Serena Williams is on the Cover of ESSENCE Magazine’s September's Global Issue
ESSENCE is moving forward with a brand new look. ESSENCE will launch it’s September issue with a fresh re-design. Featuring designers from Lagos to New York City, the issue takes audiences on a world tour of Black creatives from fashion and art to culture and business.
September’s Global Fashion Issue sees tennis superstar and fashion designer Serena Williams resplendent from beginning to end in the story, “The Future of Serena Williams”—from rocking face paint by Nigerian-born, Brooklyn-based artist Laolu Senbanjo on the cover, to dazzling fans in designers such as Carolina Herrera, Giuseppe Zanotti, Talbot Runhof, Issey Miyake and more in a gorgeous photo spread shot by photographer Kwaku Alston and styled by ESSENCE Fashion Director Marielle Bobo.
“We are beyond ecstatic to have Serena Williams—one of the most photographed women on the planet—to be the muse for our September Global Fashion issue,” said ESSENCE Chief Content & Creative Officer MoAna Luu. “This issue promises to be one of ESSENCE’s biggest with a fresh new redesign. We also brought the best Black creatives in the world—including visual artist Laolu, who gave us Serena’s stunning face painting for the cover—to present all of the stunning visuals that you see.”
In the issue, the world-class tennis pro opens up about everything from bouncing back her body after motherhood to investing in herself when she launched her own clothing line.
The September issue also launches ESSENCE’s Best in Black Fashion Awards, recognizing game changers moving fashion forward through design, photography, styling, modeling and more; the #BlackWomenIn profiles, highlighting five sisters creating diversity behind-the-scenes in fashion; and The Cool Girl Guide series, spotlighting global influencers in Paris who make their city haute.
ESSENCE’s September Global Fashion Issue hits newsstands August 16.
#RHOA: Did Y’all know that Porsha Williams has barely filmed new 'RHOA' season with NeNe Leakes?
Porsha Williams is "glad" to have Kenya Moore back on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta."
After taking last season off to spend time with her newborn daughter, Brooklyn, Kenya will return to the upcoming Bravo hit's season 12, which is currently filming, and Porsha is welcoming her back into the mix with open arms.
"She only took a season off to be a mom and to be a newlywed. It’s fine, girl, take your little break, but you gotta come on back," Porsha said I was glad she was going back because when she was there before, [our] relationship wasn’t that great so I’m like, ‘We have a great relationship now, let’s show that!’"
Part of what has helped Porsha and Kenya mend their relationship going into season 12 was the fact that they both recently became mothers. While Kenya welcomed Brooklyn with husband Marc Daly in November 2018, Porsha gave birth to daughter Pilar with Dennis McKinley in March 2019.
"Absolutely," she said when we asked if they've bonded over motherhood. "It helps us get over that hump of where we used to be. You don’t care about anything other than that little girl."
Meanwhile, numerous reports have surfaced that fellow cast mate NeNe Leakes has refused to film with both Porsha and Kenya, both of whom she's had infamously up-and-down relationships with over the years. When we asked how it's been between NeNe and Kenya, Porsha said she didn't know.
"I don’t know. I haven’t filmed with NeNe. No, I haven’t," she said before correcting herself. "I lied, actually, one time I did, but I just didn’t even remember it."
While that may have changed this past weekend when the cast all went to Toronto for the city's Caribbean Carnival, Porsha's words are telling as far as what viewers can expect from the upcoming season.
#Empire selects Grambling State intern to help shoot final season
Grambling State University student Kayla Sullers landed the internship of a lifetime, working with camera and production teams behind the scenes of FOX’s critically-acclaimed TV show "Empire" during its final season.
“Everything so far has been very hands-on,” Sullers said when asked to highlight her favorite parts of the experience. “From my very first day, I started on set, witnessing every aspect of preproduction along with the production standpoint.”
Sullers was recommended for a camera department internship by a film company she previously had done work for. After three rounds of interviews, she was hired as one of 13 interns who provide camera set up and maintenance, manage filming equipment and shadow the grip department, directors and the A-list cast who support the show including Taraji P. Henson, Terrance Howard, Yazz and others.
Prior to college, her work as a filmmaker and videographer was recognized by the Museum of Science & Industry Black Art Exhibition and WTTW Chicago Public Media. Sullers’ work has won awards such as the CineYouth Festival Award Recipient from the Chicago International Film Festival.
“My education and work experience at Grambling helped prepare me for the real workforce as well as interacting with others in the best presentation of myself,” said Sullers.
