St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital  patient Denise stops by the “House of Payne” set for a visit with cast of Tyler Perry’s hilarious sitcom.

St Jude’s annual Thanks and Giving campaign asks America to support the lifesaving treatment for children battling cancer and other deadly diseases while shopping with participating retailers or by going to stjude.org.

This really is the most wonderful time of the year.

This month’s issue of Essence highlighted The Misadventures Awkward Black Girl created by and starring Issa Ray. I decided to check out the online show and I am in love. It is laugh out loud funny — in that dry sense of humor way. This is an amazing web series that I’m sure my Beyond Black Beauty readers will enjoy.

You won’t find Awkward Black Girl at the local multiplex or on the networks. That may be because its protagonist isn’t serving fried chicken in a Southern mansion or serving up a sistah-girlfriend head roll by the water cooler. Instead, this series is setting the web TV world on fire by delivering stomach-splitting comedy worthy of Chappelle’s Show devotion. More than that, the show is doing on a shoestring budget what no one in Hollywood is willing to pay a black woman good money to do: tell her own story on her own terms.

Bostonglobe.com’s Francie Latour

Awkward.

We are all awkward in our own way; it’s natural.

When it was time for me to leave the roarin’ 20s and dabble into the flirty 30s, my motto was “Go big or go home!” So, I decided to do just that, well, as big as my little wallet can take me. I made a list of 21 of my closest friends and family and decided to have a spa party at Dashing Diva in New York.

My guests were treated to a service or their choice: manicure and pedicure or a 30-minute massage

Manicure central

They even had enjoyed a cosmo while they were pampered

Now, it's time for a photo op with the bday gal. Thanks, Sean Carter Photography!

I hear the massages were excellent!

Cupcake tree from Buttercup Bake Shop. Thanks, for your work, Janet

 Shout out to the very pregnant event planner, Sharise Finley Events! She made sure Beyonce was pumping, drinks were served, services were given, energy was flowing, and — most importantly — everyone had a good time

My glamourous ladies

 

More glamourous ladies

 

Glamourous ladies, and a gentleman

I can't believe no one told me about the invisible deorodant showing under my arms

 

Hey, K-Ry so fly!

 

Cheers to the bday gal -- that was before I got my Shellac manicure

Fun times

 

Me and my bestie

 

 I wish I could include all 107 photos, but that may be a little over the top!

 

I also wanted to give my guests goodie bags. I work with many PR agencies and brands, since I started blogging 19 months ago — which is a blessing. And, when some of my favorite publicists heard that I was celebrating my Dashing Diva bday, they offered a few items for my bags. My guests were too excited when I gave them the bags filled with items from our favorite brands including Ambi, Clean & Clear, CHI, Covergirl Queen Collection, Halle Berry Pure Orchid, The Company Store, jetBlue lunch bags. I asked all of my friends and family to like the brands on Facebook or follow then on Twitter and let them know what they thought of the bags. Again, EVERYONE was so excited — even the gentleman! Qiana said that she needed to try Clean & Clear for her acne-prone skin. My bestie, Janet, said that she would have never bought the lipstick from the CoverGirl Queen collection if she didn’t get it to try. While most people sware by CHI hair care and tools — they didn’t know they made nail polish. There’s power in sampling.

 

 

 

The ADCOLOR® Industry Coalition, the advertising industry’s premier organization dedicated to fostering and promoting increased diversity in the advertising, marketing and media industries, announced the 2011 ADCOLOR Awards Honorees last month in NYC. Among the 2011 honorees are actress and activist Rosario Dawson. I love her and didn’t know she was so involved in service and helping people reach their best. For the first time, GLAAD (the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) will present an ADCOLOR Advocate Award in recognition of industry influencers from the LGBT community. The ADCOLOR Industry Coalition will host the 2011 ADCOLOR Awards and Industry Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, September 16-17.

Here’s some pics from AdColor Live! The event announcing the honorees that was hosted by CNN’s Soledad O’Brien and PepsiCo’s Frank Cooper III.

