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Judith Jamison’s iconic moments of beauty and dance – the essence

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Judith Jamison, American dancer and former artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, died over the weekend at the age of 81. According to Christopher Zunner, Ailey’s spokesman, announced that Jamison died Saturday in New York after a brief illness surrounded by close friends.

Jamison began studying ballet at the age of six at the Judimar School of Dance. After years of dedication and practice, she joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965. There, for 15 years in a row, she became one of the most eminent soloists.

After her time there, she appeared as a guest dancer with various ballet corporations and on Broadway. Ultimately, Jamison returned to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as artistic director, a position she held for 21 years and was later promoted to creative director emeritus.

Not only was she an icon on stage and in her choreography, but she was also a source of inspiration with timeless beauty. Her first performance of the legendary song “Revelations” was in 1970, when she rocked wing eyeliner, daring eye shadow and long eyelashes. She then traveled to the UK in 1973 to perform at their Alvin Ailey studio, wearing natural hair and no makeup. The dancer wore a head wrap with minimal makeup the following yr at the New York premiere.

In 1978, she performed Ailey’s legendary dance “Cry” along with her natural hair – which he choreographed in honor of his mother and dedicated to black women. In 1979, she played Carola Polakov Resort, showing off her natural chocolate skin in Ready to Wear Advance. In her Broadway debut, she played the lead in Sophisticated Ladies, wearing red lipstick, eyeliner and long eyelashes. Fast forward to 2018, Jamison attended Black Girls Rock 2018 wearing striking eyeliner and a bald head to just accept the Living Legend Award.

And he’s an everlasting legend. We are endlessly grateful for Jamison’s work and inspiration through various mediums. Her legacy will survive. Below, to have a good time Jamison’s beautiful life, a compilation of some of her most inspiring beauty moments over the years.

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

Fenty Beauty celebrates its expansion into the Caribbean with the launch event of Barbados – Essence

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Courtesy of Kristopher Streeks

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.

Fenty Beauty celebrates its expansion into the Caribbean with a launch event in Barbados

“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.

Fenty Beauty celebrates its expansion into the Caribbean with a launch event in Barbados

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!

Fenty Beauty celebrates its expansion into the Caribbean with a launch event in Barbados

“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.”


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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FIRST LOOK: ‘Harlem’ Season 3 Returns with New Faces – Essence

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Angie (Shoniqua Shandai), Quinn (Grace Byers), Camille (Meagan Good) and Tye (Jerrie Johnson) in HARLEM S3 Photo: Courtesy of Prime © Amazon Content Services LLC

Just when winter begins to fade, the warmth returns as Camille, Tye, Quinn and Angie return to our screens. The Prime Video favorite will eagerly return for a 3rd season on January 23, promising more drama, laughter, and life-changing decisions for our favourite Harlem Four.

The second season’s cliffhanger left everyone wondering what would occur next, and this 12 months guarantees much more twists and turns as the ladies enter latest stages of their often tumultuous lives. Now they’re able to set their priorities and begin a brand new life. Expect mother-daughter dynamics, romantic complications, and profession crossroads like never before.

The excitement doesn’t end there – season three introduces some latest faces which might be sure to cause a stir. Joining the solid are Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Shoniqua Shandai, Jerrie Johnson and Tyler Lepley, Kofi Siriboe as Seth, a captivating MLB player who quickly catches the attention of certainly one of the women. Meanwhile, Logan Browning steps into the role of Portia, Ian’s former love, whose return to Harlem brings back greater than just memories. Gail Bean and Robin Gives also appear, with Bean playing Eva, a passionate enterprise capitalist working alongside Tye, and Gives playing her powerful mother.

From the creative mind of Tracy Oliver, it continues to explore the complexities of black womanhood with humor and heart, making it a novel comedy that captures the wonder and grit of life in New York City. The latest season, produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Television, reaffirms the series’ position as a source of living storytelling – returning just in time to warm up the winter. So mark your calendars and prepare for a New York minute filled with style, surprises and sisterhood.

Here are some First Look photos from the upcoming third season.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Young, talented and winning: Coco Gauff becomes youngest WTA Finals champion in 20 years with historic victory – Essence

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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – NOVEMBER 09: Coco Gauff of the United States poses with the Billie Jean King trophy after defeating Qinwen Zheng of China in the singles final on the last day of the WTA Finals in Riyadh as a part of the Hologic WTA Tour 2024 at King Saud University Arena, November 9 2024 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia (photo by Robert Obrazy Prange/Getty)

Coco Gauffstar power just reached a brand new level. In a 12 months in which she established herself as one of the crucial dynamic forces in tennis, she wrapped up her tally in historic style.

Gauff once more made history by becoming the youngest player in twenty years to win the celebrated WTA Finals held in Riyad, Saudi Arabia (the last feat was achieved by Maria Sharapova in 2004). In a season characterised by determination, resilience and record-breaking performances, the 20-year-old defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen in a tough-fought three-set match.

In addition to winning the WTA Finals, she has now won the largest single prize in WTA history – a staggering $4.8 million, in response to Tennis Channel. After she secured victory, Gauff reflected on the record-breaking nature of her victory. “I asked (about the record) right after I received the match,” she said. “Was he the youngest? This must be some kind of record.”

Reflecting on the milestone, she added: “It’s pretty cool. “It just goes to show that age is a number in both cases, old and young.”

WTA Finals victory builds on the momentum Gauff has built in 2023 first Grand Slam victory on the US Opencementing her rapid ascent in the tennis world. For fans who’ve followed her since she burst onto the scene at age 15, Gauff’s rise has been a masterclass in patience, determination and learning from failure. Her victory in the WTA Finals was not a straight path; in her last match, she lost the primary set before coming back with the tenacity she is thought for and ultimately securing the 2024 WTA title.

Out of court, Gauff spoke openly concerning the labor and mental strength it took to get up to now. Surrounded by a robust support system, she is quick to understand her team and family – those that have been by her side because the starting of her journey. She knows her victories reverberate off the court and she welcomes the responsibility, seeing her success as a chance to encourage and uplift.

While her recent victories have been monumental, this appears to be the start of an extended and promising journey – one in which Gauff may redefine what it means to be a tennis star. For Gauff, that is only the start.


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