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This Mother-Daughter Duo Came Together To Start Their Own Cosmetics Brand

For many entrepreneurs, it is important to teach their children important lessons that they will be able to use one day in creating businesses to secure financial independence. For one Black woman entrepreneur, creating a new business was one way to create new opportunities for her daughter through their shared love of cosmetics.

Danielle and Samiah Pasha are the founders of The Beat House Cosmetics company that opened on Juneteenth earlier this year. The beauty brand offers an assorted collection of color eye shadow palettes, lipsticks, false eyelashes, and more. While Danielle serves as the brainchild and founder of the company, she enlisted the help of her 14-year-old daughter, Samiah, to work as the interim CEO while she was deployed in Afghanistan for three years.

“I am so blown away by all of the positive feedback I have received from everyone, it’s so surreal,” says Danielle in an interview with Black News. “I remember Facetiming my daughter, giving her instructions and tasks to help me out with the business in my absence and now we are partners!”

Samiah says while the job was hard, she was happy to have a chance to work with her mother, who also has a love for makeup, on her brand. “Most teenagers are irritated by their parents and wouldn’t dare want to work with them—I’m still irritated at times,” says Samiah in an interview with Black News. “But I remember missing my mom and not knowing when I would see her again, so I enjoy every second we get to spend together. Besides, I absolutely love makeup.”

Source: Blackenterprise

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Mom And Daughter Make History, Open Black-Owned Shell Gas Station In Florida

Meet 51-year old Lashawn Flowers and her 35-year old daughter, Shanita Vickers, the new owners of the only Black-owned gas station in Hollywood, Florida, and possibly the only Black-owned gas station in all of South Florida. As Shell franchisees, they are making history as women entrepreneurs and causing quite a stir on social media

Lashawn and her daughter, who both grew up in Deerfield Beach, Florida, began their roots in entrepreneurship as the owners of a local hair and nail salon called Girlz Collectionz and later a local bar and nightclub called Groove City Bar & Lounge, which is currently closed because of the pandemic. Having to pivot sparked the idea of purchasing a gas station.

“We actually purchased two Shell gas stations,” says Lashawn. “We were able to negotiate a two-for-one deal.”

She says the process of purchasing two franchises was not hard, but it was a fairly tedious process. After completing a credit application, she had to prove that financially she really did have the capital to complete the purchase. The whole process, however, took just three weeks.

Keeping it in the family

Lashawn says that she and her daughter are partners in this business, and are partners in their other businesses as well.

“I really value having a family-owned business because family is who you can trust,” she says. “My daughter, Shanita, is a wonderful mom of two beautiful children and also a phenomenal entrepreneur who is awesome to work with. We work well together because we understand each other.”

Hard work pays off

But having her daughter at her side doesn’t mean that she underestimates the value of hard work. “I don’t believe in failing in anything I do,” Lashawn adds. “If you don’t work your business, it won’t be a success. You absolutely must put in the hard work.”

Their work ethic is already paying off because they are already receiving on-air shout outs from the likes of Rickey Smiley, not to mention that their story has already gone viral on social media which has sparked a huge influx of new customers.

Their Shell gas station is located at 2501 North University Drive, Hollywood, FL 33034, and they are already planning to open their second gas station in early 2021 possibly in West Palm Beach.

Source: Black enterprise
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Three Men Arrested For Alleged Murder Of Actress Thandeka Mdeliswa

The South African Police has said it arrested three men in connection with the shooting that led to the death of Actress Thandeka Mdeliswa.

DAILY POST had reported that the 34-year-old actress got shot after she waded into a heated argument her older brother had with two men at their family home.

The argument got violent as one of the men grabbed his friend’s gun and shot the actress.

The two men immediately fled the scene which led to a manhunt by the police.

However, the provincial police commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lt Gen. Mondli Zuma on Sunday said the arrested suspects aged 24, 27 and 29, will face charges of murder and unlawful possession of firearm.

He said he was glad that the suspects including the alleged murderer have been arrested.

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“We believe that their arrest will bring comfort to the family as they will be able to find closure on the matter.

