Margaret Francois Writes

Let's Hear it For the Girls

2010-09-27T15:18:00.000-04:00

Check out this article that I wrote for the JAYE magazine 2010 preview about women's empowerment through bonding.

Open publication - Free publishing - More women

Kanye spits "Power"

2010-05-28T14:05:00.001-04:00

You can say what you want about Kanye West's behavior when he's off the stage, but there's one thing that cannot be disputed and that is the fact that the man is a musical genius. After taking a hiatus from the spotlight, he addresses the backlash of his outspoken and self-proclaimed arrogant attitude in a track titled Power, which is said to be leaked from his upcoming album A Good A** Job.

This song takes me back to the College Dropout/ Late Registration Kanye era. Don't get it twisted, I love everything that Ye has released and/or been a part of as a producer and lyricist, but College Dropout brought me back to hip-hop. When I heard Through the Wire I fell back in love with the power of ingenuity that can be used to manifest social and political awareness about black life through the scope of music.

Check out the song Power here and let me know what you think.

New Video Swag: Trey Songz "Yo' Side of the Bed"

2010-05-26T14:36:00.000-04:00

This video left me speechless. It's a beautiful, hard-hitting love story and tragic truth that exposes what people go through every day. Check it out below.

For Your Viewing Pleasure: Beyonce's Why Don't You Love Me Video

2010-05-04T20:38:00.003-04:00

I just watched Beyonce's new video for her song Why Don't You Love Me, and being a lover of all things retro, I must say the video is fab. Bey rocks looks that are staples of a 50's pin-up model and executes the look of a sexy housewife.

Playing the role of B.B. Homemaker in the video, Bey dishes the good about herself as the perfect mate in retaliation to an ugly relationship dispute with her man. One line that really got me thinking was when she said "There's nothing not to love about me."

I love the confidence that she boasts despite her asking her love interest why he can't see what a great person he is disregarding. Finally the conclusion that he's just dumb for not knowing it is made, which is a classic truth when it comes to jerks.

Ladies, let's toast to loving ourselves enough to let an unappreciative loser go, and recognize the greatness that we hold as strong, motivated beautiful beings.

Check out the video below.

"Why Don't You Love Me" - Beyoncé from Beyoncé on Vimeo.

Make it Happen Monday

2010-05-03T00:35:00.002-04:00

Hi all. I decided to start a new feature on the blog called Make it Happen Monday where I will feature people who are making their dreams come true. We all have goals and aspire to reach them as soon as we can. This is my way of motivating and inspiring you, and myself, to work hard and reap the rewards of our hard work. Our dreams are but a step away as long as we put our all into working toward perseverance.

So, with that being said, here is the first Motivational Monday post on the blog! Whoop, whoop! It's Cecilia Cassini a 10-year-old fashion designer who is making huge moves in LA. Now, some of you may be thinking: "What in the world can I learn about hard work from a little kid?" And my reply is more than you could imagine. Don't act like you never saw the show "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" Now, you know there have been questions that those kids knew the answers to that gave you headache from thinking so hard. We are surrounded by capable and brilliant youth.

Well, enough of me telling you how fab this young lady is. Check it out for yourself by watching this Today show feature about how a 10-year-old girl has launched a career through studying her passion and creating a vision for herself.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

He Said, She Said-- Who Cares?

2010-04-29T12:34:00.001-04:00

Today, after doing some get-your-mind-right-for-the-day reading I was moved to consider why sometimes I allow worrying about what other people think about me, to structure the way that I think and the actions that I take in many situations.

This thought came as a result of the following quote by the poet Henry Longfellow:

"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing; while others judge us by what we have done."

That's word, right? So, if we know our potential and are determined to go exceedingly above and beyond the limit that we mentally set for ourselves, why is it that we can allow one person's negativity or doubt to take us from confident to afraid at the drop of a dime?

Now, don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with doing something that you know will help others or make friends and loved-ones proud, but we also need to check our motives?

When I say this, it is a good and bad thing. The good: a person's happiness can push you to work hard and deliver effective results. The same thing goes when a person doubts you. That negative seed that they try to plant, could be the fuel to your road to success.

But, there's also room for the bad: doing something only because you are obsessed with personal fulfillment. There's nothing wrong with personal fulfillment, but if that is the only reason why you would lend a helping hand, it defeats the purpose of saying you wanted to "give back" or be a hand up to others. Also, if the only source of motivation you have is driven by others' negativity, you're impeding your goal-setting process and possibly limiting yourself to only exceeding their expectations. What about your goals for your life? Never give someone else control. There's liberty in having control over YOUR life.

These are only a couple of examples of a very intricate, yet universal set of circumstances that people face every day. Will you allow others' judgement to dictate your life?

Rape Kits Save Lives

2010-04-29T00:57:00.005-04:00

Sometimes it takes seeing another person's strength and courage to be the fuel to motivate you to get up, get out and do something. This was the case for me when I came across a feature article in Glamour magazine's real stories section about a woman named Sarah Tofte who has fought for over 12,600 rape victims and is still working to help more.

Tofte is an expert on sexual violence, who is not afraid to speak up when it comes to the systematic failures of several cities to analyze rape kits, which are full of evidence such as DNA samples like a victim's hair and blood. The cities are not avoiding using the kits because they are not allowed to, in fact there are laws in place for some of them that provide funding for them to do so, but they still do not check the kits.

