someone would "read" me. I craved a place to just be--be my own damn self."
Linda Villarosa is a former editor of both Essence Magazine and the New York Times. For more info, visit www.lindavillarosa.com.
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Read MoreFiled under: Lifestyle
By Ken Coward, BDO Contributing Writer
Ladies, before you know it, it will be 85 degrees and you will be relaxing by the poolside. Today, I will help you get that backside into shape so you will be ready for the summer of 2008. The question I get the most regarding the butt is "How do I lift my butt?" -- so that's where we will begin.The two muscles we will discuss are the gluteus maximus and the hamstrings. The gluteus maximus forms most of the buttocks. It extends, spreads and turns out the upper leg. The hamstrings are any of the three muscles located behind the leg, which flex the knee, adduct the leg and extend the thigh.
First of all, we have to "turn on" your butt (use it during daily activities) before we can lift it up. The problem is, our hamstrings do all the work, so we don't use our butt. Everything we do (walk, run, climb stairs, pick things up) all recruit the hamstrings first. Our hips and glutes are both used to extend the hips.
We tend to use our hamstrings as our primary hip extenders. This is why our butts are flat or sagging. Before we start exercising your glutes, there are a few guidelines to follow that will "turn on" your butt:
1. Be aware of your gluteus -- whenever you walk, climb stairs, etc., concentrate on using your glutes; squeeze your butt as you extend your hip.
2. When you get up from your seat, do not rock forward. Keep your chest up, rise from the hips and squeeze your glutes.
3. When you have to pick something up, drop your hips, bend your knees rise and squeeze your glutes.
The bad news is, you have to break habits you've used most of your adult life. The good news is once you learn these new habits the workout will come easier, you'll get quicker results and you will achieve your goals. The following is an exercise program designed to lift the butt.
COMPLETE 3 SETS OF 8-10 REPETITIONS
Hip Hikes1. Start by lying face down with your legs straight.
2. Slowly raise one leg keeping it straight using just your glute muscles.
3. Return to the starting position and repeat for the desired repetitions. Repeat with the other leg.
Bridging1. Begin by lying on your back, knees bent and feet on the floor. Extend your arms out to steady yourself.
2. Squeeze buttocks and raise your hips and lower back off the floor to form a straight line from your knees to your chest. Do not arch your back.
3. Hold for 5-10 seconds and slowly return to starting position. Relax for 5 seconds.
4. Repeat for required number of repetitions.
Dumbell Squat1. Grasp dumbells and let arms hang down at sides.
2. Start position: Stand with feet slightly wider than hip width apart. Knees should be slightly bent.
3. Lower body by flexing at the hips and knees. Upper body can flex forward at the hips slightly (about 5°) during movement. Be sure to "sit back" so that knees stay over the feet.
4. Once thighs are parallel to floor, return to start position.
5. Remember to keep head and back straight in a neutral position -- hyperextension or flexion may cause injury. Keep weight over the middle of foot and heel, not the toes.
6. DO NOT allow knees to go past the big toe or deviate laterally or medially throughout movement. Keep abdominals tight throughout exercise by drawing stomach in toward spine.
Dumbell Lunge1. Start position: Stand with feet hip width apart. Grasp dumbells and hang arms down at sides.
2. Step forward 2-3 feet forming a 90° bend at the front hip and knee. DO NOT allow front knee to extend past the big toe -- may cause injury.
3. Pushing off front foot, return to start position. Continue with same leg or alternate as prescribed.
4. Remember to keep head and back upright in a neutral position. Shoulders and hips should remain squared at all times.
5. Watch for proper knee alignment -- do not let front knee extend past big toe or deviate laterally or medially. Back knee should not come in contact with floor.
Supine Hip Extension With Toning Bar1. Lie on your back on an exercise ball so that the ball is under your upper back.
2. Place a toning bar over your abdomen and drop your hips towards the floor.
3. Once you have almost touched the floor extend your hips straight up toward the ceiling and squeeze your glutes.
4. Return to the starting position and repeat.
With summer just around the corner, be sure to start incorporating these exercises into your workout today!
Miss USA 2008 worked her toned booty before winning her title. Will you work a bikini this summer?
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Read MoreFiled under: Lifestyle, Style and Beauty
Courtesy of Ambermag.com
While we would all admit that it does take a village to keep us looking fly, sometimes when you can't get an appointment in the village, it's equally as fabulous to keep a few top products at-home. Over the years, I've come to rely on these five essentials.
