Sam Sarpong: Making It Happen

Photo credit: Curtis Sabir Makeup by Joanne  Adolfo

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to interview Sam Sarpong. A man who has taken his dreams and made them one huge reality. You might remember him as the co-host of  "Yo Momma" of MTV and has been the host of the BET Awards pre-show "All Access" for the last 5 years. Sam was born in  Leytonstone, London and  relocated at the age of 11 to Los Angeles, California with his father (a former Ghana native).

Sam was the first black male model to ever shoot a campaign for Louis Vuitton, recipient of the AA Fashion Award for Male Model of the Year and twice named "Today's Black Woman", magazine "Fifty Most Beautiful People", Sam was also added to "Us Weekly's" "Hot 100 Young Hollywood with Style" list. He has walked runway for designers such as Versace, Donna Karen, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Phillppe, Ed Hardy and is now the face for the BOY London campaign.

Sam has went on to appear in over 60 movies and 40 television shows and is currently working on more things to add to his entertainment plate.

I am so thrilled that Sam's manager and PR made this interview possible! Now here comes the fun part, a bit of Q&A!

What made you want to pursue your dreams?

" When I was young I always knew I wanted to be part of the entertainment industry. My dad would tell me how I use as a child pretend while in the mirror that I was interviewing someone"

What can we look forward to seeing you in next/

" I have a lot going on I am currently on "Average Dad". I co-star with  Jamie Presley from the hit My Name is Earl. I also am in the film called "No Weapons" Also I co-star with Matt Cohen (90210) in the film " Trigger". You can check me out on the cast of Fashion 411 of Black Hollywood Live Networks,"

Who or what would you say is your biggest inspiration?

" I want to work hard and be successful at what I do, That is my biggest inspiration. My daily reality of inspiration is my dad and my sister (June Sarpong, British television presenter. Some other people who inspire me would be Will Smith and Diddy."

Shooting for MEN'S STYLE FASHION;Sam Sarpong "ACROSS THE GLOBE" Fashion editorial with Australian Model Stephanie Murone. Due out in December.

What is some advice you could give to someone looking to make their break in the entertainment world?

"It's important to be yourself. Know your strong points. Everybody is an original. I can recall when I began my journey into modeling and their was Tyson Beckford. I knew I couldn't be him, I had to find Sam's reign and be me. You have to know your lane then you can be successful"

Does Sam have an off camera love interest, if not what would someone have to do to be your ideal right hand lady?

"Right now I would have to say I am very focused on my career. So she would have to be career driven, cool, fun and easy to kickback with. My life is so crazy at the moment. I could be here one day and out for 3 months completing a project. She would have to be secure and understand that I am surrounded by beautiful women daily in this industry. I am unaffected by a beautiful woman and I would need her to be secure within herself."

Filming "The Chosen One" with Zeta Morrison

Sam and Australian model Stephanie Murone at Style Fashion Week

Sam is so career driven and headed on to greatness. Any woman looking to be in his corner would have to be just as secure and motivated to work hard. I mean after all he has been in over 60 movies and 40 shows. Being that finding love isn't a focus at the moment doesn't mean it wont happen in the near future. It just means homegirl will have to do a lot to impress him without using her beauty as the top note.

For more information or to follow Sam checkout the links below:

Instagram: @MrSamSarpong
Tumblr: samsarpong.tumblr.com

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Marc Jacobs + Sephora Launch Cosmetics Line

This is the ultimate combination to be excited over for Fall! Marc Jacobs is joining Sephora to launch the perfect cosmetic line! Eyeliner, nail polish and concealers galore! Bobbi Brown and NARS better lookout!

picture provided by WWD

For more information about the launch visit:

www.marcjacobs.com

Laurin Talese: She Can Really Sing

Everyone knows I love me some Jazz and R&B. A few years ago (2010) I found myself blasting me some Vivian Green via YouTube ( to the song "Caught Up") while in my home in VA and I came across a sister with some amazing vocals! I continued to listen, had no idea who she was as Vivian Green went on to introduce her in the next video I watched at a live concert. I made it my business to then become not only a girl who does my research, but now a fan. I then proceeded to while visiting my sister in Philly head down to a concert. Yes, you could say I was a bit obsessed. But even more so, I was amazed. Laurin Talese has a way with engaging with her audience. Something I must say is a delight if you have a chance to be in the presence. Her voice reminds me of the true elegance and essence of jazz. It's as if there were a rebirth of all the greats put into one.

