MAGAZINE
BRONZE DECEMBER 2017
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Actress Camille Hyde of Netflix’s “American Vandal” talks about her role in the new show
Actress Taja V Simpson Talks about her recent Tyler Perry role & upcoming book
HIP HOP ROYALTY QUEEN
VANESSA SIMMONS talks everything Christmas, fashion & balancing motherhood DECEMBER 2017
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BRONZE MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2017 Editor’s Note Well Bronze Beauties, we are very close to the end of 2017. What were your accomplishments this year? What would you like to do better next year? I just want to take this time to say a heartfelt “thank you” to each of you for your continued support and readership. This year was a special one for us because it is the first year that we published our digital editions every month as opposed to quarterly. This is also the first year that we hosted our very first major event (pop up shop), which was held in November and rest assured, it will not be our last. We will be working hard to bring more relevant and entertaining events to the New York City area in 2018, so make sure you follow us on social media and/or sign up for our weekly updates via our website.
Cover Credits: Photographe: Amina Touray @aminatphoto Makeup artist: Niehla O @niehlao Hair stylist: Brittany Love @brittanyl0ve Wardrobe stylist: Janel Styles @janelstyles77 Dress: Cheri @cheriando, provided by nowprla @nowprla Ring: NMD @n.m.designs, provided by @nowprla, Bracelet: NMD @n.m.designs, provided by @nowprla Earrings: Joel Galon @Joelgalon, provided by @nowprla Shoes: JF London @Jflondon_official, provided by @pr_solo Dog: @the_realchrisbreezy courtesy of owner Monique Greene
CO-OWNER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shawn Stuldivant CO-OWNER Barry Stuldivant COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Amina Touray GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sheena Tadifa WRITERS This Issue Ann Brown Dr. Sheron Brown Jamelia Thompson
Amina Touray
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In this month’s issue we are so very honored to have the beautiful and lovely Vanessa Simmons grace our cover. Vanessa is an inspiring example of a woman empowered and in an intimate interview with our photographer Amina Touray she talks about her focus on empowering other women, her special projects accomplished this year, her plans for the holidays, and how she balances it all with being a mom. There are other amazing women featured in this issue as well but I wanted to point out two who are very special to me and to the magazine. Amina Touray, our photographer partner in L.A. is featured on pages 50-55. Not only is Amina an amazing photographer, she is also my dear friend. I am honored that she chose to share beautiful photos of herself and tell her personal story about her love for photography. Then there is NIehla O. who is featured on pages 56-61. Niehla is a talented professional make up artist and entrepreneur also from L.A. and is part of Amina’s amazing team. I love Niehla’s artistry and the beauty she brings to the women featured on the pages of our digital editions. I am so thankful to both of these beautiful ladies and so proud to have them in front of the camera as opposed to behind the scenes. I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I do, and that it inspires you. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a new year filled with joy and promise.
xoxo, Shawn ant v i d l u St
CONTENT
DEC 2017 7. Making Moves: Taja V Simpson By Jamelia Thompson 12. Make Magic, Not Resolutions By Dr. Sheron Brown 16. How Sigma Gamma is helping stop Swimming Deaths in the African American Community By Ann Brown 18. Bronze Magazine’s Takeover Pop Up Event 28. Carla’s Creation Brings People Together with Good food 30. A Chat with Netflix American Vandal Star, Camille Hyde By Jamelia Thompson
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featuring
Vanessa Simmons
46. Doll Land and Headbands By Amina Touray 50. My Story by Amina Touray 60. HomeGirl’s Hummus by Amina Touray
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Making Moves
Taja V. Simpson Written by Jamelia Thompson
Taja V. Simpson understands the importance of being multi-talented in the entertainment industry. The Louisiana native was recently seen as Debrah, the fun but sassy wife of Tyler Perry in the Liongate film Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, and was widely known as Adele on “The Bold and Beautiful (TV Series).” The talented actress brings life to any character she plays. Simpson’s talent and drive surpass the big screen as she remains relevant even behind the scenes. In addition to being an actress, she is also a director, novelist, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. In an interview with the rising star, we had the wonderful opportunity to learn more about her recent movie role and the exciting things to come on her continued journey.
Tell us about your life growing up in Louisiana. Louisiana taught me that it takes a village to raise a child, so we were close knit. However, it was also unique for me because of my skin tone, which made certain families not want their kids to play with me because I was darker than a brown paper bag. It took many years for me to accept my looks and be comfortable in my own skin but I have to say, I am absolutely in love with me now! Despite all that, I love Louisiana. We’re the most hospitable, caring and loving people on the planet. How did you gain an interest in acting? What were the first steps you took to realize your dream? I grew up playing out movie scenes but had no
idea what I was doing was called ‘acting.’ For my cousins and I, it was simply ‘pretend.’ We would say, “Hey, wanna play pretend?” From there we made up games with movie lines, songs with movie lines or my favorite, “Finish that line,” with a famous movie quote. After graduating from McNeese State University with a BS in Mass Communication, I moved to Houston, TX, and that’s where I started to take the first steps towards acting. I enrolled into a Casting Director workshop, and by the end of it, I won 3 acting awards. I then auditioned for my first short film and booked the lead role. That made me believe I was onto something. My teacher suggested I make the move to L.A., but little did he know, I was already on my way.
