B lack teenagers across the country are reaching new heights in academia and making history in the process. Months after 14-year-old Sydney Wilson became the youngest student to be admitted into Spelman College , a Washington, D.C.-based teen has hit a major milestone. According to The GW Hatchet , 14-year-old Curtis Lawrence is one of the youngest students to attend George Washington University full-time. At just 14, Curtis Lawrence, is navigating campus life at George Washington University, thanks to a program at his high school called Schools Without Walls. https://t.co/uJCPaIOkam — News4JAX (@wjxt4) September 8, 2019 Lawrence attended a magnet school on the university’s campus called School Without Walls. The school allows high school juniors and seniors to take college courses at the university so that they can earn both a diploma and an Associates of Arts degree. Lawrence was selected to participate in the Associate of Arts Cohort that provides 15 sophomores from the school with the opportunity to earn a degree. Lawrence’s parents were aware that he was gifted from an early age. At 2-years-old he learned how to read and started studying science and math. He skipped several grades during elementary school and middle school and was homeschooled during eighth grade. He then went on to attend School Without Walls which led him to the GW Early College Program. Lawrence plans on fully immersing himself in on-campus activities. He is a member of the African Student Association, the Black Student Union, and the Caribbean Students Association. He’s currently taking courses centered on African history, astronomy, calculus, and geology. “I feel like I was prepared for the academics because Walls is a very rigorous high school, it’s the top high school in D.C., so a lot of the work that we did reflected the work that I’ll be doing here in college,” Lawrence told the news outlet. “Most of the high school experience is replicated at GW for me in some kind of way.” After completing his associate degree at George Washington University, he plans on studying computer science at Florida A&M University. SEE ALSO: 14-Year-Old Sydney Wilson Becomes Youngest Student Accepted Into Spelman #BlackExcellence: 11-Year-Old Academic Standout Dionn Megginson Starts High School [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3039818″ overlay=”true”]
W hile coming of age in Harlem, Kevin Richardson dreamt of taking his passions for music and basketball to Syracuse University. His plan to further his education at the school would come to a halt in 1989 when the then 14-year-old was wrongfully convicted of rape along with four other Black and Latino teens who were labeled as the Central Park Five. It’s been 17 years since the men were exonerated, and the institution is honoring Richardson in a special way. According to WRVO , the university recently created a scholarship named after him. Kevin Richardson is one of the five black and Hispanic men falsely accused of rape in 1989 — also known as the Central Park Five. Sunday, Richardson’s dream to attend Syracuse University was honored: https://t.co/T41PBkLnSp — Spectrum News 13 (@MyNews13) September 9, 2019 Richardson was celebrated at a benefit reception hosted by the school’s Office of Multicultural Advancement where the scholarship was unveiled. The fund—which is a part of the school’s Our Time Has Come Scholarship program—will financially support Black and Latinx students attending Syracuse. According to the university, 1,300 students have been served through the initiative. Richardson—whose harrowing experience motivated him to become a criminal justice reform advocate—is humbled by the university’s decision to name a scholarship after him. “Just for people who look like me – people of color – to be helped and have a scholarship connected to my name, to help out individuals to move on further, which I didn’t get a chance to, to actually pay it forward to others – that is the best thing that can happen,” Richardson told the news outlet. “If I’m not around tomorrow, at least my legacy will continue on.” Aside from the scholarship fund, students are pushing to have Richardson honored by the university in other ways. According to the Daily Orange Jalen Nash —a political science major at the school—launched an online petition asking Syracuse to award Richardson with an honorary degree. So far, the petition has garnered over 5,000 signatures. “While this dream could never be fulfilled due to circumstance, it is never too late to do the right thing,” Nash told ABC News . SEE ALSO: ‘When They See Us’ Gives The Central Park 5 The Humanity They Were Denied 30 Years Ago Boom! Elizabeth Lederer, Lead Central Park 5 DA, Resigns From Columbia University [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3827246″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Don Juan Moore / Getty Antonio Brown , the newly signed wide receiver to the New England Patriots, has been accused of sexual assault on three separate occasions by his former trainer Britney Taylor . Taylor filed the federal lawsuit on Tuesday and accused Brown of forcibly kissing her on one occasion in 2017 then masturbating near her during another encounter in 2017 while she was helping him train for the upcoming NFL season. The next year, she accused Brown of raping her on May 20, 2018. Brown’s lawyer, Darren Heitner, released a statement saying his client had a “consensual personal relationship” with Taylor and “denies each and every allegation in the lawsuit.” Heitner continued, “He will pursue all legal remedies to not only clear his name, but to also protect other professional athletes against false allegations.” According to the lawsuit, Taylor first met Brown at Central Michigan University in 2010 through the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, where they became Bible study partners. Taylor was a freshman gymnast, while Brown was a junior football player. Taylor says the two of them reconnected in 2017 when Brown requested that she train him. She flew to Pittsburgh and Florida to meet him for the training session, reads the complaint. In June 2017, Taylor was staying at Brown’s home for a session and while she was in the bathroom, Brown walked in exposed, says the lawsuit. He then “grabbed and kissed her without her consent,” according to the lawsuit, and Taylor “pushed him away and immediately left the room.” In another incident in 2017, the suit says Brown and Taylor were watching a church service on Taylor’s iPad at Brown’s Miami home. Brown then allegedly masturbated behind Taylor and ejaculated on her back. Afterwards, the lawsuit claims “in astonishingly profane and angry text messages, Brown bragged about the incident to her.” The suit says Taylor cut contact with Brown after this. However, according to The Boston Globe , Brown’s lawyer argues that Taylor actually approached Brown again is 2017 to ask him to invest $1.6 million in her business project. Heitner continues, “ Mr. Brown was not informed by his accuser that she had just been levied with a $30,000 IRS tax lien or that $300,000 of the $1.6 million so-called ‘investment’ was to be used to purchase property already owned by the accuser and her mother. When Mr. Brown refused to make the $1.6 million ‘investment,’ the accuser supposedly cut off communications with Mr. Brown.” Though both sides have differing accounts on why they cut ties, the two eventually reconnected in 2018. Taylor’s suite says, “Brown reached out to Ms. Taylor, expressing contrition, begging forgiveness and pleading with her to train him again. Ms. Taylor was hesitant but eventually agreed, swayed by his assurance that he would cease any sexual advances.” However, Taylor argues that Brown did not meet their terms. The suit claims that Taylor was visiting Brown in the Miami area on May 20, 2018 when he pinned her down onto a bed, shoved her face into the mattress and forcibly raped her. The suit says Taylor tried to resist the assault but “Brown was too strong and physically overpowered her.” The suite says Taylor screamed and cried the whole time while repeatedly shouting “no” and “stop.” “Brown’s assaults and rape have severely traumatized Ms. Taylor. Ms. Taylor has suffered near-daily panic attacks and suicidal ideations,” says the lawsuit. The Patriots released a statement on Tuesday night saying that the NFL will be investigating the allegations. “We are aware of the civil lawsuit that was filed earlier today against Antonio Brown, as well as the response by Antonio’s representatives,” the statement said. “We take these allegations very seriously. Under no circumstance does this organization condone sexual violence or assault.” Meanwhile, in a statement released by her lawyer, Taylor explained, “As a rape victim of Antonio Brown, deciding to speak out has been an incredibly difficult decision. I have found strength in my faith, my family, and from the accounts of other survivors of sexual assault.” At one point, the suit says Taylor sought counseling and she even took a polygraph test conducted by one of the country’s leading examiners, who used to lead the FBI’s polygraph program. According to the lawsuit, the examination confirmed that Taylor’s accounts were “completely truthful” regarding the alleged 2018 rape and 2017 ejaculation assault. The suit says Taylor opened up her own training center in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee back in 2016. She continues to train girls there till this day.
