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Mykal-Michelle Harris on Giving a Voice to a New Generation of ‘The Little Mermaid’ Fans – Essence

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DISNEY’S ARIEL JR. – “Disney’s Ariel Jr.” stars Mykal-Michelle Harris as Ariel. (Disney/Nathalie Gordon)

Since its June 27 premiere, it’s change into a phenomenon for young fans. As the voice behind Disney’s latest reimagining of Ariel, Mykal-Michelle Harris couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the subsequent chapter of her underwater adventures.

“It was so much fun to bring this exciting, vibrant, and so full of life character to life,” Harris tells ESSENCE. “The beautiful songs she sings and the funny quips and jokes she makes were amazing to put in my own way. I loved using the words on the page to put my own spin on things.”

This version continues the story of Halle Bailey — black, red, living within the Caribbean — and introduces her as a vibrant 8-12 months-old, still fascinated by human culture, but alongside her best friends Flounder (Gracen Newton), Fernie (Cruz Flateau) and Lucia (Elizabeth Caro), with the loving guidance of her father, King Triton (Taye Diggs), her older twin sisters Alanna (Jessica Mikayla) and Ayanna (Dana Heath), and her beloved aunt, “Tantie” Ursula (Amber Riley).

Mykal-Michelle Harris on Giving a Voice to a New Generation of 'The Little Mermaid' Fans
ARIEL FROM DISNEY JR. – “Cleanup Crew / Locking Itself Up” (Disney) FLOUNDER, ARIEL

In each and a series of shorts, Ariel and her friends learn beneficial lessons about friendship, leadership, responsibility, kindness, consequences, and more, with an original, often Caribbean-inspired song in each episode. The vocal and animation work has been within the works for a while, and audience response because the first eight episodes premiered earlier this summer has been overwhelmingly positive—leaving fans clamoring for more.

“It’s so rewarding to see our hard work on screen,” Harris says. “I’ve had so many reports from friends, family and even strangers who have said they love the show and it’s amazing to hear that this show that we’ve worked so hard on and put so much blood, sweat and tears into is turning out to be a show that will last for generations.”

fans can rejoice because more of her adventures are coming this week. Episode 9, “The Happy Patty Clap,” charmingly incorporates a key part of black girl culture—hand-clapping games.

When Ayanna hurts her thumb and might’t compete within the Clap Game along with her twin sister Alanna, Ariel steps in so Alanna can still compete. But when Ariel puts pressure on herself to clap just like the twins, she quickly learns that doing things her own way is okay. Watch the EXCLUSIVE clip below:

“As a child growing up in Philadelphia, I was always outdoors, often playing one of my two favorite activities, Dutch jumping or working on clapping routines,” Lynne Southerland, executive producer of ESSENCE, tells us exclusively. “The memory of coordinating hand movements with a partner while singing nursery rhymes still lights me up.”

“When we were thinking about possible storylines for the series, my thoughts wandered back to those happy memories and I knew I wanted to celebrate this unique activity that is unique to black girls in Ariel’s world.”

For 12-12 months-old Harris, who remains to be on the age where clapping her hands is a regular pastime, incorporating parts of her real life into her role was a delight.

“I love learning clapping games, especially the ones we see on ‘The Happy Patty Clap.’ I’ve learned a lot of clapping games in the past and I can’t wait to learn new ones and for others to learn new ones from the show,” she says. “Learning these games is so much fun because it’s something I play on set to bond with my castmates and even at slumber parties with my friends!”

“Disney Jr.’s Ariel” premieres Friday, August 9 at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Jr. and 10:00 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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A Fall Hairstyle Rihanna Approves: Medium-Length Curls – Essence

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Neil Mockford/GC Images

BobsLobs and pixie cuts, like Rihanna’s iconic short black bob, have been among the most beloved hair trends this summer. While these big cuts have been flooding our feeds all season long, this week the Fenty Hair founder introduced mid-length curls just days before fall.

A Fall Hairstyle Rihanna Approves: Medium-Length Curls
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Rihanna attends the Fenty Hair launch exclusively at Selfridges on September 16, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Selfridges and Fenty Hair)

Rihanna didn’t take the front row at London Fashion Week to have a good time the opening of Fenty Hair’s recent home in Selfridges. Her loose waves were parted to the perimeters, with the left half tucked behind her ear, revealing a chandelier-shaped earring. On the opposite side, the waves sat above her breasts — accentuated by custom Jacquemus robe— and rocked manicure butter.

