Girls Trip and the Essence of Beauty and Grace
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Lighting The Road To The Future Essence Fest More Data Zone Than Just Music Page 6 “The People’s Paper” July 14 - July 20, 2018 53nd Year Volume 11 www.ladatanews.com A Data News Weekly Exclusive Girls Trip and the Essence of Beauty and Grace Page 2 State & Local Newsmaker Black Women’s Hot Shots from Empowerment Essence Music Series Performances Page 5 Page 4 Page 2 July 14 - July 20, 2018 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com Girls Trip and the Essence of Beauty and Grace Girls Trip co-star Deborah Ayorinde and her sister International Model, Singer and Songwriter Demi Grace Essence Fest, the Ultimate “Girls’ Trip” did not disappoint. Pictured above are MC Lyte, Queen Latifah & Brandy as they wowed the crowd at the 2018 Essence Festival held last weekend. Women from all over the nation descended upon the Crescent City for a 4-day weekend of music, laughter, food and sisterhood, with lots of opportunity to gain and share knowledge with each other as well. By Edwin Buggage come the premiere celebration of Black excellence in ing its first woman Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the Data News Weekly Editor America . rising of women’s voices in the #MeToo Movement, This year has been a banner year for Essence, in this year’s festival had a spirit of empowerment that that it is now independently owned and controlled due reminded me of the days when former longtime Editor Essence Fest Breaks Record to the recent acquisition of Essence by Sundial Brands Susan Taylor and Founder Ed Lewis led the Essence In the many years of covering the Essence Fest owner Richelieu Dennis . Known for Shea Moisture brand, showcasing the best of Black women . from its inception until now; it is always so amazing and other beauty brands that target women of color . Further, the phenomenal success of last year’s hit to see so many beautiful Black people in what has be- In New Orleans and in the spirit of the City elect- film Girls Trip, which took in over 140 million dollars Cover Story, Continued on page 3. DATA NEWS WEEKLY P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 | Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 INSIDE DATA editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors Art Direction & Edwin Buggage CEO/Publisher Production Delaney George MainorMedia.com Edwin Buggage Cover Story . 2 Commentary . 8. Kichea S. Burt Editorial Submissions Editor Julianne Malveaux datanewseditor@ Newsmaker . 4 Health News . 9. Cheryl Mainor Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. bellsouth.net Managing Editor Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA Advertising Inquiries Kellee Terrell datanewsad@ Calla Victoria State & Local News . 5 Fashion . 10 . Glenn Summers bellsouth.net Executive Assistant Brendan Murphy Distribution Data Zone . 6 National News . 11. June Hazeur Lauren Poteat On The Run Accounting Mark Mahoney/NNPA Courier Services Please call 504-309-9913 for subscription information or to obtain a back issue of the paper ONLY. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com Cover Story July 14 - July 20, 2018 Page 3 Cover Story, Continued from page 2. at the box office globally made the from relaxed to natural . Besides festival feel fresh, new and vibrant . this groundbreaking feat she is also When it was all said and done, featured in a Pantene commercial it was a record setting year for the with Jill Hervey (Lion Babe) . Essence Fest this year with an es- She also has a burgeoning mu- timated 510,000 people coming into sic career where she is a diasporic the City of New Orleans . diva traveling the globe and gaining legions of fans along the way . Her Girls Trip Effect music is also featured on an inter- One of the reasons for this national commercial for Dark and growing number of people was Lovely in addition to being placed last year’s smash hit film Girl’s in television programs . Trip . It was a fun and inspirational journey of four women coming Beauty Comes in down to New Orleans for the Es- All Shades sence Music Festival that resonat- There was a time when many ed with women not just in Ameri- of the perception of Black Beauty ca, but across the globe . did not display the entire range This year, unlike in years past of Black women . Today as Blacks there were women I spoke with have more control over their imag- while walking through the fest that es this is changing . Demi is used were from the U .K ., the Caribbean to breaking barriers, starting their as well as from Nigeria, who said lives in London then moving to they