#beautiful in new york

[staticsnowfall]

michaela mabinty deprince (1995-2024)

🩰˚✧₊⁎

today, september 13th, 2024, the ballet world lost an extraordinary dancer and woman.

michaela mabinty deprince was born on january 6th, 1995, as mabinty bangura, in sierra-leone. she was orphaned, her parents passing to due to both direct and indirect causes of the civil war in her home country. she was demonized by her caretakers for her vitiligo, being called a “devil’s child”, and suffering from other forms of neglect and abuse. in 1999, deprince was adopted by an american couple along with another girl, and they were taken to new jersey, united states of america.

her hopes of becoming a ballerina had been planted when she found a ballerina on a magazine cover in her home country. she didn’t know of ballet at the time, but treasured the picture and dreamed of dancing. this dream blossomed into truth when she moved to the states, being put into ballet lessons soon after her arrival. deprince was a four-time participant in youth america grand prix, one of the largest ballet competitions in the united states. she was awarded a scholarship to study at the jaqueline kennedy onassis school of ballet, the associate school of american ballet theatre.

despite facing racial discrimination and other hardships in and out of the industry, deprince persisted in her dream of becoming a professional ballet dancer. in 2012, at the age of 16, she became the youngest member of dance theatre of harlem, and the next year, she joined the junior company of the dutch national ballet. she soon rose through the ranks, joining the main company and attaining the rank of soloist. she was the first dancer of african origin to ever join the company, and a shining advocate and role model for black women in ballet.

her other accomplishments include being an ambassador for war child holland, a dutch organization working to improve the wellbeing and resilience of children directly affected by war. she visited uganda and lebanon through the organization. she also appeared in beyoncé’s 2016 music video for ‘freedom’.

she will dance among all the stars in the sky. rest in peace beautiful michaela mabinty, you are already so missed. ♡

[zegalba]

Fiona Apple in a suit of armor on a NYC subway photography by Joe McNally (1997)

[2toonice]

Full video 2:40

[pinkfairies]

♡ @pinkfairies

[feloire]

[taylorrussellsgf]

Taylor Russell photographed by Kalpesh Lathigra for the New York Times

[jelleasblog]

[world-of-celebs]

Emily Ratajkowski attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City.

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Nostalgia💚

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okay i GOTTA ask- is noel polish???? my guy knows what babka is and I'm not sure if that's just from general exposure to some good polish delis in new york or if he was raised on that stuff (and if he was...... i would absolutely LOVE to know his thoughts on pierogi and sauerkraut)

Love how Noel is turning into the food guy, he knows how to cook and he has god tier taste in food

[myfloatingrock]

Giorgio Armani Prive Fall 2017 Couture

[pinkfairies]

♡ @pinkfairies

[pro-royalty]

Shannon Thornton x Marsai Martin (NYFW’2023)