How We Arrived At A $1 Billion Annual Price Tag To Save Africa’s Lions

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How We Arrived At A $1 Billion Annual Price Tag To Save Africa’s Lions

By Luke Hunter, Chief Conservation Officer of Panthera, Research Associate, University of KwaZulu-Natal Research Fellow; originally published on The Conversation

A billion dollars. That’s approximately what it would cost, to save the African lion. That’s a billion dollars each year, every year into the foreseeable future.

The startling price tag comes from a calculation we did, starting with a new database we compiled of available funding in protected areas with lions. To our knowledge it’s the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of its kind.

Protected areas are the cornerstone of conservation yet we found that most of Africa’s extraordinary parks face grave funding shortfalls. Parks without funding often become protected in name only. Their staff, including the rangers and guards on the frontlines, simply cannot function without funds that pay for working equipment, rations, petrol and to keep the electricity running. Sometimes even salaries go unpaid.

Using the conservation needs of lions as a proxy for wildlife more generally, we compiled a dataset of funding in Africa’s protected areas with lions and estimated a minimum target for conserving the species and managing the areas effectively.

'See Know Evil' Documentary By Charles Curran Revisits Davide Sorrenti Story & Rise Of Heroin Chic

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'See Know Evil' Documentary By Charles Curran Revisits Davide Sorrenti Story & Rise Of Heroin Chic

On May 20, 1997, Amy M. Spindler wrote for the New York Times about the fatal heroin overdose of the promising young photographer David Sorrenti, 20. Spindler questioned the degree of complicity the entire fashion industry embraced in the advancement of the trend known as ‘heroin chic’.

Unlike the music industry, which has rallied with interventions and programs to get musicians off drugs, or the film industry, where known users have been subjected to drug tests for insurance on movies, the fashion industry has done little to combat the problem among the young in its ranks. The only event mounted to commemorate Mr. Sorrenti's death was a photo exhibition in his memory, called the ''Art of Fashion Photography,'' at a Flatiron district studio during March fashion week in New York. The drugged-looking photos from Detour were on view at that show.

In May 1997, President Clinton denounced the American fashion industry for cynically abusing teenagers and helping spread heroin usage to a new and younger group of people. “Some fashion leaders are admitting flat-out that images projected in fashion photos in the last few years have made heroin addiction seem glamorous and sexy and cool," President Clinton stated. “And as some of the people in those images start to die now, it's become obvious that is not true. The glorification of heroin is not creative, it's destructive. It's not beautiful, it is ugly. And this is not about art, it's about life and death. And glorifying death is not good for any society.”

As his name implies, Davide Sorrenti came from a family of photographers including his mother Francesca, his older brother Mario and sister, Vanina — “the Corleones” of fashion photography according to Francesca. His girlfriend and muse at the time Jaime King had her own struggles with heroin use, writes Models.com.

A key reason for the Naples-born Sorrenti family coming to New York in the early 1980s was Davide’s painful blood condition, Cooley’s anemia. The disease required frequent blood transfusions and caused the young Sorrenti to look even younger than his age.

Last week Charlie Curran premiered his seven-year-in-the-making documentary “See Know Evil”, a film attempting to tell Davide’s story, at Manhattan’s SVA Theatre, A second screening was held Thursday night, November 15.

Eye: Beyoncé's Parkwood Entertainment Buys Out Sir Philip Green's 50% Stake In Ivy Park Amid #MeToo Claims

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Eye: Beyoncé's Parkwood Entertainment Buys Out Sir Philip Green's 50% Stake In Ivy Park Amid #MeToo Claims

Earlier this week, Ivy Park, the sporty brand owned by Beyonce and Sir Philip Green, the chairman of the conglomerate of Arcadia, that owns Topshop, released its Resort 2019 lookbook.

Behind the scenes, choppy waters threatened to capsize the business love boat, as Green was named as the man center stage in Britain’s newest high-profle #MeToo story. In spite of a court-ordered gag order, Lord Peter Hain, a member of Parliament, named Green in the House of Lords, saying felt it was his “duty under parliamentary privilege to name Philip Green as the individual in question given that the media have been subject to an injunction preventing publication of the full details of this story which is clearly in the public interest.” He also said the allegations were of a “serious and repeated” nature and he had them heard from someone “intimately involved in the case.” via The Cut.

