January 2016 Issue

magazine

bronze Fashion Editorial “City Girl”

by Amina Touray

Q&A with Tymeka Lawrence Founder of hairfInity

Nouritress Perfect Hair Products Review

Amelia Moore is Limitless!

JANUARY 2016

VISIT BRONZEMAGONLINE.COM

“Celebrate and embrace th

Photographer: Amina Touray Photography Makeup Artist: Crystal Watana Models (from left to right): Krystal Willis, Alicia Erby, Linda Walton, Angela Meryl, and Chelsy Gantt

he beauty of women of color�

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EDITOR’S note

bronze magazine Co-Owner/Editor In Chief

Shawn Stuldivant Co-Owner

Barry Stuldivant Issue Design/Layout Taylor Severson

Writers (this issue) Deidra Brown Chloe Fontaine Shawn Stuldivant

Photographer Contributor Amina Touray

On the Cover: Amelia Moore

Happy New Year Bronze Beauties! I am so honored that you’ve come back to read yet another inspirational issue. What is it about a new year that sparks renewed energy and focus? I guess for me, it’s the fact that a whole year of life experiences has ended, therefore the powers that be are making room for a whole new year and many opportunities to create all new experiences. It’s almost as if we have a chance to wipe the slate clean and start all over again.

We have a lovely issue for you this month. Actress, model, producer, editor, and host Amelia Moore, who also happens to be our entertainment/lifestyle editor, is our special guest cover star. Amelia is very dear to the Bronze family because she is actually the very first person I interviewed when I first started Bronze as a blog. We really connected on a personal as well as spiritual level, and she has been a valuable part of our team ever since, having interviewed a host of celebs and talented individuals. She is an amazing woman with a beautiful soul, so what better way to start out the new year? On that note, I hope you are inspired and empowered by the following pages. Happy reading!

Shawn Shawn Stuldivant Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

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JANUARY 2016 CONTENTS

FEATURES

24 Tymeka Lawrence

Q&A with the Brock/Hairfinity Beauty Founder

Amelia Moore:

Our cover star is showing women and young girls to never limit what you can do..

BEAUTY

26 Nouritress Perfect Hair

Product Review

FASHION EDITORIAL

6 City Girl

By Amina TourayPhotography

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Photographer: Amina Touray Model: Jaeda Jones Makeup Artist: Irma Vasquez Styled by: Amina Touray Clothing: Bebe Shoes: Bebe BRONZEMAGONLINE.COM JANUARY 2016

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amelia

m o o r e is a woman in charge!

Actress, model, producer, editor, host…these are just a few things that Amelia Moore has underneath her belt. From beginning her journey working in the garment industry, to now having a book in the works about being a female executive in a man’s world, Amelia is showing women and young girls to never limit what they can do.

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melia’s journey into the music world wasn’t planned. Her ex-husband was a producer, so as a supportive wife, she began networking within the music industry to help circulate some of his tracks. One thing led to another and before Amelia knew it, she was beginning a long lasting career in the field. As a result, one of the endeavors she became involved in was interviewing many different prominent artists in the industry. When asked who her favorite person to interview has been throughout her career, Amelia shares that it’s the specific moments that make an interview special that she enjoys the most. For example, she recalls a moment during an interview with Quincy Jones that really stuck with her in which he talked about musicality and how even though it changes, it always remains constant. Amelia found this to be pretty profound. Other favorite interviews of hers include Angie Stone, hip-hop group Goodie Mob, Ernie Hudson, Morgan Freeman and Danny Glover.

Currently, Amelia is stepping into producer mode as she is in the process of producing her own show, titled “Different Views: One Voice,” which she is using as an outlet to explore her more journalistic side. Amelia says, “I love the world of entertainment.

I love to say I am Hip-Hop because I live it, I live the culture, but as you get older you have to start reinventing yourself, and journalism is something that I truly love, and I felt like this TV show will show the other side, the mature, more serious side of Amelia Moore as a journalist.” Her focus for this show is to find that balance of comfortability with her guests while also digging deep into their core and taking topics that nobody wants to talk about and making everybody talk about them. For example, on one episode, she provides a glimpse into a young female designer, who is Christian, whose entire concept for her designs revolve around sexy, yet modest clothing. In addition, in the show she brings out young men to see how they perceive the designs on young women.

Like hosting, acting is another one of Amelia’s passions that she just fell in to. Always interested, but never knew how to get a foot in the door, Amelia got bit by the acting bug after meeting with director Todd Walker. Soon after taking a class with Tracy Moore, there became an affirmation of how much she loved the craft. “There’s a lot to be said about personifying words because aesthetically that’s what you’re doing. You’re looking at words, and then you’re adding color or character, and there’s something about that transition that I’m absolutely implored with,” says Amelia. Her main focus in this area is developing who she is as an actress and pushing the envelope of acting.

