FBM ISSUE 38 YANDY SMITH COVER 1

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MELLO Putting together this issue was an unbelievable blessing! I was honored working with Yandy Smith. It was one of my most inspiring experiences working in this industry. My team and I work tirelessly in an effort to bring our readers the best possible issue ever. We also tackled the topic of “Colorism”… Hearing the experiences of the young ladies involved was intriguing . I was truly ecstatic to cover such shoot and cover such a controversial topic! Thank you to everyone involved in the creation of this issue. Let’s all continue do our part to influence and inspire the world for positivity….

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FULL BLOSSOM MAGAZINE MASTHEAD CEO | FOUNDER | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | PHOTOGRAPHER Evron Andrews (Moments By Mello)

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Devin Arnold, Shamika Hazelwood, Bianca M. Williams, Yvonne Forbes, Evron Andrews

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS PHOTOGRAPHERS Island Boi Photography, Moments By Mello

COVER MODEL Yandy Smith FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Island Boi Photography

BACK COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Moments By Mello

PUBLICIST Ernest Jackson

ASSISTANT EDITORS Shamika Hazelwood, Michelle Barnes, Bianca M. Williams, Ciuela Thomas

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Table Of Contents

Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @IslandBoiPhotography Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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“NO SHADE”

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NO SHADE “She’s as black as the Ace of Spades”

was a comment by an African-American male regarding the wife of an African-American celebrity. That was the first thing that came to mind as he looked at a picture that exuded love and intimacy. This woman was beautiful and elegantly dressed, however the shade of her skin was where he focused.

This is 2019 and although it has been proven to be fictitious the “Willie Lynch” mindset is still in effect. Yes it is an identifier, but so much more for us. We can trace the roots of colorism back to slavery when the lighter skinned slaves (often times children of the master) tended to have the jobs indoors. Darker skinned slaves were out in the fields doing hard labor. Even later on, certain employment opportunities were only offered to lighter skinned blacks. Having those opportunities allowed them to have a different lifestyle and this is why the elite tended to be comprised primarily of lighter skinned African Americans. The practice of hanging a paper bag in the doorway along with a fine tooth comb became the norm for some social clubs, fraternities and even churches. I can remember hearing older people say “if you’re light, you’re alright. If you’re brown, stay around. But if you’re black, get back.” Spike Lee gave society a peek at our dirty laundry in his movie School Daze. Yet here we are in a new millennium and we still have this elephant in the room.

We can shake our head in disgust which solves nothing. We need to address this head on if things are ever to change. As Women’s Month approached, I felt compelled to sit down with other black women to discuss this matter. Why just women? We are more likely to express ourselves. We can peel back the superficial and tap into raw feelings. My original goal was to have a wide spectrum of hues. It didn’t turn out that way but I believe it worked out best this way. Bianca, Charlene, Sabrina, Stephanie, Tykisha and I sat down one Saturday at Prince Street Studios. We ranged in age from our late 20’s to early 50’s. Our occupations and careers varied from model to business owner to government employee. We were natural and weaved, we were slim and thick but we had one thing in common…we were black women.

I asked them to write down honest opinions when they saw the lightest person, when they saw the darkest person and come up with questions. I would like to commend them that no one was negative in their statements or questions. Admiration of another woman’s melanin or automatically thinking of the other as “sunny” was refreshing. It wasn’t all kumbaya however. There were confessions of being apprehensive mainly because of not knowing if they would have to prove themselves. Also, “ok let’s see what kind of black woman this is”.

We all expressed ourselves and opened up about observations and experiences. We all had examples of colorism that we had seen or heard of in our families. There’s the root! It’s passed along from generation to generation. One of the first comments when anyone sees a baby is in reference to the complexion. Then the ears are checked to see how dark they may become. We identified the issue and we KNOW it needs to change but we also know you can’t change the older generations. We also know you can’t reinvent the wheel in one evening. We will reconvene to talk about what changes can be made and get past the color barrier so that we can make it to the goal…UNITY! The doors will be open as well for all that would like to join us.

By Shamika Hazelwood

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BIANCA: "It started during slavery and we still hold onto it today."

