See YOU at the Star Studded 2008 NEA Awards!

Happy happy Friday brilliant ones! The event we’ve all been waiting for is finally HERE. Saturday, June 21st, 2008, the 2008 NEA Awards kicks off at 5:30pm with the red carpet and later with a show that promises to be super duper exciting! We can't wait to see what everyone is wearing, who wins the numerous awards in the much coveted spots and of course party like rock stars, "totally dude!" [had to add that]. We gave you a teaser on what to expect, earlier this week, at the 2008 NEA Awards in our interview with NEA President, Tope Esan. Read all about it HERE.

As of today, we have a confirmed list of all of the celebs that will be at the event and boy is it a star studded red carpet! We can't possibly list all as it is quite long. However, here are samples of the accomplished celebs that will be at the 2008 NEA Awards: Agbani Darego --Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria and Miss World 2001, Ben Bruce--Chairman Silverbird Group, Bola Atta-- Editor in Chief of True Love Magazine, Chichi Dike--Executive Director of Miss Nigeria in America Beauty Pageant, Ebbe Bassey --Actress featured on Law and Order TV show - Special Victims Unit, our very own Ladybrille Woman of the Month for November, Estella Ogbonna--Principal of Estella Couture, Lola Ogunnaike, CNN correspondent, Nana Eyeson, Essence Magazine, Supermodel Oluchi, Adama--Recording Artist, Banky W--Recording Artist, Gbenga Akinnagbe--Actor (HBO Series “The Wire”), Iceberg Slim--Recording Artist, Olu Jacobs-- Nollywood's A-list Actor and so many more! The event will be hosted by UK's and now Hollywood’s Razaaq Adoti--Actor [Amistad, Black Hawk Down].

In addition, fans and fans to be, get ready to be WOWED by some spectacular performances from names like Amplifyd Crew, Eldee, Keno, Sasha, Sunny Neji, DJ Dee Money, DJ Humility and DJ Neptune.

Some of Africa’s well known media outlets: Afrovision TV, Nigeria International, Ovation Media, Prime Time – TV, Silverbird Entertainment - TV & Radio and a long list of numerous media outlets within the USA, Europe and Africa, will be there capturing the glitz and glamour of the 2008 NEA Awards.

You haven't bought your tickets? "What?" 'What are you waiting for?!" Step on it and we shall see you in NYC at the star studded 2008 NEA Awards!

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Ladybrille Web Snob 6/15/08 to 6/20/08

C heck out this week's listing of the best stories across the fashion web from the top online fashion publishers/bloggers.

1. 55 Secret Street offers a few tips on How To Not Look Old (Hint: Start Young!)
2. A Few Goody GumDrops Visits The Met to seeSuper Heroes:Fantasy and Fashion
3. Stiletto Jungle features cheap-chic summer fashion finds.
4. All About the Pretty has a little glimmer and shimmer for her hair with Redken's Glimmer Shimmer Treatment.
5. Bag Bliss has fallen for Valentino's version of the YSL Nadja Purse!
6. Bag Snob discovers the Parisian chic of Gerard Darel!
7. Beauty Snob travels in style with Ooh La Spa!
8. Calculatus Eliminatus praises the classic leather duffle bag and condemns Mr. Gucci's failed attempt at luggage fashion.
9. Bohemian chic never looked so good with modern tye-dye fashions, says Coquette.
10. Fashion, Evolved shares some great indie designed pieces Found on Etsy.
11. I'm Not Obsessed shows you how to get Nicole Kidman's Lady Like Style From Her Recent Vogue Shoot.
12. KRiSTOPHER is wanting, wearing, and hating DvF dresses
13. Papierblog goes to Chicago to view the SAIC Runway fashion show can comes back with photos.
14. Quinta Trends talks to Mexican designer Paola Hernández about her career and her participation in the Mexico Fashion Week .
15. Second City Style feels your pain and finds two smashing Sex in the City outfits for a bit less.
16. StyleBakery likes short shorts - find out their favorites and how to work the trend.
17. Stylehive shows you 10 Bridesmaid Dresses you'll actually want to wear again!
18. SugarShock Beauty is loving the humble bar soap again, courtesy of Mor's gorgeously crafted Moroccan Mint Soap.
19. The Shoe Goddess finds the perfect Fendi pump and dress for fall!
20. V-Style Shows You Wear to Get Carrie's Studded Belt From the Sex And The City Movie.
21. The Coveted wonders if she really needs another vibrator in her purse.
22. WE LOVE BEAUTY.com wants you to Beat the Heat with our favorite summertime product picks for poolside beauty!

