Beauty Booty Inspiration: Supermodel Liya Kebede

Liya Kebede isn't my favorite supermodel ever just because of her striking looks.

As the face of designers like Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, and Yves Saint Laurent and the first black women to represent Estee Lauder, supermodel Liya Kebede has knocked down many doors in fashion for women of color. However, as a native of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Liya has used her name to shine a light on the maternal and child health and mortality in developing countries. Says Kebede, "As an Ethiopian and a mom, I couldn't help but to be involved with the issue of maternal and child health."

Liya Kebede shows us that regardless of what your "job" might be, you can (and should) have a passion in life and develop that passion to make the world a better place.



Learn more about her charitable efforts and how you can get involved with the The Liya Kebede Foundation. You can also check out part 1 of 3 of Liya's episode of CNN Revealed.

Jewelry That Says Bam!

There's an art to wearing jewelry, especially big, bold, colorful jewelry. Too many color, pattern, and texture combinations at once is sure to get you a "what the *!&$ is she doing?" look from me (just being honest, sorry) and whoever else might be personally offended by your lack of accessorizing-skills.

That said, I have always opted to keep it simple. One or two statement pieces at a time is all a woman needs to add that extra bit of fly to any outfit. So, I almost died when I saw the pieces from these next three designers.

Inspired by designs from the best place on Earth, Africa (wink wink), these pieces are bright, bold, and unique. They're all you'll ever need, ever again.


WHERE'S THE BOOTY?
These are from BeanPye ...
Bracelets start at $40. They also do earrings and necklaces. Plus, each piece is named after a famous songstress.




Visit the website and check out my personal favorites - the Ms. James (Etta) necklace, Ms. Stefani bracelet, and Ms. Braxton earrings (none pictured here).













I fell equally in love with Afrique Le Chic, which I came across on Etsy. In addition to necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, they also do body jewelry and hair accessories. I found these great earrings, $20, and this gorgeous ring, $15.







Last, but definitely not least, is Jypsea, which specializes in handmade leather goods. And if you've never had a pair of leather earrings, now's the time to get one. I loved these red kidskin leaf earrings, $20, the most, but they're all great. So, go find your own favorite.

Is 'Good Hair' Still the Goal?

Women of color all know what the term 'good hair' means. For some of us, it's what we strive to have. For others, it's a perception we fight against daily. Its a term that divides us, makes us enemies almost (just like that scene from the movie School Daze?)

Having been on both sides of the aisle, my perspective is varied. In elementary and high school, natural hair was not the thing to have (at all). 'Good hair' was the goal. But ... by my college years, everyone and their mother wanted to go back to natural hair. We even had a Facebook group called 'Stop Living the Lye'. (I know, I know).

Truth be told, my relationship with my hair has been a tumultuous and crazy one. At first I ran from it. Then I embraced it. Now that I'm back on that 'creamy crack' (better know as relaxer), I feel like I've finally found what works for me. For ME, relaxed hair is easy. With relaxed hair, I get the most bang for my buck and save much-needed time to do other things.

Which brings us to the eagerly-awaited documentary, Good Hair, produced by Chris Rock. I, for one, can't wait to see the film. Looking at the movie trailer, what I like most is that it features celebrity women - the women who we often forget are just like us. They sit down and shed light on how they really look, a much-needed reminder for us that what we see in magazines and on tv are just an illusion.

Good Hair will be in theatres on October 9th. Check out the trailer here: