Lupita Nyong’o Allegedly Snubs South African Actress

Lupita Nyong’o is still having the best year ever! However, not everyone seems to be happy for her. South African actress, Terry Pheto, used to be on good talking terms with Lupita, but things changed after Lupita’s Oscar win.

The Kenyan actress was in talks with Terry to play the lead in a movie that Terry is producing. They used to correspond on email and the correspondence stopped after the Oscar win.

When contacted for comment about the speculation Terry’s agent Wesley Mark and her manager Busi Sizani didn’t quite agree on what exactly happened.

Nia Long is the New Face of Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds

Actress Nia Long is the new face of Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds Lustre perfume – making her the first person to front the fragrance other than the classic Hollywood actress herself. Long, 43, announced her brand ambassador role on Instagram with the caption, “My beauty secret to make sure I always dazzle and shine on the red carpet @ElizabethTaylor White Diamonds Lustre #DiamondsInABottle #Spon.” The mother of two, famours for her TV roles in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Third Watch, said of the fragrance in a press release: “Elizabeth Taylor said White Diamonds was her ‘Diamonds In A Bottle,’ and that’s what Lustre really is to me – Lustre just adds that extra sparkle. I personally love the juicy pear and raspbetty notes in Lustre – it gives it a fresh, fruity feminine touch.”

I’m so excited for her! Check out a throwback ad for White Diamonds featuring Ms. Taylor after the break.

Sauti Sol Nominated for 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards

MTV Base yesterday revealed the nominees for the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs). This is a spectacular awards show and music celebration, taking place in South Africa for the first time on 7 June 2014. Held at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), the awards will air live across the continent at 21:00 CAT on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130). Kenya’s very own boy band, Sauti Sol, have been nominated in the Best Group category. Reacting to the news, the group had this to say:

Female Kenyan singer Amani is also nominated in the Best Collaboration category for her song Kiboko Changu, which features Ugandan group Radio & Weasel. Another Kenyan nominee is Oscar winning actress Lupita Nyong’o who is nominated in the Personality of the Year category.

The MAMA nominations in full:

Diddy Tops Forbes’ Hip Hop’s 5 Wealthiest Artists List

Sean “Diddy” Combs ranks No. 1 on this year’s Forbes Five list of hip-hop’s wealthiest artists with an estimated fortune of $700 million, an increase of $120 million over his net worth last year. The change comes largely from the addition of Revolt TV—the new, music-focused, multi-platform channel of which he’s the majority owner—to his already-hefty portfolio.  “Right now my focus is Revolt and making it the number one, most-trusted, most credible worldwide brand for music,” he told FORBES in a recent interview. “And to get Revolt to be the quintessential definition of real time. I think that’s the future.” 

Diddy is also set to give this year’s commencement speech at Howard University, his alma mater (although he eventually dropped out). Diddy will also receive an honorary degree for being a trailblazer in his field. Last year, after he donated $250,000 to The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, he told the aspiring, young business owners:

I understood that it was being an entrepreneur, I understood that that was my career path. Being an entrepreneur means freedom, it means independence. It means being invested and believing in myself.[…]I did the research and did the work to make sure that I was a master in whatever category I went into, too. If I went into apparel, I wanted to know everything about that. I went into spirits, so I knew everything about that. I’m starting Revolt, and I’m still learning on that one. [Laughs] But it’s about starting a brand, which I’m a specialist at.

I think it’s easier now [to start a company]. Over the years, entrepreneurs — people take it as a serious career and respect entrepreneurs, because they’re risk takers. Now people celebrate entrepreneurship.

Before, it was just, ‘That guy’s crazy! He needs to get a real job!’

Hot Trend Alert: Alexander Wang’s Parental Advisory Top

Mrs. Carter is currently enjoying some well deserved fun in the sun with her husband and daughter after her whirlwind tour. She recently posted the above flick of Alexander Wang’s Parental Advisory Top. The $1,000 top was a signature piece in Wang’s Spring 2014 collection. Wang’s instantly iconic Parental Advisory logo ruled his Spring 2014 runway, paying homage to the Nineties. It’s definitely a must-have for this season. Celebs who have been spotted in it include, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Jourdan Dunn and Lily Allen. Check out how some of your faves rocked it and tell us who rocked it best.

