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Laci Mosley Wants Us to Cheat and Move Towards a Softer Life – Essence

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Photo credit: Jonny Marlow

Laci Mosley arrived in Hollywood with few liquid assets beyond her flammable club dresses, questionable bartending experience, and a ton of confidence. That didn’t stop the trilingual podcast villain from chasing the whole lot the City of Angels had to offer in English, Spanish, and the language of fraud.

She went from being an awards-season party no-show to a sitcom regular. Along the way in which, she was scammed by shady employers, shady photographers, shady acting coaches, and weird potential roommates. Instead of feeling ashamed, she thrived. “I decided I was going to continue living the life I wanted, no matter what,” Mosley tells ESSENCE.

She began a podcast about “scams, frauds, thefts and swindles.” It was soon adapted into TV series and a combination memoir and handbook titled .

Mosley, who starred in , advises readers to accept the world because it is, not as they would love it to be, and to make their way through it by deceiving. “We have institutionalized deception, so much of our government is a deception; everyone has made things up, nothing is real,” she says.

Her stance is that when the sport is rigged, there isn’t a shame in shortcuts. Tears, lies, deception – all are permitted in an unjust world where school children starve and homelessness is criminalized. When systematically biased means-testing threatened her California dreams, she removed them with great enthusiasm and a little Photoshop.

“The first apartment I got was in Los Angeles. I had pay stubs, but I faked the dates on the pay stubs,” she explains. Anyone who’s been turned down for an $1,800 mortgage while paying $2,700 in rent can understand her motivation. “It’s like, I know I can pay rent to live here, so if you’re going to discriminate against me, let me open Photoshop and Microsoft Paint.”

Deception serves Mosley. In her book, she strategically flaunts her weaknesses to keep off against stereotypes, and she suggests others who’re systemically disadvantaged play along. “I think one of the biggest deceptions that has happened to black women is the cultural deception of power,” Mosley says. “Everybody wants a black woman to save them—shout out to Kamala.”

Laci Mosley Wants Us to Cheat and Live a Softer Life

“It’s something that’s been forced upon us and it’s a fraud, but we can abdicate the responsibility that some of us have felt to show up as the strongest and clean up everyone’s mess while being one of the most discriminated against groups and not getting the care and treatment that we deserve,” she continued. “You see it everywhere. You see it in the medical community.”

She notes that “certain types of deception” are “necessary when you’re born into a body that’s more marginalized.” Mosley invented the lawyer when she was denied pain medication after surgery to remove fibroids. Innate prejudices within the medical field often leaves black patients in severe pain. The threat of legal motion got her the care she needed. “Black women, find yourself a fake lawyer. Google a few law firms in your area,” she recommends.

Scarcity myths disproportionately impact single Black women, leaving them vulnerable to one in all the largest scams: affairs.

Mosley advises people to take it slow and put their very own needs first, describing how she worked to free her heart from her abuser. “Often when you’re short on time, your whole focus is on the other person, what they need, how they’re going to repay you, how they’re going to feel if you don’t. It’s all about them. So I think it’s about stopping and asking yourself what you need. And assessing how desperate you are to get it, because we often make rash decisions out of fear,” she says.

According to the actress, it is not about being mean or dishonest, it’s about self-preservation. In one chapter, she’s forced to meet the emotional needs of somebody who’s trying to deceive her so she will stay in an uncomfortable situation. Unable to take it out on the liar, she manages to deceive herself to get to safety.

“Unfortunately, this is another big scam that black women face; people love to throw rocks and then hide their hands and make us out to be the aggressors. So, to protect myself, sometimes I have to give in to this scam,” she says. “I don’t like it and I hope there’s a change.”

Her goal is to gain power and use it to help herself and others with minimal suffering.

“I want to be one of God’s weakest soldiers when the Lord’s army comes. I want to be in the back, keeping up with the drums, like I’m not trying to be on the front lines,” Mosley says.

