Pharrell Williams Launches Black Ambition for Black and Latinx Entrepreneurs

Pharrell Williams Launches Black Ambition for Black and Latinx Entrepreneurs AOC Eye

Black Ambition, Pharrell Williams’ newest venture dedicated to cultivating Black and Latino entrepreneurs, is the winner of the impact investing category of Fast Company’s 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards.

Williams launched Black Ambition last December 2020, with Louis Vuitton Men’s artistic director and founder of Off White Virgil Abloh is onboard as a member of the Black Ambition advisory team. Black Ambition will act as a non-profit initiative providing a bridge to success for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs who are launching start-ups in tech, design, healthcare, and consumer products.

Ivan Erick Menezes Honors Florbela Espanca for Vogue Portugal June 2021

Ivan Erick Menezes Honors Florbela Espanca for Vogue Portugal June 2021

In this Vogue Portugal June 2021 issue fashion editorial dedicated to Florbela Espanca, models Camila Simões, Elson Lima, Lana Rost, and Natalia Renken are styled by fashion editor and creative director Alexandre Dornelles. Ivan Erick Menezes photographs ‘Eu quero amar, amar perdidamente’ [I want to love, love hopelessly] inspred by Florbela Espanca./ Beauty by Silvio Giorgio; hair by Silvio Giorgio

Florbela Espanca (1894-1930) is one of Portugal's most known and loved poets, an early feminist in a very turbulent period in the country’s history. Her avant-garde mind and soul were frowned upon by a conservative society, and the poet ended her early life at age 36.

'Physical' Apple Series Star Rose Byrne Covers Marie Claire Australia by Nicole Bentley

'Physical' Apple Series Star Rose Byrne Covers Marie Claire Australia by Nicole Bentley

“She’s elegance incarnate with impeccable comedic timing,” writes Marie Claire Australia about July cover star Rose Byrne. The actor talks to Rachel Sharp about family, feminism and her new role as a captivating but flawed ‘80s guru in her new Apple TV series ‘Physical’.

Byrne is styled by Naomi Smith in images by Nicole Bentley./ Hair by Koh; makeup by Kellie Stratton

Building on her role as iconic feminist Gloria Steinem in ‘Mrs. America’, the true story of how conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly (played by Cate Blanchett) derailed the Equal Rights Amendment, Byrne now plays ‘80s California exercise and lifestyle guru Sheila Rubin.

Elsa Hosk Is Yummy Mummy Covering Vogue Russia Living June 2021 by Julia Gorbachenko

Elsa Hosk Is Yummy Mummy Covering Vogue Russia Living June 2021 by Julia Gorbachenko

Swedish beauty Elsa Hosk roars back from giving birth in mid-February to her baby girl Tuulikki Joan Daly, named after Elsa’s mom and grandma-in-law. Hosk wears green Bottega Veneta on the cover of Vogue Russia Living’s June 2021 rich-imagery fashion story.

Sandy Armeni styles ‘Desert Oasis’, puttingElsa in a SoCal mood wearing Balenciaga, Etro, Isabel Marant, Louis Vuitton, Versace and more in wonderful images captured by Yulia Gorbachenko [IG]. Love, love, love. / Hair by Dennis Gots; makeup by Natasha Severino

A Fashionista's Guide to Casino Nights Wearing Ageless Flygirl Style

A Fashionista's Guide to Casino Nights Wearing Ageless Flygirl Style

Beyond the “glow up” and bronzed skin, in addition to beach waves hair with plenty of volume and bounce — whatever your age — be like Martha and own YOU on YOUR casino night. Preparation is important. Everyone from Martha Stewart to her vegan cooking protégé Snoop Dogg will tell you that preparation is key to a successful party.

After that, just imagine you are Jennifer Lopez in Vegas or Martha Stewart in her East Hampton swimming pool. Own the moment with confidence and sincerity — but also with conviction. Because we all know that wearing self confidence is your best fashion statement. And be sure you have a divine time doing it. ~ Anne

Simone Biles Claims Her GOAT Title in Gymnastics, Leaves NIKE for Athleta

Simone Biles Claims Her GOAT Title in Gymnastics, Leaves NIKE for Athleta AOC Living

"The idea was to hit back at the haters," she told the outlet. "[The haters] were joking like, 'I swear, if she put a goat on her leo, blah, blah, blah.' That would make them so angry. And then I was like, 'Oh, that's actually a good idea.' And so that's exactly what we did and why we did it."

Simone Biles may be 4’10” in stature, but she packs a power punch twice her size. In late April, the platinum athlete ended her six-year relationship with Nike to join Athleta, Gap’s female-focused activewear brand.

The GOAT gymnast did not directly criticize Nike in announcing her move to Athleta — even though the company has a rocky relationship with female athletes.

“I felt like it wasn’t just about my achievements, it’s what I stood for and how they were going to help me use my voice and also be a voice for females and kids,” she said. “I feel like they also support me, not just as an athlete, but just as an individual outside of the gym and the change that I want to create, which is so refreshing.”

Simone Biles delivered an astonishing set of images by Kennedi Carter in this weeks’ online release of her cover story and interview in the June issue of Glamour US. There’s yet more to the Simone Biles story, with Athleta backing her competitive bird dogging of USA Gymnastics over her being willing to take on permanently USA Gymnastics, the governing body of her sport — a system that ignored staggering sexual abuse by team doctors of young women in their care. Biles has been a leader in that ongoing fight.

DO check out the Simone Biles cover story for Glamour’s June 2021 issue.

Simone Biles Soars by Kennedi Carter for Glamour US June 2021 AOC Fashion

Gigi Hadid Covers i-D Magazine No.363 by Daniel Jackson | Gigi's Blue Pasta

Gigi Hadid Covers i-D Magazine No.363 by Daniel Jackson | Gigi's Blue Pasta

A pensive Gigi Hadid covers the Summer 2021 issue of i-D magazine No. 363. The supermodel appears as a low-key, blank canvas styled by Alastair McKimm in modern, relaxed designs from The Row. Daniel Jackson [IG] creates the studio portraits with a brief interview by Osman Ahmed.

Two concepts resonate with AOC from Gigi’s interview. The first concerns her own mixed-race status — and Bella’s, although that is not mentioned. And her baby daughter Khai is also mixed-race in a world that is on the one hand increasingly embracing of the identity but also cruel about it at the same time. And that includes progressives — Anne’s words, not Gigi’s.

Christian Louboutin, Irdis & Sabrina Elba's Monumental 'Walk a Mile in My Shoes' Campaign

Christian Louboutin, Irdis & Sabrina Elba's Monumental 'Walk a Mile in My Shoes' Campaign

Fashion designer Christian Louboutin collaborates with close friends Irdis Elba and his wife Sabrina Elba on a superb campaign to support Black activism and philanthropy. The English actor, writer, producer, rapper, songwriter and DJ is best known for his 2018 role in ‘Black Panther’. Elba played the ruler of Wakanda, a fictional African nation with the most advanced technology. French photographer and director Julien Vallon [IG] captures the campaign.

Sabrina Elba spoke with Glamour UK about the brilliantly-conceived ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ campaign from Africa, where she is doing philanthropic work with IFAD — the International Fund of Agricultural Development and the UN.

In the month of May 2021, I found myself in a discussion on The Conversation about the impacts of racism on human health. A Trump-supporting white male piped up about American Blacks constantly playing the victims and my response was “Until you’ve walked a mile in the shoes of a Black person in America, do not be accusing them of playing ‘the victim’ card.”

I didn’t add “those words reveal your own ignorant racism”, but that thought was going through my mind.