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Heading into the SWAC Tournament, Jackson State has supporters from Dawn Staley and the AP Poll

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Tomekia Reed, theGrio.com, Jackson State

South Carolina outlasted Tennessee on Saturday and defeated LSU on Sunday to win the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament and remain undefeated this season. No other NCAA Division I team has an ideal record.

Only seven other teams remained unblemished conference minutesincluding Jackson State (23-6 overall, 18-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference).

The Tigers will begin play on Wednesday in the SWAC Tournament after winning their fifth straight regular season title under head coach Tomekia Reed. She’s attempting to make the NCAA Tournament for the third time in 4 years, but she’s already achieved an unprecedented feat. The show received its first-ever vote in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

“Right now our record is the best in school history and that’s our focus,” Reed said Thursday post-match remarks after Jackson State defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff. “But the AP poll – one vote – is enough. …I used to be very excited that our program was gaining respect across the country. Maybe only one person, but that one person matters.

Jackson State Lady Tigers head coach Tomekia Reed is interviewed on Monday, January 22, 2024, following the Lady Tigers’ 75-50 victory over the Texas Southern Lady Tigers at the Lee E. Williams Athletic and Assembly Center in Jackson, Missouri. (Photo: Lauren Witte/Clarion Ledger/USA Today Network)

Reed’s joy caught attention South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, who’s attempting to win her third national title. “If I were a voter, you’d have another one!” Staley sent on X, formerly referred to as Twitter. “Keep doing CREDIBLE!”

SWAC coaches would really like to make Jackson State’s dominance less likely. As of the 2020–2021 season, the Tigers’ SWAC regular season record is 67–2, with them being undefeated twice and having one loss twice. That’s near the level of South Carolina’s dominance under Staley, a national title and three total losses in the last three seasons.

Reed is getting used to the thin air.

“When I took the job, I said that in our fourth year on the job, we wanted to get national attention,” Reed said. “We are now in our sixth year and it keeps getting better. I have been overwhelmed with blessings through this program. I’m just very grateful to the players and my staff. And our administrators who work closely with the program.”

The Tigers are favored to win the league tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament. But the same thing happened last 12 months when Southern upset them in the SWAC semifinals. Jackson State is decided to avoid that fate this season and prove they’re amongst the best teams in the country.

AP voter Emily Adams of the Hartford (Conn.) Courant, who forged the lone vote for JSU last week, agrees with that assessment.

“I really liked Jackson State for a long time,” Adams he said The Book of Clarion. “They beat St. Johns (60-56) on November 6, 2023, who plays in the Big East with UConn. I used to be really high on Oregon State and Mississippi State, and they (Jackson State) hung in there with each of those teams and the University of Miami.

“The only real outbreaks (in Jackson State) were in the states of Texas and Kansas. Both of those teams are top-15 for my part and shall be the host teams (in the NCAA Tournament). I actually like that (the Tigers) are dominating the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

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They did so despite the lack of 6-foot-10 center Daphane White, who was named to the preseason All-SWAC team but has been sidelined since January with a knee injury. Angel Jackson, the other half of the Jackson State twin towers, is averaging 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Three other players are averaging double figures in scoring, including guard Andriana Avent, who scored a season-high 24 points in the final against Mississippi Valley State on Saturday.

Reed, a Jackson native and hometown hero, brought glory back to a program that hadn’t won a SWAC regular-season title since 2006-07. After the Tigers caused a first-round scare in LSU during the NCAA tournament two years ago, then-LSU coach Kim Mulkey revealed to her message after the match to Reed:

“I said, ‘You’re not going to be long at Jackson State if they don’t pay you,’” Mulkey said. – And I’m not her agent. I’m not her best friend. I just know the talent and respect people from afar for a job well done.

The time for decision is approaching; Reeds the contract expires March thirty first.


Deron Snyder thegrio.com


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit

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Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”

She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.

Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.

Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez shows off a “winter white” look, weeks after critics slammed her busty latex outfit. (Photos: @laurenwsanchez/Instagram, Theimagedirect.com via Page Six)

On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”

One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.

Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.

When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.

Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”

Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”

Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.

Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.

Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape

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India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.

“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”

Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.

Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.


Singer India Shawn grew up singing in church with her family. “I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” she said.

India Shawn

Name:
India Shawn

Hometown:

Los Angeles

Artistic soundscape

Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric

The oldest musical memory

Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.

Influences

For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.

Creative process

Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”

Challenges and development

As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”

Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.

Current project

There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”

Sheila Matthews is a digital producer at Andscape and a proud HBCU graduate. She believes “Return of the Mack” must have won a Grammy, and her Twitter mentions are open to all debate.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence

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With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.

Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.

From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.

In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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