Is now available where books are sold.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Black love was everywhere on the red carpet at the 2024 Emmys

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Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba attend the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

The 2024 Emmys took place in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 15. And while no Black stars swept the Emmys this 12 months (congrats to Leo’s LaMorne Morris for taking home the trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series), the event brought out a few of our brightest stars and their partners. There were Idris and Sabrina Elba, Niecy Nash and wife Jessica Betts, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, and more. As we do for each major event, we’ve rounded up all the Black love moments from the 2024 Emmys. Scroll right down to see who showed up and showed out at TV’s biggest night.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Meet Tricia Lee, Real Estate Champion: Rising Star of Netflix’s ‘Owning Manhattan’ – Essence

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Tricia Lee was a lady. Long before she wowed Netflix viewers along with her enviable style, personable personality, and savvy business acumen on the hit series, which was just renewed for a second season, she was giving her elementary school friends bathroom makeovers. As she grew, so did her entrepreneurial spirit. “In college, I would do other students’ makeup before parties in my dorm room,” Lee recalls with a smile. “I always wanted to be an entrepreneur.”

Lee, who’s of Jamaican descent, was born in Brooklyn, New York, raised in Arizona, and moved back to the Big Apple after college, where she’s lived for 23 years. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Lee desired to work in the wonder and fashion industry—and she or he did. After climbing the ranks at cosmetics giant Estée Lauder, Lee joined cult favorite makeup brand MAC Cosmetics within the brand’s early days and quickly rose through the ranks. Then, in 2005, Lee opened The Polish Bar in the center of Brooklyn. Her chic beauty salon also offered waxing, makeup, and lashes to her trendy clientele. In 2016, Lee desired to try her hand at a brand new field: real estate. The small-time powerhouse closed her beauty business to pursue real estate full-time and concentrate on learning a brand new craft. Her drive paid off. Eight years later, it’s winning the hearts of people around the globe because of the Netflix series.

We managed to squeeze in a bit interview with this savvy businesswoman about her daring profession moves, the realities of working along with her husband – and the surprising the explanation why buying real estate is more attainable than most of us realize.

ESSENCE: Congratulations in your success ! The show was ranks in the highest 10 in over 40 countries worldwide. What have your opinions been for the reason that series debuted?
TRICIA LEE: Most of the feedback is, “I need to watch more of you! They don’t show you enough.” Sometimes that annoys me because it isn’t my show. It’s Ryan [Serhant] show. My family, people near me, usually are not surprised by the show and the general public opinion I receive. I also discovered that I’m superb in front of the camera. [laughs]

ESSENCE: We discovered that you just work along with your husband, Jeffrey St. Arromand. You each have even been guests on ! What does constructing a business along with your spouse appear like?

LEE: I believe we may very well be rather a lot more decoupled from our marriage. We haven’t got all of it discovered yet. We’ve set some boundaries. But it’s hard. I don’t need to be the boss on a regular basis. I need to be soft. I don’t need to must select. I attempt to separate it. We’re kind of like yin and yang in relation to strengths. Jeff is more of a curious type. He can sense the energy of the client or the vendor. Whereas once I walk right into a house, I take a look at the interiors and the aesthetics. I believe, “Oh, this needs to change. Or this needs to change.” He doesn’t take a look at those things. When a client works with us, they get two different strengths, but they’re only paying for one.

ESSENCE: You are such a refreshing example of a successful black woman on reality TV. How does that make you are feeling?

LEE: Honestly, I just desired to be myself. You’ll see some attitude. You’ll see some humor. You’ll see some gentleness. You’ll see all of that, because that is all I’m. I’ll talk my mind, because I even have every reason on the earth to be confident. And sometimes I’ll be nervous, because I’m beginning to tackle parts of this business which might be recent to me. I can not control how people perceive me. It’s not my business. I don’t need to own it. I believe it’s great that individuals have accepted me so well. I believe it’s higher that I do not live and die by this, like most individuals would.

ESSENCE: Amen! Speaking of women and property, what are some creative ways we will get into the true estate game with lower than ideal funds or resources?

LEE: How much does it cost you to attend to own a house? More single women are buying homes now than single men. Imagine that. Forty years ago, you could not even get a mortgage with no man’s signature. So owning a house must be viewed as an asset-constructing issue, similar to where you reside. But sometimes we wish to examine off other things first. For example, you wish to get married, you wish to have a baby, and you wish to buy a house. Well, how much does that waiting cost you in the true estate conversation?