Model: Bianca M. Photo: @MomentsByMello

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SHAMIKA: "Whether victim or victimizer, we have all played a role in the colorism of the black woman."

Model: Shamika H. Photo: @MomentsByMello

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TYKISHA: "Women of all shades go through some sort of conflict because of the color of their skin".

Model: Tykisha Photo: @MomentsByMello

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STEPHANIE: "I've never experienced any different treatment because of my color."

Model: Stephanie Photo: @MomentsByMello

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SABRINA: "I HATE BEING STEREOTYPED AS THE

“LIGHT-SKINNED CHICK”.

Model: Sabrina Photo: @MomentsByMello

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Model: Charlene Photo: @MomentsByMello

CHARLENE: "I honestly thought I was the darkest person in the world until I started traveling to other countries."

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Photo: @MomentsByMello

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YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE, INCREDIBLE, UNFORGETTABLE AND ABSOLUTELY INSPIRING

TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR, AND RECOGNIZE THERE’S A QUEEN LOOKING BACK AT YOU! Visit my website www.marykay.com/cthomas93022

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What a re you best kn own

three e r a t a h W uirky q r o y n n fu our y t a h t s g thin know t ’ n o d s n fa ??? about you

Who ar e inspira your tions?

What’s n for Yan ext dy?

EXCLUSIV EI

FBM’S NTERVIEW

YANDYAN Y SMITH DI

ues to n i t n o who c r o t What a ? e Wh f i l n you i e r i p get s o n t i t n a ou w made y ism? v i t c a d in involve

WITH

Wha wan t made an e t to bec you ntre pren ome eur?

Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @IslandBoiPhotography Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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COVER STORY

FBM: What are three funny or quirky things that your fans don’t know about you?

YAN DI Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care

YANDY: I’m a sleepover girl, I love sleepovers, I will buy matching pajamas for me and all my girlfriends and I like to play sleepover games. For instant, the first one who falls asleep will get ketchup on their face, or the first one that falls asleep might get sprayed with water.

Another thing is that I have eaten almost every animal you can think of when I traveled to different countries working with Missy, I have had snake, alligator, monkey, blood pudding (which was nasty), I’ve had starfish, you name it, I’d probably have had it, I have traveled to Indonesia and other countries.

I got a mean, mean, mean, Whitney Shower voice and I make sure ALL my neighbors can hear it bright and early in the morning. Well..it’s Whitney Houstonesce voice.

MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @IslandBoiPhotography Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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FBM: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

YANDY: Courageous, courageous because I’ve made some courageous decisions in my life. When others thought I shouldn’t make it or wouldn’t last, once I decide on something I do it. When it comes to my activism, a lot of people say “Hey you have small children, you have to be careful, you are a single female and live on your own..etc” I respond…” I’m not single, I just live on my own right now.

YAN DI

Another instance is that My husband and I decided to have another child before my husband went away for some time, people were concerned that I would be a single mom for some time, but I never doubted the power of my magic, I knew I could figure it out, like I figure out most things.

I make these courageous decisions unapologetically and without looking for approval from others. I do what I want to do.

Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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FBM: What are you best known for?

YANDY: On a wide scale a lot of people know me for Love and Hip Hop because it has 4 million views weekly. I don’t want to be known for Love and Hip Hop, prior to that I have been in the music scene for some time. I worked at Violator Music Management under the tutelage of Mona Scott Young. I worked with Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep and many of the greats. I was a manager. I and started out as an intern, then I became an assistant, I then became a Junior manager and then I was a manager. After that I broke out and started my own managing company under Atlantic Records.

YAN DI Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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COVER STORY

YAN DI

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YAN DI Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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FBM: At what age did you realize you wanted to become a celebrity?

YAN DI

YANDY: I never decided I wanted to become a celebrity, every day I think to myself, “Am I really a celebrity. I don’t even look at myself as a celebrity.”

That’s only because I am on tv doing the regular job that I do and being the regular person I am. I am raising my children.

I think celebrities are people who have an extraordinary talent or do something different from the regular person. I am just cool Yandy. I am also so surprised when people come to me and ask me to take a picture. I don’t sing like Whitney, unless I am in the shower or when I’m in the car by myself. I don’t dance like Beyoncé. I never consider myself a celebrity and I don’t want to be. It just is that when you’re in front of the camera, you become a celebrity. To that end, there is a lot of YouTube celebrities now too.

Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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FBM: Who are your inspirations?

YANDY: My inspirations are the following: Single moms, I didn’t understand it until I became one, but they are a huge inspiration to me especially a single mom of multiple children. Sometimes I feel like I wish I could split myself into three for each child I have.

My son is in basketball, my daughter is in dance, my other daughter is in basketball and is on a team so there are so many things that they need me to be there for but unfortunately, I can’t be everywhere for them all the time. Also, I am an entrepreneur, so I make my own schedule.

However, there are moms that have children in all these extracurricular activities that are working long hours, such as 9-5 or 9-7 and a lot of the time work for below what they deserve and still make it happen for their children, but their children will never understand the struggle that happens. They are huge inspirations for me. I think “Oh…if they can do it, I can do it.”

Another inspiration for me is Michelle Obama, I think being the wife of the first black president and being the first black First Lady, there was so much opposition, so much “hate” literally, figuratively, in every sense of the word. That is what she dealt with and she could have quit, told Barack this is not for me. She could have went into a shell, she could have hidden, and there were times she could have acted out of character, but she coined the term “When they go low, we go high” and she did it with the epitome of style and grace. In the world that I live in with reality television and also the activism world, there are people that feel like you should be one way and that feel like you shouldn’t say this or do this, and they can definitely take you out of character. So, Michelle is a huge inspiration for staying on par.

Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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FBM: What’s your most memorable experience while being in “the business” in general?

YANDY: My first memorable experience is when I went on tour with Missy Elliott and it was the Lady’s First Verizon Tour which Missy Elliott, Beyoncé, Tamia, Mariah Carey, and Tweet. I toured so many countries, all over the United States working with “the greats” and being able to see how these women work, being able to see how they go into these different states and markets and dominant and seeing how they demand the attention from the audience. I felt like a diva just working around those divas even though I was wearing sweat pants. My uniform was sweatpants, a t shirt and a backpack but you couldn’t tell me nothing. That was my first tour and I was living at home with mom, but I was away from mom living on a tour bus, it was just so insane.

FBM: Tell us about your businesses and what made you want to become an entrepreneur?

YANDY: Right now, Yelle Skin Care, is my baby and the reason why I created it was because I felt that there was a void in the marketplace for products that were all natural and plant based for woman of color. I felt that I wanted to create a line that was clean and green that really worked on our skin from the inside out and that we really needed that wasn’t expensive (approximately $600 or more from Sephora). I wanted to create something that the regular everyday working woman can afford. I decided to write children’s books because there were things that I was dealing with my own family

YAN DI Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova

that was hard to explain to a child, so my first book was “Blended Families” and that was based on a situation that I placed on my son. I didn’t want him to feel singled out. I wanted him to embrace the uniqueness of our family and for him to feel like this is normal. I started out on Love and Hip Hop as a producer, 10 years ago and I wanted to get into the tv space because I wanted to make a mark that would give women a voice and would shed light on the pillars of women behind these men of Hip Hop and now I have three or four more shows, a lot of which are women based because I want to shed light on the amazing endeavors that women are doing or show the complexities of us women. I have an entertainment company in which I manage careers of artists, personalities, other film producers, music producers and writers. My non for profit is called Everything Girls Love (EGL) and Partners of Lifting Our Daughters and Sons (PLDS). These are near and dear to my heart. I work with the schools every week to teach an 8-week course to teach entrepreneurship to give young men and women the tools that they need to go out into he workforce. I started working my first job at 13 but got my first internship at 15. I teach the importance of being ready, being prepared, to work if need be. We also do a lot of events for young girls and boys. It’s my way of giving back. I am only who I am because someone gave back to me.

Photographer: @IslandBoiPhotography Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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FBM: What or who continues to inspire you in life? What made you want to get involved in activism?

