Q ueen Latifah has broken barriers in both the music and entertainment industries and now she plans on doing the same in real estate. In an effort to level the playing field when it comes to housing equity in her hometown of Newark, the Star actress is creating an affordable housing complex in the city, NJ.com reported. Queen Latifah is coming home to Newark and building $14M worth of new housing https://t.co/GhP6SbZqLf pic.twitter.com/OxI5mwPVBp — NJ.com (@njdotcom) February 21, 2019 The project—which is reportedly going to cost $14 million—will be a community of multi-family townhouses, the news outlet writes. The homes—which will be located on Springfield Ave. and South 17th Street—will include 20 three-family townhomes and an additional mix-use building that will have 16 units. The mix-use building will feature a fitness center and commercial space that will be used by nonprofit organizations. 60 of the units will be market rate starting with a price of $1,800 and 16 of the units will be affordable and based on an individual’s income. The project is being led by BlueSugar Corporation—where Latifah serves as co-president—and GonSosa Development. BlueSugar Corporation has been on a mission to revitalize struggling neighborhoods across the country and GonSosa Development has reconstructed and developed over 1,000 units. There is a need for affordable housing in Newark and those who are involved in the project are excited about making change. “They understand how difficult it is to make ends meet for many residents and want to be part of the solution. They remain dedicated to making life better in communities like Newark,” said Cristina Pinzon who serves as a spokeswoman for the developers. Like other cities across the country, Newark is experiencing an affordability crisis where many longtime residents are at risk of being displaced due to gentrification. News about Queen Latifah’s plans comes nearly a month after NFL star Marshawn Lynch shared that he was going to purchase real estate in his hometown of Oakland so that people who have lived in the community for decades wouldn’t be pushed out. SEE ALSO: Magic Johnson To Invest In The Revitalization Of Baltimore Marshawn Lynch Is Pushing Back Against Gentrification In Oakland [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3846537″ overlay=”true”]
S erena Williams’ influence spans past the sports world. She’s making a name for herself in the fashion industry as well. Last year Williams launched her own clothing line and this year she’s continuing to make power moves in fashion. According to CNBC , Williams has been appointed to join Poshmark’s board of directors. . @serenawilliams Joins @Poshmarkapp 's Board of Directors https://t.co/oC2DD3dE23 — Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise) February 22, 2019 Poshmark is an online platform created for people across the country to sell their new and used clothing, the news outlet writes. It was founded by Manish Chandra , Tracy Sun , Gautam Golwala , and Chetan Pungaliya in 2011. The marketplace sellers collectively garnered $1 billion since the company was founded. The company is valued at nearly $600 million. Chandra—who serves as the company’s CEO—says that he believes Williams can take the brand to the next level. “What triggered my initial interest [in Williams], is there are very few people who have that focus on excellence. What we are trying to build is a very diverse, independent board, people who can guide us to the next level of growth,” said Chandra in a statement. “Seeing she had the right experience, and the passion for fashion, that’s the way we looked at it.” He also added that the platform was developed by a team of strong women like Williams. The tennis star is beyond excited to join the Poshmark team. She said she’s been shopping on the platform for years. “I’m really excited to join Poshmark because it really speaks to my core values,” said Williams in a statement, according to Ad Week . “They really believe in so many different aspects of my life that I am not only living but I’m also preaching.” Williams is using Poshmark as an avenue for social good. She recently built her own closet on the platform and the proceeds from purchased items will go to the Yetunde Price Resource Center; an organization that she founded in memory of her sister who was fatally shot in Compton in 2003. The organization provides resources and programs for victims of direct or indirect senseless violence. SEE ALSO: Meghan Markle Has Serena Williams’ Back Serena Williams On Colin Kaepernick: ‘Every African American Should Be Grateful’ [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3846537″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Courtesy of Yacht Week East Africa / YachtWeekEA.com Yacht Week. When you close your eyes, you can feel the wind from the water and smell and taste the ocean on your lips. The sun is warming your melanin skin and you are surrounded by lots of other party goers ready for a good time. You hop from boat to boat, partying, drinking, connecting. The music is blaring, the drinks are flowing, you are surrounded by paradise. While there is fun in Croatia, beauty in Greece, and you can never go wrong with Montenegro, Kelsy Horton realized there was a major miss for people of color: no Yacht Week focused on an African or Black experience. Thus, three years ago, Yacht Week East Africa was born. Talk about sailing for the culture! Source: Alexandra Wontorra / EyeEm / Getty This Yacht Week sets sail in the Seychelles where guests can spend two days on land learning about the Seychelles and experiencing the culture prior to setting sail. There are options for attendees to sight see, go shopping and learn more about the islands. During the actual sailing experience, there are options as well. Guests will be able to go on a tropical rainforest hike, snorkel, fish, bike riding, exploring and more. It’s more than just a boat and water! Source: Courtesy of Yacht Week East Africa / YachtWeekEA.com We caught up with Kelsy Horton, Founder and Host of Yacht Week East Africa , who got candid with us regarding why he started East Africa Yacht Week, things you need to know, and more. Starting a business can be daunting, what placed Horton up for the task? He told Hello Beautiful , “I started Yacht Week East Africa to provide an Afrocentric alternative to the sailing events that take place in Europe and the Americas. I also wanted to showcase the beauty and culture of East Africa, which is under the radar for many people.” Source: Courtesy of Yacht Week East Africa / YachtWeekEA.com In addition to East Africa being under the radar for many people, sailing isn’t something that Black people are culturally involved in on a large basis. Horton has been sailing since he was a child, “My first sail took place when I was a kid in Chicago, on the waters of Lake Michigan,” he shared with Hello Beautiful. How he got from sailing to a kid to running a yacht week was a little more complex. “In 2015, I moved to Tanzania, which sits on the Indian Ocean, and has a strong sailing community. I started sailing with friends for birthday parties, when guests were in town, and other special occassions. It was at this point that sailing became one of my passions.” Source: Courtesy of Yacht Week East Africa / YachtWeekEA.com And passionate he is! Horton is hosting three different trips in 2019. Currently, there is room to register for two more trips occurring in September and October. The first one is August 30th to September 8th, 2019 and the second one is October 11th – October 20th, 2019. Anyone can attend! Horton shared, “We celebrate Black culture and we welcome anyone from any background to join us.” If you are worried that you can’t swim, don’t be. Horton assured, “You don’t need to know how to swim to attend Yacht Week East Africa. Swiming during the event is totally optional.” Just wear a floatie girl and get ready to slay some serious beach photos! Source: Courtesy of Yacht Week East Africa / YachtWeekEA.com If you are someone that has been to other Yacht Weeks and wondering what makes this one different, Horton reveals, “in addition to sailing, beautiful beaches, and partying, our emphasis on culture and cuisine separates us from the rest. Our sailing locations are also off of the beaten path.” So yes, you will have a one of a kind experience with unique photos focused on our culture. While personally, I have never been to East Africa, Horton was able to help me understand what makes this region so special. “East Africa calms your spirit and is good for your soul.” He boldly boasts, “There’s a strong change that East Africa is more beautiful than your favorite vacation spot.” Wow! He also adds that “the people are extremely welcoming and the culture is very accommodating,” which is also a plus for people traveling while Black. Source: Courtesy of East Africa Yacht Week / EastAfricaYachtWeek.com I was looking through images and the company’s Instagram page and I noticed one thing: there were so many Black women in attendance! It made me wonder if Horton was focused on our demographic and behold, he is most definitely catering to Black women. (Come on, Black man!). “There is something that is very appealing about a beautiful woman in her best swimsuit, laid out on a yacht in the middle of the ocean without a care in the world,” he swoons. What makes this trip so attractive to us? Horton explains, “Add a beautiful backdrop like the Seychelles, plus the fact that the event is curated with them in mind, and our Sisters are ready to sign up!” Source: Courtesy of Yacht Week East Africa / YachtWeekEA.com As mentioned, the company has been around for only three years; however, they are already thinking of expansion. Horton is looking closely at routes in other countries as well as land-based events in Tanzania and Kenya. He tells us to “stay tuned!” …and we are. We end our interview with Horton encompassing Yacht Week East Africa, “It is for us, by us, and we sail for the culture.” Source: Courtesy of Yacht Week East Africa / YachtWeekEA.com You can find out more about Yacht Week East Africa on their website, here . Currently, you have until February 28th, 2019 to book for the August/September or October trip. Get on it! DON’T MISS: HELLO WORLD: Everything You Need To Know For A Girl’s Trip To Martinique HELLO WORLD: Bonaire Is The Perfect Island Antidote For Holiday Fatigue HELLO WORLD: Travel Essentials For Your Next Trip Out The Country [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3022084″ overlay=”true”]
Way back in the year of our Lord two thousand and thirteen, a young former Disney star named Miley Cyrus was looking for a way to cut ties with her squeaky clean past. And she saw a golden opportunity during the 2013 VMAs. Yes, we’ve reached the point where some of our younger readers may not even remember Miley twerking all over Robin Thicke as a horrified crowd looked on. They also may not remember that at this time, bigotry and supervillainy were just side-projects for Donald Trump, and not his primary reasons for being. What do these two factoids of the Obama years have to do with one another? Well, in a newly-published interview with Vanity Fair , Cyrus reveals that Trump called her at her hotel in New York the morning after her now-infamous performance to tell her how much he enjoyed every racy moment. “I loved it,” Miley recalls the Donald saying. She was unable to quote him further all these years later, but we’re sure the Donald went on to creepily overuse all his favorite adjectives like “beautiful,” “fabulous,” and “amazing.” “And now he’s our president,” Cyrus added. From there, Miley went on to reveal that she never intended to flee the country if Trump got elected, as she stated during the 2016 campaign. Instead, she merely hoped to impress upon her fellow Americans the severity of the situation. “You know, I said I would move away if he became president. We all said a bunch of sh-t we didn’t mean,” Miley said. “Because we really thought: Maybe people will listen. Maybe people actually realize how detrimental this will be to our fucking country if this happens.” “Obviously they didn’t. But for me to move away—what the f-ck is that going to change? “As someone who is so proud of being an activist, am I going to feel proud of myself just running away from, and leaving everyone else here to live under, a completely racist, sexist, hateful assh-le? You can’t leave everyone else to fend for themselves.” But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. Miley got married to Liam Hemsworth on New Year’s Eve, and she says she’s the happiest she’s ever been. So hey, if sh-t really hits the fan it should be easy for Miley to high-tail it to Australia!
Way back in the year of our Lord two thousand and thirteen, a young former Disney star named Miley Cyrus was looking for a way to cut ties with her squeaky clean past. And she saw a golden opportunity during the 2013 VMAs. Yes, we’ve reached the point where some of our younger readers may not even remember Miley twerking all over Robin Thicke as a horrified crowd looked on. They also may not remember that at this time, bigotry and supervillainy were just side-projects for Donald Trump, and not his primary reasons for being. What do these two factoids of the Obama years have to do with one another? Well, in a newly-published interview with Vanity Fair , Cyrus reveals that Trump called her at her hotel in New York the morning after her now-infamous performance to tell her how much he enjoyed every racy moment. “I loved it,” Miley recalls the Donald saying. She was unable to quote him further all these years later, but we’re sure the Donald went on to creepily overuse all his favorite adjectives like “beautiful,” “fabulous,” and “amazing.” “And now he’s our president,” Cyrus added. From there, Miley went on to reveal that she never intended to flee the country if Trump got elected, as she stated during the 2016 campaign. Instead, she merely hoped to impress upon her fellow Americans the severity of the situation. “You know, I said I would move away if he became president. We all said a bunch of sh-t we didn’t mean,” Miley said. “Because we really thought: Maybe people will listen. Maybe people actually realize how detrimental this will be to our fucking country if this happens.” “Obviously they didn’t. But for me to move away—what the f-ck is that going to change? “As someone who is so proud of being an activist, am I going to feel proud of myself just running away from, and leaving everyone else here to live under, a completely racist, sexist, hateful assh-le? You can’t leave everyone else to fend for themselves.” But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. Miley got married to Liam Hemsworth on New Year’s Eve, and she says she’s the happiest she’s ever been. So hey, if sh-t really hits the fan it should be easy for Miley to high-tail it to Australia!