I was outraged to hear that there are people running free, or falsely incarcerated, because of systematic laziness and inefficient protocol.

In an effort to help get rape kits tested, Tofte is lobbying Congress to pass the Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2009, which would give states incentives to test rape kits. We all need to support rape victims, whether we know them personally or not. Here's what you can do to help write to your representatives (congress.gov) and ask for their support H.R. 4114 and S. 2636.

Love Struck

2010-04-20T14:58:00.001-04:00

I have been holding on to this story for a while now, but after viewing pictures from the Jenesse Center's 30th Anniversary Silver Rose Gala, I was inspired to share the story of a young woman who was able to overcome an abusive relationship and develop a desire to share her story with others. (Click on the images to make them larger, so you can comfortably read the story).

In a Perfect World...

2010-04-15T16:43:00.004-04:00

Today as I lay in bed, with pen and paper in hand, pouring my lifetime goals and aspirations into the pages of my notebook, one thought came to mind: "How would my life be in a perfect world?"

Although, the idea of perfection seems practically unattainable because of our beautifully human imperfections, I took this question into deep consideration. I sat, tapped my pen for a few moments and stared at the ceiling. After much pondering and consideration I came to the conclusion that the closest that I could get to evaluating what life would be like in a perfect world was to look at the state of things around me.

Though stories of natural disaster, corruption and economic turmoil plaster the front pages and covers of various newspapers and magazines, there is always a story of hope and courage in the midst. Although, these stories are not always highlighted or praised, they carry a weight of hope and reassurance that things are not so bad.

I recently came across the inspirational story of Nadia Bloom, an 11-year-old, slightly autistic Florida girl who was rescued from a swampy forest after being missing there for four days. She was rescued by a man named James King, who said that faith led him to the young girl.

To know that a man could brush off fear and doubt and save a life based solely on his faith brought some things into perspective for me.

Writing is an outlet for me to exercise my love of words and people. So, as black ink spilled onto the blue lines of the paper that now rested in my lap, I knew my answer to that question: "In a perfect world my life will be surrounded by cathartic truth, honor and faith, which will be my lifeline for creating an atmosphere of encouragement and opportunity for myself and others worldwide."

How would your life be in a perfect world?

8 Things to LOVE about Rihanna's Rude Boy Music Video

2010-02-28T21:33:00.006-05:00

1. She's spunky and happy. I love that she strayed away from her dark edge with this one.
2. The Alexander McQueen leggings

3. Rih Rih's Caribbean flair/swag
4. The colorful animation
5. Her hat game is fun and spunky
6. Her makeup is bazonkers
7. That LaQuan Smith body suit

8. The black and white zebra scene

Here's what she told MTV Korea about the video.

What's your take on the video?

Photos courtesy of: Rihannadaily.com

Don't let anyone or anything impede your progress

2010-02-03T01:29:00.003-05:00

Tonight I took a quick inventory of my goals and the course of action that I have taken and will be taking to accomplish them. Suddenly, I had a light bulb moment and the words "Don't let anyone or anything impede your progress," came to mind.

No matter the scale of what you want to do, it's important to surround yourself with people who will encourage you and support you. They don't have to stroke your ego, or play the yes-man role just to keep you happy and around because if they're doing that, you should have cut them off a long time ago.

I've been blessed to have some of the realest family and friends supporting my vision, but that hasn't always been the case. I don't want to dwell on the nay-sayers because I prefer to focus on the positive.

I've had too many friends allow unhealthy relationships, of various levels, keep them from chasing their dreams. If someone is calling themself a friend or say that they love you, but they aren't supporting or giving you sound advice that can help you get reach your maximum potential, let them go.

What I'm trying to say is, hold on to your vision despite opposition. Unfortunately, some people thrive off of being dream-killers because they have been hurt. I've heard the saying that "Hurt people, hurt people," but who's to say hurt has reign over your life?

Do you, and go all out. Make sure you appreciate those who add steam to your success train, and keep the cycle going by reaching down to help pull others up along the way.

2010 Grammys and The Fullness Thereof

2010-02-01T13:00:00.004-05:00

For those of us who saw the 2010 Grammy Awards it was quite the spectacle (Yes, even without Kanye). The show was a night of Knowles and Swift. Beyonce broke a female record, I know it's hard to be shocked when it comes to her, by winning six Grammys, and Taylor Swift won four. But enough of my girlish gusing over these two, let's talk about the night as a whole.

The fabulosity started with Lady GaGa's opening performance with Elton John. A lot of people are on the fence about this chick because of her quirky,and sometimes creepy envelope-pushing style, but guess, what? I dig it! I respect her artistry. You have to give props to a woman who oozes creativity and innovation in the realms of music and fashion. Homegirl wears the the heck out of a glittery onesie, takes structured shoulders to another dimension and dresses her frame to fashion deliciousness that makes my mouth water for more. Her feet are always clad in the baddest heels to ever grace the presence of stages throughout the world and if I even mention the way she accessorizes, I just might pass out. For this, I'll be one of her Monsters any day.

When Beyonce hit the stage with legs like Tina Turner I instantly pulled out a Post-It note for my fridge that reads as follows: "Must do squats until it hurts, and when it hurts do more. Remember you want legs like Bey!" Everyone expected her to do Single Ladies, but she decided to switch it up. I love that she reverted back to if I were a Boy. The highlight was her paying homage to the original girl-power-after-a-broken-heart anthem with a cover of Alanis Morissette's song You Oughta Know.

