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The world is changing around us and growing smaller every day. At E’LON we simply have a vision of a world where women and girls are treated equal, fairly and given opportunities in education, business, and life. We are more than a beauty, fashion and lifestyle company. We are you. Your story is our story. And together we are more than One Million Strong. Join the conversation on
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The Power of Silence P. The Man Store P. 37
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28 The Magazine For The Woman You Are Now
Publisher Perspectives
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Contributors
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CONTENTS MAY May 2013 | Volume 4 | No. 5
Right Up Front: Lessons From Boston
33 Inspire A Life – Here’s to You Mom
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Inspire A Life - The Man Store
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Our Last Word… Our Best Word
106 Lessons From Boston P. 33
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Article proposals and unsolicited articles may be sent to the editors at eloneditoral@gmail.com. E’LON© magazine cannot process unsolicited manuscripts or art material, and we assume no responsibility for their return. ©2013 E’LON LLC. All rights reserved. “E’LON”, “The Brands of E’LON”, “E’LON Magazine”, “IMAGES By E’LON” and “E’LON Cosmetics” are all trademarks of E’LON LLC, registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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CONTENTS
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Better Living 10 Simple Beauty Tips for Busy Moms
42 The Power of Silence
46 Lives Finding God In The Church
85 Shess Master Wendy Oliveras from Pawn to Queen
88 What We’re Reading:
90 Film, TV, Video
91 On My IPad
92 Smart Talk… Marie Osmond Talks Painful to Powerful Marie Osmond talks about pain and the promise of joy P. 97
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On Our Cover The first time I met Iris Moore (Siri spelled backwards is Iris), I just knew I wanted to photograph her wearing E’LON Cosmetics of course. What I soon learned was that this hardworking mom, actress and model has a heart of gold and cares about the world around her. In Model Call P. 100 Siri pulls it altogether for summer beauty in hair, makeup, fashion. Photo: Yolanda Webb, Makeup Yolanda Webb, Hair and Styling Dwayne Johnson
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BEAUTY / FASHION Beauty Trends The Eye’s Have It
Vanessa Agyemang Top Model of Color Season 7 London, England P. 78
48 Baggage Claim The Seasons Best Handbags
49 Grapevine On the Runway
50 Fabu-less, Summer sexy dressing for less this season
54 Tina Lobondi All White Party
60 Scents of the Season
68 Hair Today… Get your hair summer ready
70 Duaba Serwa S/S 13
74 London’s Top Model of Color
78 Accessorize The Best of the Season
82 Mom Smart Amber Gregory talks motherhood, career and new baby
Photo: Ernst Simon
94 Model Call Siri Moore
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E’LON MAGAZINE The Mother’s Issue Vol. 4.5 May 2013
E’LON LLC Publisher
Yolanda Webb
Editor in Chief / Editorial /Creative Director Sascha Butler Fashion / Beauty Editor Libby Moore, Accessories Writer Patel Bushar, Contributing Writer Fashion / Beauty
Caroline Taylor, Contributing Fashion/Beauty Editor Sheldon Hamilton Contributing Beauty Editor Elizabeth Shaw, Fashion writer Tanya Sparks Beauty Writer
Tanya Simpson, Contributing Features Editor Becca Moore, Contributing Writer Simone Haygood, Contributing Writer Allison Penny, Contributing Writer Odessa Rauls, Contributing Writer James Ray Photography Director James Morgan, Contributing Photographer Ernst Simon, Contributing Photographer
Warren Stallworth Research/Writing/Video Editor Adam Butler, Web Design, E’LON.Com Paul Brown, Art Direction Mandy Ewing, Photo Editor
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©2013 E’LON LLC ______________________________ E’LON Magazine’s April Issue is published annually by E’LON LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission of the publisher. E’LON Magazine will not be responsible for unsolicited materials. Photographers or IMAGES By E’LON own the rights to all photos used in this publication. Printed in the USA and the Netherlands. E’LON Magazine (ISSN 2156-4957 Print) (ISSN 2156-4965 Online) is published monthly by E’LON LLC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to E’LON Magazine Subscriber Services c/o elonmagazine@gmail.com Subscriptions: U.S.A., Digital $2.99; Print $5.99; Annual $29.99 (Print) Online Subscriber services available online at www.elonbrands.com; or by email at elonmagazine@gmail.com
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From The Publishers Desk
When we put together this issue we thought we wanted to focus on the celebrity star moms that we knew. But, the more we worked on stories and sat around the table and told our own we realized one truth: We were all celebrity and star moms. Each of us in turn were juggling careers, home, relationships and still being mom, mommy, mum, mother, mama, nana, grandma, mom mom, and a host of so many other terms of endearment we are called by our children and grandchildren. In this issue we did choose to highlight a special celebrity mom who understands on a much deeper level of what it means to be a mom. They say you should not have to bury your children or outlive them. Yet that is exactly what Marie Osmond had to do. Following the death of her son Marie found the strength and courage to go on and be the mother her other children needed and become the woman that would help show us how to move from pain to power. Read my interview with Marie on page 96. And on our cover this month is Iris (Siri) Moore, mom, model and career woman keeping it all together and staying beautiful through it all. Sometimes as women we must learn to understand the power we hold and the best way of learning to understand that is through strategy. This month we learn (and in my case re-learn) to play chess. Chess Master and champion Wendy Oliveras talks to us about learning to succeed in your game of life by playing chess. Read Shess Master moving from Pawn to Queen on page 86. This month we are coming off another great tragedy in American history. The bombing at the Boston Marathon is nearly a month behind us. Yet many of us still cannot quite get the images of seeing in real time a certain level of destruction on our television screens (when it wasn’t a movie or some form of scripted television) that we witnessed. For my daughter and her daughters it has changed the wait they watch television and what they watch. In our
Model Iris Moore and other working mom models at our cover shoot
Right Up Front Op-Ed this month writer Herman Knox, In Lessons From Boston P. 33 ask where has our humanity gone when it’s more important to cover the story rather than cover the wounds. Perhaps it is, as writer Ayana Sloan writes so eloquently on P. 45, a need for us to recognize the true Power of Silence in order to once again find our humanity. The best way to do this is what my daughter had in mind when she decided the no television rule for her daughters. Finally, as I put to bed another issue of this great magazine, I understand the importance now more than ever in helping to make the world a more beautiful and diverse place even if just for the moments you escape in our pages. I know that it is simply to give our daughters and in my case my granddaughters the chance to hear those beautiful words…Happy Mother’s Day
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Yolanda Webb elonyolanda@gmail.com
THIS MONTH FROM
Contributors Follow us on Facebook to find STORIES OF Inspiring Women who change lives including their own.
They’ll reveal what they’ve learned along the journey to create the life they have always dreamed of.
Ayana Sloan knows a thing or two about silence. This attorney has taken a hiatus to rediscover her spirit and reconnect with the source within. This month she shares with us The Power of Silence and in Is God in the Church with us.
