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Normalizing Black Hair! ‘Hair Love’ Movie Wins An Oscar

HairLove wins Best Animated Short Film at the #Oscars. This is no doubt a representation of how the natural ‘kinky’ hair is becoming acceptable in the female community.

This amazing movie is about a Black father and his daughter, Zuri, who both take on an incredible journey into styling the little girl’s hair for a special event. Oh, and it’s Daddy’s first time with the comb and hair grease.

Directed by Matthew A. Cherry, and producer, Karen Rupert Toliver, who are officially Oscar winners, taking home the gold statue for Best Animated Short.

Currently, in 47 states, it’s completely legal to fire, suspend and expel someone for the natural hair, including dreads, braids, afros, etc.

“We wanted to normalize Black hair. There’s a very important issue out there, it’s called the CROWN Act and we can help get this passed in all 50 states.”

“We have so many people that worked hard on this, it was a labor of love. We have a firm belief that representation matters deeply, especially in cartoons because in cartoons and movies it’s how we shape our lives and how we see the world,” Rupert Toliver said on the podium.

Cherry used his brief time to raise awareness around the need to pass a federal CROWN Act that would make it illegal for people to be fired or suspended from school because of how they choose to wear their natural hair. Currently, the only states to have passed their own version of the CROWN Act are California, New York, and New Jersey.

“Hair Love was done so to see more representation in animation. We wanted to normalize Black hair. There’s a very important issue out there, it’s called the CROWN Act and we can help get this passed in all 50 states and help stories like Deandre Arnold, who’s our special guest tonight, to stop that [from happening,” Cherry said.

He concluded with dedicating his award to the late Kobe Bryant.

“May we all have a second act as great as his was.”

This will bring back memory of our fathers or father figures had to take on this task with our crown and glories.

Congratulations!

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Genevieve Nnaji Spoke About Global Collaboration At Essence House

Genevieve Nnaji continues to bring the Nigerian movie industry into the spotlight. Her movie, Lionheart, was one of the first movies to be featured on Netflix, and then went on to become the first Nigerian movie to be considered for an Oscar nomination.

After gracing the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, the producer/actress went on to the 13th Annual Women in Film Female Oscar Nominees Party, joining stars like Lulu Wang, Mj Rodriguez, Idina Menzel.

Genevieve sat on a panel of amazing women to discuss “Global Collaboration” in the movie industry at the Essence House: Hollywood Edition. Moderating her panel was Director of Entertainment at Essence, Cori Murray (Moderator); with fellow panellists – Director, Writer & Producer, Euzhan Palcy & Comedian & Producer, Gina Yashere.

Gnevieve Nnaji at Essence House Hollywood Edition 2020

During her session, she threw light on diversity and the need to accept those who may not look like you. She said – “One thing that was more important than diversity was inclusion. And inclusion means showing you me and you accepting who I am and where I’m from, rather than integrating me into your culture and changing me into who you are.“

Gnevieve Nnaji at Essence House Hollywood Edition 2020
Gnevieve Nnaji at Essence House Hollywood Edition 2020
L-R: Director of Entertainment at Essence, Cori Murray (Moderator); with fellow panelists, Director, Writer & Producer, Euzhan Palcy & Comedian & Producer, Gina Yashere)

Other amazing women at the Essence event include Celebrity Hairstylist, Felicia Leatherwood; Writer, Creator, Producer & Actor, Lena Waithe; Entertainment Attorney, Nina Shaw; TV Executive, Pearlene Igbokwe, Alana Mayor and more.

For more click here

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This Five Sisters Are An Amazing Bunch

The former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, dropped a comment on Twitter saying, “Awesome. If you educate a woman, you educate the family and the community”.

Atiku Abubakar

✔@atiku

Awesome. If you educate a woman, you educate the family and the community. https://twitter.com/otiteakpovona/status/1226477919394025473 …

Dr ÖTIS MB; BS@Otiteakpovona

Hello everyone, I want to introduce you to the amazing Aliu family. The pic below shows 5 beautiful sisters who all happen to be doctors. The eldest a neurosurgeon, then an obstetrician, a plastic surgeon, a family physician, a community health physician… #GirlPower #inspiring

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Check out the photo below.

Photo Credit: fattybold

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Beverly Naya Wants Society To Stop Pressuring Ladies About Marriage

Beverly Naya said that societal pressure on people to get married is the major  reason for wrong marriages.

Speaking to Sunday Scoop, the actress said: “I don’t do things I shouldn’t be doing. It’s easy when one is living one’s life and one stays away from certain things. That’s it really. I am not hiding anything. If I were hiding anything, it would have been revealed by now. I just don’t do things that would lead to scandals. It’s just the way I am.”

The ‘Skin the Documentary’ founder advised that society should put less pressure on women to get married. She said, “It’s only an expectation if one allows it to be an expectation. It’s all about what one feels and when one is ready to do (certain) things. When one starts allowing people determine how one lives, it becomes an expectation. It becomes pressure. It all begins and ends with one.

The actress also said: “I also believe that pressure on women to get married should be reduced, especially in this part of the world, . That’s how people– men and women–end up in wrong marriages.

It’s obvious Naya is confident about sharing this with a mind of her own. And to say recently, there have been lots of abusive marriages revealed on the media.

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Mercy Aigbe Shares Her Horrific Marriage Experience | Advises Women

Popular Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe has opined that marriage which many women see as achievement is highly overrated.

The single mother of two, who got separated from her husband, Lanre Gentry, in 2018, amidst allegations of domestic violence, said mothers usually brought up women to take whatever their partners did to them, all because they wanted to stay married.

In a lengthy YouTube video, Mercy Aigbe who has been married twice while replying to all the questions her fans asked on Instagram, explained how she survived to put many thing together as a single mother.

While narrating her marital ordeal, Aigbe said, “Our mothers brought us up, as women, to take whatever our partners do to us. They tell us to take it because we want to remain in a man’s house. To me, it is not an achievement.

“Let’s just say as it is– marriage is overrated. It takes two people to make it work; it’s not just about the women. But, everybody keeps heaping all the responsibilities on the woman. That shouldn’t be,” she said.

Talking about the horrible assaults she faced, Aigbe said, “The first time the slap came, it felt like I was dreaming. I wasn’t expecting it, and I was shocked beyond words. I didn’t know it was going to happen but it happened. The begging would then come after that.

“Once a man raises his hand to hit you, he is going to do it over and again. However, because it was my second attempt (at marriage), I was ready to make it work, even with all the violence. I was there hoping and praying. I just wanted a happy home.

“The incident that broke the camel’s back was the one where I almost died. The beating was horrible. People often say actresses don’t want to remain married. Who told them that? (You think) being a celebrity doesn’t make me human? Does (being a celebrity) mean I don’t want to have a happy home? They say actresses are promiscuous but promiscuity is not (the exclusive preserve of) any profession. When mine (break-up) happened, it wasn’t easy because I am a celebrity. I read a lot of things online. Some people even said I made it up. But, nobody can dictate to me how to live my life.”

The actress also noted that religion doesn’t encourage women to speak up when they are assaulted by their husbands.

“I have been through domestic violence and I came out strong. I would love to see the end of domestic violence in society. It wasn’t easy for me because society always shames one. Everybody believes if one is experiencing domestic violence, one has to be patient as a woman and take it all to remain in one’s husband’s house.

“A lot of people have lost their lives as a result of domestic violence. And religion is not helping. An assaulted woman could go to her pastor and the cleric would say, ‘Oh madam, you need to keep praying’. Is it until she loses her life?” she asked.

 

Source PM News

 

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MICHELLE OBAMA SAYS SHE, HUBBY ATTENDED COUPLE’S THERAPY DURING HARD TIMES

Michelle Obama admitted her marriage was rocky right after the girls were born .

She attended therapy sessions and realised it was not her husband’s responsibility to make her happy.The author added at the end of the day, Obama was her friend and she was reminded why she fell in love with him – The two are now happy and stronger 28 years after walking down the aisle Former US first lady Michelle Obama has admitted not all marriages are perfect and hers too survived the test of time. The mother of two disclosed she and retired president Barrack Obama went through a rough patch right after their girls were born.

One lesson Michelle learned was her happiness was her responsibility and she was also not in charge of her husband’s joy. She also discovered she and the former president were different individuals who needed to celebrate and recognize their uniqueness before focusing on each other.

The former first lady pointed out her marriage was built on friendship and that always reminded her to stick by the man who was her friend before being her partner. “We went through a tough time, we did some hard things together. But now we are out on the other end and I can look at him and I still recognise my husband.