The Telegraph has spent the past eight months investigating Green’s multiple accusations of sexual harassment, racially-based abuse, bullying, and misuse of non-disclosure agreements to hide his misdeeds.  

Hours ago on Thursday Novembefr 15, Beyoncé’s Ivy Park became solely owned by her company Parkwood Entertainment, after she acquired Green’s 50 percent share of the label, launched with Green in 2016. The BBC reports have been that activists — including Equality Now — have been pressuring Beyoncé’s camp to divest from the partnership, pointing out her avowed allegiance to feminist principles.

“Beyoncé has put herself forward as a women’s rights activist. She and her team need to look closely at these allegations,” Equality Now’s Yasmeen Hassan told the BBC in October.

Another activist, Nimco Ali, said: "Beyoncé should say 'I don't want to work with Philip Green'."

Adut Akech Covers Vogue Australia December 2018 With In-Depth Look At Life + Family

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Adut Akech Covers Vogue Australia December 2018 With In-Depth Look At Life + Family

It’s been a phenomenal time for Adelaide, Australia’s rising star model Adut Akech. Launched as a Saint Laurent exclusive beginning in September 2016, she became the second black woman to ever close a Chanel fashion show, finding herself center stage with Karl Lagerfeld in the Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2018 presentation. In between these major fashion career milestones, Adut was center stage in Tim Walker’s 2018 Pirelli calendar, with its first all-black cast.

Now the former refugee finds herself on the cover of Vogue Australia’s December issue, in a feature about her life, her friends and family, even her school. Adut is also one of four models covering separate issues of British Vogue’s December issue.

Jillian Davison styles Adut, with photography by Charles Dennington. Alice Birrell conducts the interview.

Ethiopia's Woman President Sahle-Work Zewde Joins Progressive PM Abiy Ahmed To Level Gender Playing Field

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Ethiopia's Woman President Sahle-Work Zewde Joins Progressive PM Abiy Ahmed To Level Gender Playing Field

By Yohannes Gedamu, Lecturer of Political Science, Georgia Gwinnett College; originally published on The Conversation Africa

Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took over from Hailemariam Desalegn in April 2018, Ethiopia has experienced a rapid pace of political reforms. So far, save for the unfortunate incidents of ethnic violenceacross the country, the changes made by the new administration have been nothing short of breathtaking.

Under Abiy’s leadership, a historic peace deal was reached with neighbouring Eritrea. At home, his administration has freed all political prisoners while also promising to reform some of the country’s harsh laws.

In addition, the new premier has also vowed to transform the country’s state-led economy by outlining a proposal for the partial privatisation of Ethiopia’s state enterprises. Privatisation would open up opportunities for competition, and raise funds for the country’s major development programs.

Most recently Abiy’s ongoing political reforms have included the recognition of Ethiopia’s female leaders. He has taken great strides to ensure that woman are represented in Ethiopia’s political landscape. The last four weeks in particular have seen spectacular breakthroughs. These ranged from cabinet appointments to women being chosen as president, chief justice and press secretary to the prime minister. All unprecedented – in Ethiopia as well as the continent more broadly.

'Fearless Girl' Wears A Bulletproof Vest, The Newest Fashion Must-Have For Students Of All Ages

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'Fearless Girl' Wears A Bulletproof Vest, The Newest Fashion Must-Have For Students Of All Ages

Wall Street’s beloved ‘Fearless Girl’ got a makeover in advance of Tuesday’s election — and days before this week’s slaughter of 12 mostly young people in a shooting late Wednesday at a bar in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Artist Manuel Oliver gave New York’s most famous symbol of women’s empowerment some extra armor last Friday, dressing her in a bulletproof vest broadcasting the hashtag #FearfulGirl.

Oliver’s son Joaquin ‘Guac’ Oliver was murdered along with 16 other victims in the Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

“She can’t be fearless if she’s afraid to go to school,” wrote Change the Ref, Oliver’s pro-gun control nonprofit, on Twitter, about the rebranded “#FearfulGirl.” The organization is dedicated to using “urban art and nonviolent creative confrontation to expose the disastrous effects of the mass shooting pandemic,” according to its website.