Michele Thornton, Director, Multi-Cultural Sales, CNN; Greg D’Alba, COO/EVP Sales & Marketing, CNN; Tiffany R. Warren, Founder, ADCOLOR Industry Coalition and SVP, Chief Diversity Officer, Omnicom; Frank Cooper, CMO, Sparkling Beverages, PepsiCo; Soledad O’Brien, CNN

Jose Fernandez, ESPN Customer Sales and Marketing; Felicia Geiger, Deutsch, Inc.; Nicole Hall, Draftfcb; Akintayo Adewole, Akande Music + Publishing

The 2011 ADCOLOR Award honorees are:

The All-Star Award presented by Omnicom Group

Rosario Dawson, Actress, Singer, Writer 

The Lifetime Achievement Awards presented by Pepsi & The American Advertising Federation*

Earl G. Graves, Sr., Chairman, Founder & Publisher – Black Enterprise

Bill Cosby, Comedian, Actor, Author, Television Producer, Musician, Educator and Activist

Eduardo Caballero, Founder – Caballero Radio & Television

* 2011 American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame Inductees

 The Legend Awards presented by Diageo

Esther Franklin, EVP, Director of Cultural Identities – Starcom MediaVest Group

Aldo Quevedo, President & Chief Creative Officer – Dieste

Mauricio Sabogal, President, World Markets Initiative and UM – Mediabrands

The Rising Star Awards, presented by Google

Kenji Summers, Community Manager – BBH ZAG

Sarah Torres, Sales Planner – Turner Broadcasting

Zoe Bell, Copywriter – Publicist 

The Innovator Awards presented by Microsoft Advertising

Jacqueline Hernandez, Chief Operating Officer, Telemundo – NBCUniversal

Eric Harris, President & Co-Founder – Sixth Floor Developers

The Change Agent Awards presented by The Home Depot

Lincoln Stephens, Program Director & Co-Founder – The Marcus Graham Project

Pawan Mehra, Co- Founder & Principal – Améredia

Felicia Geiger, VP, Director of Diversity and Inclusion – Deutsch, Inc.

 The One Club | ADCOLOR Creative Awards presented by The One Club & Publicis USA

Keith Cartwright, Group Creative Director – The Martin Agency

Donna Lamar, Creative Director – TBWA/Chiat/Day Los Angeles

 The Advocate Awards presented by GLAAD

Aaron Walton, Co-Founder – Walton & Isaacson

Laurence Boschetto, Chairman & CEO — Draftfcb

 The Catalyst Awards presented by The ADCOLOR® Industry Coalition

Spike Lee, Chief Executive Officer – SpikeDDB

Dan Wieden, Co-Founder & CEO – Wieden + Kennedy

 The MVP (Most Valuable Partnership) Award presented by CNN

Jennifer Randolph, VP, Organization Development – Saatchi & Saatchi

Dorothy Thompson, Executive Director – Streetlights

Real Housewives of Atlanta’s NeNe Leakes, Cynthia Bailey and Derek J took a moment to stop by the My Black is Beautiful Booth on Sunday during the Essence Music Festival.

The legendary MC Lyte stopped by the My Black is Beautiful Booth during the Essence Music Festival. Enjoy photos from her visit.

See all the celebrity photos from the My Black is Beautiful Booth during Essence Music Festival 2011 here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150231979114285.327923.118120609284

Dr. Cornel West, Rosario Dawson and the Hon. David N. Dinkins were honored at the Voices 7 celebration hosted by Soledad O’Brien for The Brotherhood – Sister Sol Organization.

 

 

Hon. David N. Dinkins and Dr. Cornel West

 

The evening featured a cocktail reception—that Russell Simmons made an appearance at– a silent auction, and performances by Lyrical Circle, a talented and award-winning group of poets.

 

Rosario Dawson

Soladad O'Brien and Rosario Dawson

Soledad O'Brien and Dr. Cornel West

This annual event was a unique opportunity  to celebrate Brotherhood – Sister Sol helping Black and Latino youth develop into critical thinkers and community leaders.

The Voices gala is also the time to celebrate and highlight the accomplishments of the honorees – individuals who embody the ideals of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol: Positivity, Community, Knowledge and Future.

GET INVOLVED AT www.brotherhood-sistersol.org

The Brotherhood

The Black Beauty Spotlight goes to Dr. Ella Bell, co- author of  CAREER GPS: Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape (SRP: $14.99), a book that offers timely and relevant tools for any woman looking to advance up the corporate ladder and optimize her performance in 2011.