When we girls take a look at buying real estate as constructing assets, we’re more prone to do it with our mom, our sister, our greatest friend. So possibly you may’t afford a Bed-Stuy brownstone that you just buy by yourself. But possibly you and I should buy it together. Maybe in five years we’ll have 2 or 3 of them. Too often we devalue our own communities. But we’re seeing a revival in places like Detroit and Baltimore. Thankfully, individuals are starting to grasp that. Don’t underestimate the proven fact that you begin where you might be.

GIST: I’d like more advice for first-time home buyers.

LEE: Credit, money, and criteria! What is your credit rating? How much money do you might have not just for the down payment, but in addition for closing costs. Criteria: You must know the way much your needs and needs will cost you. When buying a house, your budget is the deciding factor. What are your criteria for must-haves and negotiables? For example, the very first thing I normally ask my clients is: What is your timeline? 2 months or 2 years? What are your criteria? Type of home (apartment, single-family, multifamily), size, price, and site. Here’s a tip… Budget and site are the true questions on this case.

THE ESSENCE: How do you already know if you’re ready to begin searching for a house?

LEE: If you do not know if you’ll be able to buy a house, nevertheless it’s a brief-term goal (about 18 months), contact a mortgage lender for a financial assessment. You must know the way much you may save in that point, what you may afford based in your credit rating and income. You’ll have a plan of motion. The house hunt starts if you’re able to shop.

ESSENCE: We hear rumors about unusual 40-12 months mortgages. What do you think that?

LEE: 40-12 months mortgages can work, especially in case you plan to purchase and hold for some time. They can dramatically offset the monthly maintenance fees. That’s an enormous help with current rates of interest, nevertheless it also lets you buy more home at a cheaper monthly cost. That’s in case you plan to carry for some time.

ESSENCE: You are captivated with empowering women, especially black women, in some ways. How can people be told about your upcoming projects?

LEE: Yes, the following Money Matters event with Tricia Lee will likely be this fall at Serhant [in New York City]. I also organize a luxury event called Dinner in Noir. People can follow me on social media to get updates on @lovetricialee.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Arrested in New York After Grand Jury Indictment – Essence

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested in New York after grand jury indictment

Photo credit: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images

Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Monday night on the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan after being indicted by a grand jury, authorities said. Combs, who has faced multiple sexual assault lawsuits and a federal human trafficking investigation over the past 12 months, was detained by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, CNN reports.

The specific charges against the music mogul remain unclear, but U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams confirmed the arrest in a press release. “Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY,” he said. “We expect to file a motion to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”

Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, criticized the choice to file charges, calling the indictment “unfair.” According to the report, Agnifilo said, “We are disappointed with the decision to bring what we believe is an unfair indictment against Mr. Combs by the United States Attorney’s Office. Sean “Diddy” Combs is a music icon, a self-made entrepreneur, a loving family man, and a proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years constructing an empire, adoring his children, and dealing to uplift the black community.”

Agnifilo continued by emphasizing his client’s cooperation with investigators, adding, “To his credit, Mr. Combs has cooperated with this investigation and voluntarily moved to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve judgment until you know all the facts. These are the actions of an innocent man who has nothing to hide and is eager to clear his name in court.”

Combs, 54, has been under intense scrutiny in recent months, and the arrest is the most recent in a series of legal challenges he has faced. The federal investigation features a human trafficking probe and a series of sexual assault lawsuits. In one in all the most recent cases, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard filed a lawsuit on Sept. 10 accusing Combs of verbal abuse, sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Earlier this 12 months, Homeland Security agents raided Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami as a part of a human trafficking investigation. HSI confirmed the searches in a press release, saying, “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York conducted the law enforcement action as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners.”

Combs also got here under fire in May when CNN released a video of him physically attacking his then-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, in 2016. The video was consistent with allegations made in lawsuit filed by Ventura in November 2023. Although the lawsuit was settled the day after it was filed, it added to a growing list of legal issues the entrepreneur has faced.

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