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Ladybrille Launches 1st Ever African Fashion Directory!

The Problem
Brides, fashionistas, fashion-forward, fortune 500 companies and fashion industry professionals across the globe waste endless hours from their already busy lifestyles, on the internet, frustrated and confused on where to find credible information on Africa’s fashion industry and professionals to address their business and personal needs.

THE Solution
The first of its kind, the LADYBRILLE AFRICAN FASHION DIRECTORY, VOLUME I is a simple solution in response to the need for well researched unique content on Africa’s fashion industry that is centralized, easily accessible, on point, trusted and accommodates every busy lifestyle. It is the go to place for sophisticated/quality African modeling agencies, photographers, fashion or accessory designers, fashion media, public relations experts, event planners, production companies, fashion research experts, exporters, shopping malls, makeup, fragrance and skincare products.

With our extensive fashion insider experiences and keen eye, we’ve filtered all the mess so you won’t have to.

Twenty eight pages long [28] Our very rich and invaluable resource cost only $1.00.

All sales are final.

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Hawa Diawara, Mali's Stunning Beauty

Hawa Diawara, Mali's stunning beauty, is quite a personality. She is determined and very clear on what she wants, especially in her modeling career. Very intriguing is how Hawa has had to confront some requirements in the modeling industry that conflicted with her religious and cultural views. For example, closing the gap in her teeth and swimsuit modeling. The stunning beauty is now based in the New York area and is signed with Trump Modeling Agency.

Hawa's Stats

Height: 5ft 10in
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Waist: 23
Bust: 32
Hips: 34
Shoe: 7
Dress: 2

To book Hawa for a model assignment, campaign or upcoming fashion weeks, contact her agency at Trump Model Management, http://www.trumpmodels.com/.

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Teiko Dornor: Curves, Command and Trailblazer of "Plus Size" Modeling!

Teiko Dornor, a London-based Ghanaian is one of Africa's rising stars. As a plus size model, Dornor has trailblazed to break barriers in the often exclusive and discriminatory fashion industry. In celebration of Ladybrille's Anniversary issue, we honor Ms. Dornor with the moniker of Modelpreneur! She is a powerful combination of beauty, brains and business savvy! From her almond shaped eyes, inviting lips and statuesque hourglass silhouette, there is a regality and mysticism about Dornor's beauty.

Dornor started modeling as a favor to her friend and designer Tina Atiemo. Whether by divine intervention or chance, her emergence in the fashion industry is unmistakable. Nonetheless, launching her modeling career was quite daunting; Dornor was consistently confronted by blunt suggestions that she shed size. The volatility of working as a model sharply contrasted the overbooked schedule of her student life. Unlike the high marks she was accustomed to receiving in her law studies; her success in fashion was somewhat intangible. Struck by the absence of faces and figures like herself, Dornor capitalized on this forgotten yet lucrative niche market.

The plus size model industry is competitive and more so for an African woman. A plus size model faces certain challenges beyond those of her mainstream counterparts including not fitting into sample sizes. Still, Dornor continues to persevere and set precedent. She has set her sights on becoming the face of a premier fashion house, couture line or international fashion campaign.

Although celebrating her curves was challenging, Dornor credits her faith in God as inspiring her high self-worth. Dornor's positive and peaceful spirit is seductive. Her optimism is strengthened by plus size models such as Whitney Thompson recently emerging as America's Next Top Model. As African fashion evolves, Dornor has dared producers and designers of Lanlam and Zambia fashion weeks to insist on using models beyond the prototype featured in Western fashion runways. Refacing fashion is desperately needed, as runway models perish competing to achieve nonsensical weight standards and negative self image is prevalent among young women. The recent campaign to ban underweight models first promulgated by Spain is a critical step in ceasing casualties. Dornor's vision? One day fashion will promote an array of models, shapes and silhouettes such that virtually every woman is represented.

