After three years in the studio, Whitney Houston will release her sixth studio album, 'I Look to You,' on Aug. 31.
Amid all the rumors about the chart-topping diva, BV has compiled some interesting facts about the woman bornWhitney Elizabeth Houston and provided a candid look at her throughout the years.
-- The Newark, N.J., native became the first female recording artist to enter the Billboard 200 album chart at number one with her sophomore release, 'Whitney,' in 1987.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Return of Whitney Houston
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Michelle Works the Target Fashion
Hmmmm. Turns out that the first lady got this dress from Target. What ya’ll think?
Thursday, August 20, 2009
NATALIE COLE LOOKING GOOD
From the outside looking in, one would think Natalie Cole is having a tumultuous year.
Despite battling hepatitis C, publicly revealing that she was in need of a kidney transplant, and losing her older sister, Timolin Cole, to cancer in May, the Grammy Award winner has managed to successfully recover from a recent kidney transplant.
Prior to her surgery, which took place at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the 'Unforgettable' singer was expected to make a full recovery in three to four months.
Luckily, the 59-year-old singer has recuperated faster than doctors
predicted.
IS SOLANGE CUT SEXY ???
Many of my besties in the blogosphere clown on the Knowles sisters. Not because of their talent, Lord knows both of these beautiful Houston women can entertain like nobody's biz. It's because of their hair.
My amiga Fresh of Crunk and Disorderly coined the term "wig crypt" for the Knowles family, and my other amiga Luvvie, well she'd just refer to Beyonce's typical hairstyle as a flammable hairhat.
We try not to bring that kind of judgment over here at BV Hair Talk.
So I'll just say, I was so pleasantly surprised at Solange's new 'do. She is workin' the TWA like nobody's business!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
KELLY CAN’T FIND TRUE LOVE, AND SHE BLAMES HER DAD
Kelly Rowland blames her tumultuous relationship with her alcoholic father for her unsuccessful lovelife.
The former Destiny's Child singer was engaged to American footballer Roy Williams, but called off the wedding just months after she accepted his proposal in 2005 - and has been looking for true love ever since.
She insists there's a link between her estrangement from her father Christopher - who she and her mother fled from in her youth - and her pursuit of the wrong type of men.
Fashion News: Michelle Obama Causes a Stir for Wearing Shorts off Airforce One
Michelle Obama: She Wears Short Shortsk
No doubt about it. This story's got legs. The first lady took a look-see at the Grand Canyon with her family this weekend while the rest of the country got a good look at her gams. Michelle Obama braved the blistering Arizona sun with an even braver style of shorts.
This winter we got a view of the fashionista-in-chief's powerful arms, and now there's proof that she's got stems to match. The bare legs set off a firestorm of buzz on the Web, with looky-loos typing in "michelle obama short shorts" into the Search box.
The Huffington Post declared that Michelle O. was the first first lady to step out of Air Force One in anything close to Daisy Dukes and asked, "After all, can you imagine Laura Bush or Patricia Nixon doing the same?" Soliciting online opinions, the site is holding a poll on whether the first lady has the "right to bare legs."
To be clear, the shorts pictured are above the knee. But note that the first lady pairs the shortish shorts with running shoes. Sex pot? Not. She looks like a tourist at a national park, except with Air Force One behind her. Another fashion accessory that's turning heads: Michelle Obama's confidence.
What do Sex and Money Have in common?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
Some people think that money and sex have nothing in common. Actually, they have everything in common. The act of merging your assets with another person's can be an exhilirating process leading to the high of a lifetime, or it can be a devastating and emotionally crippling experience.
In a series of articles, I plan to lay out some examples that explain what sex and money have in common. Follow along, so that you can avoid the mistakes that are made by milions of people every single year.
Sex and Money Comparison Number 1: You could actually get the job done by yourself if you wanted to
No one says that you have to merge your money or your body with another person's. There is a word we use to describe when someone takes care of his/her own physical needs, and I am not going to say it here. If you are not sure what the word is, then ask your mother, your boyfriend or your priest.