Chandra Harkins began Harkins House in 2010 with her first play, Four Women. With three sold out nights under her belt this ‘realism’ playwright (Chandra Kamaria) is once again tackling issues that matter. In, The Man Store she has us exploring the issues of black love.
Herman Knox (not pictured), was in Boston during the time of the tragic bombing. Although not near the sight of the bombing none of the stories covered from Boston touched on the lives and fear in the black community. In his, Lessons from Boston, he recounts the business as usual in the black community that wasn’t reported by the media.
E’LON Magazine/31
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RIGHT UPFRONT… Did You Know? Lessons From Boston
Boston University student Olivia Culpo, Miss USA, was crowned Miss Universe Wednesday night in Las Vegas.
“The media sells emotion and we buy right into it. We go into action of emotional empathy whenever we are prompted to by the media. Yet tragedy happens right under our noses each and every day and what do we do with our angst then.” Contributed by Herman Knox
Before you condemn this article or even refuse to read it in its entirety, let me say right upfront…as this section is called, I think what happened in Boston was tragic. I think what happens when innocent lives are lost is tragic. I was not near the sight of the Boston Marathon although I was in Boston during the time visiting friends. My first instinct was of course to get in my car drive over and see if I could lend a hand. You see I am a former soldier. And when news of a terror bombing broke…I broke into action. I broke into what I have been trained to do. Of course when I arrived the police had the perimeter blocked off so I really could not get through. As I assisted people just outside who had loved ones in the midst of the chaos to allay fears and even make sense of what was going on, I felt like I was back on the front lines. You see when you are on the front lines there are children and family members who need consoling and help understanding the terror of war raging around them. The lessons from that day in Boston reminded me of how our world is shaped and how we can quickly judge our enemy by being led by what’s reported in the media. As I stood there trying to help in any way I could
all I heard were comments about stopping anyone who looked Muslim from leaving. While I know having lived abroad that Muslims range in skin tone from white to black, to pick out people based on a perceived identification has been built by a media that uses emotional scare tactics to shape our views of the world. On the same day and in the days that followed there were more people killed by murderers, explosions, drive by shootings, drunk drivers, domestic violence and more than at the site of the bombings. Yet, as human beings we don’t have the same kind of reaction. The media sells emotion and we buy right into it. We go into action of emotional empathy whenever we are prompted to by the media. Yet, tragedy happens right under our noses each and every day and what do we do with our angst then? For most people these types of crimes that happen every day, like the explosion in west Texas is simply that ‘shit happens’. When we begin to realize that the loss of a life through a bomb is just as tragic as the loss of life in a drive by shooting, I believe we will have learned the lessons from Boston. Life…all life is special, sacred and deserves our emotional empathy. Let’s hope we can regain a sense of our humanity from this and other horrible tragedies just like it. HK
E’LON Magazine/33
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Inspire A Life The Better Prize Here’s to our Mother’s I see you’re tired when I get home.
Subscribe To E’LON Magazine Today Get the April Issue Now in Both Digital and Print Versions.
You feel some days you’re all alone. But what you’re doing is priceless, dear, And one day you’ll look back–one year. Far from now when these kids are grown, You’ll remember the days you spent at home. Wiping noses, washing dishes, Having tea parties, getting kisses. Playing ball and tying shoes,
On your desktop, on your phone, on your Ipad, in your home.
Dressing dolls and kissing boo-boo’s, Then you’ll look at me with tearful eyes, and know you got the better prize.
Author Unknown
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Inspire A Life
Harkins House Productions is a Memphis, Tennessee based production company that specializes in original theatrical productions and cultural events through its division, Kulture Groove. The company, founded in 2010 by Chandra Harkins, (who is also a playwright under the pseudonym of Chandra Kamaria), debuted its flagship production, FOUR WOMEN, in November 2010 to nearly sold out audiences. Dedicated to preserving the rich cultural legacy of the African Diaspora by creating and producing theatrical works, documentaries, and films Harkins House uses various multimedia outlets, to celebrate the diverse storytelling tradition of the African and African American people and reaches audiences worldwide. Harkins House is well on its way
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THE MAN STORE
to living up to what famed playwright August Wilson once said, “There's no idea in the world that is not contained by black life. I could write forever about the Black Experience in America.” By providing Broadway quality productions in the local community, Harkins House provides a place where local artisans can hone their craft. The latest production to come from Harkins House is The Man Store an often funny but telling story of black relationships. Producer and Director Chandra Harkins had this to say about The Man Store, "The clones in the Man Store are actually symbolic of how many of us, as Black women, tend to objectify Black men through our narrow perspectives of manhood.” She continues, “As an
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artist, it's my mission to write & tell stories through my observations of life and from the unique angle of being a Black woman." The Man Store is the story of Delilah Banks and her daughter, Portia, who solved one of the biggest problems facing single Black women. Through a scientific process, Delilah, an acclaimed scientist, has successfully developed male clones in the image of Black men, designed to remedy the shortage of marriageable options for Black women. The Man Store is a state-ofthe-art husband retail establishment specializing in six quality clones of Black men from various walks of life. Women can make an appointment for a sales consultation with Portia, who manages the Man Store, and purchase the man of their dreams! While enjoying the meteoric success of the business, Delilah & Portia also have to face outside pressures as well as internal problems that could shake the foundation of their bond as mother & daughter. The stageplay will be held during the weekends of May 17-19 & May 24-26 at TheatreWorks, located at 2085 Monroe Avenue in Midtown Memphis. Showtimes for Friday & Saturday performances are 7:30pm and Sunday matinees will be at 3pm. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
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Click here for an audio preview of this funny, witty, real take on relationships and perhaps you will be visiting The Man Store soon. For more information & to purchase tickets, visit the website at HarkinsHouse.net or call (901) 217-9701.
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The Power of A Woman “What is justice? I don’t know if I can answer that. Let me say this …an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
BETTER LIVING
10 Simple beauty tips for busy moms Contributed by Becca Moore Edited by Tanya Simpson
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I love being a mom. Before my daughter was born I was very into my look. My hair, my makeup and the way I dressed were the primary thoughts I had on any given day. No, I wasn’t narcissistic, I was young. I simply felt that how I looked was who I was and that was important. And then along came Diamond. So named because she became the brightest thing in my life. As prepared as my husband and I were for her arrival, I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for how much busier my life would become. Between working, being a wife and mom and daughter taking care of aging parents I begin to lose the one thing that should have been important. I begin to lose me and I didn’t even recognize that woman in the mirror. Gone was the flawless skin, the perfect makeup and the glowing crown of glory, my hair. On this day I decided to find her again and find some simple but effective beauty tips that I could use and still be a great mom to Diamond, wife and career woman. Being a mom doesn’t mean we have to forego getting gorgeous in the little time we do have. The good news is that we can fit in some easy beauty routines into our day to look our best, even when we only have a few minutes here and there. Here are a few tips to use:
1. I know you love your hair. But, opt for low maintenance styles. Ask your stylist to give you an easy 'do. Specify that you want something you can let air-dry that looks good if you don't have time to style. For the most mommy-friendly cut, look for something that falls between your chin and shoulders, so it's not too long to manage, but you can still put it back in a ponytail. Keep in mind that easy doesn't have to mean boring. Encourage your stylist to put some sass and fun into your look.
