#EssenceFest

[911bts]

911onabc: Listen to every word and feel its meaning. Thank you, Aisha, for reminding us there's beauty and power in being exactly who you are. ❤️ @/appleofhisai

[rydersxsource]

Ryan Destiny was a guest speaker at the Beauty That Bonds panel during the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture 🤎

[miriam-heddy]

Cake? Sure.

[horrorbooksandmovies]

Coffee Bluff Pictures won the prestigious Jury Award: Social Impact Stories at the 2023 Essence Film Festival for the documentary "OnBoard." The groundbreaking film, written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper, chronicles the rise of Black women on America's boards and the evolution of corporate board diversity from Patricia Roberts Harris in 1971 to Black Women on Boards (BWOB), a global group of fearless women organized during the Summer of 2020 to create change. Read more here: AFRICAN AMERICAN REPORTS: Coffee Bluff Pictures Wins Jury Award at the 2023 Essence Film Festival

[tvrundownusa]

tvrundown USA 2023.07.02

Sunday, July 2nd:

(exclusive & streaming): "Etheria Film Night 2023" (Shudder, 10th annual special), Joe Pickett (Para+), King the Land (netflix), See You In My 19th Life (netflix)

(primetime streaming specials): Love Is Blind: Brazil (netflix, season 3 reunion), "Essence Fest" (hulu, live event, night 3 of 3)

(hour 1): Ridley (PBS), Raven's Home (disney), "1883" (PAR|CMT, ~77mins), The Great Food Truck Race (FOOD, 2hrs), Tough as Nails (CBS, competition season 5 opener, new night, 2hrs)

(hour 2): Endeavour (PBS, 2hrs), The Walking Dead: "Dead City" (AMC, ~70mins), The Lazarus Project (TNT), The Idol (HBO, limited series finale, ~66mins), "The 2010s" (CNN, 2hrs), The Cube (TBS), The Great Food Truck Race (FOOD, special time, contd), Tough as Nails (CBS, contd)

(hour 3): Endeavour (PBS, contd, series finale), The Righteous Gemstones (HBO, ~45mins), Stone Cold Takes on America (A&E), Beachside Brawl (FOOD), "The 2010s" (CNN, contd, limited series finale)

(hour 4 - latenight): The Eric Andre Show ([adultswim], 30mins, season 6 finale)

[returning next week: HouseBroken (FOX), The Food That Built America (HIST) ]

[rabbitmotifs]

post designed to be as offensive to me as possible

[vonnie422]

🎯🎯🎯💞

[cleverhottubmiracle]