Taylor Swift didn't sound too hot live. She was pretty and poised, as always but a little pitchy. Stevie Nicks' appearance was the highlight of the performance. Stevie's a banger! She looked and sounded amazing. Swift can write the heck out of a song, and that is why I like her.

FYI: She's kind of a big deal. She won the Grammy for Album of the Year for Fearless.

I know some people were wondering how many Michael Jackson tributes are there going to be, but for those of you who feel that way, I say, Every awards show, every year. I was a little upset by the 3D aspect, or lack thereof, but I did realize that I took him for granted. Little Prince and Paris shared their sentiments and it continues to reflect how much they adored their father.

Pink was pretty dope, she's one of the most cathartic artists I know. I liked seeing her swinging through the air, but the bejeweled vajayjay was a little too much to take in. I know a lot of women were a little upset when the water from her show sprayed the front row of the crowd. Frizzy hair on Grammy night is not a good look for guests.

Maxwell, who was joined by the legendary Roberta Flack, made me flap my arms in anticipation of taking off with my Pretty Wings. There's something about this man that intrigues me. Maxwell took home two awards.

Bon Jovi ruled the world when they performed Livin' on a Prayer.

The Black Eyed Peas are an honorable mention because they made me forget about all the bs that life sometimes brings, and forced my thoughts into a happy place with reassurance that "tonight's gonna be a good night."I would comment on their wardrobe, but there's not enough time or cyberspace for that narration, so I'm gonna leave it alone.

These were some of my favorite things, but there's always room for some messiness.

Now, for the less than high points,like Weezy's uncensored performance with Drake and Eminem. I really cannot deal with Weezy F. Baby (please say the baby) lately. He had an atrocious performance at the 2009 BET Awards, with little girls, his daughter and friends included, dancing to a song about promiscuity, and then he comes to the Grammy Awards cussing. Yes, I'm aware that I said cussing and not cursing.

I Love Drake for not having an album out, but doing more awards show performances in a matter of months, than some people have in their whole career. Props to a guy with 2 Grammy nods and no album. Kudos to you for that one Drizzy! His So Far Gone Mixtape is in deed a mainstay on my iPhone, and I respect him as an artist professionally and lyrically. His debut album Thank Me Later is slated for release in March 2010. As far as the best rapper period talk, we'll let his album speak for itself, and even then it's going a little too far. I feel like he has to have more than one album to claim that title. Don't shoot the messenger, I'm just saying.

The Grammys were so focused on having 12 minute performances that they didn't give the award-winners enough time to thank anyone but God and their parents. I found it rude that they cut The Dream off after Single Ladies won. How can you hype a song up, give it top-honors, and not even let the writer speak on it? SMH. Katt Williams made a cameo on stage with the slick-back slider perm. (That wasn't really him).

Although, I have whiplash from all of the moments of Shaking My Head (SMH)), and there were times when I felt like the Grammys were somewhat facetious with their performance choices, I enjoyed it all.

The Issue of Trust

2010-01-12T22:56:00.008-05:00

Lately, I've been thinking about the reason why I'm not in a relationship and why I've had problems in the past when I was involved with someone and it all came down to a lack of trust. Ladies, I know we are definitely not the only ones who have a problem trusting our significant other, but I'm specifically speaking from a woman's perspective.

I’ve had that feeling where I’m walking down the street and out of nowhere I think about a suspicious move that my boyfriend made the night before, or how he didn’t react to something the way he usually did, or how he hesitated to say “I love you,” at the end of our conversation like he always does. And where does it come from? Paranoia, confusion or is it a heaven-sent revelation that it’s time to check your mate?

Once, I asked a friend what I should do if I thought that my man was cheating, and she said that if I thought he was cheating, the chances are he was. A woman's intuition is very strong and isn't something to be slept on, but is it always accurate?

I definitely am not one to jump to conclusions and act irrationally…OK, not all the time. I think that having conversations and being true to yourself comes first. If he’s not coming correct and things aren’t adding up, then your time’s too valuable to be stressed out over a hot mess that’s no longer worthy of your time and effort.

Relationships take hard work and commitment, and if he’s not willing to be honest, he can keep it moving, but it’s also important to have an open mind and not approach the situation in an accusatory manner. The only time that kind of behavior is necessary is when you have concrete evidence and you know the dirt has been done. That’s when you have your Waiting to Exhale moment and burn everything! I’m just kidding. Be a lady about yours by any means necessary.

I love Amerie’s new video “More than Love” because she comes across as a real woman with thoughts and insecurities. It's true that when you are a career-oriented woman-on-the-go with a man whose just as motivated, these issues are going to come up.

Check out the video and let me know what you think. How do you deal with trust issues in your relationships?

SN: The people over at Nuvo are on their grind with this product placement in music videos and TV shows.

Let's Talk About Pep

2010-01-11T23:35:00.001-05:00

Stick a fork in me because I am DONE. I looooove this show already because it reminds me of hanging out with my girls and sharing the what’s-what in our lives. The ladies are authentic, with real issues, real lives and real conversation. Oh and it gets better than TV because ya girl has a book out also titled Lets Talk About Pep.

Check out what Pep said about tonight's premiere in a Q&A with HipHopDX.

I already know there are some people turning up their noses saying gold diggers, freaks, and etc and etc., but lets be real ladies we all have that one friend or know someone who is going to say what’s on their mind whether you like it or not. Take it or leave it. No more cookie cutter girl talk!

