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Meet Lynnzee Brown: The Woman Who Made History as Haiti’s First Olympic Gymnast – Essence

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PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 28: Lynnzee Brown of Team Haiti celebrates after her performance on the asymmetric bars through the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification on day two of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Lynnzee Brown, a former student gymnast and current head coach of the Penn State women’s gymnastics team, made history on the 2024 Paris Olympics when she became the primary artistic gymnast (male or female) to represent Haiti.

Brown, who has Haitian heritage through her father, who was born within the Caribbean country, says she simply desired to make her country joyful. But what began as a purely personal goal soon became something larger than she could have imagined.

“It started as an exploration of my own identity, but the deeper I dug into it, the more I learned about the country, its history and what’s going on there,” Brown tells ESSENCE, fresh off her experience on the Paris Olympics. “I also got to meet the people of Haiti and see firsthand the impact I could have.”

Her Olympic adventure was fraught with difficulties, as she had to start out from a position behind the starting line to be able to wear her country’s name and colours on her uniform.

Meet Lynnzee Brown: The Woman Who Made History as Haiti's First Olympic Gymnast
Lynnzee Brown of Haiti competes on the ground through the qualifying round of the ladies’s artistic gymnastics on the Bercy Arena through the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Photo by Charlie Riedel/PA Images via Getty Images)

“Trying to get dual citizenship was a bit difficult in itself. I had to make multiple trips to the embassy in Chicago and D.C. to provide my father’s birth certificate and prove that I was his biological child and that I had Haitian citizenship.”

From there, the University of Denver graduate needed to post competition results from the 2023 World Championships in Belgium to qualify for the squad for Paris 2024. Brown, the one Haitian gymnast on the Games, made her official debut in history on July 28, 2024, through the women’s all-around qualification.

She achieved her highest rating in international competition so far – 48.832 points in all events – and never let the incontrovertible fact that she was the lone gymnast carrying Haiti on her back distract her from her goal.

“Even though I was a solo gymnast, it was a cool experience,” Brown says. “I was put in with other gymnasts who were also solo, so that helped. But meeting the other Haitian athletes, there were seven of us, was just amazing. They were so encouraging. It motivated me even more to continue representing Haiti and learning more about my people. We were a really great group, the seven of us.”

Meet Lynnzee Brown: The Woman Who Made History as Haiti's First Olympic Gymnast
PARIS, FRANCE – July 26, 2024; Team Haiti, led by flag bearers Lynnzee Brown and Philippe Abel Metellus, perform through the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics on the banks of the Seine River in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

For Brown, the chance to delve deeper into her heritage story through her sport was an honor and a source of pride. The 25-12 months-old says many other Haitians have reached out to her to inform her how incredible it was to see a Haitian gymnast on the Olympic stage.

“I’m proud to show that Haitian athletes are here, in a different space. I know most of us train in the States. But talking to the Haitian Olympic Committee, their goal is to eventually get facilities in Haiti and encourage more people to play sports and compete internationally.”

“I know they hope that all seven of us will go to Haiti when things stabilize. And I hope that what I’m doing now will directly help athletes and young people in Haiti. I definitely hope to go there soon, as soon as possible.”

Meet Lynnzee Brown: The Woman Who Made History as Haiti's First Olympic Gymnast
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 28: Lynnzee Brown of Team Haiti looks on as she prepares to compete on the balance beam through the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification on day two of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Bercy Arena on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

However, the road to Paris was demanding for the Brown family financially. They founded GoFundMe to assist cover the young gymnast’s expenses as she competed on the world’s biggest stage. It was the unwavering support from those closest to her that was the primary thing that got her through the entire experience.

“Throughout my studies and training, I was always reminded to think about my why when things got tough or when I needed to be more grateful. In the case of these Olympics, my why was definitely my mom and family and how much they sacrificed. Seeing them get so emotional at the watch party, where they sent me videos, confirmed that this is all for the people who helped me get here.”

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

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.


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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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