Maybe you recognize Liris Crosse from Project Runway, where she was the first black plus-size model to walk in a designer finale runway show. Could be you’ve heard about her new book, Make the World Your Runway: Top Model Secrets for Everyday Confidence and Success. Filled with straight-talking, hard-won personal advice, Liris takes the rules she uses to own the catwalk and adapts them to real life, no matter what you do or who you are. She’s also been in countless campaigns for brands like Curvy Couture, is the founder of Life of a Working Model boot camp and is a keynote speaker at mega-events like Essencefest Beauty Carnival. Whether you already know Liris or not, we assure you: You’re going to want to. Her positivity and presence, confidence and charisma are catching. We got the chance to chat at this past CurvExpo, the preeminent lingerie trade show in New York City. In her exclusive Bare Necessities interview, Liris shares her coming-up story and some of the best advice from her book. Liris grew up in Baltimore doing mall and church fashion shows. At a Model Search America casting call at the end of high school, agency after agency loved her…and asked her to lose weight. When she came back the following year, the response was tepid. “Of course I was disappointed, but I didn’t give up,” said Liris, who was getting ready to enroll in college when she asked her parents to let her move to New York. “I didn’t want to say woulda, coulda, shoulda. They gave me a chance, and I never looked back.” Liris is now with Dorothy Combs Models, a plus-size agency. “I had never heard of plus-size modeling, but the Model Search America people said, ‘We’re going to send you to an agency for women who look just like you.’ These women were all beautiful, with a little more meat on their bones,” said Liris. “If this is my division, so be it. I had to make a way for myself because there was none. Even at a size 10, it was a big deal to appear in a music video or walk a runway. There’s been a major leap forward the past five years thanks to the power of social media. Consumers are now judge and jury.” The pressure of having to make the cut again and again is the hardest part: “You get so many denials. It can really play on your self-esteem, but remember that what’s meant for you is going to continue to find you. When there’s an innate passion, you keep on. Don’t ignore the voice inside you. Let it push you into greatness. Stand in the power of who you are.” Confession #1: Confidence is key. “On the runway of life, eyes are on you, too. Confidence is at the heart of most successes. Confidence is belief in your abilities, worth, value and reliability. It’s nice for others to believe in us, but we must believe in ourselves even more. What I have learned is that confidence is crucial in living the rich, full lives that we are destined to live. I just did what came naturally to me. There is a supreme confidence that comes when you are being who you are.” Confession #2: You already know your purpose. “Many times, our purpose is shown in glimpses of our childhood. [We need to] stop forcing kids to do what you want them to do instead of what they were born to do. This doesn’t just apply to family—how have you limited yourself?” Confession #3: Let fear fuel you. “Refuse to limit yourself because of the fears of others. Be like me and step out there anyway! You must understand that living your dreams will require you to do things that are outside the norm, unfamiliar and downright scary sometimes. That’s okay! Don’t make yourself small for anybody. Make your voice heard. I sometimes get scared to ask for what I want and have to push myself to do it. It’s a process—you’re always growing and changing—but I have to honor myself and what I bring to the table. It forces others to honor it, too.” Confession #4: Commit to your vision. “Vision creates power in your life because it allows you to see the unseen. It helps you create in the now what exists in the future. I have felt like quitting countless times. What has helped to pull me through the inevitable slumps is vision. I made a commitment to keep going. Be a person who keeps your word with yourself over and over again. Because I had a vision for where I was going and refused to give up, the ‘how to do it’ showed up step by step. It’s taken me a long time to build the career I have, but I was in it for the long haul. Most overnight successes have taken decades.” Confession #5: Use your imagination. “It’s EVERYTHING! Big dreams take faith and determination to manifest. If it didn’t, everyone would be living large. We often underestimate our abilities and what is even possible for us. We must learn to trust the whispers and follow them. What do you have to lose? If you don’t push yourself, you won’t grow. You’ll lessen your impact. You’ll decrease your own joy and fulfillment. Life is about expansion. Dream BIG!” Confession #6: Be prepared for your moment. “Start where you are, but prepare. Preparation tells you and all the world that you are expecting things to happen. This helps build a level of excitement and confidence in you. Planning is a simple confidence hack. It allows you to take fear out of the equation. It makes some unknown things feel known. In making the world your runway, you must be prepared because you never know who’s watching you. You have no idea what opportunities are on the verge of appearing in your life. Be ready for your moment.” Confession #7: Wear the right bra! “Here’s the elephant in the room: Your clothes will look so much better on you when you wear the right bra size. Ladies, you should be getting measured at least twice a year for an accurate fit to see if your size has changed. Please invest in yourself. Your inner foundations set the tone for your outer life. You need to have the right fit under your clothes because your presentation is so important, and when you look good, you feel good.” Confession #8: Choose how you show up. “Stop hiding your brilliance because others are uncomfortable with it. Your presence is something you have to manage. Happy, confident people are very self-aware. You must be willing to pause and see yourself as you really are. I constantly remind myself to remain calm, not just on the runway but in life. You might fall down. That’s okay. Just don’t stay down. Work this life with all your might. All drama is not negative. Know when to bring a little more sizzle to your presence so you can leave a lasting impression.” Confession #9: Less is more. “To be the powerful, confident woman that you are, linger a little. Stand in the power of your moment. Allow others the joy of taking you in. Don’t rush it. We can get in such a hurry to make the next point that we don’t allow the present point to land. Sometimes, we’re just doing too much. ‘No’ is a complete sentence.” Confession #10: Find your voice. “It’s imperative that you know what you believe. You must be willing to take the risk of not being understood or accepted to speak your truth. Confident people take up space. When we feel powerful, we expand. Don’t apologize for that. On the runway of life, you must be assertive enough to ask for what you want. When you believe you are a star, others will start to believe it. Faith it until you make it.” Source link

[norajworld]

Maybe you recognize Liris Crosse from Project Runway, where she was the first black plus-size model to walk in a designer finale runway show. Could be you’ve heard about her new book, Make the World Your Runway: Top Model Secrets for Everyday Confidence and Success. Filled with straight-talking, hard-won personal advice, Liris takes the rules she uses to own the catwalk and adapts them to real life, no matter what you do or who you are. She’s also been in countless campaigns for brands like Curvy Couture, is the founder of Life of a Working Model boot camp and is a keynote speaker at mega-events like Essencefest Beauty Carnival. Whether you already know Liris or not, we assure you: You’re going to want to. Her positivity and presence, confidence and charisma are catching. We got the chance to chat at this past CurvExpo, the preeminent lingerie trade show in New York City. In her exclusive Bare Necessities interview, Liris shares her coming-up story and some of the best advice from her book. Liris grew up in Baltimore doing mall and church fashion shows. At a Model Search America casting call at the end of high school, agency after agency loved her…and asked her to lose weight. When she came back the following year, the response was tepid. “Of course I was disappointed, but I didn’t give up,” said Liris, who was getting ready to enroll in college when she asked her parents to let her move to New York. “I didn’t want to say woulda, coulda, shoulda. They gave me a chance, and I never looked back.” Liris is now with Dorothy Combs Models, a plus-size agency. “I had never heard of plus-size modeling, but the Model Search America people said, ‘We’re going to send you to an agency for women who look just like you.’ These women were all beautiful, with a little more meat on their bones,” said Liris. “If this is my division, so be it. I had to make a way for myself because there was none. Even at a size 10, it was a big deal to appear in a music video or walk a runway. There’s been a major leap forward the past five years thanks to the power of social media. Consumers are now judge and jury.” The pressure of having to make the cut again and again is the hardest part: “You get so many denials. It can really play on your self-esteem, but remember that what’s meant for you is going to continue to find you. When there’s an innate passion, you keep on. Don’t ignore the voice inside you. Let it push you into greatness. Stand in the power of who you are.” Confession #1: Confidence is key. “On the runway of life, eyes are on you, too. Confidence is at the heart of most successes. Confidence is belief in your abilities, worth, value and reliability. It’s nice for others to believe in us, but we must believe in ourselves even more. What I have learned is that confidence is crucial in living the rich, full lives that we are destined to live. I just did what came naturally to me. There is a supreme confidence that comes when you are being who you are.” Confession #2: You already know your purpose. “Many times, our purpose is shown in glimpses of our childhood. [We need to] stop forcing kids to do what you want them to do instead of what they were born to do. This doesn’t just apply to family—how have you limited yourself?” Confession #3: Let fear fuel you. “Refuse to limit yourself because of the fears of others. Be like me and step out there anyway! You must understand that living your dreams will require you to do things that are outside the norm, unfamiliar and downright scary sometimes. That’s okay! Don’t make yourself small for anybody. Make your voice heard. I sometimes get scared to ask for what I want and have to push myself to do it. It’s a process—you’re always growing and changing—but I have to honor myself and what I bring to the table. It forces others to honor it, too.” Confession #4: Commit to your vision. “Vision creates power in your life because it allows you to see the unseen. It helps you create in the now what exists in the future. I have felt like quitting countless times. What has helped to pull me through the inevitable slumps is vision. I made a commitment to keep going. Be a person who keeps your word with yourself over and over again. Because I had a vision for where I was going and refused to give up, the ‘how to do it’ showed up step by step. It’s taken me a long time to build the career I have, but I was in it for the long haul. Most overnight successes have taken decades.” Confession #5: Use your imagination. “It’s EVERYTHING! Big dreams take faith and determination to manifest. If it didn’t, everyone would be living large. We often underestimate our abilities and what is even possible for us. We must learn to trust the whispers and follow them. What do you have to lose? If you don’t push yourself, you won’t grow. You’ll lessen your impact. You’ll decrease your own joy and fulfillment. Life is about expansion. Dream BIG!” Confession #6: Be prepared for your moment. “Start where you are, but prepare. Preparation tells you and all the world that you are expecting things to happen. This helps build a level of excitement and confidence in you. Planning is a simple confidence hack. It allows you to take fear out of the equation. It makes some unknown things feel known. In making the world your runway, you must be prepared because you never know who’s watching you. You have no idea what opportunities are on the verge of appearing in your life. Be ready for your moment.” Confession #7: Wear the right bra! “Here’s the elephant in the room: Your clothes will look so much better on you when you wear the right bra size. Ladies, you should be getting measured at least twice a year for an accurate fit to see if your size has changed. Please invest in yourself. Your inner foundations set the tone for your outer life. You need to have the right fit under your clothes because your presentation is so important, and when you look good, you feel good.” Confession #8: Choose how you show up. “Stop hiding your brilliance because others are uncomfortable with it. Your presence is something you have to manage. Happy, confident people are very self-aware. You must be willing to pause and see yourself as you really are. I constantly remind myself to remain calm, not just on the runway but in life. You might fall down. That’s okay. Just don’t stay down. Work this life with all your might. All drama is not negative. Know when to bring a little more sizzle to your presence so you can leave a lasting impression.” Confession #9: Less is more. “To be the powerful, confident woman that you are, linger a little. Stand in the power of your moment. Allow others the joy of taking you in. Don’t rush it. We can get in such a hurry to make the next point that we don’t allow the present point to land. Sometimes, we’re just doing too much. ‘No’ is a complete sentence.” Confession #10: Find your voice. “It’s imperative that you know what you believe. You must be willing to take the risk of not being understood or accepted to speak your truth. Confident people take up space. When we feel powerful, we expand. Don’t apologize for that. On the runway of life, you must be assertive enough to ask for what you want. When you believe you are a star, others will start to believe it. Faith it until you make it.” Source link

[ellajme0]

Maybe you recognize Liris Crosse from Project Runway, where she was the first black plus-size model to walk in a designer finale runway show. Could be you’ve heard about her new book, Make the World Your Runway: Top Model Secrets for Everyday Confidence and Success. Filled with straight-talking, hard-won personal advice, Liris takes the rules she uses to own the catwalk and adapts them to real life, no matter what you do or who you are. She’s also been in countless campaigns for brands like Curvy Couture, is the founder of Life of a Working Model boot camp and is a keynote speaker at mega-events like Essencefest Beauty Carnival. Whether you already know Liris or not, we assure you: You’re going to want to. Her positivity and presence, confidence and charisma are catching. We got the chance to chat at this past CurvExpo, the preeminent lingerie trade show in New York City. In her exclusive Bare Necessities interview, Liris shares her coming-up story and some of the best advice from her book. Liris grew up in Baltimore doing mall and church fashion shows. At a Model Search America casting call at the end of high school, agency after agency loved her…and asked her to lose weight. When she came back the following year, the response was tepid. “Of course I was disappointed, but I didn’t give up,” said Liris, who was getting ready to enroll in college when she asked her parents to let her move to New York. “I didn’t want to say woulda, coulda, shoulda. They gave me a chance, and I never looked back.” Liris is now with Dorothy Combs Models, a plus-size agency. “I had never heard of plus-size modeling, but the Model Search America people said, ‘We’re going to send you to an agency for women who look just like you.’ These women were all beautiful, with a little more meat on their bones,” said Liris. “If this is my division, so be it. I had to make a way for myself because there was none. Even at a size 10, it was a big deal to appear in a music video or walk a runway. There’s been a major leap forward the past five years thanks to the power of social media. Consumers are now judge and jury.” The pressure of having to make the cut again and again is the hardest part: “You get so many denials. It can really play on your self-esteem, but remember that what’s meant for you is going to continue to find you. When there’s an innate passion, you keep on. Don’t ignore the voice inside you. Let it push you into greatness. Stand in the power of who you are.” Confession #1: Confidence is key. “On the runway of life, eyes are on you, too. Confidence is at the heart of most successes. Confidence is belief in your abilities, worth, value and reliability. It’s nice for others to believe in us, but we must believe in ourselves even more. What I have learned is that confidence is crucial in living the rich, full lives that we are destined to live. I just did what came naturally to me. There is a supreme confidence that comes when you are being who you are.” Confession #2: You already know your purpose. “Many times, our purpose is shown in glimpses of our childhood. [We need to] stop forcing kids to do what you want them to do instead of what they were born to do. This doesn’t just apply to family—how have you limited yourself?” Confession #3: Let fear fuel you. “Refuse to limit yourself because of the fears of others. Be like me and step out there anyway! You must understand that living your dreams will require you to do things that are outside the norm, unfamiliar and downright scary sometimes. That’s okay! Don’t make yourself small for anybody. Make your voice heard. I sometimes get scared to ask for what I want and have to push myself to do it. It’s a process—you’re always growing and changing—but I have to honor myself and what I bring to the table. It forces others to honor it, too.” Confession #4: Commit to your vision. “Vision creates power in your life because it allows you to see the unseen. It helps you create in the now what exists in the future. I have felt like quitting countless times. What has helped to pull me through the inevitable slumps is vision. I made a commitment to keep going. Be a person who keeps your word with yourself over and over again. Because I had a vision for where I was going and refused to give up, the ‘how to do it’ showed up step by step. It’s taken me a long time to build the career I have, but I was in it for the long haul. Most overnight successes have taken decades.” Confession #5: Use your imagination. “It’s EVERYTHING! Big dreams take faith and determination to manifest. If it didn’t, everyone would be living large. We often underestimate our abilities and what is even possible for us. We must learn to trust the whispers and follow them. What do you have to lose? If you don’t push yourself, you won’t grow. You’ll lessen your impact. You’ll decrease your own joy and fulfillment. Life is about expansion. Dream BIG!” Confession #6: Be prepared for your moment. “Start where you are, but prepare. Preparation tells you and all the world that you are expecting things to happen. This helps build a level of excitement and confidence in you. Planning is a simple confidence hack. It allows you to take fear out of the equation. It makes some unknown things feel known. In making the world your runway, you must be prepared because you never know who’s watching you. You have no idea what opportunities are on the verge of appearing in your life. Be ready for your moment.” Confession #7: Wear the right bra! “Here’s the elephant in the room: Your clothes will look so much better on you when you wear the right bra size. Ladies, you should be getting measured at least twice a year for an accurate fit to see if your size has changed. Please invest in yourself. Your inner foundations set the tone for your outer life. You need to have the right fit under your clothes because your presentation is so important, and when you look good, you feel good.” Confession #8: Choose how you show up. “Stop hiding your brilliance because others are uncomfortable with it. Your presence is something you have to manage. Happy, confident people are very self-aware. You must be willing to pause and see yourself as you really are. I constantly remind myself to remain calm, not just on the runway but in life. You might fall down. That’s okay. Just don’t stay down. Work this life with all your might. All drama is not negative. Know when to bring a little more sizzle to your presence so you can leave a lasting impression.” Confession #9: Less is more. “To be the powerful, confident woman that you are, linger a little. Stand in the power of your moment. Allow others the joy of taking you in. Don’t rush it. We can get in such a hurry to make the next point that we don’t allow the present point to land. Sometimes, we’re just doing too much. ‘No’ is a complete sentence.” Confession #10: Find your voice. “It’s imperative that you know what you believe. You must be willing to take the risk of not being understood or accepted to speak your truth. Confident people take up space. When we feel powerful, we expand. Don’t apologize for that. On the runway of life, you must be assertive enough to ask for what you want. When you believe you are a star, others will start to believe it. Faith it until you make it.” Source link

