Source: Matthew Eisman/Getty Images / Getty Danielle Brooks Announces Pregnancy An “Orange Is The New Black” star is showing off her burgeoning baby bump. Danielle Brooks who plays “Taystee” on the Netflix series is expecting her first child. The actress announced the news via Instagram in a post sponsored by Clear Blue pregnancy tests. “So elated to finally share this news with you all. I’m happily pregnant!” View this post on Instagram So elated to finally share this news with you all. I’m happily pregnant! @Clearblue #ClearblueConfirmed #clearbluepartner A post shared by Danielle Brooks (@daniebb3) on Jul 2, 2019 at 9:01am PDT She later added that she’s 20 weeks along. In case you’re curious, Danielle’s been booed for quite some time with a (FINE) mystery man who’s presumably her child’s father. View this post on Instagram What I’ve always imagined love to feel like… A post shared by Danielle Brooks (@daniebb3) on Feb 15, 2018 at 7:53am PST What a handsome couple, congrats Danielle!
B lack directors are making power moves in the entertainment industry. Many of them are racking up accolades for their work while breaking down racial barriers in an effort to ensure that the next generation of Black filmmakers have a seat at the table. One of those trailblazers is Chinonye Chukwu . Chukwu recently made history at the Sundance Film Festival by becoming the first Black woman to win the Grand Jury Prize for her movie Clemency , IndieWire reported. #Sundance2019 : “Clemency” Filmmaker Chinonye Chukwu Is First Black Woman to Win Festival's Biggest Prize https://t.co/jLS5yQ2RP4 pic.twitter.com/3w88ZlmiAc — IndieWire (@IndieWire) February 3, 2019 The prize is the highest honor that is given at the festival, the news outlet writes. Chukwu’s film —which stars Alfre Woodard , Danielle Brooks , Wendell Pierce , and Aldis Hodge —is centered on a prison warden who has to carry out death row executions. The film explores how doing the executions has a psychological impact. Chukwu, who wrote and directed the film, is humbled by the honor. “When everybody was saying ‘No’ this story does not have an audience, you, Sundance and the people who have seen this film have proven that there is an audience for this film, and I thank you,” she said in a statement, according to Deadline . “I wrote this because I wanted audiences, I wanted us, I wanted myself to connect with the ecosystem of humanity’s connected to incarceration, so we as a society can stop defining people by their worst possible acts, that we can end mass incarceration, and dismantle the mass prison industrial complex, and root our societies in true justice and mercy and freedom, which is all tied to our joy inside, that nobody can ever incarcerate or execute.” The filmmaker joins a distinguished list of pivotal directors who have won the Grand Jury Prize for their U.S. Dramatic entries, including Ryan Coogler , Damien Chazelle , and Desiree Akhavan . Black women in entertainment are starting off the year strong. In January, Marsai Martin made history as Hollywood’s youngest executive producer, Regina Hall became the first Black woman to receive a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress, and Taraji P. Henson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. SEE ALSO: #BlackExcellence: Taraji P. Henson To Receive Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame #BossMoves: 14-Year-Old Marsai Martin To Become Youngest Hollywood Executive Producer In History [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3845349″ overlay=”true”]
Janet Mayer / Splash News Danielle Brooks Says Fashion Designers Don’t Care To Style Her Despite Her Accolades We love Danielle Brooks curvy confidence , but the actress says it hasn’t been easy finding fashion to fit her since becoming a successful Hollywood star. In a recent interview with VOGUE , Brooks opened up about her struggle to stay stylish: “When I first started, I wanted to fit in. I wanted to be so inclusive with my style and it was really hard,” says Brooks who found many labels unwilling to collaborate with her during awards season in spite of her accomplishments. “I haven’t been given an opportunity to wear these big-name designers, it has never been an option whether I had a stylist or didn’t. A lot of people won’t design for me, no matter how many SAG awards, Tony nominations, Grammy wins; it doesn’t matter.” Wild right? It’s crazy that someone who has the money to AFFORD high end fashion, still can’t do so because designers don’t want to do custom fits for her… Brooks also pointed out that while Ashley Graham has become quite the rage, models of color haven’t gotten the same love: “I don’t know if fashion has made a wholehearted effort,” says Brooks. “It’s more like, ‘Oh this is a trend, let’s get on it.’ Then they bring in Ashley Graham, who is amazing, but isn’t the only plus-size model ever to exist. What about Marquita [Pring], Denise [Bidot], Philomena [Kwao], Tess Holliday? When I look at the ads I don’t see faces like mine, I see skinny white women.” We feel you girl… And for those designers who haven’t rolled out plus size offerings, Danielle says we should continue to press for change: “I think they’re trying, but they can go harder and we should not be easy on them,” she says. “I don’t think we should pat anybody on the back for [doing] something they should’ve done 30 years ago.” Brooks does have a line with Universal Standards and she’s also the face of Christian Siriano’s Lane Bryant designs. When speaking with Vogue she did applaud Christian Siriano, Chromat’s Becca McCharen, and Universal Standard’s Alexandra Waldman and Polina Veksler. She also talked about a big red carpet moment for herself: “I remember my first SAG Awards I wore this dark blue dress by Christian Siriano and a girl recreated that entire look for her prom,” says Brooks. “I thought, Yes! It matters. I want women in huge numbers to feel motivated and feel like they are beautiful, but even if it’s just one [person], then my job is done.” Danielle Brooks is definitely doing wonders for curvy girls, who else are some of your favorite outspoken plus size celebs?
