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Phaedra Parks Returns to ‘Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ for Season 16 – Essence

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Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

On Monday, Bravo announced that iconic housewife Phaedra Parks can be returning to . The news comes after a six-season hiatus. Parks departed RHOA after a tumultuous ninth season. While she’s returning to her old stomping grounds where we first began getting to know her, she hasn’t exactly strayed from our screens — she starred on WeTV in 2020, then returned to Bravo Universe in 2021 for , then one other season on Atlanta , in addition to on Peacock , which was recently nominated for 4 Emmys.

She joins the show after a flurry of reports concerning the upcoming season. Producers have done a serious solid overhaul, with former housewives Marlo Hampton, Sheree Whitfield, and Kandi Burruss not returning for Season 16. However, the upcoming season will introduce several latest housewives to the Atlanta franchise, including Brittany Eady, Kelli Ferrell, and Angela Oakley. Drew Sidora is about to return, and we previously announced that Porsha Williams can be returning as a housewife, in addition to a brand new cope with Bravo. Williams’ longtime friend Shamea Morton will even get a peach this season. Cynthia Bailey will even return to the season, this time as a friend of the housewives.

Kenya Moore was initially scheduled to appear in the brand new season, but according to the Hollywood Reporter, the previous Miss USA’s departure got here after an investigation is ongoing into Moore’s revenge against Eady via pornography.

The show’s producers were clearly scrambling to assemble a brand new solid for Season 16, as multiple pieces of reports broke before the season aired. However, there’s all the time room for a change within the solid, and Parks’ return to the franchise is just that. She shared a post on social media of herself stepping off a personal jet with a peach in her hand. The caption reads, “You called. I answered.”

The general mood amongst fans was positive — seeing considered one of the queens of reading return to the franchise. She first debuted on RHOA within the show’s third season in 2010 and has remained a fan favorite.

Season 16 of RHOA remains to be filming and no air date has been set yet.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Young, talented and winning: Coco Gauff becomes youngest WTA Finals champion in 20 years with historic victory – Essence

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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – NOVEMBER 09: Coco Gauff of the United States poses with the Billie Jean King trophy after defeating Qinwen Zheng of China in the singles final on the last day of the WTA Finals in Riyadh as a part of the Hologic WTA Tour 2024 at King Saud University Arena, November 9 2024 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia (photo by Robert Obrazy Prange/Getty)

Coco Gauffstar power just reached a brand new level. In a 12 months in which she established herself as one of the crucial dynamic forces in tennis, she wrapped up her tally in historic style.

Gauff once more made history by becoming the youngest player in twenty years to win the celebrated WTA Finals held in Riyad, Saudi Arabia (the last feat was achieved by Maria Sharapova in 2004). In a season characterised by determination, resilience and record-breaking performances, the 20-year-old defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen in a tough-fought three-set match.

In addition to winning the WTA Finals, she has now won the largest single prize in WTA history – a staggering $4.8 million, in response to Tennis Channel. After she secured victory, Gauff reflected on the record-breaking nature of her victory. “I asked (about the record) right after I received the match,” she said. “Was he the youngest? This must be some kind of record.”

Reflecting on the milestone, she added: “It’s pretty cool. “It just goes to show that age is a number in both cases, old and young.”

WTA Finals victory builds on the momentum Gauff has built in 2023 first Grand Slam victory on the US Opencementing her rapid ascent in the tennis world. For fans who’ve followed her since she burst onto the scene at age 15, Gauff’s rise has been a masterclass in patience, determination and learning from failure. Her victory in the WTA Finals was not a straight path; in her last match, she lost the primary set before coming back with the tenacity she is thought for and ultimately securing the 2024 WTA title.

Out of court, Gauff spoke openly concerning the labor and mental strength it took to get up to now. Surrounded by a robust support system, she is quick to understand her team and family – those that have been by her side because the starting of her journey. She knows her victories reverberate off the court and she welcomes the responsibility, seeing her success as a chance to encourage and uplift.

While her recent victories have been monumental, this appears to be the start of an extended and promising journey – one in which Gauff may redefine what it means to be a tennis star. For Gauff, that is only the start.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Jason Lee from “Hollywood Unlocked” wins the bid for California city hall

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Jason Lee, Politics


On November 5, celebrity blogger and reality star Jason Lee was elected to the Stockton, California, city council. Lee ran for the District 6 seat, defeating Vice Mayor Kimberly Warmsly.

Lee posted a celebratory message on Instagram thanking voters and emphasizing his commitment to improving the Stockton community.

“I am deeply honored to have earned the support and trust of my neighbors, my hometown voters, and you.”

