Tyra Banks Poses For Black Magazine; Dishes On Career Achievements & More
Tyra Banks strikes some fierce poses for new spread in issue #21 of Black magazine. Shot by Thom Kerr, the supermodel and businesswoman rocks pieces from Lanvin, Gucci, and more.
In her interview, she talks what drew her to the fashion industry, her favorite modeling career achievements, how it felt accomplishing extraordinary goals like being the first African American woman on the covers of GQ and Sports Illustrated, and answers: “What is the Tyra Banks message that you want to share with world?” Catch a few highlights inside.
As a young girl, what attracted you initially to the fashion industry?
To be honest, I wasn’t attracted to the fashion industry, the fashion industry found me. I was discovered on a school bench the first day of high school by a fellow student. I thought I was far too awkward and gawky to ever be associated with modeling but it was actually those qualities that launched my early career. Once I was in the fashion world and walking the runways of Paris I was attracted to the nuance of the industry; the specific things that certain designers looked for in a model and what aesthetic caught their eye. I tried to be a chameleon and studied up on designers prior to meeting them at “go-sees” (auditioning for modeling jobs) in order to be the fashion muse they were looking to cast.
What was one of your favorite modeling career achievements?
There were a few. The ones that stand out are signing a contract with CoverGirl cosmetics, doing a Superbowl Pepsi commercial with Cindy Crawford, my idol. Being an original Victoria’s Secret Angel for 10 years and being on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, twice.
How did it feel when you accomplished extraordinary goals like being the first African American woman on the covers of GQ and Sports Illustrated? It must have been pretty exhilarating to know you were breaking the rules.
It was exciting for me, personally, but the exhilaration came in when I pictured young girls matching their skin color to mine on the cover of major national magazines.
And, the Tyra Banks message she wants to share with the world: “Perfect is boring, human is beautiful.”
Taj & Eddie George Renew Vows In A Gorgeous Ceremony
SWV member Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George and her former NFLer husband Eddie George celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary with a vow renewal ceremony.
These two have been through it all--kids, a demanding football career, a demanding singing career comeback, a reality show about their family, a threat of home foreclosure, and even rumors of infidelity after Eddie was caught in a blonde's car after the twosome were pulled over--after an event--for suspicion of DUI.
Since they celebrate 10 years of marriage this month, Taj and Eddie decided to get married AGAIN this week at the The East Ivy Mansion in Nashville, TN.
Taj was a bride again in a beautiful white lace dress and jeweled head piece. And her hubby rocked a white tux jacket and bow tie.
And Taj had her groupmate Coko Clemons as her bridesmaid, and also included the kiddies.
However, we're told their third member Lelee was noticeably missing..... and went unmentioned.
Aww. Congrats to the couple on 10 years. Glad to see they made it through the storms.
The wedding will air on the upcoming season 2 of "SWV: Reunited".
Rita Ora & Adidas Team For New Collection
Adding to her already jam-packed schedule, Rita Ora has designed a new range of goodies for Adidas and it’s going to be amazing.
The “How We Do” singer told WWD that her latest project finds her as the first female artist to help design a line for Adidas, though she’s not sure where she found the time.
Rita began, “I don’t own a second of my life, so much so that my mom is scheduling in dinners. It’s been insane.”
“I’m a massive fan of the brand. I grew up working at a sneaker store when I was 16 and am a huge sneakerhead. It’s so cool that I’m able to do this with a brand that I sold when I was younger.”
“I’ve been around Adidas for so long growing up and actually have one of my best friends working there. I used to hang out in the Adidas offices in L.A. for lunch when I’d visit her and in the past two years got to know everyone there.”
And it sounds like things are working out quite well. Adidas Originals design director Josefine Aberg noted, “Rita is, first of all, an amazing person and colorful and outgoing. She has a great way of mixing fashion and streetwear and has a big love for the brand, and it was obvious that we needed to work with her.”
To prepare for the gig, Rita had to do her homework. “I studied all of their shoes and their archives from the past 50 years. Before I started, I wanted to meet the team that was going to do it with me. So I did a performance at their Christmas party and met everyone. I was there for four hours going through a mood board, seeing what they have, what they don’t have and bouncing back and forth with ideas. From there on, literally we’d meet every two weeks for a five-hour meeting.”
The Adidas Originals x Rita Ora collection will be comprised of five different capsules, slated to release August 21st, September 4th and November 1st.
FADER's Rob Stone Unveils Rare Notorious B.I.G.
Yesterday the late Bad Boy superstar, The Notorious B.I.G., would have been 42-years-old. FADER celebrated the life of a MC many consider the G.O.A.T. by unveiling some never before seen photos from his Ready to Die press run.
The Kodaks come courtesy of magazine co-founder Rob Stone, who was the VP of promotion for Clive Davis at Arista Records while Biggie was promoting his debut album. The Brooklyn native can be seen alongside fellow Bad Boy artist Craig Mack in many of the images. Along with Stone himself, the pics also show a few cultural icons in Sway and Funkmaster Flex at earlier points in their careers.
FADER's Ford included an anecdote about Notorious B.I.G. that we've included below. Peep the photo gallery
Heading to a visit at LA's Power 106, Big comes down from his room wearing a black T-shirt with a Ku Klux Klan member holding a KKK baby, and in bold type it says, "Future Police Officer." Here's where the pressure to deliver for Clive and Puff kicked in, and I start thinking the worst. What if this shirt pisses off some of the execs at radio? What if Big is asked to pose for trade photos and the entire network of white-owned hip-hop stations see the shirt and refuse to play his record? So I asked Big to walk with me away from everyone and said, "Big, you know we're heading to radio stations to get your record played." He shook his head in agreement. "Well, these are white-owned radio stations. The shirt might offend them and get in the way of us getting your record played." He looked down at his shirt to see what I was talking about. He paused, then chuckled and said, "We're good Rob Stone, we're good." Well, he didn't change his shirt and needless to say, the record got played.
Torrei Hart Blasts Kevin Hart’s Girlfriend Over Failed Marriage; Kevin Responds…
Torrei Hart is claiming that her failed marriage to Kevin Hart is partly due to what she calls his now girlfriend “his mistress.” She sat down and bumped gum with ET and disclosed all the biz. Well, Kevin got word and decided to take to Twitter to give his take on it.
Peep the messiness:
Torrei:
@kevinhart4real “has been my biggest inspiration I’ve watched him from the beginning he is the hardest working man I know. But in order for people to grow and prosper sometimes God will force you out of someone’s shadow. The hardest thing I ever had to do was lose my family. But as I heal and grow I understand why it had to happen. Yes I was broken at a point in my life but that is only natural for someone who’s had to suffer what I had to suffer.”
She notes the timeline to when their relationship ended, adding:
“Our divorce was finalized two years ago and we were only separated 8 months prior to the divorce. Despite what @kevinhart4real has said and the time frames he is trying to establish Eniko Parrish @neekibaby was his mistress and was one of the reasons that broke up my family. I have more proof but Kevin should just be honest for both of our healing. I want @kevinhart4real and I to be friends like he portrays we are to the media.”
@kevinhart4real “has gained success by using his family as his number one source of material. From his stand up to his tv shows he’s used my personal life as his main story line. So at this place in my career I know he is one of the reason doors are opening up for me. And I am grateful to him for that. And we both have been blessings to each other in that area. So now that the doors are opened the work ethic that I have always had is no longer standing in his shadow pushing his career, now it’s shining so I can have my own.”
Kevin’s response:
OH LAWD!!!
Batman V Superman Movie Unveils Official Title, New Logo
DC Comics has been carefully prepping its upcoming Batman/Superman movie and today (May 21), they just dropped a bombshell announcement.
The official collaboration movie title will know will be known as Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and the new logo has also been unveiled.
Via Deadline:
Warner Bros' sequel to Man Of Steel now has a title, and it looks like it sets up the franchise's plans to expand the DC Comics universe to the Justice League.
Snyder will take the directing reins on Justice League after helming this latest film in the superhero series. No release date for that one has been set, but for aching DC Comics fans today's news and finally seeing “Justice” in a Warners-DC tentpole title must really press all the right buttons.
It's taken a long time for the studio and DC to get their acts together on a unified franchise pic a la Disney with Marvel's Avengers-centered pics that have dominated the tentpole landscape since launching Iron Man in 2008.
Dawn Of Justice will shoot at Michigan Motion Picture Studios and on location in and around Detroit, as well as in Illinois, Africa and the South Pacific, Warners said today.
Henry Cavill will reprise his role as the Man of Steel and Ben Affleck has been recently revealed as the new Dark Knight. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice will also star Laurence Fishburne, Gal Gadot (as Wonder Woman), Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Jesse Eisenberg (as Lex Luthor), Jeremy Irons and Holly Hunter.
Ray Allen will also serve as one of the primary antagonists as a cyborg who most likely will peddle more kryptonite than Lexcorp's basement.
Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz’ Son Egypt Makes Runway Debut; Models In Ralph Lauren Children’s Show
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz‘ son Egypt made his runway debut, during the Ralph Lauren Fall 14 Children’s Fashion Show at the New York Public Library. The 3-year-old was super cute in his dapper duds from the brand – plaid pants, a puppy printed sweater, and a blazer.
The proud mom shared her excitement with her little man’s first walk down the runway, saying: “Egys first runway show!!!!! Wooooowwww!!!!! My lil baby#proudmamamoment!!!”
The show was in support of a new #RLKids literacy initiative.
Catch more pics of the little cutie, and a clip shared by his dad below..
So Cute
Rob Kardashian Tweets About Five-Some with His Sisters
Rob Kardashian sends creepy Tweet about having a five-some with Kylie, Kendall, Kourtney and Khloe.
Say what?! On May 20, Rob Kardashian deleted a strange tweet about having a ’5 some orgy’ with his own sisters! What was he thinking?
Things have definitely taken a turn for the strange in the Kardashian family. Rob Kardashian tweeted and deleted a message about having a mega-orgy with his sisters Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner on May 20. Here’s what we know about Rob’s very weird tweet!
Rob Kardashian stirred up some family drama in a very interesting way on May 20. First, he tweeted about watching The NeverEnding Story and weirdly added in the words “puff the magic dragon.” Then, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star tweeted about an orgy with his sisters, before finally deleting both tweets!
“actually @kourtneykardash is involved in this 5 some orgy @KendallJenner @KylieJenner @khloekardashian GOODnight,” Rob tweeted.
Huh? While we don’t know the context of the tweet, the fact that the words “5 some orgy” are included in a post about his sisters is definitely raising eyebrows.
This isn’t the first time the Kardashians have made things more than a little creepy. One time, Kris Jenner was seen rocking “M.I.L.F.” socks that Rob had given her! Well, that’s not exactly what wewould have had in mind for a Mother’s Day gift, but to each his own!
Jay Z 40/40 Club In Atlanta Airport Now Open
After the debacle with Solange Knowles, Jay Z is getting back to business. The rapper/mogul's new 40/40 Club has opened at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
According to the New York Post, the latest 40/40 destination opened today (My 21) for ticketed passengers at the busy airport in Concourse D. Spokesman Victoria Hong of Jay Z partner Delaware North Companies confirmed the opening of the sports bar portion of the venue.
According to Paul Brown, director of the airport concessions, there is still a VIP lounge area that will be built out and completed by late fall.
In 2012, Jay Z remodeled the original 40/40 Club in Manahattan's Flatiron district. There is also a 40/40 Club in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn while another pair of 40/40 Clubs in Atlantic City and Las Vegas are now shuttered.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘WHEY TO GO’
Damn straight you better bulk up on some of that protein girl. It’s definitely takes some muscles to hold onto that stripper pole upside down without falling down to the stage and breaking something.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!
EFREM
