WEEN Awards Takes NYC

The Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network hosted their 2nd Annual WEEN Awards Thursday in New York City t the Asia Society. Guests included Nia Long, Mashonda, Angie Martinez, Kandi Burrus, Anthony Mackie, Kim Coles and a host of others.

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Chocolate Fashionistas Shine at NAACP Theater Awards.

The 2010 NAACP Theater Awards took Monday night at the Director’s Guild on Sunset Boulevard. In attendance, the Ashanti who took home tan award for her performance in The Wiz; Nia Long, Megan Good, LisaRaye, Monique Coleman, and Erica Ash just to name a few.

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Iman comes home.

In true Leo fashion, model and entrepreneur Iman is giving us another taste of the high life. Her brand new Iman Home collection later this month.

The model with introduce the brand in an informal setting during a preview at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, before it hits stores. The home fashions will be stars of the Mercedes VIP Center Star Lounge. Iman and design consultant Carlos Mota designed the lounge using Iman’s fabrics and selections from her very own furniture collection for the suite.

Judging by Iman’s previous endeavors, I’m sure this collection will be nothing short of exceptional.

Venus & Serena step out in style.

Nothing like sisterly love. Venus and Serena Williams showed just that at the USTA and Heineken’s 2010 US Open Player Party at the Empire Hotel. The stylish siblings looked lovely, and a I must say Serena is glowing. I don’t know if it’s the makeup or a new man but she looks great! Adrienne Bailon was there too, but A, you dress is a little too springy, but you still look nice. A And who knew Venus was so much taller than Serena?!

Jump start  fall by doing something different.

1. Splurge on one big ticket item that will carry you over into the seasons to come. A bag, a killer heel, a cashmere sweater, or a eye-catching bauble that will turn heads in any room.

2. Get in shape. Been trying to tone those legs, flatten that tummy or shape that booty? Do it.

3. Perfect your skills. Take a refresher course in something that can be applied to your career. Need to be more confident in front a group in meetings? Join Toastmasters or take a speech class at your local community college.

4. Take a weekend trip and visit a city or town you’ve never been to.  I’m dying to get to Myrtle Beach and this year I plan to go and see what I can see. Traveling helps you put things in perspective and appreciate the little things.

5. Develop a signature style. Choose a color and make it yours, wear a flower or brooch on every outfit, or keep your feet in peep-toe pumps.  But find something and make it your own. Make yourself memorable.

Every time the season changes, make do something that will change your life and affect it in a positive way. Change is good and we must embrace it if we are to better ourselves.

Iman rocks.

Still fabulous at 55, Iman hosted the Essence magazine 40th Anniversary celebration at the New York Stock Exchange. The model and entrepreneur is showing us how its really done. This woman does not age and she always manages to look flawless and put together. Getting older doesn’t mean you have to fall off. Keep your fashion and beauty game tight ladies!

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Rasheeda rocks the mic with the best of them!

If she wasn’t a rapper, she could be a model: Rasheeda a.k.a The Queen of Crunk a.k.a The Georgia Peach

Rasheeda a.k.a. The Queen of Crunk is no ordinary female rapper. With a steady and lucrative career that has spanned more than a decade, Rasheeda’s infinite flow and beauty queen looks has made her a force to be reckoned with. Though her popularity has dominated the south, it won’t be long before Rasheeda is a household name. The Atlanta-based independent Queen of Crunk who is signed to DLO Entertainment, took time out of her busy schedule to chat with The Chocolate Fashion Blog!

TCFB: You were recently nominated for a BET Award. How did that come about?

RASHEEDA: I was in a meeting and saw an email that I had been nominated and I though it was merely a suggestion. When I was finally able to get to my computer, the Internet was down! It took Comcast almost four hours to get it up and running again!

TCFB: Talk about hurry up and wait.

RASHEEDA: But finally I was able to look and it said I was nominated for 2010 BET Awards Female Hip-Hop Artist of the Year. I was like wow! God is good.   I was really happy to be nominated and to be a part of the whole experience and it really opened my eyes and let me know to keep doing what I’m doing.

TCFB: Where are you from originally.

RASHEEDA: I was born in Illinois, but I was raised in Atlanta.

TCFB: Who dubbed you the Queen of Crunk?

RASHEEDA: People started calling me that in 2001 when I dropped my first album Dirty South I had a single called Do It with Pastor Troy. The song was really energetic and the whole vibe was high-energy. I’m not the kind of artist who likes to just stand around doing a show. I give real high-energy performances and that’s how I ended up with the name.

TCFB: Which album did you enjoy making the most? Which album do you feel the most proud of?

RASHEEDA: Georgia Peach is probably my favorite. I had a lot of fun recording it but I out on the road at the time, I had a small window of time to get it done.  Bubble Gum (her hottest selling single to date) was the last song on the album and initially I didn’t want to do it. I was so tired, I had been touring but my producer was like, ‘You better write this record!’ It almost didn’t happen but it came together and became my biggest hit!

TCFB: You’re a mother, a wife, a business woman and an entertainer. How do you balance your day-to-day life?

RASHEEDA: My day-to-day is pretty much like any other working mother. I just try to manage time and do what I need to to. Fortunately I have a great family and sometimes I am to take my son with me. But I just do what I need to do to support my family and make it work!

TCFB: What keeps you motivated?

RASHEEDA: When it comes to shows I focus on leaving an impression on the audience. If people didn’t know me before, they’ll go and Google me afterward! I take pictures with fans and hang out because I really appreciate my fans and I don’t take anything for granted. Music wise, I just want to be better and achieve more. I have so much more to accomplish in the industry. Every day I wake up I have to grind! I gotta get it. I have to stay focused and consistent because I am contributing to something that will be here forever.