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What was it like transitioning from small town life to Hollywood? The transition was exciting; a new city with new people and a new direction in life! I was ecstatic. The city is incredible; a melting pot of different cultures and the weather is beautiful. Everything is within a few miles of driving. However, those ‘few’ miles could also mean an hour or more in traffic. The cost of living was a little troublesome at first. I mean for what I was paying in LA LA Land for an apartment, I could have an entire house elsewhere. Also, because I am from the south and we like to greet one another, people in L.A. would always ask, “Where are you from?” When I finally asked why, the answer was always the same,‘Because you spoke to me.’ Ummmmm, okay, so unsolicited speaking is not allowed, got it. The new direction in life to pursue this dream was more complex than I’d imagined. The good news is, I didn’t let it break me! In the words of Derek Luke in Antwone Fisher, “It don’t matter what you tried to do, you couldn’t destroy me. I’m still standing, I’m still strong.” actor?
What was your first breakout role as an
It was the role of Adele in The Bold & The Beautiful. When I auditioned for it, I didn’t know it would be a recurring role. I ended up being on the show for 2.5 years and it was such an enriching experience to work with so many actors I grew up watching on television. How did you land your role in Tyler Perry’s Boo2! A Madea Halloween film? I auditioned for this opportunity. Funny thing is, I’d auditioned for many other Tyler Perry projects and had been on hold for a few, but ultimately the roles went in a different direction. However, after booking this role, I flew to Atlanta and met with the producer of the film, Mark Swinton, and he started telling me how much he loved my work, had seen all of my previous audition tapes and was so happy for me to join the TPS family. All those times I’d auditioned were all building up
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I want to continue to use my platform and voice as a leader representing two powerful democratic countries and cultures... DECEMBER 2017
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Tell us about your role in Boo2.
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Debrah is a fun and sassy woman who has a different parenting style to her ex-husband Brian (Tyler Perry). She is the mother of their two kids, B.J. and Tiffany. While Brian wants to instill discipline, Debrah wants her daughter, Tiffany, to have freedom to make mistakes.
As a keynote speaker for the 2018 Junior Women’s Conference, what words of wisdom do you plan to share with young women? What would you say is one important thing young women can do to strengthen their self- esteem?
this one moment. Little did I know, they were simply waiting to find the perfect role for me. When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. I was later told that my audition was the only one that casting sent through to the studio because they knew they had their “Debrah.” After auditioning so many times, that was great to hear. It was a great role and I’m happy to have been able to breathe life into this character.
How was it working so closely with Tyler Perry? Tyler Perry is a superhero in his own right and is thoughtful and considerate. You’ve probably seen or read something about him helping people in the community and around the world. Well, guess what? He’s exactly like that in person! As much as he loves efficiency and speed from everyone he works with, he also takes time out to have fun on set and is just as thoughtful as you see and read about. Tell us about your upcoming book, Cracking the Acting Code: A Practical Step By Step Guide to Becoming A Professional Actor which is available at www.crackingtheactingcode.com. What would you like readers to learn from reading it? I co-authored it with fellow actor, Sabrina M. Revelle in response to being inundated with questions (especially after being seen on various TV shows) along the lines of, “How do I get started?” “Which classes should I take?” “How do I avoid scams?” The list goes on. I had countless conversations, back and forth emails, helping so many people that I thought to myself, “You know what, I’m going to write a book.” When Sabrina asked if I wanted to collaborate with her on a book about acting, I jumped at the opportunity because not only was it in line with what I wanted to do, both of us sharing our combined expertise would be doubly empowering. The book is a way of sharing with everyone all the things that we wish we knew before we started acting. People will take away a ton such as: STYLE AND TONE - Discover the different styles and tones of Acting & How to choose the right class for you.
The most important thing I’d want young women to start doing is something I like to call “Speak Life Over Your Life.” It’s about using words of affirmation versus speaking negatively about yourself because there is power in the spoken word. Like some of the young women I’ll be speaking to, I fought through being bullied, low self-esteem and depression, and what changed my life was accepting who I was and learning to love me just the way I am. That’s key to strengthening your self-esteem. Living a life of gratitude is an unstoppable formula for living the best life you can live! If you had a theme song to describe you personally, what would it be and why? Survivor - Destiny’s Child. This song speaks to the journey that I’ve been through and represents faith in oneself: I’m a survivor I’m not gon’ give up I’m not gon’ stop I’m gon’ work harder I’m a survivor I’m gonna make it I will survive Keep on survivin’ Is there anything else you’d like to share with Bronze readers? Definitely keep an eye out for my directorial work. As a storyteller, I am involved in more than acting. I also bring my storytelling skills to realize the vision of films and plays. I have two feature films in development right now with Lemuel Entertainment titled Trinity (Action/Adventure), and Airport (Horror/Thriller).
