E M P O W E R M E N T
A N D
E N T E R T A I N M E N T
AUGUST 2021
EXCLUSIVE
JAIMIE HILFIGER
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TIA MOWRY CLOSES MEGA DEAL WITH CLEO TV THE 2021 BLACK MEDIA HONORS TO CELEBRATE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MINORITY TRAILBLAZERS IN MEDIA
AND MORE...
TABLE OF CONTENTS —
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COVER STORY WITH JAIMIE HILFIGER
04 E DI TO R S NOT E
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EN TER TAIN ME N T ON E C E L E B R ATES 5 W IN S AT 36T H S T E L L A R GO SPEL M US IC AWA R D S
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THE 2021 BLACK MEDIA HONORS TO CELEBRATE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MINORITY TRAILBLAZERS IN MEDIA IN ATLANTA ON SATURDAY AUGUST 21 - SUNDAY AUGUST 22
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“FIN DI NG YO U R RO OT S WITH HENRY LOU I S G AT E S, JR .”
“TIA M OW RY ’ S QU I C K F I X ” FRO M K I N C LOS E S M E G A LI CENS I NG D E A L W I T H T V ON E ’ S SISTER NETWO R K C L E O T V TO BRI NG S HOW TO C A B L E T E L EVIS I O N F O R T H E F I R S T T I M E
CONTACT US
I A M Q U E E N M AGA Z I N E E: HELLO@IAMQUEENMAGAZINE.COM W: WWW.IAMQUEENMAGAZINE.COM — E D I TO R I A L ELLE CLARKE EDITOR CO N T R I B U TO R S Lisa M Sanchez Ashley Kirk SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIBE ONLINE WWW.IAMQUEENMAGAZINE.COM
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TH I S BLAC K QU EEN BEAT TH E OD D S
PLANTED FOOD S
EDITOR’S NOTE If there was ever a time to dream, it’s right now! Many times we allow the trials that we go through to rob us of accomplishing our dreams. Our trials didn’t come to steal the dream away but to confirm it. We fight for what we love. Your dreams are worth fighting for. I thank God that my grandparents continued to fight for me in prayer even when I was living a wayward life. Who knows what my life would have been like if they didn’t fight for me. What would our lives have been like if Jesus decided not to go to the cross? He had a moment where he asked that God take away the cross but he remembered the dream. He
ELLE CLARKE FOUNDER EDITOR IN CHIEF I AM QUEEN MAGAZINE
remembered that God sent him to earth to save humanity. Jesus fought the pain. He fought for you and me. He fought for the dream. Whatever you purposed in your heart to do, do it! Faith without works is dead. Begin to work on your dream little by little. Do not overthink it or focus on what you do not have. Start where you are with what you have. As you begin to build, the materials to complete the dream will find you. Have a little faith mixed with patience and you’ll soon see that what was in your heart will be in your hands. Dream, it’s free!
4 YEARS OF EMPOWERMENT
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GOSPEL MUSIC
ENTERTAI N MENT ONE CELEBRATES 5 WI N S AT 36TH STELLAR GOSPEL MUSI C AWARDS
Nia Allen, Jonathan McReynolds, Jabari Johnson and James Fortune eOne celebrated a powerful night of faith and music at the 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, which aired on BET on Sunday, August 1st. The Stellar Awards, which taped live on July 10th at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN, featured several of eOne’s charttopping artists during its broadcast including Jonathan McReynolds, JJ Hairston and Latice Crawford. Amongst the 5 Stellar Award wins, eOne cemented the major categories Male Vocalist of the Year and Choir of the Year (full list below). During the telecast Jonathan McReynolds delivered a powerful performance of his #1 single “Grace” and his GRAMMY® winning single “Movin On” with Mali Music. JJ Hairston opened the show with his brand-new single “Great Jehovah” – impacting radio now. Latice Crawford, celebrated her new album release, The Cure, on the blue-carpet and she presented an award during the main telecast. Hitmaker, James Fortune, also presented on the main telecast, in celebration of his nomination and #1 single, “Nobody But Jesus (feat. Lisa Knowles-Smith).” I A M Q U E E N M AGA Z I N E - 6 -
A complete list of Entertainment One’s wins can be seen below: eOne’s 36th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Winners Category #3 - MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - Jonathan McReynolds; People; eOne Music CATEGORY #8 - CHOIR OF THE YEAR - JJ Hairston; Not Holding Back; JamesTown Music / eOne Music CATEGORY #9 - PRODUCER OF THE YEAR - Jonathan McReynolds, Darryl “LiLMaN” Howell & Rogest “Rosco” Carstarphen, Jr.; People; eOne Music CATEGORY #12 - CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR - Jonathan McReynolds; People; eOne Music CATEGORY #21 - CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR - JJ Hairston; Not Holding Back; JamesTown Music / eOne Music
Latice Crawford
James Fortune
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BLACK MEDIA
