Editor's Note: Happy New Year!

As President Elect-Barack Obama and his new administration prepare to move into the White House, our New Year's resolution is simple: to be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to Africa's clothing and textiles and its sub-sector design industries.

To that end, we will be rolling out a new design that should make it easier for you to navigate our site. We will provide ample notice to you as we step offline to bring you a revamped look. In addition, we step up the ante when it comes to Ladybrille being the pacesetter for unique and innovative African fashion coverage for Western consumers. Expect to see more political and legal fashion coverage as we gather the best minds in the world to show us how the new administration will affect Africa's fashion industry.

Our coverage, throughout the year, will be incomplete without a sound and consistent delivery of features that enunciate sound business principles and entrepreneurship as many within the fashion industries find themselves in very difficult financial times. We will of course feature fashion events, celebs, music, film, fashion, beauty and all of the African entertainment coverage you've come to expect from us.

We thank you for your support in 2008 and hope you will stay with us for what we know will be an interesting and richly rewarding journey in 2009.

Happy New Year!

Cheers,
Uduak Oduok
Editor-In-Chief

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Happy New Month of December!

Happy new Month of December! May you have an enjoyable Christmas, Kwanzaa and remain super blessed. Here at Ladybrille, we say goodbye to what has been a spectacular year by inspiring you with our Ladybrille Woman of the Month, Jacque Reid. Reid, a well known media household name, partucularly among Black America, tells us how she does it and what it felt like interviewing the soon to be President Barack Obama.

Another inspirational story is our main feature Fashion model/TV host/ Writer/Environmental Activist and Friend of Africa, Summer Rayne Oakes [SRO]. SRO is an amazing woman with super abilities. She, like us, believes in trailblazing new paths. SRO is at the forefront of the eco-fashion movement and we can't wait for you to meet her as she shares herself, work, passion and interest in Africa. We close out the year with Ladybrille's 2008 Top 20 African personalities and some really cool African inspired gifts to gift for the Christmas season. Stay with us through it all and have an absolutely brilliant month!

Cheers,

Uduak Oduok
Editor-in-Chief

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Happy New Month of November!

Happy New Month brilliant ones! This is the month we have all been waiting for! The month where the United States of America chooses its next President. A leader we hope will help restore confidence in the US and world economy.

For Ladybrille fashion heads, the current state of the US economy has affected us in so many ways. For example, there have been sweeping job losses and budget cuts across our fashion landscapes. Many fashion magazines are scambling to stay alive as yet another advertiser pulls out, further depleting advertising revenues. Small and big fashion retailers are saying "Auf Wiedersehen" for good in large numbers and consumers are shutting their pocket books as the economic crisis hits home hard. I believe, however, that there is HOPE. Hope, to me, however means we must necessarily take some steps back and engage in the critical analytical thinking as we identify ways we might have contributed to the problems and take on both the political, legal and social implications of our current economic state.

It is in this spirit that we dedicate our November Blogazine issue to a month talk on fashion politics/political shenanigans that affect our industries. We kick things off with Derrick Ashong, a Ghanian/Afropolitan whose very eloquent articulation on why he supported Barack Obama, in the campaign to be nominated as the Democratic Presidential candidate, made him popular! The You Tube video with Ashong's views has generated over a million hits! We caught up with Ashong in Los Angeles just before his trip to Berlin, Germany to talk about his band Soulfege and of course the current state of US politics--McCain, Barack Obama and what it means for us all, especially Africa.

We can't talk politics without also acknowleding the complexities and very often human tragedy that comes with it. Indeed that is what happened in Kenya in the begining of 2008 when there was a fall out in its post-election results. The world watched as violence erupted and people took to the streets to protest. For Kenyans in the diaspora with family and friends in Kenya, they needed to know and monitor the current state of affairs and well being of their loved ones. That's where Ushahidi came in. Ushahidi was a blog in response to the need for crowdsourced crisis information that could be delivered via mobile in a timely fashion which monitored the progress and current situation on the ground in Kenya at the time. Ushahidi met that challenge and it is today a company growing strong and expanding to other areas of Africa. We can't wait for you to meet Erik Hersman, the Director of Operations at Ushahidi, an entrepreneur extraordinaire and owner of the White African blog !

We are super delighted about our Ladybrille Woman of the Month! She is fun, genuine, cool and the owner of what is a MUST read daily fix for us, "Cos We are African" blog. Her name is Yaye Marie Ba! Yaye's blog is full of well researched goodies for Africans/non-Africans that showcases the diversity in fashion and lifestyle that Africa, especially French/Francophone Africa, has to offer. We also cannot wait for you to meet her!

Finally, while we do the fashion politicking, there must be some food to eat. In fact, I recall growing up that the best talks on politics were always at the dinner table, whether at my home, that of friends and relatives. We call in OY Dore of Nylah's Catering Services to feed our monstrous appetite, after all the healthy debates we anticipate this month. OY's interest is not limited to catering. She also gives back to her community with the non-profit Link A Child which urges us to feed the children. You will enjoy meeting her!

Have a positive week ahead and enjoy the video below that the wonderful Alex Umole, a legal colleague and motivational speaker shared on facebook, "The Psychology of Success." I hope it inspires you to ACT!

Remain Blessed,

Uduak

"The Psychology of Success"

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Happy New Month + Ladybrille's Maimah Karmo on Oprah!

Happy new month to you! This month, women across the globe join hands, in solidarity, to educate, encourage and share their stories on how they survived breast cancer! Spearheading breast cancer month at Ladybrille, is our main feature, the gorgeous Maimah Karmo, a self proclaimed, "fearless female and lover of life!" Maimah Karmo will be on Oprah today at 4:00pm EST and 4:00pm PST alongside Christina Applegate http://www.oprah.com/tows as they share their stories. We are excited! Please tell your sisters, girlfriends, mothers, cousins, wives etc. to tune in and watch her. Of course Oprah's interview with Maimah Karmo is a teaser. Ladybrille brings you an even more intimate indepth interview with this fearless diva through our chic African lens. Stay tuned to hear what this Liberian-American diva has to say.

We are also excited about our Ladybrille Woman of the Month, Adama Kai of Aschobi Designs. She is fierce! Kai obtained her degree from Parsons but decided to leave her glam job working with stars like Kelis to return home to Sierra Leone. Her mission? Rebrand and champion a fashion legacy for her Sierra Leone, which until now, is mostly famous for war and extreme poverty. Her interview is a must read! Also, don't forget to stay tuned for our exciting, Ladybrille TV coverage, of Nollywood A-list Actress Stephanie Okereke's premiere of her movie Through the Glass. We also begin, this month, our Miss Africa USA 2008 Pageant pre-event coverage. The event is on November 1st, 2008. Our month of October is also a time to get you warm, cozy yet stylish for fall with our Fall Fashion Trends 2008 report!

Finally, one of the common compliments we receive are on our brilliant covers. Special thanks to Ms. Yetunde Taiwo who operates ICY Studio, http://www.icystudio.com/ , a subsidiary of Icy Works Inc. They are responsible for all of our amazing covers. Icy Studio is running some specials take advantage of it today. Click the flyer below for all the details. You can also contact Ms. Taiwo directly at yetunde [at] icypr.com for more information or custom made request.

Have a great month ahead!

Remain Blessed,

Uduak Oduok

Editor-in-Chief

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Editor's Note: Happy New Month of September!

Happy New Month! I hope you found August inspiring and you are ready to do some amazing things in September. We are excited about our September issue and hope you are too! The one and only living fashion legend and mogul, Supermodel Iman, granted us an interview and we look forward to sharing her story with you all. We are also excited about New York Fashion Week!! New York Fashion Week is a time when fashion insiders descend on Bryant Park, in New York City, to be about the business of fashion. We will be there and will be bringing you coverage throughout the week of some of the shows, personalities and events in and around Bryant Park.

By the way, don't miss our feature on "Youth Movement" and you definitely do not want to miss our feature on Ladybrille Woman of the Month, Ausma Khan. Ausma Khan is the Editor-in-Chief of Muslim Girl Magazine. Her feature is a must read and we are proud of the hard work and accomplishments her and her team are achieving at Muslim Girl Mag.

Finally, please say a prayer for one of our Ladybrille's contributors and her family Toya Thomas. Toya lives in New Orleans and was seriously affected by Hurricane Katrina. She has just advised us she is safe and on her way out of New Orleans to escape Hurricane Gustav, which appears to be gaining momentum towards New Orleans. Say a prayer for her and the people of New Orleans.

Thank you for being a loyal reader, tell your friends, at least five of them about us, and stay with us for what promises to be an exciting month!

Remain Blessed,

Uduak Oduok

Editor-in-Chief

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Editor's Note: Happy New Month of August!

Happy New Month! You know what August means, right? The count down begins to New York Fashion Week! We here at Ladybrille can’t wait as we look forward to brilliant shows, parties, trend spotting, making new friends, reuniting with old ones and of course doing some serious fashion business.

No, you do not have to wait till New York Fashion Week to begin partying with us. Celebrity makeup artist Brandy Gomez Duplessis gets the beauty party started in our hot August Blogazine Beauty Issue. Brandy offers some hot, summer makeup tips that will have you looking sexy. She is so good she even has a few tips for our Ladybrille homme [men]! Kenya-American serial entrepreneur Nyakio Kamoche, owner of Nyakio skincare brand, joins our beauty party with the launch of her new fragrance line, Safi Fragrance. Watch out for a chance to win a bottle of her delicious enveloping fragrance.

Our partying is taken to an inspirational level with our Ladybrille Woman of the Month, Funke Adenodi Akinbuli. Akinbuli spearheads Exodus Guild, an organization that de-stigmatizes and provides resources for Africans with disabilities.This is so MAJOR and we say a BIG THANK YOU to Funke and her team at Exodus Guild for making a difference in the lives of many.

Finally, our August beauty party would be incomplete without our main feature Korto Momolu of Project Runway, Season 5! This young woman adds a whole new level of diversity on the show with the numerous flags she flies. Korto represents Liberia, the continent of Africa, Canada and Plus-size women who have been neglected for too long by mainstream designers. By the way did you know Korto braids hair, African styles mostly, and does makeup? Hmmm . . . we will say no more except that we had fun interviewing Korto and think you’ll enjoy getting to know her. Look for her interview next week. No teasing, we promise . . .

Have a happy August, remain blessed and stay with us throughout the month as we stay inspired and party it up with these gorgeous very Ladybrille women.

~Uduak

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Lights, Camera, Action, July Film Issue!

Lights, Camera, Action! Our Ladybrille July issue is filled with wonderful personalities in the film business that will inspire, push and "get you to gettin'!" We begin with the gorgeous fashion model/actress, Tomiko Fraser. Tomiko's trailblazing path as the first African-American woman to be the spokesperson for giant cosmetic company Maybelline, her truly positive spirit, entrepreneur skills and determination to empower women through her company "Tomiko Fraser's Goddess Gathering" earns her our much coveted Ladybrille Woman of the Month!

Another exciting personality is a face you've probably been noticing recently across the world wide web. You know her as Bianca in Toyota's current campaign focused on reaching the affluent African-American woman in the States, "If Looks Could Kill." It' s the one and only Nigerian/Filipino Actress Femi Emiola . In an exclusive interview with us, Emiola talks Africa, film and her drop dead killer looks. You are gonna love it!

But of course we always get down to business. Indeed, that's where the reputable Emmy-winning producer and two-time NAACP Theater Award winning playwright/producer, Mike Ajakwe, comes in. Ajakwe has written/produced for shows such as Soul Food, The Parkers, Martin, Moesha, Between Brothers, The Brothers Garcia, Built To Last, Sister Sister, Entertainment Tonight, Talk Soup, Steve Harvey’s Big Time, and Eve. He has also sold TV pilots to Paramount Television and Warner Bros. He will be giving us the insider scoop on breaking into the business of film.

Our month would be incomplete without making sure you get to meet two brilliant names in the film business. The first is Ebbe Bassey. This young woman has barely entered the business but is already causing a stir. Her recently produced short film Siri Oko Fo debuted at the Cannes International Film Festival in May of 2008 and has subsequently featured in the Black Hollywood and Boston Film Festivals. We can't wait to introduce you to her! The second is A-list beautiful highly independent and intelligent actress, Nollywood's Stephanie Okereke. To put it succintly, Okereke is determined to take Hollywood by storm as well as rebrand herself as a fashion and film icon in Africa's entertainment industries.

We hope you enjoy this issue. By the way, we will continue featuring our lovely African models throughout this month. We figure while Vogue Italy's July issue features all Black models, FINALLY! It cannot possibly capture/shine the spotlight on the many gorgeous African beauties out there. Enjoy and of course let us know what you think and ways we can improve by sending your feedback to editor(at)ladybrille.com.

Remain Blessed,

Uduak,

Editor-in-Chief

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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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Ladybrille Celebrates 1yr Anniversary!

Two years ago, I set out to demystify the ridiculous myths and marginalization in the West and Africa about African models. I enlisted the help of some strong “African Model Preneurs” and models: Supermodel Oluchi, Miss World 2001 Agbani Darego, Hawa Diawara and Iman among many. My motivation was driven by the need and passion to educate and elevate the consciousness of the West and Africa regarding who the African model really was; and how she handled the many dichotomies of her reality, as she balanced the demands placed on her by both cultures.

The result was a very comprehensive feature, “Demystifying the Exoticness of the African Fashion Model,” which was published in September of 2006 in African Vibes Magazine. It was highly important to me that the feature was published in an African focused publication, first. The feature took over four months to write and involved in-depth and extensive research. In the process of writing the feature, I stumbled on a HUGE void in which fashion could be used as a medium to fill. No one was attempting or even appeared interested to fill this void.

I, also, was not interested in doing the tremendous work I knew would come with trying to fill this void. My plate was already full with a very busy profession as an attorney/litigator and I knew it would require an inordinate amount of time to create quality content that could educate and guide most to re-shift their mental framework and debunk the myths on Africans. So, I hoped that the published feature would allow others to take the idea and run with it. Let's just say that never happened.

Since I am as much a doer as I am a talker, it became clear to me what needed to be done.
I knew I was passionate about the subject matter and the people, plus I had a firm grasp of the industry-having been involved in it for so long and in varied capacities. The key thing was to find and create the time to do the work. For six months, I struggled each day, unofficially, to set a schedule, discipline myself and treat it like a job. At the end of the six months, I had my routine down and by June of 2007 launched what is now the Ladybrille Blogazine.

Since the launch of the Blogazine, it has indeed grown. We have various writers writing for us, added a PR intern who is just amazing, have more writers joining us including our new addition Ms. Toya Thomas and continue to set out eyes on higher heights as we elevate and try to create a viral like movement with Ladybrille!

So, for our anniversary month, which we claim as a month of great harvest for Ladybrille-Amen, we invite you to celebrate with us as we go back to where it all started!

In this issue, we feature powerful “African Model Preneurs” who have singlehandedly served as trailblazers and ambassadors for Africa's fashion and entertainment industries putting these industries on the world map. Enjoy our features on models like Supermodel Oluchi, Teiko Dornor and Noella Coursaris. These goddesses continue to defy boundaries, overhaul stereotypes and show, seamlessly, how brains, beauty and a BIG heart go together. Also, be on the look out for emerging Ladybrille Model faces we think you should know. Finally, be sure to check out our Ladybrille Woman of the Month Abenaa Frempong-Boadu, musician and shoe designer. For the Ladybrille women with larger sizes, Boadu’s shoe brand, Gwyneth Shoes, go all the way to size [14!]

Again, we THANK YOU for believing and walking with us as we execute our vision. Special thanks to Yetunde Taiwo and her team at Icy Works, we have enjoyed working with them to create our monthly covers. Also special thanks to Bobby Taylor of Bobby Taylor PR and Ms. Chichi of It Feels Good to Be Home blog. They have both been amazing fans/supporters. Thank you and YES, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Remain Blessed,

Uduak

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Happy Month of May!

Happy Month of May! It’s my favorite month. I wonder why? Hmm . . . might it be because I was born on Cinco de Mayo [May 5th]? YES! But, I am also happy when May comes around because it means summer is literally right around the corner. Now a tip for this month. I don't care where you are or how busy you are, DO NOT under any circumstances, especially for our USA based readers, forget Mother’s day. Start getting your gifts now, otherwise, you are bound to receive a scolding from mom. It will not be pretty trust me. [Big laugh here]

Okay back to my excitement about May, we here at Ladybrille could not help but put in our two cents to get you fashionably fit so you can flaunt that amazing body your mama gave you! In our May issue, the first step to flaunting that body is to know it quite well. Meet Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu, a gynecologist and our Ladybrille Woman of the Month as we learn about her journey into medicine and her insights/tips on taking control of your health.

Once you are equipped with that knowledge, stay tuned for our main feature, Mary Onyali, who will INSPIRE you to stay healthy. Two decades of representing Africa, this mother, wife, sister, daughter and athletic icon is still running strong with her new attempt at a sports apparel manufacturing venture in Africa! Yup, that's right, in Africa.

Alright, so you know your body intimately, you are inspired, worked up a storm and are looking so hot!, if you must say so yourself. What next? That's the easiest part of our job this month. Work it out on the streets of Accra, Lagos, London, New York, Capetown/Johannesburg, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco in the most upscale, contemporary African tradition meets Modernity fashion brand, Zulu Rose.

Have a happy, happy May!

Remain Blessed,

~Uduak

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Editor's Note: Happy New Action Packed April 2008!

The nexus between fashion and music seems so obvious. Yet, when it comes to Africa's fashion & music industries, the connection is sorely lacking. In this issue, we make it our job to connect the dots by introducing you to respected African musicians within and outside Africa who "get it" and come through with a fierce fashion and music swagger! From Sierria Leone's Chosan, who is part of the recently released "In the Name of Love, Africa Celebrates U2" to Tanzania's Xplastaz, Nigeria's 9ice and Naira and South Africa's FreshlyGround, among many, it is a month full of exciting features and autographed CD/T-shirt giveaways from these artists!

All music and no business is bad for the pocket book. That's why we call on music insiders to give us a wholistic picture of issues present in Africa's music industry and tips on how our artists can keep more of the monies they earn. We complement all the industry talk with a critical aspect of fashion and music biz, marketing and promotions; which makes "M.A.C.keting 101" with global brand President of Estee Lauder, Mr. John Demsey, a must read.

Teresa Rodriguez Williamson the author of "Fly Solo," TV personality and founder of the famous travel site,TangoDiva.com, is our Ladybrille Woman of the Month! Don't miss out on an opportunity to win an autographed copy of her book plus a discount to all you readers to join her in Cancun from June 21-28th!

Saving the best for last, I thought long and hard on who could help pull this issue together. Someone who had a strong style sense, was entrepreneur minded, highly musically inclined and who believed and practiced the adage, "too whom much is given, much is expected." The answer was clear. I am very thankful to Grammy Award Winning Artist, Common, who took time out of his extremely busy schedule to show some love for Ladybrille. He is our main feature and graces our cover for April 2008. Special thanks to Jodie Blum, Valerie Vogt, Saunte Works and Derek Dudly, Common's team that helped make this a reality. Again, Happy New Action Packed April and know this. We 'bout to bring IT Status quo and Jabbawokeez style! :)

Remain blessed,

Uduak,

Editor-in-Chief

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Happy New March!

It's the month we've all been waiting for in Africa's Fashion Industry. February was sweet with Valentine's, Black History Month, New York, Milan & Paris Fashion Weeks but really it gets sweeter as South Africa begins its fashion weeks and other countries in Africa prepare to follow suit. We of course will bring you unmatched coverage/analysis straight from the runways starting with Sanlam SA Fashion Week, Audi Joburg Fashion Week and much more as we break down trends, colors and the business of fashion!

Congrats to our Ladybrille Woman of the Month, the 21 year old Damilola [Dammie] Amolegbe who operates Haute Magazine, a publication initially geared towards Nigerian fashion and designers but has now expanded to include Africans the world over. Dammie as of ending of February also launched FashionAfrica.com to complement Haute magazine. Please be sure to congratulate her as we kick off our month with a one-on-one chat with Dammie.

Our main feature for this month is the fierce, sassy, fun and gorgeous designer Adefunke Agboola of Ella Brown Couture. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as we did when we interviewed her. Stay tuned for our juicy interview with the beauty and brains behind Ella Brown Couture. We conclude what we hope is a truly fun and exciting month with our business of fashion series focusing on how to choose the right name for your business!

Enjoy and have a great month!

Remain Blessed,

Uduak

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Editor's Note: NY Fashion Week + Black History Month & More!

Happy New Month! This month is so exciting! We’ve got the Grammys, NY Fashion Week, Black History Month, Valentine’s Day and of course the PRIMARIES! Oh My! As a reminder, February 5th, 2008, is Super Tuesday in the USA. To our USA readers, be sure to go out and VOTE!

On to Black History Month, a recent article says Advertising Targeting African American Consumers Exceeds $2billion dollars annually. WOW! It brings us to what has been the central issue, of late, in the industry as NY Fashion Week, Fall '08 kicked off today. Why is there a scarcity of Black models on fashion runways? Even the Wall Street Journal wants to know.

