PRETTY IN PINK
CHAMPAGNE LIFE FASHION SHOW PLUS SIZED MODEL REPORT AFRICAN AND AMERICAN FASHION SHOW
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June/July 2011 $15.00
Publishers Letter
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ere we are again. Another month and another letter!! A lot has happened since the last issue of Black Pearl Magazine. A few great fashion shows, a wonderful trip to Chicago with some amazing models and a new outlook on Fashion and Detroit. You’ll be seeing many changes to the Magazine over the next year. Most importantly will be the addition of some new editorial staff and a couple of new photographers. Samm Will, a great model and dancer will be bringing her love of photography to the team starting with this issue. Also new is the great writer Ty Wilson. Her story on Plus Size models will truly enlighten us all. Our cover model this month is the beautiful and talented Autumn Nicole. Besides the fact that she’s my daughter, which had no bearing on her being this months cover model, she’s earned the spot with her hard work and dedication over the last couple of months. Congratulations Autumn. The world will not only be seeing more of you in the pages of fashion magazines, but also hearing your lovely voice over the radio soon. Every time we release an issue of Black Pearl models ask how they can be included in the pages. I tell them first you have to prove to me that modeling is really what you want to do. Pages are way too expensive to waste on someone who’s heart isn’t really into it. Then you have to commit to shooting on a regular basis. You can’t just work when you want to. When opportunity knocks you have to be willing to answer. So always be ready. Out of all the fashion shows we attended over the past few months, the Champagne Life show by far was the most polished!! I’d like to thank Stephen “FuzzyTek” Boyle for the kindness and genuine friendship he always bestows upon me when we meet at events. It’s great to know that two very talented photographers can get along and push each other to further greatness. We worked side by side in helping to setup the venue for the Champagne Life with a couple of other shooters and it was a cool experience. As I leave you remember that we are all in this fight together. We are not competing against each other here in the Detroit market, but with everyone else around the globe.
Love Ya
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Detroit Model Samm Will Photographed by Vince Hollaway Location Ecorse Michigan
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CONTENTS RUNWAY GOLDFINGER @ Cobo Hall
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AFRICAN AND AMERICAN FASHION SHOW Fun Fashions and a Fun night!!
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CHAMPAGNE LIFE It truly was the good life at the Embassy Suites in Southfield
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FEATURES PRETTY IN PINK 12 A few of our younger Black Pearl Models show how much fun pink can be. PLUS SIZED MODELS The real truth by Ty Wilson
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Model: Mike Boyd
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Singer/Song writer Carl Carlton and Butch Goldfinger himself.
Model: Jeanettte Drake Comedian Mike Bonner 9
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Let’s explore one of the hottest colors of the summer
Model: Autumn Nicole Clothing: Prisca’s Fashion for less Jewelry: Kay Anna Jewelry 12
Model: Whitney Holmes Clothing: Models Own Jewelry: Kay Anna Jewelry 13
Model: Autumn Nicole Clothing: Prisca’s Fashion for less Jewelry: Kay Anna Jewelry 14
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hitney Holmes and Autumn Nicole, two of Detroit’s hottest models, strut their stuff down the Chicago sidewalks oft the Gold Coast Neighborhood. Taking Detroit fashion and style beyond our city limits to the rest of the Mid West!! Clothing for the shoot was provided by Prisca’s Fashion for less and all jewelry provided by Kayanna Jewelry. 15
Model: Konie Dress: Model’s Own
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Model: Charai Atkins Booking@blackpearlmodels.com
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The First Annual
African and American Fashion Show Photography by: Vince Hollaway
Host: Ethel Harmon
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f high energy is what you seek in a fashion show, then my friends, you’ve found it!! Although the turnout wasn’t what we had anticipated, there is no denying that Ethel Harmon and her team know how to bring high energy to an event!! It’s too bad that so many missed out on some of the most amazing African inspired fashions in America. The colors and patterns were fresh and vibrant. The modeling talent was young and high spirited. Something a lot of our veteran local models can learn from. All in all everyone seemed to have fun. And in the end isn’t that what fashion should be about anyway? When this very worthy show comes back around please come out and support a worthy cause. Ms. Harmon is creating a wonderful youth organization but she needs the support of all the people in the fashion industry. She can be assured that Black Pearl Magazine and it’s affiliates will always be there to support her and her dreams!!
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A collection of the wonderful Urban Fashions shown at the Liberian Center Show.
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Master of Ceremony Ulrick Baket
Fashion Stylist Nadia K. Bakkour
The Beautiful Ms. Ethel Harmon
Singer Harolyn Baker 24
M.U.A. Derell Jones working his magic on the already beautiful Lori Howard
Great Food, Lots of Dancing and fun!! It was one of the most joyous and festive fashion events I’ve attended in a long time. I hope that come next year more of you will come out and support a worthy cause. You’ll have the time of your life!! The vendor mix was well thought out and executed also. Plenty of business was being had by all.
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Plus-Sized
Models Around The World
Still Not Adding Up!!