YANDY: My children are my reason why. They are what motivate me and inspire me to go hard. I want them to have what I didn’t have. I want them to have the best of everything not just materialistic but via programs that are of interest to them so that they have can a widespread knowledge of what they may want to do. My mother tried to expose me to what she could, but we had limited resources. If my son, wants to play soccer, racquetball, golf, or if my daughter, wants to play soccer, football, wants to dance, or a tekkie, wants to do robotics. I want to give them that experience, and all those things cost money. That makes me want to work hard so I can give them what they deserve. On the activism side, when I see all the injustices that are happening to black and brown people, I felt like not on my watch, if there is anything I can do to stop that, for the babies and for the babies to come, law changing and changing these harsh criminal laws that are targeting black men and boys and black girls.

I want to be a force to be reckoned with and to become

YAN DI

a change agent. It is certainly because of my children. I would have never become involved if I didn’t have an offspring that could potentially be caught up in this system so I would never ever wish this on anyone’s child but I am going to make sure that the disparity in health care, education, I don’t want my kids to be caught up in institutional racism. I don’t want to have to deal with harsh punishment for misbehaving.

When you look at issues plaguing inner city communities when a child has a fight in school, it could be there first time in jail. When you look at schools in other communities, they might receive a warning or a suspension. When you go into the hood, these kids are going to jail because they got into a fight or talked back to a teacher, unacceptable.

Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @IslandBoiPhotography Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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Model: @YandySmith Hair: @DollHouse_Hair_Care MUA: @ImSoJonathan Styled: @MrVladpl Clothing: @FashionNova Photographer: @IslandBoiPhotography Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

FBM: What’s next for Yandy?

YANDY: That’s a hard question for me. Every single thing that I have been doing, I never thought it was meant for me. At Howard University, I interned at the Gap at their Corporate Office and I just knew I would work in Fashion but then I ended up in the music industry. When I was in the music industry, I was fine working being the scenes and loved being a manager. All of the sudden, I ended up on tv.

Now that I am on tv, I never thought I would create a skincare line. I mean that nothing that I have done, would have been anything that I would have thought or imagined I would have ended up doing. I might be flying ducks tomorrow, I don’t know.

FBM: What artist or song do you have on repeat on your playlist?

YANDY: Get right back to my baby, by Vivian Green.

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YAN DI

FBM: What advice or last words would you have for women reading this magazine?

YANDY: I would say, walk to the beat of your own drum. Don’t allow anyone to define you, don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do, what you’re not supposed to do. Do what you want to do but create a space and an opportunity for you to do so. That comes with owning your craft, owning your lane and that includes making your own money.

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LOVE GOD & LOVING MY SEXUALITY

ME s v E M

Model: @Sabina_Michel Clothing: @ElocinPlus Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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Model: @Sabina_Michel Clothing: @ElocinPlus Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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Model: @Sabina_Michel Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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E M s v ME

Model: @Sabina_Michel Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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LOVE GOD & LOVING MY SEXUALITY ME s v E M

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Model: @Sabina_Michel Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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Model: SuperSizeSpanishFly

FBM

MUA: @CaletteJameMMua

GHTS I L T O SP

LYNX

Styled: @MMsDivaDazz Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

IA GARC

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Model: SuperSizeSpanishFly MUA: @CaletteJameMMua Styled: @MMsDivaDazz Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

When plus size fashion designers and or Magazines dedicated to plus size/curvy woman only feature women between the sizes of 6-18 or women with a certain body type then we have a problem. It leaves the women beyond this size spectrum without a platform without a voice but I will continue to speak on it and represent until I see true change within our community.

(By the way shout out to Full Blossom Magazine for including someone like me in your editorial) Not all of us are built the way the plus size/curvy who are celebrated in videos, in magazines and on all social media platform with tiny waists flat tummies the wide hips with small arms! Many of us have titties, tummies, booties and wiggly jiggly thunder thighs and we deserve inclusion and representation in our own community and perhaps mainstream may follow in suit. That is what I would like to see TRUE representation and inclusion.

Place us in movies place us in magazines celebrate us on social media. When we support your product or movement show us, share us, we deserve to be seen we deserve to shine as well and to go after our DREAMS, include handicapped women, mature women, great grandmothers on the runway, in magazines and film. If it's made for us then we deserve representation and we deserve to be a part of everything the world has to offer and to be compensated just as well as our smaller curvy sisters.

FBM: Who Is Lynx Garcia?

