Author: Kimberly West
Tyler Perry in First Trailer for ‘Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces
From a traumatic childhood to the redemptive role of faith, discover the rags-to-riches rise of Tyler Perry, one of America’s most respected entertainers in the new feature-length biography ‘Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces’ from Legacy Distribution.
The feature-length biography ‘Tyler Perry: Man of Many Faces’ is now available on Roku Channel, Google Play, XUMO, Glewed, STIRR, and LocalNow.
Produced by Dana Webber and distributed by Legacy Distribution.
FIVE WAYS BLACK WOMEN CAN FEEL EMPOWERED ON JUNETEENTH
On June 19th, 2021, millions of Americans will come together to honor a key piece of American history; Juneteenth — the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States.
“Understand the history,” says Dr. Sonja Stribling, Life Coach for the Black American Woman, “but utilize this date to empower yourself, as empowerment is what this day is all about!” Stribling, a Certified Life and Business Coach recently featured in Black Press of America, Good Day D.C., and KDRV-TV, has coached and mentored over 300,000 women.
As the daughter of a farmer and housekeeper from Arkansas, Dr. Sonja Stribling is a retired US Army Major who spent 21 years in the United States Military. Stribling went from poverty to millionaire. Here, Dr. Stibling offers five tips to help Black women feel empowered this June 19th, 2021:
Understand Your History: Juneteenth can be a launch point to delve into your own personal history. Try journaling to understand how your past has shaped who you are today.
Know When to Say NO: Evaluate Your Boundaries, find power and strength in knowing when it’s best for you to say no to an event, a person, or anything you don’t want to do. Equally important is knowing when to ask for help.
Draw Your Road Map To P.O.W.E.R: (Possibilities, Opportunities, Wealth, Wellbeing, Worth, Excellence and Responsibility). Seize the possibilities and opportunities open to you, recognize your worth, reinvest in yourself to build wealth, prioritize your wellbeing, approach ALL aspects of life with excellence and share the responsibility of helping others.
Make A Routine Ritual: Treat yourself, every single day. Start by finding something you love to do. Each day, set aside at least five minutes to do that exact same thing. The mind will look forward to this routine self-time.
Share Your Story: Don’t just post to social media, talk to people in your life. Share your story to empower your loved ones and yourself. You never know who needs to hear what you’ve been through.
Dr. Sonja’s Bio:
Dr. Sonja Stribling, Ph.D. is a Business Strategist, Public Speaker and the Founder of the Born to Be Powerful Academy, a company that empowers women with the confidence and skills to dominate their personal and professional lives. A former clinical counselor and 21-year Army Retired Major, Dr. Sonja uses her training and experience to lead thousands to their victory by using their inner power to ascend to their next level in life and business.
This mother of three boys and divorcee, knows all too well the mindset of a woman who wants more but has to constantly fight multiple times harder than others. Becoming a mother at 15, before being raped and left for dead at 17-years-old, Dr. Sonja joined the military and spent the next 21 years serving three combat tours in a male-dominated field.
Known as the ‘General to Giants’ and is the Best-Selling Author of “The Divorce That Saved My Life,” this 21-year Army Retired Major and recipient of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award (by President Barack Obama), is a National Speaker for the Think & Grow Rich The Legacy World Tour, and former TV Host on Bravo Network. Dr. Sonja has been featured in outlets such as Bustle, KTLA, Good Day DC, The Ladders, Influencive and more.
Instagram: @IamDrSonja
Facebook: @IamDrSonja
ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA ANNOUNCES ITS 2021 “LIVE LOUD” VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE
ESSENCE, the leading and only 100% Black-owned media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities, announces its stellar talent line-up for its 2021 ESSENCE Festival of Culture Presented by Coca-Cola—the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience. Incorporating virtual for the second year in light of the pandemic, this year’s event will live up to its theme of “Live Loud” by featuring exciting content across all of its stages centered around culture, equity and celebration. As the nation continues to reopen, ESSENCE’s exciting and elevated hybrid experience will present a celebration of the resilience, power and achievement of our community and omnipresence of our culture — and a tribute to the city that the Festival has always called home. The star-studded lineup will feature performances by: Jazmine Sullivan, DJ Khaled & Friends, Ne-Yo, Tank, Michelle Williams, Kirk Franklin, Davido and D-Nice. The Festival’s powerful interactive sessions will also showcase leading voices throughout the two weekends including: Mary J. Blige, Angela Yee, Adrienne Bailon, Sarah Jakes Roberts, Tracy G., Tiana Major9, Big Freedia, Miss Lawrence, Supacent, Shantrelle P. Lewis, Jesseca Dupart and more. The Festival will stream on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCE.com—Friday-Sunday over two weekends, June 25-27 and July 2-4.
