Serena Williams Narrates NIKE 'Dream Crazier' Commercial Debut At 2019 Academy Awards

Serena Williams Narrates NIKE 'Dream Crazier' Commercial Debut At 2019 Academy Awards

Following in the footsteps of Colin Kaepernick’s compelling commercial to debut the 30th anniversary of NIKE’s ‘Just Do It’ Campaign, Serena Williams is the narrator in the brand’s new ‘Dream Crazier’ commercial, which aired Sunday night during the 91st Academy Awards. The newest ‘Just Do It’ ad features prominent trailblazing female athletes including including Williams herself, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon, Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad and other women sports figures expressing emotions including frustration, exhiliaraiton, anger, joy and more during their sporting events.

Nadine Ijewere Captures 'Black Cotillion' With Eniola, Hiandra, Imari, Lineisy, Selena + Tami in Garage Magazine

Nadine Ijewere Captures 'Black Cotillion' With Eniola, Hiandra, Imari, Lineisy, Selena + Tami in Garage Magazine

Models Eniola Abioro, Hiandra Martinez, Imari Karanja, Lineisy Montero, Selena Forrest and Tami Williams are styled by Gabriella Karefa Johnson in ‘Black Cotillion’. Photographer Nadine Ijewere captures the black girl magic for Garage Magazine Spring/Summer 2019./ Hair by Jawara; makeup by Grace Ahn

Serena Williams Challenges Women To Make The First Move in Superbowl Ad | Dedicates Winning Australian Open Game 1 To Moms

Serena Williams Challenges Women To Make The First Move in Superbowl Ad | Dedicates Winning Australian Open Game 1 To Moms

The GOAT won the first round of the Australian Open on Monday, besting Germany’s Tatjana Maria in a 49-minute match. Serena competed in a green Nike Jumpsuit, which she calls a ‘Serena-tard’. The stories of black fishnets are erroneous, as her tights were flesh-tone fishnets with all the circulation-boosting support that Williams needs to keep her safe from bloodclots.

In a piece of old news, the Women’s Tennis Association in December 2018 issued a ruling that makes Serena’s controversial black catsuit from the French Open appropriate attire.

Eye: Karly Loyce Fronts Khaite Resort 2019 Lensed By Hanna Tvelte

Eye: Karly Loyce Fronts Khaite Resort 2019 Lensed By Hanna Tvelte

Model Karly Loyce is styled by Gabrielle Marceca for Khaite Resort 2019 lookbook, lensed by Hanna Tveite.

Parsons School of Design graduate Catherine Holstein founded Khaite in 2015 following a major endorsement from legendary Barneys New York buyer, Julie Gilhart, who picked up her junior thesis collection. After working with brands like Maiyet, Vera Wang, and GAP, Holstein launched Khaite, pronounced “Kate,” referencing the Greek word meaning "long, flowing hair.” The women's ready-to-wear collection finds confidence in contrast: of masculine and feminine, strength and softness, structure and fluidity, classic and modern. Each piece proposes a fresh balance of opposing elements while embodying a signature sensuality and ease. See more of the Khaite Resort 2019 Collection.

Raakhee & Satya Tell Serena & Olympia That It's Ok The GOAT Momma Missed The First Wobbly Walk

Raakhee & Satya Tell Serena & Olympia That It's Ok The GOAT Momma Missed The First Wobbly Walk

In response to Serena Williams sharing news that she cried upon learning that her daughter had taken her first wobbly steps while Serena was practicing at Wimbledon, there has been a deluge of support for her and the impossible conflicts that working women with kids share.

ELLE US published a smile-worthy essay by Raakhee Mirchandani -- and I know up front that not all people will find her commentary amusing. Still, this is one family unit and this is their life. And if it works for them, who should judge?

I think Serena will probably have a life more like this one. And just imagine the wonderful story -- now that Serena is in the quarterfinals -- if she wins. (Update: On July 11, Serena advanced to semi-finals.) Even if she loses now, Serena has come miles in the last month.

She can weave a story that will bind the two humans for life, saying "Oh Olympia, I had been to hell and back trying to find my old GOAT self. I kept worrying about you and wanting to be with you every moment. But then I saw how glued you are to tennis on TV, (she IS) watching every serve, every volley, watching my practice videos and I just had to do this for us. . . . I was distraught when I missed your first steps . . . but then I felt such energy and power coming from my little girl, cheering me on, saying "go momma . . . you can win again . . . you are the GOAT . . . and I am the GOAT's little girl. We are a team. . . . so dry your tears and go out there and win."

I daresay that we might not be in such a political pickle if we had more moms like both these women -- radicals by American standards. European kids are raised much more within this perspective than that of the US supermoms. There is no one right way. But I believe Serena and Olympia will be fine. After all, it's not like Olympia isn't already carrying a star load of possibility with that name. Her momma will be cheering her on, just like Satya's mom is focused on her daughter's future.

Serena Williams Misses Baby Girl's First Steps, But Perhaps Olympia's Wimbledon Message Was GO MOMMA!

Serena Williams Misses Baby Girl's First Steps, But Perhaps Alexis' Winbledon Message Was GO MOMMA!

Serena Williams missed her baby girl's first steps yesterday. Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr, 10 mos, was close by at Wimbledon but not in Serena's presence, when she decided to take off in her first wobbly walk. Serena says she cried with frustration, but I think Alexis Olympia was sending her powerful energy and a "go momma" message.

Obviously healed from her French Open injury where she couldn't even raise her arm to serve, Serena is playing really well at Wimbledon, and anything is possible, writes the Boston Globe.

The GOAT has seven Wimbledon titles to her credit. Whatever happens, Serena is a winner, but we can't help hoping that she causes a major upset. GO MOMMA!!

'Queen Serena' Covers Harper's Bazaar US June 2018 With Dynamic, Powerhouse Beauty

'Queen Serena' Covers Harper's Bazaar US June 2018 With Dynamic, Powerhouse Beauty

Top American woman and the world's top athlete according to many experts, Serena Williams covers the June 2018 issue of Harper's Bazaar US. Miranda Almond styles Serena in sexy bodies with a classic twist, lensed by Richard Phibbs for 'Queen Serena'. 

The interview begins: "As one of the greatest athletes of all time, Serena Williams has overcome misogyny and racism with inspirational fortitude and grace. Now that she is combining her return to Wimbledon with life as a new mother, after a traumatic birth that nearly killed her, she talks to Lydia Slater about sisterhood, self-acceptance and staying strong."

We hope that Serena is headed to Wimbledon, after dropping out of the French Open on Monday. After a week of surprising all with her 'old Serena' tennis megastar self, Serena withdrew from her scheduled match with Maria Sharapova, with an injury to her right pectoral muscle. via New York Times

Txema Yeste Flashes Primordial Karly Loyce For Numéro #194 'Oceans' June/July 2018

Txema Yeste Flashes Primordial Karly Loyce For Numéro #194 'Oceans' June/July 2018

Model Karly Loyce is styled by Bernat Buscato for primordial sea goddess images by Txema Yeste for Numéro #194 June/July 2018./ Hair by Pasquale Ferrante; makeup by Victor Alvarez

Adidas by Pharrell Williams Hu Holi Blank Collection Makes Powder Colors Street Smart

Adidas by Pharrell Williams Hu Holi Blank Collection Makes Powder Colors Street Smart

The latest Adidas by Pharrell Williams Hu Holi Blank collection is inspired by the spiritual Holi Festival, one of the most famous celebrations in North-Eastern India, when people gather to celebrate the victory of the good over the bad, as well as marking the beginning of spring. Participants throw colored powders in the air to express their freedom and to bring color into their lives.

The campaign was shot by Viviane Sassen with styling by Jay Massacret. Models include Jeenu Mahadevan, Malik Jalloh, Radhika Nair and more.

