1. WEtv Renews Mary Mary for Second Season
Gospel fans everywhere can say “Hallelujah!”

WEtv has renewed Mary Mary, the reality show about gospel sisters Erica and Tina Campbell, for a second season. The network has ordered ten hour-long episodes to begin airing in early 2013. [MORE]

2. Essence Magazine Honors Beauty Professionals and Top Products
This week, Essence magazine celebrated its second annual “Best in Black Beauty Awards” in New York City. The event, which was hosted by Essence’s beauty director, Corynne Corbett, and celeb stylist June Ambrose, highlighted the best beauty products as well as the top professionals in the field.

“We are in the business of celebrating Black beauty and the brands that get it right,” Corbett told the Huffington Post. “What better way to not only recognize those brands but also the people who are creating the products behind the scenes, in the studios, in the labs and beyond.” [MORE]

3. The 411 on Black Girls and Eating Disorders
Recently on VH1’s Behind the Music, singer and star of Moesha and BET’s The Game Brandy admitted that at the age of 19 she developed an eating disorder. It’s important to note that Brandy is not alone.

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder). Yet only one in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. Also, 50 percent of people with eating disorders are considered depressed and eating disorders have the highest death rate of any mental illness. [MORE]

4. Cissy Houston: Reality Show Could Launch Bobbi Kristina’s Career
Bobbi Kristina’s move into reality television has the blessing of her grandmother Cissy Houston.

TMZ reports the Houston family matriarch is telling friends she fully supports plans for her granddaughter, along with Whitney Houston’s brother Gary, his wife Pat and their daughter Rayah, to appear in their own reality show. The family signed the deal for the 10-part docu-series, which will begin airing later this year, with the Lifetime network last week. [MORE]

5. Rev. Jesse Jackson: Push for Gay Marriage Rights Like Slavery Abolition
As the flurry of reactions to President Obama’s declaration in support of gay marriage continues to swirl, Rev. Jesse Jackson added his opinion to the mix, lauding Obama for taking the bold step, but also calling for the president to take an even stronger stance. On Thursday, Jackson said President Obama should throw his weight behind federal freedom of marriage legislation in the same way abolitionists sought federal laws banning slavery. [MORE]

(Atlanta, GA) The 15^th Annual Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Show, got an added dose of sexy, when Tank dropped by the event for a special performance.

The noted singer/songwriter serenaded hundreds of fans, performing “Sex Music,” “I Deserve” and “Compliments,” the latest single off his  upcoming album This is How I Feel.

The annual event, which also attracted Chrisette Michele and Kimberly Elise, featured the most current natural hair care, holistic health and beauty innovation, over a three-day weekend to over 40,000 participants.

This is How I Feel will be available May 8.

Would you like to smell like Nicki Minaj? Okay, not literally. But would you be interested in wearing her fragrance? Well soon you’ll be able to.

The rapper/singer has signed a licensing agreement with Give Back Brands, the company behind Justin Bieber‘s hugely successful debut scent Someday— a substantial business move for Minaj. Beiber’s fragrance reportedly racked in $3 million in only three weeks after launching at Macy’s, breaking celebrity fragrance sales records.

“I have always been a huge fan of great fragrances; this is yet another extension of my creative expression and I can’t wait to share it with the world,” she said in a press statement. “I designed this scent and bottle with my Barbz in mind; I know they will love it!”

The yet to be named scent will be in stores later this year. Multiple personalities sold separately.

Have any ideas on what she should name it?

Spring’s here! Finally. I consider the first day of spring the real start of my new year, which means time for some housecleaning. I’m beginning a detox. No, not the master cleanse. I have no desire to be on cayenne pepper, lemon juice and laxatives for 10 days straight. Instead, I’m looking to do a less severe detox— The GOOP detox includes a few trips to the farmer’s market and promises glowing skin.

But taking on this detox means you’ll be giving up dairy, grains with gluten, meat, shellfish, anything processed (including all soy products), fatty nuts, nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant), condiments, sugar and obviously no alcohol, caffeine or soda.

Check out this sample meal plan breakdown:

DAY ONE
7am (or upon rising): Glass of room temperature lemon water
8am: Herbal tea
10am (breakfast): Blueberry and Almond Smoothie
11:30am: Coconut water*
1:30pm (lunch): Salad with Carrot and Ginger Dressing
4pm (snack): A handful of mixed pumpkin and sunflower seeds
6pm (dinner): Broccoli and Arugula Soup

*Make sure that the coconut water has no added sugar. Fresh is ideal but the brands Zico or Vita Coco are readily available.

Read the rest of this entry »

I hate heavy shampoos! And it seems Patene Pro-V does too. The popular brand has unveiled Aqua Light, a silicone-free shampoo and conditioning treatment that promises to be zero weight, yet still able to nourish the hair.

Tired of spending hours of your time deep conditioning your scalp? The Aqua Light conditioner boasts the same salon quality results, just done in a fraction of the time—two to three minutes tops. Finally, I can imagine a world without heavy cream-based conditioners that clog up my sink.