Source: Amy Graves / Getty Prevalent T.V. actor John Wesley has unfortunately passed over the weekend. According to CNN , he died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California. His manager Gerry Pass explained that Wesley’s final days came after a long struggle with multiple myeloma, a cancer that forms in white blood cells. He was 72 years old. Wesley is known for appearing in various T.V. shows including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air where he played Dr. Hoover. He also appeared in another beloved 1990s sitcom, Martin , as Mr. Jim. Other credits include Benson, The Jeffersons , NCIS, Moving, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot and Medium. “John Wesley was a gift to the world, for his kindness and grace are immortalized in his works of theatre, TV, and film,” Pass said in a statement . “I am heartbroken to have lost a dear friend today.” According to Entertainment Weekly , Wesley demonstrated his theater talents at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles where he starred in plays like Wild Oats and Arthur Miller ‘s An American Clock. He also showcased his skills at the Old Globe Theatre in London in Toys in the Attic by Lillian Hellman . Wesley originally hailed from Louisiana and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at the University of San Diego. He then earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, according to CNN. Wesley also served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. However, he couldn’t escape his passion for acting and he secured his first credited role playing a police officer on My Three Sons in 1963. A successful career in television followed, including work with actors like Denzel Washington, Barbara Streisand, Morgan Freeman, Tim Burton and James Earl Jones. In an interview with Indie Activity , Wesley said he cherished playing many memorable roles such as activist Torro Chombe in The Atlanta Child Murders mini-series and Vic Glendon on the series In the Heat of the Night. “Another memorable character was ‘Sweets Walker leader of his quintet from the series Dirty Dancing ,” Wesley said. “This character was created to tell the civil rights story of the 60’s. Too bad the series ended after one season.” Wesley’s most recent endeavor was the short film Second Acts , which was co-written by Pass. He is survived by his wife Jenny Houston, their daughters, his stepson as well as his mother and grandchildren.
Source: Jim Spellman / Getty Alexis Skyy and a close friend were reportedly robbed according to an Instagram post from the friend. Sabrina Peterson, using the Instagram account @TheGlamUniversity, shared details of the armed robbery that occurred over the weekend at an Atlanta gas station. “On God! Myself & @alexisskyy_ was robbed at gunpoint last night at the QT on Howell Mill. I know you probably just thought it was two girls & a nice car but it’s DEEPER THAN THAT! Let’s call it a mistake! The blessing is my son or her daughter wasn’t in the car because you would have taken our kids too,” Peterson wrote in the caption of the post. View this post on Instagram On God! Myself & @alexisskyy_ was robbed at gunpoint last night at the QT on Howell Mill. I know you probably just thought it was two girls & a nice car but it’s DEEPER THAN THAT! Let’s call it a mistake! The blessing is my son or her daughter wasn’t in the car because you would have taken our kids too. A post shared by Glam University (@theglamuniversity) on Sep 8, 2019 at 11:26am PDT She added several other posts regarding the robbery, which can be viewed below, including staging a rally later today at the station to protest the targeting of Black women in these crimes. Peterson also shared testimony from other women who have been targeted in similar incidents. View this post on Instagram Tomorrow at 7pm we rally @quiktrip on Howell Mill Road! After numerous messages from women in the @cityofatlantaga that have been victims of crimes at this location & speaking to the @atlantapolice today! I think it’s a sad epidemic that our younger generation is preying on single women and women with children at gas stations in @cityofatlantaga WE WILL STAND TOMORROW TO DEMAND JUSTICE & SAFETY for our women! Join me! We shut @opera_club down in January for not protecting our women & will do the same for any establishment that does not implement the proper safety measures for their patrons. A post shared by Glam University (@theglamuniversity) on Sep 8, 2019 at 9:25pm PDT View this post on Instagram @cityofatlantaga we have an issue! We have to keep our women & children safe during their travels to & from. JOIN US TONIGHT AS WE DEMAND PROPER SECURITY & JUSTICE for our women in @cityofatlantaga #protectourwomenatl @quiktrip Howell Mill Road at 7pm today! There’s power in numbers see you there, we need our men in the community to step up! If you have been a victim please contact me. A post shared by Glam University (@theglamuniversity) on Sep 9, 2019 at 4:19am PDT View this post on Instagram @cityofatlantaga we have an issue! We have to keep our women & children safe during their travels to & from. JOIN US TONIGHT AS WE DEMAND PROPER SECURITY & JUSTICE for our women in @cityofatlantaga #protectourwomenatl @quiktrip Howell Mill Road at 7pm today! There’s power in numbers see you there, we need our men in the community to step up! If you have been a victim please contact me. A post shared by Glam University (@theglamuniversity) on Sep 9, 2019 at 4:19am PDT View this post on Instagram Another one! @cityofatlantaga we have an issue! We have to keep our women & children safe during their travels to & from. JOIN US TONIGHT AS WE DEMAND PROPER SECURITY & JUSTICE for our women in @cityofatlantaga #protectourwomenatl @quiktrip Howell Mill Road at 7pm today! There’s power in numbers see you there, we need our men in the community to step up! If you have been a victim please contact me. A post shared by Glam University (@theglamuniversity) on Sep 9, 2019 at 4:20am PDT View this post on Instagram Another one! @cityofatlantaga we have an issue! We have to keep our women & children safe during their travels to & from. JOIN US TONIGHT AS WE DEMAND PROPER SECURITY & JUSTICE for our women in @cityofatlantaga #protectourwomenatl @quiktrip Howell Mill Road at 7pm today! There’s power in numbers see you there, we need our men in the community to step up! If you have been a victim please contact me. A post shared by Glam University (@theglamuniversity) on Sep 9, 2019 at 4:21am PDT In the string of posts, Peterson shared a post that Skyy’s boyfriend, Trouble, in where he demanded the return of the vehicle with a cash reward. — Photo: Getty
Source: Bravo / Getty The only way NeNe Leakes would ever shrink herself is if her waistline is involved! And that is exactly what is happening. In case you haven’t noticed, the Real Housewives of Atlanta diva has lost a lot of late recently, and it’s because she has taken her diet and health much more seriously in the wake of husband Gregg’s cancer crisis. Leakes reveals that she has adopted a pescetarian diet as a way to clean up her health and recently lost 12 lbs. “I’m not doing anything crazy like doing the elliptical or riding the bike or running. I started being a pescatarian and he was plant-based, so I started there. It did help me and I felt different,” she told Hollywood Life , adding that her goal is to lose a full 20 pounds in the next few months . Clearly, it’s working for her. “I lost a couple of pounds. I’m not a big eater. But what I started to do, was just have small portions. I feel like I eat about four times a day – four, sometimes five – just nibbling on stuff, and I feel really satisfied.” View this post on Instagram All things Swagg. Swaggboutiqueonline.com Grab it. 2 piece set #vacaready A post shared by Nene Leakes (@neneleakes) on Jul 18, 2019 at 3:11pm PDT So what exactly is a pescetarian diet ? Most importantly, will it help you shed those unwanted pounds? First, the pescetarian diet is someone who consumes a mostly plant-based diet (vegetarian) but also eats fish and seafood, and if they want, dairy and eggs. Translation: That means goodbye to burgers, steak or Popeye’s chicken sandwiches and hello to leafy greens, low-sugar fruits like strawberries and blueberries and salmon. “Weight loss and weight management in general in this day and age can be challenging, especially if you are eating what we term commercial non-organic ‘feed-lot’ meats that are typically found in the average grocery store. This meat often contains hormones and antibiotics which both increase the inflammatory response in the body as well as can contribute to the breakdown of the lining of our gastrointestinal tracts, which in turn can cause more issues with inflammation, Njeri Jarvis , a registered dietitian, and licensed nutritionist, explained to HelloBeautiful . “Over time this can cause nutrient deficiencies that along with inflammation can contribute to hormonal imbalances making it more difficult to manage or lose weight,” adding, “So, when you remove this meat from the equation by eating fish as your main protein source, particularly those that are cold water and wild-caught and particularly if you are also eating large amounts of vegetables, It can be a weight loss and total body game-changer.” Njeri Jarvis runs Bear Nutrition and Herbs in Washington DC. Her nutrition practice covers a range of health issues like body composition, cancer, autoimmune disorders, endocrine and kidney imbalances, cancer, food-sensitivity, etc. We got a lot of gems from her about why a pescatarian lifestyle may be an ideal option for Black women, and how those of us who are interested can incorporate it into our lifestyles. For starters, fish are a great source of protein, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Iron, Zinc and Selenium. Jarvis explained that Zinc and Selenium are key minerals needed for the body to produce and utilize our body’s biggest detoxifier, glutathione peroxidase . Zinc also plays a role in cell growth, wound healing, the breakdown of carbohydrates, and more. The combination of the nutrients listed above is important for maintaining healthy thyroid function as well. “For Black women, in particular, transitioning to a pescatarian lifestyle also means getting greater amounts of fat-soluble vitamins [Vitamin A, E, D and K]. Food-based vitamin D is essential as is getting doses of sun based vitamin D,” says Jarvis. “Individuals living in the northern latitudes of the planet tend to have lower vitamin D levels, especially if their skin is darker. This puts Black women at risk for low levels of vitamin D.” Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine suggest higher levels of vitamin D are associated with decreasing risk of breast cancer . This is important as Black women were recently classified as a high-risk group for breast cancer . We know that people who carry excess weight are at higher risk for developing high blood pressure, high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, etc. In other words, being mindful of what and how you eat is important. Given that Black women disproportionately suffer from all three of those chronic illnesses, this is definitely a way of eating we should consider adopting. B ut there are some factors you should look out for too. Metal pollutants in marine fish are a global issue. Nearly all fish may contain some mercury, but the FDA has issued a warning for pregnant women, women considering becoming pregnant, nursing mothers and young children to avoid specific fish like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Opt for low mercury fish like canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, shrimp, sardines and catfish, and keep it to about 8-12 ounces per week. Most importantly, how you prepare it matters too! Salmon doesn’t mean anything if you the only you cook it in a deep fryer. So opt for grilling, pan-searing on the skillet, baking in foil or even an air fryer, which doesn’t rely on unhealthy oils for that crispy texture you may crave. “Planning is key to transitioning. First, on your next run to the grocery store, plan and commit to buying only marine protein. Stocking your freezer with good quality plain frozen fish and frozen shrimp is an easy and affordable way to have healthy fish on hand for any family meal,” Jarvis suggests. “Keeping sardines, muscles, oysters canned in olive oil or water is another affordable staple that can be packed in a to-go bag along with a big salad for a healthy mid-day lunch at work or at school. Making tuna salad or preparing salmon cakes is another affordable and easy way to have a tasty meal that fits the bill.” You can also tap trusted women in your life to be accountability buddies. You can schedule workouts together, or even short walks, talk each other off the ledge when you’re not meeting goals or craving something counterproductive, share recipes, and generally be a support system working toward success. If you got it like that, it also doesn’t hurt to consult with a nutritionist. Njeri Jarvis can be reached via her website, which was hyperlinked above, as well as on social media, but you can also check with your primary care physician for trust nutritionists. Finally, read up more on the pescatarian diet here and here . BEAUTIES: Are you a pescetarian? How have you benefited from the lifestyle? Are you thinking about becoming a pescetarian? How did you make the transition? We want to hear your thoughts! RELATED NEWS: Mo’Nique Gets Teary-Eyed Over Meeting Major Fitness Goal: ‘Just Don’t Quit On You’ Oprah Gets Real About Weight Loss: ‘I Can’t Accept Myself If I’m Over 200 LBS’ Wanna Lose Weight Like Missy Elliott? Cut These Two Things Out Of Your Diet [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”2827378″ overlay=”true”]
B owie State University is on a mission to increase the representation of Black male teachers in Maryland classrooms. According to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education , the HBCU is launching a center that will focus on empowering and supporting Black male teachers and students. Bowie State to Launch the Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers https://t.co/w7bjNsOrrS pic.twitter.com/ysdQsFxY3l — Good Black News (@goodblacknews) August 9, 2019 The new addition to the campus—which will be dubbed the Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers—is being funded through a grant provided by the University System of Maryland. The center will provide resources for Black men who are educators within Maryland’s school system. There will be forums, trips, and mentoring programs for participants. For its inaugural year, the center seeks to recruit up to 50 locally-based students to join the program. The center’s leadership team aims to engage teachers who will focus on STEM education. The initiative is being led by associate professor Julius Davis . “It feels great to know that the University System of Maryland thought that it was worth the investment to create a center for research and mentoring of Black male students and teachers at a historically Black university,” Dr. Davis said in a statement, according to the news outlet. “I’m excited to start working with the young men. I do research, but I really want to impact what’s going on in the community, where the work matters most. I hope that it will create a national reputation for Bowie State to be a center for excellence for looking at black male students and black male teachers.” News about the creation of the center comes at a time where teachers of color are underrepresented. According to Teach for America , only 2 percent of teachers in American public schools are Black men. SEE ALSO: Simmons College Launches Initiative To Recruit, Retain More Black Teachers Program Aims To Increase Representation Of Black Male Teachers In Chicago Public Schools [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3883759″ overlay=”true”]
A Black University of Alabama at Birmingham student says she was threatened with the loss of her job before the school’s human resources office intervened, after she wore a scarf that was not to her employers liking. Felicia Layton, a 21-year-old junior studying kinesiology claim her employers at one of the university’s day care centers sent her home on Thursday because she violated the workplace dress code policy by tying a headscarf around her ponytail, according to AL.com . “APPARENTLY THIS IS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND I WILL BE FIRED IF SOMETHING [ISN’T] DONE TO IT (flat iron it) BY TOMORROW!,” Layton wrote in a now viral Facebook post. “I [won’t] say much because [I’m] not even the type to argue with no one about how things that are basically RACIST but being labeled as something else!” Layton has worked at the daycare since 2017 and went on to say that she was tired from the daily requirements it takes to maintain her 4c hair texture which requires a lot of effort to upkeep. “I HAVE THE MOST 4C hair i have ever seen and baby I can barely put it in a ponytail so if this isnt well groomed and professional enou gh to be at a DAYCARE idk what is! My students and their parents love me & If its a problem with management that my 4c hair to be flatiron or ‘well groomed’ this is not where my hard work needs to be,” she continued. The post has over 1k shares and 600 comments. Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit In an interview with the school’s newspaper Layton said she was also frustrated over what is deemed as acceptable in the workplace when it comes to Black hairstyles versus those of other races. “I feel like the rule is belittling and racist,” she said. “First of all, it’s not ok because the rule was made only for a specific group of people. You’re not going to tell a Caucasian person not to wear a headwrap to work.” Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). After word of the post went viral, Layton updated it to say that the university’s Human Resources office contacted her to resolve the issue. According to AL.com, the dress code violation was no longer in practice. “We are aware of this post and are looking into it now to gather facts,” Paulette Dilworth, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, wrote in a statement obtained by AL.com. “We take concerns like these seriously and will take appropriate action based on our findings. As an institution, UAB is committed to advancing diversity as a core value and to promoting an inclusive campus with respect and dignity for our faculty, staff and students.” As we know Black women and men are often unfairly policed over wearing their hair the way it grows out of their head due to respectability politics which are birthed in the global obsession over European beauty standards. A number of states including California and New York have introduced and passed anti-discrimination legislation pertaining to natural hairstyles. It may be time for Alabama to get on board as well. This story was originally published on MadameNoire.com . ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : LisaRaye Goes Off On Nicole Murphy [VIDEO] A Look Inside Keyshia Cole & Niko Hale’s Baby Shower [PHOTOS] A Hater Tried To Heckle Mary J. Blige At Her Concert And It Didn’t Go Well For Them [VIDEO] Follow @TheRSMS
Source: Prince Williams / Getty Brooklyn rapper Casanova is getting sued for assault. A woman claims the rapper and his entourage put hands on her in a New York City diner last year. According to the woman who filed the lawsuit, Casanova was the ringleader. Reports TMZ : The incident went down last August when Casanova and a group of friends sat down at the Good Stuff Diner. The alleged victim, Niya Rucker , says his group included 2 women who were not Casanova’s wife … and she thinks that’s why he went off on her. According to the suit, Niya was shooting an Instagram Live video of her meal … but Casanova “mistakenly believed” she was recording him and the 2 women. She says the MC instructed one guy in his group to “take whatever action” was necessary to get Niya’s phone … “including physical force.” Niya says the henchman put her in a strangulation grip, grabbed her phone and deleted the video she’d already posted. She also posted a video of the aftermath, showing her mouth and chin bleeding profusely. In the lawsuit, she says she suffered a fractured jaw, damaged teeth, loss of consciousness, a split lip and several other cuts. Rucker is suing Casanova for assault and battery. No specifics on how much money she is seeking. Back in August 2018, shortly after the incident occurred , Casanova turned himself in and was booked for felony second-degree robbery. However, the case has not yet gone to trial. Casanova has denied putting hands on Rucker. Expect this to be settled out of court.