THE 2021 BLACK MEDIA HONORS TO CELEBRATE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND MINORITY TRAILBLAZERS IN MEDIA IN ATLANTA ON SATURDAY AUGUST 21 - SUNDAY AUGUST 22 Atlanta-based media company Empower Media Group (EMG) announced the 2021 Black Media Honors™️ – the annual awards show that honors broadcasting, public relations, media, mass communication and journalism icons who have influenced and made significant contributions to the media industry. Hosted by Actress Brely Evans and Pastor Anthony Murray, the awards weekend is set to begin Saturday, August 21, through Sunday, August 22, in Atlanta. The official awards weekend is taking place at Twelve Midtown Conference Center. This year’s honorees for the 2021 Black Media Honors™️ include Karen Civil (Live Civil), Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant (New Birth Missionary Church), Kimberly Chapman (Sheen Magazine Editor-at-Large), Jeff Johnson (BET, Rickey Smiley Morning Show, NAACP), Randy Fling (Rolling Out), Dr. Rashad Richey (Political Analyst for CBS46, MSNBC, PeachtreeTV, V-103, Rolling Out), Michelle Rice (General Manager Urban One & TV One), Morgan Debaun (Blavity), Nadia C. Fischer (Publicist and activist) and The Georgia Entertain-
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ment Caucus. There will also be dynamic performances by Stellar Award Winning Gospel Singer Y’anna Crawley, Tasha Page-Lockhart (Sunday’s Best) and Ignatious Carmouche (The Voice Season 13). “The vision of the Black Media Honors is to recognize the trailblazers in African American Media and other American minorities who have paved the way for the broadcasting, public relations, media, mass communication, journalism professionals of today. Many of these creators have never received their much-deserved recognition,” said Stephanie Davis, Founder of Black Media Honors™️ and CEO of Empower Media Group. Some of this year’s sponsors include Prima Atlanta, Bomade Vodka,, Billboard Buzzing, B Taylor and Associates, The Collective Shine, Sheen Magazine and more. Confirmed Media Partners are Fox5, AspireTV, Sheen Magazine, TV One, and a host of celebrity photographers and bloggers.
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n e t s i L
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Photographer: Lindsay Fondo Makeup: Kassidy Brianna - Artistry by Kassidy Hair: Amy Sarinsky - Beyond Beauty Dress: Fendi Shoes: Christian Louboutin Beauty Products: La Curcio Beauty
JAIMIE HILFIGER Jaimie Hilfiger is the cover queen for this month’s issue of I AM QUEEN Magazine. We are so excited to share this gem with you!
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BIO Jaimie is the creator and face of The Jaimie Hilfiger Collection by La Curcio. A successful career as an international model and fashion icon sat Jaimie happily in the seats of the best makeup artists and skincare experts in the world. However, her extensive experience revealed an urgent need for high-performance products with healthy ingredients and earth-friendly packaging. In collaboration with esteemed manufacturers, Jaimie brings brands to market that align with her mission to pair health and wellness with undeniable glamour.
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WHAT WERE YOU THE FIRST IN YOUR FAMILY TO DO? In my family I was the first to model. I was also the first to explore the beauty and skincare industry and then go own to develop my own collection.
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What obstacle prevented others in your family from completing the task you accomplished? I think everyone chooses the path that interests them the most. Many of my family members wanted to explore the fashion world. I am in love with fashion but my first love is beauty and wellness. How did your accomplishment transform your family? My accomplishment made my family members view me with a different perspective. I was always seen as just a model or a pretty face but once I became a successful entrepreneur on my own I think it stopped everyone dead in their tracks! What obstacles did you encounter on your journey, that almost caused you to quit on your dream? Coming from a famous family and carrying such a recognizable and familiar last name has definitely presented me with many obstacles. For one, many outsiders assume that all of my success thus far is because my famous family member has helped me achieve my goals. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. All of my accomplishments have came from the hard work that my team and I have done. I always feel that I have to mention that because of all of the outside assumptions about me. Who inspires you to keep going ? My daughter who is three years old inspires me on a daily! She looks up to me so much that I never want to let her down. How were you, out of everyone in your family, able to accomplish something they couldn’t do? Many family is composed of many exceptional members. All with different personalities and talent I believe that each one of my family members is doing what they are destined to do. I am truly grateful that I found my true calling of helping others feel beautiful in their own skin. How can people connect and stay in contact with you? Instagram: @jaimiehilfiger Twitter: @jaimiehilfiger Facebook: @jaimiehilfiger
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HISTORY
“FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.”