It’s like Sex and the City, Girlfriends and The Game all bound into one tasty treat.
Ladies get ready because it seems like we’re going to be talking about Pep and the girls for real.

I've already been labeled a Jacque by my friends via Facebook...and the story begins.

Fantasia 4 Real

2010-01-11T22:27:00.002-05:00

OK. So once again another celebrity has a reality TV show airing out their dirty laundry. I can’t front, I loved Keyshia Cole The Way it is because it came at a time when this tell-your-business-to-the-world phenomenon was somewhat new and fresh. Here’s a Today Show interview with Tasia talking about the show.

One thing that I do love about this Today Show interview is that they do address that fame has its ups and downs and that it does change people whether they decide to notice it or not. Tasia kept it real by acknowledging these issues as well.

After watching the premier of the show tonight all I can say is… YAWN. I got a little bored watching. Her brother is the male version of Neffie with a dash of Frankie, and it seems as though he'll be the show's breakout star. The drama seems like it will get better with time, so lets stay tuned.

Danger vs. Ray J

2010-01-11T22:20:00.002-05:00

Just finished watching For the Love of Ray J, and I honestly have no comment about the show. It is what it is. At first, and I’m talking the first half of episode 1 of the firs season, I kind of thought “Awww Ray is really looking for love,” and then I came to and realized it’s reality TV and at the end of the day on these shows it’s like bump love, cut my check and give me a new season! And the females are on their journey to be plastered on the cover of men’s magazines and shaking that thing in music videos, so everybody wins.

But moving on from my random ramblings. What I do want to talk about is this rumor that Monica Danger put out that your boy is getting it in with former G-Unit member Young Buck.

She said the following on 92.5’s Devyn’s Playground Radio:

I cannot deal. Ray denounced the allegations in an interview on TT Torrez radio.

This is what he had to say:

It’s said that Danger has been committed a few times for psychiatric issues, as if we didn’t know from last season’s lie detector episode. Homegirl had murder on her mind. And recent news reports say that she lost custody of her newborn baby because of her psychiatric issues.

I hope she gets help because her baby needs a sane and healthy mother.

Women Helping Women

2010-01-08T11:08:00.001-05:00

While in NYC this past summer, I was given the wonderful opportunity to work with my friend Ann Osborne on a story about women helping women.

The Bottomless Closet is a non-profit boutique that helps disadvantaged, unemployed women get back into the work field by supplying them with interview-ready clothes and career workshops to help them better themselves.

Interacting with the employees and clients of the boutique was a source of strength and extreme motivation for me because I experienced a first-hand account of how these women from all walks of life were able to bounce back from tough financial times that came their way.

Here's a link to another example of a touching account of women helping women that Ann and I worked on.

New Web Channel to Watch Music Videos Launched

2009-12-14T20:17:00.013-05:00

For those of us who still like to watch music videos, but are seeing more reality TV shows on music channels than videos, I think I've found a new outlet to feed our needs.

YouTube and Universal Music Group have collaborated, and the outcome is the music video Web site VEVO.com. This site was launched on Dec. 9, and it hosts music videos from some of your favorite artists. There is also a YouTube channel called VEVO.

After hearing about the site, I decided to check it out for myself to see what all of the hype was about, and I was impressed by what I discovered.

You watch music videos without creating an account, and if that's all you want to do then you're in like Flynn. You can also search for you favorite videos by artist, genre or browse the user-generated playlists.

I like to play around and customize my experience, so I created an account.

By creating an account you can create playlists that holds up to 75 videos and speak your mind by leaving comments about the videos. There are even links that will allow you to download the songs and share them with one click.

There's also an option for you to see the lyrics synced with the songs as you watch. They also have music channels that you can subscribe to. Two of my favorites are the channels called Collabos, which features hot duos and artist collaborations, and the Throwback Block, which features old-school hip hop and r&b music videos.

Operation-Get-That-Journalsim Degree

2009-12-11T17:11:00.010-05:00

So while I was out there on my infamous Operation-Get-That-Journalism Degree grind, of course I was writing! I started doing some work for a publication that I found out about through a friend that I interviewed last year called Flyerpromonow.

One of the feature stories that I wrote was titles No Pressure, No Diamond. The more I think about this title, the more I realize that this saying has been and will be relevant throughout the rest of my career.

I take every challenge in stride and hop for bigger and better things. All my diamonds out there, lets get it! Big things are ahead, but we have to carry the weight of the pressures that come with the territory.

Here's the article in it's entirety on pages 12-13:
http://www.flyerpromonow.com/ocala_site/online_mag.html

It's Been a LONG time coming, but guess who's back?!

2009-12-11T17:01:00.003-05:00

I want to start out by apologizing to my wonderful blog followers and anyone who has read and responded to any of my posts on this page. I have been overwhelmed and on my grind finishing up my final semester as a proud Florida Gator! Whoo-hoo!

But I'm back and so much has been going on and I've had too much to say. Wowzers! If feels good just to say hello and to let you guys know that I'm back and my mind and fingertips runneth over with vital information!

I Can Do Bad All By Myself

2009-07-23T13:37:00.005-04:00

The trailer for Tyler Perry's new movie which boasts an all-star cast including Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, Brian J. White (Yes Lord!) and Alex Rodriguez is out. The movie hits theaters September 11, and from the looks of the trailer it's going to be a tear-jerking/laughing experience. Check it out.

Kelly Rowland visits Essence

2009-07-15T12:08:00.013-04:00

I walked off the elevator on my way to grab lunch with Solange, the fabulous fashion intern and through the glass doors I saw Kelly Rowland. I smiled and waved...she waved back with a warm smile.

I was ecstatic because Destiny's Child was my group.

Decked in a light denim boyfriend blazer, khaki high-waisted pencil skirt and v-neck white tee... the girl was FIERCE!
And people, she is gorgeous in person, but enough of my babbling about that.

Kelly talked about being the co-host on The Fashion Show and her current love of wearing black. She said she plans to do more acting and that she is still singing. She also dished about her love for southern women and their hospitality. She was very personable and had the whole room engaged.

Good times people, good times!

Oh and that fabulously chic young lady in the pic is my splendiferously divine manager Andrea. I adore this girl! She's the best!

Coko Visits Essence

2009-07-15T11:52:00.008-04:00

I was as gitty as a a 5-year-old on Monday morning when I walked into one of the conference rooms and saw the singer Coko sitting at the head of the table.

She was giving us a listen to her latest gospel CD "The Winner in Me."

Her humility and honesty when addressing questions about her transition from R&B to gospel, which she said all fell into place when the timing was right, was pure inspiration.

So the burning question on everyone's mind was..."What's going on with SWV?"

Well Coko said after they performed with Alicia Keys and a host of pioneering, wonderful girl groups at the BET awards in 2008 they have grown closer and are touring and just might be in a city near you.

Alicia Keys-Teenage Love Affair(At The BET Awards)

Coko made it clear that some of the songs have been cut from the show because of her Christian beliefs and the fact the they are wives and mothers.

I don't care if they sing the ABC's this was one of the first girl groups that I looked up to and imitated, so I can't wait for them to come to a city near me. There was also mention of a possible new album.

Special Guest at Essence

2009-07-14T00:49:00.004-04:00

Today we were blessed by the presence of the up-and-coming gospel artist Brian Courtney Wilson.

We enjoyed a mini listening session with the artist's, who is managed by the father of Beyonce, Matthew Knowles. We listened to his CD titled "Just Love."

One song that really stood out was his song Believe which he said was inspired by his wife and her commitment to him after he left his job to pursue music. It sounds like a wedding anthem and Wilson said that it was majorly requested in Houston, TX by couple who wanted the song performed at their wedding.

I also love the song Already Here which is an affirmation that God is always with us whether we create an atmosphere of praise, worship or just silence.

Courtney said his music is both Inspirational music and Gospel and his secn album is in the works. There is a track called Monday's Pain that he sang acappella and it set the tone for the rest of my day. It was a tone of hope and knowing God's always got my back.

A Day at the Bronx Zoo

2009-07-14T00:24:00.009-04:00

My friend Jamilah invited me to go the the Bronx Zoo Saturday, and so far it has been one of the highlights of my time here in the city.

Being surrounded by all the exotic animals and seeing the greenery made me feel close to nature and forced me to forget that I was in the ever-busy Big Apple.

There were s couple animals that stood out to me. My favorite animal is the peacock because of their beautiful feathers. I also adore giraffes. They are so graceful and have feminine attributes. I love their long eyelashes and lush pink lips.

It was nice to get away from the city noise and enjoy some innocent fun with a friend. It was just an amazing day.

Models as Muse

2009-07-13T23:25:00.014-04:00

A group of friends and I made a thirty-minute trek from our humble abode in the the center of Midtown Manhattan to the Metropolitain Museum of Art all in the name of fashion.

We went to see the Models as Muse: Embodying Fashion exhibit and I was blown away.

They limited the use of cameras, but you basically went on a journey through the evolution of magazine covers from the 20's and 30's and up to the present.

Some of the prominent black models that were featured were Tyra Banks for her Sports Illustrated cover , Iman, Beverly Johnson and model pioneers Donyale Luna and Naomi Sims.

I was motivated and moved to be like these women and be the first to do something. We'll see just what God has in store for my world-changing contribution as the first to do something. Not just the first African-American woman, but the first ever... period.

Spotted: Tanisha from Bad Girls Club

2009-07-08T15:47:00.004-04:00

So, yesterday on my way home from work as I was on the phone telling my aunt about how my day was going I glanced up and saw Tanisha from The Bad Girls Club 2.

At first, I did a double take. Once I realized it was her I searched frantically in my purse for my camera. By the time I found it, she and the guy that she was walking with crossed the street.

Of course I could’ve flagged her down and gotten my pic, but I decided to withhold because we already know that if you rub her the wrong way she will be ready to dare you “pop off.”

Many people say she was the house bully, but she was star of her season and I watched the show just to see her. She’s pure entertainment.

With News Readily Available...Who Do You Trust??

2009-06-26T13:21:00.007-04:00

TMZ is to journalism what hot sauce is to some southern cooking, sometimes it can be too hot or spicy for one’s taste buds, but at the end of the day it serves it’s purpose to give you that extra zing of the flavor you want just in time.

Yesterday TMZ’s timeliness was on track as they were the first news source to break the iconic singer/performer Michael Jackson’s death after he went into cardiac arrest. They posted the information on their Web site at 2:26 p.m.

Other broadcast and online news sources did not confirm Jackson’s death until hours later because of sourcing issues. They did not want to attribute TMZ and were not sure if the entertainment news source had the facts straight because to some TMZ is seen as lascivious tabloid news.