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Sheron Brown, Ph.D. is the owner of Sweet Eden by Sheron, a wellness education company. She is also the author of The Wellness-Purpose Connection™: The Ultimate Guide to Maximizing Your Life Experience. As a certified integrative nutrition health coach and yoga instructor, Sheron teaches mindful practices that helps you heal your physical, mental, and emotional well-being so you can fully live your purpose with joy and vitality. Connect with her online on Facebook and Twitter @sheronbrownphd or Instagram @iamagirlfrombrooklyn. You can also email Sheron for help with your organization’s or individual wellness goals at info@sweetedenbysheron.com. 12
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Make Magic, Not Resolutions Interview by Sheron Brown Resolution: a firm decision to do or not do something; the action of solving a problem. Millions of people make them annually, but before the first month of the new year ends, the firm decision to do something about their problem(s) turn into a firm decision to not do something. Why? Because resolutions don’t work. Ditch the Resolutions At some point in your life, you’ve probably made a resolution either at the beginning of a new year or any given Monday. You may have started off strong then fizzled out, or never started at all. I’ve done it and I have friends who have too. We have the best intentions to start eating better, exercise more, dump a bad relationship, start school, change jobs, write the book, and the list goes on. We promise ourselves that this time is the time, but somehow before June, this year starts to look just like last year, and yet again, the resolutions didn’t work. It’s time to ditch the resolutions. Why Resolutions Don’t Work Resolutions don’t work for three main reasons. First, they are not energizing. Resolutions tend to focus on a long-desired wish you may have already failed at accomplishing. Perhaps you wanted a flatter stomach or smaller dress size. Because the resolution is most likely a wish you’ve had for a long time, you’ve already trained your subconscious that it is not possible. You’ve already been defeated. The second reason resolutions don’t work is because they tend to focus on the negative. For example, the resolution to lose weight is burdened with unspoken negative self-talk
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and beliefs like, “Look at this fat stomach,” “I don’t look sexy,” or “I’ll never lose this weight.” This subconscious conversation demotivates you without you even realizing and again, you’ve lost before you started. Lack of investment is the third reason resolutions do not work. Many times, resolutions are statements. Sometimes they may be on a sticky note on your refrigerator or desk area at work. Very rarely has significant thought and planning gone into them. You want a big change. Simply saying it with force, will not do. Time investment is required for this to work. In order for lasting change to happen, there must be an energizing vision of your future self, fueled by the magic of investing in changing your life. Make Magic In business, it is well known that activities such as visioning, strategizing, and goal setting are critical to change. This is why business leaders go through a process to write a plan. And the more energizing the activities, the better. So, if it’s an important first step for a business—and you are your business, right? —then why isn’t it important for you?
making magic and unleashing you! 7 Steps to Unleash You This has to be fun or it won’t work, so before you begin, put on your favorite pajamas, grab a glass of wine or cup of tea, and settle in with your imagination. Unveil Your Vision 1. The first step is seeing yourself in a way that makes you joyful. This is your vision. In the beginning of a coaching session, many clients have a weight loss goal that they’ve had for years. When they share it, it tends to be a de-energizing statement like, “I want to lose 50 pounds.” Something like this won’t work for the reasons I mentioned earlier. To help them get underneath that to a more exciting vision, I ask, “What about 50 pounds will make life better?” With each answer, I drill deeper until we hit the answer that represents the truth of what they really want. “I want to get back to my healthiest self when I did the activities I loved.” Polish Your Vision 2. Once the vision is revealed, I help them polish it up. We come up with a short, memorable and energizing statement that communicates what she wants. Following this example, her polished vision is Feel like 26 at 46.
A well quoted prophet was once told, Write the vision. Make it clear on tablets so that anyone can read it quickly. The vision will still happen at the appointed time […] It will certainly happen. It won’t be late. Unlike a resolution which is the decision to do or not do something, magic is the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using heavenly momentum. Now, which would you prefer to make? My guess is make magic. With that, let’s be about the business of
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Dress Your Vision 3. Next, dress your vision in three ways you will make it a reality. In keeping with this example, her three ways might include creating a budget for better money management, eating more fruits instead of sugary snacks and chips during the day, and increasing daily movement. (As she dressed her vision, she faced that she wastes money that could be better spent on healthier options like fruit.) Written in short memorable statements, they might read, Master Money Manager, Daytime Fruitarian and My Movement Matters.
Accessorize Your Vision 4. Now it’s time to add the finer details that will make the colors in your dress pop! In other words, what regular activities will make the dress look good? For example, she might track her expenses in an app to improve her spending habits, purchase her fruits at the grocer close to her job every Monday and Wednesday, and use a parking lot 10 blocks away from the office. These details will direct her money to wiser food choices, reduce her daily caloric intake and increase exercise in a natural way. Beautify Your Vision 5. Your favorite glamour shot and technology are required. You can use a fancy program like Photoshop, a simple program like PowerPoint or even simpler—a phone app like Word Swag. It’s up to you how fancy you want to get. Essentially you start with your photo as the foundation, then add your polished vision and short dresses. If there is room, you can add your accessories, but what’s most important are the vision and the strategies. Seeing them will automatically remind you of your daily activities.
Gloss Your Vision 6. Print your visual magic on glossy paper at your local print shop. It will have the look of a magazine cover. Purchase a nice but inexpensive frame. Once you’ve placed your magic in a frame, position it where you are guaranteed to see it every day when you first wake up. Glossing your vision can cost as low as $3, and this investment will remind you daily of the magic you are making. Sparkle Your Vision 7. It’s time to make your vision shine—in public. Share it with someone who cares about your well-being and is willing to be your accountability partner. Perhaps they might go through the process as well, and the two of you can hold each other accountable. Plans always work best when they are checked, so let the light shine on this plan. Allow it to be checked. You really want the change this time, and you can have it. Release the habit of resolutions and faulty self-promises. Instead, take your vision from unveiling to sparkling and influence a course of events in your life that are sure to unleash the fantabulous you!
