Chaud: The Magazine

1. Lupita Nyong’o

Oprah is in awe of her and then she cried for her.  She is funny and such a humble and down-to-earth personality, together with her stylist Micaela they are slaying the red carpets, the fashion magazines adore her, Social Media is in love with her Kenyans in fact  Africans are proud of her, as for yours truly in awe, loudest fan, heck Lupita will be the first ever Chaud #WCW – ie Woman Crush Wednesday because one is here for Lupita, her style is right up my boulevard and her personality rocks,*cue Beyonce* her makeup flawless, her rock flawless, ride round in it flawless, post up flawless, flossin on that flawless, she woke up like this, she woke up like this

2. Being Mary Jane 

Mara Brock-Akil is my creative spirit animal – she definitely makes me want to create and challenge myself more. Her Black Girls Rock  speech is embedded  in the right side of my brain. Being Mary Jane is two episodes in, quite entertaining and what’s more is the conversation to be had about the show. Being the insomniac that I am, I caught up with the #shethriveschat thanks to Jamie of @BlackGirlNeeds – and there was a very insightful and entertaining conversation about the show, Mary Jane’s character and her decisions which of course like Queen of Piss-poor Decision Making Kingdom Olivia Pope make some viewers feel some kind of way, blogs will be written, podcasts made and twitter conversations had.  Are you watching?

3. Alexis Wilkinson

Alexis Wilkson has been all over the media because the economics major was elected president of the Harvard Lampoon, the 138-year-old comedy magazine that doubles as a feeder into writers’ rooms for The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation, and late-night shows. Wilkinson will be the first black woman to ever run the  Lampoon. (Notable alumni: John Updike, George Plimpton, Conan O’Brien, Simon Rich.). Alexis you rock!

4. Winnie Harlow

Winnie Harlow is a teenager who has most on Instagram in awe! Winnie is the face of vitiligo, proud, brave, fierce and embracing this skin condition which has no cure. Offered the option to go ‘white’, Winnie decline saying ‘If God had wanted me to be white he would have made me white’. Winnie inspires all of us in embracing our beauty as we are, looking in the mirror and saying ‘I am woman. I am invincible. I am beautiful and I am fierce’. Winnie you are Chaud and you rock!

5. Blood Sweat and Heels 

Blood, Sweat & Heels is an American reality show on Bravo series that premiered January 5, 2014. It depicts the personal, professional, and social circle of six women who reside in New York City.  Biased maybe but I’m here for Demetria and her message delivery mirrors mine. I’ve followed A Belle in Brooklyn for some years now and her journey to date has been nothing short of inspiring. Many a discussion topics are raised from the show and we will cover some in articles to come soon. I do however hope they are still not discussing a blog post in Episode 3.

The Watercoolers 

*@BlackGirlNerds – now we already featured Jamie on Chaud however if you are not following her on Twitter (how dare you) and in need of some mind stimulating debates, tech talk, laughs in essence your TL will be enriched by following Black Girl Nerds!

*Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Oscar nomination or rather Chiwetel’s sister’s reaction to his Oscar nomination.

* A Nigerian-Camerounian celebrity has a bleaching product out and apparently this has sold out – now I am not surprised because I do know people who have harmed their skin intentionally all in the name of bleaching. Now I will not be the judgement counsel – though it really isn’t about being judgemental but if only the men and women who bleach were aware of melona, and other side effects of bleaching creams maybe products like these would not be sold out. It is actually sad to think amongst the African community there are still misconceptions that being light-skin = beauty, it is sad, warped and shows we have far to go in educating people. Hopefully young people like Winnie Harlow will educate the younger generation and let them embrace their skin tones.