A native of Chicago, and rising sophomore at Grambling State, Sullers chose to major in mass communication with a concentration in integrated media in preparation for her career goals of becoming a cinematographer, director of photography and executive producer.
During the academic year, Sullers is a student worker for the university’s Office of Communications, and she drives community progress in her spare time as a member of the Student Leadership Initiative.
“The goal of President (Rick) Gallot and our entire university is to ensure our students have the opportunity to obtain more than a degree,” said Carolyn Hester, Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies. “Kayla is an example of the hundreds of thousands of HBCU students whose talents change the world when they’re given the opportunity.”
Kayla’s hard work will culminate when the sixth and final season of Empire starts to air on FOX in September.
#MusicNews: Mariah Carey Writes, Records ABC’s ‘Mixed-Ish’ Theme Song
Mariah Carey has just lent her pen and her Grammy award-winning vocals to ABC’s new show, ‘Mixed-ish.’
Titled ‘In the Mix,’ Carey wrote and produced the track along with Daniel Moore. It’ll be heard for the first time by audiences when the series premieres Tuesday, September 24th at 9pm.
“As a biracial woman in the entertainment industry, there was no way I did not want to be a part of ‘Mixed-ish,’ especially after seeing the pilot, which I loved,” Carey said. “I could not be more honored and proud to be writing and performing ‘In the Mix’…”
‘Mixed-ish’ will capture how Rainbow Johnson recounts her experience in the ‘80s-set-background in a colorful, mixed-raced family. Johnson’s parents move from a hippie neighborhood to a suburban landscape in hopes for a better life for their family. Because the five-octave singer has always wanted to contribute to a project that lends her talents to a topic focused on biracial women like herself, Carey saw it to be a perfect fit to collaborate with the ‘Black-ish’ creators.
The theme song will be heard for the first time by audiences when the series premieres Tuesday, September on 24th at 9pm. The new show stars Arica Himmel and young Rainbow, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Tika Sumpter as her parents.
#HipHopNews: Rick Ross Teases Turnpike Ike Video + Announces Premiere Date
Maybach Music Group leader Rick Ross is going to help everyone have a memorable T.G.I.F. The Miami rap star has announced plans to drop his new “Turnpike Ike” music video in the next 48 hours.
Yung Renzel went to Instagram Wednesday to break the video premiere news.
WATCH
Are you excited?
Cyntoia Brown released from Tennessee prison today after 15 years behind bars
Cyntoia Brown walked free from a Tennessee prison early Wednesday after serving 15 years behind bars for the murder of a man she testified bought her for sex when she was a teenager.
“Early this morning offender Cyntoia Brown was released the Tennessee Prison for Women,” the Tennessee Department of Correction said in a statement around 3:30 a.m. local time.
Brown was only 16 when she fatally shot and killed 43-year-old Johnny Mitchell Allen, of Nashville, in 2004. She was tried as an adult and convicted on charges of first-degree murder, first degree felony murder and aggravated robbery.
Her sentence demanded that she serve at least 51 years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole – but she was granted clemency in January by then-Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam.
His decision came after her case drew the attention of A-list celebrities like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian West as well as other high-profile lawmakers, attorneys and criminal justice reform advocates.
Get Ready! FX Renews ‘Atlanta’ For Season 4
“Atlanta” fans have been suspended in TV purgatory impatiently awaiting season 3 of the Emmy Award-winning series. The show was placed on pause do to Donald Glover‘s hectic schedule.
But, on Tuesday, FX announced “Atlanta” has received an early season 4 renewal.
The bad news is production will not begin until Spring of 2020. So, we’re still gone be waiting to indulge in the shenanigans of Earnest and his crew.
FX CEO John Landgraf addressed the nearly two year delay from season 2 to season 3 of the show:
As you might imagine, Donald Glover is sort of the king of all media, and he just has had an incredibly complicated life. He’s had personal things he’s had to deal with, from injuries to other things I’d rather not say publicly that just have to do not with his personal life, but his extended family.
One of the things that is just a reality of television today is you have to wait. We have so many things now that don’t cycle back on a regular basis…. From my standpoint, I wish for the fans as well as for us that we could get everything back on an annual basis but, again, you just have to make a decision about quantity over quality at a certain point — and we’re just erring on the side of quality.
Channing Tatum Is Taking a Break From Social Media & He's Explaining Why
Channing Tatum has announced he’s taking a break from social media.
“I’m gonna take a break and come off socials for a minute. I’ve been trying to get inspired and create again. And to be honest I don’t really feel, or at least I haven’t felt very creative on social in the last couple years now. I’m gonna go and be just in the real world for a while and off my phone. I’ll probably come back at some point. But if I do I want to have a direction or a clear point of view of why I’m on here and what I’m putting out there,” Channing wrote in his note to his Instagram followers.
Channing Tatum ended his message with, “Love ya! See ya after a while!”
This note was posted moments ago on Wednesday (August 7), just a few hours after attending a a VIP performance of Magic Mike Live London at the Hippodrome Casino in London, England the night before.
Hundreds at Times Square Ran for Their Lives, Mistaking Bike Backfire for Gunshots
People walking in Times Square were sent into a widespread panic Tuesday night after what sounded like multiple gunshots rang out in the crowded tourist destination — only later to be ruled as motorcycle backfire, police said.
Witnesses said they saw people screaming and climbing over each other, scattering north on Broadway after loud sounds were heard at the Crossroads of the World sometime around 9:30 p.m.
Up to 20 people were hurt in the frenzy, authorities said. Most of the people injured refused medical attention and fewer than six people went to a hospital for minor injuries, police said.
Multiple backfires on the road happened near Eighth Avenue and West 42nd Street, according to the NYPD. Several ambulances and police patrol vehicles were still on the scene an hour after the panic calmed down.
Crowds of people unaware of what was going on took off away from the sound. Some people thought it was gunfire and some thought there was an explosion.
Cellphone videos from above showed groups running for their lives. Many of them rushed into stores to shield themselves for a potential bullets. Witnesses expressed being scared due to the recent mass shootings that took place in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, that claimed at least 31 lives.
The NYPD’s Midtown North precinct quickly sent out a tweet to claim the anxiety that there is “no #ActiveShooter in #TimesSquare. Motorcycles backfiring while passing through sounded like gunshots … Please don’t panic. The Times Square area is very safe!”
A woman described being stuck inside a theater during the stampede, separated from her daughter.
"Everyone thought there was a shooter coming down the streets. I thought I was going to watch my daughter get shot down in front of me," Bridget Siljander said.
Another witness said he hid in the Polo store with his girlfriend; he said staff locked them inside and they looked out and saw people screaming as they ran down the street.
Mayor Bill de Blasio reacted on Twitter following the incident, saying "the panic and fear people felt tonight was all too real. Nobody should have to live in constant fear of gun violence. NOBODY."
Beyonce's ‘Official’ Portrait Will Hang At The Smithsonian in DC!
Beyoncé's historic Vogue portrait, shot by rising photographer Tyler Mitchell, is on its way to the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
The 24-year-old photographer's now-iconic shot of Queen Bey, which was for Vogue's all-important September issue last year, left its mark on history in more ways than one. Not only did the cover photo mark the first time an African-American photographer has shot a cover for the 125-year-old fashion publication, but Tyler also became one of the youngest photographers to ever shoot a Vogue cover.
"A year ago today we broke the flood gates open," the photographer announced on Instagram Tuesday (August 6) alongside the photograph of Beyoncé in a gold Valentino dress and Philip Treacy hat. "Since then it was important to spend the whole year running through them making sure every piece of the gate was knocked down. And now I’m glad to share this picture is being acquired into the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection"
Concetta Duncan, a spokeswoman for the museum, confirmed the portraits acquisition, but said it's not yet known when the photo will be on display or how long it will remain at the museum, per the New York Times.
"We are delighted to acquire this magnificent portrait of Beyoncé," Leslie Ureña, associate curator of photographs for the museum, said in a statement. "This particular work brought us closer to Beyoncé’s words, appearing within the magazine’s pages, and showing us more of the historic shoot."
Last year, Tyler — whose gone on to shoot for Marc Jacobs, Dazed magazine, the FADER, and even Vogue's May 2019 cover for Zendaya— opened up about his experience working with Beyoncé. "When she sat down for me there was immediately the kind of comfort level you’d have with a friend, which was quite unexpected," he told Vogue. "You’d imagine someone as famous as Beyoncé to be protective of her image, but she was really an open book — and that’s exactly what you want as a photographer. It’s funny because I’m pretty sure she headlined the first concert I ever went to, when I was maybe eight or nine, so you could say we met in a past life."
And when it came to making history, he told the fashion magazine, it was a long time coming. "For so long, black people have been considered things," he said. "We’ve been thingified physically, sexually, emotionally. With my work I’m looking to revitalize and elevate the black body."
Ariana Grande Joins Barbra Streisand In Chicago For Surprise Disco Duet
Barbra Streisand treated her Chicago crowd to an incredible surprise when she brought out Ariana Grande to perform her timeless disco hit.