Naomi Campbell Is 'Wild At Heart' In Chris Colls Images For Vogue Arabia November 2018

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Naomi Campbell Is 'Wild At Heart' In Chris Colls Images For Vogue Arabia November 2018

Supermodel Naomi Campbell is styled by Jenke Ahmed Tailly in ‘Wild At Heart’, lensed by Chris Colls for Vogue Arabia November 2018./ Hair by Ro Morgan; makeup by Pat McGrath

Naomi is interviewed by Selina Julien in a look back at her stellar, three decades career. She was “the first black model to appear on the cover of Vogue Paris in 1988 and on Vogue US’s coveted September issue in 1989 – the 1.78m Londoner has been paving the way for the next generation in her own imitable style.” Adding to the reflection as a then exec at Victoria’s Secret, I can say that Naomi was the first black model to appear solo in marketing materials in the holiday windows of all VS retail stores. I believe she was the first black model to ever appear in VS windows, but my memory should be checked.

Campbell doesn’t shy away from discussing the issue of diversity in the industry, writes Julien. “I’m never going to say I wasn’t picked because of the color of my skin and I’d never go down that route, even if it was the case,” she says defiantly. “It would just give me more strength and perseverance for me to go out there and get what I want.” Teaming up with fellow veterans of the modeling world Iman and Bethann Hardison, “the trio champions inclusion to ensure that the number of black and Asian women on magazine covers, on runways, and in campaigns is balanced.”

Iman reflected on their infamous 2013 letter to the fashion industry in her recent Porter Edit Interview.

On Nov. 6 Election Day, Anne Hopes Cat & Dog Shoes Lovers Land A Knockout Punch On Trump

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On Nov. 6 Election Day, Anne Hopes Cat & Dog Shoes Lovers Land A Knockout Punch On Trump

Writing just now about the Louis Vuitton x Grace Coddington collab called Catogram, inspired me to reflect on my mouse shoes and their Manhattan intersection with a so-called master of the universe.

On this epic voting day in America, we have 1) a chance to smash rudeness, lies and white nationalism in the face in a blow to Donald Trump; 2) to stand for feline truth. You ALWAYS know where you stand with a cat, and there is no such thing as emotional fakery; and 3) love for humanity with a devoted dog who has your back.

While America is a nation with many faults, today will tell the world whether or not America still has a soul. Is she really the nation of promise I’ve fought for all these years, or does she have a fundamentally racist, angry, white nationalist, cold and frozen heart.

America’s true values are on the ballot today, so let me share a smile-worthy moment with a New York man with a heart — unlike Trump’s empty tin can contraption that keeps him alive, but has never in life had a real tuneup.

A Master of the Universe Meets My Parisian Mouse Shoes by Anne Aug. 11, 2011

These ‘Smoking Cat Wedges’ come from London-based luxury accessories designer Charlotte Olympia. Mine were mice. I bought them in Paris during the 80s, and I positively adored them. My mice shoes were fully fitted with eyes, whiskers and tails.

Wearing them on the sidewalks of New York, I knew my mouse tails weren’t long for this world. A sensible woman would have kept her Parisian mouse shoes for special occasions, but mine were pounding the pavement in days. Within weeks, one tail was AWOL.

Whose NYC Sidewalk Is This?

I have a major pet peeve with aggressive men in New York. You know the guy — he walks in the wrong direction on your side of the sidewalk, assuming that you will get out of his way, in order to avoid a major collision. It usually works, and women not only defer but say ‘I’m sorry’ as a Manhattan master of the universe mows the little people down.

Tallahassee Shooter Of Six Women, Killing Two, Had History of Incel Ideology & Misogyny

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DR. NANCY VAN VESSEM (L) AND MAURA BINKLEY (R). PHOTO: TBH/FACEBOOK

Tallahassee Shooter Of Six Women, Killing Two, Had History of Incel Ideology & Misogyny

While Trump tries to scare the hell out of women over immigrants, he doesn't mention the white dude firing on six women -- killing Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, 61, who worked at Florida State University’s College of Medicine, and FSU student Maura Binkley, 21. -- in a yoga studio in Tallahassee on Friday.