TMZ has been known to show pictures and video that have been accumulated through invasive and untraditional journalistic ethical beliefs and it could be a problem for media outlets to feel comfortable attributing this type of newsgathering agency.

I say, they broke the news and they got the story right and that’s what’s important in this vastly changing world of journalism where immediate access to information drives people toward online, TV and radio news. But I also understand the reasoning behind other news sources playing limbo with attributing the information if they were uneasy about the source.

What do you think? Did other news sources drop the ball by not using TMZ as a source, or did they make the right decision by waiting for confirmation by the coroner’s office.

Source

Michael Jackson Will be Missed

2009-06-26T13:21:00.001-04:00

The international music star and icon Michael Jackson passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at age 50. Police came to the apartment Jackson was renting in LA, after the artist suffered from cardiac arrest. They attempted to revive him at the home and at the hospital, but shortly after he was pronounced dead.

The multi-platinum, multiple grammy-winning artist underwent public scrutiny based on his physical image, but mostly for molestation charges that were brought against him by a 13-year-old boy. He was acquitted of all charges.

The father of three, two sons and a daughter, will be missed and celebrated forever.

He was a musical genius and will greatly be missed, but most importantly celebrated.

Dynamic Duo: Jimmy Choo and H&M stores

2009-06-17T23:05:00.008-04:00

For us fabulous fashionistas and fashionistos on a budget, we've struck a new gold mine. Starting on November 14
H&M will have an exclusive line of men and women's clothes, bags, shoes and accessories designed by none other than our favorite shoe guru, Jimmy Choo.

This is the first time that H&M has worked with such a high-profile shoe designer. They have partnered with high-end designers such as Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, and Matthew Williamson in the past.

Big ups to Kara Reinsel for being one of the first people to get the word out.

In the above photo is H&M's creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch with Tamara Mellon, founder and president of Jimmy Choo. Source

Happy Birthday Tupac

2009-06-16T19:40:00.003-04:00

Tupac Shakur would have been celebrating his 38th birthday today.

It's crazy how timeless and relevant his music is to society's culture today, almost 18 years after he shook the hip-hop scene with his painfully honest and sometimes gritty lyrics that painted pictures of more than just thug life but also being black in America.

Listening to his music really puts me into the mindset of the song "Every Ghetto, Every City" because people from throughout the world were and are still affected by the truth and passion Pac put into his music.

He is and will always be missed in the game because there is only one Pac.

We Did it Like Season 1 of Making the Band and Got Some Cheesecake

2009-06-14T20:05:00.013-04:00

Today a friend and I channeled our inner-Diddy and went to Brooklyn for some cheesecake from Juniors Most Fabulous Cheesecake & Deserts AKA "The World's most fabulous cheesecake."

The food and service was great. I initially ordered some strawberry shortcake cheesecake and it was good, but after tasting my friend's carrot cake cheesecake I sent it back to switch my dessert up. What did I do that for?

The waiter was shocked that I didn't want it. He looked at me like I was from another planet when I said I wanted to change my dessert and then he uttered: "Nobody ever sends it back. This has never happened before."

I told him that I didn't think the cheesecake was nasty, but I just did not care for the shortcake part of it. Had I not tasted the carrot cake cheesecake I probably would have devoured that strawberry!

At first it did not hit me that this where the members of Season 1 of Making the Band AKA "Da Band" went in that infamous episode of the show where Diddy made them walk to Brooklyn to get him some cheesecake while singing Rapper's Delight.

Oh the memories and connections I make with my crazy imagination!

Next week I want to go back and try some of the food. When I walked through the doors and got past the smell of fresh cheesecake, the smell of fried fish, chicken and more got my attention.

I'll keep you posted on trip number 2.

Beauty is my niche

2009-06-12T23:03:00.008-04:00

So I just wrapped up my first week as an intern at Essence magazine and it's simply been an amazing experience. The ladies in the beauty department are FABULOUS! Not only are they fierce and dressed to impress, but the office is filled with everything from boho-chic fashion queens to runway-ready edgy fashionistas.

There are 12 interns total and I am the only intern working in beauty on the editorial side. This newsroom is one of the most close-knit and family-oriented atmospheres that I have ever been in. The interns are really cool and we all get along.

Yes, it's hard work and no one is there to hold your hand. At the end of the day you realize that it's for your good because the magazine industry is a constant cycle of planning ahead and being on top of your A-game.

On my first day I was floored by getting the opportunity to shake hands with the Beauty Editor and Cover Director Mikki Taylor. HELLO! If you know anything about Essence then you can feel my excitement.

My cubicle is about 20 feet from her office and I know I sound lame, but she remembered my name and I giggled like a kid in a candy store. She's beautiful inside and out is full of humility, grace and wisdom.

I was also in awe at the sight of the Editor-In-Chief Angela Burt-Murray (Totally gorgeous).

Models and celebrities often stop through, so I feel obligated to be FAB. So far I haven't had a great day of feeling like the fierce diva that I know is buried inside of me, so as soon as I get my money right....SHOPPING IT IS!

NYC is still growing on me, but I have yet to experience the laid-back vibe of places like Harlem, so I'm not taking it off my list of potential cities where I would like to work. Besides, lets face it...this is a journalism mecca!

I'm loving the experience and being exposed to the new-new-new-new-new when it comes to beauty products is just one of many perks.

