Celebrity Coverage

Susan Kelechi Watson shines in Good Bones – Essence

Published

5 months ago

September 27, 2024

IAM

Photo credit: Joan Marcus

The very topical topic of gentrification takes center stage in a comedic and moving show, the newest from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames. Starring Susan Kelechi Watson, well-known for her acclaimed role as Beth Pearson on , and Mamadou Athie, who recently starred on the Hulu series, the show offers a nuanced exploration of gentrification, community, and identity.

centers on Watson’s Aisha and her husband as they renovate a house in Aisha’s old neighborhood, creating suspense over the long run of their once famous community. At first glance, this may increasingly seem to be a straightforward story about urban revitalization and displacement, nevertheless it goes deeper and asks necessary questions on how people interact with the neighborhoods they find yourself in. Through the character of Aisha, the play explores what happens when people determine to remodel a community, relatively than understanding how they will contribute to it.

For Watson, returning to the stage was like coming home. “Theater is one of my greatest loves,” she explained. “For me, theater is the basis of acting. The return is always full of emotions. It’s a completely different muscle than film and television.” Watson, who boasts an in depth film and tv resume, also starred in the Public Theater’s 2022 production a singular version of Shakespeare’s play with an all-black forged set in South Harlem. “There is nothing like it,” he says of live performances. “Every time you perform, the audience is different and the atmosphere on stage will be different. There is nothing higher than doing something and it only exists in this space at the moment for these people.

For this particular series, Watson, who grew up in New York, was particularly drawn to the story and characters. “She is just. She’s just a real person. She’s very close to me,” Watson said. She connected deeply with Aisha’s background and experiences, noting how gentrification – one of the play’s main themes – mirrored her own observations of life in New York. “It’s only now that I’m coming to terms with the fact that it’s so different here. Much of what made this film special is no longer there, and that’s hard to regret. I saw things that seemed very steeped in culture completely change.”

Through , viewers are encouraged to think about the usually neglected complexities of gentrification. The dialogue between Aisha and her husband Travis highlights contrasting perspectives on whether to simply accept or resist the changes in their neighborhood. “What I like about our play,” Watson noted, “is that it delves into the complications of arguing about gentrification in the same community. Two Black people are talking about it. So what does this mean and what are these two points of view?”

Aisha’s journey reflects the strain between the need for positive change and respect for the lived experiences of those that already call a spot home. Watson says the play asks, “How can these two things exist at the same time and leaves room for people to be more understanding and compassionate about it.”

The balance of humor and social commentary that may be a hallmark of Ijames’ work allows the art to have interaction with a difficult subject in a way that’s more approachable and accessible, yet deeply moving. “When things are very deep, we often look for humor to lighten them up, and James is really good at that,” Watson says. “I love doing comedies, so it’s really nice to find those moments where it’s lighter, sharp, witty, where there’s just funny laughter, where it’s exaggerated, where it’s the most subtle. There are so many different types of comedy that it’s easy to fall back on the fact that this play has this tone.”

Watson personally finds humor especially funny. “I’m a big comedy fan – that’s what I mostly watch. That’s how I grew up. I am in such a family. Everyone is funny. That’s how we dealt with everything – with humor. In my opinion, sometimes this way you can make people hear something in a more relaxed way, allowing the sound to penetrate deeper.”

ultimately challenges us to rethink the dynamics of belonging and consider what it means to actually integrate right into a community, not as a force for change, but as a part of its fabric. It is a thoughtful and insightful exploration of the complexities of home, identity and community in a rapidly changing world.

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

Celebrity Coverage

Ici: Keke Palmer’s Beauty appearance and more – Essence

Published

2 days ago

March 4, 2025

IAM

Ici: Keke Palmer and Sheryl Lee Ralph's Naacp Beauty look and more

ASKRS> Keke Palmer

Time is now for essentially the most fashionable moments in celebrity between Fashion Week, a season of prizes and magazine covers. Meanwhile, some glances required a full GLAM team once we finished a month and Valentine’s Day, sleeping hair and romantic manicures are still strong.

For example Black flexible headband. With an analogous volume Honey Afro Janet Jackson was entwined with a red gel manicure to enhance the golden accents. Then the model Alva Claire attended Baft in a fragile UPDO, which combined her curved, thin eyebrows and a blue-winged insert.

Makeup Artist Dee Carrion was chargeable for the golden lips and teeth in the quilt. Then Coco Jones’s hair was soaked in water – glass lids and lips added to the appearance. As for TEMS? The shiny French manicure was cherry on its siren and hot chocolate gloss.

And those that participated within the NAACP rewards didn’t come either. Keke Palmer has turn into viral not only due to touching speech of “Artist of the Year”, but additionally due to her to knock out beauty: elegant red hair and gothic makeup makeup.

Sheryl Lee Ralph was on her “suit and draw” that night. Saisha Beecham Saisha Beecham worked on shiny magic, as she put it, “Sixty Fine” within the years. Finally, the hair artist Larry Sims gave the Gabrielle Union museum by some means Bobów. He wrote within the signature “It gives a film star”. And we couldn’t agree more.

If you missed this, take a look at the very best moments of beauty from the week.

