Have you ever thought about what or better yet, who defines beauty in today’s society? Are women really held to higher standards when it comes to physical attributes and sex relations? Join Together Apart’s Chris Kazi Rolle and his co-host Jenelle Simone on June 19th in New York City for “Skin Deep: Beyonce, Beer Bellies & Good Hair”, a provocative conversation about the superficial side of dating and relationships.

With a cast of accomplished panelists, Together Apart is committed to bridging the communication gap between the men and women, one stimulating conversation at a time.

For  more information and to purchase tickets click HERE

(L-R) Sway Calloway and Ericka Rodriguez

(New York, NY) MTV News’ Sway Calloway hosted The Unlikely Heroes Benefit, an intimate fundraiser for ”GER: To Be Separate”, a new documentary tracing one man’s odyssey from Sudanese child soldier to refugee, his escape and amazing journey home. At the event, held this past Monday at the 92Y Tribeca, attendees experienced a riveting discussion moderated by social commentator Lola Desioye and The Lost Boys of Sudan: Ger Duany and King Deng on each of their journey’s from Sudan to America and life thereafter.

The event’s host committee included Danny Glover, Mark G. Mathis, Bethann Hardison, Loul Deng and Dr. Adebola Orafidiya. Rahzel, formerly of The Roots, and Arama Mara were the featured music performances and sponsors included The Global Network for Humanity, MindSmack, and Africa.com.

Event proceeds will go towards Ger Duany’s upcoming film “Ger: To Be Separate,” directed by African Academy Award winner Wanuri Kahiu. The film documents one man’s odyssey from child soldier to refugee to Hollywood actor and international top model, and his amazing journey back home as he votes for the first time for a new Sudan and celebrates its division. Read the rest of this entry »

(New York, NY) Last Saturday afternoon, local radio station WBLS hosted its first ever “Café Mocha Brunch” at the historic Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center in Harlem. Themed “Celebrating Women,” the brunch was the cultimating event of a two-month initiative that paid tribute to Women’s History Month. With the mission to be a ‘voice’ and unify New York City women, the private gathering of 100 WBLS listeners, tastemakers and media was a heartfelt celebration and empowering experience for event guests.

“Women – especially women of color – are so vital to the fabric of our communities,” said Sheila Eldridge, Café Mocha Creator and Executive Producer. “It brings us great pleasure to honor three outstanding women for their tireless work to serve their community and inspire others.”

2011 honorees and awards included: Debi Jackson, WBLS radio jock Hal Jackson (Community Activist Award), Marty Gillis, McDonald’s (Powerhouse Award) and Vy Higginsen, Mama Foundation for the Arts (“Children’s Champion” Award). Read the rest of this entry »

Ladies, does your beauty product collection look like a Macy’s makeup counter? Are you always the first of your friends to test out every new product that claims to work miracles on your tresses? Well Jones Magazine has just what you’ve been waiting for in their highly anticipated Spring 2011 issue.

The special issue which officially hit newsstands yesterday, marks the magazine’s first “Best in Beauty” awards and is sure to become the official handbook for savvy consumers and industry leaders alike. Jones Magazine’s newly appointed Beauty Editor, Felicia Walker Benson, rolled up her sleeves and put newly developed and “tried and true” products to the test based on efficacy, wearability, enjoyment of usage and other criterion.

“The idea behind BIB awards list was to cut through the overblown promises, sales pitches, complicated ingredient lists and offer a highly edited list of products that truly deliver,” explains Jones Magazine Editor in Chief and star of Centric’s Keeping Up With The Joneses, Tracey Ferguson.

Check out the Jones Magazine Best in Beauty sneak peek video and snatch up your copy on newsstands today.

Celebrities, consumers and beauty industry elite converged on the city of Atlanta for the national launch of African Pride’s “My Pride, My Way” campaign last week.

Held at the King Plow Arts Center, the event was hosted by model and Essence Magazine editor Toccara Jones; and actor Lance Gross. The festivities featured hair demonstrations, consultations and makeovers by style experts, and very special performances by spoken word artist Mshairi Uwezo and So So Def recording artist Dondria.

Also spotted in the crowd were actress Keshia Knight Pulliam of “The Cosby Show” fame and celebrity hairstylist Derek J.

