BGG News Brief: Queen Latifah Takes on the Web

We all know that our girl Queen Latifah stays busy. Now the unstoppable entrepreneur is taking on the worldwide web. Last week, it was announced that she and AOL are partnering to produce online video content.

Latifah will produce and star in a variety of original video web series to be featured across AOL's network of sites. AOL's Blackvoices.com will showcase the series in a specially created hub designed to enhance the sites current video offerings.

Her production company, Flava Unit Entertainment will serve as the main producer of the short form talk show project, which will cover various topics ranging from entertainment and sports to social issues and entrepreneurialism.

First a rapper, then Oscar-nominated actress, Covergirl, author, perfumer, and now Internet guru - the Queen's goals are limitless!

Will you watch the Queen Latifah-produced web series?

News: Constance White Named New EIC of Essence

In case you guys didn't hear the news, Essence has named Constance C. R. White as the new editor-in-chief of the 40-year old magazine. White is an expert fashion editor, commentator, author and journalist. Seems like Essence has made an excellent choice. My loyal readers may remember I spoke with the veteran style maven a little over 3 years ago.


Courtesy of Essence.com


Click here for the fun, fashion-focused Q&A!

Do you feel as though Essence speaks to you?

World AIDS Day

Alicia Keys and a host of other celebrities (Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Kim Kardashian, etc) are staging their digital deaths in honor of World AIDS Day. Her Keep-A-Child-Alive foundation is hoping to raise money in an effort to save millions of lives affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. She along with fellow celebrity friends are sacrificing their social media updates until $1,000,000 is raised to buy her life back. So if you're following them on Twitter or are a Facebook friend, you won't get any new updates until their goals are met.


Visit www.keepachildalive.org for information on how you can help.


According to the Centers for Disease Control, we African-Americans face the most severe burden of HIV in the United States. At the end of 2007, we accounted for almost half (46%) of people living with a diagnosis of HIV infection in the 37 states and 5 US dependent areas with long-term, confidential, name-based HIV reporting.

Do you know your status? If not, GET TESTED!

History!

I'm taking the day off to celebrate the win of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America!! THE first African-American to win the highest office in the land!! Change has come...finally!!! Plus, I need to get some much needed rest since I've been under the weather for nearly a week.




Courtesy www.patrickmoberg.com

YES WE DID!!!!!

Comedian Bernie Mac & Soul Singer Isaac Hayes Die

Unfortunately, the entertainment community has lost comedian, Bernie Mac today, he was 50. He died from complications related to pneumonia in a Chicago hospital this morning according to his rep, Danica Smith.

My fellow Chicagoan will be truly missed!



According to CNN, soul singer Isaac Hayes has also passed away at the age of 65 (today, Aug. 10). Details are unknown at this time.

Must See TV: "CNN Presents: Black in America"

Hey BGG readers, please tune in tonight to watch CNN's special report on being black in America. Tonight's airing will focus on the black woman and family. I actually caught the one that aired last week that focused on the issues plaguing black Americans (single parent families, education, etc.) and it was EXTREMELY insightful and informative. Tomorrow's topic will be about the black man.

We BGs love all things pretty and chic, but knowledge and progressiveness is paramount!

Check local listings for channels and times.

PS Thanks Heather/Melay for the reminder! :-)

GObama!

Ok, I know I typically don't discuss politics on BGG besides the time I posted something about Michelle Obama and Obama t-shirts :-), but I had to write something about Sen. Barack Obama making history as the presumptive first African-American Democratic presidential nominee!!!

I'm so happy and can not believe that we're all witnessing history right before our eyes. How does this make you feel? Please share your thoughts.

Oh, I did my usual post below on Dr. Miracle's products, so please still scroll down today! You know I love your comments!

Wedding Bells for Beyonce & Jay-Z!

Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

One of our favorite celebrity BGs, Beyonce Knowles seems to have finally tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend, Jay-Z. According to People magazine, the couple got hitched yesterday in a ceremony taking place at the rapper's penthouse in New York City. Guests included, Mathew & Tina Knowles, Solange, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin, Kanye West and others.

Reps for the couple neither confirmed or denied these reports. If it's true, congratulations to the happy couple!

To read the story visit www.people.com.

Nip/Tuck?

Now that former Destiny's Child member, Kelly Rowland has confirmed to People magazine after much speculation, that she did in fact undergo breast augmentation, made me think about the increasing number of celebrities and now ordinary working-class people who go under the knife for the quest of physical perfection.

Of course, everyone has the right to choose whether or not they want to have cosmetic surgery, but do we hold celebrities like Rowland to a certain standard? She told People, "It is a decision I made for myself. I like it, and that's all that counts. I now feel complete." Do you think that by her admitting her procedure, gives young girls who see her as a role model the wrong impression of loving themselves for who they are?

According to cosmetic surgery statistics, these are the most common procedures:


Whether it's liposuction or a nose job, would you ever consider having cosmetic surgery? Men, do you prefer women with natural breasts over surgically-enhanced ones or does it matter at all? Please share your thoughts!

Tyra Takes on Magazines!

TV talk show host, producer and former supermodel, Tyra Banks, just solidified a deal with the CW to produce a fashion magazine based reality series for the network. Banks will team up with veteran "America's Next Top Model" producer Ken Mok along with several other producers who make Bravo's "Project Runway," a runaway reality hit.

The new series has been described as "The Assistant" meets "The Devil Wears Prada." The show will also serve as a potential companion to "America's Next Top Model."

"It will be a competition show about aspiring assistants looking to become assistant editors at a fashion magazine," says Mok.

Like with most reality shows, experts are needed. The producers are currently negotiating with a popular fashion magazine to host the contestants. The editors from the chosen magazine will judge, as well as lend their expertise to the competing future journalists.

All magazine and fashion loving reality TV junkies will definitely tune in. I know I'll be watching!

The Honeymoon is Over!

According to People magazine, it looks like the union between Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds has reached it's end. The couple has allegedly separated after a mere 2 weeks. Although the union in Bora, Bora wasn't completely official since it took place outside of the U.S., the couple was supposed to get married legally in the states, which is not going to happen now.

Is anyone shocked by this? I'm not, but I will say that I didn't expect them to call it quits this quickly. Was it all for publicity? Who knows? There have been rumors and speculation about Eddie's sexual preference. Perhaps there's some truth to his "suspicious" relationship with his best friend who was also his best man, R&B singer Johnny Gill.

In this situation, I feel sorry for all parties involved, especially their children.

BTW...thanks for the heads-up K-Bear!

What do you guys think about it?

Ms. Winfrey Gets Her "O"wn TV Network

Just when you thought that Oprah's empire couldn't get any bigger, it just has. The veteran TV talk show host and mogul announced a deal today where the Discovery Health network will be turned over to her next year, becoming OWN -- the Oprah Winfrey Network.

The cash-free transaction involved Winfrey turning over her Web site to Discovery, while the communications company makes her chairman of the network.

David Zaslav, the Discovery Communications chief says, "The focus of the channel will be the focus of Oprah's brand, which is to educate and inspire people to live the best life they can.’’

"For me, the launch of 'The Oprah Winfrey Network' is the evolution of the work I've been doing on television all these years and a natural extension of my show," says Winfrey.

There's just no stopping the power of O!

One thing's for sure, I will definitely be tuning in!

Additional reporting by Chicago Sun-Times