[911bts]

911onabc: Aisha Hinds, everybody. ❤️

Reminiscing on our time spent with @/appleofhisai at Onyx Collective's "See Yourself Studio". #EssenceFest

[chilimili212]

Maybe you recognize Liris Crosse from Project Runway, where she was the first black plus-size model to walk in a designer finale runway show. Could be you’ve heard about her new book, Make the World Your Runway: Top Model Secrets for Everyday Confidence and Success. Filled with straight-talking, hard-won personal advice, Liris takes the rules she uses to own the catwalk and adapts them to real life, no matter what you do or who you are. She’s also been in countless campaigns for brands like Curvy Couture, is the founder of Life of a Working Model boot camp and is a keynote speaker at mega-events like Essencefest Beauty Carnival. Whether you already know Liris or not, we assure you: You’re going to want to. Her positivity and presence, confidence and charisma are catching. We got the chance to chat at this past CurvExpo, the preeminent lingerie trade show in New York City. In her exclusive Bare Necessities interview, Liris shares her coming-up story and some of the best advice from her book. Liris grew up in Baltimore doing mall and church fashion shows. At a Model Search America casting call at the end of high school, agency after agency loved her…and asked her to lose weight. When she came back the following year, the response was tepid. “Of course I was disappointed, but I didn’t give up,” said Liris, who was getting ready to enroll in college when she asked her parents to let her move to New York. “I didn’t want to say woulda, coulda, shoulda. They gave me a chance, and I never looked back.” Liris is now with Dorothy Combs Models, a plus-size agency. “I had never heard of plus-size modeling, but the Model Search America people said, ‘We’re going to send you to an agency for women who look just like you.’ These women were all beautiful, with a little more meat on their bones,” said Liris. “If this is my division, so be it. I had to make a way for myself because there was none. Even at a size 10, it was a big deal to appear in a music video or walk a runway. There’s been a major leap forward the past five years thanks to the power of social media. Consumers are now judge and jury.” The pressure of having to make the cut again and again is the hardest part: “You get so many denials. It can really play on your self-esteem, but remember that what’s meant for you is going to continue to find you. When there’s an innate passion, you keep on. Don’t ignore the voice inside you. Let it push you into greatness. Stand in the power of who you are.” Confession #1: Confidence is key. “On the runway of life, eyes are on you, too. Confidence is at the heart of most successes. Confidence is belief in your abilities, worth, value and reliability. It’s nice for others to believe in us, but we must believe in ourselves even more. What I have learned is that confidence is crucial in living the rich, full lives that we are destined to live. I just did what came naturally to me. There is a supreme confidence that comes when you are being who you are.” Confession #2: You already know your purpose. “Many times, our purpose is shown in glimpses of our childhood. [We need to] stop forcing kids to do what you want them to do instead of what they were born to do. This doesn’t just apply to family—how have you limited yourself?” Confession #3: Let fear fuel you. “Refuse to limit yourself because of the fears of others. Be like me and step out there anyway! You must understand that living your dreams will require you to do things that are outside the norm, unfamiliar and downright scary sometimes. That’s okay! Don’t make yourself small for