Even in these trying economic times, women can still find new pathways to the careers they want. But in order for women to succeed, they must master new ways of navigating the ever-changing business landscape.

—ESSENCE Magazine

Q: Why did you write CAREER GPS?

EB: The genesis of CAREER GPS came as a result of my writing the column, “Working It,” for Essence Magazine.  A career advice column geared toward African American women, this column also found its way into the hands of women from all racial and ethnic groups, representing all types of professions.  Their inquiries challenged me to find a way to offer a more comprehensive way to discuss issues related to women’s careers and the changing world of work. Now I felt compelled to share what I knew about women succeeding in Corporate America.

Q: CAREER GPS is written with women of color and multicultural women in mind.  What are some of the issues that you think applies to this group?

EB: I wrote CAREER GPS with all women in mind. All women, including white women represent one or more cultural or ethnic groups.  Based on my earlier work, research conducted by Catalyst and other scholars, we know that while there are similarities among all women in the workplace, there are also differences that create an unlevel playing field. Multicultural women encounter greater difficulty in getting sponsors, men and women who can open doors to new opportunities.  Too often they are excluded from informal networks and activities, where valuable information is often exchanged.  More so than White women, women of color have to constantly prove themselves, even to other women.  We know that women have trouble supporting each other in the competitive world of corporate America.  But when you add race and ethnicity to the equation, it makes it even harder for women to cross racial lines and become allies with each other.  

Q: There are plenty of career guides out there.  What makes CAREER GPS so different?

EB: First of all, CAREER GPS was written with the broadest spectrum of women in mind:  women in different industries and professions, who are employed either in the public or the private sectors, and for women who are in various stages of their careers.  Too often career books for women implicitly speak to the needs of one group of women. 

The rich stories of women who have succeeded are another factor that makes CAREER GPS different from the competitors.  I loved that fact that so many women, many of them my friends, were willing to candidly share their experience not only about their careers, but also about their lives.   When I am attempting to change some aspect of my life, it makes a huge difference for me if I have role models or real life examples.  Their stories give me the courage to change my behavior, reach for that challenging goal or try a new path in life. I don’t think of CAREER GPS a career guide.  I think it’s a book on creating a fulfilling life for yourself, defining your own success and being your best self.

 Q: Is CAREER GPS just for women just starting out in their careers?

EB: No, this is a book for women in all stages of their careers.  Chapter 4, Hit the Ground Running:  Your First Ninety Days on the Job, Chapter 7, Moving on UP:  Landing Assignments and Assessing Opportunities, and Chapter 8, Going Global:  Preparing for Success in International Assignments, are aimed for women who are in middle and upper management positions.  And all women, regardless of their career status, have concerns about managing their careers with other, but equally important, dimensions of their lives.

Q: You champion ways in which women can be true to themselves, which seems a bit counter-intuitive in Corporate America.  Please explain.

EB: CAREER GPS is a book as much about walking into your authority, your power and becoming a leader as it is a book on careers.  I believe that the time is right for women to claim their leadership roles in corporate America.  Why?  By 2050, 50 percent of the U.S. populations will be people of color.  By 2010 (this year) 70 percent of the entering U.S. workforce will be women and people of color.  Yet, only 28.6 percent of all corporate managers in the U.S. are women.  We are entering an age when women will be the core of the American workforce.  As such, they will also have expanded opportunities to move into leadership roles.  It is our time, but we need to be ready.  Knowing who you are is the first step.

Leaders who are truly successful are authentic; they bring their whole selves into the role.  They have learned to use their cumulative life journey to develop their leadership skill kit, such as courage, empathy, humility, risk-taking, passion, integrity, vision, and most importantly results.  They know the difference between right and wrong. Self-knowledge is the first tenet of leadership.  Knowing yourself builds your confidence and helps ground you.  It enables others to trust you, and thereby follow you.  Knowing, accepting and liking who you are encourages others to do the same.  We all have our special brand of spice.  It’s our spice that fires our creativity, informs our view of the world, facilitates our connections across borders, and enables us to make a difference. What do you bring to the table?  Developing yourself will tell you.  Besides, you can’t develop someone else until you develop yourself.  Make no mistake, leadership is about developing others.