Serena Williams Shares Details Of Health Scares In Childbirth & History Of Blood Clots

Serena Williams Shares Details Of Health Scares In Childbirth & History Of Blood Clots

When Serena Williams withdrew from the Australian Open last week, after her loss in Abu Dhabi, some fans were concerned. Williams won the Australian Open last year, playing seven-months pregnant with her daughter Olympia. The Guardianreported:

“After competing in Abu Dhabi I realised that, although I am super close, I’m not where I personally want to be,” Williams said.

“My coach and team always said, ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’. I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time. Even though I am disappointed about it, I’ve decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year.

Williams covers the February 2018 issue of Vogue, introducing us to daughter Olympia and an explanation of significant health issues associated with the birth of her daughter. It's totally clear now why healing time is a critical priority for this superstar athlete. 

Karly Loyce Wears Off Duty Denim Lensed By Matthew Sprout For The Edit January 11, 2018

Karly Loyce Wears Off Duty Denim Lensed By Matthew Sprout For The Edit January 11, 2018

Queen Elizabeth II & Ghana President Nkrumah In A 1961 Diplomat Foxtrot Watched In Black & White

Queen Elizabeth II & Ghana President Nkrumah In A 1961 Diplomat Foxtrot Watched In Black & White

In consenting to a foxtrot -- yes, it happened for real -- with Nkrumah, Elizabeth II achieves more in a few minutes than British diplomats dealing with the young nation have managed to achieve in weeks. The dance scene itself is quite dazzling, as Elizabeth finds her Jackie-O side. Comparing the images from 'The Crown' above and the real-life photos below,  there is more physical space between the couple in the real-life dance -- if these images don't distort the truth. And we must always remember that 'The Crown' is a fictionalized account of history, viewed through the lens of the British Empire and Britain's crumbling monarchy.  

In reality, the Akosombo Dam was completed in 1965, in a project jointly financed by Ghana, the World Bank, the United States and the United Kingdom. Few sources -- even those who write that 'The Crown' is racist ( well SURE it is, given that colonialism was racist) -- debate that this foxtrot between Elizabeth II and President Kwame Nkrumah -- The Lion of Africa --was a diplomatic success on multiple fronts.

Karly Loyce Fronts 'Hyères' Lensed By Charlotte Wales For Pop #37 Autumn/Winter 2017

Karly Loyce Fronts 'Hyères' Lensed By Charlotte Wales For Pop #37 Autumn/Winter 2017

Model Karly Loyce is styled by Charlotte Collet in black magic fashion, in Hyères, lensed by Charlotte Wales for Pop Magazine #37 Autumn/Winter 2017./ Hair by Christian Eberhard; makeup by Petros Petrohilos

Eye: South African Artist Tony Gum's 'Ode to She' Wins 2017 Miami Beach Pulse Prize

South African Artist Tony Gum's 'Ode to She' Wins 2017 Miami Beach Pulse Prize

South African artist Tony Gum is the recipient of the 2017 Miami Beach Pulse Prize. Gum's gallery Christopher Moller Gallery mounted a solo show for Gum, who is barely 22 years old. 

Gum's presentation 'Ode to She' is inspired by her own experiences and reflections as a Xhosa woman. Her work is rooted in the tradition of 'intonjane', an Xhosa rite of passage into womanhood practiced in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The ritual in which a girl is secluded at her homestead after her first period, is symbolic of her sexual maturity and ability to bear children.

AOC has previously written about the talented Tony Gum. See end of article. 

Popular Media Vastly Overstates Criminality Among Immigrant Men Concludes Define American Study

Popular Media Vastly Overstates Criminality Among Immigrant Men Concludes Define American Study

Define American is an immigration nonprofit founded by Pulitzer-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas with the goal of examining how immigrants and immigration is portrayed in popular culture. The organization has released Immigrants and Immigration: A Guide for Entertainment Professionals as a 19-page brief that examines current key issues in immigration law including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the U visa for victims of violent crimes.