She's an Ohio native but definitely has the City of Brotherly/Sisterly Love in her heart! I know this girl had to of grown up singing in the church choir and I wanted to high-five Vivian Green for putting her on two of my most favorite albums to this day! Most people think of music as a hobby, after listening to her and watching her you can tell this is a lifestyle and her heart beating choice. And unlike most artist I meet, she is as genuine and humble to her fans as they come!

For more information about Laurin Talese visit:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaurinTaleseMusic
Twitter: @LaurinDarling
Myspace: www.myspace.com/laurintalesemusic

DMV Standup! for Mr. C.E.O. Son Son

23 year old, Washington, DC Native, Vincent Ronel Irving, Jr. , known as “Vincent ‘C.E.O.’ Irving” is arising hip-hop sensation with his new single; “BEEN BALLIN’” Vincent attended DC area schools and schools in Tennessee before dropping out in 9th grade. After almost a decade of selling drugs and the streets, Vincent began to channel his energies into creative, constructive, law-abiding activities and behavior. In January of 2010 Vincent began to write a screen play but by February of the same year he had thrown himself into writing hip hop lyrics and producing beats. By 2011 he had already he had already formed his own label “BNFENT” which stands for ‘BACK–N-FORTH ENTERTAINMENT’. Armed with his own modest studio, cameras, and sound equipment Vincent spent a very tedious year of trial and error learning the nuances of mixing and mastering. He works closely with Producer, Terrance Antonio Brown, who together has completed the latest single that has already caught the ear of Executive Producer, Derrick Grant of GstatusProductions of Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to his passion for music and the arts, Vincent is a devoted husband and father, married to Latoya Williams with daughter, Lanaeja, and son, Vincent, III.

If you would like to here more about C.E.O. Son Son you can go here:

FACEBOOK:-http://www.facebook.com/BNFENT OR -http://www.facebook.com/SonSonSquad

Youtube-http://www.youtube.com/user/BnfEnT/videos

Twitter-https://twitter.com/Ceo_Son_Son

Soundclud-http://soundcloud.com/gstatusradio

For booking contact: Bnfent22@gmail.com

MIXTAPE NAME 1 YR LATER....DROPPING FIRST PART OF WINTER

House Of Tammam

Earlier in the month of May I received an invite to Las Vega Fashion Week. Though I am truly honored , I became so disappointed I couldn't attend. That didn't stop me from getting the sweet satisfaction of interviewing some of the best designers featured in the events to come such as House of Tamamm. I have to give a special thank you to Lucy Tammam, award winning designer of House of Tammam  who didn't mine spilling the beans about the fabric and trails of the fashion industry as we Skype’d.  

The Tammam label is a world renowned British couture label offering hand made modern bridal gowns and fashion pieces created using traditional meticulous craftsmanship skills. Bringing back the concept of made to measure for a young generation the Bloomsbury atelier offers bespoke garments created to be worn with love and never “throw-away”.

An innovator of Eco-Couture, respecting and nurturing people and planet is as important as creating gowns to enhance and enrapture the wearer. 

Designed by Lucy Tammam, graduate of  central saint martins, classically trained in tailoring and obsessive couturier. Tammam is London's most exciting fashion label of the moment.

When asked what would be the biggest takeaway from starting her own business Lucy replied:

“Don’t (censored) do it! “ replies Lucy

It caught me by surprise but it definitely got my attention. Imagine how many great ideas we all have to start our own business. She went on to explain why.

“No seriously, don’t do it if you don’t plan to put your all into it. It takes time, dedication and most importantly money. You may end up making several pieces before investors find something they like. It might even be only 5 pieces out of the zillions you have created. That’s the most important take away. Stay in the know of things and don’t always assume your best work is the best they’ve ever seen. Keep working diligently towards becoming better, greater and more in demand.”

Words to truly live by for all of you  up and coming designers. It’s either give it your all or simply don’t do it. I know I am not in the business of quitting and hope you guys aren't either.

For more information and things to come for House of Tammam please visit:

The Bridal Shop

Atelier Tammam

5 Hastings street

Bloomsbury

London

WC1H PZAZZ

Telephone  :0044 (0) 20 7617 7512

Website     :www.tammam.co.uk

Email         :info@tammam.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HouseOfTammam

Kwame Asare of K.Tv

Kwame Asare, 25 year old New York native is not only the founder of K . T v, but he is an aspiring actor who has created a platform to showcases in his area. Kwame's artistic skills have become a force in the entertainment industry taking over YouTube by storm. We will have to stay tuned for his future endeavors as I continue to pry for more information, Mr. Asare says " I'm just working on some more comedy skits, short films and in the process of interviewing celebrities". 

ktelevision1 aka as K . T v is an entertainment channel which consist of Celebrity interviews, Comedy skits and independent Short Films. For more information please visit:

Check out ACTOR RICK GONZALEZ INTERVIEW>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S09lZPMhbHY

Check out VH1 MOBWIVES KAREN GRAVANO INTERVIEW>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4crMPzMwfo

Check out VH1 LOVE AND HIPHOP ERICA MENA INTERVIEW>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5IClby6p5E

Check out Tyler Perry's Madeas Big Happy Family RODNEY PERRY INTERVIEW>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm8l13SKXJA

Chek out Paid In Full Movie Star REMO GREEN INTERVIEW>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pL-4r0xqOk

CHECK OUT LIL WAYNE COMEDY SKIT>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD8P5CoNp2I

CHECK OUT SHORT FILM KAPOLEON DYNAMITE (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE PARODY)>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoafEVTzVns

Contact info- Facebook- like facebook page here>>https://www.facebook.com/KTELEVISION1

Twitter: @ktelevision1 @kwameasare5

Instagram: kwameasare5

Linkedin: kwameasare5

email: ktelevision1@yahoo.com

Subscribe on Youtube here: www.youtube.com/ktelevision1

Makeup: You Get What You Pay For

I always hear women complain about how expensive makeup is. I honestly believe there is no way around paying a hefty dime for products and you truly get what you pay for! Ladies read the shelf life of those brands you find expensive. Start reading reviews and see if the hype behind some of the brands you love are worth it. I think of cosmetics as follows you have your luxury brands and you have your generic ones. Call my face couture because only luxury brands hold up well on this face. Luxury brands to me would be Chanel, Tom Ford, Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent and so forth. Think about these brands on the runway and how many complexions you see. It's fair to say they've done their research and keep up with the high-end needs of fashion. They have longer wear, fashionable packaging and they always keep one camera ready. The buck with cosmetics doesn't stop there. Always and I do mean always assure you invest in the proper skincare regimen. This doesn't mean you typical soap & water. A good skincare regimen starts by determining your skin type:
Are you oily/dry/combination or normal skin?
Are you sensitive or easily irritated to products?
Are your issues fine lines and wrinkles or discoloration or acne blemishes and scar?
Do you suffer from redness, etc?
Once you discover the issues with your skin you would like to address. You'll come to know and love your complexion. Remember Cleanse, Moisture and Protect are the most daily essential followed by exfoliating every two weeks. We will get a bit more in depth about this on a future blog.