“I would also like to commend the good work done by both teams in arresting the suspects.

“The three will appear in the Evander Magistrate’s Court on Monday,” Zuma said.

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Brazil Women Footballers are going to be Receiving Equal Pay with the Men

It’s a good day in Brazil! The tide of equal pay for both sexes has reached the country and now female footballers will be earning the same as the men.

Skysports reports that the country’s football federation’s president Rogerio Caboclo made the announcement. He said:

The CBF has equalled the prize money and allowances between men’s and women’s football, which means the women players will earn the same as the men.

It will be proportionally the same as what Fifa proposes for women, that is to say, there will be no more gender difference in remuneration between men and women.

That means that in the coming competitions—Olympics, World Cup—the female team will earn just as much as the men.

Brazil follows Australia, Norway and New Zealand in making this landmark decision. We can’t wait to see other countries adopt it.

Source: Bellanaija

 

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Naomi Osaka Wins Second US Open Title For The Second Time In 3 Years

After putting on an amazing fightback to beat Victoria Azarenka, Naomi Osaka wins her second US Open title in three years with a 1-6 6-3 6-3 victory, inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Also bagging her third Grand Slam title overall.

The 22-year-old superstar, already the highest-earning female athlete in the world, adds another £2.3million in prize money to her fortune while she becomes the first Asian player to win three major titles, surpassing Chinese trailblazer Li Na.

After the match, Naomi recalling the differences between Saturday’s win and her first in 2018, said:

I feel like two years ago, I maybe would have folded being down a set and a break. But I think, all the matches that I played in between that time shaped me and made me or forced me to mature more. Especially all the matches that I’ve played here were very tough.

I think definitely I’m more of a complete player now. I feel like I’m more aware of what I’m doing.

“I wasn’t thinking about winning after a certain while,” Osaka said. “I thought, ‘I came here with a goal, I’m playing in the final, a lot of people want to be in this final, so I can’t lose 6-1, 6-0.”

She wore masks with different names for each of her seven matches to honour Black victims of violence, “The point is to make people start talking,” she says. “For me, just spreading awareness,” she added.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Naomi Osaka of Japan wears a mask with the name Elijah McClain on it following her Women’s Singles second-round win against Camila Giorgi of Italy on Day Three of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2, 2020, in the Queens borough of New York City. McClain was killed by police in Aurora, Colorado. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

 

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, wears a protective mask due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, featuring the name “George Floyd” while arriving on the court to face Shelby Rogers, of the United States, during the quarterfinal round of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

 

Sep 12 2020; Flushing Meadows, New York, USA; Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto the court wearing a mask with the name of Tamir Rice prior to her match against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus (not pictured) in the women’s singles final on day thirteen of the 2020 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

 

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, wears a Trayvon Martin mask before a fourth-round match against Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, at the US Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

 

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, wears a mask in honour of Breonna Taylor as she celebrates after defeating Misaki Doi, of Japan, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

It’s definitely a final to remember!

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Pearlena Igbokwe Is The Newly Appointed Chairman of Universal Studio Group

Pearlena Igbokwe, a Nigerian-born media executive, has been appointed to Chairman of Universal Studio Group. As the new chairman, she replaces Bonnie Hammer, who will take a new role as Vice Chairman, as announced by NBCUniversal.

This makes Pearlena the first woman of African descent to head a major American television studio.

Universal Studio Group is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information for a global audience.

According to a statement by Universal Studio Group, she will lead the company’s growing global television studio businesses and report directly to Jeff Shell, CEO, NBCUniversal.