Dizzy's jazz lounge

2009-05-24T21:37:00.002-04:00

Friday night a group of friends and I went to Dizzy's Club which is known as one of the best jazz lounges in Midtown. It was nice, but expensive when you're on a college students budget!

The cover with a student id was $15 and we were like OK, that's cool. But then we got inside and looked at the menu and wanted to cry.

I wanted to cry because the menu was amazing. It had Louisiana-style soul food and I had been craving soul food all week. The rest of the tears came from the prices.

We made due and ended up having a great time. Between the seven of us our bill came out to be $255 and only two of us ordered appetizers!

We spent about 15 minutes splitting the bill because our waiter couldn't do sepearate checks.

It was good times and a memory that I'll hold onto forever.

Sunday in Central Park

2009-05-24T21:22:00.000-04:00

Today I went to Central Park. I totally didn't realize how huge this park is until we had to catch a cab just to get from point A to point B. It was beautiful and full of quirky people.

There was everything from professional bubble blowers to "spiritual guides."

I loved the scenery and seeing the couples there. It's a very romantic place to be. There's also a hodge podge of people from all over the world. I heard at least 3 languages other than English being spoken as I walked through the park.

It's definitely a place where you get the best of both worlds. You have the quiet areas where you can come out and read a book or just enjoy silence and you also have the part where you will have free entertainment.

The people watching aspect is a show of it's own. It was the perfect way to end my day.

This pimped out bicycle was one of my favorite things.

Sundays at church

2009-05-24T21:06:00.001-04:00

This morning I woke up feeling refreshed and eager to head to Brooklyn to go to church. I guess by now you realize that I spent most of this past week in Brooklyn and I love it there!

But back to what I was talking about. Today I went to New Baptist Temple Church in Brooklyn. The initial plan was to go to Pastor Hezekiah Walker's church, Love Fellowship Tabernacle, but we got off the subway too fast and this church was right there.

It was great preaching and teaching and the people were extremely nice. One thing that Pastor Gus Rodriguez said during the sermon was "We are a recovery church. We are probably the only church where you can come in high and sit in the front row. And as soon as service is over we will get you help so you can come back and we can love you even more."

It really made me think of just how important it is to be connected to a strong church with your best interests at hand at all times...when you are doing great and when you may be wavering in your ways.

Glad I went there, but still want to make it to Love Fellowship Tabernacle.

Reporting in East Brooklyn

2009-05-24T20:49:00.000-04:00

My partner Ann and I are working on a story about women helping women and women getting back into business. For my portion of the story I am focusing on a non-profit organization that is helping women by giving them suits to wear for job interviews. They also offer classes and help disadvantaged women make lifestyle changes.

Ann's focus is based more on formerly incarcerated women getting back into the work force. So, to do more research for this aspect of our project, we went to east BK to interview a woman named Mrs.Lane.

Mrs. Lane was a character, she cracked jokes and always had a smile on her face. She invited us into her home and was very open to talking about her past life experiences. Every word came from the heart.

This woman was such of an inspiration. She was in and out of jail for drug charges and petty theft from about 1992-2005, but she decided that enough was enough and with the help of God and some other caring, concerned people, she has decided to turn her life around. Not only was she determined to be an example for her nine children, but she works with people who are living with HIV/AIDS and she loves them.

It just goes to show that if a person wants to change, it's possible. There is no limit to what we can do once we put our minds to it.

The picture at the top of this post is of the apartment complex where Mrs. Lane lives. She said:
"This is the projects...most of the crime that happens in Brooklyn happens here."

She said she hopes to leave the city to settle down in Virginia with her husband and young kids.

This is a funny not one of her neighbors posted on the door.

Now you know you can't be showing up at people's house all willie-nillie without letting them know first!

Fashion at the subway station...

2009-05-24T19:57:00.000-04:00

I came across this extremely eclectic look at the Subway station and it brought a question to my mind: Could today's fashion faux pas be tomorrow's next hot trend? What do you think?

I'm a southern girl...

2009-05-21T12:03:00.001-04:00

Tonight I felt like a 100 percent country bumpkin. Three friends and I went to the movies tonight and it was sooooo HUGE! We had to take 4 escalators just to get to our movie! Back home we barely have escalators in the mall, so this just had me bugging out like crazy.
Then, when we got inside the screens were huge and they looked like they were HD, but then again...I don't know.

The movie we saw was Angels & Demons and it was a really good movie. I didn't recommend seeing it after spending 5 hours traveling around NYC to interview people. I was cracking up because my friend Ann fell asleep half way into and our other two friends were speaking French 90 percent of the time asking each other questions and spent the other 10 percent asking me what was going on.

I'm still stuck on how big this place was.

Image Source

Lets take a long walk through NYC

2009-05-18T11:25:00.000-04:00

It was about 11p.m. when I was startled by the default ringtone of my iPhone. On the other end was a friend that I met who lives in the city.

"I'm about to go far a walk. You want to come?"

My first thought was who goes walking in this huge city this late at night? But then I though this is NYC and anything can happen, so why not seize the moment?

We met up and headed Uptown to Rockefeller Center. It was beautiful seeing the flags of every country flying free in the wind and further reminded me of the diversity of the city.

The next stop was Central Park. My friend Alex, said the weather in NYC is based off the temperature in Central Park.

After that we went to Columbus Circle, named after the famous explorer who discovered America, and saw the Trump Towers and several other beautiful buildings. Shortly after we went to the Julliard and I was humbled because any form of artistic expression is beautiful to me.

