Women of Rubies, Author at Women of Rubies

In self development December 19, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET ANGELA PONCE, THE FIRST TRANSGENDER WOMAN TO COMPETE IN MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

Ángela Maria Ponce Camacho, who is the reigning Miss Spain became the first ever transgender woman to compete in Miss Universe pageant.

After the preliminary rounds on Sunday, the 27-year-old model said it was “an honor and pride” to be part of the history of the pageant.

“This is for you, for those who have no visibility, no voice, because we all deserve a world of respect, inclusion and freedom,” Ponce wrote on Instagram on Friday. “And today I am here, proudly representing my nation, all women and human rights.”

The record set by Angele comes after the Miss Universe organization was heavily criticized in 2012 after disqualifying a transgender woman, Jenna Talackova from the Miss Canada competition because she was not “naturally born” a woman.

After Talackova threatened legal action, the organization then owned by Donald Trump changed the rules to allow transgender contestants in its pageants.

“As long as she meets the standards of legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, which we understand that she does, Jenna Talackova is free to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant,” Trump attorney Michael Cohen said at the time. “Nobody is capitulating . . . Like all the other contestants, [Talackova] is wished the best of luck by Mr. Trump.”

Talackova ultimately finished in the top 12 of the Miss Canada pageant and was one of four contestants awarded “Miss Congeniality.” But did not advance to the Miss Universe pageant that year.

Speaking on making history, Ponce, who is from Pilas in southern Spain, credited her family for supporting her.

“They’re my foundation so that my life could unfold,” Ponce told Today.com. “They saw to it that I did not have a traumatic childhood. They are my strength.”

The 2018 Miss Universe pageant was won by Miss Philippines, 24-year-old Catriona Gray.

Credit: LIB

In Career Gems December 19, 2018 By Women of Rubies

RESIDENTS OF MAIDUGURI PROTESTS AGAINST THEIR 24 HOURS CONSTANT ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Residents of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, are demanding that their 24 hour electricity supply be cut short immediately.

According to them, the constant power supply has caused a huge increase in charges. They are demanding that the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) reduce their electricity supply to the 12-hours they previously enjoyed.

Most resident of the state capital, beseiged the YEDC office today to demand a reduction in electricity.

“My bill indicated that I used 605 units in November and they charged N14,000 as against N6,500 for September where I used the same units. They are charging me for what I did not consume because during the day, I spend most of my time in my shop. I only use the electricity at night at home. I have a prepaid meter in the shop and I don’t spend more than N2,000 in a whole month. So how come I am not staying at home and I am being asked to pay N14,000. I am here in their office, demanding an explanation.” a resident said

Reacting to the complains by the residents, the YEDC Maiduguri Business Manager, said

“These complaints may be as a result of the commissioning of the 330kV transmission line which now supplies electricity 24 hours. On the average, we now supply electricity in the town for a minimum of 22 hours in a day, which simply implies that the consumption of energy by residents in the state have multiplied or even tripled itself.

“We took a simple study from our prepaid meters users and we found out that the people that usually came to buy unit of N2,000 or N3,000 in a month now have to spend N15,000 or N20,000 because of their energy usage. One thing we notice about the consumers is that they waste energy. People have this habit of leaving their lights on even in the afternoon.

“Go to some super markets or filling stations, you will see more than 200 bulbs on in the afternoon. So the more you load you use the more energy you consume.”

Credit: LIB

In Career Gems December 19, 2018 By Women of Rubies

KYLIE JENNER NAMED AS THE FIFTH WEALTHIEST AMERICAN CELEBRITY OF 2018 ALONGSIDE JAY-Z

Makeup Mogul and reality star, Kylie Jenner is now the fifth Wealthiest American Celebrity of 2018.

In a new list compiled by Forbes Magazine, the 21-year-old’s net worth of $900 million sees her tied at fifth place with rapper Jay-Z.

The mother of one who launched her Kylie Cosmetics two years ago, has already shifted over $630 million in makeup products, according to Forbes.

This is the first time Kylie has landed on the list, which ranks the wealthiest American celebrities based on fortune they have amassed off their fame.

The number one spot on the list this year went to George Lucas, whose net worth was listed at $5.4 billion. The second place spot goes to Steven Spielberg, who is valued at $3.7 billion, while Oprah Winfrey landed in third with $2.8 billion.

Michael Jordan‘s net worth of $1.7 billion placed him in fourth place, David Copperfield‘s $875 million landed him in seventh, Diddy’s $825 million saw him take the eighth spot.

Tiger Woods and James Patterson tied for the ninth spot with a net worth of $800 million.

Credit: LIB

In self development December 18, 2018 By Women of Rubies

DR. GLADYS WEST, ONE OF THE ‘HIDDEN FIGURES’ BEHIND THE CREATION OF THE GPS SYSTEM, GETS INDUCTED INTO AIR FORCE SPACE AND MISSILE PIONEERS HALL OF FAME

Dr. Gladys West, one of the “hidden figure” who contributed significantly to the team charged with the computing that laid the foundation for what we now refer to as a GPS navigation system.

Dr. West has now been formally honored by being inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame, one of Air Force’s Space Commands highest honors.

Dr. West served as only the second African American woman at Dahlgren Naval Base in Dahlgren, Virginia and only one of four African Americans to work on the base during the 1960s and 70s. The Virginia State University alumna was hired as a mathematician at the United States Naval Weapons Laboratory and ultimately worked with a team of noteworthy engineers to develop what would become the Global Positioning System (GPS). She engaged in extensive astronomical research and study to determine the most accurate reflections of planet sizes, gravitational pull, and other forces that may distort the Earth’s shape.