Just as you can take care of your physical needs yourself, the same is true of your financial needs. There's an old saying "I can be broke all by myself." Thus, the choice to merge finances with another human being is not a choice we have to make. Merging assets with another person is also not a decision that should be taken lightly. It's a decision you make only if you see potential benefits from the interaction.
News: Black Women and Eating Disorders
That wasn't always the case. The cover of her new book, 'Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat,' tells it all. Jagged black scribbles cross out a childhood photo, which is set against the backdrop of a stark yellow cover. But the most striking image, also on the cover, is of two fingers-the index and middle fingers-both used to induce vomiting by sticking down the throat.
They symbolize bulimia, which is characterized by binge eating and purging either by throwing up, laxative abuse or over exercising. A compulsion, it is usually done to numb feelings of anxiety or pain, experts say.
"My childhood picture is crossed out because it's about my self-loathing phase,'' she says in a reflective voice in a telephone conversation from her home in Los Angeles. "The two fingers, well, they are about bulimia. It resonates for me.''
Friday, August 14, 2009
Black News: Monique Writes about Being Skinny and Having Good Sex
"The sex is better! I have so much more energy. I can move around better, and that's what it's all about. I want to lose more, so I'll just keep eating better and exercising, and the weight will come off. It took time to put in on, and it will take time to take if off. It's still okay to be big, but let's be big and healthy. I had to lose some weight to get healthier because I want to be around for a while. I have twin sons who are 3 and a son who is 19, and I want the opportunity to meet their children."
– Actress/comedienne Mo'Nique talks about her 40-pound weight loss in the new Life & Stylemagazine.
The full-figured talent, who penned a best-selling book called 'Skinny Women Are Evil,' went from 262 pounds to 220 pounds.
Click to read.Your Black News: Oprah Winfrey Puts out a Power List
Forbes has theirs, why shouldn't the most powerful media maven in the world have hers? In the September 2009 issue of 'O' the magazine, Oprah Winfrey names 20 of some of the most powerful contemporary and legendary women in her first-everPower List. There is no chronological ranking. This is an opportunity to celebrate some of the well-known as well as unsung heroes who inspire, educate and advocate in various arenas.
The full list of honorees includes: Venus Williams, Sarah Silverman, Anna Deavere Smith, Donna Brazile, Mayda del Valle, Terry Tempest Williams, Lauren Ambrose, Pema Chodron, Lateefah Simon, Shirley Ann Jackson, Dambisa Moyo, General Anne E. Dunwoody, Kara Walker, Sheila Bair, Mary Gaitskill, Cleopatra (YES, Queen of Egypt of yesteryear), Michelle Rhee, Lilly Ledbetter, Anne Mulcahy, Melanie Sloan. --O, The Oprah Magazine
Oprah Winfrey Puts out a Power List
Forbes has theirs, why shouldn't the most powerful media maven in the world have hers? In the September 2009 issue of 'O' the magazine, Oprah Winfrey names 20 of some of the most powerful contemporary and legendary women in her first-everPower List. There is no chronological ranking. This is an opportunity to celebrate some of the well-known as well as unsung heroes who inspire, educate and advocate in various arenas.
The full list of honorees includes: Venus Williams, Sarah Silverman, Anna Deavere Smith, Donna Brazile, Mayda del Valle, Terry Tempest Williams, Lauren Ambrose, Pema Chodron, Lateefah Simon, Shirley Ann Jackson, Dambisa Moyo, General Anne E. Dunwoody, Kara Walker, Sheila Bair, Mary Gaitskill, Cleopatra (YES, Queen of Egypt of yesteryear), Michelle Rhee, Lilly Ledbetter, Anne Mulcahy, Melanie Sloan. --O, The Oprah Magazine
Taraji P. Henson Speaks on her Dating Life
Taraji P. Henson is single and trying to mingle, but has some standards when it comes to dating.
“Most men are fragile,” the “Curious Case of Benjamin Button” star says in September's Men's Fitness magazine in a story that features some sizzling photos of Henson. “I’m a successful woman, in the public eye, and raising a kid by myself. It can leave guys feeling like, ‘Damn, how can I have a chance?’”