Source: Renato Rimach / Photo Credit: Renato Rimach Name: DaQuendra Elston IG: @daquendra Agency: State Model Management Claim to Fame: DaQuendra won the Torrid model search. She also appeared on America’s Got Talent with her dance troupe the Honeybeez . On a balmy July afternoon most members of the Alabama State University graduating class of 2019 are working diligently behind the desks of their entry level jobs and hard-won internships ; DaQuendrea Elston isn’t among them. The model and dancer is spending her post-grad summer day sitting on set chilling in her robe between looks. In an exclusive interview with HelloBeautiful before the next take , she explained how she went from shaking her hips in one of the most impressive marching bands in the world to walking the catwalk for some of fashion’s biggest names. View this post on Instagram Be Proud Of Who You Are “I come with no wrapping or pretty pink bows. I am who I am, from my head to my toes. I tend to get loud when speaking my mind. Even a little crazy some of the time. I'm not a size 5 and don't care to be. You can be you and I can be me. I try to stay strong when pain knocks me down. And the times that I cry are when no one's around. To error is human or so that's what they say. Well, tell me who's perfect anyway.” -S. Raine #selflove #joy #beproudofyourself #proud #love #beauty #melaninpoppin #plussize #plussizefashion #plussizelove #model #plussizemodel #beyourself A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on May 21, 2019 at 3:48pm PDT The rejection that is standard in the modeling industry echoed early experiences for Elston, who started her own plus-size dance troupe in high school in the face of existing groups’ discrimination . “There was no way possible for anybody plus-size to make it,” she said. “They allowed us to audition but we knew at the end of the day that there was no way we were gonna make it.” Giving up because of their actions was never an option for her. She explained, “In elementary, high school, college it’s always been somebody trying to knock me down and say I can’t do something cause of my size and unintentionally I always end up proving them wrong,” she said. View this post on Instagram Cartwheel caught on camera! #MyASU A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on Nov 5, 2017 at 5:10pm PST She maintains that she made the effort to do her own thing because of her passion and nothing else. View this post on Instagram T O R R I D F I N A L S A L E . . . . #torrid #torridfashion #torridinsider #torridcurve #torridmodel #plussize #plussizemodel #curve #curvemodel #intimates #40percentoff #bra #MyASU #HBCUBuzz A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on Nov 5, 2018 at 10:39am PST “I like to dance,” she stated plainly. Her ingenuity paid off when an adviser suggested she continue dancing in college as part of the Alabama State University marching band. “He was an alumnus, so he kind of put me on and gave me information about the university and my aunt attended Alabama State University so I was familiar with the school,” she said. View this post on Instagram Die Hard #Auburn Fan but #MyASU is home! . . @ka_vetta . . @torridfashion . #Auburn #AlabamaStateUniversity #Football #WDE #WarEagle #GoHornets #ASASASU #2018 #HBCU #Torrid #TorridFitsMe #TorridModel #plussize #model #plussizemodel #auburnal #tigers #melanin #goldenconfidence #overalls #denim #denimoveralls A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on Sep 8, 2018 at 7:14pm PDT She killed her audition and not long after she was ready to spend four years studying and slaying. “I made my decision after I made the team,” she noted. Elston brought the charm and stamina she supplied to the ASU Honeybeez with her to a Torrid Model Search. View this post on Instagram Yaaas for the colors an inclusivity!! Sizes 0-24 Ladies please go check out @katiesturino ‘s new collection with @stitchfix . Click the link in @katiesturino bio or check it out in the Stitch Fix store. A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on Jun 25, 2019 at 7:16pm PDT She entered the competition after being encouraged to do so by her family who were always very supportive cheering her on no matter what activity she was involved in. “I’ve always been an active plus size child. I always cheered, did dance, track field tried to stay involved,” she said. “They hype me up like ‘go Que, go Que’,” she says about her family. “My family has always been supportive. Anything I set out to do they’ve always been there to support me. They come to the events I’m at and show their love.” “I never thought to model. I was a tomboy growing up, so I never really was girly and took pictures. But as I got older, I did gain more confidence in myself. I loved to dress nice and look cute,” she said. The way the shift in her style highlighted her beauty led to her family pleading with her to try modeling as she gained more and more followers on Instagram with each outfit post. “Everybody was like you should model! You should go to a casting,” she said. She intentionally brushed off their suggestions but in 2017 they refused to be ignored. “Everybody on Facebook all my family and friends sent me the link.” View this post on Instagram One Of My Favs!! . . .