4.
Invest in a great concealer. Nothing screams tired mommy more than dark circles under your eyes. On day’s when I’m pressed for time, I wear only my concealer and a bit of pressed powder and still achieve maximum glam results. 5. Go for a tinted moisturizer rather than foundation. This double duty moisturizer gives your face a hint of color, glow and moisturizes all at once. Many come with an SPF of more than thirty so give an added benefit to skin. 6. Wearing mascara is a must. If there is one product I never leave the house without applying it’s mascara. By lengthening your lashes you are opening up your eyes. So no matter how tired your body is your eyes will say something completely different. And people respond to you differently when you appear responsive and clear.
2. Get your eyebrows groomed. Going to a professional to get your eyebrows groomed gives you an instant face lift. Your brows are the focal point of your face and they help to frame your entire face. A good brow specialist can help create symmetry of the face and helps make the face beautiful even without makeup. 3. Scrub and Exfoliate once a week before you call it a night. This is an easy one to fit into your routine. I usually choose Sunday night after putting my daughter to bed and while my husband is still watching television. This has helped to brighten my complexion and give me a rosy glow without having to use a lot of makeup.
7. Lip gloss or lipstick is not an option to go without. Even if you must apply it going out the door or in the car and if you are a stay at home mom you still want and should look your best at home. 8. Set your clothes out at night. I thought I had grown beyond this when I grew up. But now I iron and get my clothes ready the night before. 9. Wear accessories. Nothing says I don’t have time to look my best than an outfit that can be taken from plain to powerful with a few gorgeous accessories. Set them out with your clothes the night before. 10. Finally, shower at night. You may have to change your routine for a while but organizing your time is well worth it. Becca Moore is a freelanc writer living in Santa Fe, New Mexico
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BETTER LIVING The Power of Silence Ayana Sloan, Esq
At the beginning of 2012, there were approximately 7 billion people on the planet. With 7 billion people on the planet, one might assume that there are just too many people in the world for anyone to find the time or the space to even be silent, let alone to discover its power. However, the population of the planet or more importantly the population in a particular geographic region has little or nothing to do with how much time people spend in silence or the importance placed on it. In fact, in some of the most crowded countries in the world, like in India, which has a population of over 1.2 billion people,
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many people find the time and the space to regularly explore the mystery and the benefits of silence. By contrast, in the United States, which has about a 1/4 of the population of India, many people live their entire lives with very few, if any, significant moments of silence. Because so many people in this country live their entire lives with few if any real moments of silence, one might ask whether or not silence is even relevant in our high-tech, knowledge-driven culture. Moreover, even if silence is relevant, how could it be powerful if it is so infrequently practiced in the most powerful country in
In the world? In our 24- hour, all access, non-stop, technology-based culture, it probably seems a little strange to talk about the power of silence while most people are plugged into "the Matrix� 24/7. Like the hapless victims in the 1999, sci-fi movie, most of us are being placated by a fabricated world and lured into a false reality unaware of the "real life" struggles unfolding around us every day. We can tweet on our Smartphone’s, chat live on Facebook and surf over a hundred cable network stations without truly connecting with another human being or leaving our homes. With the constant stimuli around us and a plethora of distractions to fill up our waking hours, it should come as no surprise to anyone that most us go through life without spending any real quality time with ourselves or ever really experiencing any true moments of silence. To clarify what I meant by silence, I would like to offer a very general or basic definition of silence that captures the essence of the word. Silence is most simply the absence of any sound or noise. In its purest sense, it connotes a state of inner stillness or a space free from the onslaught of the thoughts, fears and perceptions that constantly bombard the mind. Although the etymology of the word in not necessarily spiritual, In many spiritual traditions and practices, silence has been touted as the key to unlocking
the path to the divine, to one's true or authentic self and to an unseen realm heretofore unknown by the seeker. Thus, if a person is interested in experiencing either the divine, his or her authentic self or in exploring the vast mysteries of life, he or she will at some point be beckoned by life to explore the mystery and the breadth of silence. Now, if anyone reading this is anything like me, you are probably saying something like: "Obviously, this person has too much time on her hands. I can barely keep up with all the things on my to-do list, and silence, if it is on there at all, is at the bottom of the list." First, let me assure you that I hear you, and I understand your struggle. I am an African American female, and I am a commercial transactions attorney, which means I have spent most of my career trying to prove to my male counterparts that I can read and properly interpret complex legal documents. Thus, I know all about how difficult it is to carve out the time to quiet the mind and "waste precious time sitting around just being silent." In fact, that is precisely how I felt until some deeply painful losses and some inexplicable, life-altering experiences forced me to retreat into silence in order to make sense out of all of things going on in my life. Even though life started forcing me to let go of my all-consuming lifestyle and take refuge in silence, it was not easy for a Type-A, overachiever like me to let go of all of the frivolous activities I had used to fill up every waking hour of each and every day of my life. in fact, at the beginning of my journey into silence, I was like a wild stallion fighting against the bit and bridle being placed on me by life. I kept trying to break free and return to my noisy, busy life, but life would not release me back into the illusion to which I had become accustomed. All of my efforts to return to the life I knew were thwarted by one disaster after another. Until, finally, exhausted and with no other place to go, I went kicking and screaming into the silence. To my surprise, as I learned to surrender to
this new, frightening and unfamiliar path, I gradually discovered something that is far beyond my ability to capture with words. Nevertheless, at the risk of sounding clichÊ or totally failing to do justice to the depth of what I experienced, I will attempt to give you a glimpse of the beauty, the majesty, the mystery and the freedom that awaits you when you discover the power of silence. Before I discovered the power of silence, my life was shaped, controlled and completely ruled by a myriad of external and internal voices telling me who to be, how to live and a host of other things. Each and every day I was confronted with the noise and the sound of the people with whom I interacted in my work, home and social environments. All day long my head was literally filled with the expectations, opinions, fears, judgments and thoughts of others. During the most productive hours of my day, my mind was constantly inundated with all of the voices, noise and sounds outside of my own head, leaving little if any time for silence or listening to my own voice. In addition to all of the sounds and noise outside of my head, I also had been robbed of precious moments of silence by all of the voices and noise inside of my own head. Along with the cryptic, prepackaged and commercialized messages that most of receive from the outside world, we are also continually bombarded with the Continued on p. 103 E’LON Magazine/47
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Heard It Through The Grapevine
We love African designers. Coming off the runway at the recent MBFW in Johannesburg, South were designers who simply seem to get the fact that women come in all shapes and sizes. Gracing the ramps were clothes in silhouettes that moved and flowed and shaped the body. One collection we really liked was the retro inspired yet very elegant collection from Grapevine which showcased a minimal retro inspired feminine collection. The collection featured drop waist, sleeveless dresses and floral and satin fabrics. Color on the run way at Grapevine also made a splash as green, blue and maroons draped every skin tone under the sun. We love the mission behind the vision that inspires these beautiful clothes; “Inspire, transform and empower women by creating images that exudes confidence.” Grapevine can be found at 84 Market St., 2000 Johannesburg, Gauteng Phone: +27 72 507 6125 mystudio.jhb@gmail.com
Photos: SDR Photo
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BEAUTY / FASHION
BEAUTY / FASHION Summer Fabu-Less
S
ummer is all about effortless living and dressing. For example, the effortless beauty of a sundress is just one of the things I love about summer. Pair one with flats or a cute pair of espadrilles, grab a light jacket in case of an evening chill, and you have the quintessential hot weather outfit -- without having to put much effort into your style choice. This summer we went in search of summer pieces that could be coordinated with jeans, skirts, sundresses and shorts to fill your summer wardrobe with many different looks on a budget. For example, Chiquitta Ford paired this beautiful white jacket and ruffled blouse with jeans for a day at the movies and an early dinner out. Our photo shoot on this day had two criteria in mind: Fabu-less dressing with easy mix and match pieces and they all had to be affordable.