Danielle Brooks is known around the world as a celebrated Emmy- and Tony-nominated actress, but at a First Class check-in counter at an undisclosed airport, she was treated like a woman out of place. The Orange Is the New Black star tweeted about some prejudiced, albeit unintentionally so, treatment she received while dealing with gate agents […]
Very sad news coming out of Atlanta. Rapper Bankroll Fresh was reportedly shot and killed outside an Atlanta studio tonight. Best known for his single “Hot Boy,” the rising Atlanta rapper was signed to 2 Chainz’ Street Exec Record label. There aren’t many details surrounding Bankroll Fresh’s untimely death, but he was scheduled to make a […]
Ebony Magazine Highlights Curvy Women In March Issue Thick women are taking over the fashion and beauty industry! Hot on the heels of Ashley Graham’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover shoot, Ebony is taking a closer look at plus-size actresses, entertainers, and influencers and getting their take on body image, self acceptance, and public perception. Style Blogger Gabi Gregg (aka GabiFresh), singer Jazmane Sullivan, actress Danielle Brooks (Taystee from OITNB ), and singer Chrisette Michele cover the issue in military-inspired outfits as “The Body Brigade:” Via Ebony : We are all Black women who have had varying struggles with weight, food and body acceptance. Unlike me, my dining mates lead public lives. In this exclusive conversation, you will be privy to their raw emotional honesty and sound intellect, and whether you are someone who could have joined us for the meal or someone who has never engaged in the body image battle, you will learn how critical, complicated, contradictory and sometimes completely satisfying the relationship between big Black women and their bodies is. Interesting!
‘OITNB’ Stars Cover Essence Magazine “Orange is the New Black” stars Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Laverne Cox , Vicky Jeudy, Adrienne C. Moore and Samira Wiley cover this month’s issue of Essence magazine in celebration being “sexy at every size.” Decked out in glam orange, each star of the breakout hit Nexflix series detail what it is they love most about their physical appearance. Looks like they have a lot to love, right? Via Essence : Two-time ESSENCE cover star Laverne Cox describes her ritual of learning to love herself, no matter what: “This is intense, and it’s hard. What I’ve been doing is looking in the mirror and listing all the things I have an issue with and then saying, ‘This is beautiful.’ I just go down the list and tell myself, ‘You have to accept that this is you today.’ I make time to do this.” “Being [my size] in this industry is so rare,” says 25-year-old stunner, Danielle Brooks, “but regular people look more like me than runway models. To show beauty in a different way really lights me up inside. That’s so cheesy, but it does.” Emmy-winner Uzo Aduba admits it took her time to fully embrace her signature smile. “For the majority of my first 18 years, I hated my gap. My mom would tell me that in Nigeria, it’s a sign of beauty. I was like, ‘We’re in Massachusetts.’” She continues, “Today there’s not a selfie or personal photo I take where I’m not smiling wide. It sometimes feels as if I’m making up for lost smiles.” Nice! Will you be grabbing a copy?
Here’s what’s trending and timely in the news right now: The Color Purple Meets Orange Is The New Black (Sort Of) Variety reports that Danielle Brooks,…