NY Mag writes that the assassin -- who killed himself -- left a digital footprint of right-wing extremism and references to the anti-women 'incel ideology'. There is a strong probability that this unreported attack due to Tues. elections is the fourth attack by a right-wing extremist in the US in less than 2 weeks.

Facts-driven people know that right-wing extremism is a far greater threat to women than refugees. The Friday shooter Scott Paul Beierle, 40, shot one of the women six times. The Florida graduate and military veteran has a history of harassing young women, including two arrests for groping in 2012 and 2016.

Buzzfeed  News characterized the shooter as “a far-right extremist and self-proclaimed misogynist who railed against women, black people, and immigrants in a series of online videos and songs”:

In 2014, Beierle filmed several videos of himself in a You Tube channel, offering extremely racist and misogynistic opinions, in which he called women “sluts” and “whores,” and lamented “the collective treachery” of girls he had went to high school with.”

Jennifer Lopez Lights A Sexy Torch In Valentino Haute Couture For InStyle Magazine December 2018

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Jennifer Lopez Lights A Sexy Torch In Valentino Haute Couture For InStyle Magazine December 2018

Superstar Jennifer Lopez has scored another knockout in green, getting maximum internet exposure in a sequin Valentino Haute Couture cape and nothing more for the December 2018 issue of InStyle Magazine. Well, okay, Jenny from the block is wearing a few diamonds.

In her interview with Christopher Bagley, Lopez speaks about her own body image and her positive influence on culture’s embrace of curvier figures. "In my family, curves were glorified and part of the culture," Jennifer tells Bagley. "It was just like, 'Jennifer has a big butt, and it's good.'"

In summing up her style, Lopez says “I always like to mix the glam with a bit of the hood.”

Speaking of the hood, the New York native says: ““If I didn’t have certain ambitions, I might have gotten married after high school and had kids and decided to get a job at a bank in Castle Hill, like my aunt did. It’s just that I had dreams and ideas that were different.”

Anthony Maule flashes Jenny from the block drenched in jewel

November 1 Google Global Walkout Demands End To Sexual Harassment and Systemic Racism In 'Destructive' Corporate Culture

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November 1 Google Global Walkout Demands End To Sexual Harassment and Systemic Racism In 'Destructive' Corporate Culture

At 11:10 am, Thursday morning November 1, thousands of Google employes worldwide stood up and walked out of their offices as participants in the Google Walkout. The global demonstration was triggered over their employer’s mishandling of sexual-misconduct allegations that surrounded Android creator Andy Rubin.

The Rubin case is not new. On October 25, the New York Times publishing a damning exposé that revealed Google had paid a shocking $90 million to Android creator Andy Rubin, who resigned in 2014 following a sexual-misconduct investigation. Per the report, Rubin “coerced [a female co-worker] into performing oral sex in a hotel room” in 2013 — allegations she reported a year later, which Google investigated and found credible.

Beyond the $90 million payout, Google’s then chief executive Larry Page celebrated Rubin’s career, without making public the reason for his departure. Page demanded Rubin’s resignation, after details of the situation between two Google execs was revealed. Rubin’s case is one of three high-profile Google executives accused of sexual misconduct charges.

Carey Mulligan Talks Hollywood's Aversion To Immoral Women, Lensed By Sebastian Kim For Porter Edit Nov. 2, 2018

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Carey Mulligan Talks Hollywood's Aversion To Immoral Women, Lensed By Sebastian Kim For Porter Edit Nov. 2, 2018

English actor Carey Mulligan is known for playing complex, headstrong heroines, but in real life Mulligan often worried that she was in over her head. Mulligan is styled by Natasha Royt in heritage-style knits and cozy coats from Sacai, Vanessa Bruno, The Row, Prada, Acne Studios and more.

Sebastian Kim is behind the lens for Porter Edit November 2, 2018. Emma Sells conducts the interview.

We now expect articulate conversations in Porter Edit, and Mulligan’s is no different. On multiple fronts, Hollywood women are speaking out.

