Celebrity Coverage
Taylor Rooks is putting mental health front and center with LG’s “Transparent Conversations.”
A sports reporter Taylor Rooks has gained widespread respect within the sports industry for offering invaluable insights as an NBA and NFL broadcaster. Now, with a while in the sport, she’s adding just a few latest titles to her repertoire, including her latest podcast with her friend and co-host Joy Taylor, in addition to becoming the host of season two LG . The latter is a traveling podcast series in partnership with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA®) “that focuses on college student-athletes discussing mental health and well-being.”
Rooks, graduate University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign draws on his own experiences to attach with his guests and speaks to the experiences of faculty athletes. In each episode, he travels to different college campuses to debate mental health on the earth of faculty athletes.
“When I heard about , it really resonated with me because that’s what I try to do both in my career and in real life. I think the basis of everything is communication, and if we can all be honest about ourselves and our experiences and feel that these words reach safe spaces with people who really care, who want to learn more and want to help in this way, that they can – that’s what transparency is all about,” Rooks says on the ESSENCE podcast. “The feeling that you can be vulnerable and that you can be open, open enough to talk about the things that really matter in your life or the things that are maybe bothering you. So when I heard that LG wanted to be able to have these kinds of discussions on college campuses with young student-athletes who are really trying to find a solution outside of the pressures of sports, school, family, friends and it just grows. It just felt right and really important. And something I was truly called to do.”
Rooks has already had university interviews with NBA star Kenny Anderson, Fisk University men’s basketball head coach, 2X NBA All-Star Jerry Stackhouse and Vanderbilt head coach, in addition to current college players.
In support of those intergenerational conversations, LG is reaching out to advocates, administrators, coaches and student-athletes to debate the work-life balance that characterizes the student-athlete world. Just last month, Rooks traveled to the NCAA Final Four to film two latest episodes that focused on the role coaches play in student-athlete mental health and the importance of collaboration in implementing effective mental health initiatives.
While she says she learned so much from the experience, what really stuck out to Rooks was an exchange with Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley during which the 2 discussed the role coaches play in keeping players’ mental health each on the sector and and beyond. “It was incredibly insightful to hear a coach have such a keen awareness of how he can both positively and negatively impact a student-athlete’s mental health and how he wants to make sure he is always doing the right thing,” Rooks explains. “Above all, beyond wins and losses, the important question was: Are my student-athletes feeling well and am I doing everything I can to support them?”
The NBA host continued to debate how many colleges have beefed up their athletic staffs, in order that sports teams usually are not just limited to coaches and trainers, but additionally expanded to incorporate mental health professionals. “It was a real eye opener and it was great to see these positive steps that schools have taken to ensure their athletes feel supported. There are a lot of people who employ sports psychologists, a lot of mental fitness coaches, some they really call mental coaches, people who work there and their job is to make sure you feel supported,” Rooks continued.
In addition to keeping players in good mental and physical condition for on-court performances, these professionals also help with the transition away from post-graduate sports, as for a lot of student-athletes, sports turn out to be a big a part of their identity. Drawing from my very own experiences as a school athlete, I noticed a paradigm shift in my life and how I needed to rediscover my identity away from sports – because life doesn’t at all times have the identical outlook that may be translated into wins and losses. “It’s cool that mental health is being talked about so loudly and so proudly, and right in front of our faces, in order that athletes know that they’re greater than only a champion or a winner or someone who plays football or basketball or soccer , which is just a part of them. This is the vital part. But that is not the entire part.
When Rooks turns the tables on me, he asks, “But how did you manage to do that? Did you rely on therapy or did you rely on self-reflection?” In response to Rooks’ inquiry, I share that while therapy played a pivotal role in my journey, it was ultimately self-reflection and a commitment to non-public growth that paved the way in which for navigating the complexities of mental health in athletics after graduating from university. She praised me for this, confirming that life after sports is a difficult journey. “Especially when you’ve been seen as a person for most of your life. This is what I hear a lot of athletes talking about both in , but also in the conversations I’m having now [with] current athletes, the identity issues they have and how they deal with it.”