New Episodes Explore Ancestry Stories of Pamela Adlon, Erin Burnett, Amy Carlson, David Chang, Terry Crews, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Lee Daniels, Tony Danza, Raúl Esparza, Kathryn Hahn, Rebecca Hall, Anita Hill, Regina King, Nathan Lane, John Leguizamo, Damon Lindelof, Mario Lopez, Leslie Odom, Jr., André Leon Talley, Melissa Villaseñor and Lena Waithe
Twenty-one of America’s most fascinating people discover the rich history and tremendous diversity hidden within their families in the eighth season of the critically acclaimed PBS series FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. The new season will premiere in January 2022 on PBS. FINDING YOUR ROOTS, Season Eight features ten new episodes showcasing guests who have excelled in a wide array of fields, each with ancestral stories that touch on the human experience and bring insight into how they became the trailblazers they are today. Among the guests are stars of the stage and screen Amy Carlson (“Blue Bloods”), Terry Crews (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), Tony Danza, Raúl Esparza (“Law & Order: SVU”), Kathryn Hahn (“Wandavision”), Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Nathan Lane, John Leguizamo, Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton) and Melissa Villaseñor (“Saturday Night Live”); multi-hyphenates Pamela Adlon, Lena Waithe and Regina King; filmmakers Lee Daniels (“Empire,” Precious) and Damon Lindelof (“Watchmen,”“Lost”); fashion legend André Leon Talley; journalist Erin Burnett; talk show and radio host Mario Lopez; restaurateur David Chang; and activists Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Anita Hill. “I am thrilled to share the deeply moving and surprising stories of the wide range of guests in Season 8 of FINDING YOUR ROOTS. I am humbled by the passion and the support our series has inspired from every sector of our society. Our guests--and their ancestors--embody what Finding Your Roots and the American Experience are all about: America is a nation of immigrants, willing and unwilling, but at the level of the genome, despite our apparent differences, we are 99% the same. Each of us is complicated in our own unique ways, but each of us descends from ancestors who have a story to tell and the goal of FINDING YOUR ROOTS is to allow them, at long last, to tell those stories. At a time when our country has witnessed so much strife over the last year, it is so important to remind our fellow citizens of how much we share in common. That so many talented people participated in this season in the face of the pandemic is a testament to the power of storytelling. In the most challenging of times, it is comforting--and inspiring--to know where you come from, and to reaffirm the unity of the American people.”
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ENTERTAINMENT
“TI A MOWRY’S QUI C K FI X ” FROM KIN CLOSES MEGA LICENSING DEAL WITH TV ONE’S SISTER NETWORK CLEO TV TO BRING SHOW TO CABLE TELEVISION FOR THE FIRST TIME TV One and CLEO TV announced today that they have inked a significant deal with Kin, to bring one of its flagship digital series, “Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix,” to cable television for the first time on TV One’s sister network CLEO TV. Beginning in October, CLEO TV plans to roll out 80 episodes in a multiyear deal of the hit YouTube digital series which has accrued more than 3 million subscribers across social platforms. “Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix” is Kin’s fastest growing channel to date. The deal gives the franchise an opportunity for expansion by reaching a new audience with a vastly growing network. “Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix” features over 150 online
episodes that help viewers solve life’s little dilemmas fast. From quick ideas for a weeknight meal to beauty tips that will get you out the door in a flash, Tia has you covered. Launched in 2017, “Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix” became an immediate hit among online viewers on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Mowry was an early adapter of creating content on social platforms and embraced the power of social media. She fully understands how to keep fans and viewers engaged. As a result, the series has accumulated more than 280 million views. “Our network prides itself on offering diverse, trendsetting and inspirational content,” said Michelle Rice, President of TV One and CLEO TV. “We look forward to building an outstanding partnership with Tia and Kin and are thrilled to introduce Quick Fix to our audience.” Michael Wayne, CEO of Kin, said, “We’re thrilled to bring Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix to CLEO TV. Through a collaborative effort with Tia, the Kin team has built Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix into a franchise that has appealed to millions of viewers across social platforms.” Multi-talented actress, producer, author and entrepreneur, Tia Mowry, has had a career spanning three decades after becoming a pop culture icon starring in the hit sitcom “Sister, Sister.” She has acted in and produced various TV shows and movies, and currently stars in hit Netflix series “Family Reunion,” which won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Children’s Program. She has published several books and her second cookbook, “The Quick Fix Kitchen,” will be released September 28. In 2020, co-founded Anser, a vitamin line geared towards accessibility and inclusivity, in partnership with BioSchwartz and UTA Ventures. Her new homewares collection “Spice by Tia Mowry” launches later this year. Mowry has a devoted and strong social media presence of over 21 million followers.
