Link Worth Bookmarking: Issa Rae’s Hugely Successful Viral Series, Awkward Black Girl

Issa Rae’s The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl is a huge hit on YouTube and it’s also become my guilty pleasure ever since the epic Stop Sign moment the lead character J shared with a one-night stand/co-worker. I was hooked on her hip-hop rhymes, her quest for love, her natural hair chop, and of course her awkwardness. (I mean who didn’t fall in love with White J* during The Dance episode?!) When I discover that Issa hails from Senegal by way of Maryland/L.A., I had to show her love on CulturalToast.com not because of her heritage but for her determination to bring quality comedy from a black female perspective monthly on Youtube. When you google her name and her funny webseries, you are welcome into her personal journey from how she started to present day where she is now signed under Pharrell Williams’s production company, I Am Other. I’m glad that Issa stuck to her ambition and dreams with Awkward Black Girl and I also admire her drive for not altering anything from her series. (FYI: She raised over $40,000 from fan donations to help run and maintain season 1!) Issa is currently enjoying success and praise from the media. In fact she’s on the supplement cover of Essence August 2012 magazine – Young, Black & Amazing! Three words that perfectly fit her persona! Issa Rae, we salute you girl!

Get hook on Awkward Black Girl

Issa Rae discusses her famous show on CNN

Season 1 Episode 1 – The Stop Sign

Favorite Season 1 episodes

The Date

The Dance

The Hallway

Season 2 Episode 1 - The Sleepover

Awkward Black Girl Season 2 Trailer

Favorite Awkward Black Girl moments

Issa Rae Interviews

*Team White J!

Support Awkward Black Girl online:

Official/Facebook/Twitter/YouTube/Shop

Awkward Black Girl premieres every first Thursday of every month!

images via tumblr.com & essence.com

Cultural Spot highlights outstanding, influential Africans in the media showcasing positive images of the Diaspora!

Nia Long Covers Essence August 2012 with sons Massai & Kez

Actress Nia Long pose on the August 2012 cover of Essence magazine with her handsome sons Massai (with her first husband Massai Z. Dorsey) and Kez Sunday (with her current boyfriend NBA player Ime Udoka).  Essence gave the new mom her own cover with newborn 7-month old son Kez. Rumor has it that there will a sequel to The Best Man! The proud mother of two shared with Essence how comfortable she has become in her own skin. Cuteness galore!

Nia Long is unquestionably one of the most beautiful woman in Hollywood. The actress and Mommy is gracing the August issue of Essence Magazine and she looks gorgeous!

She revealed to Essence “I’m in my forties, post baby and I’m thinner than I’ve been in years. The last step will be letting my hair go natural. That’s when you’ll know I’m free…”

Nia recently spoke about her personal rebirth after her second son was born, claiming that “I am the happiest that I’ve been probably in my life.” “Baby Kez Sunday has given me a bit of a rebirth and it’s really nice because I’m able to look at life through his eyes. You have to pay attention to the smallest thing from the birds chirping to the dog barking across the street. These are the things that make the world go around today. When you look at life in its simplest form, stress and worry isn’t the cornerstones of your life. Experiencing life through that lens is refreshing.”

Check out these cute kodak moments of Nia and Ime hanging out with Massai and Kez…

Favorite Nia Long moments in no particular order…

 

Cultural Offspring celebrates the children of Africans within the Diaspora.

image credits  - Essence Magazine & Tumblr.com

Eva Marcille, Chanel Iman, Naomi Campbell & Nas Rocking Hip African-Inspired Designs

As I posted up on Tumblr (culturaltoast.tumblr.com) recently Eva Marcille, Chanel Iman, Naomi Campbell, and Nas were photographed rocking hip African-inspired designs on and off the red carpet. So much inspiration can be drawn upon how these celebrities wore their African-inspired fashion looks.

Eva Marcille attended LaLa Anthony’s birthday brunch in a Marni for H&M printed A-line skirt. If you can recall I did a post on this hot designer-collaboration for H&M much earlier. I love how Eva put her signature style funk on the skirt from the accessories to the make-up!

Not to be outdone but E! News reporter & Fashion Police correspondent Giuliana Ranic also wore a piece from Marni for H&M recently. As you can see Giuliana didn’t add much to the dress so it can be her statement piece.

Which of the two Marni for H&M looks did you prefer – Eva or Giuliana?

Chanel Iman (with Gabrielle Union) was seen in a high-waisted Burberry Prosrum skirt. Revisit my post on Burberry Prorsum’s African-inspired collection here.

Solange Knowles also embraces wax print fashion as she did in her April 2012 Complex magazine photo shoot. Both looks are taken from Burberry Prorsum Resort 2012 collection. 

Which Burberry Prorsum Resort 2012 look do you prefer – Solange or Chanel?

For her W Magazine July 2012 photo session, Naomi Campbell was seen in a African-inspired suit!

Nas wore a hip African-inspired ankara shirt by Woolrich Woolen Mills on the June/July 2012 cover of Complex magazine. The shirt is taken from the Summer 2012 collection which you can purchase here! Props to June Ambrose for hooking up Nas with some tasteful Africani-inspired fashion.

Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.

image credits – NecoleBitchie.com, Twitter, Getty Images, Complex Magazine, W Magazine

Lira Wears Sylvester Falata & Maria McCloy at the 2012 BET Awards

South African artist Lira looked stunning at the 2012 BET Awards. She wore a beautiful handcrafted dashiki clutch by Maria McCloy, red peep-toe slingbacks by Errol Arendz, and a red one-sleeve sequin gown by South African fashion designer Sylvester Falata. She was the only female artist from Africa to be nominated at this year’s musical event! I love that she (who Glamour South Africa called Woman of the Year) showcase her pride for South African designs! Lira shared several red carpet moments on her Twitter and Facebook pages for her fans. If you’re not following Lira on Twitter, I strongly suggest you do so! @Miss_Lira

Lira with Kerry Washington

Lira’s Sylvester Falata dress has a beautiful Ndebele beading on the shoulder!

This is not the first time nor will it be the last time that Lira has supported Sylvester Falata. it’s no wonder that Sylvester handpicked Lira to close his South Africa Fashion Week 2010 presentation. Support Sylvester’s craft – sylvesterfalata.tumblr.com Here’s a quick revisit on Lira wearing SF on and off the red carpet…

—Lira in Sylvester Falata designs past and present—

Lira stepped out in a beautiful handcrafted wax print clutch by Maria McCloy. She worked it! Support Maria’s collection of stunning African flavored clutches – rage.co.za and @MariaPodesta! Take a look at Maria’s stunning clutches below. I got my eyes on that lime green one!

–Maria McCloy clutches—

Lira’s shoes are made by Cape Town designer Errol Arendz (@ErrolArendz1)! Support Errol’s couture line - errolarendz.com

Lira with Kerry Washington

Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.