Interesting in testing this product out? Visit them online at Pantene.com

Former MTV VJ turned reality show star La La Vasquez is now a beauty maven. The star of VH1’s “La La’s Full Court Life” has teamed up with the Motives by Loren Ridinger cosmetic brand, to introduce Motives For La La, a brand extension that features mineral based foundations, lipsticks, blushes, and lip glosses.

Touted as the “perfect blend of runway and everyday styles” for women of every shade, Motives for La La is chalk full of fun colors that will add the perfect punch of punctuation for Valentine’s Day and beyond.

Into La La’s Motives? It’s available online at motivescosmetics.com.

Contemporary plus-size clothing brand, Monif C. Plus Sizes teamed up with beauty powerhouse, Indique, to present THE PERFECT 10—a  fashion and beauty collaboration that brought together ten real size women of varying industries—fashion, television and business—to show off fashion forward frocks and easy application extensions.

The selected group of curvacious ladies showcased Indique’s 10 piece hair clip-ins and Monif C. Plus Sizes’ 2011 Holiday Collection—an array of glamorous sequin party dresses, tailored jumpsuits, and the popular Marilyn convertible dress, which can be worn more than 40 ways.

“This collaboration is for the fashion forward, the daring, and the glamorous,” says Ericka Dotson, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Indique.

The campaign, a celebration of a woman’s natural curves, features model, Liris Crosse;  What Chilli Wants star, Tionna Smalls; celebrity makeup artist, Porsche Cooper; marketing associate, Gabrielle Joffee, and blogger Lauren Brake.

Indique offers some of the best premium virgin human hair extensions in the market, and boasts a clientele that includes,  Angela Simmons, supermodel, Iman Chanel; singer, Jill Scott; Real Housewives of Atlanta reality star, Sheree Whitfield; and even Lady Gaga.

For more information, visit Indique and Monif C. Plus  Sizes online

After three decades at Essence Magazine, noted and acclaimed beauty and style editor Mikki Taylor has put her coveted advice in a new book, Commander in Chic: Every Woman’s Guide To Managing her Style Like a First Lady. Inspired by Michelle Obama, the book is filled with photographs of the First Lady’s signature looks, fashion secrets, and Taylor’s flavor-filled personal anecdotes—Mikki-isms.

While this book is focused on cultivating and maintaining personal style, it also serves as an empowerment manual of sorts, promoting self-love and sisterhood.

Why have you chosen Michelle Obama as the face and muse of your book?
[I chose Mrs. Obama] because we need to support her. I never thought I would see the day an African American woman would be our First Lady. The time has come where we have to take owner ship of how we carry ourselves in the world and how we treat others. Just as I say in the last chapter of my book: ‘to much is given much is required.’ Mrs. Obama embodies [that]. She is mentoring the women and children of this nation and this is something she chose to do. We can all learn from her how to master our style [in order] to walk fully in our own purpose.

What does it mean to be a Commander in Chic?
I want every woman to be a commander in chic which means owning your own life and being the commander of your life’s own distinction. I tell people everywhere I go we are here to change and shape the world.

Your book is not only about beauty and style, but there is also a strong focus on female wellness and empowerment. How do style, wellness and empowerment correlate?
Life is not a dress rehearsal. This is it! We have to carry our authentic selves and our authentic purpose every day in everything we do. We have to self-edit and ask ourselves: ‘Am I living the life I was meant to live?’ ‘Do I clearly understand my value?’ Life is the occasion and we have to show that we are ready for it—that reflects in the way that we dress, in the way that we carry and conduct ourselves. Read the rest of this entry »

After nearly four successful decades as a supermodel, Beverly Johnson obviously knows how to maintain stunning good looks. The 52 year old model-turned entreprenuer is taking her knowledge—and brand—to the next level, with the launch and release of her new eponymous cosmetics line.

The line includes products for the skin and hair that are focused on promoting good health and rejuvenation. Boasting fun names like, ”WORK-IT” conditioner and SASHAY end creme; this line is fun, and works for everyone.

You can snag the complete collection on BeverlyJohnson.com and in Target department stores nationwide starting Spring 2012.

Editors Pick: LUSCIOUS BODY CRÈME ($16.95), this will give you the smooth skin that will make any man think you’re a top model.

Nothing says ‘happy holidays’ like the color red, and FASHION FAIR’s holiday collection, Siren Call, ooozes fa-la-la-la-la. Inspired by rich velvet and sensuous satin, the collection features four red lip sticks that will work for any and all shades of brown. With names like Intrigue, Forbidden, Siren and Femme Fatale—being naughty might be a good thing.

The limited edition collection also includes three must have nail lacquers—Heart Throb, Allusion, and a bedazzled shimmering lacquer called So Cold (my personal favorite)—that will become your go-to’s during and after the season.

Watch this behind the scenes video on the set of the collection’s campaign shoot with Fashion Fair’s new Creative Makeup Director, Sam Fine.

Loving? Buy online at FASHIONFAIR.COM.