TV One and CLEO TV are American basic cable television channels owned by Urban One. TV One’s programming targets African American adults with a broad mix of original lifestyle and entertainment-oriented series, documentaries, movies, concert performances and reruns of sitcoms from the 1970s through the 2000s. CLEO TV is a lifestyle and entertainment network targeting millennial and Generation X women of color by offering quality content that defies negative and cultural stereotypes of today’s modern women. CLEO TV officially launched in January 2019 with Comcast Xfinity and Charter Spectrum serving as the network’s main debut base. Kin specializes in creating lifestyle franchises for diverse women, featuring diverse female talent. Its programs are first brought to profitability through distribution on social channels like YouTube, Facebook Watch, and Instagram, followed by linear and streaming platforms.
Listen
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EMPOWERMENT
THIS BLACK QUEEN BEAT THE ODDS Written By Lisa M Sanchez
dren later, we would find ourselves deep into my dad’s disease of alcoholism, deep into his drunken episodes, and deep into his venomous, vitriolic words he would spew toward my mother. My mother was a beautiful soul, but powerless against my father’s disease. This made her painfully co-dependent and a victim. I was six when I realized something was different about my home. When daddy was “mad,” he hit my mother, made her cry and broke things around the house. At this age, one can’t reconcile the wrath and ugliness of alcoholism, especially when your dad wields a gun and threatens to shoot everyone in the home. Through my eyes, I could only conclude that daddy was mad just about every day.
You may have heard people say, “You can’t choose your family.” While true, what you can choose is self-love, self-empowerment and how you respond to difficult family circumstances. As an Afro-Latinx with roots in Panama, Ecuador and Jamaica, I was born into a home that had more than its fair share of secrets, deception and dysfunction. My father was an emotionally wounded man, who came to the United States with a handful of English words at the age of 21 to find and live the American Dream. Like most immigrants, he made his hard-earned American dollars and faithfully sent money home to support his family who lived in poverty in Ecuador. He settled in Los Angeles, California where he met and married my mother in 1955. Four chil-
For decades, my environment seemed destined to break me. I was broken, insecure, lacked self-worth and self-esteem. These are classic signs of an Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA). I entered adulthood ill-prepared. I attracted men who were just like my father – controlling, abusive, violent, addicts. I looked for men to validate me. I had a child when I was 19 by a man who was 15 years my senior because I needed something of my own to love. In the storm, however, I always found a beacon of light. There was always a will and desire to see a better life for myself. I always dreamed of attending and finishing college, getting a good job, and moving out of my parents’ home. While living in and managing through the drunken episodes, I entered into commu-
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nity college as a single mother. I was not going to be deterred or defeated, even though daily it felt as though I was losing the battle. My goals and dreams were constantly colliding with my circumstances. But I was determined to follow my North Star. So many times, I wanted to drop out of college, get a better paying job, and find an apartment just to get freedom from the episodes. At the age of 23, I came to the realization that the only way I was going to finish a four-year degree faster was to get on welfare. This would provide monthly income, while attending college full time. It felt degrading being on welfare and using food stamps, but my determination outlived my embarrassment. Four years later, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. As soon as I graduated, I immediately came off of welfare, found a job and an apartment. I continued my education and received a master’s degree in Organizational Management. I built a stellar career as a human resources professional. While I was succeeding professionally, this was not the case for succeeding in love. The broken adult showed up in relationships over and over again. I reached a breaking point when I entered into a relationship in 2005. I was being controlled in a way that was not healthy. When the relationship ended, it devastated me. But this relationship smacked me awake. I sought help through a therapist, who told me that my relationship was emotionally abusive. Yet, I did not see it. And it was at this point that I began my journey of self-discovery, my journey to change my behavior and clean my emotional house. This led to writing my book, now available on Amazon, Looking for Love in a Garbage Can: A Journey of Healing. How I Survived an Alcoholic Environment My memoir discusses in more chilling details my life living in an alcoholic home environment. Readers will ride along on my mental health journey to revisit the drunken episodes, child molestation, teen pregnancy and other difficult
life experiences, which impacted my mental health, engagement at work and school, selfesteem and self-worth. As an ACOA, my environment impacted my interpersonal and love relationships, which led to looking for love in a garbage can or in all the wrong places. Despite the obstacles, challenges and tribulations, readers will find there is a path forward through forgiveness, perseverance, resilience and a determination to heal from childhood trauma. Even though my father passed away in March 2017, the experiences never go away. The label of an “ACOA” can have long-lasting effects if healing does not occur. I give ACOA a new meaning: A Course of Action. It takes action to change your life, it takes action to stop living in the past, it takes action to forgive – all of which require taking control over your choices. As the Founder and CEO of JustDigIn2It LLC, I provide life coach services to help people who come from dysfunctional families and relationships break through their challenges and mental blocks so they can live more fulfilled and productive lives. Life can be hard. We are faced with trials and challenges that at times may seem insurmountable. But we cannot let that be our story, our narrative. We have more resilience than we know. It is not enough to lean in. We just have to dig in and do the work to get through each challenge and obstacle. My purpose in life now is to help others do just that…if they are open to the awakening. Lisa M. Sanchez can be reached at Lisa@justdigin2it.com or (626) 529-5488.