Q: What is the one thing that you’d like women to walk away with after reading CAREER GPS?

EB: Perhaps you can’t have everything you want in life at one time.  But with planning, determination, hard work, a little help from your friends, allies, mentors and sponsors, plus a bit of faith you can have the career and life that is truly meaningful and fulfilling.  It’s your time, walk into all that you are.

I am so honored to have an opportunity to interview so many black women of upward mobility in my Black Beauty Spotlight section. The past Black Beauty Spotlights have  included fashion stylists, authors, designers, R&B artists and even a TV judge. I’ve met these women through my work with Beyond Black Beauty. But, today’s spotlight shines on a woman that I’ve known most of my life. Here’s a look into GW Events (Events Planning & Management)

What do you do? GW Events, available online at gw-events.com, is an event-planning company specializing in intimate celebratory events.
What are three tactics about the industry that works? You have to be emotionally connected to the client in order to create the event. You have to adapt to your clients and organize their craziness. You should reforecast yourself every three-four years.
What was your first paid job? It was a party for a much older client. I was overworked and extremely underpaid.
How do you use social media to promote your business? I have a page on Facebook (GW Events) where I showcase some of my work. You can also visit my web site at gwevents.com.
Do you choose the best card stock when creating business cards and marketing materials? It is important to have good quality marketing materials. But when you start your own business to be careful not to spend more than you earn. Things should grow and expand with the increase of your profits.
How do you recession-proof your business? You have to do more than plan parties. During the holiday season, I promote myself for office and corporate holiday events, which are straight forward and not as time consuming as other events. I offer other services such as personal shopper and personal gift wrapper during the holiday season.  I also have background in Interior Design, so I offer my services to people looking to redesign or decorate their home and show them how to maximize their space in tiny NYC apartments.
How did you decorate your own apartment? I decorated my apartment six months before I knew where I was going to live. I had a vision and collected pictures and cuts out to form my vision. When I did find my place, I already had my blueprint of what it was going to look like. My home is what I call “Contemporary Comfort”; clean lines, dark wood, warm rich tones with pops of vibrant cool colors.
Does each room have a theme? I don’t have a theme, but I do have a color scheme and continuity.
What would be the name of your reality TV show? “The Other Martha Stewart”
So, as you are building your clientele, what are you doing to make money? I currently work for CUNY Hunter College and just recently graduated with my M.A. in Psychology. A lot of Psychology goes into event planning, when you deal with clients from all backgrounds, personalities and then trying to create a vision specifically for them.
What advice would you give someone starting out? Decide whether you just love to host dinner parties at home or planning events because there is a big difference between the two and there is a business side to event planning that is not so pretty and put together.
What is your power scent? I have two: Pure Poison by Dior and Stella by Stella McCartney.
What is your must have accessory? My BlackBerry, of course, and a very good lip gloss.
When all else fails you… I go back to the basics and start over. I think that is just a rule of thumb for survival.  No matter the situation, you need your fundamentals in order to rebuild.
What do you think about style? Style, much like life, is evolutionary and revolutionary. Style can be uniquely customized to each individual personality but no matter the trend if its not comfortable its not for me.
Is image everything? Not at all, but it is one third of what completes an image. I am a firm believer that you should look that part but most importantly be the part. We live in a world where people look fabulous — most have no depth, personality or real passion for anything meaningful.
What was your most expensive investment? It would have to be my education; it is most invaluable to me. I invested a lot of time and money and sacrificed a great deal. But I am a girl and own a few high end designer hand bags.
My song is Diva by Beyonce. Are there any songs that get you in the mood to excel? “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige.

Judge Lynn Toler, a graduate of Harvard and The University of Pennsylvania Law School, served as a municipal court judge for eight years. She presides over Twentieth Television’s popular courtroom television show Divorce Court. She is also the author of My Mother’s Rules: A Practical Guide to Becoming an Emotional Genius, and co-author of Put it in Writing: Creating Agreements Between Family and Friends.

Today, I am honored to put the Black Beauty Spotlight on Judge Toler.

Do you feel like people dress too casual when entering the courtroom?

Sometimes I do.  Ratty jeans or cut offs make me think they don’t really understand where they are and what’s going on.  I am not a stickler though.  If they are neat and clean I usually don’t notice exactly what people are wearing.