Black News: Woman Brands Her Baby’s Backside
From TheGrio.com
A California mother allegedly carved a letter "S" onto her 15-month-old's buttocks, Sacramento police said.
Sergaye Lafayette, 23, remained in custody at the Sacramento County Jail on Thursday afternoon.
A doctor at the UC Davis Children's Hospital's CAARE Diagnostic and Treatment Center called officials about the scar.
The mutilation appears to have taken place about a week ago, according to a police report.
The child has been placed into protective custody, police said.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Your Black news: Remember Tempestt Bledsoe? She’s going into Reality
While audiences across the nation are glued to their television sets for Bravo's hit series 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta,' FOX Reality TV has decided to garner some attention of its own.
Beginning Aug. 15, former 'Cosby Show' and 'A Different World' stars Tempestt Bledsoe and Darryl M. Bell will be featured in the network's all-new reality series, 'Househusbands of Hollywood.'
The show will highlight husbands juggling the household duties of cooking dinner, planning parties and chauffeuring kids around Los Angeles. The men, who also have career aspirations of their own, will share stories with each other about their money-making wives.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Black News: Superhead Gets Dissed by her Boyfriend
Lies and deceit are what you may call it or at least this is what Darius McCrary, most known for his role on the tv show Family Matters as Eddie Winslow, is saying about former hip hop music video vixen Karrine Steffans aka Superhead after stating that Steffans lied about the two being married because she has NeuroRectoOphthalmology and “drummed up” the lies to help sell books.
What is Neuro Recto Ophthalmology? “NeuroRectoOphthalmology is when your brain gets crossed with your eyelids and your a**hole and you have a sh*tty outlook on life,” states Darius McCrary.
Monday, August 10, 2009
13 Year old Girl Kept in Jail for 2 weeks
A 13-year-old girl arrested for shoplifting was held in the Dallas County Jail for nearly two weeks before it was determined that she is underage, a police sergeant said Thursday.
An internal affairs investigation has been launched to review the matter, police Sgt. Warren Mitchell told The Associated Press on Thursday night.
The girl, who had run away from home, was arrested July 10 at a Target department store for shoplifting. She held no identification and gave a false name and age, Mitchell said.
The sergeant said the arresting officer attempted to contact the police youth division to confirm the information but found no record of her. The arresting officer assumed she was 17 and took her to jail.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Michelle Obama Named Best Dressed
One could say that she's been campaigning as hard for this as her husband did for the presidency, but Michelle Obama did it with a lot more ease. After nearly two years of wowing the fashion world, the first lady has earned an honor she so rightly deserves -- landing on Vanity Fair's International Best Dressed list.
From Jason Wu to Michael Kors, Obama's chic-clectic choice of designers anddesigns has set her apart from just about every other first lady in U.S. history. Below are a handful of legendary looks worn by Mrs. Obama that have solidified her as an icon in my book:
The cream-colored frothy one-shoulder Jason Wu stunner she wore for the inauguration galas was regal and feminine -- and just right for the occasion.
Her dual-toned knee-length Narciso Rodriguez sheath dress, which she paired with flats on Independence Day, screamed sleek, smart and totally sophisticated.
News: Yes, the Housewives Really ARE BROKE
Popular women's site Jezebel has amassed in one place evidence that confirms what we always suspected. Most of the women appearing on 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' are hardly the rich women they pretend to be. Far from being pampered princesses without a care, NeNe, Kim, Lisa and Sheree are plagued with financial, family and relationship problems just like everybody else. Perhaps this makes for great reality television, because if these ladies were truly elite, they might not be as fun to watch.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Your Black Love: The Benefits of Being Bridezilla
Yep, I'm guilty. I admit it. I have indulged in one of my (many) guilty pleasures, 'Bridezillas,' a few times. Now, don't even try acting all bourgeois, because you know you have, too. And even though we sit back and wonder what man in his right mind would marry one of these crazed chicks, with their "I'm all that" attitudes and ridiculous demands for cerulean – not blue – centerpieces, there's a thing or two we can learn from them even before we find the proverbial "one."