We passed by Carnegie Hall and several other wonderful places and names that are connected to NYC. It was the best seven-mile walk I've ever had.

The Game...is this the last we will see of the TV show?

2009-05-17T01:57:00.000-04:00

As you all know I have been extremely busy here in NYC, so I missed the season finale of The Game on Friday night. I just watched it and I thought that the episode was wonderful. The more I watched the stories unfold, the more I saw reflections of things that have happened in my life and in my close friends lives. Every relationship has it's ups and downs and learning how to forgive and let go of past faults is the only way that you can really grow. There's a little Melanie and Derwin, Tasha and Rick, and Kelly and Jason in all of us.

One thing that I will say is that I was really mad at this whole Jason situation. Who was the first person to rush to see him when he was in jail? Not his new boo, so to have the audacity to do what he did was flaw. I'm not going to say what he did because I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen the episode yet.

At the end of the day the story beautifully unfolded. I really hope this is not the final episode and that we are able to have a season 4 of one of the best-written shows in a while. We have to keep blogging on the CW Web Site and push for the show to continue to stay air. They will know by May 21 id they will get a fourth season or not. Lets hope for the best.
Image Source

Next stop: China Town

2009-05-17T01:53:00.000-04:00

I went to China Town tonight and walked down Canal Street. It was really cool to be in that area because the Chinese culture was definitely alive-and-well there. It was a group of about 8 of us and we had the time of our life eating some authentic Chinese food.

Well, I had a little trouble using my chopsticks because I was taught to hold one like a pencil and just rest the other beneath it for support. I hold my pencils really weird so eating with chopsticks just wasn't a good look for me.

I also loved the way things were translated in both English and Chinese. Restaurants ranging from Burger King to McDonald's all had Chines written on their signs. As journalists we pointed out every grammatical error. This Burger King sign was one of my favorites. Make sure you click the image and read the little red and white sign closely.

No five-dollar footlong, but it's still a subway

2009-05-17T01:51:00.000-04:00

I rode the Subway for the first time today.It reminded me a lot of riding the bus in Gainesville except it was underground and they go a lot faster. It was cool to see the electric falshes of light and to see the different people who were in our section of the train. I guess I better get used to it because I will be taking it atleast five days a week once I start my internship at ESSENCE.

Night in Times Square

2009-05-17T01:40:00.002-04:00

My first night in Time Square was amazing. It was beautifully-lit and was definitely one of the brightest parts of the city that I have ever seen. I ran into some interesting people,like Edwin Rodriguez and Mickey Mouse along the way.

Walking here is like advertisement central. You see familiar faces such as P. Diddy who has held a spot on the same billboard for 5 years paying $100,000 a month to keep it there. There were huge T.V. screens everywhere playing commercials and the people-watching was the best. You saw couples, singles, partiers, criers, ministers, comedians and more. Any type of person you could think of young and old were there.

This city is amazing and news is happening all around. Right after we took a picture with Mickey Mouse some guys on motorcycles were obnoxiously revving their engines, so a cop on horseback dashed over to reprimand them. The funny thing is that as soon as the police went over dozens of people pulled out cameras and started taking pictures and recorded what was going on. "Hey, this is New York City," one guy said whipping out his phone to record.

I really don't get the whole cops on horseback thing especially when thousands of people are around. I know it's easier to maneuver but it's always awkward to hear horse hooves clicking against the concrete when people are acting out or need help.

From Hell's Kitchen to redemption

2009-05-15T23:18:00.001-04:00

There are times in your life when you hear a person talk and you know that they mean what they say. As I was walking through Times Square for the first time I hear a dauntless, informative voice reminiscing on the "good ole' days." Well let’s go back with this father as he uses his dicey past to encourage his son not to follow in his footsteps.

It was about 9:30 p.m. in New York City and it was dark outside. I walked through the streets of Manhattan to get a better look at the city. In the midst of Time Square's white-hot, kaleidoscopic lights, the night's darkness was overpowered by light.
"You see how bright it is?"
A paunchy man weighing about 400 pounds, wearing a black boat hat, black jeans and a gray T-shirt said this as he leaned closer to his son.
He asked the question, but his deliberate tone implied that he already knew the answer.
"When I was growing up, it was dark and greasy."
Forty-seven year old, Edwin Rodriguez has thick skin and a don't-take-no-mess outlook on life.
He was born in Hell's Kitchen and grew up in Harlem.
Rodriguez said growing up in the city was no piece-of-cake but was rough and racist.
"There are a lot of people that are anti-Puerto Rican," he said. "There are a lot of people that want me to hate myself and I refuse to do that."
He said he wants his son to be street-smart and know how to make the right decision because he was let down by both enemies and friends.
"I spent 3 days in critical condition from a friend trying to kill me because I had a lot of nice things."
He said it's important to be careful who you trust because friends kill friends, and nowadays parents are killing their children.
Rodriguez is a Sufi Muslim, and said he believes that many other religions have significance as long as they connect to God.
He said his hope comes from knowing that he’s had second-chances and can still experience life’s joys, like going to the movies with his teenage son.
Teary-eyed and shaken by thinking about his near-death experiences, he looks me in the eyes.
“Why do you have hope?”
He answered with no hesitation.
“Because I believe in God.”

UF students protest

2009-04-30T00:57:00.000-04:00

2009-04-18T16:55:00.001-04:00

CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.