HEALTHY FOOD
PLANTED FOODS Written By Ashley Kirk
I also found that as I worked with dozens of corporations, I was often not just the only woman but also the only African American. It was disheartening. The stress and seeing just how underrepresented African Americans were in high-level roles sat heavily on me. Upon speaking with my physician, I was provided medication (with questionable side effects) to address the migraines and anxiety. At 26, I just could not force myself to take these pills. I felt there had to be a better way, that is when I stumbled upon a plant-based diet. I changed my diet and immediately felt my ailments dissipate. Gone were my migraines and insomnia and out came mental clarity and peace. I began studying the plantbased diet for years and was determined to make a change in the lives of others.
I founded my company in 2018 after suffering for years with stress-related illnesses. I suffered from daily migraines, anxiety, weight gain, insomnia, and so much more. My stress stemmed from achieving my “dream” job consulting large global companies on supply chain solutions. I worked many years to reach this position and it felt like my downfall. The nonstop demand, pressure, and negative disposition of C-level executives were unmanageable.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America with African Americans being the most affected out of every other ethnicity. Additionally, heart disease can simply be relieved with a change in diet and exercise. How can so many people suffer from such a preventable disease? As we study the American diet, from a young
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ally, we are preservative and GMO-free. We avoid gums or highly processed pea or soy proteins. We are a brand delivering healthy familiar foods in a plant-based way. To date, Planted Foods has done over $300,000 in sales and distribute through local retail channels, Walmart.com, and through our own website. My family and I are a small team and run the business and production.
age we are constantly bombarded with ads that promote poor diets. From McDonald’s Happy Meals to large bags of candy for Halloween to a lollipop at a doctor’s office. While innocent, there is extraordinarily little daily promotion of good healthy choices. In the black community, we suffer even more so due to food deserts or lack of education on healthy eating. Growing up, I did not learn much about a healthy diet aside from the food pyramid. I too had poor habits and was not aware of it. When inadequate eating habits and stress caught up to me, I was not capable of performing at my best. I wanted to impact health in America and uplift my fellow African Americans. That is why I started my company, Planted Foods in 2018. I invested more than $50K of my own money and slowly grew my business. I sampled my potential product ideas, held a vegan pop-up restaurant, and spent a year teaching and introducing plant-based eating to my community. In 2019, I launched my first 2 products- a vegan nacho sauce with natural protein and a vegan tuna with omega 3. We use whole healthy ingredients which makes our food production zero waste and sustainable. Addition-
We have new products (burger patties) coming in the next month and are working to expand brick and mortar distribution to reach more consumers. I am asking to feature how my business is working to disrupt the existing plant-based food industry by creating food that is truly healthy and innovative. Rather than the short team focus of mimicking meat, we are infusing plant-based foods with adaptogens like ashwagandha. I am building a brand that will address health in an authentic and holistic way. Our products are unlike any other on the market today and beautifully interconnects health and convenience. Not only does our brand focus on health but we are a company that feels social impact is important. We donate funds and products to our local Boys and Girls Club and partner with Rhythmix Cultural Works non-profit. I am also personally involved and sit on the board of Rhythmix Cultural Works to assist with expanding on their mission. I believe that we can change the world one step at a time. www.plantedfoodsco.com
KIDS BOOK CLUB THE CONSONANTS BY DR. MONESHIA DASHIELL AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM
“I am too busy mothering nations through education”
- Dr. Moneshia Dashiell
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CO V E R Q U E E N J A I M I E H I L F I G E R