TCFB: Being a female hip-hop artist–and a beautiful hip-hop artist at that, have you ever encountered problems where people are hatin’?

RASHEEDA: I look at it like, I can’t pay attention to it. God put me here to do this. I don’t get the hate as much anymore. But in the past, people who heard my music and didn’t know what I looked like didn’t believe it was me after they met me! Some people would even ask me to rap! (laughs) I get a lot of love from the ladies though because I put it out there for them!

TCFB: Is there anything in your career that stands out in your mind? Have you ever had an epiphany?

RASHEEDA: I was asked to open a show for Ruff Ryders and Cash Money and I was thinking, ‘That’s gonna be a lot of people!’ I remember standing in the background and this is when my song Do It was out. The music came on, the beat dropped, the lights flashed and everybody was chanting the song, people were yelling and I was like wow! I had a big adrenaline rush. I had no idea my song was as big as it was!

TCFB: Describe your style.

RASHEEDA: Glamorous hood chick! I do me. I don’t follow fashion rules. I just do what I feel. I can shop in do jeans and a tank, cute little dress, or whatever. I just like nice things.

TCFB: Where do you shop?

RASHEEDA: I go to Lenox and different boutiques that I really like. I also do a lot of shopping out of town. I’m just a t-shirt and jean kinda girl–I may throw a mink on too! I love Forever 21, I love Christian Louboutins’. I can do high-end stuff or Target. I love Neimans too!

TCFB: What handbag are you carrying and what’s in it?

RASHEEDA: You know I actually need to get a new handbag. I haven’t bought one in a couple of months–and that’s a long time for me! I switch up my bags on a regular. I like  Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Chanel…I have a Fendi Spy bag that I really love that I really need to bring back out. In my bag I have my i-Pod, a whole bunch of lip gloss! My wallet, a camera, mini-hard drives, gum, my cell phone, CDs (I will give them out on the spot! I’m always promoting.) Pen and pencil and a mini-Bible. I keep that in my bag.

TCFB: You have the most beautiful hair…(She wears a press and it’s all hers). What do you do to it daily?

RASHEEDA: I’m doing the natural hair thing. I’ve been getting it braided and I have the half-braided style now. (She has started a Rasheeda Mohawk trend!) If I don’t like my hair on a particular day, I can wet it and go!

TCFB: Is there anything you would change about your career? Would you go back in time if you could and change anything?

RASHEEDA: When I was on Jive, they asked to buy my song Vibrate with Petey Pablo and I sold it to them. I shouldn’t have done that. I should have kept it. But they kinda pushed for me to sell it and I did. But I wouldn’t do it again. Now I really look forward to the future. I’m in control and I can build and take my career to the next level and at the end of the day you can’t measure successs by glitz and glam. The question is are you getting paid? (She is).

TCFB: Give our readers some Rasheeda words of wisdom.

RASHEEDA: “Walk with faith even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

Clearly Rasheeda is on the right path. We support her to the fullest and wish her all the best. Shout out to Kirk Frost at DLO Entertainment!

Follow Rasheeda on Twitter: @RASHEEDAGAPEACH

Rasheeda on MySpace!

Check out Rasheeda’s personal and music videos on You Tube!

Albums

• 2001: Dirty South
• 2002: A Ghetto Dream
• 2006: GA Peach
• 2007: Dat Type of Gurl
• 2009: Certified Hot Chick

BUY Rasheeda’s music on Itunes!

Serena Williams hosted a pre-Espy Award party last night at a private residence in Bel Air the fashionable and not so fashionable guest list included Brandy, Selita Banks, Brandy, Lance Gross, Elise Neal, Vivica A. Fox, Niecy Nash, and others. Guests got to enjoy Pink’s Hotdogs, Patron cocktails, and beauty products by Mission Skincare. (more…)

Rap star Nelly hosted a fashion show for his latest Apple Bottoms collection at Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas. Fans were able to see the full-fledged show and had a chance to receive Nelly’s autograph and be photographed with the star. The show was in effort to support African-American Bone Marrow Awareness month. Nelly’s sister Jackie passed away from Leukemia and he created the foundation Jes Us 4 Jackie in her honor and in effort to match bone marrow transplant patients with donors.

Is the onset of summer taking its toll on your relationship? Now is not the time to let things fall apart. You can have a summer fling with your man, hubby, or boyfriend and make him remember why he’s so lucky to have you. Don’t let the hot weather cool your relationship, keep the fire going with these five simple tips.

Activate your sexy. More heat, less clothes! Well not necessarily. Summer just means sundresses, flip-flops, shorts, and low-cut tops. Keep your man’s attention by showing a little skin every now and then. Men love summer, and they especially love sundresses. I’m not sure what it is they do for them, but there’s something about a flowing dress that brings a man to his knees.

Talk it Out. Summer often makes relationships stagnant because couples tend to get into their own thing. Travel plans, family reunions, work schedules often take a toll on couples spending time together. Share your plans with one another, and communicate regularly. Sometimes just sharing your day can take a load off. Go out for a Mojito and share your thoughts with each other.

Take a trip. Summer getaways are so romantic. Take a weekend trip somewhere and reconnect. Whether its to the islands, the beach, Vegas or wine country, spend time with your mate/spouse and find new reasons to fall in love again.

Keep sex and intimacy alive. Physical intimacy is important. Men are indeed physical creatures so denying him the booty can have disastrous results. Never be to busy for sex, it’s how we often connect and share our deepest feelings. Spend at least 15 minutes a day stimulating each other physically and mentally. Sex is about more than a physical bond, emotional bonds make it even stronger.

Hang out. Summer is the perfect time to hang with your mate. Whether its on the porch, at the club, or at neighborhood gathering, just spending time together will make your relationship even stronger. Sometimes it’s the simplest things in life that make the most impact.

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