1. NAACP Image Awards honor Viola Davis, Jennifer Hudson, BET talent
The 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards was an evening of recognition, celebration and tribute, honoring achievements in movies, television, music and literature while remembering those we’ve lost, singling out Whitney Houston in a moving musical rendition of “I Love the Lord” from Yolanda Adams, backed by a choir. As many expected, The Help took Outstanding Motion Picture as well as wins for actresses Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. [MORE]

2. Star Jones Continues to Bring Heart Disease Awareness to the Public
After Star Jones underwent open heart surgery in 2010, the former The View host took on the responsibility to let others know about the disease that took her by surprise. She had gastric bypass surgery in 2003 and lost more than 150 pounds in the process. But although she was on the path to leading a healthier lifestyle, Jones' doctors informed her that she had the early signs of heart disease including shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and fatigue. [MORE]

3. Will Extra Taxes on Sugary Drinks Curb Obesity?
NPR Shots reported that some health advocates believe that adding extra taxes on sugary foods and restricting what people can buy with their food stamps may be part of the answer. And politicians are joining in. [MORE]

4. Congress Sends Payroll Tax Cut Bill to Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has passed legislation renewing a payroll tax cut for 160 million workers and jobless benefits for millions more, backing the main items on President Barack Obama's jobs agenda in a rare burst of Washington bipartisanship. [MORE]

5. This Day in Black History: Feb. 21, 1965
Malcolm X is assassinated. [MORE]

For more news and information, visit BET.com/news

1. Jennifer Hudson Denies Turning Down Precious Role Over Weight
Jennifer Hudson didn’t turn down the lead role in Precious because she would have to gain weight for the part, the actress claims.

Hudson tells TMZ, “I did NOT turn down the role because of the weight thing…I turned it down because I felt it was just too graphic for me at that time. [MORE]

2. The Truth About Black Women and Miscarriages
Jay-Z’s revelation that Beyonce suffered a miscarriage will hopefully allow for more Black women to talk about this issue. [MORE]

3. In Nashville, a Country Club’s Changing Colors
Legendary comedian Grouch Marx once quipped, “I don’t care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.” Today, that one-liner takes a more serious turn with a story out of Tennessee, where a country club that is pondering whether or not to let in the Black members. [MORE]

4. First Lady Michelle Obama to Participate in BET Honors 2012
First Lady Michelle Obama will be one of the stars who brighten the annual BET Honors award program, which will air on the network on Feb. 13. The star-studded event, now in its fifth year, honors the outstanding achievements of extraordinary legends in music, literature, entertainment, media, service and education. Acclaimed actress Gabrielle Union will be the evening’s host. [MORE]

For more news and information, visit BET.com/news

1. Commentary: Will African-American Celebs Promoting Weight Loss Programs Actually Encourage Us?
Over the holiday season, it’s not abnormal to see commercials for weight loss programs — the New Year is coming and almost everyone I know (myself included) is trying to drop those pesky extra pounds. But what did stand out to me was how many Black celebs were in these commercials. [MORE]

2. NAACP Slams Rick Santorum for Remarks About Blacks and Entitlements
NAACP president and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous on Wednesday blasted Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum for telling voters at an Iowa campaign stop earlier this week that he doesn’t want to “make Black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money; I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money.” [MORE]

3. Spike Lee Throws Fundraiser for President Obama
Spike Lee is looking to raise some big bucks for President Obama’s run for re-election.

On January 19, the iconic filmmaker will host a $38,000-per-ticket fundraiser for Obama in his Upper East Side brownstone in New York City. Couples will be charged $71,600. [MORE]

4. This Day in Black History: Jan. 6, 1989
Rep. John Conyers Jr. introduces reparations bill before Congress. [MORE]

5. Black Unemployment Rate Ticks Up Slightly
Based on the December jobs report the Labor Department released Friday morning, the U.S. economy is continuing to show increased signs of life. The Black unemployment rate increased slightly to 15.8 from 15.5 percent in November. The overall unemployment rate, however, dipped from 8.6 percent to 8.5 percent, the lowest since February of 2009. [MORE]

6. Judge Tells Terrell Owens His Career Is Over
If Terrell Owens was wondering whether he could revive his NFL stardom, a Los Angeles judge hearing his paternity cases told him his career was dead. [MORE]