CentricTV.com Contributer, Renae Bluitt | Photo Credit: OMG Booth

Check out photos after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

(New York, NY) This past weekend, the Gye Nyame (pronounced Jean-Yuh-Me) Empowerment Project staged their fourth annual  Sista-2-Sista Youth Summit.

GNEP, a non-profit founded by Akua Soadwa (pictured above), brought together approximately 125 high school girls from throughout the New York City area to participate in the full-day empowerment summit.

Attendees were engaged with interactive and engaging discussions, workshops, live entertainment, and a keynote address from DJ Beverly Bond—all of which emphasized personal development, self-love and the representation of Black women.

“This year’s summit reflects the tremendous growth of the Gye Nyame Empowerment Project and the continual impact we’ve had on New York area high school girls,” said Soadwa. “We were so thrilled to have had such an inspiring, powerful and uplifting day that celebrates all women of Pan-African descent.”

Other notables in attendance included: social critic Michaela Angela Davis, empowerment and relationship specialist Sil Lai Abrams, award winning film-maker Stacy Muhammad, wellness entrepreneur Queen Afua, hip hop ambassador Toni Blackman, writer and cultural critic Geneva S. Thomas, and author Kerika Fields.

Photo Credit: Charla Harlow

For additional information on the Sista 2 Sista Summit click here

Charlene Bastien: National Marketing and Sales Director, Strength of Nature

Ladies, remember how we rocked braids back in the day (a la Janet Jackson in “Poetic Justice”) and African Pride’s Braid Sheen Spray was a staple in every fly girl’s beauty arsenal?

Well after a few years on the shelf (no pun intended), the haircare line is gearing up to reignite some brand lovin’ amongst consumers with the introduction of the new Olive Miracle Collection and the launch of its national “My Pride. My Way.” contest.

CultureList caught up with Charlene Bastien (the beauty behind the brand) to learn more about the initiative, and the highly anticipated launch party in Atlanta—which 10 lucky Centric readers can win tickets to attend.

Charlene Bastien for African Pride from Renae Bluitt on Vimeo.

Read the rest of this entry »

If the skin of  a few New York City residents seems to be shining a tad bit brighter, you’ve got Sheree Fletcher to thank. Last week the mother/wife and entrepreneur celebrated the retail launch of WHOOP ASH, her new skincare line, at Lower East Side beauty boutique, Georgia NYC.

Made with tough love, Whoop Ash was created as an organic and honest approach to body care to maximize and ensure overall health, wellness and appearance of the skin. With Spring just around the corner, who doesn’t want to show off radiant skin?

Sheree Fletcher for Whoop Ash from Renae Bluitt on Vimeo.

View pictures from the event after the break: Read the rest of this entry »

What’s a woman to do when her six year relationship goes awry? How about internalize that relationship’s lessons and launch a fabulous career as a relationship coach. Sounds far-fetched, but Tionna Smalls (pictured above with TLC’s Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas)—of whom many recognize as the super sassy matchmaker from VH1’s reality show, “What Chilli Wants”—did just that.

With an “around the way girl” sensibility and a reputation for dishing out painstakingly honest relationship advice, this New York native is no-nonsense. A true go-getter, Tionna has always been comfortable rocking many hats and recently hosted a grand opening party for her new boutique, Loveys, in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood .

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Soul Train Awards 2010 Pre-Show host and celebrity style maven June Ambrose, has been hand-picked by VH1 execs to star in her own reality show.  As a celebrity stylist, June’s impressive client roster includes entertainment icons such as Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Diddy and Jay-Z.

June’s VH-1 reality show will give aspiring stylists (and everyday women like myself), an up-close-and-personal look at all the hard work, creativity and dare we say, patience that goes into creating head-turning looks for the rich and fabulous.

A true fashion risk-taker, June Ambrose was the mastermind behind Missy Elliott’s infamous garbage bag look in “The Rain” (Supa Dupa Fly) video.

Anyone who follows June on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube knows exactly how passionate she is about style and staying ahead of industry trends. One lesson that can be learned from June’s latest achievement is that no matter what you do in life, do it like you’re doing it for TV. Don’t get ready, STAY ready!