She was tasked with entering data into ‘supercomputers’ that were solving complex equations and then also working with software that performed countless calculations to ensure the accuracy of the Earth’s model that then became optimized for the creation of the GPS.

The Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame recognizes the leaders whose innovation and vision significantly impacted the early years of the Air Force space program. The award honors and celebrates those who created and leveraged new technology and operational systems that would forever change space exploration and national security concerns.

In Interviews&profile December 18, 2018 By Women of Rubies

TONI TONES TALKS CHALLENGES FACED IN HER CAREER, GAINING ACCEPTANCE AS AN ACTOR & MORE IN FLAIR MAGAZINE

marketplace? Some would say it takes more than just talent to be noticed.

Multi-talented Toni Tones is not just being noticed. She is being
remembered.

Born Gbemi Anthonia Adefuye, Toni Tones is a triple-threat force to be
reckoned with: She is an actress, singer, and award-winning photographer whose influence in the Nigerian entertainment industry has become undeniable.

Her role in the box office hit ‘King Of boys’ directed by Kemi Adetiba brought Toni Tones critical acclaim. Her electrifying performances in top
productions have positioned her as one of the most sought after A-list
actors in Nollywood today.

On the road to success, Toni Tones has faced and overcome challenges. In an in-depth interview with The Nation’s Flair Magazine, she speaks about this, and more.

See excerpts from the interview below:

What was it like at the beginning?

I started my career as a photographer and because of that, it was quite a challenge getting people to take me seriously as an artist and as an actor, at first. At some point, I began to wish I had never started with photography at all, because then I wouldn’t have to fight the tough battle of gaining acceptance, I would just have been able to go straight to building a fan base. Some OAPs simply wouldn’t play my music because they didn’t take me seriously. It took a lot of hard work, persistence and determination before I was finally accepted in the industry. There were
times that I wanted to give up but I am exceedingly happy I didn’t.

What are some of the challenges you have encountered?

It was tough being accepted as an actor because people knew me as a
photographer and after then, a musician. Hearing that I was an actor as well, I think it was hard for them to take me seriously initially. A lot of people probably assumed I was just playing around as opposed to chasing my dreams. It seemed like having more than one career was looked upon as a bit of a crime; people tend to put you in a box. They know you for one thing and that is what they choose to be comfortable with and when you try
to break out of that box, there’s a lot of opposition. But I am not here to make anybody comfortable, I am here to achieve every single goal that my heart desires and achieve I will.

How do you cope with them?

I was determined not to be put in a box. I was determined to excel at
every single passion I had chosen to pursue. Sometimes, I would ask God why He didn’t just give me one passion so it would have been easier, but I remember praying one day and hearing a voice within me say, “if God has given you many skills, it is meant as a blessing, not a curse.” That put things in perspective for me. I made a vow never to relent, to give everything I had, to show God I appreciated every skill he had gifted me and I would honour Him by using them. Successful or not, at least I would
know I tried. Being able to actually do the things I love is already
success to me, because for so long I was afraid to even try. I am glad I never gave up, otherwise I would not be living such a fulfilled life now.

Read full interview here:
http://thenationonlineng.net/toni-tones-living-life-dreams/

Credit: Euphorique PR, thenationonlineng.net

In Career Gems December 18, 2018 By Women of Rubies

JACKIE AINA WINS THE ‘BEAUTY INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR’ AWARD AT THE WWD AWARDS

Top beauty YouTuber, Jackie Aina who is known for constantly advocating for visibility of black women in the cosmetic industry, has won the “Beauty Influencer of The Year” award at the Women’s Wear Daily’s Beauty Inc Awards.

Prior to this award, Jackie also took home the “YouTuber of the Year” award at the 2018 NAACP Image Awards in January.

Jackie Aina was born and raised in Los Angeles by a Nigerian father and an American mother.

Creating her YouTube channel one year after joining the US military, provided a source of escape from her then unhappy marriage.

Jackie Aina shared the exciting news on the Instagram page. See her Instagram post below.

In Career Gems December 18, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MERRIAM-WEBSTER’S 2018 WORD OF THE YEAR IS ‘JUSTICE’

US publishing company Merriam-Webster has named the noun its Word of the Year for 2018, after it saw a 74% spike in look-ups compared with 2017.

“The concept of justice was at the center of many of our national debates in the past year: racial justice, social justice, criminal justice, economic justice. In any conversation about these topics, the question of just what exactly we mean when we use the term justice is relevant, and part of the discussion” the company said when explaining its choice.

“Justice” was among the most-consulted words on Merriam-Webster’s website throughout the year, the company said, and saw jumps in search volume in the wake of numerous news stories.

“Justice” takes the Word of the Year title from last year’s winner, “feminism.” Other words that saw large jumps in look-ups included “Laurel,” which was at the heart of a viral debate over a short piece of audio in May, and “respect,” which spiked in searches after the death of the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, in August.

Credit: LIB

In Editor's Choice December 18, 2018 By Women of Rubies

MEET THE MELANESIAN PEOPLE: THE WORLD’S ONLY NATURAL BLACK BLONDS

Melanesians are black island people in the south pacific that migrated over thousands of years ago, long before the blacks that came to the Americas as slaves.

Melanesia is a sub-region of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia, including the countries of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Island, and New Caledonia. The name Melanesia was first used by Jules Dumont d’Urville in 1832 to denote an ethnic and geographical grouping of islands distinct from Polynesia and Micronesia.