For more news and information, visit BET.com/news

1. Jennifer Hudson Offered Precious Role Before Gabourey Sidibe
Could Jennifer Hudson have had two Oscars on her shelf right now, instead of just one? The actress reveals in her new book I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down that director Lee Daniels had offered her the lead role in his awards-sweeping film Precious before he went to Gabourey Sidibe. [MORE]

2. Forty Reasons to Care About the Payroll Tax
What could you do with an extra $40 in your paycheck? That’s how much the White House estimates will go missing from the average American paycheck: about a thousand dollars each year. The Obama administration asserts that failing to extend the payroll tax before the beginning of the year means a lot to the 160 million families that are struggling to make ends meet during an already tough economic climate. [MORE]

3. Etta James Taken to Hospital
The “At Last” and “Tell Mama” blues singer’s husband and sons are by her side. [MORE]

4. Bank of America to Pay $335 Million Settlement Over Discriminatory Loans
In a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department, Bank of America has agreed to pay $335 million to resolve allegations that its Countrywide unit had discriminated against qualified African-American and Latino borrowers between 2004 and 2008. [MORE]

5. Basketball Wives Tami Roman Dishes on Season Four and Her New Man
Fans of Basketball Wives appreciate that star Tami Roman is a tell-it-like-is girl who occasionally enjoys a good knock-down, drag-out kind of fight. And in her recent interview with Egyptsaidso.com the BW formerly known as Mrs. Kenny Anderson skipped the dust up and didn’t mince words when describing the surprises fans can expect from season four of her reality show. [MORE]

For more news and information visit, BET.com/news

1. Kim Kardashian Named Most Ill-Mannered Person of 2011
Much has been said about Kim Kardashian’s quickie marriage and divorce this year, but at least the National League of Junior Cotillions were proper enough to throw shade with an award, giving the reality queen the dubious honor of the “Most Ill Mannered Person of 2011.” [MORE]

2. Study: Black Girls Exercise Less Than Whites as They Age
First Lady Michelle Obama has been telling kids to “Get off the couch,” and get some exercise for years in an effort to break the well-documented link between adult obesity and a childhood spent on the couch. Medical studies have long reported African-American women as having the highest rates of obesity in the U.S., and according to a new medical study, adolescent Black girls are also falling into unhealthy habits. [MORE]

3. Early Education Gets a Boost
If you have a child in a struggling school district, today’s announcement from the Obama administration may be the news you’ve been waiting for. [MORE]

4. Commentary: The Last Soldier to Die in Iraq Was Black
Though the American military mission has formally ended, a U.S. Army soldier’s death reminds us how costly the war has been for the Black community. [MORE]

5. Jennifer Hudson: Simon’s Nice, But I’m Scared of Howard Stern!
The diva admits she’s afraid of the America’s Got Talent judge. [MORE]

For more news and information visit, BET.com/news

Take a walk on the wild side and and let your inner feline purr—or roar—through animal prints.  Sensual, ferocious and classic. Animal prints can transform a simple look into a trendy affair—just ask award-winning entertainer Jennifer Hudson (pictured above in a Michael Kors ensemble). Whether it’s leopard, cheetah or snakeskin; prints can effortlessly transition from day to night. 

If a full animal print dress or suit is too much for you, opt for accessories done in the print—pumps, boots, hats, gloves or a handbag.

Need help searching for the perfect items? Check out these staff favorites:

Last night’s 39th Annual American Music Awards was jammed packed with stellar performances from the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Will.I.Am, but the red carpet was a show in itself. This year’s arrival ensembles ran the gamut—from sexy to ”original”. Jennifer Hudson took the less is more approach in a glittery mini-dress, while J. Lo vamped it up in an ultra sexy full length gown.

See who else was spotted on the carpet:

1. Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson Tapped for VH1 Divas
The “Queen of Hip Hop Soul,” Mary J. Blige, will join Jennifer Hudson, Florence + The Machine, Kelly Clarkson, Jessie J and Jill Scott in a special VH1 Divas concert paying homage to the cities that gave birth to soul music. [Read more]

2. Artur Davis Supports Controversial Voting Laws
The former congressman and friend to the Obama administration has now come out in favor of laws that could make it difficult for Blacks to vote. [Read more]