Story by Yolanda Webb Photography Yolanda Webb/ Jim “Maddog” Morgan Wardrobe / Styling Dwayne Johnson Makeup Dwayne Johnson/Yolanda Webb
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Photo Credit: James “Maddog” Morgan
Model Brittany R. has paired a sleeveless cropped jean jacket and sundress with baby doll platform shoes.
Photo Credit James “Maddog� Morgan Model Tondia pairs a beautiful yellow chiffon blouse with shorts. Pair the blouse also with a peasant skirt and espadrilles.
Photo Credit Yolanda Webb Model Tondia is wearing a belted sundress, flat sandals. Toss a sweater on and go from day to evening.
BEAUTY/FASHION
Tina Lobondi
All White Party
NEW E’LON MINERAL FOUNDATION THE POWER OF LASTING BEAUTY Begins and ends with great skin. And great skin requires great makeup. Our new mineral formula foundations are all natural and free of ingredients that can irritate your skin. These exceptional powders are lightweight and provide long lasting coverage to give a luminous glow, reduce the appearance of fine lines and create a natural finish.
Available in 6 true to you shades.
E’LON Cosmetics is a registered trademark of the E’LON© Company. www.elonbrands.com
SCENTS This spring and summer season means a flurry of new fragrances, and spring 2013's launches include Chanel and Balenciaga scents as well as limited editions from Jo Malone and Stella McCartney.
Juicy Couture
Coach
Burberry Body
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Marc Jacobs Daisy
Jo Malone
Chloe
Prada Stella McCartney Summer
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Fashion / Beauty Written by Tanya Simpson
HAIR Today Is your hair summer ready?
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As we start to shop for sunscreen products for the approaching summer months, we need to also start thinking about protecting our hair as well as our skin. We all know that the sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause severe skin damage, but the sun’s harmful rays can also damage our hair from the cuticle to the cortex – from the outside in. Sun, salt, sand and chlorine are all harsh on your hair. The best way to protect your hair from these elements is to cover it. When you are going to be outside in the sun for long periods of time it’s best to cover your hair with a satin scarf or your favorite cowboy hat. During the summer we also recommend using a leave-in conditioner no matter what texture hair you happen to have. Our favorite leave-in conditioners also have UV protection and carry and SPF of 25 or more.
Twisted Sista Leave In Conditioner
Aveda Elixir Leave In Conditioner
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After washing your hair rinse with cool water to close your hair cuticle (the outer coating of the hair) to make it smooth which helps with frizz and adds shine without the need for silicone products which will cause product build-up. Make it a goal this summer to stay away from heating appliances, flat irons, blow dryers and choose styles that protect your hair in the summer months. For your healthiest hair this summer watch what you eat. Eat foods rich in Vitamins A, C, D, E, H, Selenium, Beta Carotene, Zinc, and Potassium. Eat from the inside out. And if you are a swimmer remember to wear a protective swim cap this summer to lessen the effect of chlorine on the hair. All swimmers know that its best to rinse your hair and condition it before getting into the pool. By rinsing your hair you will allow your hair to absorb chlorine-free water, thereby keeping the saturation of the chlorine-filled water to a minimum. Are you exercising outside this summer? Many women run in marathons, participate in walk a thons and other outdoor activities. A great way to keep your hair hydrated is to brew Green or Chamomile Tea and place in a spray bottle. During exercise or outdoor activities where you may sweat moisturize your hair by spraying the tea on throughout the day. And use a hair masque at least once a week for deep intense conditioning of hair. One of our favorites is Alterna 10 to repair the hair. To beat summer frizz use a frizz control product made specifically for your hair. Some of our favorites include Frederic Fekkai Summer Hair Zero Frizz Control and Mizani Thermasmooth Shine Extend Anti Humidity Spritz.
Mizani Thermasmooth Shine Extend Anti-Humidity Spritz
Frederic Fekkai Summer Hair Zero Frizz Control
Fashion / Beauty
Duaba Serwa S/S 13
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STYLE PLAYBOOK
London’s Top Model
Vanessa Agyemang PHOTOGRAPHED BY Award winning photographer Ernest Simon
Vanessa is fast becoming one of the most sought-after high fashion models in London. She has had the opportunity to catwalk for many established and up-coming top designers, such as Nars Cosmetics, Koshibah, Finchittida Finch and SVE by Sally Ellis to name a few. She has graced the catwalk of Fashions Finest London Fashion Week. Vanessa lives in London and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture. She will launch her own brand, Akua Designs Homeware Collection in the fall of 2013. We asked Vanessa about her win as the reigning Top Model of Color in London. “I am delighted and humbled to be the winner of Top Model of Color as well as the People’s Choice winner for Season 7, the whole journey has been a great, overwhelming, learning experience. I will continue to strive for perfection, excellence and reach for the stars and achieve my dreams of being an international supermodel.”
Ernest Simons Photography ejsphotographer.com
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ACCESSORIZE 1
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We went in search of the season’s best accessories and found seven things we love and want to own right now. From top left: 1. Belt by Calvin Klein; 2. Neckware by Danni Jo; 3. Wrist Cuff by Jennifer Fisher; 4. Shoes by Paul Andrews; 5. Tear Drop Earrings by Oscar De La Renta; 6. White Sunglasses by Tory Burch; 7. Oscar De La Renta.
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LIVES
Finding God in the Church “Some people might find it a bit strange or even sacrilegious for anyone to write an article entitled, “Why Is It so Hard to Find God In the Church?”