In addition to all of the projects that Amelia is currently working on, she is also the entertainment/lifestyle editor for yours truly, Bronze Magazine. Now going on 5 years, Amelia describes what it’s like to be a part of a magazine that positively signifies and relates to women of color. “To be able to have people see and enjoy and think about different subject matters as it relates to women of color, it’s an amazing experience, and to expand on the experiences that we have, and how we live life, and the decisions we make, is also amazing. It’s exciting and electrifying and no day is the same being the lifestyle editor of Bronze Magazine. I love it!”

From interviewer and host, to actress, producer, editor and now book writer, Amelia is taking her knowledge of the industry and

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is writing her own book, whose title has yet to be released. Inside, Amelia hopes to give readers an “Insight into what it really means to be a female executive, and for women to understand the dynamics and to learn how to manage the juxtaposition of female versus executive.” Inspired from her own personal spiritual journey that she has been on for 7 to 8 years, Amelia has always embraced her womanhood, but is now focusing on being active on it. As a result, she is the official host for the ANS Association, an organization that focuses on sisterhood, which allows her to continue to express her devotion to women empowerment.

Because of the fact that so many images of women in the media are being dictated by men, Amelia feels that it is important that women start reclaiming these depictions for themselves. She says, “As I got older, I started understanding that there’s an element of sisterhood that is out there and that is so progressive, and is not what society deems as catty, vindictive, and all these other negative attributes that society tries to associate with women.”

She also finds it important for young women to have the kind of mentorship that she had while coming in, which this book could provide insight for.

When asked about the valuable information she has learned from being involved in so many different aspects in the industry, Amelia said, “Don’t think about it, just do it.” In addition, she adds, “Organization is mobilization, and that’s not enough to do a lot of things; it’s more important to have structure and organization to do these things. Focus is key.” Amelia acknowledges the difficulty it can be as a young woman who is conflicted in trying to pursue a variety of different ventures, but to combat this, she addresses how essential it is to prioritize and learn the importance of strategy. Whatever you’re doing at the time, is what you need to be fully concentrated on and exerting your energy into.

In addition, as a woman it’s important not to limit yourself based off of the perceptions of others. Amelia closed our interview by saying, “It’s about understanding who you are first, and how others perceive you second, and where you want to go third, and making that triangle turn into knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.” Inspirational words from an inspiring woman, and advice appropriate for audiences across the board.

Make up and Hairstylist: Yaya Sabree-Melvin @stitchandpaintloft Stitch And Paint Loft (Brooklyn,NY) Weave: Chakira Gonsalves @pulchritude101chakira (New Bedford,MA) Designers:Gold Feather Dress:Natasha Lambkin for Tashee,Inc @tasheeinc (Brooklyn,NY) Gold Gown: Sam Davis For Izm Wear USA (Brooklyn,NY) Stylist: TerriRenee for T. Renee Fashions @treneefashions (Brooklyn,NY) Photographers: Johnathon Ellerbee for JE Photos @ jephotos_CEO (Brooklyn ,NY) Donald Layne for Donald Layne Photography (Bronx, NY) #DonaldLaynePhotgraphy

Q&A with Hairfinity Founder:

TYMEKA LAWRENCE What is your background? (Studies, experience etc.)

I have both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Electrical Engineering. I worked as an Electrical Engineer for 4 years prior to starting my own business.

What made you want to start your own business?

I’ve always been a business minded person. I always knew I wanted to own my own business. I did not see anything wrong with other career paths, I just knew what I wanted to do long term. However, I also knew that I needed an education. So, I had a plan to go to college, get a job, work for 5 years and start my own business. I was able to leave my job after working for only 4 years, so I actually beat my goal.

What was the trigger that allowed you to get started?

When I started Brock Beauty, I was pursuing several business ventures with my husband. I was actually doing the hair care research for myself. I did not think of it as a business idea at first. I had a problem, I looked for a problem, and then I found other women who had the same problem. I am naturally a problem solver, so I started putting out information about healthy hair techniques.

What inspires you every day?

My kids inspire me everyday.

How do you maintain a work/life balance?

In the beginning, I struggled with work/life balance. I worked a lot, lost a lot of sleep, etc. However, overworking yourself doesn’t come without consequence. When I realized that it could affect my health, I just thought about what was most important in my life. I thought about what I could live without, and what I couldn’t live without.

My family and my health trumped my business, so it put things in perspective for me. Now, I just keep a schedule that works for me. I have certain hours for work, and certain hours for my family.

Tell me about the brand Brock Beauty, how did you get this idea?