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How Sigma Gamma is Helping Stop Swimming Deaths in the African American Community Interview by Ann Brown Olympians Maritza McClendon and Cullen Jones teamed up with Sigma Gamma Rho in 2013 to encourage African Americans to learn to swim. And the five-year partnership, Sigma Gamma Rho Swim 1922, has been successful. McClendon made history when she became the first black woman to break an American swimming record. In 2004, Maritza became the first black woman to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic swim team and won an Olympic silver medal as part of the 400m free relay team during the Games in Athens, Greece. Jones is a two-time Olympian (2008, 2012); he won a gold medal in the 4x400 meter freestyle relay (2008) and a gold medal in the 4x400 meter medley relay (2012), silver in the 50 meter freestyle (2012) and silver in the 400 meter freestyle relay (2012). R e c e n t l y, S i g m a G a m m a R h o S o ro r i t y awarded its Community Service Partnership Award to USA Swimming for its partnership with the sorority to help decrease drowning deaths among African Americans. In fact, the USA Swimming’s partnership with Sigma Gamma Rho is a historic initiative. It aims to strengthen former organization’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, increase swim participation, and decrease drowning rates in the black community. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, ten people drown on average each day, in swimming pools and African-American youths, ages 15 to 19, make up a disproportionate share of those deaths. The partnership developed after the USA Swimming Foundation commissioned a study by the University of Memphis that discovered 70 percent of African-American children have low or no swim compared to
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40 percent of Caucasians. Among the partnership’s successes: Nearly 20,000 sorority members and affiliates participated in scores of swim clinics at colleges, universities and community pools throughout the country. Black and Hispanic youngsters learned a range of skills, from the fundamentals of swimming to rescue tactics. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. International President Deborah Catchings-Smith told Bronze more. The partnership started five years ago, what would you say have been some major achievements? The most recent major achievement is our sponsorship of the 2017 Fédération internationale de natation (FINA) World Junior Swimming Championships held in Indianapolis, Indiana. We are the first and only international service organization to be selected as the premier sponsor for this type of international athletic event. The swimming event garnered nearly 1,000 swimming athletes from more than 95 countries around the world that were televised internationally for 6 days on NBC Sports - Olympic Channel. Sigma Gamma Rho has supported 200+ individual swim events at the national, regional and local levels. We have anecdotal evidence that the swim clinics are creating spaces for members of our communities to conquer their fears. We renewed our partnership with USA Swimming. Remarkably, TYR Sports, Inc. has joined as an event sponsor supporting our drowning prevention movement. Additionally, the organization has hosted swim clinics at several national swim meets.
Photo by Margot Jordan | Left to right: U.S. Rep Bobby Scott (VA), Paris Jacobs, USA Swimming Board Member, Olympian Maritza McClendon, Actress & Producer Sigma Gamma Rho Soror Victoria Rowell, International President Deborah Catchings-Smith, Rasheeda S. Liberty, International Vice President. Back row: Olympian Cullen Jones, Tim Hinchey, USA Swimming Pres. & CEO
What are the goals of the partnership for 2018? Our 2018 goal is to have no less than 2,000 individuals in the pool to participate in wet clinics. We will accomplish this by supporting our local chapters in their creation, implementation, and assessment of local events. As an organization, we will host 15 national (tier one) swimming events. Through our internal evaluation, we will increase the level of participation in our clinics by 25 percent. Lastly, the focus on increased participation will lead to a 10-12 percent reduction in fear of water experienced by participants who do not know how to swim. Why do you feel African American swim at lower rates? Historically, African Americans have not participated in water and swim activities. Access to resources and the reduction in available resources are contributing factors
for decreased swimming activities. Many communities do not have natatoriums, county pools, or similar programs. Several urban communities do not have schools that offer swim programs. These types of scenarios are barriers to individuals and families participating in swimming activities and programs. What tips would you tell African-American parents who want to encourage their children to swim? To encourage children to swim, parents have to be willing to overcome their own fears. Research indicates that If a parent does not know how to swim, there is only a 13 percent chance that a child in that household will learn how to swim. Simply by participating in any form of organized swim education decreases the rate of preventable drownings by 88 percent. Swimming is the only sport or physical activity that can save a life.
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BRONZE MAGAZINE’S
TAKEOVER TAKEOVER POP POP UP UP EVENT EVENT Bronze Magazine’s “Takeover” Pop Up Event was a huge success earlier last month. The event took place at BKLYN Commons in Brooklyn, NY. Thanks again to all of our sponsors, vendors and the many attendees who came out to support us!