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

Celebrity Coverage

Cosmetic school: Expert for additional long nails – essence

Published

4 days ago

March 3, 2025

IAM

“At that time we only had acrylic,” Angie Aguirre says Essence, who puts ESPY-Jones in the primary episode. “We didn’t have a number of things we have today.” Starting the series, in honor of the Black History of the month, Aguirre, nail artist Sha’carri Richardson, resembles a black story for extremely long nails-at the identical time spreading techniques from the past.

From memories of curved acrylics on Flo Jo of the Eighties to the red manicure in Donn Summer, and even the nail of Stiletto from the Nineteen Thirties about Queen Nenzim from the Democratic Republic of Congo, manicure for construction has a wealthy history hidden behind every decorating extension.

Using the attention shadows as a substitute of the airbrush machine (which within the Nineteen Nineties was a big, loud pedal machine), she recreated one of the vital popular styles that has since appeared today as a preferred look.

Often appropriated in popular culture long, loud nails are historically called “ghetto” as an offensive statement after they wear black women. Meanwhile, they are sometimes seen as fashionable after they wear white celebrities.

“We usually set up trends [and] People kick, “says Aguirre within the film while painting about traditional nail art visible within the Nineteen Nineties.” When pop culture gets it, they change what they want to be like that. ” However, “black women wore these nails long before social media.”

Now that the nail industry is to succeed in USD 36.27 billion until 2032Aguirre explains the influence that black women have on beauty and what the longer term of those historical manicures will seem like. “Nail game has become very innovative,” he says, with latest products reminiscent of Gel-X. “[It’s] It is very different from what was during the day. “

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

Celebrity Coverage

ICEM: Black Love was all over the blue carpet during ABFF HONORS

Published

5 days ago

March 1, 2025

IAM

ICEM: Black Love was all over the blue carpet during ABFF HONORS

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

On Monday, at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills A Who’s Who of New Stars, Hot Talent and Legends was at hand to honor the best in black talent on the screen for the American Black Film Festival awards. Honores for the Night to Aaron Pierre, who received the Rising Star award (while the crowd sang: “Aaron Pierre, to Mufasaaaa”), Essence Black Women in Hollywood Honree Marla Gibbs, who received the Hollywood Legacy award, Keke Palmer caught the Renaissan prize. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor received the same honor for girls.

Many people got here out to have fun, including presenters Ava DuverNay, Anthony Mackie, Boots Riley, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Regina King. But in Hollywood there have been many stars and massive names, which also got here out with their partners to enjoy the annual event. They began a blue rug with sweet PDA and good vibrations, able to enjoy an important night.

From Larenz Tate and Tomasina’s wife to Dondre Whitfield and Salla Richardson Whitfield, Loretta Devine and husband Glenn Marshall, Lance and Rebecca Gross, and newlyweds Yvette Nicole Brown and Anthony Davis, Love was in the air. (Another essence of black women in Hollywood Honore, Teyana Taylor, was a supporting Aaron Pierre there, and there are rumors that these two enjoy their company, which, for which we’re here.) More couples appeared to this event than since the prize season. Scroll to see and feel all love.

01
Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Sophia Rose McDowell

Los Angeles, California – 17 February: Kelvin Harrison Jr. And Sophia Rose McDowell take part in the seventh annual American Festival Black Film Festival in SLS Hotel, the luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

02
Loretta Devine and Glenn Marshall

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Loretta Devine and Glenn Marshall attend the seventh annual awards of the American Black Film Festival in the SLS Hotel, luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

03
Yvette Nicole Brown and Anthony Davis

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Anthony R. Davis and Yvette Nicole Brown participate in the seventh annual American festival Black Film Festival in SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

04
Salli Richardson Whitfield and Dondre Whitfield

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Salla Richardson Whitfield and Dondre Whitfield are collaborating in the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival in SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

05
Founders of ABFF Jeff Friday and Nicole Friday

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Nicole Friday and Jeff Friday take part in the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival in the SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

06
Lance Gross and Rebecca Gross

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Lance Gross and Rebecca Gross attend the seventh annual Arman Black Film Festival awards in the SLS Hotel, the luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

07
Lenengreen dies and Tomasinain Frig

Los Angeles, California – February 17: Larenz Tate and Tomasina Parrott attend the seventh annual awards of the American Black Film Festival in the SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

08
Charles D. King and Stacey Walker King, founder and CBO Macro Media Company

Los Angeles, California-17 February: Stacey Walker-King and Charles D. King take part in the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival in SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kayla oaddams/wireimage)

09
Michael Jai White and Gillian White

Los Angeles, California – February 17: (LR) Michael Jai White and Gillian White take part in the seventh annual Honorary American Festival Black Film at SLS Hotel, a luxury collection hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, Kalifornia. (Photo Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

10
WME COO Dan Limerick and Dawn Limerick

Los Angeles, California – February 17: (LR) Dawn Limerick and Dan Limerick, COO, WME take part in the seventh annual Honorary Film Film Film Film Film Film at SLS Hotel, Hotel Luxury Collection, Beverly Hills February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

11
Chris Spencer and Vanessa Spencer

Vanessa Spencer, Chris Spencer during the seventh annual American Black Film Festival festival, which took place at the SLS Hotel on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)