So what's next for this exquisite enchantress beyond global domination? Since 2006, she and her business partner Joi Onyeukwu founded Miss Plus Africa. Dornor has used this platform to promote her two passions: reshaping the notion of beauty and reconstructing the image of Africa. The pageant is a vehicle to raise the consciousness of her audience and raise capital. There are more projects in the pipeline for this young lady, so watch out for her! Teiko Dornor is indeed a symbol and celebration of African beauty. She is the international brand for curves and command. As is proclaimed in Ghana- 'Onyame Adom" (by God's grace), this Modelpreneur will continue to shine!

Article by Nana Danquaah Osafo. Photos courtesy of Teiko Dornor, "Believe the Hype!"

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Wewe Clothing Launch Party!

Ladybrille moms, for African inspired stylish, quality clothes for your little ones, Wewe [which means "little ones" in Yoruba] is the brand for you. Folake [Kuye] Huntoon, lawyer turned designer and stylist to celebrities and for fashion publications and commercials has launched Wewe Clothing, http://www.weweclothing.com/ .

In fact, Folake is having a fabulous launch party to celebrate Wewe Clothing. If you will be in the Los Angeles area and want to party it up with the folks at Wewe, e-mail [rsvp@alinemedia.com].

DETAILS OF WEWE CLOTHING LAUNCH PARTY

• Time: Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:00pm-2:00am
• Location: The Purple Lounge at The Standard
• Street: 8300 W Sunset Blvd
• City/Town: Los Angeles, CA
  For more information, contact: [Sofia@alinemedia.com] [323] 650-9090

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Brilliant Ladies, this One is for You. Free Pair of Gwyneth Shoes!

Brilliant Ladies, this one is for you! What better way to start your week than a chance to win a sexy pair of Gwyneth shoes?

The Ladybrille beauties at Gwyneth Shoes, http://www.gwynethshoes.com/ , co-founders Abenaa and Gwen Frempong-Boadu have teamed up with Ladybrille to make sure you get heads turning in a pair of one of their sophisticated, comfortable and ultra chic shoes for real women. Gwyneth shoes are a definite must have and get this, they go up to size 14!

HOW TO ENTER

1. Send an e-mail to contest@ladybrille.com
2. List your shoe size
3. Include your name, age, address and phone number
4. Winner will be selected at random
5. Winner will be notified via e-mail and has 24hrs to claim prize
6. Contest open only to residents in the USA and Europe. You must be 18 to qualify.

******Deadline is June 30th, 2008, at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time [PST], USA

Be sure to always tell your friends and family about us and YOU keep it bookmarked/logged on www.ladybrille.com so you don't miss out on our contests/giveaways.

--Liz Johnson, PR Intern

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Ladybrille African Fashion News, #39

A weekly collection of fashion news relating to or about African fashions and its industry.

1. Rezidor Announces a New Radisson Resort in Saïdia/Morocco
2. GeoAfrica 2009 to take place in Cape Town
3. Where fashion meets functionality: ASUS launches smartphone M930 ...
4. Yves Saint Laurent fashion to be auctioned off - AP - National ...
5. Learning to be Michelle Obama
6. British Council hunting for young fashion entrepreneurs
7. Get Ready for JayByoncé - Jay-Z and Beyoncé Most Powerful ...
8. Apprentice Africa:And Blessing goes home
9. RelComm eyeing MTN: Legal challenges ahead
10. News - Microsoft Launches African "Green Laptop" Initiative
11. Finding a fashion China
12. Toyota Drives Women Online
13. Project Runway Canada - Accepting Applications (deadline: June 20 ...
14. Fashionable connection for mobile company
15. BBC Confirms Commitment To Africa With Launch Of New Branded Channels

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Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2008, Get Excited!

Producing an award show is no easy task! All one need do is look at the frenzy behind the Oscars, BET, Grammys and Emmys to know the producers as well as the celebrities and fans of these events are on the edge as everyone prepares for the BIG day. The Nigeria Entertainment Awards [NEA], established only three years ago and held in New York City, each year, is one such event that is highly anticipated. The event which showcases the contributions of Nigerian Artists to the world, struggled, in its infancy, to gain footing. But, it appears experience and determination has paid off.

Only in its third year, the NEA is fast becoming one of the major African focused events to be reckoned with, within and outside Africa as it attracts the glitz and glamour of Nigeria's Entertainment Industry, its celebrities and die-hard fans. Indeed the NEA 2007 event drew Nigeria/Africa's Super stars such as Supermodel Oluchi Onweagba Orlandi, Miss World 2001 Agbani Darego and CNN correspondence Lola Ogunnaike.This year, as a sponsor of what we expect to be an even more exciting event, we thought we'd give you a Ladybrille exclusive sneak preview on what to expect directly from the source, the NEA President and CEO, Tope Esan.