Natural Hair Journey

Okay ladies,here's the naked truth behind natural hair care and growth. I use to get highly offended when people who didn't know me would ask to touch my hair. I would think subconsciously "do I look like a science project to you?" but now I can appreciate the question. I received so much of a riff about going natural when I started 2 yrs ago. One thing I can say is it is truly liberating and I will gladly let anyone who have a 10 second touch and feel of my hair. Here are a few things you will need to do. But before we go on I must ask, what are your reasons for RETURNING natural? For me, it was simple: my hair was over-processed from relaxers and coloring. I was a stress hair puller and I also had at one point been diagnosed with alopecia areata. What I realized was my hair was its healthiest when it was in its natural state!  So let me break it down for you:

1.  Your wave/curly/kinky hair pattern is not the same as mine. That's what makes going natural so amazing. So DON'T stress over the process and it will grow with ease. Also don't touch your hair when you are under a lot of stress or anger. You tend to pull and damage the hair follicle.
2. Invest in the following tools: Wide tooth comb, spray bottle that you can put water in and a wider bristle brush, bobby pins.AVOID rubber bands and things with metal. Let you hair be free and stop pulling it into a ponytail until its able to reach effortlessly. 
3. Shampoo, CO-Wash and Gel breakdown. Ok I am so beyond tired of people looking for products that contain NO ALCOHOL or attempting to wash their hair with shampoo daily. With natural hair it is important to keep MOISTURE. Your hair is stronger when kept moisturized. That spray bottle I mentioned needs to be filled with water. Spray your hair with water twice a day and then proceed to either apply the following: pure Shea butter or your preferred leave-in conditioner. There are GOOD alcohols and there are bad alcohol for the hair. CETYL-ALCOHOL is the good one! Lastly, when it comes to washing it is always better to wash your hair with conditioner than with shampoo or trail lightly if you don't feel comfortable with this step. Have you ever wondered why you have to follow your shampoo wash with a conditioner or a hair mask? Because shampoos truly strip the hair of natural oils and then you must replace them through moisture!
4. DIET and EXERCISE. Yes I know its a curse word! We need to all be better at eating properly and working out when necessary. The drink 8 ounces of water a day isn't enough. Go back to eating things full of vitamins and proteins. It's okay to eat a burger, just don't be greedy and eat a burger everyday! Yoga has been the best source of relaxation and exercise for my mind, body and my hair. I am challenging you to 30 minutes of a workout and thinking twice about what you take in. 
5. Massage that scalp! A 5 minute hair massage stimulates the scalp and allows the hair to grow. I usually find myself doing this while watching television. 
6. Wear protective styles. This prevents damage from our outdoor environment and allows the hair to grow and breath as necessary. This would be braided styles, wearing units or covering with a scarf.
7. Do you research! Learn your hair type by taking a hair quiz or visiting a natural stylist. This will save you a lot of money and prevent you from purchasing products that will leave you irritated.
8. DON'T GIVE UP! As much as I see women with bone straight hair and thing I want that creamy crack, I will NEVER GO BACK! Think about the overall outcome if you stick with it 7 inches of new grow in a full year if you do all the things I listed above And you'll have and wear the confidence to encourage others who may have thought about going natural but needed more insight. 

Below are a few links to some tips and products for natural hair.I DO NOT OWN any rights to any of these links they are just brands or links that have worked for myself and others.

Curls with Relaxed Hair using Mixed Chicks                  Finally no perm in hair  2011

                                                                         2013 protective style extensions

The DOUX

PROTECTIVE STYLING

LAS VEGA FASHION WEEK MAY 20 - MAY 26 2013

This year I didn't have the luxury of attending Fashion Week in any of my favorite cities. But what I did receive was one of the most amazing gifts ever! The ability to get a sneak peek in at how Las Vegas does it for Fashion Week and the chance to interview some amazing designers! All I can say is I WILL NOT BE MISSING OUT NEXT YEAR! I hope everyone enjoys the fashion I know I did!

Below you will find the link and gallery.

Smooches!

LVFW 2013

P.S. 

Special thank you to Deb of  Bel Esprit for the invite and the opportunity to interview the most talented designers ever!