3. Study: Fewer Black College Students Receive Merit-Based Aid
During the 2007–08 academic year, undergraduate students received $62 billion in financial aid through the government, educational institutions and other sources, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Education. During that same period, the department found that Black college students were less likely than white students to receive merit-based financial aid, but more likely to receive aid based on financial need. [Read more]

Beyoncé Takes Over BET.com This Weekend
Music fans get ready because mother-to-be and mega-performer Beyoncé is taking over BET.com’s homepage from Friday (October 28) through Sunday (October 30). [Read more]

For the latest in news and updates, visit BET.com/News

1. DMC Auctions Himself Off for Children’s Charity
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (pictured above) has put himself up for auction to raise money for The New York Foundling, which helps homeless and foster children. The rapper of Run-DMC fame has teamed up with Charitybuzz.com to offer the winning bidder the chance to lunch with him along with four backstage VIP tickets to any of his shows. [more]

2.Trailer for Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton’s Joyful Noise
Queen Latifah will be trading vocal chops with country music legend Dolly Parton this coming year in the musical dramedy Joyful Noise. [more]

3. Jennifer Hudson Opens Weight Watchers Center in Chicago
She’s won a Grammy, an Oscar, lost 80 pounds in public and, now, Jennifer Hudson has a weight loss center named after her.

The singer, actress and Weight Watchers spokeswoman was in Chicago Tuesday to help inaugurate The Weight Watchers Jennifer Hudson Center in the city’s South Side. Data shows that 63% — or 1.5 million residents — in the Hyde Park area, where the center is located, are overweight or obese. [more]

4. Cain Says Blacks Are Over That “First African-American President” Thing
First African-American president? That’s so 2009, at least according to Herman Cain, whose campaign is still feeling a burst of energy from its straw poll win in Florida over the weekend. [more]

5. Defense: Jackson Gave Himself Fatal Dose of Drug
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors told jurors Tuesday that Michael Jackson was killed by the actions of his personal physician, who used a dangerous anesthetic without adequate safeguards and botched recovery efforts when he found the singer unconscious. [more]

For the latest in news and updates, visit BET.com/News

Photo Courtesy of rfbinder

In the world of beauty, make-up artist Tia Dantzler might not be a household name, but her body of work is worthy of acclaim. Dantzler has made up the faces of Jennifer Hudson, Viola Davis, gospel music duo and BET’s Sunday Best judges Mary Mary, and even President Barack Obama (for the cover of GQ Magazine). But while she’s undeniably a cosmetics savant, she’s also set on promoting healthy skin care.

So you’re probably thinking, “I can’t afford a professional make-up artist to give me beauty tips”. No worries, all is solved. We caught up with Dantzler in New York City, to get the inside scoop on how she keeps her celebrity client’s skin looking rejuvenated and healthy, her take on some beauty myths, and easy tips for maintaining a beautiful glow in the fall—all at no cost.

Whitney Gaspard: What’s the most important step to any beauty look?

Tia Dantzler: I’m a skincare fanatic and I stress the importance of a daily skincare regimen to all of my clients.

WG: What face and body moisturizers do you recommend Black women use as we transition into the Fall?

TD: For the cooler months I suggest using a moisturizer with Vitamin C which really gives your skin a boost. Avalon Organics Vitamin C Moisture Plus Lotion is my go to moisturizer this winter. Sometimes we spend so much time on our face but it’s so important that we not forget about our body, especially in the winter when our skin tends to be dry. I suggest using Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel straight out of the shower when skin is still wet to really lock in the moisture and leave your skin soft to the touch.

WG: My girlfriends, mom and grandma, all swear cocoa butter is the secret to long-lasting healthy skin. Is this true?

TD: I will agree with them. Shea Butters are a key ingredient to maintaining great subtle skin. We can learn our best skin savers from listening to our parents and grandparents.

WG: What about THE myths— Black women shouldn’t wear blue eye shadow or Black women should stay away from pink lips. Are there really any colors that African American women should stay away from?

TD: I believe we can wear it all! However, it’s definitely all in how and when we wear it which makes the difference—taking into consideration the time of day and function. If you’re afraid of blue eye shadow try using navy eyeliner to give your eyes a pop of color. Or try using a deeper plum lip liner to compliment the pink lipstick and to make it wearable for your skin tone.

WG: What does real beauty mean to you?

TD: Beauty to me is found in each individual, it’s in a smile, a kind gesture, the way you sing, etc. It’s about being the best at being you.