Natural Beauty: Janelle Monae is the Newest CoverGirl

Entertainer Janelle Monae is one of the newest CoverGirl models. She'll be joining the easy, breezy, beautiful ranks of Black women spokesmodels including Tyra Banks, Queen Latifah, and Rihanna. 

 Janelle says her style icons include FLOTUS, Dorothy Dandridge, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Kate Hepburn.

"I truly want to help redefine what it means to be a strong and beautiful woman in the music and fashion worlds. I'd love to encourage all women to embrace the wonderful things that make us unique. Becoming a CoverGirl is truly a gift--it opens up a new platform for me to inspire women to feel stronger, braver and more beautiful inside and out. I want everyone woman to know in her heart that she is already a CoverGirl," says Monae.

What's the best advice she's ever been given? "You are only as beautiful as the many beautiful things you do for others without expectation."

Well said. But how could we expect anything less from such a unique performer who can actually sing. [And one who wears clothes!] 

 You can see more of the photos here and the behind the scenes pictures here.    

Beauty of Black Women to Be Featured in Upcoming Book

Paul Phillips, a Harlem photographer, will be creating "Beauty in Black."  

In the coffee table book, he hopes to celebrate the beauty and tenacity of Black women in America.  

 

Phillips says he wants to photograph Black women from all walks of life, of different shapes, and of diverse shades.  In order to accomplish this, he will travel through out United States.

“I really want young girls to have a book they can go to and say 'This is what beauty is,' rather than having other people define it for them,” he said.  “I was raised by a strong black woman and I’m married to a strong black woman. So when I hear discouraging things about black women it disturbs me because I know they are wrong."     

We look forward to seeing how the project advances. 

Read more about the project here.