#Torrid #torridfitsme #curve #plussizemodel #plussize #goldenconfidence A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on Apr 17, 2019 at 8:53pm PDT On the second to last day before the end of the competition her mother sealed the deal insisting that she take the two-hour drive from Alabama to Georgia and claim her spot. “She was like you better take yo’ butt down there and don’t be late!” As her support system suspected she was a natural . She was selected as a finalist among thousands of applicants. View this post on Instagram Still feels unreal!!! Thank you so much God and @torridfashion for the opportunity to be apart of your Denim Campaign!! Who would’ve thought a girl from the country waaay in Alabama would’ve ever be in stores on posters banners and mailers until now! Yes I’ve always dreamed of it but who knew!? Dreams really do come true!! #Torrid #TorridFashion #TorridJeans #Denim #TorridModel #TorridFitsMe #FitToPerfection #FirstAtFit #PlusSize #Model #PlusSizeModel #CurvyGirl #Curve #MyASU #HBCU #HBCUBuzz A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on Aug 7, 2018 at 12:00pm PDT But while judges later admitted to her that “they knew I was special,” she did not make it out of the top ten. She chalked up the experience as a fun time and a cool free trip to the Big Apple until the company contacted her later unable to set aside the impression, she left on them. “After the competition a couple of months later they called me back like ‘This is the people from Torrid we just like loved how you wore our pieces and we would like for you to come back and model for us. And I was just like ‘Oh my gawd! I was still in college.” Like other young women juggling the spotlight with the real world Elston refused to abandon her education. View this post on Instagram Never Perfect Always Beautiful A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on Feb 8, 2019 at 10:01am PST “It was junior year and I was like this is gonna be hard, but they worked with my schedule,” she recalled. Just as valuable as her education were the experiences, she had working with brands that wanted to appeal to fashion forward plus-size women. “Being from Alabama a country girl being able to travel to New York for the first time and Los Angeles for the first time that was something new to me and I’ve always been the type to want to go and experience new things but being a part of New York Fashion Week , never ever modeling (before) that was just mind-blowing to me.” Elston’s energy paid off when she wasn’t on the field as well. One of her fondest memories on set is breaking out her skills at the request of her biggest client. “One time at Torrid they found out I was a dancer as a college student and that I knew how to do cartwheels and splits and everything and they was like oh my gosh do a split for the denim campaign so I had did a split for one of the photo shoots. It was crazy!” View this post on Instagram Little Black Dress . . . . . . . . #Torrid #TorridFashion #TorridFitsMe #TorridFangirl #TorridModel #Model #PlusSize #PlusSizeModel #Curve #CurveModel #BlackDress #LittleBlackDress #Curvy #CurvyGirl #CurvyModel #Photoshoot #MyASU #HBCU #HBCUBuzz A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on Jan 4, 2019 at 12:05pm PST Presenting her body in unexpected ways has had an impact in the plus-size community. She is often tagged in others images on social media sharing how she’s given the confidence to stand out. “It makes me feel so good to know I have an influence and have people telling me I inspire them. It touches my heart. I be so happy for them,” she gushed. She revealed that the attention can be overwhelming. “I’m just being myself,” she said. She shared that she often runs to her mother phone in hand after receiving a particularly warm message. View this post on Instagram A post shared by daQUENdra (@daquendra) on Jan 7, 2019 at 4:34pm PST “Sometimes I am speechless because I really don’t know how to respond because I’m just a regular, degular, smegular girl from Alabama! I never saw myself as an influencer or an inspiration to people, but it makes me feel so good to know they see me and want to do something like me. I just hope they do whatever it is they say they want to do. I want them to be happy. It makes my day even brighter!” Currently she is looking forward to furthering her influence by breaking the stigma surrounding plus-size bodies. She is staring to create content that centers on the journey of plus-size women as career girls and go getters instead of invisible sloths, and illicit sex symbols . It is her goal to show women modeling, dancing, acting, and living their best lives without being restrained by their bodies, or others’ ideas about their bodies. “There really needs to be more platforms showing what being plus-size is because many people are not aware,” she said. DON’T MISS: MONDAY MONDAY: A Trip To The Motherland Inspired This Model To Move To Paris MODEL MONDAY: Ashley Chew Started #BlackModelsMatter After Seeing Fashion Week From Both Sides MODEL MONDAY: Ariel Pierre-Louis Talks Colorism And Classism In The Modeling Industry [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3053929″ overlay=”true”]