anybody. Make your voice heard. I sometimes get scared to ask for what I want and have to push myself to do it. It’s a process—you’re always growing and changing—but I have to honor myself and what I bring to the table. It forces others to honor it, too.” Confession #4: Commit to your vision. “Vision creates power in your life because it allows you to see the unseen. It helps you create in the now what exists in the future. I have felt like quitting countless times. What has helped to pull me through the inevitable slumps is vision. I made a commitment to keep going. Be a person who keeps your word with yourself over and over again. Because I had a vision for where I was going and refused to give up, the ‘how to do it’ showed up step by step. It’s taken me a long time to build the career I have, but I was in it for the long haul. Most overnight successes have taken decades.” Confession #5: Use your imagination. “It’s EVERYTHING! Big dreams take faith and determination to manifest. If it didn’t, everyone would be living large. We often underestimate our abilities and what is even possible for us. We must learn to trust the whispers and follow them. What do you have to lose? If you don’t push yourself, you won’t grow. You’ll lessen your impact. You’ll decrease your own joy and fulfillment. Life is about expansion. Dream BIG!” Confession #6: Be prepared for your moment. “Start where you are, but prepare. Preparation tells you and all the world that you are expecting things to happen. This helps build a level of excitement and confidence in you. Planning is a simple confidence hack. It allows you to take fear out of the equation. It makes some unknown things feel known. In making the world your runway, you must be prepared because you never know who’s watching you. You have no idea what opportunities are on the verge of appearing in your life. Be ready for your moment.” Confession #7: Wear the right bra! “Here’s the elephant in the room: Your clothes will look so much better on you when you wear the right bra size. Ladies, you should be getting measured at least twice a year for an accurate fit to see if your size has changed. Please invest in yourself. Your inner foundations set the tone for your outer life. You need to have the right fit under your clothes because your presentation is so important, and when you look good, you feel good.” Confession #8: Choose how you show up. “Stop hiding your brilliance because others are uncomfortable with it. Your presence is something you have to manage. Happy, confident people are very self-aware. You must be willing to pause and see yourself as you really are. I constantly remind myself to remain calm, not just on the runway but in life. You might fall down. That’s okay. Just don’t stay down. Work this life with all your might. All drama is not negative. Know when to bring a little more sizzle to your presence so you can leave a lasting impression.” Confession #9: Less is more. “To be the powerful, confident woman that you are, linger a little. Stand in the power of your moment. Allow others the joy of taking you in. Don’t rush it. We can get in such a hurry to make the next point that we don’t allow the present point to land. Sometimes, we’re just doing too much. ‘No’ is a complete sentence.” Confession #10: Find your voice. “It’s imperative that you know what you believe. You must be willing to take the risk of not being understood or accepted to speak your truth. Confident people take up space. When we feel powerful, we expand. Don’t apologize for that. On the runway of life, you must be assertive enough to ask for what you want. When you believe you are a star, others will start to believe it. Faith it until you make it.” Source link

[oliviajoyice21]