“The ESSENCE Festival of Culture, now the largest festival in the nation by per day attendance, is an unparalleled convening and celebration of global Black culture and continues to have even deeper impact on our communities via our expanded focus on economic inclusion, cultural ownership and community development,” said Latraviette Smith-Wilson, ESSENCE Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer. “As a live experience, the ESSENCE Festival normally attracts more than 500,000 attendees annually during July 4th weekend in New Orleans — but last year, we made the necessary decision to shift our multi-day celebration to an innovative virtual format due to COVID-19. The ESSENCE Festival was the first of its kind and scale to be executed virtually during the pandemic, and our team worked tirelessly to deliver the content, programming and resources that our community desired. As a result, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture provided much-needed, only-at-ESSENCE content and experiences that inspired, entertained, informed and empowered—resulting in 45+ million full-stream views of 2020 Festival content to date. This year, we are thrilled to bring forth another exciting talent line-up, curated programming and a new hybrid experience that will directly touch the people of New Orleans and Louisiana while also further extending our reach, engagement and impact via enhanced digital, technology and streaming capabilities to connect more of our community in the U.S. and across the diaspora.”
For the 2021 Festival experience and under strict adherence to guidance from local health agencies, ESSENCE will produce live activations available only to New Orleans and Louisiana residents— honoring essential workers and first responders—that will be integrated into the virtual experience during both weekends.
For more information and to register, visit www.essencefestival.com. Join the conversation via social @EssenceFest. The ESSENCE Festival of Culture Presented by Coca-Cola® is executive produced by ESSENCE Festivals LLC, a division of ESSENCE Communications Inc. Sponsors of the 2021 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors Estée Lauder, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Walmart as well as premium sponsors AT&T, Disney and UnitedHealthcare.
How-To Wear Leather Shorts: Easy Style Options
Leather shorts are my jam! When you see them, your mind automatically drifts back to the 80’s but they’re a versatile pair of bottoms.
They can be worn in the winter or summer months. Leather shorts look amazing when attending a special event. Especially if you’re trying to dress chic with the ability to move around and be social with ease.
The leather shorts I’m wearing were purchased from Victoria Secret; here’s a comparable pair on Amazon. A few easy ways to wear leather shorts include pairing them with tanks, t-shirts, or sweaters.
Take the look up a notch by wearing with textured tights or brightly colored heels.
Get the Look with PDPAOLA: Kylie Jenner’s Statement Earrings
Kylie Jenner made jaws drop by posting a sultry photo on her Instagram stories modeling a monochromatic beige outfit and chain link earrings. She joins sister Kendall Jenner and friends Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid, who have frequently been spotted incorporating the trendy chain link earrings into their everyday looks. The must-have accessory has quickly emerged as the perfect piece to elevate your look and make a bold fashion statement.
Get the look with these Muze Earrings by PDPAOLA. Retailing for $91 and available in silver and gold, the earrings are available for purchase on the brand’s website.
Tommy Bahama Announces Partnership With Smart Home Fragrance Brand Pura
Iconic island lifestyle brand Tommy Bahama announces today, a partnership with innovative smart home fragrance company, Pura. Two of Tommy Bahama’s signature home fragrance scents, “Maui Mango” and “Signature Island Blend,” are now compatible with the Pura device, to bring Tommy Bahama home in a smart system now available at www.tommybahama.com and at select Tommy Bahama stores nationwide.