I am not writing this article to convince those people of the existence or non-existence of God. Also, because I know that many religious beliefs and practices do not center around church, I am not writing to convince anyone that God can only be found in a church. I am actually writing this article primarily for those people who have attempted to find God in the organization or institution commonly referred to as the church. I realize there is a danger in using such a broad term as the church because, in America, there are approximately 350,000 religious congregations and almost fifty major Christian denominations, which are all lumped together under the term church. With so many churches and so many denominational distinctions under the rubric of the term “church”, I realize some of what I say will not apply to all churches. Nevertheless, at the risk of having some or all of what I am writing about dismissed as overly simplifying a very complex subject, I believe this is a
subject worth exploring. I have been trying to find God in the church for almost forty years. For most of those forty years, I was consistently disappointed by my experiences with the church. Instead of finding the hope, love and genuine sense of community that I had been led to believe I would find in the church, I found criticism, legalism, hypocrisy and "mini fiefdoms" controlled by power-hungry, manipulative tyrants masquerading as servants of God. I was shocked and appalled by the glaring discrepancies between what the church claims to stand for and how it actually operates. Because many churches boldly display various inscriptions on their buildings containing such bold proclamations as: The Only True Church of God; The First Church of God; The House of Prayer and a host of other descriptive terms, one would conclude that the people in the building must surely know God or know something about Him. Unfortunately, if one actually ventures into the building and goes beyond the bold pronouncements on the outside, one often discovers that many of the churches proclaiming to be the true place of God don't even know who God really is, or their God is little more than an amalgamation of the combined fears and limitations of the people in the building. Admittedly, in a theological sense, my concern may seem a bit preposterous and even ridiculous because different churches have different missions. However, from a layman’s perspective, isn’t it fair to assume that, at a minimum, a church exists to teach people about God? Isn’t the church, as an organization or an institution, supposed to be God’s representative on earth? In fact, according to the Apostle Paul’s teachings in the New Testament, the church, as a whole, is considered the “body of Christ”, which would certainly imply that it should be the embodiment of who Jesus was and what he taught. Again, at the risk of overly simplifying a subject about which numerous commentators and
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scholars have written, it stands to reason, that, if the church is either the body of Christ or God’s representative on earth, it should be a place where one should be able to go to find God or learn something about God. However, fewer and fewer people in this country actually see any connection between their belief in God and their affiliation with or involvement with a church. Although approximately 92% of all Americans say they believe in God, only about 40% claim to attend church regularly. Not only are fewer people regularly attending church, I have spoken to many people, who, like me, went to church to find a place of refuge and encouragement but left more wounded and discouraged than they were when they went in. Although Jesus said he came to heal the broken hearted and to set the captives free, the church often breaks people’s hearts and enslaves them with fetters of tradition and fear. Because the church has failed to live up to what it purports to be, many people have stopped looking for God in the church, or they have stopped looking for God at all. As someone who has been there and who knows what it feels like to be disappointed by the church and to even be tempted to give up on God, I would like to assure you that one can actually find God for himself or herself with or without the assistance of the church or any institutionally organized religion. Having said that, I am not anti-church or against organized religion. In fact, I still participate in worship services and belong to a community of believers. However, I do not depend on a church to tell me who God is or to control how I live my life. I emphatically believe I know God for myself, so I refuse to substitute my own, sacred relationship with God for some caricature of who I believe God to be. Getting to the place where I am totally confident that I have a close relationship with God wasn't easy. In fact, my faith has been tested and purged in the crucible of suffering. The anvil of pain and the weight of years of affliction almost totally eviscerated everything that I had ever believed about God. Yet, after years of searching, suffering and longing to know God for myself, my faith has actually emerged as a living, life-giving faith that has transformed me into a true servant of God and
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humanity. To get where I am now, I had to jettison some of my most fundamental beliefs in order to keep from drowning under the burden of crippling traditions and someone else's "anthropomorphic" image of God. I had to stop pursuing empty religious beliefs and dogma and learn to satisfy the hunger in my soul for truth and a genuine relationship with God. Now, like David, I can say, "He restores soul." Even though my personal experiences clearly are not necessarily synonymous with universal truth, based on my personal experience, if I were to say why it is so difficult to find God in the church, I would probably say because the image of God is so distorted and hidden in the church that He ends up looking like little more than the political puppet of the powerful or the tyrannical "slave-master' of the powerless. In fact, the true image of God is often so polluted and distorted by those who claim to know him that no rational or reasonable person would bow down to it. Fortunately, the distorted, grotesque image of God is not the truth. However, to find the true image of God might cost more than some people are willing to pay. In fact, Jesus described the price of knowing the truth about God as the "pearl of great price", which he said would cost us everything to find it. He also said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone will invite me in, I will come in and dine with him." Consequently, it might be hard to find God in the church because we are looking for Him in the wrong place. If we really want to find God, perhaps we should be looking for Him in our own hearts instead of in a building. - AS
Ayana Sloan is a writer and attorney. She lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio.
LIVES
FROM PAWN TO QUEEN S CHESS CHAMPION WENDY OLIVERAS
TEACHING US TO SUCCEED IN THE GAME OF LIFE THROUGH CHESS
The back of the book jacket says that Wendy Oliveras book was written to inspire and shake up women of all ages and backgrounds to take a chance, learn something new and believe in their abilities. This well known board game represents the game of life and the ensuing challenges we often face as we move from pawn to Queen to reach the other side of the board. I recently talked to writer, author, columnist and legal search consultant (she is the Founder & CEO of Oliveras & Company, Inc a prominent ful-service search firm specializing in the recruitment of intellectual property attorney’s in New Jersey since 2001. But, before we get into my conversation with Wendy let me give you a bit of background about the game of
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Chess to help put some things into perspective. Less that 3% of women play chess and even fewer are involved professionally in Chess around the world. Chess is a game of strategy and a game Oliveras learned by the time she was fourteen years old. Before my conversation with Oliveras a number of us here decided to read the book and dust off the old chess board to see if we played the game any differently and whether we looked at our own lives differently. We agree with Ms. Oliveras when she writes, “SHESS provides a positive alternative for you to manage change and deal with all things in your life, including how to approach problems with more logical clarity and certainty. In playing your game of life your way, you become more confident, set and accomplish goals, develop your intellectual weaponry, and face any opponent on your battlefield. You are resilient and fearless because you are a SHESS Warrior.” When you play the game of chess you understand that the Pawn is the one piece in the game that if played strategically can be the most powerful piece on the board. It is the only piece which can be promoted to Queen, Rook, Knight or Bishop. The Pawn in the game of Chess is therefore a very special piece. Like most women we are born with the potential to accomplish anything and we have inherently within us the ability to be promoted to our greatest purpose in life when we move strategically and with confidence. I was intrigued by this concept and armed with questions on the day I spoke with Wendy Oliveras.
