America the (Not-So) Beautiful: Model, Gerren Taylor Speaks On The Ugly Side of Fashion

As few as two years ago, you couldn't miss Gerren Taylor.

Dubbed "Baby Naomi" because of her striking resemblance to the catwalking legend, at only 12 years old, it seemed Gerren had taken a permanent seat on top of the modeling world. Appearances on Oprah, fashion show bookings and media coverage came quickly and then suddenly, almost just as quickly, Gerren disappeared.

Those who had come to know and love the baby-faced sensation wondered what dimmed the light of such a fast-rising star.

Now, the documentary America The Beautiful answers the question: Taylor was shunned by the industry because of her size.

"...at the heart of "America the Beautiful" is Gerren, a teen model who got labeled "obese" by the fashion industry at age 14 — as a 6-foot size 4. With a résumé that includes modeling for international designers such as Roberto Cavalli, Richard Tyler, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Nicole Miller and Catherine Malandrino, Gerren went head to head with an industry obsessed with thinness. She was measured in London with 96-centimeter (37.8 inches) hips and told she had to be 90 centimeters (35.4 inches) or under to model in Paris. (Then as now, she weighs 130 pounds.) Even Gerren's mountains of supermodel media coverage — including appearances on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Entertainment Tonight" and "Extra" — couldn't get her past the power of the tape measure." --Los Angeles Times

Not one to be deterred, Gerren is reportedly focused on continuing to pursue an early passion, acting---she remains one of Denzel Washington's most adorable co-stars--and will be featured in the BET reality series Baldwin Hills.

Jill Scott and Nzingha Stewart take on 'Hate'

From The Cocoa Lounge



Trailblazing music video director, Nzingha Stewart, has been tapped to direct Jill Scott's latest video for the soon-to-be-released, very hot single, Hate on Me. (.mp3) Performers from Common to Dashboard Confessional have benefited from Nzingha's artistry over the years.

Here's one of our favorite Nzingha-directed videos as of yet: Her crisp, black and white vision of Bilal's, Soul Sista.

The Black Model Museum [#003]: The Beauty Dynasty

From The Cocoa Lounge

Three generations of fashion industry giants.

In one historic snapshot, circa 2001, Vanity Fair Photographer Annie Leibovitz captured over 30 years of black beauty from all around the globe. To us, it was one of the most relevant images published in the magazine in years.

(Models pictured. Front Row (l to r) : Gail O'neal, Karen Alexander, Shakara Ledard, Clara Benjamin Naomi Campbell, Iman, Second Row: (l to r) Kadra, Kara Young, Cynthia Bailey, Tyra Banks, Liya Kebede, Beverly Johnson Third Row: (standing) (l to r:) Oluchi, Katoucha, Adia, Noemie Lenoir

Isn't She 'Lovely?' Brand New Amel Larrieux

From The Cocoa Lounge

(Amel Larrieux releases Lovely Standards.)

In certain circles, the name Amel Larrieux is either followed or preceded by three words: "I love her." Her voice is pure air. She's Neo-Soul music's resident chameleon; which has been her greatest legacy as well as a slight detriment. Refusing to fit into one particular box may have cost her mainstream success over the years, but is exactly why hardcore fans like us keep coming back for more.

Her newest project, released just this week, Lovely Standards, represents her grand entrance into the jazz arena. Larrieux takes a gentle approach to popular and rare standards; with a light and breathy vocal that soars. With a take on Nina Simone's Wild Is The Wind, that would impress the High Priestess of Soul herself, Amel Larrieux takes on a songbook of giants note-for-note, and simply whispers them to sleep.

Here's one of our favorite Amel Larrieux throwbacks: The video, Get Up!




For more Amel Larrieux: Her Official Site, Groove Theory Biography, Maatkara Animated Web Series

Fresh Face [#013]: Regine Nehy and Serena Reeder

From The Cocoa Lounge



Regine Nehy and Serena Reeder both made splashes earlier this year in the Sundance-premiered Weapons, a tale about drugs and violence in small-town youth. The film, starring Nick Cannon and Little Miss Sunshine's Paul Dano, swept starletts Nehy and Reeder into the limelight and on the fast-track to Hollywood success.

Grey's Anatomy fans may remember Philly native, Reghine Nehy, from a dramatic guest starring role as a pregnant teen; or as the only female swimmer on the Marcus Foster swim team in Pride, the drama based on a true story.

