Ladybrille Web Snob 6/23 to 6/27/08

It's time for our weekly web snob. Why? Because you shouldn't have to surf the net and waste so much time to stay abreast of all things brilliant in the non-African fashion world! Here are the brilliant posts, for this week, from some of the top online fashion publishers/bloggers. Enjoy and have a brilliant weekend!

1. 55 Secret Street has a few Simple, Sexy Tops that You Can Wear With Jeans
2. A Few Goody GumDrops Is loving the macrame and diamond bracelets from theShamballa Jewels Collection .
3. Stiletto Jungle shows off 5 fashionista-worthy plus size dresses for summer.
4. All About the Pretty is ready for the beach with Henri Bendel's Beach Bag Event.
5. Angelina Jolie is most definitely still pregnant - Allie is Wired has the pics to prove it!
6. Bag Bliss on the Bow Bag Trend.
7. Get psyched for discount designer shopping with Cheap JAP's Top Five Reasons to Endure Century 21.
8. Coquette loves the summer look tiered ruffles.
9. Debutante Clothing takes a break from vintage to share her top 5 skin products from Drugstore.com
10. Fashion Indie has discovered another "it" designer. Check out Sani & Son
11. The offbeat fabulousness of Junko Shimada's designs has Fashiontribes completely obsessed.
12. I'm Not Obsessed shows you how to get Jessica Simpson's real outfit for $2,556 or the steal for $165.
13. KRiSTOPHER is wanting, wearing, and hating things for summer tripping.
14. My Fashion Life gushes over Mulberry's collection for AW08
15. Will men begin towear wedges and pumps? Papierblog looks at that very question.
16. Quinta Trends shows the work of Chilean designer Ignacio Lechuga. Just for men!.
17. Wanna find runway steals and sell like a pro on eBay? Check out Second City Style's interview with eBay Style Director Constance White for tips
18. StyleBakery.com wonders if gladiator sandals are worth the investment? These cheap chic finds are.
19. Stylehive deconstructs fashion icon Lou Doillon's impossibly chic, edgy look.
20. Stylenotes brings you the list of classic skirt silhouettes and our picks for the best of each style.
21. SugarShock Beauty has found a tweezer that's fit for serious brow pluckers and Bondgirls alike: the Tweezlight.
22. Sxy Fashion Queen adores Rihanna's style.
23. The Beauty Stop shows how to get 6 different lash looks with 1 tube of mascara.
24. The Coveted experiments with makingShoulder Pads into Hats!
25. The Fashionable Housewife is crazy about African Prints. Hard to find at affordable prices, but well worth the search!
26. The Shoe Goddess is loving Fendi's fall collection including these fab peep-toe straps!

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Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2008, Top 7 Moments + Brilliant Looks, Artists & Winners!

This weekend’s 2008 Nigeria Entertainment Awards [NEA]was chic, glamorous, fun and emphasized what most already know, "Africa has some of the most GORGEOUS women you’ll ever see!" Of course we were there and we bring you some of the brilliant moments, artists, winners and looks from this year's event!

TOP SEVEN BRILLIANT MOMENTS AT THE 2008 NEA AWARDS

#1. When recording artist Modele sang Nigeria’s National Anthem, beautiful!

#2. When Atlanta based Zainab performed “Moving on,” captivating!

#3. When Ndu, Canadian based R &B singer and rapper performed ‘Lil’ Poetry,” smooth!

#4. Absolutely brilliant and very funny was Comedian Basorge who won Best Comedian of the Year. A taste of his comedy? He highly anticipated visiting the UK. Ultimately, he was granted a visa to do so. He had a final destination/ address in the UK and had memorized it in anticipation for immigration in the UK. He gets to the UK and is greeted by immigration at the airport in the form of a white lady with a very strong british accent. He mimics her strong accent, which is unintelligible and gets a hearty laughter from the audience, asking him where he is going. After three failed attempts to understand what she is saying and fearing he will be sent back to Africa, he decides to play deaf and dumb.

In response to her questions, he mimics what has got be the funniest sounds and movements that a deaf and dumb person allegedly makes.

In response, she calls her supervisor and says, "we have a problem here. This man is deaf and dumb and has no address." The supervisor replies, "have you tried sign language?" She responds, "yes but he does not understand it." The supervisor says, "well if there is no address and he is deaf and dumb, then we will just have to send him back to Africa unless we can find someone to interpret." Comedian Basorge scored a hysterical laughter with his audicence when he said he broke out of his deaf and dumb character, immediately raised his hands and in a thick Nigerian accent said, "I will interpret!" because he was NOT going back to Africa!

#5-Fuji icon Adewale Ayuba doing an impromptu acapella of his hit "Raise The Roof" on stage as he prepared to present an award.

