Savvy Celebrity: Gabrielle Union "The Fashion Designer"

Savvy Sistah Gabrielle Union wasn't at New York Fashion Week to just look at the fabulous runway shows and attend the hip parties, but because she'll soon be adding fashion designer to her resume. According to Black Voices, the new line will be called Love & Blessings (name not set in stone)and will cater to women of a variety of sizes. She wants to create an affordable line that she'll sell on HSN or QVC. She is a fashion maven and I'm excited that she want's to create a stylish & affordable line that all women can wear.

Savvy HairStyle: Taraji P. Henson

Savvy Sistah Taraji P. Henson is celebrating her 40th birthday today. This Oscar-nominated actress has really come into her own over the years. Not only do I want to celebrate her birthday in this post but her Savvy Hairstyle. I absolutely love when she wears her hair this way, what do you think? Take a look at a few more looks.

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Savvy Events: Jennifer Hudson Gospel Birthday Celebration

Savvy Sistah Jennifer Hudson will be celebrating her 29th birthday this year with a gospel concert in Chicago on September 12, 2010 at 7:00pm. Jennifer will be singing along with featured artist Kelly Price, Shirley Murdock and Ricky Dillard (just to name a few). Tickets are no longer on sale through Ticket Master, but can be purchased at the door.

For more information: CLICK the LINK

RIP Eunice W. Johnson " The Fashion Icon"

It was truly sad to hear about the passing of Savvy Sistah Eunice W. Johnson, the wife of Johnson Publishing founder John H. Johnson and the creator & producer of the Ebony Fashion Fair.
I met Mrs. Johnson for the first time in 1995 after she called me for a meeting after receiving my head shot & resume from one of her assistants. At that time I was Miss Black Illinois and I was introduced to her assistant at a fashion show. I had know ideal that Mrs. Johnson was interested in me doing something with the Ebony Fashion Fair. I went in and auditioned for her and a month later I was on the road as a commentator for the Ebony Fashion Fair. The tour really helped me to discover a hidden talent that I didn't know existed at the time and to this day I'm still doing live presentations, voice overs and commentating shows because of that opportunity.

She truly helped open many doors for men and women of color in the fashion industry and she will always be remembered as a "Fashion Icon".

Click the link for more information on this fashion trailblazer.


Photo courtesy of Ebony Archives

Congratulations Jennifer & David!!!

Congratulations to Savvy Sistah Jennifer Hudson & fiance David Otunga on the new addition to their family. She gave birth to David Daniel Otunga Jr. last night and he weighed seven pounds, fourteen ounces.

After shedding so may tears of sorrow over the past year, I'm sure this new baby is going to bring many tears of joy.

I can't wait to see her baby, I know he's a cutie.

Michelle Obama: She is a "great beauty"

I was reading on Yahoo! News about a comment in Parade Magazines Sunday issue that supermodel/entrepreneur Iman made about First Lady Michelle Obama and I just had to think about it for a minute.

According to the article she said that First Lady Michelle Obama is not a "great beauty," but will "just get better with age"."But she is so interesting looking and so bright. That will always take you farther. When you're a great beauty, it's always downhill for you. If you're someone like Mrs Obama, you just get better with age,".

She also said, "You suddenly represent a whole race, and that race goes, Well, that person does not represent our ideals of beauty. For lack of a better term, it becomes what it was like during slavery,".

Now I understand that Iman is an exotic beauty and at times she is not put in the same category as some African American women, but I have to wonder if she considers herself a "great beauty". If you compared her to Halle Berry or Vanessa Williams is she a "great beauty". Or what about Oprah Winfrey and Jill Scott.

I really think that maybe Iman thought she was paying our First Lady a compliment, but it had too many "undertones" to me.

I don't want to jump to conclusions but who is she comparing Michelle Obama to( herself) It's funny that People Magazine can name her on the top "100 Most Beautiful" list. Glamour Magazine can name her #3 on their "50 Most Glamorous Women of 2009" list and she even made it on Maxim magazines list of "100 hottest Women in the World list".

Evidently the "great beauty" that Iman is use to has changed. And we need that!

Savvy Events: Shaun Robinson "Exactly As I Am"

Shaun Robinson is a TV correspondent for Access Hollywood, journalist and now author. Last night in New York, Eria Reid hosted a release party for Shaun's new book, Exactly As I Am: Celebrated Women Share Candid Advice with Today's Girls on What It Takes to Believe in Yourself. In this book Oprah Winfrey, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Hudson and more share stories about their lives to motivate and encourage the younger generation.I have always been a fan of Shaun's, every time you see her on TV she is always on point with her style and she has a great personality.

Make sure you pick up this book and share it with all the little ladies in your life.

To purchase this book:click the link

The Hug Seen Around the World!

Everyone is talking today about Michelle Obama breaking protocol when she put her arm around Queen Elizabeth and I'm amazed at the comments. First of all she is a very intelligent lady and we all know that she has a team of people behind her making sure she knows what to do and when to do it. I understand there are certain rules one must follow when visiting a foreign country, however Queen Elizabeth is not the highest authority in London,the Prime Minister is, nevertheless it is proper protocol to not touch her. But maybe she's ready for a change and warming up to the Obama's. I think this is a positive move on behalf of both of these ladies, and it should not be blown out of proportion. Trust me, if it were a real issue you would have seen police coming from everywhere!