The Pura diffuser gives users the freedom of controlling scent intensity, swapping between two fragrances of choice, and setting custom scent schedules—all within the Pura app. Each Pura device discreetly plugs into the wall, allowing for premium scent diffusion while adding a sleek touch to home decor. The device also has a colorful smart night light feature which, when combined with the scent experience, lets users personalize their home ambiance. Pura fragrances are pet and kid friendly.
“Pura’s device affords you the opportunity to wake up and fall asleep to our island scent,” says Chrisann Furciato, Tommy Bahama’s SVP of Licensing. “We are extremely excited about this partnership and transcending our guests to “Live the Island Life” through our fragrant scents within their home.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Tommy Bahama to bring their signature fragrances to life,” says Pura Co-Founder Richie Stapler. “These recognizable scents can transport you to the islands from the comfort of your own home.”
The fragrances are as follows:
Signature Island Blend: Notes of Maui pineapple, island mandarin, cilantro, tropical mango, luscious papaya, sea jasmine, driftwood, cedar, island musk.
Maui Mango: Notes of sweet island mango, juicy tangerine, and blood orange blended with Hawaiian pineapple.
The Pura Tommy Bahama box set retails for $85 on www.tommybahama.com and in select Tommy Bahama stores; and includes the two fragrances and a Pura device. The same fragrances sell separately, for $16 each, at www.TryPura.com.
JoJo x DSW: DSW Teams Up with JoJo Fletcher for Curated Capsule
Excited to share that DSW launched a new curated capsule collection with JoJo Fletcher, The JoJo x DSW Collection, on their ecommerce site and in all 500 stores, today!
DSW tapped TV Host and season 12 Bachelorette star, JoJo Fletcher, to curate her favorite footwear styles for the ultimate spring refresh. The JoJo x DSW Collection is a multi-designer curated capsule of elevated casual styles and will be sure to get everyone ready to re-emerge this season. JoJo captures the essence of DSW through her elevated casual style. She values comfort and fashion that can keep up with her busy schedule which is reflected in her must-have DSW picks.
“DSW is a one-stop-shop for all of my most loved shoe brands, I wanted to select shoes that were great everyday staples that can be styled in a number of ways. As we transition into Spring weather and the world starts to open back up, sandals and heels will be making their way back on to everyone’s feet and will be great summer pieces” says Fletcher.
Styles include on-trend sneakers, sandals, block heels, that transition easily from day to night. In addition to the feminine mix of light, fresh, neutral colors, metallic sheens and textural details, JoJo made sure to include fun pops of color that really make an outfit stand out.
“My best style tip is to find pieces that give you the look you want, without sacrificing your comfort. I always find that if I’m comfortable in what I’m wearing, I have a better time!” says Fletcher.
Franco Sarto Birch Slide sandal
“If I can find a cute, comfortable sandal AND it gives me that extra height, I’m ALL about it. These are the perfect platform sandal that is great paired with jeans, shorts or a dress.” Says Fletcher
Marc Fisher Casara Slide sandal
“White is so fresh for the Spring/Summer seasons so these slides will be the perfect addition to your closet. I love to throw these on with my favorite sundress.” Says Fletcher
Top 3 Sexiest Short Prom Dress Styles for 2021
Are you having a prom this year? If so–congratulations! If not, you should still attend the prom and see all your friends looking gorgeous in their prom clothes.
Sexiness and Lingerie are the two most important traits in a modern woman’s life, which were improvised further by Sisters The Label at Miss Runway Boutique. A girl should always look sexy, whether she will work or just hang out with friends. It was kind of hard for me to choose the best three styles for my collection because there were so many great styles this year.
One Shoulder Styles
The one-shoulder trend is a versatile style that can be worn with jeans or evening outfits. While you may think that wearing one piece of clothing on your shoulder is incorrect, just remember that all trends begin as an experiment and sometimes don’t work out for the best. In this case, the trend has definitely stood the test of time and wearable fashion.
Even as the age of the two-tone prom dress comes to a close, one-shoulder dresses are already beginning to emerge as a prom fashion staple for 2021. While this style looks just as stunning on some women as the lovely A-line dress with a skirt, it’s having its moment in the limelight this year because society has deemed it trendy enough to warrant a spot on any prom-wearing senior’s checklist.
The Bubble Hem
The bubble hem prom dress is back and better than ever. One of the main components to any prom outfit is by far the dress, so you must choose the right one to make you look glamorous and give you all kinds of confidence, but not too much that it would risk ruining your night! Your dress needs to be fabulous enough for the opening night event at Tony’s Place. This year, spice up your night by donning a bubble hem prom dress this season that will make everyone else turn their heads at your fabulous outfit.
The ’80s called, and they want the bubble hem back. How do I know? I get people asking about it all the time. Perhaps it’s their fascination with retro fashion that brought about this resurgence, but one thing is for certain: the bubble hem prom dress is back and better than ever.
The Strapless Dress
So, you’re in the market for a strapless gown to wear to that special occasion in your life but aren’t sure which styles will flatter? From poofy to poufy, the strapless dress is one trend that never goes out of style. But how will you know what styles are best for you? There’s a reason the strapless dress never dies — because it’s so versatile. This trend was reinvented over and over again, from different necklines to form-fitting silhouettes.
What I love about strapless dresses is that they can be functional, fashionable, and beautiful. They give you the option of wearing them for any special occasion, including weddings, parties, dates, or regular workdays.
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New Habits: Should They Be Left In Lockdown?
We had a lot of time to learn and perfect new habits over the last year, and many people are keen to continue taking the time to do them even as life goes back to normal. Of course, there may be some habits that are better left, but there have been many great habits people have formed that have really made a difference in their lives and allowed them to find a new passion in life. However, just what are these, why are they worth keeping onto, and could it provide you with inspiration to try it yourself? Keep reading to find out more.
Featured Photo from Vuelio
The Lockdown Kitchen
It was prime time to start getting creative in the kitchen. With so much time at home, people uncovered a love for cooking and baking in the kitchen. From having different themes to using new ingredients and learning new skills, many felt inspired by television shows such as The Great British Bake Off or Masterchef, while others may have been gifted the present of time and were finally able to start testing out recipes from a forgotten cookbook. Not only was there more time for cooking, but everyone had longer to take a moment to plan out a week of eating. To the foodies who never had enough time, this was heaven.
Not only were people more likely to use their stock in the cupboards (because of the essential-only shopping trips), but they had a knock-on effect of a better quality and healthier diet. Overall, this habit should definitely be taken out of lockdown and carried on into post-lockdown life.
The Lockdown Garden
Many were lucky enough in lockdown to have a space, big or small, outside of their four walls in the form of a garden. With so much time spent out there, it got many people thinking more creatively and making the most of their time outside. A survey from Squire Garden Centres concluded that 77% of people did more gardening during lockdown than they would normally do.
From gardening, the same respondents of the survey said it gave them a sense of achievement but also an outlet for stress and a source of much-needed happiness. This kind of positivity should be taken with everyone who found comfort in it from lockdown.
The Lockdown Knitting
Knitting may not have appealed to the masses, to begin with, but once gifted with time, many tried their hand at the skill, and so lockdown provided a lifeline for many wool stores in London. Knitting, obviously, creates a beautiful piece of art, a wooly hat or a newborns’ first blanket, but it has the added bonus of stimulating the mind. Knitting has proven to mimic the rhythmic repetition of mediation, thereby calming those who ‘practice’ the skill and is well worth continuing long after lockdown. You find all your essentials online from wool stores and take guidance from online resources.
The Lockdown Decorating
Interestingly, homeware brand Habitat announced that what consumers watched (or binged) on the television influenced the decoration of their homes. This is a dangerous game, as what could be deemed as stylish in the 1900s period drama may not sit so nicely in a modern home.
This trend should definitely be used sparingly. Otherwise, the front room may look like the set studio for a production company!
Throughout the global pandemic, everyone needed to seek comfort in their home, whether that meant small home improvement projects, getting your fingers green, smelling out the kitchen with delicious cooking or baking, or getting stuck into a challenging skill like knitting, They all brought a sense of calmness and relaxation. As a society, these skills should be taken back into reality, where new skills can flourish in classes, groups, or even to show off your new dish at a dinner party.
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