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BRONZE MAGAZINE TEAM
FROM LEFT: LADY Z, DJ LADY D WELLS (music sponsor) SHAWN STULDIVANT (EDITOR IN CHIEF)
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SHAWN STULDIVANT- EDITOR IN CHIEF (LEFT) & TRISH SANYAL DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & EVENTS (RIGHT)
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MY SECRET TREASURES (vendor)
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HER SECRET VAULT BAR (Liquor Sposnsor) DECEMBER 2017
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Bronze Magazine Team
Ashanti Middleton, Host ot Taste & Toast with AM (Media partner)
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Ja’Nae (PERFORMER)
Steph Lamonte (PERFORMER)
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Bronze Magazine Team
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Joyce Ann’s Creation (dessert sponsor
carla’s Creation (food sponsor)
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carla’s creation Nothing brings people together quite like good food, and good food is exactly what Carla, owner of Carla’s Creation cooks up every time she caters a meal. As the official food sponsor for our Bronze Mag “Takeover” Pop Up Event in Brooklyn, NY last month, it was no surprise that Carla’s Creation was a big hit with attendees. We asked Carla a few questions about her love for cooking good food and keys to her business’ success, and here’s what she had to say… Tell us about your catering business, Carla’s Creation. Why did you choose the food business specifically? Carla’s Creation is 1 pot, 1 spoon and grandma’s dinner plates. It is based off the woman I grew up to be. While watching my older sister and late grandmother in the kitchen, I learned different techniques. Those techniques turned into skills that gave me the opportunity to create. I didn’t choose this field, it chose me! Yes, it’s been a challenge, but it’s also given me the opportunity to master taste and create different ways of doing things, such as my own seasonings. What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them? My biggest hurdle was proving people wrong learning time management. It is hard for anyone to work full-time, take care of a family and try to do something they are passionate about. Once I got down a rotation, I put myself in a place where I could do all of those and still be happy. For example, when I have large orders, I have my own personal assistant- my son. He helps me to prepare orders
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and he gets to see first hand how hard mommy works. What has been your greatest moment of success? Failure? My greatest success is seeing smiles on peoples faces after tasting Carla’s Creation. My greatest failure would be not acting on my gift sooner. What do you now today that you wish you would have known when you first got started as an entrepreneur? I wish I would have known that a simple seafood dinner, hosting and catering parties, creating my own personal recipes and personal seasonings was not only going to make bellies full but also make a career for me that I am proud of. What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur? Take risk and dream big!
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A Chat With Netflix American Vandal Star, Camille Hyde Written by Jamelia Thompson Having realized her love of acting at a very young age, actress Camille Hyde has been unstoppable ever since. The Washington D.C. native followed her passion for acting and singing all the way to California, where she made history as the first black Power Ranger, Shelby Watkins / Pink Dino Charge Ranger in the long-running Nickelodeon show, Power Rangers Dino Charge. Currently, Camille can be seen in the new, recently premiered Netflix true-crime satire series, American Vandal as Gabi. We caught up with the talented star to find out more about her role on the show as well as her other projects. Where were you raised/born? I was born and raised in Washington D.C! At what age did you realize that you wanted to make acting a career? I knew I wanted to act at the age of 4, which is when I did my first musical. I also wanted to be a veterinarian and decided to study Biology in hopes of pursuing both. Can you recall your first audition or a memorable audition? What was it for? How old were you? The first audition that I remember doing was a musical called Oliver. I was about 7 years old at the time and was auditioning for the role of Nancy. I remember singing the song “Consider Yourself” and feeling super nervous about remembering all of the words in the song! I kept repeating the song lyrics all day at school until it was time to audition after school. I ended up nailing the lyrics and got the part. How did the opportunity to star in Netflix’s American Vandal come about? I did the first audition with the casting director
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and laughed my way through it because I had no idea what was going on. Then, when I went to the producer callbacks I was with about 6 of the creators/writers who gave me a little insight on what was going on and we just had a ball in the room. We played around with one of the camp scenes and I left feeling like the character Gabi and knew I was a good fit for the role. Can you talk a little about your character in Netflix’s American Vandal? In what ways is this character similar or different from your own personality? Gabi is a really sweet, down to earth girl and I think her loyalty to her friends and laid-back attitude is similar to me. But I definitely have a little more knowledge in the fashion department, in my opinion! She takes pride in being the relationship/girl specialist which is really funny because that’s opposite of me in real life. I’m kind of like a guy when it comes to reading signs and knowing what things mean. Like I probably could figure out the whole “Heyy” with two “y’s” thing but anything beyond that kind of goes over my head.
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What attracts you about American Vandal’s story line? How is it similar or different from other shows you have been a part of?
Are there any actors or actresses you look to for inspiration? If so can you name and explain why?
American Vandal is by far the most unique project I’ve had the opportunity to work on. It was something the world hadn’t quite seen before from the plot, to the cinematography, to the range of actors that were featured. We really got to play around with scenes and our dialogue which was so much fun and so gratifying as an artist; you don’t get to veer off the script much in this industry so that was a special entity of this project. I haven’t done anything like it so it remains as the only project of its kind on my resume.
I try not to compare myself to other artists as I believe that everyone has their own creativity and style to offer the world but there are a few actors that I am truly captivated by. I love watching Brie Larson’s career develop, I’ve followed her from one of her earliest Indies called Short Term 12. I also love Woody Harrelson and his ability to transform himself into so many characters. I’m also a huge Kerry Washington fan.
Mr. Student Body President is one of the most hilarious shows I’ve ever seen or been a part of. The comedy is much different to that of American Vandal and my character in it (Debra) couldn’t be any more opposite to Gabi. In high school, I was an athlete but kind of a trouble-maker. I had my fair share of detentions and suspensions but pulled myself together by senior year (better late than never). Debra is definitely the “it” girl in school and knows it. She’s super manipulative but so charming that she can make everyone fall in love with her. She and her jock boyfriend have this inexplicable charisma which they use to try to gain control over the school against the current Student Body President and his VP. It’s SO much fun and the comedy is very in your face and unapologetic.