1. Be a S.N.O.B.
Opt to settle for nothing other than the best when it comes to matters of your heart. Don't worry, that doesn't entail being a pompous, arrogant b&^%$. Instead, it means knowing precisely what you require in a mate and sticking to that ideal. But knowing is half the battle, yes? That brings us to point two.
2. List Your Demands
Mariah and Rihanna list their demands at every one of their shows in the form of a "concert rider"-- agreements that each show promoter must adhere to. Guess what? Beyonce ain't the only diva around. Here's what you do: Pull out a piece of paper, grab a pen and write down every single thing you want and need in your soon-to-be-found husband (even if you think it's facetious. FYI: It's perfectly okay to list attractiveness as a requirement). List them out numerically. There doesn't have to be a specific order, just get them on paper. Also, there's no limit, so write to your heart's content. Next, put stars next to those you deem to be of utmost importance (i.e., compassion for your feelings might be starred, while a required height of 6-foot-3 won't be quite as pressing). Notice how many are starred versus those that aren't. The starred ones are must-haves; the unstarred ones are the nice-to-haves. Put it in your wallet and carry it everywhere you go.
Obama’s Kids Get Attacked in Ads
On posters appearing around Washington D.C.'s Union Station, a smiling 8-year-old vegetarian from a Florida public school asks the question: "President Obama's daughters get healthy school lunches. Why don't I?"
It's part of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's campaign to extend school lunch legislation that would allow for more fruits and vegetables in school lunches. I'd say the ad is successful in that it's garnered some publicity.
But I'm guessing that the ad's creators are misguided if they think their legislation will win any special attention from the president now that they've singled out the first daughters as a gimmick. After all, I'm sure that every federal legislator's kid has the opportunity to have a healthy lunch, particularly those in private schools. ...
Friday, August 7, 2009
News: Lisa Raye Gets Real
Lisa Raye, the beautiful, outspoken star of film and television and First Lady of the Turks and Caicos, is moving forward with her new life, and TV One will be there to capture the unvarnished journey in a new reality series slated to go into production this fall. TV One announced the new series at the summer meeting of the Television Critics Association.
To be filmed in Los Angeles and the Turks and Caicos, the new reality series will follow the star of TV One's All of Us as she works to fully re-establish her critically acclaimed acting career, while balancing a far-flung and complex personal life. The half-hour, eight episode series is slated to premiere in spring 2010.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Your Black News: Halle Berry Vows to Never Marry Again
Hollywood star Halle Berry has vowed that she will never get married again.
The twice-divorced 42-year-old actress is currently dating Gabriel Aubry, a French-Canadian model ten years her junior, and the couple has a daughter called Nahla.
However, Berry insists that a third marriage is not going to happen.
"I’m so not the relationship go-to girl. But I’m much clearer about what a relationship is, which is why I will never marry again. Gabriel and I have a great partnership and a lovely daughter,” the Daily Telegraph quoted her as telling The Mail on Sunday newspaper.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Black Supermodel Dies
Grand dame, great beauty and pioneer in the fashion industry Naomi Sims has died of cancer. She was 61 years old.
"Naomi Sims was an incredible role model – a trailblazer who helped to define black beauty and open the doors for all of the African American models we see today -- and a savvy businesswoman," a shaken Beverly Johnsontold Black Voices. "Mostly, she was a friend and someone I greatly admired. We lost a truly dynamic woman."
Sims was born in Oxford, Miss., on March 30, 1948. An awkward teen -- 5-foot-10 by the time she was 13 -- Sims and her family left the segregated South and moved to Pittsburgh, where she completed high school.
Sim's mother took ill, and the gangly teen and her two sisters were placed in foster care. After graduation, the ambitious beauty moved to New York City to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Because of financial constraints, Sims left school and began modeling in the big city. She broke through at the age of 18 when she appeared on the cover of Ladies Home Journal. She was the magazine's first African American cover model. In 1969, Sims appeared on a simple yet striking cover of Life magazine.
