Chanel Iman Describes Shooting In Swimsuits With Snakes Chanel Iman showed a stroke of fearlessness when shooting this year’s edition of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit issue. She told People all about her adventure shooting with pythons: “I started off with one python snake and then they brought out the second one,” the 25-year-old told People. “It was really easy because their mouths were taped, but there’s always that fear that the tape might come off and they might just squeeze the crap out of you … especially when they’re around your neck, and they’re on your arms, you don’t know what they’re gonna do, so there’s always a little bit of fear that something could go wrong on the shoot.” Iman also discussed dealing with the Maasai men in Zanzibar during her shoot there: “It was funny because the Maasai warriors were basically trying to get me to move to Africa and bidding on cows,” she said. “Like the more cows that you hunt, the man wins the woman or something like that.” “I think my bid was 50 cows,” she said. “Something crazy.” Hit the flip for BTS from Chanel’s shoot and more ‘mini clad shots. Continue reading →
Egypt Ufele Fights Bullying With African Fashions One little girl turned her negative bullying experience into a positive for herself and for other curvy little girls. Egypt “Ify” Ufele is fusing her African heritage with American styles to fight bullying . Via People : A 10-year-old fashion designer is using her experience as a victim of bullying to kickstart her career. Egypt Ufele, who goes by “Ify,” tells Today that she was repeatedly picked on for her size at her grade school in Queens, New York. “I was bullied and they called me all kinds of names,” she says. “One time I got stabbed with a pencil.” But instead of letting it get her down, Ufele started hand-sewing clothes for her dolls and eventually learned to use a sewing machine to make clothes for all body types, Ufele’s grandmother says. Now Ufele has become the only child designer to dress curvy models at New York Fashion Week. According to her website, Ufele’s designs, Chubiiline, are about “bringing Africa to American, one design at a time.” Good for her! Turning her bad experiences around this early in life is awesome. Instagram
Beyonce In Twitter Backlash After Saartjie Baartman Movie Plans Leaked Beyonce’s plan to bring the story of Saartjie Baartman to the big screen is already being met with criticism. Some South Africans have taken to Twitter to blast the “Drunk In Love” singer’s apparent ambitions to write and star in a film about the life of Baartman, who was kidnapped from South Africa during Colonial times and put on display in Europe as a freak show attraction because of her large hips and behind. “@Beyonce you have no right to be playing Saartjie Baartman you know nothing about Africa, or South Africa!” Indigo Asaseyaa tweeted earlier today. “Can someone say appropriation please?” user African Eskimo wrote on Twitter. Baartman, who was billed as “Hottentot Venus,” later sued her handlers for being forced to perform against her will, but lost. She died in poverty at just 25-years-old. Baartman’s body was dissected and displayed in a Paris museum for 50 years, but was eventually repatriated to South Africa for a proper burial. Beyonce has previously acted in big budget films like “Cadillac Records” and “Austin Powers” and reportedly believes her Baartman film would force her critics to take her acting seriously and give her a shot at an Academy Award. But fans aren’t buying it, and some are claiming Bey is ignorant of Baartman and won’t do justice to such a sensitive story. “The only reason Beyonce wants to play Sara Baartman is just for publicity and not about the story of the woman,” Unathi Kwaza tweeted. “Not surprised.” Another user, Khoisan Drummer agreed: “She don’t even know what Hottentot is B…nah.” Hit the flip for more reactions: