Category: Essence Magazine

Entertainment /

DAVID ALAN GRIER TALKS TO ESSENCE’S YES, GIRL! PODCAST CREW

In this week’s edition of ESSENCE’s Yes, Girl! podcast, Cool Kids star David Alan Grier chatted with the gang and talked about everything from his mission as an actor, fatherhood, how the entertainment industry has changed since the days of his hit movie, Boomerang.

Key quotes from this week’s episode are below. For the full Yes, Girl! Podcast interview, click here.

On his mission as an Actor:

“Having range – that’s the way I’ve tried to live my life. I would much rather audition for something than leave it up to someone else to say, ‘I didn’t picture you as that.’ And also, sometimes you need those outside eyes that see something in you that you don’t see in yourself …. something that is greater than your own vision.”

On how comedy has changed since the ‘90s and early 2000’s:

“I remember working with Daman Wayans and we used to make certain jokes … there were so many things that we could do then that we can’t do now… if we did [do it now] it would have to be attacked from a different point of view…”

Beauty /

Keri Hilson and My City 4 Ways Culture Festival from Essence and Ford

Over the weekend, Essence and FORD once again joined forces to bring the My City 4 Ways Culture Festival to Houston for its last stop. Ford brought the festival to White Oak Music Hall, to celebrate the city’s most notable tastemakers, innovators and leaders across music, art, lifestyle, and food. R&B star Keri Hilson celebrated the eve of her birthday with a special performance of some of her classic hits, including “Turning Me On”, “Knock Me Down” and “Pretty Girl Rock” while delicious hors-d’oeuvres circulated the gallery, prepared by One Feisty Chef and Chef James Robinson. Guests also enjoyed a Ford “Ride & Drive” experience, where consumers got the chance to test drive the latest lineup of Ford vehicles, including the Mustang, the all-new 2018 Expedition, and the F-150.

Attendees were also able to shop at the pop-up shops of art influencer Ashely Price, who did a live art installation, entrepreneur and fashion influencer Rich God who had his clothing Made By Rich God on display and for sale. Melissa Butler founder of the Lip Bar also had an interactive Lip Bar experience where she gifted guests with her lipstick. Houston’s very own Kam Franklin sang her heart out while she entertained the crowd with a special performance including a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Do Right Women, Do Right Man”.

Top financial advisor Tiffany “Budgetnista” Aliche hosted the festival along with Tai Beauchamp. The Budgetnista announced the Ford’s Driving Her Dreams contest winner, through which Ford awarded Melissa Mitchell of Abeille Creations a two-year lease of a Ford Explorer. To win this contest, Melissa Mitchell beat out 10 other female entrepreneurs who made a pitch at ESSENCE FESTIVAL explaining why getting a Ford Explorer would help their business go further. Congrats to Melissa Mitchell for the big win!

Celebrity /

MICHELLE OBAMA GRACES ESSENCE MAGAZINE DECEMBER/JANUARY COVER

Michelle Obama: Having Her Say

When “Forever First Lady” Michelle Obama opened up to ESSENCE for its upcoming December/January cover story…she definitely went there! After keeping a relatively low profile since leaving the White House, the Becoming author is stepping back into the spotlight to share her extraordinary journey. Looking stunning in a natural hairstyle for the first time, she talks to ESSENCE about her days in the White House, how to find your own Barack—and what’s next for her. *Key quotes are below. ESSENCE’s upcoming December/January issue hits newsstands on 11/23. For more on “Having Her Say,” visit ESSENCE.com. (Photo, Miller Mobley)

QUOTES:

  • ON HOW TO FIND YOUR OWN BARACK: “I think a lot of people don’t have a clear idea of what they should look for in a mate—and for a long time, I didn’t either…What drew me to Barack was that when I met him, he was already a fully formed individual. From our very first conversations, he showed me that he wasn’t afraid to express his fears and doubts, or that he might not have all the answers. He could handle someone with her own passions and goals, someone who had ideas of her own. He relished it, in fact. I liked that…”

  • ON HER HAPPIEST DAYS IN THE WHITE HOUSE: “Any day that I got to spend time with children was a good day. Sometimes if I was need of a pick-me-up, my staff would schedule an event with young people to give me a boost. Kids give me energy. They get me out of my own head and remind me about the things that are most important…”

  • HER ADVICE TO WOMEN ON BALANCING IT ALL: “When I was raising young children, I learned to lean on a group of my friends in Chicago, women who, like me, had jobs and partners and children who kept them moving every minute. We’d help one another in very concrete ways, like picking up each other’s kids for dance lessons or a birthday party or anything else that came up…Of course, we leaned on our husbands as well…But for me, there was something special—something vital, even—about sharing this experience with other women who were going through the same kinds of stresses and challenges that I was…”

  • ON WHAT’S NEXT FOR HER: “Since we left the White House, I’ve spent most of my time focusing on finishing this book. The book tour will keep me busy for a while, and then I’ll take some time to evaluate what’s next. I’m in no hurry. What I know is that public service is in my DNA, so I’m planning to find ways to keep being useful…I see myself always staying involved in efforts like that…”