As a Black woman in sports, Rooks, while excited by the sudden surge in interest in a women’s sport, namely basketball, also believes it calls for a much-needed audit of what it took to get here. “I think what we really lose is that this moment can exist, fortunately and fortunately, because of the many moments that preceded it. For it to be long-lasting, I think it’s a validation of all of us, athletes and media fans, how we all contributed to this very positive moment that we’re seeing now and which I hope will last forever, but also how way we contributed to why it took so long. Because that’s how we’ll continue to see the game really grow.”
She passionately advocates for changing the narrative around women’s sport, calling for a deeper dive into their individual stories and achievements. “I would like to proceed to see the expansion of girls’s sports based on who they’re, not only the indisputable fact that they’re women. I feel that was an issue,” he says. This feeling resonates inside her WNBA player Angel Reese’s recent criticism of sportscaster Emmanuel Acho’s views on the LSU team.
As Rooks points out, “Me personally, in the media, we still talked about these athletes from the point of view and perspective of the fact that they are women, without really telling their story.”
For women’s sports to actually reach its peak, Rooks says, the narrative needs to vary. By encouraging much-needed conversations and storytelling, you can too profit the long run of the sport for generations to come back by utilizing a podcast. “they concentrate on their humanity, and we center their experiences. In my opinion, this is the way you develop the sport because this is the way you develop the athlete.
Celebrity Coverage
Nafessa Williams in Disney+’s Rivals [Interview] – Essence
Photo credit: Cécile BOKO
Nafessa Williams attracts attention with a role that combines strength, complexity and uncompromising self-confidence. Set in the vibrant media world of 1980s London, the Disney+ series immerses viewers in a world of passion, betrayal and ambition. At the heart of this Jilly Cooper adaptation is Cameron Cook, an ambitious American television producer brought to London by Lord Tony Baddingham to shake up his Corinium company. Cook navigates a predominantly white, male-dominated industry with poise, charm and her signature red lips – an expression of the boldness and confidence of black women that Williams set out to authentically portray.
Known for her breakout role as Anissa Pierce in , Williams has gained a reputation for bringing depth and dynamism to her characters. In the series, she takes on a role that uniquely reflects her own experiences. As the only Black character on the series, Williams brings her Philadelphia roots and personal journey to Cameron’s story, highlighting the dual challenges and triumphs of standing out in an exclusive space.
Through meticulous research, collaboration with the show’s stylists, and a curated playlist featuring icons such as Whitney Houston and Vanity 6, Williams brought Cameron’s ambitious and uncompromising personality to life. In this interview, she talks about putting on her character’s power suit to represent black women on screen, and how she made the character her own. With the film, this talented actress proves once again that she is a force to be reckoned with.
ESSENCE: First of all, congratulations you gave an amazing performance. How did you land the role of Cameron Cook?
Nafessa Williams: Yes, so I auditioned. It was an audition that passed and I actually decided not to work that year. Last year I had just finished filming the 2021 film and I thought: I knew that whatever I did after that, it just had to be elite and next level. I got the scripts, I had all this stuff throughout 2022 and it just didn’t feel right. And I just told God I’ll hang on until I find this job for me.
As soon as I read the script, I thought, “OK, God, you just helped me with this. This is what I’ve been waiting for all year.” So I read it and immediately recognized the way they wrote the script. The text was amazing. Cameron, I thought, “I have to voice this character.” How strong and commanding she was, and how beautiful she was. The only black cast member, the only black character in the series. Plus, just for fun, the fact that she came from America and was recruited from New York to London to become a powerhouse producer was something I had to weigh in on. So that’s how it happened. And so, from that point on.
So you said she was the only black character on the show. In terms of portraying this situation, how did you bring this perspective to life in this predominantly white, male environment?
You know what, I just stayed true to the writing and the character. I’m from Philadelphia, the character is from New York, so it’s almost the same thing. So I just wanted to make sure that I brought the authenticity of a black woman, a black woman from New York, a black woman who is ambitious and confident and secure in who she is. So I wanted to make sure that I brought all those elements to it and just be true to who black women were at the time in the ’80s, how we wore our hair, what our clothes looked like, and I just wanted to make sure it was authentic down to that moment.