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I started riding when I was barely old enough to walk… Horses captivated me at a young age— there was a barn in our neighborhood that my mom took me to when I was a baby to feed the horses. I just went to pet and feed them until I was finally old enough to ride around 3 or 4 years old, and I haven’t stopped since. I competed on both the East and West Coast and started training horses professionally at 17 years old. Are there any actors or actresses you would like to work with in the future? Can you name a couple? There are way too many to list but I’d really love to work with Jennifer Lawrence, Thandie Newton, Octavia Spencer, Angela Basset, Julia Roberts and so many more.
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Tell us about your role on the TV Series Mr. Student Body President. What kind of student were you in high school?
We understand that you are an equestrian. Tell us about that.
I try not to compare myself to other artists as I believe that everyone has their own creativity and style.
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When you’re not acting, what other activities do you enjoy doing? Riding horses is still a big part of my life. I also love to travel so when I get the chance, I try to get out of town to travel the world. It’s the best way to learn about yourself and obviously different cultures and how humans can be so different but also so similar in all parts of the world. I’m a huge foodie, so I really enjoy trying new restaurants and going to farmer’s markets and cooking. Name one empowering quote that you look to or live by for inspiration. “She slept with wolves without fear, for the wolves knew a lion was among them.” Is there an ideal character that you someday hope to play? Can you describe that character? I really want to play the heroine in some kind
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of survival or apocalyptic feature. Or playing a protagonist female queen like Aida or Cleopatra. If a studio ever makes Aida as a feature, I’d move mountains to be cast as her. What’s next for Camille Hyde? Are there any upcoming projects you would like to share with Bronze? I actually have a new series that premiered this month called Versus, which is about my character Madison, a star lacrosse player, discovering herself as a normal teenager and balancing being a full-time athlete. It’s more of a drama compared to my past few projects and has a lot of emotion and sentiment in it. I loved filming it and portraying this character because it’s such a relatable show. There are so many characters with different stories and I think everyone who watches can relate to a specific character. Versus is on go90 along with Mr. Student Body President!
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VANESSA SIMMONS
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Provided by @nowprla
Jumpsuit: Patty Ang | Bracelet: Joel Galon
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On Entrepreneurship, Me-time & Motherhood
Interview and Photographed by Amina Touray Makeup by Niehla O | Hair by Brittany Love Styled by Janel Styles When I had the lovely opportunity to photograph and interview Vanessa J Simmons, I knew I had to ask her about her routines and how she balances her career with me-time and motherhood. At an impressive pace she has grown her lifestyle website for women empowerment, as well as taking on projects with other inspirational entrepreneurial women in the game. In our interview we learn all about her routines and passions. And I can’t help but feeling even more inspired!
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“Organization is key to making everything work, and come together”
Thank you for joining us Vanessa. It’s an honor to have you on our cover. How will you be celebrating the holidays? Thank you so much for featuring me. This year for the holidays I will be spending time with my family here in Los Angeles. My daughter and I have already put up her Disney themed tree and I’m looking forward to making a large holiday dinner. My favorite thing to make is my late grandfather’s potato salad recipe. His recipe always reminds me of the holidays growing up. Teaching my daughter these traditions is very special to me and ensuring she has an incredible childhood.
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How has this year been for you? This has been a great year for me personally. I’ve had an amazing opportunity at the top of this year to join some amazing women (Tracey Edmonds, Lauren Lake, Lisa Price, Kandi Burruss, Mikki Taylor and more) on a Show called “Queen Boss” which was a reality competition empowering female entrepreneurs. Being on that show and around so many inspiring women really set the tone for me this year to go relentlessly after everything I’ve ever wanted to accomplish and having that positive attitude that anything can happen as long as I work for It.
Can you tell us what your most exciting project has been? Getting back into fashion has been one of the most exciting things I’ve done his year. It all began when “Project Runway” finalist and friend Candice Cuoco taught me the fundamentals of fashion. I’ve personally never had a traditional fashion education just a deep love, respect and desire to pursue It. Candace and I started off with a tutorial on making a pencil skirt from start to finish (for more information about my skirt making and about my fashion journey you can checkit out on my web page VanessaJSimmons.com) and I instantly wanted to learn more. We ended up working on a collection “Bad Butterfly” which debuted at LAFW in March, Houston Runway and the Spring/Summer collection at NYFW in September. It’s been an exciting journey and the collection has a strong message for women empowerment that I’m most proud of. It’s been really exciting watching talent such as Lil Kim , Letoya Luckett , Goapele ,Karrueche Tran , Zuri Hall , Sib Vicious just to name a few rock the pieces on stage and on red carpets. I’m extremely excited for what’s to come in fashion for me. Your lifestyle website is full of inspiration! There just seems to be something for every woman. Please tell us more what it’s about? I absolutely love working on VanessaJSimmons. com. It’s a place where I’m aiming to create a community based around empowering women through fashion, beauty, fitness, mom life and helping people all across the world to be the best possible versions of themselves as they can be. I’m looking forward to building out
the website even more in 2018 and even more excited to introduce a new beauty product that will be coming very soon..... so stay tuned. As an entrepreneur you’re taking on many roles. What has been the most fun and the most challenging role so far? The most challenging part of this life as an entrepreneur is balancing motherhood and work. For me, my daughter will absolutely ALWAYS come first, so I’m learning a healthy way to balance being a mom and work. One very important tool I will say that is helping me is staying organized. Organization is key to making everything work, and come together. Also, knowing my limits on when to stop working for the day and just be a mommy. In the midst of being a mother and having a career, what do you do for YOU to make sure you don’t get overwhelmed with work and stay in good health? It ’s so important to take care of yoursel f while pursuing demanding schedules and responsibilities. I try my best to take some ME time...at least twice a month. I’ll take myself on a date and check in with myself. Another thing I do is workout. Working out is also very important especially for your mind, of course your body, and soul. I try to get at least 40 mins of cardio a day when I can. What does a “day off” look like to you? On a true day off, I go missing and either do fun activities around town with my daughter OR go to the spa and not look at my phone for at least 6 hours. Spa is definitely my favorite thing to do.