By: Tyjuana Wilson
Before Mia Amber Davis passed away she exclaimed via Twitter that she was, "Excited about the future!" There was no reason why she would not have been. When Mia died at the age of 36, she was at the top of her game in the fashion and entertainment worlds. She has accomplished more than many traditionally booked models could imagine. A plus-sized model had found success in Hollywood, a major feat for models over the size of 8. The acting role was only a portion of the proof of how the U.S. has finally embraced full figured beauties. Even V magazine, known for its snobbish display of the unattainable, has featured plus-sized models in recent articles. According to the New York Times, Glamour magazine not only included a picture or a model weighing in at 180-pounds, but chose to not “Photoshop” the abdomen area, thus exposing belly fat. Like most aspects of life in America, fashion used to serve as a repellent for the size 10 and over crowd, whether they wanted to walk a runway or walk to the nearest convenience store. Today, things have changed for the better. Again, mainstream U.S. chose to turn the tables on the looming statement “S/he is too fat.” If this acceptance can prevail in a country where some southern states still wave a confederate flag, with pride, then the same should hold true in other countries, right?
Wrong. In 2009, highly acclaimed German fashion designer and photographer Karl Lagerfeld* claimed “curvy women have no place on the catwalk.” He believed that nobody wants to see images of plus-sized models. (But history class should reminds us of those nude yet tasteful paintings of “regular” women, models who would clearly not fit a size 8 dress. ) Additionally, Welsh designer Julien Macdonald referred to plus-sized models as a “joke” in an European newspaper. Macdonald is a judge on Britain's Next Top Model, a UK version of Tyra Banks' reality show. Unlike the decision of the producers for the original American series, Macdonald promised to not feature models with curves on the British show. In his rant he attempted to pacify viewers by claiming that acceptance on the show, would set up the plus-sized to fail. Why the overseas hate? Could the opinions expressed by the aforementioned industry professionals reflect those of the public? Wrong. Retailers worldwide are answering the call for more fashions to fit women over size 8. Curvisa launched in the UK in April: We believe that quality plus size clothing shouldn’t come with a premium price, which is why all the dresses, skirts, shoes and other items in our collection have a single competitive price across all size options. (Source: www.curvissa.co.uk/blog) Marie Claire – UK has also paid attention to the public's desire for full-figured runway looks. “the market for large sizes, particularly those aimed at young women and teenagers, is the fastest-growing on the high street. Plus-size clothing is expected to account for 23% of total women’s wear sales in 2011,” writes Hannah Thomas for the British version of Marie Clair magazine. While it seems that the authorities on fashion despise plus-sized models the rest of the world are delighted. It is only a matter of time before models of all shapes and sizes are equally adored. *Note: Lagerfeld was later caught shooting a plus-sized beauty for a photo shoot in the following year. © 2001 Tyjuana Wilson
Tyjuana Wilson is a freelance writing consultant, providing to small businesses: articles, press releases, website/blog content and newsletter copy. She has earned her BA in Communications from St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, NC. Find Tyjuana on Facebook:http://facebook.com/tyjuanawilson
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Your Ad could have been
HERE CALL (313)694-4325 OR VINCE@BLACKPEARLMAG.NET
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CHAMPAGNE LIFE
Photography by: Vince Hollaway
It would be an understatement to call this show the Champagne Life. Beyond even my stringent expectations of what a show should be, Monica and Bo pulled off one of the most successful fashion events in years. Some in attendance would argue that the room wasn’t packed. So What!!!! It didn’t matter!! They may not of had a lot of people in attendance but honestly, they did have the right mix of people in the house! I’ll take quality over quantity any day. One of the most impressive things to me about the Champagne Life wasn’t the fact they managed to get some of the hottest designers on one runway, it’s the fact that they had no VIP section. For months I’ve been ranting about how V.I.P. at fashion shows in the Detroit market does nothing but alienate patrons. What makes the person more important that paid $75 for a ticket than the patron that paid $35. Believe it or not the person that paid the lesser amount will probably be your best buyer in the long run. More on that topic later. The food was perfect, stiff drinks from the cash bar, and great live entertainment. They also did a wonderful job with the mix of entertainment. The overall flow was a little better than most local shows. The fashions you ask? Well just flip through the pages and you’ll get your answer. What do you think you’re gonna get when you have RinacoSyles, Ooche Wear, Von Jour Reese and Luvena Curves on the same Runway. There were a few other very hot designers that we will highlight in future issues. That is if they’re ready for the fame!
Your Hosts: Monica Minor and Bodeen Xelars
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Designer RinocaStyles 32
Designer RinocaStyles 33
Designer RinocaStyles 34
Designer RinocaStyles 35
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Von Jour Reese International Designer 38
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Designer Von Reese
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LUVENA CURVES 43
LUVENA CURVES 44
Ooche’ Wear 45
Photos this page by Samm Will
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Your Ad could have been
HERE CALL (313)694-4325 OR VINCE@BLACKPEARLMAG.NET
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ROXIE HEART MODEL, ACTRESS, DANCER Bookings@blackpearlmodels.com
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