The "7 Rings" musician joined the iconic singer onstage for an unexpected duet at Streisand's Tuesday night (August 6) concert at the United Center in the Windy City. Together, the pair took on "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)," the funky, upbeat pop smash the 77-year-old superstar collaborated with the late Donna Summer in 1979.
As Billboard points out, the encounter should have come as no surprise at all. Just the day before (August 5) taking the stage, Streisand took to Instagram with a post-manicure photo of her and Grande after getting their nails done at the same shop in Chicago. "Made a new friend," the legendary performer captioned the image at the time.
WATCH
.@ArianaGrande made a surprise appearance at @BarbraStreisand's Chicago concert to perform a duet of "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" 🎙 pic.twitter.com/qMndhn5hEw— Ariana Grande Today (@atnmedias) August 7, 2019
The moment must have been particularly special for the 26-year-old, who once said she wishes to follow in the film star's footsteps in a 2013 interview. "A lot of my friends are partiers, but I've never really clicked with that," she said at the time. "I like Barbra Streisand, and when was the last time you saw Babs getting, like, turnt up? That's kind of the road that I, as a lady, would like to go down."
As seen in a number of fan-recorded videos online, Grande and Streisand had the time of their lives performing the duet — which proved to be a success, as the legend later tweeted with a selfie of the pair, "Secret’s out. Thank you @ArianaGrande."
Amsterdam Canal Pride parade celebrates Stonewall 50th anniversary
AMSTERDAM - One of Europe’s biggest annual Gay Pride parades kicked off on the canals of Amsterdam on Saturday, with approximately 500,000 visitors from around the world cheering on 80 boats representing a wide variety of organizations from the LGBTQ community.
“Remember the past, create the future”, is this year’s theme, as the parade commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the historic Stonewall rebellion.
The series of often violent demonstrations by the gay community in the summer of 1969, which erupted after a police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village, is seen as a pivotal moment in the history of the LGBTQ movement.
Since its start in 1996, the Amsterdam Canal Pride parade has quickly grown into one of the biggest annual events in the Dutch capital.
Its popularity has forced organizers to become stricter over the years, banning private boats from the canals during the parade unless they have paid for a special ticket and prohibiting spectators from bringing their own sound systems to the party.
Meet the 'don't ask, don't tell' veteran who became Stonewall's first park ranger
“Considering the other years, rules are much stricter this year. No very loud music is allowed, no crazy dancing. But we make it our own party,” said one of the participants.
But visitors said the event would remain meaningful for them.
“Every year my mother makes a fancy dress for me. Every year we come to Amsterdam just to support everybody”, said Maartje Bruens, a visitor from Zandvoort. “Love is love.”
Primetime Emmys Will Go Without Host This Year On Fox
For the fourth time in history, the Primetime Emmy Awards are going host-less. Fox, which carries the ceremony this year, and the Television Academy, have decided to not have a host on the show, which takes place a month and a half from now, on September 22. Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier just confirmed the news during the network’s TCA executive session.
“Our job is to assess as to how to elevate the program in the year that we have it,” Collier said of the Primetime Emmys, which rotate among the Big 4 networks. “If you have a host and an opening, that’s 15 or 20 minutes you can‘t have to salute the shows.”
The last time the Emmys went without a host was in 2003, also on Fox. The other previous host-less Emmy broadcasts were in 1998 (on NBC) and 1975 (on CBS).
This year’s Academy Awards, which were host-less by necessity after emcee Kevin Hart pulled out over insensitive past comments on social media, were likely an inspiration after the tighter ceremony ran smoothly and saw a ratings bump. Emmys producer Don Mischer argued that it is the other way around, telling Deadline last month that he already has produced a couple of Emmy shows in which he didn’t employ a host and they turned out just fine.
“It may be much better to put this show together without a host since it has worked before and it allows us to be a little more unpredictable,” said Mischer, whose Don Mischer Productions produces this year’s ceremony with Done+Dusted.
The rationale behind the decision to go host-less was to have more time to honor TV’s best series, their casts and the talent behind them, especially in a year when so many iconic and hugely popular shows ended their runs, like HBO’s Game of Thrones and Veep and CBS’ The Big Bang Theory. They are expected to be recognized at their final Emmys.
“We will go host-less to have more time to honor those shows,” Collier said at TCA. “This is a pretty unique year for some of America’s favorite shows going away.
Did the success of the host-less Oscars influence the decision?
“I think that certainly it was something that we paid attention to,” Collier said.
He noted that “there were host names on the board but a conclusion was reached that this year, when you are highlighting so many shows that are going away, time is better spent on them.”