While the industry figures out a solution, the show must go on. Of course we bring you our take on Fall 2008's haute and not so haute fashions. Plus, you get direct access backstage to some of the best shows for Fall '08 thanks to Ladybrille fashion insiders. Speaking of fashion insiders, the funny and savvy PR guru, Kelly Cutrone, of whom I have had the pleasure of working with is a MUST READ . She is hillarious as she spells out Fashion Week etiquette.

Creating a clearly defined pathway for African Fashions in the West is not one Ladybrille intends to embark on with only Africans. Accordingly, we reach out to our beautiful Black brothers and sisters as we, throughout this month, celebrate the many accomplishments and contributions of Blacks to the fashion industry nationally and internationally.

We also extend our hands of friendship to the beautiful non-African/Black fashion-forward women whose challenges and successes parallel ours. Be sure to watch out for our upcoming feature with the very passionate and energetic San Franciscan Irene Hernandez-Feiks; a Latina who through her event "Chillin'" has created opportunities for emerging artists, designers & filmmakers within San Francisco and across the country. Similarly, be on the look out for the Ladybrille Woman of the Month Kaushie Adieseshan, a USA based emerging Indian designer who is gaining momentum in India and at IMG's Indian Lakme Fashion Week.

Make room for LOVE! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY in advance. We want to know, "How has love changed you?" Send your responses to ladybrille@ladybrille.com for a chance to be featured!

Finally, mark your calendars for March 9th, 2008 for the very major leagues of music, media & techonology conferences, The South by Southwest [SXSW] Interactive Festival. I will be a speaker on the Africa 2.0 panel at the conference alongside some cool folks & fellow bloggers: Eric Hersman, Chosan, Nii Simmonds and Kofi Annansi . Kofi Annansi, who is the moderator and producer of the Africa 2.0 Panel, will lead the discussion on "how technology is being used to affect change in Africa & how it factors into efforts in different industries including fashion, entertainment, finance, and marketing." Come out and support us plus, I would really love to meet YOU!

Have an absolutely beautiful and love filled February!

Remain Blessed,

Uduak

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Is the "Afropolitan," Barack Obama, the Next United States President?

Happy New Year! Happy Friday! I pray 2008 brings you lots of laughter, great health, love, God's blessings, quality friendships and borrowing one of the slangs from a very Ladybrille woman we know, Yetunde aka Stacy Taiwo, a "rawking" cosmopolitan, extra chic, sexy fashionable year. We look forward to an extraordinary year with you filled with some amazing personalities including some from Africa and the Western fashion industries. We are also setting our sight on complete integration and transition as we launch Ladybrille, the Magazine, by the end of this year. This is the time to let us know the changes, additions and things you would like to see with our coverage and also be a contributor. Email comments or inquiries to info@ladybrille.com.

Still on the topic of change, hope and change is in the air! I could not help but be glued to my screen yesterday watching the primaries. As you know, by now, Republican Mike Huckabee and Democrat Barack Obama won the Iowa primaries. Oh what a night! What was interesting for me was what Obama represents. Besides the positive change he can provide in Africa-US trade relations [think the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act benefiting Africa's textile & apparel industries, among many], Obama is the son of a Kenyan father and an American mother. He appears to embrace both cultures and is what one might loosely call an "Afropolitan." Just last year, Obama visited Kenya to see his grandmother, Sarah Hussein. Although both his parents are deceased, his father who died in "1982 in a car crash left three wives, six sons and a daughter." You can read about Obama's visit to Kenya here. Suffice it to say it would be history in the making should Obama become the next President of the United States of America . . .

Have a fabulous weekend and enjoy Obama's victory speech below as we raise our glasses to an exciting and wonderful year filled with hope and positive changes. Happy New Year!

Remain Blessed,

Uduak

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It's December, already?

I can't believe it is December already! Time flies. Happy New Month! It's time to start doing the count down towards Christmas, Kwanzaa and all other fun celebrations and of course preparing for our New Year resolutions. My all time favorite Christmas song is "O Holy Night" and Mariah Carey kills it in the rendition in the you tube below. I love to hear that song over and over and over again! Lol! Anyway, 2008 on the political end of things is going to be hot! Can't wait to see who we ultimately choose as America's new leader.

On Ladybrille this month we are looking forward to thought provoking, engaging and exciting coverage on all things fashion and especially African fashions including our "Best of 2007." Throughout the month, we will be accepting entries on what you think the "Best of 2007" has been whether in African fashions, general fashion news or non-fashion related experiences you want to share. To be a part of this, e-mail your entries/experiences for 2007 to info@ladybrille.com. Article length: minimum 250, max 750 words.

Last month, we made it all about weddings and offered some great contests! Wedding season is in full swing, especially in Africa, so we have decided to extend our contests to December 16th, 2007. Speaking of weddings, it looks like there might be one in the White house this December with Jenna Bush getting married. Interesting. . .

Have a great month and happy and safe travels throughout the month!O Holy Night by Mariah Carey.

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Destination Weddings in Africa!!!

[Photo courtesy of http://www.gisters.com/. Models Obi, Uduak and Funmi as bridesmaids at model Ojy's wedding in Lagos, Nigeria]

Happy New Month! To say I am really excited about this month is an understatement!!! But before I spill the beans, CONGRATULATIONS to Lesha Anderson of Newburgh, Indiana who won the recent Ladybrille Contest. Also, watch out for our Ladybrille woman of the month and our Ladybrille model of the month.

Now to the cause of my excitement!!! November is about the time a lot of my friends, especially African friends, begin preparation to travel to Africa for numerous weddings, in December. Usually they attend two weddings for one couple: the "Traditional" and the "White" weddings. One of the reasons these destination weddings in Africa remain popular is that beyond involving family and friends who reside in Africa, you can have a Hollywood styled wedding at a much less expensive price than in the States or Europe.

These weddings are HUGE, FUN but they can also be quite stressful! This month, at Ladybrille,we want to demystify weddings, especially African weddings, whether in Africa, USA or Europe. We will feature lay persons and experts in and outside Africa who will tell us all we need to know about planning the perfect wedding for that special day. They'll tell us about choosing the right: event planners, florists, cakemakers, wedding gowns, bridal dresses, caterers, decor, musicians, Djs, photographers, honeymoon packages and more! We will also be having some wedding contests/giveaways throughout the month!!!!

Chatting about weddings would be no fun without you! We want to hear from you. Do you have a wedding story to tell us? Stories like the best wedding you attended? Are you the bride? How did he propose? Are you Caucasian, Asian, Indian or Black American married to an African? How was the wedding ceremony? Any traditions that you loved, found amusing or awkward? Are you African? What is it like to be married in Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe or South Africa? Did your wedding involve both African and American/European traditions? Ladybrille wants to hear your stories! Send your wedding stories to weddings@ladybrille.com. You just might be one of our lucky winners for our fun wedding prizes! Word count should be min. 500 words and max. 900 words.

Speaking of wedding prizes/giveaways, a BIG THANK YOU to all of our sponsors for making our wedding month just plain brilliant!

LUTHER VANDROSS- Here & Now

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Here's to Your Health! Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The fact that October is breast cancer month has not been lost on us here at Ladybrille. Not at all! Indeed I recall in 1996 when I did a self examination and found a lump on my left breast. Was I worried? You bet. I'm a fix it kind of woman. I immediately had a breast biopsy and thankfully the lump/cyst was benign. Since then, I have lost an aunt to breast cancer and have a few friends in my life who have lost loved ones to breast cancer.

Therefore, for breast cancer month, it was extremely important to me to not just encourage you to do your regular self examination and get your mammograms, especially if you are over 40 or have a high risk for the disease. I really wanted you to understand the importance of attitude and lifestyle change even if you have just been diagnosed. There is HOPE and you can be HAPPY whether you are currently going through it or whether your mother, grandmother, sister, sister in-law, cousin, aunty or girlfriend is going through or has gone through it.

As luck will have it, I spoke with a Liberian-American acquaintance of mine, Cynthia, and she recommended Donna Green-Goodman. Goodman is a breast cancer survivor, a health professional and the author of "Somethin' to Shout About." Her story was published in the August 1999 issue of Essence Magazine and remains highly relevant for us all. I read through her book and was impressed by her honesty and candidness about the disease she had and how she got the victory over it. So here is to your health! Be inspired by Donna's experience. But after the inspiration, tears e.t.c. GET UP AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE! The power is in your hands.

Remain Blessed!

Uduak

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