Source: Chesnot / Getty HuffPost Fires Racist Social Media Editor A caucasian woman, who’d recently been hired as a social media editor for HuffPost , lost her job after making comments online that were so racist, you almost won’t believe them. On second thought, after considering everything that’s been going on during Black History Month this year, we’re not actually all that surprised. “Yesterday, HuffPost fired a recently hired, Los Angeles-based social media editor after her managers were alerted to the fact that an Instagram account belonging to the new hire was spewing racist rants online. Using a now-deleted Instagram account, Ashley Rose, who was hired earlier this month, targeted a number of people with the sort of racist invective you’d expect to find in the darkest 4chan threads,” The Concourse reports. As for the comments Rose made…they were disgusting. “I don’t dress my son like a thug, sorry. We don’t wear Jordans or Nike in this house because Nike sucks politically, and his father actually fought for this country’s freedom instead of sitting in a jail cell,” she said. “Your nephew is an ugly n***er like you! He looks like Coolio,” another comment read. “Y’all wonder why we stereotype and shoot your ignorant asses,” she continued. See screenshots of her racist rants here . Laura Wagner from The Concourse says she spoke with the young woman on the receiving end of Rose’s comments and apparently Rose was upset because she wants to support black-owned businesses. “I spoke to the woman who runs the Instagram account that Rose targeted,” Wagner stated. “She said it started because she wrote in a post about supporting black-owned businesses. In response, Rose wrote that she would only support white businesses, and from there it escalated.” People can be so ignorant…it’s an absolute shame. But the good news is, HuffPost did the right thing and let her go. Bye, girl!
Now that Jussie Smollett has been arrested for falsifying a police report, we have a much clearer idea of how the actor went about staging his own assault. Allegedly, that is. Courtesy of documents filed by prosecutors at Smollett's bond hearing on February 21, we know when Smollett contacted the men who would help his go through with this scheme… what the original plan was between the trio… and what Smollett provided these men with in order to carry out the supposed assault. Again: Allegedly, that is. The details described here are chilling and disturbing. Scroll down to get a fuller picture of exactly what Smollett is accused orchestrating. 1. Smollett is Free on $100,000 Bond He was released from jail on Thursday afternoon and rushed to a waiting SUV, not saying anything to the throng of reporters gathered around him as he made his way to the car. 2. What Has He Been Charged with Again? Felony disorderly conduct – for falsifying a police report. The charge he faces carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail. 3. The Judge Comes Down Hard During Thursday’s proceedings, members of Smollett’s family were in the courtroom with him as the judge, John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr., said that he found the investigators’ account of the incident disturbing, especially the assertion that Smollett had used a rope around his neck to heighten outrage. 4. What Did the Judge Say? “We live in a country where you are presumed innocent,” he told the actor “However, if these allegations are true, I find them utterly outrageous. Especially the violent, despicable use of a noose, which conjures such evil in our country.” 5. As for the Details in These Legal Documents? They start with the letters sent to Smollett on the set of Empire. It remains a little ambiguous whether police believe Smollett sent them to himself, but they contained a powerdery white substance. 6. Was It Anthrax? It was meant to come across that way, but it turned out to be crushed Ibuprofen. View Slideshow