To achieve this look, Fenty Hair Global Hair Stylist Ursula Stephen she washed her hair with shampoo and conditioner before preparing 5 in 1 heat protection type. She then curled the sections with a medium-diameter iron, pinning each section because the curls cooled. After resting, Stephen combed the curls and backcombed the roots for added volume, securing his curls with edge control.

A Fall Hairstyle Rihanna Approves: Medium-Length Curls
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Rihanna attends the Fenty Hair launch at Selfridges on September 16, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Neil Mockford/GC Images)

The tycoon matched her hair together with her cherry-coloured makeup, which was highlighted Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix Lipstick in “Blaz’d Donut” and Snap Shadows Eyeshadow Palette in “True Neutrals”—turning this look into Rihanna’s first fall trend.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Best New Music of the Week: GloRilla, Monaleo, Shenseea & More – Essence

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Best New Music This Week: GloRilla, Monaleo, Shenseea and More

Happy Friday, folks. As summer officially involves an end, let’s enjoy its final days with some great music from some of the most talented artists in entertainment.

Today, GloRilla drops “Hollon,” the first single from her highly anticipated debut album. Monaleo and Kaliii team up on recent track “Flush Em,” iconic MC Lyte returns after a decade along with his 1 Of 1 album, and TDE’s ScHoolboy Q drops the video for “THANK GOD 4 ME” with . Our roundup also includes music from Lecrae, Future, Rich Homie Quan, and more.

Check out today’s list of recent releases below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Arike Ogunbowale strives for excellence both on and off the pitch – Essence

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Arike Ogunbowale during the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images

In Yoruba, the name means “a child you cherish, nurture, pamper, and love.” So from the moment she was born, WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale was special—and now the world knows it. In just six seasons, she became the fastest player in league history to achieve 4,000 points and broke the Dallas Wings’ all-time scoring record. For an athlete who has achieved a lot, she still has so much to supply.

Ogunbowale was born in Milwaukee to Nigerian parents and was raised surrounded by sports. Her mother was a former softball player at DePaul University, and her brother Dare played football at the University of Wisconsin before joining the NFL as a running back for the Houston Texans. Growing up, Ogunbowale showed off her athletic skills in multiple sports, contributing to 4 state football championships during her highschool years. However, her passion shifted to basketball, where she rose to fame at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, earning accolades similar to Wisconsin Miss Basketball and being chosen as a McDonald’s All-American.

The point guard’s profession took off when she joined the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and eventually led the team to a national championship in 2018. Since being drafted by the Wings the following yr, Ogunbowale has earned quite a few accolades, including 4 All-Star selections and two All-Star MVP honors — the latest coming in an exciting game in Phoenix on Feb. 18. “I just love having fun and playing with a lot of super great players — that’s always what I look forward to in the All-Star Game,” she says.

Amid all her successes, the 27-yr-old understands the responsibility she has to influence the next generation. “I was lucky enough to have two amazing parents who always did the best they could for me and more,” Arike says. “I know how hard it is to get out of Milwaukee. So I always think that when I see little kids, I always try to be the best person I can for them.”

“I know I’m a role model,” she continues. “That just comes with being in your shoes, so I definitely embrace that. I want to be the type of person that people look up to. Young boys, young girls, young black kids — it doesn’t matter. I want to be someone they can see themselves in. So I know I’m a role model, and I try to treat myself that way because I know people are looking up to me.”

The past yr has been a memorable one for the popular basketball star on both a private and skilled level. After establishing herself as one in all the most prolific scorers the WNBA has ever seen, the one thing Ogunbowale hasn’t managed to capture during her illustrious profession has been a league title. As an athlete in her prime, a championship is something she will check off her bucket list in the very near future. Off the court, she reached a key milestone by announcing her engagement to Lala Ronay. For some, balancing home and basketball might be difficult, but for Ogunbowale, this latest relationship has been the perfect complement to her life.

“It really makes me happy,” she says of her decision. “My biggest goal has always been to have a family and kids, and now I’m a little closer to that. It definitely brings me a lot of peace and I feel like I’m headed in the right direction.”

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