Her latest film, Wildlife, is directed by actor Paul Dano, who co-wrote the script with his partner, Zoe Kazan (both long-time friends of Mulligan). Based on the novel by Richard Ford, it’s set in 1960s Montana and charts the breakdown of the marriage between long-suffering housewife Jeanette (Mulligan) and her husband, Jerry (played by Jake Gyllenhaal). “I just thought she was such a rarely seen character,” says Mulligan. “She has an affair, she makes mistakes, she’s not perfect. You don’t see women messing up like that and being human, really. I’ve done jobs before where there’ve been interesting parts of the character that have been smoothed and removed in the edit like Botox, and the director says, ‘Yeah, we tested it and [the audience] really don’t like it when she’s not nice.’ Morally objectionable choices seem to be filtered out quite a lot for women. Not for men. For men, it’s quite sexy and cool that they’re craggy and stinking of smoke. But for women, it’s like ‘Oooh, no.’”

Jessica Chastain Fronts 'Sisterhood of Leaders' Film In Ralph Lauren 'Woman' Fragrance #LeadLikeaWoman Campaign

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Star actor and Ralph Lauren ‘Woman’ fragrance ambassador Jessica Chastain presents ‘Sisterhood of Leaders’ as part of the brand’s ‘Lead Like a Woman’ campaign, launched in May 2018. The spot attempts to tear down what could be a male-conceived, self-serving belief that women do not support each other.

Starring powerful women from different industries, Chastain is joined by jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer, chef Dominique Crenn, producer Stephanie Allain, director Catherine Hardwicke and more outstanding women who discuss what happens when strong women support strong women. The short film also attacks the myth that women supporting women is atypical behavior.

Oprah Heads To Georgia As Maya Angelou's Words Remind Us To Use Our Anger By Voting

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OPRAH URGES HER 42 MILLION TWITTER FANS TO HEAD TO THE POLLS, SITTING ALONGSIDE HER LONGTIME FRIEND, NBC NEWS’ MARIA SHRIVER IN A NEW PUBLIC SERVICE AD. THE MEDIA MOGUL SAYS ABOUT VOTING “OUR COUNTRY DEPENDS UPON IT.”

Oprah Heads To Georgia As Maya Angelou's Words Remind Us To Use Our Anger By Voting

A Fragile American Dream

AOC’s reflection on ‘Maya’s Quilt of Life’ comes when Oprah Winfrey is headed to Georgia on Thursday, where she will campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. The candidate is deadlocked in a tight race with current Georgia secretary of state Republican Brian Kemp.

Oprah urges her 42 million Twitter fans to head to the polls, sitting alongside her longtime friend, NBC News’ Maria Shriver in a new public service ad. The media mogul says about voting “Our country depends upon it.”

“We’re both independents. I don’t think a lot of people know that,” Winfrey — who endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election and called herself a “100 percent supporter” of his during the 2012 race — told the camera.

Oprah will join Stacey Abrams at two town hall conversations, according to BuzzFeed News. And like Will Farrell before her this week, Oprah will spend time knocking on doors.

Not only would Abrams become the first African American woman elected as a US governor, her Republican opponent Brian Kemp as already been found guilty of substantial voter suppression efforts in the state of Georgia. Kemp has once again put the state’s minority voters under siege, as the courts have stepped in yet again to insure a reasonably fair and honest election in the state.

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Across America, millions of citizens are heeding the words of Maya Angelou, and will declare — one way or the other next Tuesday — the state of America’s soul, civic spirit and historical progress on the rights of all people, not only white people:

“If you’re not angry, you’re either a stone, or you’re too sick to be angry. You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn’t do anything to the object of its displeasure. So use that anger, yes. You write it. You paint it. You dance it. You march it. You vote it. You do everything about it. You talk it. Never stop talking it.”

AOC shares this commitment to never shut up, because the future of America depends upon truthful voices as white nationalism threatens to sweep our beloved country.

Priyanka Chopra's Nick Jonas Bridal Shower Lights Up Tiffany & Co's Blue Box Cafe

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Priyanka Chopra's Nick Jonas Bridal Shower Lights Up Tiffany & Co's Blue Box Cafe

Tiffany & Company has figured front and center in the engagement of Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra. In a scene straight out of Sweet Home Alabama writes Vogue, Jonas reportedly shut down the jeweler’s London store in order to purchase his bride’s engagement ring in privacy.