Taraji Henson Covers April Issue of Upscale Magazine

43 year old actress, Taraji P. Henson, is looking absolutely amazing on the cover of Upscale Magazine this month. And look at those eyebrows! Fierce!!! For the shoot Taraji wore a Nicolas Jesbran jeweled romper. I’m loving it!

In this issue, the sexy mom of a 19-year-old son talks about what happened after her Oscar nomination, her real friends and being a black actress in Hollywood:

On what happened after her Oscar nomination and Tyler Perry: “People were like, ‘you just get nominated for an Oscar and the first movie you do is a Tyler Perry film?’ Well, it’s not like Scorsese called me! Tyler was the only call i got the day after the Oscars. And he gave me a quote. Up until then, I had no quote. I was getting paid pennies to do movies. Tyler treated me like a queen.”

Kelly Rowland Shares Her Beauty Tips

Kelly Rowland is one busy lady. The ex Destiny’s Child singer, who is working on her fifth studio album, has just been named as the Caress Fabulista for 2014! What I need to know is how she keeps her skin looking so smooth and glowing. The major Unilever brand will feature Kelly in their promotional efforts through this year. She’ll be sharing her favorite fashion trends and the latest news on their fine fragrance body washes on the Caress Facebook page.

Kelly recently took a break to chat with The Powder Room about her beauty routine, how she gets ready for a show – and what product is always in her purse.

How long does it take for you to get ready for a show?

It takes me about an hour to get ready. Maybe a little bit more if I’m trying to get focused and really hone in on the energy that I’m about to give out on stage and to the fans. The process is really easy. I actually do my own makeup.

What’s the one product you couldn’t go on stage without?

I just love a lipstick or gloss that’s not going to have my hair stick to it. That is very irritating. But I like to switch up my lip glosses every now and then, just to try a new color. I think your fans like to see you change up your look.

Hot Trend Alert: Boyfriend Jeans

Thank God for boyfriend jeans. Finally we can stop struggling to pour ourselves into skinny jean, and slip on denims that are comfortable, and don’t make us suck our  tummies in to the point of passing out. In a nutshell, it’s either literally a pair of guy’s jeans, or a pair of jeans that looks and fits like it was borrowed from a guy – loose fit, low rise, cuffed hems.

If the look is executed correctly, you can even come off looking sexier than you would in skinnies. All you have to do is pick a pair that fits and flatters you and match it with a variety of cute tops. For the desired sexy vibe, boyfriend jeans should be loose but fitted across the hips, and narrow and tapered in the leg. If your jeans are short enough, you won’t need to roll up the cuffs. But if they’re super long, you’ll need to cuff the bottoms. Roll them above your ankles if you’re wearing heels, or just below if you’re wearing flat sandals. Having your jeans drag along the ground is never a good look.

Naomi Campbell Covers April Issue of Shape Magazine

These older models are snatching wigs all over the place! Earlier I shared with you images of the gorgeous Iman in Scene magazine. Then today, I stumble on the April cover of Shape Magazine with none other than the amazing 43 year old Naomi Campbell. She’s looking amazing in a black Moschino swimsuit. She looks as flawless as she did when she first started modeling 30 years ago. In this issue, she chats about her struggles, success, and slim-body secrets.

On dealing with racism in the modeling industry: “I learned if you don’t accept no for an answer, you often get a yes.”

On her diet:“I don’t believe in starving myself. I’ve never done it, and I never will. I’m even more active when I’m juicing, doing both yoga and Pilates every day.”

On quitting smoking:“People told me that cigarettes are harder to quit than alcohol. I didn’t believe it, but you know what? It is harder.”

Iman for Scene Magazine

58 year old supermodel and supermogul Iman is featured in the current issue of SCENE magazine. Photographed by Douglas Friedman, Iman proves that she’s still got it! When I grow up, I want to be her. In the interview, she talks about modeling and her expanding business empire.

On how she became a pro at modeling: “Through the years, I’ve learned what works for me. Most importantly, I can see in my head the final shot, so the objective is to create something original and modern, to serve the photographer’s vision. I learned on the job. I paid attention to details. I looked at old photographs. And I made sure that I had control over my image. I’ve always believed that images are a model’s currency. So I always wanted to have some control and have a say about my images. What I know is that photography and the business of images is a mirror in which we see ourselves—who we are and who we can be. Beauty is a powerful commodity, and its currency is identity.”