became aware of the fest be- the Bay area in California with her cause of the film and wanted to ex- and her sisters often times being perience it for themselves . the only darker skinned Blacks . It was not only evident at the They were told they were beauti- Convention Center, but inside Demi Grace, (pictured above) is Ayorinde’s sister, and is dynamic in her own right as an internationally ful and exude a level of confidence acclaimed model and singer She is the first woman with dreadlocks to be part of a major hair product the Superdome or the streets campaign. and grace that they are now pass- anywhere in New Orleans; there ing on influencing women not just were groups of women wearing in the U .S . but worldwide . “A lot of matching Girl’s Trip’s T-Shirts in people do not think of Black out- the spirit of sisterhood . side the U .S . and the issues they It was a weekend of celebrating face . But some of them are the the splendor, beauty and majestic same as it relates to beauty and to essence of Black women . have myself, my sister and others to become positive influences and Deborah Ayorinde showing that all Black women are and Demi Grace beautiful is a good thing that they I had the unique opportunity to can have positives images of them- speak with two amazing women selves in magazines, commercials who embody the spirit of ebony and in music . beauty, displaying a level of other To illustrate this phenomenon worldly magnificence that is both there is the video for Pantene Gold inner and outer . Series showing different women of Deborah Ayorinde, who played different ages with different tex- the laughable and lovable villain tures of hair in an attempt to cel- Simone in Girl’s Trip whose skin is ebrate the tradition, diversity and luminous and golden brown as she beauty of Black hair . The Gold Se- is wearing a peach colored dress ries was co-created by Black PhD and large hoop earrings as her scientists along with over 40 hair- hair is curly and bouncy balancing stylists and world-renowned derma- her beautiful oval face . By her side tologist and provides strength and was Demi Grace, her sister who is moisture for women of all hair types dynamic in her own right as an in- relaxed or natural . ternationally acclaimed model and singer . She is the first woman with Black Girl Magic dreadlocks to be part of a major With the acquisition of Essence hair product campaign . She is look- “Girls Trip” Actress Deborah Ayorinde spoke of the impact of Girl’s Trip on women across the globe “I was back in Black Hands and the suc- ing chic and sexy wearing a sheer honored to be part of this project and how it has impacted women’s lives. Oftentimes, I have women ap- cess of films such as Girls Trip and silver dress that contrast perfectly proach me and say this is our story or this made me think of myself differently.” other phenomenal feats that show against her dark chocolate skin as Blacks controlling their own desti- her hair is in a high dreadlock bun small screen, most notably on Mar- ing and directing . While attending showcase black images especially ny across the globe at their best this displaying her feline like face . vel’s Luke Cage which stars Girls Howard University, she he won the about Black women . is good for the overall trajectory of These two dynamic sisters are Trip co-star Mike Colter . With ap- Paul Robeson Best Actress Award Blacks in the 21st Century . beautiful, intelligent and elegant . pearances on several other shows for a short film she wrote, produced International Beauty and Not since the 1960’s and 70’s Ayorinde, speaks of the impact of including, BET’s the Game and and performed . the Making of History when people said Black is Beautiful Girl’s Trip on women across the Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse; she’s Her star continues to rise she Demi Grace is a singer, song- have we seen the manifestation of it globe . “I was honored to be part of also been on the Emmy nominated says, she is excited about what is writer and model . She has become in today . As Black people and espe- this project and how it has impacted show drama the Affair on Show- going on in Black Hollywood and an internationally renowned, shar- cially Black women are embracing women’s lives . Oftentimes, I have time . how films like Girls Trip are mak- ing the stage with Beyoncé, in addi- their beauty, whether it is in their women approach me and say this is While her career on both the ing studios see there are audiences tion to making history with Procter hair, their curves and just being ex- our story or this made me think of large and small screen is taking off for these types of films .