Tiffany & Co’s flagship store on New York’s Fifth Avenue was the scene of Priyanka Chopra’s bridal shower at the fourth floor Blue Box Cafe, hosted by bridesmaids Anjula Acharia and Mubina Rattonsey. The Sunday event welcomed about 100 people including Chopra’s future sister-in-law Danielle Jonas, Kelly Ripa, and Lupita Nyong’o.

Charlize Theron Launches J’Adore Absolu Lady Squad Sensual Goddesses Campaign

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The dazzling Charlize Theron continues in her relationship with Dior Parfums as the face of J’Adore Absolu fragrance. In an interview so long and spilling over with candid observations that we will publish it tomorrow in AOC Women In-Depth, Charlize Theron manages to turn a discussion with Harper’s Bazaar UK about her new J’adore Absolu campaign into an extended conversation about diversity and femininity on-screen. Stay tuned.

The film was directed by Romain Gavras, and is a true tribute to the beauty and community of women. Over the song “Flashing Lights” by Kanye West, the new-look lady squad shows off their proud prowess. 

The new Dior J'adore L’absolu campaign, where Theron is seen bathing in a pool of gold, reminds us of the famous 1999 campaign featuring the supermodel Carmen Kass. This time, though, the sensual-yet-powerful character Theron portrays is not alone, as she was in the 2011 campaign below — Anne’s favorite. Theron is surrounded by a diverse array of women who share an ethereal quality. The scene is inspired by the painting ‘The Turkish Bath’ by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. Both the campaign and artwork integrate the eroticism of the naked female form into the relaxed sensual communion that women share apart from the male gaze.

IMAN Talks Models Of Color In Fashion With Porter Edit Oct. 26, 2018: We've Come A Long Way, Baby

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IMAN Talks Models Of Color In Fashion With Porter Edit Oct. 26, 2018: We've Come A Long Way, Baby

Porter Edit’s October 26 2018 issue turns its focus on supermodel, makeup entrepreneur, humanitarian and champion of black women’s rights: IMAN. Tracy Taylor styles the fashion icon in trench coats and utilitarian suitings from Michael Kors, Victoria Beckham, Joseph, Chloe and more for images by Hanna Tveite.

Jane Mulkerrings conducts the interview that touches on many topics from IMAN’s discovery by legendary photographer Peter Beard to her constant grief over the loss of her husband David Bowie.

It’s her focus on the fashion industry and her own activism on behalf of models of color that demands our focus, educating even me on the activism of IMAN, Bethann Hardison and Naomi Campbell’s launching of a campaign in September 2013 to force a reckoning over the dearth of models of color on the catwalk.

At AOC we see this pace of a primary place for models of color in the fashion industry escalating dramatically in 2017-2018. IMAN is totally correct is affirming that the changes are not only visible but blindingly so. It’s dazzling, frankly. Nobody gets a gold star for taking what was the right path all along. Nevertheless, the changes are breathtaking and a moment of joy for me personally as a citizen of Trumplandia.

AOC Women of Color Model Archives

New Bride Karlie Kloss and Momofuku Milk Bar's Christina Tosi's Wedding Cake Go Way Back

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New Bride Karlie Kloss and Momofuku Milk Bar's Christina Tosi's Wedding Cake Go Way Back

Today’s brides have a passion for naked cakes and Momofuku Milk Bar is leading the trend, offering patisseries for wedding days!

The Milk Bar made big news recently, supplying the wedding cake for Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner’s quiet, surprise nuptials last week for 80 guests in upstate New York. The couple will hold a much larger reception in the spring.

The Milk Bar wedding cake is no surprise for Karlie because she has worked closely with the brand in the past and is good friends with the bakery's owner Christina Tosi. In 2012, with help from Tosi, Kloss created her very own Milk Bar cookie called Karlie's Perfect 10 Kookie. At the time, all the proceeds earned from the treats benefited FEED Project. The newlywed's special creation is still available at Milk Bar.

In a late September 2018 interview on Eater, Christina Tosi shares her strategies for fundraising and growth.