Maybe you recognize Liris Crosse from Project Runway, where she was the first black plus-size model to walk in a designer finale runway show. Could be you’ve heard about her new book, Make the World Your Runway: Top Model Secrets for Everyday Confidence and Success. Filled with straight-talking, hard-won personal advice, Liris takes the rules she uses to own the catwalk and adapts them to real life, no matter what you do or who you are. She’s also been in countless campaigns for brands like Curvy Couture, is the founder of Life of a Working Model boot camp and is a keynote speaker at mega-events like Essencefest Beauty Carnival. Whether you already know Liris or not, we assure you: You’re going to want to. Her positivity and presence, confidence and charisma are catching. We got the chance to chat at this past CurvExpo, the preeminent lingerie trade show in New York City. In her exclusive Bare Necessities interview, Liris shares her coming-up story and some of the best advice from her book. Liris grew up in Baltimore doing mall and church fashion shows. At a Model Search America casting call at the end of high school, agency after agency loved her…and asked her to lose weight. When she came back the following year, the response was tepid. “Of course I was disappointed, but I didn’t give up,” said Liris, who was getting ready to enroll in college when she asked her parents to let her move to New York. “I didn’t want to say woulda, coulda, shoulda. They gave me a chance, and I never looked back.” Liris is now with Dorothy Combs Models, a plus-size agency. “I had never heard of plus-size modeling, but the Model Search America people said, ‘We’re going to send you to an agency for women who look just like you.’ These women were all beautiful, with a little more meat on their bones,” said Liris. “If this is my division, so be it. I had to make a way for myself because there was none. Even at a size 10, it was a big deal to appear in a music video or walk a runway. There’s been a major leap forward the past five years thanks to the power of social media. Consumers are now judge and jury.” The pressure of having to make the cut again and again is the hardest part: “You get so many denials. It can really play on your self-esteem, but remember that what’s meant for you is going to continue to find you. When there’s an innate passion, you keep on. Don’t ignore the voice inside you. Let it push you into greatness. Stand in the power of who you are.” Confession #1: Confidence is key. “On the runway of life, eyes are on you, too. Confidence is at the heart of most successes. Confidence is belief in your abilities, worth, value and reliability. It’s nice for others to believe in us, but we must believe in ourselves even more. What I have learned is that confidence is crucial in living the rich, full lives that we are destined to live. I just did what came naturally to me. There is a supreme confidence that comes when you are being who you are.” Confession #2: You already know your purpose. “Many times, our purpose is shown in glimpses of our childhood. [We need to] stop forcing kids to do what you want them to do instead of what they were born to do. This doesn’t just apply to family—how have you limited yourself?” Confession #3: Let fear fuel you. “Refuse to limit yourself because of the fears of others. Be like me and step out there anyway! You must understand that living your dreams will require you to do things that are outside the norm, unfamiliar and downright scary sometimes. That’s okay! Don’t make yourself small for anybody. Make your voice heard. I sometimes get scared to ask for what I want and have to push myself to do it. It’s a process—you’re always growing and changing—but I have to honor myself and what I bring to the table. It forces others to honor it, too.” Confession #4: Commit to your vision. “Vision creates power in your life because it allows you to see the unseen. It helps you create in the now what exists in the future. I have felt like quitting countless times. What has helped to pull me through the inevitable slumps is vision. I made a commitment to keep going. Be a person who keeps your word with yourself over and over again. Because I had a vision for where I was going and refused to give up, the ‘how to do it’ showed up step by step. It’s taken me a long time to build the career I have, but I was in it for the long haul. Most overnight successes have taken decades.” Confession #5: Use your imagination. “It’s EVERYTHING! Big dreams take faith and determination to manifest. If it didn’t, everyone would be living large. We often underestimate our abilities and what is even possible for us. We must learn to trust the whispers and follow them. What do you have to lose? If you don’t push yourself, you won’t grow. You’ll lessen your impact. You’ll decrease your own joy and fulfillment. Life is about expansion. Dream BIG!” Confession #6: Be prepared for your moment. “Start where you are, but prepare. Preparation tells you and all the world that you are expecting things to happen. This helps build a level of excitement and confidence in you. Planning is a simple confidence hack. It allows you to take fear out of the equation. It makes some unknown things feel known. In making the world your runway, you must be prepared because you never know who’s watching you. You have no idea what opportunities are on the verge of appearing in your life. Be ready for your moment.” Confession #7: Wear the right bra! “Here’s the elephant in the room: Your clothes will look so much better on you when you wear the right bra size. Ladies, you should be getting measured at least twice a year for an accurate fit to see if your size has changed. Please invest in yourself. Your inner foundations set the tone for your outer life. You need to have the right fit under your clothes because your presentation is so important, and when you look good, you feel good.” Confession #8: Choose how you show up. “Stop hiding your brilliance because others are uncomfortable with it. Your presence is something you have to manage. Happy, confident people are very self-aware. You must be willing to pause and see yourself as you really are. I constantly remind myself to remain calm, not just on the runway but in life. You might fall down. That’s okay. Just don’t stay down. Work this life with all your might. All drama is not negative. Know when to bring a little more sizzle to your presence so you can leave a lasting impression.” Confession #9: Less is more. “To be the powerful, confident woman that you are, linger a little. Stand in the power of your moment. Allow others the joy of taking you in. Don’t rush it. We can get in such a hurry to make the next point that we don’t allow the present point to land. Sometimes, we’re just doing too much. ‘No’ is a complete sentence.” Confession #10: Find your voice. “It’s imperative that you know what you believe. You must be willing to take the risk of not being understood or accepted to speak your truth. Confident people take up space. When we feel powerful, we expand. Don’t apologize for that. On the runway of life, you must be assertive enough to ask for what you want. When you believe you are a star, others will start to believe it. Faith it until you make it.” Source link

