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Meet CJ Nickolas, the American Taekwondo Contender Who Is Fighting for Gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics – Essence

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The United States is eyeing a return to the sport of taekwondo after failing to send a single male athlete to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Now, America is back, with CJ Nickolas set on not only competing, but additionally winning a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

And Nickolas got that from his mom, who he began training with when he was three. “She would take classes and she was better than me and that was it, until two years ago — I had to stop her,” Nickolas said Youth fashion“She was fighting with 18-12 months-old girls, and she or he’s 63. She got here home with bruises and stuff. I said, ‘Baby, you should calm down.’

“My mother was smart. She looked up combat sports for her child and found martial arts that are in the Olympics, where you can build a career” Santa Claus she stated. “And she found this random taekwondo school and signed me up.”

Compared to athletes who recently qualified in gymnastics and athletics, Santa Claus He’s been sitting on his messages for the last six months. But he says, “I’m really happy that everyone else is happy for me, my family, seeing how excited they are that I’m going and all the hard work that my mom put in for me and everyone that put into me, they’re just so happy for me and I’m happy that I can make them happy.”

“It was six black women and me. They raised me, and having that in my home and then being able to go to taekwondo and see the other side gave me a great sense of self-worth,” she says. Santa Claus.

With the support of his family, it’s the culmination of 20 years of labor. Last 12 months, he made headlines by becoming the first American athlete since 2009 to win a medal at the world championships. The 23-12 months-old is now the highest-ranked American Taekwondo athlete and is “the second-ranked athlete in the world in the 176-pound weight class. Additionally, Nickolas is the only American in the top 20 in taekwondo.”

“He’s one of my favourites to win gold in the welterweight division, which is my old division,” said Lutalo Muhammad, a two-time British heavyweight champion. Olympic medalist. “America is back. They have a great team, they have a great coach… they have young, hungry athletes.”

The sport officially debuted at the Olympic Games in 2000. From August 7-10, 2024, viewers will give you the chance to follow Nickolas’s competition at the Grand Palais in Paris Taekwondo competitions at the Olympic Games.

However, there are recent rules this 12 months. Instead of cumulative points, matches can be decided by whoever wins a best-of-five match, so competitors will now have to “win two out of three rounds to win the match.” According to Associated Press Press Agency, “These changes were made to increase the number of activities and minimize wait-and-see strategies.”

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

ICYMI: Cardi B’s rally look, Adut Akech’s baby bump and more – Essence

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Ahead of the 2024 election week, stars supported each political and classic hair and makeup moments. From micro bobs and presidential updos to butterscotch lipsticks with matching manicures, moderate shades complemented this season’s trendy hairstyles.

Cardi B’s updo meant business Kamala Harris rally in Milwaukeeturning a straightforward sleep pin-up right into a political statement. The rapper’s beauty moment was the most recent after last week’s rally star look “dance party” with Beyoncéblonde bombshell and microbob Kelly Rowland. However, dominant hairstyles weren’t limited to election campaigns.

Traditional, edgy styles like Coco Jones’s bob and supermodel Anok Yai’s ponytail are transformed into prim and proper with curled ends. The former combined an asymmetric cut with undecided French suggestions: black on one side, white on the opposite. Meanwhile, a sensual nude manicure rested between her lips. To end the week, pregnant Adut Akech styled her baby bump with blackberry nails to match the thick, dark line of her fall lip.

In case you missed it, take a have a look at 9 celebrity beauty moments from the week.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Quincy Jones, iconic producer and entertainment mainstay, dies at the age of 91 – Essence

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Quincy Jones at TIFF in 2018 (Photo: Chris Pizzello / Invision/AP)

Quincy Jones, a outstanding figure in the music and entertainment industry, died peacefully on Sunday at his home in Bel Air, California, surrounded by family members. He was 91 years old.

“Tonight, it is with full but broken hearts that we must share the news of the death of our father and brother Quincy Jones,” Arnold Robinson, publicist for the 28-time Grammy winner, said in an announcement. “And while this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the wonderful life he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

Born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Quincy Delight Jones was raised in a turbulent environment marked by the Great Depression and his mother’s mental illness. At the age of 11, discovering a piano at a neighborhood recreation center in Bremerton, Washington became the pivotal moment that modified his life from petty crime to a profession in music. He eventually mastered the trumpet and at the age of 14 was performing in jazz clubs with a young Ray Charles, which allowed him to showcase his limitless talent and set the stage for a unprecedented profession.

Jones’ journey began in earnest when he played trumpet in Lionel Hampton’s band at age 19, and continued as he collaborated with jazz legends equivalent to Dizzy Gillespie. In the Sixties, he began pursuing film scores, earning three Academy Award nominations in 1968 and 1969 for his work on , and , breaking barriers as one of the first black composers in Hollywood. His groundbreaking role as the first black musical director of the 1971 Academy Awards cemented his pioneering status.

Despite serious health problems in the Nineteen Seventies, including two life-threatening brain aneurysms that left him unable to play the trumpet, Jones remained undeterred. He then composed iconic themes for and Emmy Award-winning movies.

Most notably, Quincy’s profession peaked in the Eighties when he teamed up with Michael Jackson, producing the movies , and . itself secured eight Grammy Awards and became a cultural touchstone that transformed the music industry. In 1985, Jones organized and produced the all-star film “We Are the World,” which raised thousands and thousands for African famine relief and won three Grammy Awards. His work continued to influence the industry, from producing Sinatra to overseeing (*91*) Davis’ final album.

Known for his enduring versatility, Jones was the first African-American to carry an executive position at a significant record label, was a movie and television producer – directing such hits – and co-produced the 1985 and 2023 film versions of the film.

A loyal father, Jones’s personal life was full of complexities, including three marriages and seven children, amongst them actresses Kidada and Rashida Jones. The autobiography details his extraordinary journey from the gang-infested streets of Chicago to the pinnacle of global recognition, marked by each triumphs and challenges.

The iconic artist leaves behind an unparalleled legacy, combining music, film and television and inspiring future generations. His contributions to the arts and philanthropy proceed to resonate, highlighting the indelible mark left by a remarkable man whose story will remain a testament to resilience and innovation.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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This Week’s Best New Music: The Weeknd, Kiana Ledé, Tyler, The Creator and More – Essence

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Happy Friday, people. As we enter November, the music scene is buzzing with fresh releases that can surely boost your playlists. From genre-mixing collaborations to introspective solo projects, this week’s lineup offers a various range of sounds to suit every listener’s taste.

Headlined by Tyler, Creator’s latest album, EARTHGANG returns with , and The Weeknd teams up with Anitta on “São Paulo,” combining their unique sounds right into a fascinating track. Kiana Ledé offers soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, while Pink Sweat$ serves up smooth single “Coffee.” Our list also includes music from Freddie Gibbs, IDK, Sheryl Lee Ralph and more

You can try today’s news roundup below.

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