LYNX: I am a curvy and confident Latina who is proud of my Nicoyan Indian roots (Costa Rican tribe) Mexican w a dash of Guyanese culture. You can thank Dahl puri, Gallo Pinto and tortillas for these hips!! I am a single mother who has made it her life's mission to inspire, empower, encourage and support women, as they are, because they are my reflection and when women are loved, uplifted, appreciated and healed they can change the world and my daughter can witness it in her lifetime.

FBM: Why is the curvy community so important to you? What changes do you hope to see in the years to come?

LYNX: The curvy community has been a safe haven for me and others like myself it is a place where we find support love and above all acceptance but even in this close-knit community there are beauty standards in place that are troubling to me.

We have stories to be told, yes the Queen size/Supersize woman is a heroine, is the love interest is the winner, we are not a tragedy or the target for bullying. We are not just fetishes we have so much more to offer the world just give us the opportunity and we will show you.

FBM: How did you get the name SuperSizeSpanishfly LYNX: It was a stage name I chose for myself back in 1990 when I was reciting poetry about my experience as a fat woman in a skinny world at Bbw (Big Beautiful Women) social events. I wanted a name that would represent my personality, and my sensuality despite what society thinks about someone my size. And as far as I was concerned I was in fact Supersize, Spanish and fly !

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Model: SuperSizeSpanishFly MUA: @CaletteJameMMua Styled: @MMsDivaDazz Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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FBM: What is your message to all women?

LYNX: To embrace yourselves as you are at this very moment, to be kind to yourselves, remember that you are worthy of all the wonderful things life has to offer regardless of size, shape, color or any of the other blocks society would place on you and uplift and encourage someone else accept them as they are where they are in their life's journey. We are after all each other's reflection and you will heal yourselves in the process. I truly believe FBM: What's new on the horizon for you?

LYNX: I am the face of a beer that was inspired by and created for me by SHE Beverage Company in Lancaster California named "Curvas" and I am making the move to California to represent for this company. This company believes in representation and inclusion and this is a company that is for women by women and looking to change the world with their community outreach program SHE CARES and I will be hosting Curvas Fashion Show created by me and produced by Gwen Devoe. Professional models as well as amazing everyday women will be walking the runway from 0-Supersize from 21 to 75. I will be hosting events, attending events , auditioning for movies , acting, skies the limit.

I am a little nervous but so excited and definitely blessed! God is amazing. Wish me luck as I head out to California to supersize L.A. con CURVAS!!

PURA VIDA! FBM: Social Media Handles.

LYNX: https://m.facebook.com/CURRRVAS/ IG: Supersizespanishfly IG:She_beverages

Model: SuperSizeSpanishFly MUA: @CaletteJameMMua Styled: @MMsDivaDazz Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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IG: @MODELONDUTY7 WEBSITE: WWW.MODAPPAREL.STORE 46

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A Full Blossom

Motivational Quickie Back in the day when parents didn’t want you around to hear what was being discussed, they would send you to “go sit down somewhere”. Anywhere but where they were. They said it so much that you rarely got a chance to voice your opinion on matters.

Matters of your life and damn sure never matters of the home. Now, when someone wants to dismiss you, they tell you to “have several seats”. A way of saying, your opinion is not valued, what you say doesn’t really matter. This happens in all facets of life, professionally and personal. In 2019, I encourage you to walk with your own seat so there is no dismissing you, your voice, your opinion, and any feelings that you may want to express. Now, when someone tells you to “have several seats”, agree with them, drop your seat, and remain right where you are seated on your seat, but still inclusive of the matter. Your voice is a portion of your strength and you will no longer be silenced, dismissed, or viewed not to have an opinion.

HAVE A SEAT!!!

Yes, I’ll have a seat.

Model: Devin A. Photo: @MomentsByMello

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Models: @DonteTheGentleman @CiuelaSuella @JSwaggertz @BiancaMWilliams @OgBobbyTompkins @PlusModJeannieF Photo: @MomentsByMello Location: @PrinceStreetStudio

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Photo: @MomentsByMello

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A new motivational photography series dedicated to the elevation of the mind, body and soul inspiring viewers to ascend to a higher level of life…

-ASCENSION

Model: Defina Scott MUA: @beatby_tiffyt Photo: @MomentsByMello

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