Source: Charley Gallay / Getty After 8 longs months of a Desus & Mero drought, the Bodega Hive is about to be blessed with a brand new show from their favorite duo. Desus Nice and The Kid Mero are finally returning to television with their Showtime premiere tonight at 11pm, following their hiatus after leaving a nearly 2 year gig at VICELAND . Even though the duo still uploaded their podcast, Bodega Boys, weekly while on hiatus, fans are still understandably thirsty for the return of the visual art. Now that February 21 is here and we’re all only a couple of hours away from a hot & fresh interpretation of Desus and Mero’s classic late night banter, fans all over the internet don’t know how to contain their excitement. From their daytime appearance on The View yesterday to them overcoming some spicy challenges on Hot Ones today, all of these teasers have the Bodega Hive’s anticipation at an all time high. Knowing just how insanely unfiltered Desus and Mero’s content is, it’s probably a no-brainer that their fanbase is pretty problematic, too. With that being said, let’s take a look at how fans are reacting on Twitter to all of the excitement surrounding tonight’s premiere of Desus & Mero on Showtime: Finally the end of a dark period of time in our country. Desus & Mero's new show starts tonight. — Wizard Ocular (@WVGauntlet) February 21, 2019 You know, the hiatus of Desus & Mero was at the same time as a lot of messed up stuff happening with our country–coincidence? I think not. But New Yorkers are more proud of them than anyone else. Because, ya know, the Bronx. Desus & Mero on showtime start tonight. I feel like this is an accomplishment for all New Yorkers — Willie Carroll (@WILLIECtheMC) February 21, 2019 And there are some real concerns to be had, like keeping that same energy they had at VICELAND . Desus & Mero on showtime better be as good or better then it was on Vice, cuz it was Classic on Vice | Tonight at 11 — C R O M E (@Cromexmusic) February 21, 2019 While some of us are just in straight up disbelief because it’s been so long since we’ve been blessed by the Bodega gawds. When you realize Desus & Mero is finally back on our TV sets pic.twitter.com/rcE0v5J6UR — Shervon Fakhimi (@ShervonFakhimi) February 21, 2019 anyway, don’t let this distract y’all from the fact Desus & Mero are back tonight. — Reggie E. (@firstklass_regg) February 21, 2019 And of course, there’s just some real, raw excitement. The Bodega Hive is on Cloud 9. DESUS & MERO ARE BACK TONIGHT THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA — transplant disliker (@lameposter) February 21, 2019 Desus & Mero premieres tonight nothing else matters — Gert (@parkergert) February 21, 2019 I feel like we all should be watching Desus & Mero tonight as a unit… — Goddess (@aricayvette) February 21, 2019 Oh, and lots and lots of Desus & Mero GIFS. New Desus & Mero tonight pic.twitter.com/JuMYksSc0s — LastElfofKrypton (@GodofKrypton) February 21, 2019 HAPPY DESUS & MERO DAY @SHODesusAndMero @desusnice @THEKIDMERO #THEBRANDISSTRONG pic.twitter.com/OYAH7rO2Pm — ○KungFu Candy☆ (@BRITTNY9000) February 21, 2019 Whatever way you express your excitement for tonight’s Desus & Mero return, just know, there’s probably someone on Twitter who’s just as excited and probably wildly problematic. In the meantime, while we all wait for that new Showtime goodness, peep Desus and Mero on Hot Ones being even more spicy than usual. And if you haven’t gotten your premium cable subscription yet–it’s time to bite the bullet; If you really think about it, $4.99 is nothing for an endless amount of Trumpito jokes, hot takes, and throwback City Island stories.