YW: Thank you Wendy. It is such a pleasure to speak with you and meet you. You are such an inspirational person. Can you give me a brief overview of you in your own words beyond the bio? WO: You mean with respect to my background. Well I am a Latina entrepreneur who believes in taking chances and believes in having dreams. I believe that the person I am today (the problem solver and the thinker) is a direct result of playing Chess. I am a very passionate and affectionate person. But, I also feel that I am a humble person and I gain most satisfaction in helping others to succeed in their own lives. YW: How did you get your start playing Chess? WO: My father taught me how to play chess when I was fourteen years old. He was an amateur player. Its funny because I wasn’t really interested and thought it was too boring. But because he was persistent I learned. And he was always encouraging me in the fact that I was intelligent and could do anything I set my mind too. Once I made the connection of how chess is played I grew comfortable in playing it. I played chess with my dad up until about nine years ago when we lost him. What being a chess player means to me is being powerful. YW: What are the benefits of learning how to play chess. WO: Basically no matter how old you are, where you live or what language you speak, chess will positively influence your intellectual ability. It will challenge your mind and help grow your overall confidence for all aspects of your life. And more importantly it will improve your ability to think rationally. It will help and increase and develop your cognitive skills (critical thinking and analytical reasoning, logical thinking), and it improves your communication skills and helps you to recognize patterns. It helps you to face an element of change that is unexpected and it can help build you as a leader. These benefits and rewards overall can help chidren become more studious and do better in math and science. What you can learn from Chess can help you become a better leader because the overall value is helping you to develop better cognitive skill sets.
YW: What did you do prior to writing the book and what motivated you to write the book? WO: Excellent question. I am a legal recruiter and the founder and CEO of a legal search firm named Oliveras & Company. For four years I have been recruiting attorneys here and abroad. What motivated me to write the book were the challenges I faced during the economic downturn in 2008. It was because of my chess skills I was able to make the decisions on how do I face my opponent – which in this case was the economic storm. As a chess player I was able to identify my opponent and strategize options of what could or should I do next in order to ensure my survival and weather out the storm. I was forced for the very first time in my life to use the skills I had learned for my life. YW: What does SHESS stand for? WO: It is a play on two words. She and Chess. YW: What is your favorite chess move? WO: When I’m able to move one of my Pawns to the other end of the board and I can convert her into a Queen. Because now I have two Queens on the board. And if I’ve lost one of my Queens in the game, if I can get that Pawn to the other side I can then convert it into a Queen. YW: For our lay readers translate what does that mean in plain English (laughter). WO: For example in life every female is born a Pawn. Now that’s not a bad term. That simply means that every little girl has options before her like a chess pawn. As a pawn you are representing a very special female because you have strategy options and not matter what your interest or desires are you are able to accomplish what you set out to do. You have the ability to be promoted to a Queen. But only you can do that as the pawn based on the moves you make. In chess the Pawn is seen as weak…but it is the only game piece that can be promoted to a Queen. So its my favorite move in the game because I learn to strategize how to promote myself in life. For example what if you are a woman who
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What We’re Reading Let’s Play SHESS By Wendy Oliveras This is a powerful little book. While the title is a play of the board game Chess, don’t be deceived. I learned while reading this how this little known game among women can help transform my game of life and the use of strategy as I try to accomplish both my personal and professional goals. Let's Play SHESS is written to inspire and shake up women of all ages and backgrounds to take a chance, learn something new and believe in their abilities. This book provides a fresh entertaining approach to exploring every woman's inquisitive mind and entrepreneurial passion by playing chess Shop online at http://amazon.com Continued from previous page It’s really about promoting yourself in life or business. YW: Explain to those who don’t play the game how flexible the pawn is in moving across this life board? WO: Well it’s important because the pawn is the only piece on the board that can move forward. That’s important to teach young girls because they can get caught up in societal expectations. Chess teaches you overall to acknowlege your strengths and weaknesses and that you can move forward. Just like in chess you have to do the work in life. YW: You reference in the book the US Chess Federation. Are there many professional women players or women in the US Chess Federation? WO: According to the US Chess Federation there are approximately 3% of women who are now competing professionally. This is a man’s game a boy’s club. YW: So you have already broken a barrier by playing the game. What advice would you have to give a young woman who has read the book. Where does she go with what she knows now? WO: If someone is interested they should start in the local community and look for local chess clubs or visit the USCS website. I think young women should
YW: Final question Wendy. Many women are stuck. They get up each morning whether they have a job or not and ask themselves the question of what do I do now
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Or they say, “I don’t know what to do now.” What final piece of advice would you have for them? WO: I would have to say that fear, negativity and procrastination are the three main reasons women postpone their efforts to be successful at something and setting and accomplishing goals. If you wake up in the morning and say, “I can’t do this,” you’ve already put such negativity into the atmosphere that there is no room for something positive now. But the good news is you can change this by self talk that is positive. You can do this by learning to take the strategies you need. I can encourage you but what you learn is that in the end you have to do it yourself. Out of every negative situation there is always something positive. Just like when you play chess. No two chess games are every the same. You may win one and lose the next and win again. That’s life but it’s the strategy we use to overcome that loss that is important. Chess is like a battle between two minds….you and your opponent. That opponent can beat you if you don’t have a strategy.
Wendy Oliveras lives and works in New Jersey. Her books are available online and at Barnes and Noble. Connect with her online at www.playshess.com or follow her on twitter @LetsPlaySHESS
FILM, TV, VIDEO
On DVD/Netflix Django Unchained – Set in the South two years before the Civil War, DJANGO UNCHAINED stars Academy Award ®winner Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with a German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Academy Award®-winner Christolph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles – dead or alive. This movie is insanely good!
On Television Grey’s Anatomy – The doctors of Seattle Grace Hospital deal with lifeor-death consequences on a daily basis—it's in one another that they find comfort, friendship and, at times, more than friendship. Together they're discovering that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white. Real life only comes in shades of grey.
At The Movies Oblivion - Jack Harper is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack's mission is nearly complete. Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.
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Justin Timberlake 20/20
Emeli Sande Our Version of Events
On My iPad
Lady Antebellum, Golden
Will. I. Am, #WillPower
SMART TALK
Mom’s Day Everyday Story by Yolanda Webb Photography James Ray
I was talking to my daughter the other day about how it felt to now be the mom of two adorable little girls and she said it was amazing. She felt like it was the most rewarding job she would ever have. I know that feeling. I recently had the chance to speak with another amazing young mom of two boys and another little one on the way. Amber Gregory wife, mom and teacher of special needs Pre-K children in her local school district spoke with us about motherhood, parenting tips and the importance of making time for self. YW: Hi Amber it’s nice to talk with you. Tell our readers a little about yourself. AG: Currently I work with PreK Special Education students and I love doing what I am doing. I love kids and I love working with kids. At our church I also work with 1st and 3rd grade girls as well. I love to be surrounded by my family. There is no greater thing for me than to be surrounded by my family, my husband and two boys.