Dress: Cheri | Ring and Bracelet: NMD Designs | Earrings: Joel Galon Provided by @nowprla Shoes: JF London | Provided by @pr_solo
“It’s so important to take care of yourself while pursuing demanding schedules and responsibilities.”
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Dress: Charles and Ron | Provided by @maisonpriveepr_la Rings and Earrings: Jewelry Bar USA | Provided by @nowprla
“I just hope and plan to keep pushing myself to be a better version of myself.”
Please share some of your routines that help you stay balanced and happy? Meditation and prayer are my morning and evening routine. Working out is often the most challenging for me to keep up with depending on my schedule. I find that working out has proven to be one of the most important keys for staying truly balanced and happy. You’re the co-owner and creative director of Miss Teen California, which is a scholarship pageant that rewards goal oriented young women. What have you learned from the women that you have met through this competition? What do you teach them? Working on Miss Teenage California is one of the most rewarding things I do. As a former pageant queen myself, I learned a lot during my years of competition and I love the fact that I get to aid in giving young women this opportunity. My team and I award thousands of beautiful young ladies and help them receive lots of money yearly in scholarship funds. The pageant helps guide young women to be ambitious, goal oriented and fearless leaders of the next generation. We are currently planning for our
37th annual competition and planning a way to be a national competition. So For now we are only in California. What great entrepreneurial advice have you been given that you would like to pass on to others? The best advice I’ve gotten was from my amazing Dad! I love my daddy so much and I’m sooo grateful for him. But back to what I was saying lol...very early on while Angela and I were doing “Pastry” my dad would always say - “Do your best and forget the rest”. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being your own boss, but the most important thing is to make sure you keep it moving no matter what, no matter what challenges you may face, or whatever situations that you might be in that seem like you failed. Use those hiccups as lessons and keep It moving (as my dad would say). Always make sure you do your best work and keep striving. What does 2018 have in store? In 2018 I just hope and plan to keep pushing myself to be a better version of myself.
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Written and Photographed by Amina Touray After watching her grandmother crochet during her upbringing in Amityville, New York, Nique Haggerty was inspired to start her own crochet collection in 2016 and create crochet items such as dolls, headbands, hats, and toy animals. Her crochet dolls are her specialty. They’re of all different colors, hairstyles and outfits. It is a creative business that Nique takes on with love and care, alongside her singing and acting career in Los Angeles. What inspired you to start crocheting and for how long have you been doing it ? Growing up I watched my grandmother crochet and had always wanted to learn. I finally started last year. All your crochet dolls have different looks, and people can customize them. Please describe the process of customizing them, and the crochet items you create? All of my products are handmade with love. I crochet headbands and hats with vibrant colors and beautiful appliques. However, my specialties are my dolls. They are able to be customized so that every child can have a doll that represents them. When I was a little girl there were very few dolls that I felt looked like me. Although I loved the dolls that my mother bought for me, there was always a certain connection that was lacking
because of that fact. With my dolls, there are four different skin colors, different eye colors, 3 d i ff e re n t h a i r c o l o r s , a n d 5 d i ff e re n t hairstyles to choose from in order to be able to make a variety of dolls. Each doll also comes with a lovely removable outfit. All dolls are made-to-order.
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I think that anyone that likes chic, unique accessories or is looking for a doll that is a miniature version of themselves will love my dolls. Where do you see your business in the future? Let’s say in another five years, and how do you wish to expand? I’m not sure where I see my business in the next five years. Right now it is a labor of love and I look forward to seeing where it goes.
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My specialties are my dolls. They are able to be customized so that every child can have a doll that represents them.
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Who is your typical consumer ?
What do you enjoy the most about crocheting? I enjoy thinking of how much joy the things that I crochet will bring. Where are your products available? My products are available on Etsy at the shop Doll Land and Headbands. https://www.etsy.com/shop/DollLandandHeadbands)
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Dress: Fulani Fashion Provided by @pr_solo Shoes: Katongers | Provided by @nowprla DECEMBER 2017
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Written by Amina Touray Photographs by Henry Muradian Makeup & Hair by Niehla O Styled by Janel Styles Assistant: Jerri Graham I have always been fascinated by the world. As a child I use to close my eyes, open my Atlas book, and freely turn pages without looking. Then I would point my finger somewhere on the map and open my eyes. Wherever my finger was pointing was the country I would go to one day. Having parents from two different continents taught me early that I wasn’t limited to one place. Fast forward to a few years later, as an adult I moved from Sweden to Los Angeles on my own. My mission was to see and experience as much as possible while being here as I developed my photography skills. That’s also when my excitement for creating and composing scenes and photographing people grew. I knew my own story, but I wanted to learn other people’s journeys as well. Annie Leibovitz once said - “When I say I want to photograph someone, what it really means is that I’d like to know them.” Those are truly words I can relate to as a photographer. But my interest for photography actually started when I was modeling in my early teen years. It’s been interesting to view the lens from different perspectives. When my friend Niehla suggested that we should do a photoshoot with myself as the model, I laughed to myself but of course I couldn’t say no. To me it’s important to never get comfortable and keep growing. When you get photographed, you freeze a moment of time that can bring so much joy many years later.
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Dress: Cheri and co. | Gold Bracelet: Kat Ong Provided by @nowprla
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HOMEGIRL’S HUMMUS Interview and Photographed by Amina Touray Set Stylist and Assistant — Christine Hayworth
Niehla O is the kind of super woman who doesn’t walk through life unnoticed. Whether she is doing makeup or making hummus, her vibrant, larger than life personality makes anything that she puts her passion in to turn into a success! After 17+ years of experience as a professional makeup artist, Niehla’s creative mind starting spinning and she decided to expand her love for colors and flavors towards making hummus! After experimenting with a mix of herbs and seasonings, Homegirl’s Hummus was born!
What’s the story behind Homegirl’s Hummus? Sometime back in 2012 I went to this amazing food market in downtown Milwaukee. I tasted the most amazing green hummus and I wanted to replicate it. So I tried several different versions of green hummus, putting in the flavors that I thought that I detected, but I was never able to re-create the taste. But what was birthed out of my multiple tries was an amazing product that I fell in love with. Everyone who I made it for raved about it, so I knew that I was on to something. And that’s the story of my first hummus. It’s
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called Prosperity, also known as “the green one.” I officially started Homegirl’s Hummus in Los Angeles in 2016. How does your hummus stand out? My hummus stands out because it is a true labor of love. I am a true artist. I love to create things with my hands and my senses are very heightened. I love textures, colors and flavors so I try to make sure that my product possesses all three components and that it is executed well.
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What’s the most common reaction from people trying your hummus for the first time? The common reaction is usually that wide eyed, surprised look. They’re surprised because they’ve never had hummus like this. Especially the people who tell me that they don’t like hummus. I always tell them that they haven’t tried my hummus, yet. What foods do you combine your hummus with? My goodness the possibilities are endless. I tell people that Homegirl’s Hummus is both a dip and a condiment. I’ve put it on sandwiches and wraps, burgers, grilled chicken, salmon, tacos, burritos, omelettes, cauliflower mash, etc. I’ve even dipped french fries in it. Anytime you want to give your simple or savory foods a little boost, Homegirl’s Hummus is the perfect choice. You currently have 3 flavors. Please describe them? The 3 flavors are so different, but equally
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yummy. *Prosperity is packed with fresh spinach and jalapeños, so it has a little kick. It’s color is vibrant green, like the color that is see when I think about abundance and overflow. Hence, the name, Prosperity. *Refresh is such a surprisingly delightful flavor. Rich in lemony and garlicky goodness, with just a subtle hint of fragrant basil. When I finally perfected my recipe and I tasted it, it was literally like drinking a cold glass of water on a hot summer day. Absolutely “Refresh-ing.” *Revolution is bold, zesty and even a little smoky. It’s a black bean base, as opposed to the traditional garbanzo bean base that hummus is typically made of. It’s super rich in color, almost a black brown. One bite of it makes you feel like you’re walking through the spice markets in Marrakech. It’s the flavor that most people sleep on. They’ll say, “I don’t eat black beans.” And I’m thinking yeah, right. Lol. Give me 30 seconds and I’ll have you hooked. Needless, they become one with Revolution.
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You can expect to get a delicious spin on traditional hummus that’s sprinkled with a little “black girl magic”.
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Which flavor is the most popular one? I used to think there was a fan favorite, but people are funny. Taste buds change, moods change. Some people start off saying that they love a particular flavor and by the end of the month, it’s changed two more times. It’s so funny, because I do the same thing. It just depends on my mood. Sometimes you want chocolate ice cream. Sometimes you want strawberry ice cream. It just depends on how you feel. What can we expect when we order some Homegirl’s Hummus? You can expect to get a delicious spin on traditional hummus that’s sprinkled with a little “black girl magic.” How do you plan on expanding your business?
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Within the next year, I’d like to have Homegirl’s Hummus available in specialty grocery stores in at least 3 markets. I’d eventually like to see the brand offered through entertainment arenas and other non-traditional venues. Where is Homegirl’s Hummus available? Right now, Homegirl’s Hummus is available fresh in the Los Angeles area. You can order directly from me through the brands Instagram or Facebook fan page. And we’ll be doing farmers markets starting next year. We will also start shipping fresh-frozen hummus at the beginning of the year. (Fresh-frozen, meaning that it will be frozen immediately after we make it, to preserve the flavor and texture) www.facebook.com/homegirlshummus www.instagram.com/homegirlshummus
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xoxo Bronze Magazine 62
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BRONZE @bronzemagazine
@bronzemag
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