What are your favorite accessories?

A bracelet.  I don’t like wearing earrings because I do not have pierced ears and the clip-on earrings hurt. I don’t like necklaces because I have very sensitive skin and they make me itch. I wear both earrings and necklaces for the show, in photos and at some appearances, but that’s only because I have to.

Do you tailor your robe to fit your body type?

No.  Robes are a peculiarly male garment since only men used to be judges.  A robe is power garb.  Definitely not made for looking good.

I see that you like accessories. Do you ever feel you over accessorize?

My executive producer and my wardrobe person like accessories.  I wear what they suggest. I like silver bracelets, though.

What colors do you rarely wear in the courtroom?

We try for bold tones because we need some pop to add interest to what is basically the big black sheet that I wear.  So, we try to stay away from earth tones and pastels.

Describe your style on the weekends

Super casual.  Shorts or jeans, T-shirts and, more often than not, a baseball cap.

Who is your favorite designer?

I usually end up getting stuff at Ann Taylor. (Sidebar: I am an Ann Taylor girl, too)

Do you keep up with the trends from the runways?

No.  But for some reason I love the show Project Runway!

What are your favorite makeup brands?

I rarely wear makeup if I am not working.  I believe my make up artist on the show primarily uses Mac though.  On my own time, I usually buy stuff at the drug store.  However, I recently bought products by Clinque because it is supposed to be hypoallergenic.

Photos via Twentieth Television

I had the great opportunity to cross paths with a young fashion stylist named Nia Elizabeth – her name has a certain ring to it.  Well, this month, the Black Beauty Spotlight is on this woman who “likes to turn fashion into style, to create and enhance a person’s wardrobe and uniqueness.”

Nia, describe the functions of a typical job. In order to bring your A-game, you need to express knowledge about current fashion trends; assist clients in photo-shoots, movies, and fashion shows, and most importantly, enhance their wardrobe to create their own unique style.

How do you pull clothing from assignments? There are a few local boutiques and independent designers that I like to use to request samples for shoots. I’m building my network. Right now, I don’t work with any fashion publicists.

Do you have an agent? No, I do not have an agent. But, one day I would like to be signed with an agency to have even more contracted work. Currently, I find my gigs by word of mouth and smutting my portfolio to different companies.

What were your worst and best on set experience? Girl, my worst set experience ended up becoming my best experience. A model in a fashion show could no longer fit the clothes that were fitted on her weeks prior; therefore I had to create my own clothing designs to fit her in the show. It was very exciting to have people asking who designed her clothes. I was so proud of myself. I work well under pressure.

Do you style celebrities? No, I do not style celebrities, but I would LOOOOOOOOOOOVE that opportunity.

Describe your style as a child. When I was a child growing up, I was always the kid who cut up shirts and old vintage dresses to make my own style and stand out from the crowed. Also, I started wearing heels at a young age.

What was your first styling assignment? It was at a local boutique when I was 14 years old. I had to merchandise the mannequins in the display window. I thought it was fun a pretty cool for a fourteen year old.

What is the average salary of someone just starting out? Starting out as a stylist, you will find yourself volunteering for photo-shoots. It is very important to develop a great portfolio and establish yourself, then the money will follow.

What current fashion trends do you love/hate? I do not like trends. I believe that it is important to develop your own style and set your own trend. Be a leader!

What are some items that everyone should have in their closet? Trench coat, black and red heels, basic tee, leggings, black or grey slacks, blazer, pearls, timepiece, clutch, oversized handbag, dark and light colored jeans, fedora, beret, scarves, diamonds, dress shirt, OMG so much to name….

Who is your favorite designer? Moschino. I enjoy the Vintage/modern day designs.

Describe your beauty regimen. Every day, I have to wear my makeup forever Foundation, my Dior mascara, my MAC lip Gloss, and Mineral Blush from MAC.

If you had to leave the house in ten minutes, what would you wear?

(FALL) I would wear an oversized tee, leggings, trench coat, thigh high heel boots, scarf, and beret. 

Nia Elizabeth

Fashion Stylist and Writer

www.niaelizabeth.com

www.twitter.com/nia_elizabeth