Grammy-nominated artist Doechii returned to her former place at ul Howard W. Blake High Schoolher alma mater, where she performed on stage at a homecoming ceremony that inspired a brand new generation of artists. The Tampa-born star began her musical journey as a young girl, honing her skills in her school choir. Little did she know that her passion for music would lead her to international fame.

During her visit, Doechii interacted with students participating in the college’s choir program. She shared words of wisdom and discussed the importance of exertions, sacrifice and staying true to yourself.

“It was a beautiful moment for me, reconnecting with my old teachers/staff and walking around the old campus was very grounding for me,” Doechii exclusively says.

Since bursting onto the scene along with her hit single “What It Is (Block Boy),” Doechii has quickly grow to be one of the exciting recent artists in hip-hop.

The highlight of the visit was an issue and answer session, during which students had the chance to ask Doechii about her music, her path to success and her plans for the longer term. She shared her experiences and gave advice on pursuing a profession in music, in addition to the importance of exertions, dedication and being true to yourself.

In a conversation with the scholars, Doechii said that she saw “so much of herself” in them and emphasized that she wanted to give something back to them and encourage them as they progressed of their careers. She expressed deep gratitude to Howard W. Blake High School, saying, “Blake High School has played a huge role in what I have been able to accomplish so far.”

Her latest mixtape only cemented her repute as a rising star, garnering critical acclaim and 4 Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist – an achievement that comes as no surprise.

Doechii left the scholars of Blake High with a reminder that dreams are close by for those willing to work hard and stay true to their vision. Her journey from her school choir program to a Grammy nomination is proof of the ability of passion. For Doechia, returning to her alma mater was not only a way to give back, but additionally to remember the roots that shaped her.

“This was just the first step because as my career progresses, I want to give back and inspire them as much as I can. I’m so grateful my mom signed me up there and I can’t wait to continue making them proud!”

Adi Oasis not only is it making a splash on the funk and R&B music scene. The singer performed, amongst others, KAMAUU’s hit “MANGO”, creates a wave of admiration with his distinctive, soulful sound and magnetic stage presence.

Regardless of whether she recently appeared in your channel – or on stage in… hotel bathrobe or her star KOLORYxSTUDIOS performance – the French-born Caribbean-born singer and bassist has been performing for over a decade.

As a brand new mom navigating motherhood while touring Brazil, Adi assures that self-care is non-negotiable and her beauty treatments are essential to make sure her confidence on stage.

Adi’s pre-show preparation begins with an intensive morning program specializing in hydration, nutrition and rest. “I stay hydrated, eat a well-balanced breakfast and get as much sleep as possible,” she says. While the latter is usually a challenge on the road as a brand new mom, she starts her day with a mild cleansing in the shower after which applying Derma-E Serum with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to maintain the skin brilliant and moisturized. The most vital part of her routine is moisturizing her face with oil. “I take advantage of it IN GROOV Every Mood facial oil it also hybrids as a cleansing oil that I can use to remove makeup after a show. The scent and texture are perfect, and in the morning I feel like I’m in a mini spa.”

Before applying makeup for the show, Adi sometimes refreshes her skin with one other cleanse and application of facial oil, so “my skin stays vibrant and dewy all night long,” she says.

When it involves makeup, adopting a “less is more” philosophy is an ode to her minimalist French roots. “I generally don’t follow makeup trends; I walk quite casually,” explains Adi, who considers Grace Jones to be her greatest muse of style and beauty. The first step in her makeup routine: Eyebrows! “I like them in a particular way and I am unable to live without eyebrow pencil,” she says.

Her favorite place is MAC eyebrow pencil in Spikedthat he collects during his travels. Because skincare is a vital part of her every day routine, whether she’s traveling or at home in Brooklyn — she opts for a skinny layer MAC Studio Fix liquid foundation just to enhance its appearance after which uses it Bronzer Mineralize Skinfinish by MAC in “Gold Deposit” for a warm glow. To come full circle, she applies a fairly, semi-daring lip, and recently discovered a berry-brown lip color called L’Avenue by MERIT It became “a staple in my kit,” he says.

Balancing self-care with motherhood and touring is usually a difficult task. Adi used to meditate every morning, but now that she has a baby, it’s harder for her. Instead, sneaking briefly training sessions when possible was a self-care practice. “When I’m on the road, I still find time for calisthenics training,” she says, noting that even training in a hotel gives her energy.

Adi also often does things like having a shower in the dark, all to be sure the baby sleeps. “Sometimes I accidentally use body shampoo to avoid waking up,” she says. “But hey, cleanliness was a comfort,” he laughs. Even though her priorities modified, her superpower was learning to adapt to latest expectations. “As long as my baby and I are in good health, the rest is just a bonus.”

With her glowing skin and soulful sound, she is undoubtedly an independent artist value watching. Next, Adi says she dreams of sharing the stage with artists like HER, whose work resonates deeply with hers. Until then, for those who’re in Brazil, you could find her live at Attention Blu in Rio De Janeiro on November 15 and Factory Down Everyday people in Sao Paulo on November 16.

It was a special homecoming season for Rihanna. This week, the makeup artist and popular culture icon officially celebrated the launch of Fenty Beauty in the Caribbean with a launch event in her home country of Barbados!

Rihanna announced via Instagram come early October that the brands might be officially available at select retailers in nine different Caribbean territories. This includes Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and St. Maarten from October 24, 2024.

“I always felt awkward that my brand wasn’t in my home, so I always wanted to do it,” the Barbadian native told ESSENCE at the launch event. “I always insisted,” she said. “The moment we received permission to come here, we arrived.”

She also said she plans to proceed rolling out Fenty Beauty in the Caribbean. “The Caribbean, I carry it on my back, just like Barbados. Even though we have now launched operations on nine islands, we will continue to open and expand. We intend to cover the entire Caribbean and beyond,” said the superstar.

Stars prefer it Queen Carterand the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, were present at the launch event. The ceremony took place last Thursday at the idyllic QP Bistro, an oceanfront restaurant overlooking the island’s west coast. Rihanna, who can be one of Barbados’ national heroines, delighted the participants by having fun with the guests and even taking up the DJ’s microphone.

Rihanna also touched on how her Caribbean heritage has influenced the development and trajectory of her brands, stating: “Beauty has all the time been a really honest space. But now I incorporate ingredients from the island into my skincare, my beauty and the reason I even have the only powder that may mattify you at any time, especially when wet!

“The launch in the Caribbean actually reinforces what we built this brand to be from the starting – which is that it’s inclusive. Everyone found shade, everyone found their soul mate in our gondola,” she said. “I want to keep pushing it. The first person I saw applying foundation was my mother, a black woman. I never knew there was a void. I just did it from the bottom of my heart because that’s what I know.”

For Rihanna, “inclusiveness does not mean being limited to one space. This means insulting everyone. I want to be able to shop at Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, Fenty Hair – that’s my goal.”