Julliard graduate, Serena Reeder's breakthrough role was as 50 cent's murdered, drug-addicted mother in Get Rich or Die Tryin. She will later star opposite Hollywood greats, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, in the highly-anticipated film, The Bucket List.

Get to know these Fresh Faces, because you'll be seeing a lot more of them soon.

Saturday Soul: The Clark Sisters '82

From The Cocoa Lounge

Performing Is My Living in Vain in the Bay Area circa 1982, here are the amazing Clark Sisters in their youth. 25 years later, their voices are still Pure Gold.

WARNING: This is Gospel Music. Clicking on this link will take you directly to church! Hallelujah!

Mara Brock Akil gets the Green Light

(Mara Brock Akil)

At a time when television shows are lucky to last a season, Mara Brock Akil has struck gold not once but twice. Both her CW network series, Girlfriends and its spinoff, The Game, were given the greenlight for another year, with Girlfriends approaching a history-making 8th season.


(Golden Brooks, Tracee Ellis Ross and Persia White, of Girlfriends)


(Tia Mowry, star of The Game)

With her series Girlfriends, Akil became one of the youngest female African American television creators and remains as one of only a handful currently working in television today. Mara continues to make TV history and doesn't look remotely close to stopping anytime soon.

Gotta Love Those Jacksons!

Though scandal has plagued the Jackson clan over the last few years, it's clips like this (from their 1970s variety show) that explain what made this family amazing.

Who but the Jackson dynasty, which included a young Michael and pint-sized Janet, could get down with the legendary Nicholas Brothers and make tap dancing look like childs play? Is it just us, our is Michael Jackson, hands-down, one of the greatest dancers to ever exist...? Watch the entire Jackson family (minus Joe and his wife, Katherine) hoof it up with the fiery Nicholas brothers.

Hitting High Notes: Rhianna and Ciara

From The Cocoa Lounge


The next R&B supergroup? Nope. It's just singers Rhianna and Ciara backstage at MTV's TRL.

There are many older women in the industry who could learn a lesson from these two young ladies: Just because you're competitors, doesn't mean you can't be civil.

Trapped in The Folds: The Problem with Today's Magazine Covers

(Model, Chanel Iman, on the Cover fold of Vogue)

American Vogue's recent "The Worlds Next Top Models" cover got us thinking about a problem that has been plaguing the publishing industry since someone got the grand idea of extending a magazine's cover: The Fold.


"The Fold" has always suggested that the person(s) who occupied that space were either (a) not quite famous enough to carry a cover (b) not quite cute enough for the much-coveted front page or (c) just too "ethnic."


(Actresses Rosario Dawson, Ziyi Zhang and Kerry Washington in the Fold of Vanity Fair)

Whatever the case, literally marginalizing (particularly) black people to the folds is a practice that is not only archaic but slighting. It's gotten to the point where anytime we see a magazine with a fold, we can assume that at least one person of color is included on it. Either an individual makes the cover or they don't, and relegating us to the 'well, you almost made it' space is no real consolation.


(All 3 Heroes cast members of African descent, Noah Gray-Cabey, Leonard Roberts and Tawny Cypress find themselves in the fold)

So to Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, Emmy and others who come from the 'push 'em to the right' school of publication, we'd like to let you know that we're watching and we're definitely aware...

Saturday Soul: Stephanie McKay

From The Cocoa Lounge



If the arts were a sport, Stephanie McKay would be something like a heptathlete. The Bronx native studied dance at the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; contributed her vocals to artists ranging from The Brooklyn Funk Essentials, Talib Kweli and Mos Def to Tricky; and as if that weren't enough, she's even played lead guitar in Kelis' band.

Please enjoy Stephanie McKay's music video, "Take Me Over:"

Don't Worry, Be Nappy!

From The Cocoa Lounge

We were going to try to let the storm of the whole Don Imus controversy blow by without getting our hair mussed, but...



Now that we've officially washed this situation out of our hair, let's get on to celebrating it!:


Fabulous Fros: 1. Singer, Janelle Monae 2. Model, Jordan Richardson 3. Singer, Erykah Badu 4. Singer, Lizz Wright 5. Singer, Georgia Anne Muldrow 6. Rapper, Ms. Lauryn Hill.

For further reading:

"Nappy-headed? Now those are fighting words," by Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell.