Celebrity Coverage

From MVP to VC: Giannis Antetokounmpo invests in the future of women’s basketball – Essence

Published

3 months ago

December 3, 2024

IAM

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 13: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after time beyond regulation victory over the Detroit Pistons at Fiserv Forum on November 13, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this image, User consents to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo: John Fisher/Getty Images)

Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t just dominate on the court – he proves he can play off the court too.

The Milwaukee Bucks star and two-time MVP officially entered the enterprise capital arena with the launch of Build Your Legacy Ventures (BYL). This recent fund is about greater than just business – it’s about creating opportunities and making a difference, especially in spaces that are not at all times in the highlight. Antetokounmpo is kicking off her profession with one other dunk: investing in women’s basketball.

One of BYL Ventures’ inaugural investments is changing the rules of the game: Matchlessan expert women’s 3-on-3 basketball league co-founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. Designed to elevate women’s basketball through a faster, more dynamic format, the league aligns with Antetokounmpo’s vision to rewrite the playbook in sports and entertainment.

“This fund is not just about capital; it’s about building partnerships and opening networks to accelerate companies’ growth trajectory.” Antetokounmpo said in a release. “I want to help other entrepreneurs, especially those who have faced barriers, grow and succeed.” With BYL Ventures, it doesn’t just offer financial support – it opens its network and provides mentorship to founders, especially those from underrepresented communities.

Women’s sports have long faced an uphill battle when it comes to visibility and investment. By supporting Unrivaled, Antetokounmpo is sending a transparent message: it is time to level the playing field. The league goals to redefine the perception of women’s basketball by specializing in innovation, excitement and opportunity for athletes.

This is not Antetokounmpo’s first foray into the business world. He previously invested in the Milwaukee Brewers, Nashville SC, and even began his own film production company, Improbable Media. But BYL Ventures represents something larger – a possibility to use its platform to encourage the next generation of changemakers, on and off the field.

For Black women who consistently drive culture and innovation in every space, seeing someone like Antetokounmpo amplify women’s sports is critical. His investment in Unrivaled just isn’t nearly financial support; is a commitment to make women’s basketball more visible, more respected and more impactful.

In addition to investing in Unrivaled, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Build Your Legacy Ventures also made a seed investment in Candy playhouseonline store known for its big selection of nostalgic and trendy sweets. This unexpected move highlights Giannis’ eye for diverse, consumer-centric opportunities that bring joy to on a regular basis moments.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has at all times been interested in greater than just basketball. Whether it’s leading the Bucks to a championship or constructing a business empire, his journey is a testament to what can occur when talent meets purpose. BYL Ventures and its first investment in women’s basketball show us that Antetokounmpo is not just constructing a legacy — he’s ensuring others, especially women, can construct theirs too.

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

3 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)