[tvrundownusa]

tvrundown USA 2023.07.01

Saturday, July 1st:

(exclusive): "Essence Fest" (hulu, weekend event, night 2 of 3 in primetime)

(streaming twice weekly): King the Land (netflix), See You In My 19th Life (netflix)

(specials): "Essence Fest" (hulu, event, night 2 of 3), "Brandi Carlile: In the Canyon Haze" (HBO|max, concert, 90mins)

(original made-for-TV movies): "My Professor's Guide to Murder" (LIFE, 2hrs+)

(other highlights): Shakespeare & Hathaway (OVAtion), Austin City Limits (PBS, "Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble"), Act Your Age (BounceTV, preempted)

(latenight "Toonami" [adultswim]): Unicorn: Warriors Eternal (season 1 finale), Unicorn: Warriors Eternal (reair marathon, 2hours+15mins), Unicorn: Warriors Eternal (season 1 finale reair), The Venture Bros. (repeat #7.01), Metalocalypse (repeat #3.09 or #1.02)

[donnabroadway]

The Super 5

There is no such thing as unbiased journalism. There, I said it. And while I’m sharing unpopular truths, I also believe the ethics line in journalism is often a faint blur. Journalism has become a business—one driven by numbers and access. To sell papers, magazines, or keep eyes on the screen, you need interest. And certain people generate that interest.

Take the case of the "Super 5" story, which has gone viral on TikTok and spilled into mainstream media, particularly through outlets like Essence. The fact that the story was written so shoddily—names misspelled and key details omitted—reveals where the loyalty lies. Jackie Aina, or Asamoah as she is now called, was the only name spelled correctly for a reason. The article itself leaned heavily in Jackie’s favor, and she’s become the focal point of the Super 5 drama, despite her limited involvement. This isn’t about her—it’s about business. Jackie is a brand. She has more followers than the entire Super 5 combined, and she’s a proven force in the industry. She has businesses that advertises with Essence, speaks at EssenceFest, and draws mainstream attention.

The reality is, Essence needs Jackie more than they need smaller creators like Mecca and Jamila. While these creators are growing their presence, they haven’t yet reached the level where they can generate as much revenue or interest as Jackie. So, a biased article in Jackie’s favor is, unfortunately, a business decision.

This is why traditional media outlets are shifting their focus to appeal to the younger generation that’s “chronically online,” particularly on platforms like TikTok. The truth is, traditional media is on the decline, and social media influencers, like Keith Lee with nearly 20 million followers, no longer need the publicity of The Breakfast Club—but they need his. Just as big brands once relied on magazine and TV features to maintain their relevance, now media outlets are relying on influencers to keep their doors open.

As a former journalist, I understand how the industry is changing. The rise of social media and the decline of print media have turned the tables. Now, artists control their own narratives, sharing the news they want the public to know—when and how they want to share it. It’s not about storytelling; it’s about business. And until the lines between those two are clearly drawn, journalism will continue to evolve, for better or worse.