Here are six facts about Pearlena Igbokwe:

  • She was the president of Universal Television, where she oversaw all aspects of the studio business and achieved record volume for the legacy studio. Some of the programmes under her purview include the critically acclaimed comedies “Russian Doll,” “The Good Place,” “Superstore,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and “Little America,” popular dramas “Good Girls” and “New Amsterdam,” and Dick Wolf’s new “FBI” and “FBI: Most Wanted,” among many others.
  • She served as Executive Vice President, Drama Programming, for NBC Entertainment, where she developed the top-rated new broadcast dramas.
  • Before joining NBCUniversal, she worked at Showtime for 20 years and was involved in developing a variety of hit series including “Dexter” and “Nurse Jackie.”
  • She currently serves as the Vice President of the Hollywood Radio and TV Society (HRTS) board and is a member of the Television Academy Executive Committee.
  • She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and an MBA from Columbia University.
  • Pearlena was born in Nigeria. She is married and has two children. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
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Regina King Makes History As First Black Woman Director At Venice Film Festival

Academy Award-winning actress Regina King just made history at the 77th annual Venice Film Festival in Los Angeles by becoming the first Black female director to have a film screened at the conference, according to Variety.

King is the director of One Night in Miami, her directorial debut.

“Unfortunately, across the world, that’s how things seem to work. One woman gets a shot and if she does not succeed, it shuts thing down for years until someone else gets a shot,” said King, via Zoom at a One Night in Miami press conference earlier this week at the Venice Film Festival.

“I am so grateful for our film to be a part of the festival but I really, really want it to perform well. There’s so much talent out there—so many talented directors—so if One Night in Miami gets it done here, you’ll get to see a lot more of us.”

King said that the movie, which Amazon bought the rights to in July, was supposed to debut earlier this year, but the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd added a new level of urgency to the film’s release.

“We thought we’d push it back because we didn’t know what the climate of going to theaters would be like,” said King. “And then a couple of months after the pandemic hit, [George Floyd died in police custody], and for all the producers and everyone involved, we were like, ‘This needs to come out now.’ I feel like fate always had it planned out this way, but maybe we’re lucky and we’re going to have the opportunity to be a piece of art out there that moves the needle in a conversation about transformative change.”

One Night in Miami, which made its world premiere this past Monday, is based on former journalist Kemp Powers’ fictional account of a real meeting in 1964 between a U.S. minister and political figure Malcolm X; Cassius Clay before his conversion and name change to Muhammad Ali; soul singer Sam Cooke; and NFL player Jim Brown.

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Jackie Oludimu Set To Launch New Book; “Grace Junkie” On September 12th

Grace Junkie is an autobiographical and inspirational book by author Jacqueline Oludimu, also known as The Marriage Evangelist. Jacqueline takes you on a vivid journey of her experience of the redemptive Grace of God. From her childhood, dating in the church, failed engagement(s), pre-marital sex, and abortions up till her marriage, one thing remained evident in her life- the depth of the Father’s love for her. Her life was preserved and she was ultimately led by Abba into living a life on purpose.
Jacqueline is a Christian Life Coach and SYMBIS (Save Your Marriage Before It Starts) certified pre-marriage facilitator, convener of “Saying I Do” conference and her autobiographical debut is packed with life hacks to help every woman fully embrace the love of God. To understand that regardless of how reckless your past has been, God is always happy to transform your pain into purpose.
Grace Junkie is set to officially launch on the 12th of September 2020. Currently, it has been read as far as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada with a plethora of positive feedback from readers.
What people are saying about Grace Junkie
“I am a quarter way through and I’m quaking! It is a lot! I see the liberation anointing on this book. I do clearly! My heart is beating so fast and I am quickly renewing my commitment to parenting God’s way and with wisdom and keen observation etc. Just so so deep, unraveling dimensions. Too many lessons already – Debola Deji-Kurunmi
“This book is for anyone who struggles to believe that God can still love them, despite their past. Jackie rips the veil between the preacher and the one who is preached to; she shares her own journey openly and honestly, in a way that shows off the Grace of God. As you read it, put yourself in her shoes, remember all the times God has shown up for you and, most importantly, know that nothing can separate you from His love.”– Omotayo Adeola
“Whilst reading, I smiled at a couple of junctions, pausing to pray at others. It’s amazing how God takes us through fire and we come out with burns turning into scars yet we shine. Even those scars fade away over time and the marks are there just as reminders and nudges to help pull the next person(s) through. This book is surely going to take the reader on a roller coaster of emotions – more importantly not just informing but equipping. Well done Jacqueline!.”- Aderonke Abiona
“ You have a truly compelling story. Very humbling reading as you share on abuse as a child, father’s absence, mother’s resolve at a career, sex education and it’s lack, therefore, disappointment, premarital sex, abortion, broken engagement ‘S’, dating in the Church. The book is a good read, an easy read as well. An open one, as your husband gave his blessings to allow you to share experiences with your past relationships. I enjoyed the flow of the story, made it so cool to read. This sentence caught my attention, ‘The protection of one child is the protection of many.” – Adenike Oyetunde
Print copies of the Grace Junkie are available in the following locations;
Nigeria:
Roving Heights: 28 Ogunlana Dr, Surulere 100001, Lagos, Nigeria
Amazon worldwide: www.amazon.com
E-books are available on Kindle
You can also purchase on www.jackietalks.com/gracejunkie/
*For inquiries, please reach out to Jacqueline via*
Follow *her* on;
Instagram:@jackietalks
Twitter: @jackietalks
Facebook:  Jacqueline Oludimu
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Meet The Three Sisters Who Just Opened A Black Youth-Owned Cafe In Florida