While the focus will be on departing hits, the ceremony won’t be all about them.
“There will be entertainment, there will be an opening number, there will be surprises,” Collier said.
Fox does not have a bench of go-to “default” hosts because it has no late-night franchises. Recent Emmy hosts on ABC, NBC and CBS have included late-night personalities Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and, most recently, SNL’s Michael Che and Colin Jost last year.
The 2018 Emmy Awards on NBC averaged a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 10.2 million viewers, making it the least-watched Emmys on record.
Ciara Named Creative Director of Nike Kids
Ciara has been named the creative director of the Nike and Jordan Kids fall apparel collections...
CiCi announced the exciting news this week on Instagram!
Congrats to her!
Wesley Snipes Joins Eddie Murphy’s ‘Coming to America’ Sequel
Wesley Snipes has signed on to appear in Eddie Murphy’s “Coming to America” sequel as an African general.
“Hustle & Flow” helmer Craig Brewer is directing the project with Murphy, Kevin Misher, and Kenya Barris producing.
The 1988 original movie, directed by John Landis, starred Murphy as the charming African prince Akeem, who traveled to New York City to escape an arranged marriage. Arsenio Hall starred as his best friend Semmi with James Earl Jones, Shari Headley, and John Amos co-starring. The comedy was a major hit, grossing nearly $300 million at the worldwide box office.
In the sequel, Prince Akeem is set to become king of the fictional country of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America — a street-savvy Queens native named Lavelle. To honor the former king’s dying wish to groom his grandson as the crown prince, Akeem and Semmi set off to America. Murphy and Hall are reprising their roles.
Paramount Pictures has set a Dec. 18, 2020 release date. The project has been in the works for several years with Jonathan Levine previously attached to direct.
Snipes worked with Murphy and Brewer on the upcoming comedy biopic “Dolemite is My Name,” portraying D’Urville Martin. “Dolemite” will premiere at next month’s Toronto International Film Festival. Snipes’ credits include “Blade” and “White Men Can’t Jump.” He is repped by APA.
Taylor Swift Set to Perform At 2019 Video Music Awards
Taylor Swift is returning to the VMAs stage! MTV announced Wednesday morning the pop star will be performing at the upcoming 2019 Video Music Awards, which are to be broadcasted live from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on August 26.
Blood" in 2015. It will also be the singer's first major televised performance following the release of her latest album "Lover."
The "Shake It Off" singer is tied for most nominations with Ariana Grande this year and is up for 10 awards, including Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Video For Good for her singles "Me!" and "You Need to Calm Down."
Throughout her career, Swift has won seven VMAs, including three Best Female Video awards for her hits "You Belong with Me," "Blank Space" and "I Knew You Were Trouble." And who can forget one of the wildest television moments of all time in 2009 when Kanye West crashed Swift's acceptance speech after winning Album of the Year for "1989?"
The 2019 Video Music Awards, which will feature music's biggest stars and fans honoring the best videos, performances and viral moments of the past year, will be hosted by comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.
The 2019 Video Music Awards air Monday, August 26 on MTV.
Monica Lewinsky To Co-Produce “American Crime Story” Series On Bill Clinton Impeachment Saga
Monica Lewinsky will co-produce the third season of “American Crime Story” which will be centered around her scandal and the subsequent impeachment hearings of President Bill Clinton in the ’90s.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, FX made the announcement on Tuesday saying the series is set to air in the final weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign.
Following the announcement, FX Chairman John Landgraf responded to critics who questioned whether the timing of the third season of “American Crime Story” could affect the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
While some online critics pressed the network to reconsider its timing, Landgraf defended it saying, “People are going to be very interested in this right around the presidential election, and it’s going to be a great show.”
According to the Hollywood Reporter, ”Impeachment: American Crime Story” will star Ryan Murphy, Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp; Beanie Feldstein (Lady Bird, Booksmart, FX’s What We Do in the Shadows) as Lewinsky; and Annaleigh Ashford (season two of ACS, Masters of Sex) as Paula Jones.
Writer Sarah Burgess penned the script for the season, which is based on Jeffrey Toobin’s best-seller ”A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President.”
This is the same book that Murphy optioned in January 2017 and later had second thoughts about using to tell Lewinsky’s story. But now with Lewinksy on board as a co-producer, you can expect to see the series next year.
AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
‘THE BUTTCRACKER’
Worse ballet I’ve ever seen.
#EGGPLANTNATION: Meet Cubberly
Meet! So you know what to do to see them goods. GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS and remember they’re NSFW!
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