1. Exfoliators
If you're like me and are prone to breakouts, then exfoliators are your skin's best friend. Since our skin has bigger pores than someone who has dry or normal skin, our pores need more frequent deep cleaning. But not just any exfoliator, mind you. We need something that is gentle, yet still do the job. For more than seven years, I've relied on Origins Never A Dull Moment to do just that and more. It's made with papaya enzymes that gently remove dead skin cells and perks up my face as if I had just gotten a facial. That's why I never go to an important meeting, go out after work, or a night out without it.
2. At-home facial
Now don't get me wrong. I love getting a microdermabrasion at Mamie's Skincare, like everyone else. But when time has slipped away and I haven't had an appointment, a Saturday morning quick fix can be had with Clarisonic's ($195) skin care system. In less than 20 minutes, I can deep cleanse, strip away debris, and massage and revive my skin as if I just went to the spa. There are plenty of electronic facial tools on the market, some a lot cheaper, but Clarisonic's is truly head and shoulders above the rest and worth every penny.
3. Gold eyeshadow
The concept of one-size or one-color fits all has never faired well with me. But gold eyeshadow is a shade that I can truly say works on all complexions-especially light and darker shades of brown. Perfect as a highlight for the brow bone (don't forget to blend, blend, blend), and as an accent for inner and outer eyelids, it brightens up the eye area giving it a royal touch that transcends seasonal trends. I never leave home without it.
4. Mini-mes
When Warren Tricomi's six-inch flat iron ($90) came across my desk, I nearly squealed! Finally, someone decided to create beauty on the go in the form of a flat iron. Small enough to fit in your pocketbook, it's perfect for smoothing bangs and touching up short hairstyles like mine.
5. Bronzer
Whenever I wear bronzer, I always get the most glowing compliments. "You have great skin." Or "Have you gone away? Your skin is glowing." Ha! it's not my skin, it's what I'm wearing on my skin and then I share: "Girl, that's Iman's bronzer." Since she came out with this bronzer under her I-Iman line, which is no longer on store shelves as it was done exclusively for Sephora, I have been hooked. Granted
, I've worn her makeup since it first debuted, back in the early nineties. But the two-in-one bronzer and foundation took my makeup routine to a whole other level of pretty. And it will do the same for you. I've found hers to work the best on all shades of brown (most bronzers have too much pink in them to work on women of color), but CoverGirl's Queen Collection, as well as Bobbi Brown, have shades that really do the trick so beautifully you'd think you had a personal makeup guru in your back pocket. This is one you should never leave home without.
For more fabulous beauty tips visit Ambermag.com
Hot Shots- Hot Shots
LONDON - MARCH 01: Alicia Keys performs at the UK launch party for Black Entertainment Television (BET), a free-to-air digital satellite channel available via Sky 209, at Cafe de Paris on March 1, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Rosie Greenway/GettyImages)
- Hot Shots
NEW YORK - MARCH 2: Actress Nia Long attends the 9th Annual Family Day hosted by the TJ Martell Foundation at Roseland Ballroom March 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
- Hot Shots
Singer Janet Jackson poses at her Virgin Megastore In Store appearance on February 28, 2008 in Hollywood, California.
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Read MoreFiled under: Lifestyle, Style and Beauty
Courtesy Ambermag.com
Winter, spring summer or fall, your skin's number one defense is moisture.
Throughout history, indigenous people rely on nature's moisturizers to keep skin soft and protected. From shea butter in western Africa to coconut oil in tropical islands, women around the globe have relied on a moisturizer to be a part of their daily routine.
Today, those same ingredients are combined with advanced technology designed to deal with our ever-increasing skin issues. Moisturizers create a protective barrier on your skin to keep it hydrated, supple and smooth. Your moisturizer will also protect your skin from environmental hazards such as the sun's damaging rays and toxic pollution.
Depending on your specific skin care needs, you can find a formula that controls shine, reverses the effects of aging or combats discoloration. But not all moisturizers are created equal. They vary in formulations, with offerings in creams, gels and serums.
Cream formulas are normally best suited for normal to dry complexions; lightweight creams and gels are perfect for combination skin. And if you have oily skin or if it is prone to eruptions, opting for a serum may be your best bet. Most serums include a higher concentration of active ingredients and are designed to penetrate the skin at a deeper level; therefore helping to restore balance to sensitive-prone complexions. Here, our picks for the best moisturizers that will help you in your quest for an immaculate complexion.-Mia Stokes
Click here to see which brands work best for your complexion
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