Three sisters just opened a Black youth-owned vegan cafe in Florida, VegNews reports.

Sisters Lyrica (13), Zaira (12), and Nadira (9) Leo are the co-owners of Bourne Brilliant, a new vegan eatery in Tallahassee, Florida. The trio started the business some years ago, selling and catering their food to local festivals, events and farmers’ markets. With the help of their parents Syrheda La Shae and Jahlion Leo, as well as their mentor, Tallahassee chef Shacafrica Simmons, the girls have been able to open their first cafe.

Bourne Brilliant serves several homemade foods, including cupcakes, cookies and bread, and herbal teas, fresh fruit juices and preserves. They also have a rotating menu of hot dishes on Saturdays, including vegan BBQ drumsticks, Caribbean vegetable callaloo, mac and cheese and curry noodle soup. Not only is the food tasty, but it’s also affordable, with customers being able to purchase several different combos ranging in price between $10-$15. 

Lyrica works as head chef, while Zaira takes care of finances and inventory, and Nadira helps set up the shop and make sure shelves are stocked. Over the years, the girls have grown into their strengths and learned their unique place in the business. The Leo family said that despite the current pandemic, they still felt it was as good a time as any to allow their girls to get started with the business.

“We felt positive about the decision to open at this time. We traveled in South Carolina and Georgia this summer and looked at small businesses and retail to see what they were doing and what was working for them. We feel good about our safety practices,” La Shae Leo said. 

Bourne Brilliant is currently open to the public, only allowing five customers at a time with required masks. 

Congratulations girls!

Photo Courtesy of VegNews

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Meet The Black Woman Just Appointed To Google’s General Counsel

Tech giant Google appointed veteran lawyer Halimah DeLaine Prado to serve as general counsel, Fortune reports. 

DeLaine Prado is a 14-year veteran lawyer at Google, previously serving as head of the company’s product legal team. Prior to that, she practiced media law and product liability law in Philadelphia. In her new role, she will work closely with Google’s SVP of global affairs Kent Walker, who is in charge of guiding the political and legal responses for the company. 

The Georgetown Law graduate’s appointment comes during an intense time for the company. Recently, Google has been under fire, undergoing multiple antitrust investigations from governments across the globe while also being overwhelmed by internal allegations of racism and sexism. David Drummond, chief legal officer of parent company Alphabet, was recently ousted after allegations of romantic liaisons with subordinates and complaints from employees regarding a culture of inappropriate behavior from senior men.

As new general counsel, DeLaine Prado will become part of an elite group of Black women occupying the role at a Fortune 500 company, which includes Rhonda Ferguson of railroad company Union Pacific and Deneen Donnley of energy company Con Edison. An organization representing Black corporate lawyers say its goal is to have 100 general counsels at Fortune 1000 companies by 2025.

“Google has been my home for nearly 14 years, allowing me to work on some of the most complex and important legal issues of the digital age with a world-class legal team,” DeLaine Prado said. 

Congratulations Halimah!

Photo Courtesy of Google

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