He is still the man I fell in love with,” Michelle added. As earlier reported, the retired FLOTUS said she and her husband also struggled to comfortably transition to empty nesters. After their daughters went off to college, the duo cried and tried their best to embrace their new reality. She also joked about how Obama is a huge cry baby who gets carried away whenever his daughters achieve any milestones like graduating.

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Genevieve Nnaji had an Eventful Week in Hollywood | Let’s Take You Through

EVENTS

Genevieve Nnaji had an Eventful Week in Hollywood | Let’s Take You Through

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On Friday we spotted Genevieve Nnaji looking a star at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon. But her week has continued to be eventful since then

Just after the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, Genevieve headed to the Vanity Fair and Lancome Women in Hollywood celebration, where she, again, dazzled.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 06: Genevieve Nnaji attends the Vanity Fair and Lancôme Women in Hollywood celebration at Soho House on February 06, 2020 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images)

On Friday, the producer/actress headed to the 13th Annual Women in Film Female Oscar Nominees Party, joining stars like Lulu Wang, Mj Rodriguez, Idina Menzel.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: Genevieve Nnaji attends the 13th Annual Women In Film Female Oscar Nominees Party at Sunset Room Hollywood on February 07, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty

Still on Friday, Genevieve was also at the Essence House: Hollywood Edition event, where she spoke on a panel about “Global Collaboration” in Hollywood with producers Euzhan Palcy and Gina Yashere .

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: Director/Producer Genevieve Nnaji poses backstage during ESSENCE House: Hollywood Edition at NeueHouse Los Angeles on February 07, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: (L-R) Cori Murray, Director of Entertainment for Essence, Director/Producer Euzhan Palcy, Director/Producer Genevieve Nnaji and Comedian/Producer Gina Yashere speak on a panel during ESSENCE House: Hollywood Edition at NeueHouse Los Angeles on February 07, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for ESSENSE)

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6-Year-Old Nigerian Branded Most Beautiful Girl In The World To Model In London Fashion Week

Most beautiful girl in the world, Jare Ijalana, has nothing but good news two years after going viral .The little girl who is already in London will walk the runway during their fashion week alongside other models – Jare told her young fans through social media that they can achieve anything.

In 2018, a modest Nigerian family identified as the Ijalanas woke up to news that forever changed their lives. A simple photo shoot turned them into instant celebrities and propelled them to greater heights.

Two years later, Jare Ijalana, their daughter, can proudly say she will walk the much coveted London Fashion Week runway. 

In 2018, photographer Mofe Bamuyiwa posted a snippet of sisters Jare, Jomi and Joba without expecting it to cause too much fuss. However, within a couple of hours, she learnt the three girls broke the internet. International news outlets were baffled by the natural, flawless beauty in the photos and tirelessly searched for the three kids.

Jare especially had people thinking she represented perfection and grace. Just shortly after becoming an instant celebrity, the phones started ringing. Jare became a model and gigs started streaming in. Celebrities across the world wished they could meet the little girl even for a day and just stare at her bewitching face for a second.

Big congrats to you young Queen. Go and conquer the world.

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MEET FEMALE TEACHER WHO SPENDS HER LUNCH BREAK SEWING PUPILS’ TORN UNIFORMS

A kindhearted teacher from Ghana has set the bar high for other educators by putting her all in her job. Naomi Awomeh has brought a new meaning to the word service as she always endeavors to leave smiles on her pupils’ faces.

Emmanuel Kobea the selfless lady who works in a small village spends her free days sewing and repairing her learners’ clothes. As if not enough, the kind woman does it all for free.

During her lunch breaks, instead of indulging in a scrumptious meal, the teacher takes out her tools and focuses on stitching and repairing clothes. And while she is busy turning tatters to presentable attire, Naomi teaches her pupils how to stitch. Her story first gained traction on social media when Emmanuel Kobea, a young man who was touched by the kind teacher’s laudable initiative in the school, shared her photo. “One of my daughters in the Lord, Awomeh Naomi teaches at Kubease near Ejisu. She learnt dressmaking during her vacations while in college. She in turn, teaches her pupils needle work and patches their worn out uniforms during breaks,” he wrote.

Do you have a life-changing story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through info@womenofrubies.com

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