#6-Tosin Martins performing "Olo mi" and the ladies singing along with him.

#7-Eldee performing and having most of the audience respond by getting up and dancing along with him.

BRILLIANT EMERGING ARTISTS

These artists we felt had great cross over appeal and with time will be a global sensation:

1) Zaina- absolutely captivating, strong stage presence, style, presentation and lyrics. Simply terrific! Listen to her song "Moving on" here.

2) Modele- Strong! Her hit song Adara is simply amazing and she is one to watch for. Listen to her hit song, "Adara" here.

BRILLIANT 2008 NEA AWARDS WINNERS

Best Album of the Year: ASA by Asa

Hottest Single of the Year: Yahooze by Olu Maintain

Best New Act of the Year: TY Bello

Best Afro Pop Act of the Year: 9ice

Best Gospel Act of the Year: Dekunle Fuji

Music Producer of the Year: Dr Frabs

Best Music Video of the Year: Do Me by P Square

Best International Single of the Year: Spray Me Money Remix by Oladele ft Eldee

Best International Album of the Year: Chapter XIII by Keno

Best International Producer of the Year: T Money

Best International Music Video Of the Year: Wetin Man Go Do by Amplifyd Crew

International Event of the Year (Presented to a promoter): NRC Reunion

Best World DJ: DJ Humility

Best Comedian: Basorge

Best Film: Blessed Among Women

Best Actor: Olu Jacobs

Best Actress: Kate Henshaw

U.S Based Promoter of the Year: Tribe X Entertainment

BRILLIANT LOOKS AT THE 2008 NEA AWARDS

[All photos by Kolure images, unless otherwise stated]

We loved Maryland based recording artist Kecha's very cool belt.

Amplifyd crew

Dallas based African Kings. Absolutely hillarious to watch and we dug their hip-hop look.

Kemi Adetiba, Nigerian TV personality

Nominees Eldee in the middle and Oladele to the right
Remi Fagbohun (R), proprietor of the versatile shopper with husband Shola Adebayo Fagbohun
Tosin Martins being interviewed by the lovely Lola Adesioye of the Guardian, UK

NEA's President Tope Esan
Absolutely funny man with a fierce and smooth swagger, Basorge
Co-host of 2008 NEA Awards, Tatiana who was 2nd runner up in Big Brother Africa.
Gospel Artist Dekunle Fuji

Onyinye [L], Nollywood Actor Ramsey Noah & Supermodel Oluchi- Photo courtesy of Elfonnie
Ebbey Bassey
Fuji Legend Adewale Ayuba
Recording artist, Modele

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Oluchi, the Quintessential Supermodel-Preneur

It seemed like only yesterday when Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi won the 1998 Face of Africa Model Competition. Her win was significant not just because she would grace the covers of numerous publications or catwalk the runways across the globe, but because she would become the first Supermodel to emerge from West Africa. True to form as a Supermodel and after her win, the long legged beauty has become a fashion ambassador and icon for Africa.

Oluchi has graced the covers of Italian Vogue, i-D, ELLE, Untold, and Surface Magazines. She been featured in Nylon, Marie Claire, Allure, and other national editions of Vogue globally, strutted on runways of highly coveted designers such as John Galliano, Christian Dior, Costume National, Chanel, and Giorgio Armani in London, Milan, Tokyo and Paris; and posed for high-caliber photographers such as Steven Meisel, Nick Kight and Patrick Demarchelier.

Oluchi’s face is also recognizable as the face of campaigns for Gianfranco Ferré, Victoria's Secret, Gap, Express, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor. In honor of her achievements, LADYBRILLE.com pays tribute to the quintessential Supermodel "Preneur" with our heart to heart talk with her on work, family, business of fashion, politics and her deep love for Africa.

LADYBRILLE.com: Oluchi, I must say I am very proud of you. You have been such a delight to watch as you've evolved from a young girl to a full fledged woman/modela!
Oluchi: Thank you Uduak! I am proud of your work that is why I am a part of it.

LADYBRILLE.com: [Awwwwww. Thank you.] Share with us some of the key lessons you have learnt, so far, in your journey to the top?
Oluchi: Well, I have been in fashion for too long that I wonder if I have learnt anything. . .One thing that I do know for sure with fashion is that it is not about your current ADs or jobs. [I]t is about all that you are yet to achieve. So, I just apply that to every area of my life and it works.

LADYBRILLE.com: Oluchi, as far as I am concerned, African Models have been highly instrumental in putting Africa’s fashion industry and fashions on the world’s fashion map, from Iman , you, Alek, Waris Dirie and so many more. Can you cite some progress in Africa's Fashion industry and where do you think there are rooms for improvements.
Oluchi: My career as a model started in Africa. So, over the years, even though I was doing very well in Western countries, it has always been very fulfilling for me to be a part of Africa’s Fashion Industry. It has grown so much especially in South Africa where I think it is so much more structured than any other part of Africa. Nigeria is trying as well. We are looking forward to Lagos Fashion Week some time soon.

LADYBRILLE.com: Speaking of being a part of Africa’s Fashion Industry, one of the things I admire about you is that you are always giving back to Africa. Tell us about some of the projects you are currently involved in, in Africa?
Oluchi: I don't necessary have projects per se. I consider myself a global individual with a local heart for Africa. I was born and grew up in Nigeria for 17 years. Whatever I have to contribute to this world [will] only be for Africa. Right now, I co-own a modeling agency in Johannesburg, South Africa, O Model Africa, with hopes to do so much more.

LADYBRILLE.com: We will talk about O Model Africa in a minute but before that, you now hold a Bachelors in business, correct? NYU?
Oluchi: Actually, I am yet to graduate from NYU. I have a semester to go. Studying is a pleasure for me. I enjoy it. I just had to take a break from it. It was just too much with my precious little Prince [Oluchi just had a baby boy his name is Ugo], work, me and all that good stuff. But, I will go back in the Fall or Spring to finish. I have too much on my plate.

LADYBRILLE.com: I hear you. But, Congratulations so far!
Oluchi: Thank you.

LADYBRILLE.com: When did the vision for a modeling agency come about and why O Models Africa?
Oluchi: When I started modeling, the only African models that I knew of were Iman and Alek, both of whom I respect very much. But, I just felt they were imaginary. So when an amazing opportunity was given to me and I did well I did not want to be imaginary. I wanted to do more than the usual charity. I wanted to empower young adult women to make a living at an early age so they can have a voice of their own even if they do not make it to the Western countries like I did. That is why I created O Model Africa. I have intentions of doing so much more . . . I am working on it.

LADYBRILLE.com: Do you plan to expand O Model Africa to other African countries?
Oluchi: Yes. Absolutely. We have people calling every day. We just have to make sure it is done right.

LADYBRILLE.com: You recently stood up for the lack of black models in South African [SA] Magazines. Could you elaborate what exactly you were trying to communicate to the SA fashion industry about black/African models?
Oluchi: Well I have an agency that represents mostly black models. If black models and black celebrities can not be acknowledged on the continent of Africa then we have a problem that needs to be addressed. I understand that South Africa is made of up diverse races and they have all certainly come a long way. But, for me, in terms of fashion, I am sick and tired of picking up a magazine in South Africa and I feel like am reading American magazines. All I am just saying is that I would like the editors to embrace the diversity in which the country is made up of. I am very proud of Vogue India and I would like to see the same in AfricanMagazines.

LADYBRILLE.com: Speaking of issues SA has to address, as you know lots of models across the continent go to SA to realize their dreams. Can you speak on the crazy attacks we’ve been hearing about recently by South African Blacks on other African groups?
Oluchi: I have not really looked into that, but I heard about it. It is very unfortunate but I can understand the frustration. I just think that South Africa is considered the London of Africa that is why so many neighboring countries migrate there. But I am glad that my country is doing so well so we don't have to go to the South.

LADYBRILLE.com: On a lighter note, I have read that you are venturing into the world of music. Should we expect to see Oluchi the musician?
Oluchi: Please that is all rumors. I can't sing to save myself! I sound like a man. I only sing in karaoke with friends and in the shower.

LADYBRILLE.com: [Laughs] Let’s talk about mommy-hood and you now being a wifey. How does it feel to be a mother and how do you balance the demands of motherhood and wife with a very busy work schedule?
Oluchi: For me, family comes first but when blessed with an opportunity to combine both, I can't complain.

LADYBRILLE.com: Many, many girls across the globe and especially in Africa look up to you. You have inspired many to want to become the “next” Oluchi. What would you say to the many hopefuls about achieving their dreams?
Oluchi: If you have what it takes go for it but try and find your other passion in life so you can combine it.

LADYBRILLE.com: Thank you Oluchi and keep achieving and lifting many as you climb higher and higher up that ladder. We here at Ladybrille are so proud of you!

Oluchi: Thank you Uduak. I wish you tremendous success. I am so proud of your work. I remember few years ago, the world-wide-web was empty with quality positive information on everything African. For that I say, “thank you” because now I know I can always count on Ladybrille for a wealth of reliable information about my beloved Africa.

LADYBRILLE.com: You are kind with your words. Thank you.

~Article by Uduak Oduok

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Happy Monday!

Top of the morning, day and week to you! The 2008 NEA awards was absolutely fabulous and we promise to bring you all the gist and favorite looks off the red carpet soon! Meanwhile we wanted to wish you a pleasant week as we return to our regular programming.

--Uduak

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