“Now I begin the work of creating safer and stronger communities, improving our quality of life and charting our next chapter,” he said.

According to . He moved out of the city in his youth and has been traveling around the world ever since. Still, Lee believes the city government isn’t doing a satisfactory job of caring for the community.

“I just grew up in south Stockton I knew my friends were there (and) my grandmother was there. We had a good time and then there were funerals,” Lee said. “Unfortunately, until I left South Stockton and saw the world, I didn’t really understand how South Stockton had been neglected for decades…I’m not saying there wasn’t some work, but there wasn’t much of it.”

Lee says running for office reminds him of his life before entertainment.

“Running for office reminded me of when I worked for the Union for 11 years at SEIU. It’s really purposeful work,” Lee states. “But being able to help people in my community where I grew up, where my family still lives and where I returned is the most important thing to me. This is my passion.”

The newly elected city councilor showed that he is not going to give in to pressure and is able to defend his beliefs in business. Recently, Lee became famous after his clash with music mogul Jay-Z.

Following the allegations against music executive Sean “P Diddy” Combs, Lee opened up about the power of Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s alleged transgressions.

The podcast host claims that Jay-Z’s associates continuously contact him and he is not going to be intimidated by threats.

“JAY-Z, I know you’re watching because people are calling me. Stop having people call me. You can call me yourself, you know how to get my number. People call me. Call me yourself because this is going to go viral over here,” Lee said.

“I will tell you the audience that if I do go missing, all the calls I get are about him,” he continued.

Congratulations to Lee on his recent political journey.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Backstage Pass: How Jason “J.” Carter powers Pulse Of ONE Music Fest – Essence

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Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

Running a two-day outdoor music festival with over 50 bands, 30 sponsors and tens of 1000’s of attendees takes a variety of people power. One such festival is ONE Music Fest in Atlanta; its co-founder and chief marketing officer, Jason “J.” Carter is certainly one of the people behind this power.

For fifteen years, the event has remained certainly one of the few independent black music festivals within the country. Despite the symphony of sounds that ONE Music Fest will certainly bring, the director begins his day with a moment of silence.

“I’ll wake up and I’ll just be still,” Carter tells ESSENCE. “I imagine myself moving throughout the day. And honestly, I look ahead to the success of the day and I like to see everything flowing. I’m a very visual person, so I just conceptualize it, internalize it. The idea of ​​”looking forward to success” and declaring victory is something Carter learned from his mother many years ago. “As mom says, ‘Pick it up.’ Own it. Make it happen.”

The founder’s morning practice also includes words of affirmation, prayer and hydration – two glasses of water, to be precise. The days begin slowly but deliberately – all in preparation for a large event that may take a complete 12 months to finish. “Feeling rushed, anxious and stressed. I try to not let any of this seep into my person, into my space,” he says.

After a moment of silence, Carter talks to his wife, does a number of push-ups, takes a shower and begins. Before heading to Atlanta’s Central Park, the principal makes a number of calls to his team. Doors open at noon, but he arrives closer to 9 a.m. to be sure the day goes as planned. Needless to say, this is just not a straightforward task. The director is a master of relationship management, connecting sponsors, brand partnerships, talent and other stakeholders. Somehow he manages to do all of it with none problems.

“I play a variety of ping-pong across the festival grounds, but I do not feel like working either. I believe the moment I feel like work is a day, I’ll stop doing it. Carter continues, “I really, truly love and appreciate the ONE Music Fest audience and family we’ve built through the years. So let’s hope this issue continues to evolve over the subsequent 15 years.

ESSENCE accompanied J. Carter on the bottom in Atlanta during day two of ONE Music Fest. Here, the entrepreneur and executive gives us a day within the lifetime of what exactly it takes to successfully organize a multi-day festival.

Backstage Pass: How Jason
Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

6:00

“The first thing I do on the day of the festival is still.” Carter continues, “I say a fast prayer, drink two glasses of water, and jump within the shower. But I believe peace is significant.

Despite the early hour, J. Carter doesn’t make breakfast. “I usually don’t eat before 12:00. So no, I drink water in the morning. I did 50 push-ups, I take a shower and this is my breakfast. Then I will eat a balanced lunch. This usually gives me energy throughout the afternoon and evening.”

Backstage Pass: How Jason
Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

7:30

The founding father of ONE Music Fest says festival mornings aren’t the norm. “I usually check into the hotel on Friday to be close to the event and close to the team if we need to make an impression before we go to ground zero.”

After fielding “a few” calls from his festival team, he makes sure his guest list and family have the precise references. He made the primary two phone calls with the event and festival coordinators.