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YW: What’s the best part of your day? AG: The best part of my day is when I get to come home. My youngest son is not yet in school so I get to come back to see if and have us all back together. Dinner time is sitting at the table and talking about our day. YW: How old are your boys? AG: They are seven and five. YW: So what’s your favorite book right now to read to them? AG: We read a lot of ‘Scaredy Squirrel’ which is about a squirrel who has some fears and in the end he learns how to overcome them. We also read the Bible a lot. YW: As a mom of two and soon to be three, is there a parenting rule you never break? AG: I have to say the one I really try not to break is talking down to my kids. I try to talk to them and with them but never down to them. YW: What has been your hardest mom moment so far? AG: I would also say it’s along those lines of discipline. You know you hurt their feelings but you also know the value in them learning discipline and how it will help them years down the road. They only see that we are being mean. Those moments are hard because we really are trying to help them and we emphasize that. For my boys I want them to be great leaders and telling them no to something that they’ve had their hard set on or saying I’m sorry I’m going to have to take this (toy) away in the end will help them. But it’s hard when you have to do that. YW: Do you and your husband still get the benefit of having ‘date night’? AG: We do. My in-laws live here and my sister-in-law is great she will take the boys anytime. And my husband and I try to do something together if not once a month then at least every other month. YW: Do you get some relax and decompress time with your girlfriends like going to the mall or lunch these days?
AG: Probably not as much as I’d like, but my husband is real good about making sure I do those things. You know as a mom you tend to focus on everyone else. But he really will force me to take care of me and put myself up front. YW: What one beauty product do you now know you cannot live without? AG: My Bare Minerals Foundation. I cannot leave the house without it. YW: How do you feel about being a working mom? AG: That was a very hard decision for me. Because this was the first year since my sons were born that I had gone back to work and then found out I was expecting. But it was a difficult decision to go back. And after this baby I will be staying home at least for the first couple of years. YW: What advice would you give a first time mom? AG: Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t put so much pressure of your kids. Enjoy their childhood. E’LON Magazine
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EXTREME LASH MASCARA TAKE YOUR LASHES TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
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Marie Osmond I liked Marie Osmond the moment I spoke with her. Of course I knew her very public journey like so many of us do. But, I felt like I had walked a mile in her shoes. By the time we finished talking we were on a first name basis. I have interviewed countless stars and celebrities and worked with some of the worlds most iconic faces‌Marie Osmond left me feeling full of hope, joy and promise like no one else I have ever met. Story by Yolanda Webb Edited by Nicole Brown
Marie Osmond once had a conversation that would be the catalyst for the change in her life. Standing by her mother Olive’s deathbed, Marie asked her mother what was the last thing she wanted to tell her only daughter before she left this life. What Marie heard from her mother was "Lose weight, take care of your body. You're like me. We take care of everybody. If I could do it over again, I'd take care of me. Love yourself enough." We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘a promise made is a promise kept’ and that is nothing short of what Marie felt like she made to her mom that day. Marie Osmond has suffered the kinds of loss no woman, no mother should ever have to face. And she’s ridden the heights of a career success that many wish they could obtain. Yet life as it is said “is no respecter of persons.” In one year Marie Osmond had to endure a bitter divorce and custody battle, her dad’s death, her son’s suicide and still dance in front of twenty-five million people. And it didn’t help that she was not the perky little girl we all remembered from the days of Donnie and Marie. This was a forty-something woman clearly overweight as she struggled each week to keep up with her slim and agile partner. But Marie Osmond has something that many of us strive to have more of each day. She has an undying faith in a Creator God. As she said to me on this day, “Life is not an accident. There is a Creator.” YW: Marie for those women that don’t have that place in God or who don’t have a family support system what would you say to them about getting through the painful places in our lives? MO: That’s a tough question. I think life puts us through the testing and God allows us to go through so that we can grow. My mom and dad taught me to trust life and to trust that everything that happens to me has happened for my greatest good. Sometimes when you are going through God can seem silent. That’s when you ask, “God are you there?” YW: What are your favorite words to live by?
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MO: “With God All Things Are Possible.” We switched gears from tragedy to triumph and I asked Marie how she achieves that work-life balance we are all striving for now that she’s a single parent and her career has once again taken off. “I think whether you are in show business or not you have to remember to keep your business just that…business. It’s not your life. Your family is your life. You have to find out what’s important to you inside of yourself and live your life based on that and not on someone else’s expectations.” YW: What one thing did being on the reality show, “Dancing with the Stars,” teach you? MO: That no matter what else you might be going through you can’t quit. It taught me more about the meaning of perseverance. Being in show business for more than five decades you develop a work ethic that won’t let you quit regardless of what is going on around you. YW: As a kid growing up I had the Jackson 5 and the Osmond’s on my turntable all the time. What makes some kids that grow up in this industry so successful and others give in to the trials, temptations or loss of identity? MO: I honestly don’t think talent really has anything to do with it because there are lots of talented people who gave up and gave in. Our parents taught us early on about the difference in what was important. I would come off of a concert and come home and my mom would say, “Marie you need to wash the dishes or you need to mop the floor.” I wanted to tell her I was a star, but she wasn’t having that. We were real people with real lives. I may have been Marie Osmond in public but at home I was Olive Osmond’s daughter. Our parents taught us that performing was our business. It was not our life. YW: What does your participation with SmartTalk Connected Conversations© mean to you? MO: It’s a wonderful venue for any speaker. It’s about sisterhood and sharing. Being a part of SmartTalk is an
emotional ride. It’s like sitting around the kitchen table with your mom and friends. You can feel the emotions at the event. Our conversation finally turned to Marie’s new book, ‘The Key is Love: My Mother’s Wisdom, A Daughter’s Gratitude” Here is an excerpt from Marie’s book: “One woman, though, stands alone as the star who most influenced my life both professionally and personally. She was the constant light that I could follow without ever fearing I would fall. She was the star who could lead the whole show, but who never took a bow. She never sought the spotlight; but her inner radiance was visible to all who took the time to observe her. In a culture that recognizes a star’s power through awards and bigger paychecks, she had neither. She didn’t need them. She understood the importance of the part she played in this life. She was never interviewed about an upcoming role, live performance, or album, but the way she acted and the words she spoke made her the perfect role model for me and, I know, for thousands of others. I learned by her example and I succeeded because of her belief in me. Her last name is on the Hollywood Walk of Fame but not her first. Her first name comes from the ancient Hebrew word shemesh, meaning “to be brilliant.” As time has passed, I comprehend on a deeper and deeper level how “brilliant” she was. I was named for her, and I pray, every day, that my life will honor that name. She was, is, and will always be my guiding star. She’s my mother, Olive Osmond. For years, I’ve had a deep and continuous feeling that, as her only daughter, I needed to write down at least some of the countless ways she embodied womanhood and especially motherhood, not only for my brothers and me, but as a woman who truly understood the crucial importance of “mothering” all of God’s children, wherever she met them and no matter what their age. She knew the immense importance of her walk in this life as a daughter of a loving God and as a loving mother. My mother was charismatic, powerful, exceptional, and determined, though she was never “famous” in a traditional way. However, her influence, like every mother’s, will live on generation to generation to generation. I’m writing about my thoughts as a woman and a mother, most of which are thoughts passed down to me from my mother and her mother before her. My hope in sharing them with you is that they will be thoughts that “move us forward.”
