Sista’s Keeper
May 2019 Vol. 6, Issue 2
I AM my Sista’s Keeper
Movie Preview: The Sun Is Also A Star See You Yesterday Past Cover Girls: Where Are They Now? Spotlight: Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris Marsai Martin
Zandra Cunningham Beauty Boss Who Educates & Empowers Girls
The BOSS Issue
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Be The Boss of Your Own Business
’ey sistas! Summer is almost here & it’s the PERFECT time to think about what you want to do with your life. I know we always say “when I grow up...” but the truth is that you could get started & be a boss NOW! Just look at our May 2019 cover girl Zandra Cunningham: she started her natural skincare company at just 9 years old! Our spotlight feature Marsai Martin also has her own production company & is making her own movies like Little. As always, if you want to contact me of have any questions about the magazine, email me at: laporsha@ sistaskeepermagazine.com or visit our website: www.sistaskeepermagazine.com Remember the purpose of Sista’s Keeper: to build you up as young women so you can be comfortable enough in yourself to help your sisters, cousins, friends, etc. I hope that you enjoy this issue and remember: “I AM my Sista’s Keeper”
Editor ’s Letter
In Loving Memory of Daniel Lee Lowry Jessica Pacette Shereene Hill-Veal Thank you for always supporting Sista’s Keeper!
Tell us what you think! Join the conversation ... #SistasKeeper
Owner/Publisher
@SistasKeeperMag
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Spotlight The NEW Miss Teen USA is already changing the story of what a beauty queen looks like! This 18-year-old Connecticut beauty rocked her natural curls in the competition after it was suggested that she straighten it. Her decision definitely helped her stand out, but it was also her answer to the pageant’s final question of why girls see to be less motivated by money as boys that helped seal the deal: I would say because they have the confidence in themselves to know that they are enough. They know that no matter how much money they have that they are still successful being themselves and that no matter what, they are still empowered in themselves.”
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Kaliegh Garris Marsai Martin This “black-ish” star made some boss moves when she created her own production company, Genius Productions. The 14-year-old actress has even made her own movie that she starred in and produced called Little that premiered in April. She became the youngest Executive Producer in Hollywood & while lots of people think she’s before her time, she still deals with the same things other kids do: It’s like, ‘Oh, snap, THIS girl, created this film?’ And it’s kind of shocking. I used to be the shy kid who would barely raise her hand or speak her mind. That’s something that I have to work on: Self-confidence and loving myself. Your girl gets a lot of anxiety. It’s OK. It’s a learning process. I feel like a lot of kids my age get it, whether they’re in the industry or not.”
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Zandra Beauty Kits Beauty Will Educate & Empower Girls Zandra is a social good company that educates + empowers girls & women across the globe via STEAM Education & Entrepreneurship. As a plant based, cruelty-free, eco friendly small business in Western New York, we are committed to sustainable practices with a priority on how gentle and sensitive skin can be. The mission is to create high quality, fun + fresh products that smell amazing but don't have all the unnecessary yucky stuff + chemicals.
THE EMPOWER KIT $47.99 The best of all three worlds. A fresh artisan clean, gentle exfoliation and moisture lock lotion. This bundle has everything you need to stay fresh, focused and inspired! Save on the set! This bundle features: 1- Artisan Soap Bar 1- Exfoliating Sugar Scrub 1- Hand & Body Lotion Zandra is about girl's education and empowerment. The hope is to inspire youth to take action and make things happen for themselves and their communities. As an agent of change, up to 10% of all net profits are donated to support girls' education.
GO GIRL TRAVEL KIT $36.99 Now you can take your favorite Zandra product on the go! Summer camp, back to school or to practice. We have got you covered. This kit comes with tiny travel-sized versions of your favorite skin care: Body Wash, Exfoliating Sugar Scrub, Hand & Body Lotion and a full-size Big Balm all packed in the perfect zip-up reusable travel bag. The Zandra travel bag works awesome to hold your other girlie items as well. 6
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What ’s On The Website?
Visit our website for photos, videos, events & MORE!!!!! Extra content available ONLY online... Coming in June
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Summer 2019 C�l�ection
Beauty
These bright and intensely alluring nail polish shades are limited edition. These bold new neon hues with a demi-matte finish heat things up as you tango your way through summer nights. With summer in full swing, take the lead in style and fall tangoed in love with the streets of Argentina. Life is a dance, and having soles on fire is your claim to flame, it’s your moment: strike a rose!
For more information or to shop now, visit: https://www.essie.com/nail-polish/whats-new/summer-2019-collection
In Full Swing: a sweet neon peachy nude nail polish
Strike A Rose: Six shade demi-matte finish
Soles On Fire: a fiery neon tangerine orange nail polish
Take The Lead: a vivid neon sky blue nail polish
Tangoed In Love: a glowing neon purple nail polish May 2019
Claim To Fame: a spicy hot neon pink polish with coral overtones Sista’s Keeper
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Entertainment
May Movie Previews
The Sun Is Also A Star College-bound romantic Daniel Bae and Jamaicaborn pragmatist Natasha Kingsley meet, and fall for each other, over one magical day amidst the fervor and flurry of New York City. Sparks immediately fly between these two strangers, who might never have met had fate not given them a little push. But will fate be enough to take these teens from star-crossed to lucky in love? With just hours left on the clock in what looks to be her last day in the U.S., Natasha is fighting against her family's deportation as fiercely as she's fighting her budding feelings for Daniel, who is working just as hard to convince her they are destined to be together. A modern-day story about finding love against all odds, "The Sun Is Also a Star" explores whether our lives are determined by fate or the random events of the universe. The film stars past cover girl Yara Shahidi ("Black-ish") as Natasha and Charles Melton ("Riverdale") as Daniel. It opens in theaters May 17th.
See You Yesterday As two teen prodigies try to master the art of time travel, a tragic police shooting sends them on a series of dangerous trips to the past. Produced by Spike Lee, this sci-fi film set in NYC marks the feature-length debut of director Stefon Bristol. It is starring past cover girl Eden Duncan-Smith, Dante Crichlow, & Astro. It premieres on Netflix May 17th 10
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NATIONAL TEEN Health PREGNANCY PREVENTION MONTH Every May, the nation turns its attention to teen pregnancy prevention for a full month. National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (NTPPM) highlights the historic declines in the rates of teen births in the United States. Significant declines have occurred in all 50 states and among all racial/ethnic groups, yet disparities continue. OAH invests in both the implementation of evidence-based programs and the development and evaluation of new and innovative approaches to prevent teen pregnancy. The OAH TPP Program reaches adolescents ages 10-19, with a focus on populations with the greatest need in order to reduce disparities in teen pregnancy and birth rates. Since 2010, the OAH TTP Program has served more than 1 million young people across 40 states, Washington D.C., and the Marshall Islands. Currently, the TPP Program serves nearly 250,000 young people per year.
Quick Facts
• There were 18.8 births for every 1,000 adolescent females ages 15-19 in 2017. • The teen birth rate in the United States is at a historic low, but it remains higher than the rate in many other developed countries. • Teen birth rates differ substantially by age, racial/ethnic group, and region of the country. • Birth rates are higher among Hispanic and black adolescents than among their white counterparts. • While Hispanics still have a higher teen birth rate than their black and white peers, there has been a substantial decline in recent years.
About the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program The Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program is a national, evidence-based program that funds diverse organizations working to prevent teen pregnancy across the United States.For more information, visit: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/news/teenpregnancy-prevention-month/index.html May 2019
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Beauty Is Zandra’s Business Beauty boss Zandra A. Cunningham uses her natural skincare company Zandra Beauty to educate and empower girls all over the world and it definitely intentional and purposeful.
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hen Zandra was just 9 years old, she started the beginning of her business like so many other black women have: out of necessity. Her father refused to buy her favorite lip balm and she decided to make her own. She did the research on how to make it & eventually began selling at church for $1. This was just the beginning, and her company is now sold in stores. May 2019
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Make It Yourself
about how you feel about yourself and I want them to know that they be whatever they want to be.”
Zandra’s father was huge inspiration in starting Zandra Beauty and in her entreprenuer journey. Positive Packaging “He wouldn’t buy me the lip balm anymore but he encouraged me to research how it is Zandra Beauty features positive affirmations made so that I could make my own,” she says. such as “B. Confiident”, “Dream Big” and “Smile Bright” on their product packaging to promote confidence in customers. Vehicle For Change “When I first started my company at 9 years old, it was called Azariah’s Innocence. Zandra Beauty donates up to 10% of sales to empower and educate girls across the globe. I always wanted it to pop and stand for something,” Zandra says. Zandra’s experience with being exposed to When the company rebranded in 2014injustice and inequality for girls around the 2015, it took four months of work to create world lead to her making a contribution. “I got connected to the International Day of packaging & messages that would connect to customers. the Girl in 2013 and was made aware of what “I have customers who keep the bottle or happens to girls all over the world. They are not able to get the same education as I am and container after they use the product because they have a connection to it and it helps they have to fit into what others thing that a increase their confidence.” girl is supposed to be,” Zandra says. “I want to help break that stereotype and help girls know how high they can fly. It’s all
The Business of Being a Girl In 2015, Zandra did a Tedx Talk called “The Business of Being a Girl” where she talked about growing into your own and your purpose. “We are all in the business of being a girl and it’s up to us to make sure we know that we are more than the media’s message or what we see on TV,” Zandra says. “Its about self-promotion and taking our opportunities to grow and be a boss. My purpose is to use my knowledge and expertise to give back and help others,”
Growing With Her Company Zandra started her company at just 9 years 14
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About Zandra Name: Zandra Azariah Cunningham Age: 18 Birthday: July 5th Hometown: Buffalo, NY Favorite Movie: The Shrek series Favorite Food: Shrimp & chicken alfredo Favorite Color: No favorite but I’m really into orange right now Hobbies: Golf & fashion What’s on your iPod? I like all music but my favorite artists are Drake and Rihanna
Connect w/ Zandra @ zandraazariah old and has been able to grown with it. She wants to make sure that both she and the company reach their full potential. “I have always known that I wanted to be known for something great that made a difference in the lives of others,” Zandra says. “What started off as something fun to do with my mom is something that has grown beyond my wildest dreams. I have been able to make my own product while impacting the lives of other girls which is a big blessing for me.” She says that her passion for playing sports helped her in running a business and that it came naturally to her. Zandra focuses on natural skincare products becuase she herself has sensitive skin and needed a product that would work for her. “The integrity of my product is important because it’s not just a trend to be natural. I would use products that had ingredients that I did not know of that didn’t work for me,” she says.
“There were not a lot of products for me or they were hard to find. I make sure that my products are good for the health of your skin.”
Being Her Sista’s Keeper Zandra has an older sister named Mercedez that she is close to as well as other female friends who support her and her business. “My sister and I are actually working on aclothing line together and my friends are super supportive of me. It’s great to be surrounded by like-minded people.” Her definition of being her sista’s keeper is being a true sister and seeing potential in each other. “It’s more about collaboration than competition. We can work together and create support for each other instead of being against each other. I think that is a stereotype that needs to go away. It’s easier for us to work together.” May 2019
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