Last week, we reported that Ronnie Ortiz-Magro has completed rehab after undergoing 30 days of treatment for alcoholism and depression. The troubled Jersey Shore star says he’s happier and healthier than ever now that he’s addressed his issues. And he says he owes it all to his best frenemy, Mike Sorrentino. As you may recall, Sorrentino is currently behind bars on tax evasion charges. But apparently, Ronnie was inspired by the manner in which Mike turned his troubled life around in the years before his sentence. “Mike definitely pushed me to get healthy. Just him being around was definitely an inspiration,” Ronnie told Us Weekly in a recent interview. Ronnie says he still communicates with Mike on a daily basis via email. “He was just like, ‘I’m proud of you … I’m glad that you finally got to your point,’” Ronnie said of the conversation in which he informed Mike of his sobriety. “He’s like, ‘People can try to push you and force you to do things that you want, but that’s not the way you get someone to do it. You have to want to do it.’” Of course, Rahn wouldn’t be Rahn if he didn’t slip in a good-natured joke at Mike’s expense. “We talk every day through email,” Ronnie said of Mike. “He’s doing great. He still has his positive attitude. He still sounds like he swallowed a book of poetry.” Magro went on to say that he attributes much of his erratic behavior on Shore to his struggles with alcohol and depression. And it was Mike who helped him to recognize the nature of his problem: “When you’re the way I was – just depressed, always angry, resentful and just regretful was a big thing – you look at him and you’re like, ‘I want that. I want to be positive,'” Ronnie says. As for Ronnie’s troubled relationship with Jen Harley , it seems the couple is still trying to make it work — although Ronnie seems resigned to the fact that there may be a breakup in his near future. “She’s always going to be the mother of my child, at the end of the day,” he told Us . “All I can do is control myself and the things that I do. “At the end of the day, I want to be the best father that I can be, and that means that I have to take care of myself. I can’t control her.” In conclusion, Ronnie says that he hopes he can inspire others in the way that The Situation inspired him: “I hope that it encourages a lot of people, whether it’s her or people in my family, or my friends,” he said. “I don’t want to be this person that’s this angry and resentful and just has so many regrets.” Clearly, Ronnie and Mike have come a long way since the days of their occasionally ugly roast battles. View Slideshow: Ronnie Ortiz-Magro Reveals Rehab Stint, Admits Hitting Rock Bottom
Over the weekend after Valentine’s Day, the world learned that Miranda Lambert has a new husband . That was so unexpected — fans never saw it coming. And neither, it turns out, did her ex-husband Blake Shelton, who was as in the dark as the rest of us. RadarOnline reports that Blake Shelton did not receive any kind of forewarning or courtesy call about Miranda’s new marriage. “Blake found about the wedding at the same time everyone else did,” an insider reveals. A lot of celebrities will inform an ex, even through a friend or agent, so that they’re not blindsided. The source notes: “He was NOT given a heads up and doesn’t know her new husband.” “Since they split,” the insider adds. “They have had almost zero contact.” After Miranda Lambert broke things off with Evan Felker , she kept her new relationship fairly quiet. Which is why her fans and followers were absolutely shocked to learn that she’d gotten hitched. Back when she was with Anderson East, there were definitely rumors of engagements and wedding plans. But this news about Brendan Mcloughlin didn’t just have people wondering when they had decided to get hitched. It had people wondering who the frick Brendan is and when he and Miranda had started dating. It’s not especially shocking to hear that Miranda didn’t tip off Blake about her union. Their break-up was less than amicable. Though both have accused the other of cheating on them, it was Blake who reportedly set all of Miranda’s things out on the porch. To make matters worse, Blake effectively kept the Country music community in the divorce. Miranda found herself the “loser” in the divorce, so to speak. Combined with Blake being publicly pitied and so famously moving on with Gwen Stefani, and we can imagine that there are a lot of bitter feelings. Speaking of Miranda’s feelings … is she okay? We’re not just talking about this spontaneous marriage, though it is sudden and unexpected. Just last week, Miranda got into an altercation at a steakhouse . Miranda and her dining companion were confronted by an older couple, and ended with Miranda’s salad on another woman’s head. While the scuffle gave us a rare opportunity to write tossed salad in a headline, it may be cause for concern. That doesn’t sound like the behavior of a healthy, balanced woman to us. It ties into a bit of character development that Miranda has undergone in recent years. Remember back when Blake was the drinker and troublemaker and Miranda was his long-suffering wife? Okay, we’re exaggerating, but only a little bit. These days, she seems to be the one making outrageous tabloid headlines, while Blake has settled down with Gwen. Also, Miranda came right out and admitted that she’s a bit of a homewrecker after hooking up with the still-married Evan Felker. Is the downfall of the Felker marriage her fault? Of course not. Not unless she kidnapped him. But openly discussing her role in it sounds like an unwise career move. View Slideshow: 24 Celebrity Weddings That No One Saw Coming