Hairfinity came first. It was the result of me trying to find a solution to my own hair problems. I had been compiling research about hair care and sharing it with women online. However, I felt that there was something missing that was deeper. That’s when I made the nutrition connection. Being a “math” person, I thought about having an infinite amount of hair; hence, the name, Hairfinity. When we started adding other products to our offerings, I thought we should have an umbrella company. The company is named after my husband Brock.

Is there an entrepreneur that you admire most?

I don’t know if there is one entrepreneur I admire the most. I love entrepreneurship itself. So, I love to read stories about any entrepreneur. I think it takes so much passion and courage to try to do something different, and that is what I find common among entrepreneurs. One of my favourite stories is about Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. He took a dangerous fishing job in Alaska to finance his restaurant after the bank turned him down. I love how he did whatever it took to make his dream come true.

Can you describe a typical day in your working life?

Over the years, my work day has changed dramatically. In the early years, it was just my husband and I doing ev24 | BRONZEMAGONLINE.COM JANUARY 2016

erythingincludingcustomerserviceandpackaging.Today,Iammostlyinvolvedwithproductdevelopmentand overall management. So, a typical day in my working life is split into two parts. Half of the day would be spent surfing the internet looking for ways to improve something for others. The other half of the work day is spent in the office working with our various departments. The rest of the day is reserved for my family.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

The part of my job that I enjoy the most is when I get a letter from a customer whose life has been changed by one of our products. I have gotten several of these over the years. Some of them come from cancer survivors who just wanted to feel normal again. Others were women who never felt comfortable with their hair or skin until after using one of our products. While beauty products may not seem “life changing,” it can be just that when it helps a person feel better about themself.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is deciding what to tackle first and who to focus on. Our team comes up with lots of ideas about products to help people, but you can’t do everything for everyone. It’s difficult to decide which products make the cut, and which ones don’t. They are all great ideas.

What advice would you give someone hoping to follow in your footsteps?

I would tell someone hoping to follow in my footsteps to believe in themself. When you try to do something different, people won’t always be supportive. They won’t always see your vision. But if you believe in yourself, it will be easier to pursue your dreams and make them a reality.

How much did you know about starting a business when you co-founded Brock Beauty?

Honestly, I didn’t know anything about starting a business when I co-founded Brock Beauty. I “Googled” everything. I still do.

What do you think has been the key to your success?

I think my resourcefulness has been my key to success. I don’t claim to know everything or be the best at everything. But I am great at finding information and people to get things accomplished. I know my strengths and weaknesses. Where I am weak, I get help. Where I am strong, I give help. That has been my formula.

What does the future hold in store for you and Brock Beauty?

I don’t like to plan the future of Brock Beauty too much.

Things change from day to day. I let the company lead the way. It’s usually easy to see which way to go. Right now, we have a lot of interest in our products worldwide. So, we are trying to make our products available in other parts of the world. As for me personally, I just want to be a great mother and wife.

by CHLOE FONTAINE

Nouritress Perfect Hair Products Review

by SHAWN STULDIVANT Hello Bronze Beauties! I was recently given the opportunity to try out and review Nouritress Perfect Hair Products, created and developed in 1998 by licensed cosmetologists who performed services on multicultural women who experienced hair thinning & hair loss and wanted to regrow their hair. Now granted, my hair isn’t thinning, but I felt that I could at least try out their stimulating scalp shampoo and vitamin conditioner.

Shampoo Product Features: -Increases blood circulation to stimulate growth -Helps prevent dandruff -Helps dry itchy scalp -Great for all hair types

Conditioner Product Features: -Detangles and softens -Helps repair split ends -Moisturizes and conditions -Great for all hair types

Photo by Shawn Stuldivant

My take on it: From the moment I received my products in the mail I was impressed. The packaging was this beautiful purple box with a purple bow and purple tissue paper inside. I felt as if I were receiving a special gift. As soon as I opened the box, this really pretty smell greeted me. At this point, I couldn’t wait to give it a test try.

The shampoo had this really strong minty like scent and as soon as I lathered it onto my hair. I could immediately feel the tingling in my scalp, which let me know that it was taking care of business. The smell was very strong though, almost medicinal; so strong that it briefly brought tears to my eyes (oh my). The conditioner had a much softer scent and it did soften my hair as promised. My hair is natural, so I was impressed with how soft my hair was after rinsing.

Pros: -Eye-catching packaging -Great scent -Medicinal-like properties -Works instantly

Cons: I don’t want to say that the scent of the shampoo is a con, because I understand that it’s strength is based upon helping to prevent dandruff and stimulating growth, but it is pretty strong nonetheless, so just be aware.

Final Thoughts: If you are looking for a strong product that will alleviate dandruff/dry scalp and stimulate growth, then I would say Nouritress is a go! On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest, I would give Nouritress 4 bronze stars!

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