For more information:click the link!

The infamous hug seen around the world!

Jet Set Fashionista: Michelle Obama in London

President Obama and First Lady Michelle arrived in London yesterday for the G-20 Summit (it's a global summit to talk about the world economic crisis). Michelle is such a lady and she truly knows about style. When she boarded Air Force One from Washington DC, she wore a sophisticated black & white coat(Thakoon Panichgul)with pearls, however when she stepped off the jet she had on this cute mustard and black belted ensemble.



Today here she is with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and wife Sarah. She visited a cancer support facility, Maggie's Cancer Caring Centre with the Prime Minister's wife. Doesn't she look classy in this J. Crew outfit!



Our First Lady is truly a Jet Setting Fashionista!


Photos:Reuters/AP

On The Tube Today: Star Jones on Oprah

If you are a fan of Star Jones make sure you watch the Oprah Show Wednesday. This will be her first interview with Oprah and she's going to talk about that infamous surgery that helped her shed a 160 pounds. Honestly, I have to admit I like Star Jones, but I still think that how she funded her wedding was a trip (although she must be a good business women to get someone to pay for everything like she did) and not coming clean with her gastric bypass surgery made her lose alot of credibility. However, when you step back and look at the events that transpired starting from her engagement on to getting fired from the show, she still kept it classy. I wish her the best, and hopefully she will finally be happy with who she is.



Photo & Video:Courtesy of Harpo Studios

It's a Bird, It's a Plane... It's Michelle Obama

Our first lady Michelle Obama will be profiled in a comic book for Washington-based publisher Bluewater Productions. This 22 page comic book that covers her life will be apart of their "Female Force" series on female politicians.It will be released on April 29, 2009 and retail for $3.99.

Move over Superman, Michelle is on the way!

For information on how to order your copy: click the link

Jennifer Hudson: Oprah's Friday Live Show

Jennifer Hudson was a guest on Oprah's Friday Live show today and she looked wonderful. This was her first interview since the tragic deaths of her mother, brother and nephew. And although she didn't talk about what happened directly to Oprah she said that she is glad to be back to performing and "it's like therapy for her". It's good to see the healing has begun. Watch her talk about the Superbowl, her dogs and what it meant to have Whitney Houston present her with a Grammy Award.

Jennifer will begin a 6 week tour with R&B singer Robin Thicke starting March 31st. The tour will stop in Chicago on April 26th.

For more information go to ticketmaster.com

Take a look at the interview and her performing her new song
"If this isn't Love"

Savvy Sistahs: Viola Davis & Taraji P. Henson

Although Viola Davis nor Taraji P. Henson walked away with the Academy Award for Best Supporting actress, they'll always be winners in our book.
I'm looking forward to seeing more Savvy Sistahs represented at these awards shows and not just in front of the camera, but behind it too.
Congratulations ladies!

Savvy Sistahs: Essence honors Black women in Hollywood

Essence had their 2nd annual Black Women in Hollywood luncheon in Beverly Hills and everyone from Halle Berry to Taraji P. Henson was there. I think this is a wonderful way to honor and encourage African American women in this difficult industry.

Photos:WireImage/Getty

Savvy Celebrity: Yolanda Adams

Yolanda Adams is one of the true singers of our day. She was raised in Houston Texas and is a former school teacher and model. She got her start singing with the Southeast Inspirational choir and in 1987 released her first album titled "Just as I Am". I have always liked her because she's real. Every time I see her sing I always sit on the edge of my seat, because I can't wait to hear what's going to come out of her mouth. She has the kind of voice that will make you feel joy, bring tears to your eyes and take you to a place of peace all at the same time. And I like her style, she carries her 6'1 frame very well and seems to pick the right clothes to compliment her. This Grammy award winning gospel artist has sung the National Anthem at the 2007 AFC championship football game, for President George Bush and the TV show America's Got Talent. And because she's a savvy sistah she's not just a singer but she's now hosting the Yolanda Adams Morning Show on Radio One and designing her own clothing line. She's a mother, singer, host and designer and she's my stylish and sophisticated celebrity of the week.

Savvy Celebrity: Gabrielle Union

My sophisticated & stylish sistah for the week is actress Gabrielle Union. She is the Hollywood "it" girl at this time and everywhere you see her from premiers to parties you'll always see that winning smile. The last movie she did was "The perfect Holiday" with Morris Chestnut & Queen Latifah and she looked so elegant on the cover of the December issue of Essence Magazine with fellow actresses Nia Long and Sanna Lathan. A well spoken and classy lady she also has the most beautiful and flawless skin and that's why she's a spokesperson for Neutrogena. Newly divorced, you will find her at many industry parties but she always looks on point with all of her wardrobe picks. Keep your eyes open for more of this sophisticated & stylish sistah for 2008.