Natural Woman's Top 10 2014

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Azizah Nubia Editor in Chief

Tammarah Overton Chief of Beauty & Fashion

Photography/ Video

Gidget Hunter Allen of GIDGETImages Vernell Dillingham Nikkita N. Anderson Beauty & Hair

Shanell Bowles Russell Nikkita N. Anderson Of Glamorous Faces Written Contributions

Victoria Gaskins

Zephanie Garrett Marketing & Promotion

AZ Media

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Wow, a whole year has passed by already!

This has been an incredible year for Natural Woman Magazine and I am so happy to share it all with you!

Thank you so much for sticking with Natural Woman Magazine, if it wasn’t for our loyal readers we will not be entering our 4th year and for that I will be forever grateful. I hope that this year brought you many truths and opportunities that you can take with you into 2015 and make that the year you transform to an entire new level.

Our Natural Woman’s Top 10 issue is always my favorite issue to put together, because I get a chance to go back and look through all of the issue from this year. It’s kinda like rolling down memory lane. We decided to try something different with this Top 10, we allowed our readers to pick who would be featured. We received thousands of votes and comments about who you thought was the most inspiring woman that Natural Woman Magazine featured in 2014. And I hope you all are pleased with the results.

In closing I leave you with these words as we wrap up 2014 and enter into 2015. I want you to remember that this upcoming year is the year of the Shot Caller. That’s YOU, its your year to take what you are doing to the next level. I encourage you all to be BOLD, and FEARLESS as you enter 2015 and make it the year elevate to your BEST YOU!

Peace, Azizah Nubia Natural Woman Magazine www.asknaturalwoman.com

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After almost 12 years of wanting to make a difference and to keep the memory of one of Starting off our Natural Woman countdown her greatest friends alive-she was been preis the Fabulous Khrys Styles. Khrys was fea- sented with the opportunity to give back and tured in the Fabulous over 40 issue of Natu- potentially breaking the cycle of Domestic ral Woman Magazine. She is an accomViolence ans Sexual Abuse. plished radio & television personality; award The K.A.S.S.I..E. Project was launched in winning commercial ,stage actress, and vihonor of Cassandra "Cassie' Betts.... whose sionary of the K.A.S.S.I.E. Project. life and the life of her unborn child was takThere are many things that could be said about the visionary of The K.A.S.S.I.E. Project but the only thing she wants people to remember is that true friendship is not something you can make.. it’s given to you by someone who sees things in you that you seem to overlook in yourself.

en by the hands of her boyfriend. He shot Cassie in the head as her 7yr old daughter laid in the backseat of the car pretending to be asleep on a cold December night.. Not only had Cassandra become another senseless victim of Domestic Violence – her 7yr old daughter has been left to live with those horKhrys has been giving back to the communi- rific memories of crawling over her mothers ty in a variety of ways for decades; whether lifeless body and living life without her. its reading to school children; delivering food The K.A.S.S.I.E. Project is dedicated to serving as a healing outlet for all survivors of sexual to needy families; serving in the soup kitchens; driving through the streets and domestic abuse/violence who are striving towards and struggling of Cincinnati giving out coats and books with controlling how their from her trunk; donating clothes or time to past affects their journey the shelters; ministering in the prisons or into life after abuse. sharing her gifts and talents to audiences in need; Khrys has always been involved in outreach.

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At number 9 is trailblazer Malakia Tamu Coope, Malalkia was featured in our Break the Chains Summer edition. Malakia is the Owner of Dreadz N’ Headz Natural Hair Care Center and founder of the Baltimore Natural Hair Care Expose, Poets N’ The Park/Happy Nappy Day held annually. Malaika has served a plethora of clients that include people and places in Paris, French West Indies and Tunisia (North Africa). She has taught and empowered many women locally and across the Diaspora. Through her quintessential motivation, many of these women are now proud business owners in the natural hair care industry.

Malaika has over 20 years of professional natural hair care expertise. Dedicated to learning and teaching innovative techniques for natural hair, she has developed several natural hair care techniques to Natural Woman Magazine www.asknaturalwoman.com

help sistah’s and brotha’s nurture and restore their hair to its natural state. She has her own line of bath and body scrubs, non-itch hair formulas as well as natural hair pomades. Her clientele includes but not limited to, recording artist Wyclef Jean, baseball player Manny Ramirez, Maryland’s’ Congressmen/woman, members of City Council and a host of local artists.

Malakia is currently getting ready for her 2015 Natural Hair Care Expo Tour be sure to sign up on the Natural Hair Care Expo Emailing list to find a show coming to a city near you! wwwnaturalhaircareexpo.com

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At number 8 is the wonderful Felicia Davis. Felicia was featured in our March Women’s Empowerment issue. Felicia is the founder and CEO of Leadership Mastery for Women, Felicia is known for her keen ability to help high-achieving women cultivate their leadership and communication skills and remove their blind spots in order to get clarity on key priorities, be more innovative in their thinking and produce impeccable results.

Harnessing more than 20 years as a leader in Human Resources, her approach to developing other leaders is rooted in truth, transparency and a relentless passion for teaching smart, savvy and driven women how to differentiate themselves in the market, elevate their leadership brand and be compensated for the value they bring.

There is one universal truth for women that will never change and that is having a strong leadership brand is an absolute imperative if you want to be recognized and rewarded for your contributions. In order to Natural Woman Magazine www.asknaturalwoman.com

stand out in the marketplace, you must be able to articulate and demonstrate your unique promise of value in a way that sets you apart from others. Whether you are an employee or entrepreneur, having solid leadership skills is critical to your overall success.

Felicia’s Leadership Mastery Formula teaches you how to build a magnetic and in -demand brand. It's a MUST READ for any woman who is ready to lead with impact, influence and integrity so that she can change the word with her message. To learn more information on Felicia or her Mastery program please visit her on her website at www.LeadershipMasteryforWomen.com

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In at number 7 is the mystical and beautiful Nubia Sunshine. Nubia was featured in our March Women’s Empowerment issue. Nubia Sunshine is a Brooklyn NY native, Fashion Designer, Stylist, Reiki Practitioner, Life Stylist, and Owner of KUSH Design. From counselling, designing clothes, healing meditations, crystals and energy healing, Nubia Sunshine is a trusted source for sacred spiritual growth and lifestyle desired by many . She strives daily to earn and maintain that trust and to cultivate an environment of peace. Nubia Sunshine’s personal philosophy is that we are all meant to connect to the divine through the likeness of each others energy. A divine loving place from the words you speak, actions, food you eat and clothes you wear, allows you to reconnect with the divine.

Talk in love, create beauty in what and how Natural Woman Magazine www.asknaturalwoman.com

you wear it. To seek and share truth in finding your divine spirit to connect to your destiny. Allowing the inner being to shine and providing garments to bring true essence of self on the outside to share with the world. She has made it her personal mission to share unconditional love by expanding the spiritual horizons of those around her, to all who wish to be nourished and to create designs lovingly to illuminate the soul. To learn more about Nubia Sunshine please visit her website at www.kushdesignnubiasunshine.vpweb.com

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pel 1320 am radio.

Coming in at number 6 is the Fabulous She is passionate about making a differNichole J. Means who was featured in the ence in the lives of others and wanted to Fabulous Over 40 issue of Natural Woman. encourage and inspire women by writing Nichole is a mother, book author, runway her first fiction novel, "THE MOTHER: model, and the host of NSXTV’s Fashion She Wants To Be Me." and Style segment. Nichole has worked as THE BOOK: "The Mother: She Wants To an instructor in the Cincinnati public Be Me" Tells a story of Rachel's captivatschool system for several years and as a ing beauty covers the unimaginable pain teacher at the Marva Collins Preparatory and anguish she suffered for decades as her School until she decided to take a leap of 'best' friend Erica tried to take over her life. faith and open her own preschool. She has Abandonment, betrayal, abuse, lies, loss, a heart for children and encourages them to and so much more marked every turn of make their dreams become reality.

Rachel's life. Will she have the strength to Nichole has modeled for over 25 years and overcome, to forgive, and start anew? To has had the opportunity to appear in vari- learn more about Nichole J. Means please ous magazines such as Heart and Soul, visit her on her FB page.

Hype Hair, and Today's Black Woman.

She has walked the New York Fashion Week with Linda Love's Fashions. She also has modeled for music artist, Queen Latifah and the author, Zane. Many in the Cincinnati area know her as D.J. Sunshyne and have heard her voice on WCVG GosNatural Woman Magazine www.asknaturalwoman.com

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At number 5 we have the powerful Nubia I Sutton, a holistic healer and self proclaimed Raw Food Goddess, who has professed her life purpose and is using her platform via YouTube to spread information and useful tools to help heal the women of our nation and all around the world. Nubia I was featured in our “Breaking the Chains� Summer issue. Nubia Sutton is the founder and creator of Wombinverse and THE BLACKBERRY BEAUTY. A sacred healing center dedicated to the caring of the womb,through natural organic raw/living foods, meditational techniques, womb yoga and dances, visualizations, affirmations and overall nutrition. THE BLACKBERRY BEAUTY has been in existence for the last ten years and many women have walked away praising the center, feeling that they have been put on the road to recovery and wellness. Nubia I offers several courses, videos, and workshops, as well as readings. These include Women Who Natural Woman Magazine www.asknaturalwoman.com

Run With the Womb, a group formed specifically for African American Women.