I’m actually glad you mentioned the ’80s and everything, because for me one of the coolest things about this show is the ’80s fashion. How did the fashion and style of the time help you get into Cameron’s character and how did it influence how did you portray her on screen?
Yeah, I think a lot of 80s fashion was about confidence and making sure she was on her own, whether she was clothed or not, she was just a very confident woman. But I think fashion helped us situate and tell her story. I also love 80s fashion and I make sure I stay true to what I saw as a little girl in the late 80s and 90s, seeing my mom, grandma, aunts and their friends all dressed up, red lips and red nails, making sure that the hair is also authentic. Since I’m the only black character on the show, representation means everything to me. And also, like other black women, when they watched this show, whether they lived in the ’80s or not, it’s a true representation of what we really looked like, from French rolls to slicked ponytails to pumps and curls and beyond. we just make sure that when we tune in, we see ourselves.
The show’s stylist was very open to my ideas because I know what it looked like, right? And I know what it was like in America. So I just made sure she brought that American flavor, that New York flavor. He was very open to my ideas and collaborative. And if there is no such moment, you will see Cameron unless he wakes up in the morning without red lips. I think this also shows her boldness and self-confidence. Red lips and red nails are her trademark, but they are also a signature of the 80s. So again, making sure we put those elements into it to make it feel as real and nostalgic as possible.
I also think it’s interesting because I think Cameron’s journey and where she’s at is also reflective of black women in the entertainment industry. What similarities do you see between yourself and Cameron’s character? How did it work out?
Yes, there was a time that I found myself in that situation where we were talking about whether I was the only black cast member or the only black woman on set. And I think what I exuded and what I’ve always carried within me is confidence and knowing that I’ve worked and I have a right to be in the room and my talent is just as amazing and just as important and my story is just as important to tell.
It’s just walking in with so much confidence, like I knew I was supposed to be there. Another thing that reflects both her and me is ambition. When Cameron wants something like me, I don’t take “no” easily. If I set my mind to something, it will be achieved, and she has the same quality in her. So yeah, it’s just going in knowing that you’ve earned this place and you’ve worked hard to be here, and you walk in with your head held high knowing that your ancestors sent you. Go do it. Go do your job. So I wanted to make sure he exuded that too, and that was very important to me to show that.
When people portray a character or make a movie in a “different era,” did you do any preparation beyond understanding what life was like back then? Did you do a lot of research into the history of your character?
Yes, I always go back and check if I am serving that era well. For me it was just going back and observing women that I had seen, maybe glimpses of, that I didn’t know very well as a child but who were popular in the 80s. Lots of Diahanna Carroll and Pam Grier. I also watch a little bit of Phylicia Rashad and make sure I bring that cool, sassy, sexy but intelligent approach to the character.
Besides, music helps me empathize with a given character. I always create a playlist for each character. It really helps me get into that time and understand the character’s mind, what they’re thinking: “How do they party? How do they dance? What is their wardrobe like?” So I studied it a lot and told everyone because I always got to the heart of the Cameron thing. “Nasty Girl” by Vanity City. Remember Prince’s group?
Absolutely. 1000%.
Yes. Yes. So “Nasty Girl” helped me get inside Cameron’s mind and get to know her boldness, confidence and attitude about who she is. So yeah, I just go back and watch it again, get Diane Carroll, and she was very strong, Dominique Deveraux, she was very strong in who she was. When she appeared on screen, there was no denying her energy and essence as a black woman. This was part of the research I did.
It’s interesting because I definitely want to know that now when I think about the ’80s, I think about Whitney Houston, I think about Cyndi Lauper. Tell me, who was on your playlist when you were putting together the music list for this particular character?
Surely. Lots of Whitney Houston, lots of Teddy Pendergrass. I’m from Philadelphia. So I come from a huge musical culture. A lot of Teddy P., a lot of Barry White, a lot of Sadé. Sadé was also on the playlist, getting into this just sexy vibe, kind of laid back, at home, relaxed. There was a lot of Madonna on the playlist. Prince was on the Jackson Five playlist. I also thought about this: “Who was Cameron when she was a child? Who was she listening to? Not even as an adult, but I like to think that when she was an adult in the ’80s, in her teenage life, in her earlier life, she listened to a lot of Stevie Wonder and a lot of the Jackson Five, a lot of Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.
So these were some of the songs, or rather artists, that were on my playlist that I just listened to all day, played in my trailer before I went to set, and just walked out and was ready to have it.
Celebrity Coverage
Sony Music has settled a lawsuit regarding the Whitney Houston biography
Sony Music has reached a settlement with the producers of the biopic.
The lawsuit, filed in February, alleged that 4 production firms – Anthem Films, NYBO Productions and Black Label Media – didn’t pay for licenses to 24 of Houston’s songs.
The request seen by Reuters shows that Sony Music has agreed to this to reject case last month. The parties informed the court that that they had agreed to the settlement but requested an extension to finalize the details.
The lawsuit claimed that the labels signed a sync licensing agreement that allowed them to make use of audio recordings of nearly 30 Houston classics, including “How Will I Know,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Will Always Love You” and her 1991 version “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Sony Music claims that under the agreement, royalties were to be paid in July 2023, but as of August 2023, it has still not received payment. Sony Music claims that Anthem was awaiting a tax break from the state of Massachusetts. According to the plaintiff, payment was never made.
“As a result of Anthem’s failure to pay fees to SME, it is clear that no license or authorization existed to use the SME recordings used in the film,” the lawsuit states.
Sony Music claimed that the film’s producers, Anthem Films, entered into a licensing agreement with the record label on December 5, 2022, two weeks before the film’s release.
“Unlike other types of films, musical biopics by their nature require the use of a musician’s music because it is almost impossible to explain the significance of a musician’s creative genius or his unique style and talent without using that musician’s music,” the record company’s lawyers wrote.
The original lawsuit sought damages of not less than $3.6 million. Details of the settlement aren’t yet known.
Celebrity Coverage
Shaboozey on her YSL – Essence fragrance partnership
Courtesy of YSL
Masculinity just got a brand new scent – and that is what it smells like Shaboozey. Starring Lil Nas XPeso Pluma, Vinnie Hacker and The Kid LAROI in the newest Yves Saint Laurent fragrance project “Bar song (tipsy)” artist is the newest to define the meaning of “modern masculine” beauty.
“The collaboration with YSL Beauty is truly exciting because the company has always been at the forefront of culture, redefining what it means to be bold and timeless,” Shaboozey tells ESSENCE. The musician’s true self-expression, showcased within the brand’s digital design “Born MYSLF, No Matter What”, represents the message behind their latest men’s fragrance MYSLF Perfume.
“I liked how we explored the concept that being strong doesn’t have to mean fitting into a box,” he says, topping off the country music genre with bleached-tipped wicks. “It’s about owning who you are, being real, and YSL Beauty gave me the space to show that.”
Known for his 18-week #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (one week away from breaking Lil Nas the important thing to Shaboozey’s success is easy: balance.
From gym workouts to meditation sessions and knowing when to walk away, “for me, self-care was about finding balance,” she says, which is a chord that also strikes in the brand new fragrance. Vanilla bourbon in a YSL bottle, the extreme masculine aroma hits each floral and oud notes, providing sensuality and strength in equal measure. “She has that presence and stays with you, which is exactly what I need when I’m on the move.”
The global men’s grooming market is anticipated to be price $115 billion by 2028 (up 77 percent year-on-year) the boys’s cosmetics boom represents a obligatory shift not only from two-in-one shampoos and overpowering fragrances, but in addition within the definition of masculinity as an entire. According to Shaboozey, YSL’s latest fragrance is ahead of the curve. “YSL Beauty has a track record of pushing boundaries while staying classic, and that’s a vibe I’ve always admired.”
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