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Happy 1K Post: Brown Beauty Tuesday: Joan Smalls

17 December 2013
Still jet-lagged from my trip to America, and basically staying up until 5am in the morning, I nearly squealed in delight when I opened my tablet to the new issue of Elle to see Joan Smalls on the cover. I was like a groupie, a junkie in fact, skimming through the pages to read what she was up to since her infamous or shall I say famous photo shoot in Dazed and Confused Magazine where Joan took her racy photographic turn as Eve, as in Adam and Eve, a little over a year ago.


The term supermodel was coined by the 80s-90s glamazons Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington for the heights of which many models have tried to reach, but have fallen short until now.


The new girl to beat since Kate Moss's hayday is none other than Puerto Rican born Joan Smalls. Joan has been rated the #1 model in the world by models.com and is the 8th highest paid model in the world according to Forbes.


Joan was discovered by THE model whisperer and Givenchy creative director, Riccardo Tischi, when this then 22 year old had traveled to Paris to beat the pavement for jobs. When he saw her in the sea of girls who showed up for model casting for a couture show, 'her perfect features' stood. He knew then that she'd be a star and he would be the one to set it shooting.



Since that fateful day, Joan has gone to star in many high fashion couture runway shows and has found herself being one of the most booked models during Fashion Week. She has graced the covers of Vogue UK, Elle, W Magazine and GQ to name a few. And she is the first Latina to ever land the title of global beauty ambassador in the history of  Estee Lauder.


Elle has dubbed her the new movement in fashion to be all encompassing when it pertains to ethnicity. Showing the world that fashion represent us all.




GET THE LOOK: Winter beauty trends:


Get The Look, Joan Small





1. Pearl Creamy Liner, Skinfood, $8
2. Smooth Hold Sensational Effects Eyeshadow, Lancome, $19
3. Coral Orange, Nirvana Mineral Makeup, $9
4. Tiger Eye, Iman Luxury Eyeshadow, $8
5. Waterproof Mascara, Sephora |Collection, $12
6. Reddish Brown 70 Blush, Makeup Forever, $21
7. Hoochie Liptar ,OCC Cosmetics, $14
8. Nightmoth Lipliner, MAC Cosmetics, $15

Women Who Rock: Givenchy SS2014 Campaign

12 December 2013
In fashion news, creative director Riccardo Tisci has done it again by making singer/songerwriter extraordinaire the face of the Givenchy SS 2014 campaign.  Tisci made this decision because of the recent allegations of non-inclusion in the fashion industry. He states that he brought up in a society and family that taught we are all the same. His hope is that the images will help others embrace diversity and various kinds of beauty within the industry, an issue he believes needs to be dealt with.




Not only is Erykah the face of this campaign, Tisci has also included models Angola native Maria Borges:




Anglo-Chinese/Korean-American model Asia Chow:




and Eboni Riley (no specs on her yet):



I look forward to the day when ethnicity is no longer a topic and we just see all kinds of beauty no matter the color and size on the covers of magazine, ad campaigns and on the run way. Get a clue fashion society, there is room for everyone in your world.


Brown Beauty of the Week: Lupita Nyong'o

10 December 2013

Back from my 12 day trip to Texas, I've finally found some time to post on the blog. Sorry for being away for so long . In my defense, I accidentally left my laptop in my boyfriend's mom's car on the way to the airport, was swamped by a launch part for Lilith + McRae which was met with enthusiasm ans saw the sale of 80% of the collection, and the constant flow of friends and family stopping by to see me and meet le beau. In fact, I didn't get to see 4 of some of my fave people while home which blows, but it's ok, I will return soon enough.

For this week's installment of Brown Beauty of the week I bring you the unexpected star of the critically acclaimed film by director Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong'o.



Born in Mexico City, raised in Kenya and educated in the U.S., Lupita did not have a large part in the film, but in every scene she was in, she stole the movie. Lupita, studied film and theater at Hampshire College and after graduating she worked on the film crew of notable films The Constant Gardner and Namesake.



She later returned to Kenya to star in the Kenyan drama Shuga and wrote and directed a short film called In My Genes, which focused on the treatment of albinos in Africa and debuted in several film festivals.



After these small successes, Lupita returned to America to study at Yale's School of Drama. After graduating from this program, she debuted her acting chops in 12 Years a Slave. This beauty's star is rising and I look forward to seeing more of her on the big screen in the future.



THE SCENE



GET THE LOOK

Lupita N'yongo Look of the Day