“I take into consideration every part from what we want to do in production to creating sure my aging parents can get out and in of the festival freely. This applies to private matters in addition to team organizational matters.

Backstage Pass: How Jason
Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

9:00

“We usually arrive at the festival on the first day of the festival between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., depending on how much work needs to be done. This year was completely different for some reason. We were ahead of the curve when it came to procedures, production and staging. We almost got caught in the system this year, considering how hectic the entire year leading up to the festival was. When we got there, everything was in place.”

Backstage Pass: How Jason
Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

12:00

“You will catch me walking alone throughout the festival. Just feel it or just stand in the corner; I just watch people,” Carter tells ESSENCE.

Thanks to meticulous pre-planning, the festival helps avoid last-minute emergencies. “If you run a festival with over 50 different performers and talent, you employ over 4,000 people on the festival grounds. Everyone has their own life. Everyone has their own problems. Everyone has their own dramas and personalities. So the thought that nothing will ever happen is rare, especially for artists who have a team around them.”

“There are artists who can tour 100 to 200 days a year. It’s exhausting. So some artists might wake up to bad weather, miss their flight, or someone in the band might have some issues that then translate into what they have to do.” Carter continues, “But one thing I can’t do is stress about something I can’t control. Being in this space, you have to be very solution-oriented.”

Backstage Pass: How Jason
Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

14:00

As co-founder of ONE Music Fest, Carter definitely must “work the room.” It involves artists, politicians, family and the press. The festival is already 15 years old and boasts over 30 local sponsors – essentially the most in history.

The CMO explains: “I also visualize early within the morning who I want to the touch and see? Who must see me? Who should I confer with? Who do I even have to be sure they’re taken care of?

Backstage Pass: How Jason
Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

18:00

Managing a multi-day music festival means you could have to be flexible. Rolling with the punches is the secret. It’s value noting that each BossMan Dlow and Cardi B fell unwell ahead of the 2024 festival and canceled their performances. Carter’s job is to regroup and switch things around.

“It’s difficult. Nobody sees it this way, right? They want to blame the festival.” He continued: “BossMan Dlow announced earlier this week that he’s sick and is canceling every part. He continues to be a human being who needs to watch his well-being and health, mental and physical health. If he needed to take a mental break, let the person take a mental break.

The co-founder also reflects on how things have modified for the reason that news of Cardi B’s hospitalization and subsequent cancellation of her ONE Music Fest appearance. “Cardi had a baby and if she has postpartum problems, it happens. It’s not the festival’s fault, it’s not Card’s fault. It happens.” He continues: “At a variety of festivals you possibly can just say, ‘I assume we just do not have a headliner.’ But we said, “No, we won’t do that.” That’s why we deal with our relationships. ONE Music Fest has partnered with the management teams of Latto and DJ Drama – they created a set with several different artists, including singer-songwriter Jeremiah and Atlanta’s 2 Chainz. The set was definitely a hit.

Backstage Pass: How Jason
Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

9:00 p.m

This 12 months’s ONE Music Fest headliners included Latto, Jill Scott, GloRilla, Gunna and a couple of Chainz, but in J. Carter’s case, just one band took the cake. “Earth, wind and fire. Without a doubt,” says the founder emphatically. “I had to go to that stage to enjoy this show and I’m so glad I did.”

This 12 months, the Carter Festival hosted over a dozen relations. Watching the legendary band perform together as an entire was deeply remembered by all of them.

“What would I like to get out of this? [ONE Music Fest] the most? He looks at the connection between the people in this audience – the smiles, the excitement, the energy (sorry for the language), but “Oh, y–t!” moments,” Carter says.

Backstage Pass: How Jason
Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

22:30

“We’re removing people,” Carter says. “Typically, all departments – from security to website operations to media and promotional partners from Live Nation – come together for a toast and a sort of mini celebration. It’s right after the festival.” This 12 months, Hennessy and Don Julio provided libations for this commemorative moment. It’s a vacation!

Backstage Pass: How Jason
Source: Alexx Green @alexxshotthat

12:00

“When I go back to the hotel, I do nothing. I do absolutely nothing. Thank you for a safe event, without any problems – no one was injured. Everything really went according to plan.” He continues: “And then I literally should fight myself to take a shower, I’m so drained. I just wish to be quiet and lie down. But I’m normally dusty as hell.

After a “good 30 minutes” of bathing, it was time for bed. Carter’s head hits the pillow around 1:30 a.m., but unlike most nights, he allows himself a number of extra moments (read: hours) of leisure. “I usually stay in bed for a good 10-11 hours,” he finally says.

A well-deserved rest.

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