Supermodel Naomi Sims Died
Naomi Sims has died of cancer at the age of 61. Sims was credited as breaking racial boundaries in modeling, appearing as the first black cover model of Ladies' Home Journal in November 1968. She was also among the first to be represented by Wilhelmina agency and went on to model for designers such as Halston in her career. Two photographs of her are featured in the The Model As Muse exhibit currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Sex Can Be Healthy
If you thought that making love was just a gesture of love or for pleasure, think again. Sex has much more to it than most of us think and know. Did you know that sex is a form of physical exercise? Sex three times a week burns lots of calories, and if maintained throughout the year, is equivalent to jogging 75 miles. To make it simpler, a vigorous bout burns around 200 calories, about the same as running 15 minutes on a treadmill.
Regular sex is regular exercise and has similar benefits, including improved cholesterol levels and increased circulation Apart from giving you a good work out, sex once or twice a week improves the immune system as well.
Research has shown that an active sex life helps us live longer. Organs and systems in the body perform better and remain healthy because sex increases the supply of oxygen to the cells and stimulates the activity of various organs and systems within the body. People with complaints of cholesterol, take heart! You have a good medicine, which you would not refuse. Where sex balances out the good cholesterol to bad cholesterol ratio, it also simultaneously reduces the overall cholesterol count in the body. So there you go, you can now control your bad cholesterol with pleasure. By having sex three or more times a week, men reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke by half.
Monday, August 3, 2009
New HIV Strain Found In Cameroon Woman
WASHINGTON – A new strain of the virus that causes AIDS has been discovered in a woman from the African nation of Cameroon. It differs from the three known strains of human immunodeficiency virus and appears to be closely related to a form of simian virus recently discovered in wild gorillas, researchers report in Monday's edition of the journal Nature Medicine.
The finding "highlights the continuing need to watch closely for the emergence for new HIV variants, particularly in western central Africa," said the researchers, led by Jean-Christophe Plantier of the University of Rouen, France.
The three previously known HIV strains are related to the simian virus that occurs in chimpanzees.
The most likely explanation for the new find is gorilla-to-human transmission, Plantier's team said. But they added they cannot rule out the possibility that the new strain started in chimpanzees and moved into gorillas and then humans, or moved directly from chimpanzees to both gorillas and humans.
Gabrielle Union's New Gig On Small Screen
Actress Gabrielle Union is making another go for the small screen. Union is joining the cast of ABC's new drama "FlashForward" set to debut on September 24 at 8:00 P.M., according to Variety.com. Union plays criminal defense attorney, Zoey, who along with the other main characters gets a glimpse into her future and has a choice of either changing what she sees or living her life to the fullest. "FlashForward" also stars Courtney B. Vance.-WLW
Jennifer Hudson's 'Winged Creatures' Renamed 'Fragments'
After winning Oscars in 2006 for their roles in 'The Last King of Scotland' and 'Dreamgirls,' respectively, Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson worked together on a film called 'Winged Creatures.'
With a cast that includes Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Jackie Earle Haley, Josh Hutcherson, Embeth Davidtz, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Robin Weigert, the movie seemed, at the the very least, promising. Not quite.
It was shelved for three years while producers tried to find a distribution company. Now, with its new title, 'Fragments,' this Rowan Woods-directed film will be released in a limited number of theaters on July 31, with a DVD release date set for Aug. 4.
Student Raps for Politics
Shanelle Walker is the former student body President at Kentucky State University. She wrote this amazing poem to encourage African American youth to get out and vote for President Barack Obama. Not only is she a political activist, she is a writer, leader and emerging media personality. Is she one of the dopest young black poets in America? You be the judge! Rather than reading the poem, I recommend that you watch her perform it. The performance is on the video link below.
Click to read more.Sunday, August 2, 2009
Questioning Black Leadership: While Barb’s In Charge -- Should You Watch Your Wallet?