As we ended our conversation I asked her about her children, the lost of her son Michael in 2010 and her daughter’s recent ‘coming out’ as a Lesbian woman. Here’s what Marie said about both: “I know I'll see my son again and it's that kind of faith that gets you through the difficult dark moments.” And while other members of her Mormon family have come out against the Marriage Equality Act, Marie is steadfast in her love as a mother. “I believe in her civil rights, as a mother and I think my daughter deserves everything she desires in life.” Marie we couldn’t agree more. As I said early on this was one of those interviews that makes you think about life and Marie Osmond one of those women who you are simply grateful to have known if only for a moment in time. - YW
Yolanda Webb is Editor-in-Chief of E’LON Magazine. She is the author of five books. Connect with her at elonyolanda@gmail.com
Model Call
Our cover model this month is Siri Moore, mom, model, actress taking center stage. Watch for this Top Model to become a household name. Photo credit this page and bottom two photos next page Yolanda Webb. Hair / Wardrobe styling Dwayne Johnson.
Siri Moore
Photo Credit: Jim ‘Maddog’ Morgan
Photo Credit: Jim ‘Maddog’ Morgan
Credits / Where To Buy
P. 2-3 E’LON Cosmetics www.elonbrands.com; P. 6-7 E’LON Cosmetics www.elonbrands.com; P. 13 JCCPIX jccpix.com; P. 14-17 A.L.C. http://www.alcltd.com; P. 22-24 Moschino www.moschino.com; P. 40-41 Smart Talk Connected Conversations www.smarttalkwomen.com; P. 54-59 Folio Loni www.elonbrands.com; P. 54-59 Jim “Maddog” Morgan Photography; P. 62-67 Tina Lobondi www.tinalobondi.com; P. 74-77 Duaba Serwa www.duabaserwa.com; P. 78-81 Ernest Simons www.ejsphotographer.com;
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constantly streaming internal messages racing through our minds from all of the voices we have heard during the course of our lives.. Now, I am not referring to the voices often heard by people suffering from mental illness. I am referring to the voices of the cheerleaders and the relentless critics who have taken up residence in our minds and who constantly make it their business to tell us who we are or are not. For most of us, the messages from our cheerleaders are generally positive ones. For instance, my paternal grandmother has been my most faithful cheerleader since I was a little girl. Even though my grandmother has been dead for over thirty years, her wisdom, grace and strength have always been the guiding force to help me seize the opportunities and overcome the obstacles presented to me by life. She has taught me everything from how to carry myself with dignity in a sometimes hostile and unfriendly world to how to make mouthwatering smothered pork chops, collard greens and oldfashioned candied yams. Every girl should have a cheerleader like my grandmother. Unfortunately, the affirming, supportive and encouraging voice of my grandmother is not the only voice in my head. I also have a host of critics in my head clamoring for my attention. These ugly, condemning voices generally start chattering non-stop when I fail to live up to my own or someone else's image of who I am supposed to be. My critics often remind me of every real or imagined failure that I have experienced in my life. In order to take the journey into silence, I had to learn to turn off both the voices of my most ardent cheerleader and those of my most unforgiving critics. It was the only way I could rediscover my own voice and learn the rhythm and sound of my own heart. I realize it sounds oxymoronic to say that I had to go into silence in order to discover my own voice, but that is actually exactly where it is hidden. The only way you will ever know your own voice is by shutting out every other voice and all of the noise around you. Your true voice is only heard when you stop listening to any other voice, and it is the only key that will give you unlimited access to your true self. Before I learned to embrace silence, I spent twenty-five years of my life doing something that I never wanted to do. I practiced law because everyone told me that was who I should be. Over time,
doing something everyone else told me I should do cost me my health and sentenced me to a completely unfulfilling existence. During my journey into silence, I discovered that I am actually a writer. I love to write, but I didn't know that until I shut out all of the noise in my life and rediscovered my own voice. When I rediscovered my own voice, I also reconnected with my authentic self and unleashed the power to become the person I was created to be. Thus, if anyone were to ask me today whether or not silence is relevant, I would say that depends on what you want out of life. If you want to live a truly fulfilling life, I would say that silence is not only relevant, it is a necessity. Silence is the key that will open the doors to the most life-affirming, empowering and fulfilling life that you can imagine. It is, for those of you who are familiar with the Matrix, the red pill. Once you take the red pill and accept the challenge to venture into silence, the journey will not be easy, but it will be worth it. As long as you have the courage to withstand the initial shock of unplugging from the Matrix, you will escape the blissful ignorance of a prefabricated illusion of life and discover the greatest and most powerful gift you could ever give yourself. You will give yourself the power and the ability to live an authentic life and be led by the truth, wisdom and grace of your own voice. - AS
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MEDIA/ADVERTISING SUMMARY In 2011 we took a long look at our mission and vision and asked women from around the country who were surveyed both qualitatively and quantitatively to identify behaviors and media consumption patterns that would help build a global brand designed for a little served target group. Qualitative research was conducted in the form of focus groups in the following metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Washington DC. And in addition women from other cities participated in an online survey. Our research found that women twenty-five and over: Have over $400 billion in buying power Purchase products to enhance their beauty twice as much as women in the general market Rely on suggestions from sources they trust when making product purchasing decisions Use health and beauty products to express their individuality Are influenced by emerging trends and first to try to new products. Like to update their appearance more frequently Are willing to pay for higher quality products and recognizable brands Read more magazines, watch more television, and listen to more radio than the general market. Spend more hours on the internet than women in the general market. Read the entire report in our media kit. For More Information Or to Advertise Contact Our Advertising Account Managers At:
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OUR LAST WORD…. OUR BEST WORD I enjoy working with young aspiring models. This industry can often be so competitive that you don’t really know who your friends are. And those that give you advice are often seeking only to find ways to help their own careers. As I’ve gone from in front of a camera to behind, to now writing about beauty, fashion and more, I am convinced that the standard of beauty we hold dear for all young women has gone completely awry. And, regardless of color, the numbers of young models I work with are being challenged more and more with societal expectations to be thin or take it all off in order to make it. These societal expectations increase when the young model is a mom as family and friends challenge her to focus on a ‘real’ career. I in turn remind them that the modeling industry is a billion dollar business. It is a ‘real’ job. Focus on your talents and not selling your body. In this industry it is important to value yourself and you will become more than just a working model…you will have become a business woman who can take your craft into the next twenty years as a career.
Yolanda 106
/ E’LON Magazine
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