She has a monthly offering including Spiritual goal setting and intensives that cover different topics every month. Past intensives include a raw food, fasting, money, and currently a healing abandonment issues intensive is available. She also offers consultations, numerology readings, and business coaching services. Nubia I Sutton is also a public speaker and does speaking engagements for more information please visit Nubia I at www.theblackberrybeauty.com

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The number 4 slot goes to the beautiful Ayesha NuRa. Ayesha was featured in our January Hip Hop issue. Ayesha NuRa is an empowerment motivator who focuses on healing and uplifting the Divine Feminine. She provides counseling, coaching and expertise in countless areas that lead to empowerment.

vator, Ayesha NuRa had her first story published at the age of eleven and recognized at an early age that she was blessed with an ability to create through words.

In an effort to expand her horizons, Ayesha moved to Barbados in 2002 after graduating at the top of her class. To further sharpen her talents, she is currently working on producing her second collection of Through the healing modalities of medita- poems and writing her first novel. Ayesha tion, self awareness, self-love, and affirNuRa is a mother of one and currently remations, women and their partners are re- sides in Barbados, where she spends her minded of their God-given ability to heal time as a poet, actress, freedom fighter, from the inside out. She offers a range of lover, sister and friend. (Not necessarily in services including consulting, relationship that order.) To learn analysis, personal growth advancement more about Ayesha assistance, sensual and emotional health visit her blog here. seminars/workshops and many more.

Along with being an empowerment moti-

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Taking the number 3 spot is the Energy Healer and Holistic Beauty Consultant Renee’ Konan. Renee’ was featured in our “Breaking the Chains” Summer issue and our Power of 4 web event. Renée Konan is part of this new generation of young, awakened souls, whose life purpose is to use media interactive tools to convey messages of empowerment and self-love to the world. Becoming a healer was not the initial choice of career of this girl from Gabon, one of the smallest countries in the African continent. She started to doubt the motives behind her choice of pursuing a promising career at the United Nations in New York, when her health was abruptly jeopardized after a long battle with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, both genetic blood disorders in which an abnormal form of hemoglobin leads to the destruction of large numbers of red blood cells, leading to anemia and overall decline of health.

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Fast forward to close to ten years later, this 33 year-old wife and mother of two beautiful mini-goddesses, is now living part-time in Africa, where has developed a prosperous practice as holistic beauty consultant and energy healer with a focus on manifest happiness and success, unlocking limiting programming of "lack" consciousness preventing her clients from manifesting magical effortless abundant and every increasing cash flow.

She created her company Sheyas Ayurveda around the belief that holistic beauty, that is beauty from the inside-out, is a powerful Spiritual Tool for Empowerment and Self-love. To learn more about Renee’ Please visit her website at www.reneekonan.com

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The number 2 spot of our top 10 countdown is the Fabulous Shelly Mathewis.

Shelly was featured in our Fabulous over 40 issue in November. Shelly is an ordained Reverand, actress, vocalist, and empowerment coach, whose mission is to be a blessing to lives of people she comes into contact with. Outside of Shelly’s artistic background she is a Human Resource Professional (HRP) with experience and expertise in Organizational Development, Employee and Labor Relations, Training and Development, and Talent Management. As a HRP, Shelly successfully originates and leads Human Resources practices and objectives that provide employeeoriented; high performance culture that emphasizes empowerment, quality, productivity, and standards; goal attainment, and the recruitment and ongoing development of a superior workforce.

Shelly has much to look forward to in

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the year 2015. She will be working on a one woman show and has just entered into her a Doctorates program in Organizational Business and Leadership specializing in Corporate Training and eLearning. Shelly’s motto is “if you’re determined, if you stay faithful, if you stay dedicated, you can achieve any goal that you have.”

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Coming in at number 1 is the Beautiful Yetta Young. Yetta was featured in our March 2014 Women’s Empowerment issue. Yetta is the proud mother of Dasia, CEO and Executive Producer of YYP & Associates, LLC, a production, management and consulting firm specializing in producing extraordinary events and is proud to be celebrating 16 years. She is also the co- creator and founder of The Get Elevated Women’s Conference a 3 day women’s empowerment event created to elevate women to the next level of their lives.

She is a theatrical executive producer and director with an intense passion for ‘edutainment’ – educating through entertainment. Yetta’s been called a theatrical griot, for helping to grow a brand of ‘social’ theatre’; where she’s been gathering and noting our stories giving a voice to a new movement. A movement of ending violence against women and girls and raising Natural Woman Magazine www.asknaturalwoman.com

awareness for HIV/AIDS and through that movement she is proud to have philanthropically raised money and awareness for several organizations both nationally and globally.

Yetta’s latest project The Butterfly Confessions is a stage-play that blends humor and heartbreak with education, empowerment and inspiration while bringing awareness to domestic violence and HIV/AIDS. It is a love letter to women of color that reveals heartfelt emotions about intimacy, sexual responsibility and overcoming adversity.

To learn more about Yetta please visit her at http://butterflyconfessions.com/

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