As a leadership scholar and proud member of the Black Greek Nation, I find it quite appropriate to comment on the sad state of affairs regarding the recently filed Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority lawsuit. President Barbara McKinzie and the executive director are being charged by eight sorority members of financial impropriety to the extent they want them removed immediately from leadership. Since the case has not been heard in a court of law, one should only share opinions (humor permitted) on the specifics of the allegations. However, since this latest announcement seems to suggest a pattern of inadequate leadership in some of our most cherished Black non-profit organizations, I write because I am very concerned about why our community continues to cling on to leaders who repeatedly demonstrate an inability to be accountable, effective and in touch with today’s reality. A few years ago another Barbara, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s president Barbara Moore, was charged with similar activities and the smoke has yet to clear on the internal damages inflicted on the organization. Moore did finally admit to using the sorority’s funds for her own needs though. Both sororities are purposed as charitable organizations to foster sisterly love and service to others yet find themselves dedicating dollars and time to legal matters and media hysteria. Sisters are blogging and posting vitriolic comments about who’s to blame, why the organizations are even relevant and necessary, other sorority options and even thoughts of why the lawsuit doesn’t even matter. If only we can generate this type of intense dialogue to find practical solutions to important matters like our educational needs in the Black community.
Questioning Black Leadership: If Barb’s In Charge -- Should You Really Watch Your Wallet?
As a leadership scholar and proud member of the Black Greek Nation, I find it quite appropriate to comment on the sad state of affairs regarding the recently filed Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority lawsuit. President Barbara McKinzie and the executive director are being charged by eight sorority members of financial impropriety to the extent they want them removed immediately from leadership. Since the case has not been heard in a court of law, one should only share opinions (humor permitted) on the specifics of the allegations. However, since this latest announcement seems to suggest a pattern of inadequate leadership in some of our most cherished Black non-profit organizations, I write because I am very concerned about why our community continues to cling on to leaders who repeatedly demonstrate an inability to be accountable, effective and in touch with today’s reality. A few years ago another Barbara, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s president Barbara Moore, was charged with similar activities and the smoke has yet to clear on the internal damages inflicted on the organization. Moore did finally admit to using the sorority’s funds for her own needs though. Both sororities are purposed as charitable organizations to foster sisterly love and service to others yet find themselves dedicating dollars and time to legal matters and media hysteria. Sisters are blogging and posting vitriolic comments about who’s to blame, why the organizations are even relevant and necessary, other sorority options and even thoughts of why the lawsuit doesn’t even matter. If only we can generate this type of intense dialogue to find practical solutions to important matters like our educational needs in the Black community.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Check Out Mary J. Blige's New Video For Lebron James Film
Lionsgate has released the music video for Mary J. Blige's newest single, 'Stronger.' The video features the talented players from 'More Than a Game,' a remarkable true-life coming-of-age story about friendship and loyalty in the face of adversity.
Five young basketball players from Akron, Ohio, who are coached by a charismatic but inexperienced father and led by future NBA superstar LeBron James, embark on an improbable seven-year journey that leads them from a decrepit inner-city gym to the doorstep of a national high school championship.
Along the way, the close-knit team is repeatedly tested on and off the court, as James' exploding worldwide celebrity threatens to destroy everything they've set out to achieve together.
Black Woman News: Legal Action Filed Against AKA President
Members of the country's oldest black sorority are suing to remove their president, alleging that she spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of the group's money on herself — some of it to pay for a wax statue in her own likeness.
In the suit filed in Washington, D.C., the Alpha Kappa Alpha members also alleged that international President Barbara McKinzie bought designer clothing, jewelry and lingerie with the sorority credit card. She then redeemed points the purchases earned on the card to buy a big-screen television and gym equipment, the lawsuit said.
"This is extraordinarily shocking if not illegal conduct," Edward W. Gray Jr., an attorney representing the plaintiffs suing the Chicago-based sorority, said Wednesday.
McKinzie denied what she called the lawsuit's "malicious allegations," saying they were "based on mischaracterizations and fabrications ... not befitting our ideals of sisterhood, ethics and service," according to a statement issued this week by the sorority.
The lawsuit also accused the sorority's board of directors of signing off on spending funds on McKinzie without the required approval by the group's membership. For example, the lawsuit says the board approved a monthly "pension stipend" of $4,000 for four years after she leaves office and purchased a $1 million life insurance policy for her. The suit demands McKinzie be fired and return money to the sorority.
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