“Immigration is the most controversial yet least understood issue in America today. That’s why it’s crucial for Define American to publish a resource for members of the entertainment industry to better understand immigration and more accurately portray immigrants,” says Elizabeth Grizzle Voorhees, who joined Define American as its inaugural entertainment media director last summer. “These tools are written specifically for creative professionals, and we hope they will lead to increased representation and more humanized storytelling in television and film.”

Define American has also released a scorecard on the state of immigration representation on television, taken from The Opportunity Agenda’s study of 40 popular broadcast, cable and streaming shows that aired between April 2014 and June 2016.

Trump Ignites High Tech Relocation To Canada, Determined To Make Canada Great Again

Canada moved immediately when Trump issued his immigration ban -- helping US companies to set up shop in Canada. Trump knows this fact, as it started in Feb/March when I first wrote about it. This asshat American president will create not only a tech brain drain but also our doctors. His day of reckoning is coming, and I expect his voters and also the Dems who supported him to explain to the country how they let this happen. Alas, being one of the elites they love to hate, I knew this would happen and began tracking the migration to Canada right after the inauguration.

Politico writes:

President Donald Trump has moved to cut legal immigration by half over the next decade, increase security along the border, build a wall with Mexico, ban travel indefinitely from several countries and overturn DACA, the Obama-era policy that grants work permits to undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country as minors. The Trump administration has also suggested limiting “startup visas” for high-tech entrepreneurs entering the United States, and massively cutting America’s funding for scientific research. Trump’s aggressive “America first” posture on trade and international diplomacy has transformed the United States into something of a pariah nation, out of touch with the basic norms and values of advanced democracies."

Nor only has Canada has opened centers for refugees streaming over the border in northern New York State from the United States, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally welcoming some of them to the country. As AOC noted right after Trump's inauguration, Canada is specifically recruiting the skilled, ambitious talent that drives innovation and economic growth, with a particular target on top thinkers and workers in technology and industry, and also doctors. Canadian universities—ranked among the world’s best in fields like computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and artificial intelligence—are successively recruiting foreign students, who in turn are matriculating in Canada at higher levels than before Trump’s election. Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are attracting more venture capital to fund the nation's tech industry, on par with American tech hubs like Seattle and Austin, write Richard Florida and Joshua Gans for Politico.

Karly Loyce Hugs Tailored Looks In 'Tinted Love' By Emma Tempest For Porter Magazine Fall 2017

Karly Loyce Hugs Tailored Looks In 'Tinted Love' By Emma Tempest For Porter Magazine Fall 2017

Model Karly Loyce goes fashion forward with a new perspective in 'Tinted Love', styled by Maya Zepinic. Photographer Emma Tempest captures the modern tailoring against centuries of weathered living for Porter Magazine Fall 2017./ Hair by Ali Pirzadeh; makeup by Janeen Witherspoon

Imaan Hammam In Jamaica By Oliver Hadlee Pearch For Vogue.com May 2017

Imaan Hammam In Jamaica By Oliver Hadlee Pearch For Vogue.com May 2017

Top model Imaan Hammam heads to Port Antonio, Jamaica on the country's northeast coast, for a magical, colorful,  kid-inclusive fashion shoot styled by Sara Moonves in Prada, Proenza Schouler, Fendi, Oscar de la Renta and more . Oliver Hadlee Pearch captures the island action for Vogue.com May 2017./ Hair by Jawara Wauchope; makeup by Emi Kaneko

Meet Chloe & Halle Bailey, Lensed By Matthew Sprout For InStyle June 2017

Meet Chloe & Halle Bailey, Lensed By Matthew Sprout For InStyle June 2017

R&B talents, YouTube stars and Beyonce proteges Chloe & Halle Bailey are styled by James Valeri in Matthew Sprout images for InStyle June 2017./ Makeup by Fiona Stiles; hair by Kim Mcallister