LADYBRILLE.com: Tope, they say the third time is a charm. Do you think that will hold true for this year's NEA 2008 Awards?
NEA: I believe so. Our preparation in the last nine months has been primarily to take the show to the next level. A new level that will surpass anything we have done in the past especially in the area of production.

LADYBRILLE.com: Give us a little teaser. What should we expect?
NEA: Expect a new crop of Nigerian talent. Some you've heard of and some just out the box. We look beyond just the big names to perform at the show. We focus on young talented Nigerians doing their thing.

LADYBRILLE.com: What is the purpose of the Nigeria Entertainment Awards?
NEA: The Nigeria Entertainment Awards was established to recognize and honor Nigerian entertainers regardless if they live in Nigeria or in the diaspora. If you look at the categories and nominees, current and previous editions, we honor all Nigerians, those living in the U.S.A, Europe or in Nigeria. The Award show is also more than just an entertainment vehicle, we also try to showcase Nigerian talents to other non-Nigerians. .

LADYBRILLE.com: Is the event exclusively for Nigerians? Can other African groups and non-Africans attend?
NEA: The Award show is for Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, meaning everyone is welcome. Based on tickets sales and inquiries we actually anticipate a sizeable number of non-Nigerians this year which is good for us.

LADYBRILLE.com: Why did you choose to produce such event in the USA and why NYC?
NEA: There are over 3 million Nigerians living in the U.S. today, many of them first and second generation Nigerians with strong family ties and connection to Nigeria. They love the music and enjoy the movies but unfortunately don't get a chance to see their favorite entertainers up close like those that live in Nigeria do. And our research shows that of the Nigerians that travel back home at least once a year, one of the products they say they have to bring back when they travel is Nigerian music CD's and Movies/VCD. So we know that there is a demand for a show like ours in America. And there is an under ground movement in the U.S. now, it comprises of young talented artists we also want to use our platform to recognize those artists.

We picked NYC as a venue for several reasons: 1) there is a high concentration of Nigerians in that North East corridor, 2) NYC is one of the main entry point into the U.S.A for most Nigerians [and], 3) NYC is the biggest entertianment stage in the world.

LADYBRILLE.com: What are some of the challenges that go into producing a show of this magnitude?
NEA: Artists and Entertainers' schedules is by far the number one challenge that we face. Our event is right around the beginning of the summer period and that is a busy period for many entertainers. We toiled with the idea of moving the date to an off season period but the reality is that entertainers always have busy schedules regardless of period of year whether they are between recording and touring for musicians and filming for actors and actressess.

We also have challenges from corporate sponsors, some either ignore our request or just don't do enough. And many of these businessess have benefited and continue to benefit from our communities. We are learning not to depend totally on corporate sponsors, because they may not come through. But the show must go on, we've been very fortunate to have some key benefactors who have supported the show in the last three years.

LADYBRILLE.com: What's the demographic you aim for?
NEA: We don't particularly aim for a specific demographic. I truly believe that the artists on the line up draws the crowd to the show and looking at our line up this year, we expect to attract the non-conventional demographics to the show this year.

LADYBRILLE.com: Most people that attended NEA last year said it was great but they were not too happy the show started quite late. What are the biggest changes in the show this year and is starting on time one of them?
NEA: The show started late, last year, due to last minute personnel changes. We corrected that and we expect to start on time this year. People should remember that the lateness thing wasn't an issue in our first year, so I can tell you that last year was an isolated incident.

LADYBRILLE.com: Last year, NEA did a fabulous job of attracting names that are known to the world like Supermodel Oluchi, Miss World 2001 Agbani Darego and CNN correspondent Lola Ogunnaike. Should we expect to see similar famous faces at this year's NEA?
NEA: Yes. We hope to draw some more familiar faces to the show this year and some you may not have heard of now but will soon.

LADYBRILLE.com: Who are the nominees?
NEA: This year's nominees includes P-Square and Asa for Album of the year; Olu Maintain, Timaya and 9ice for Hottest Single of the Year for Yahooze, Timaya and Gongo Aso respectively; Kate Henshaw and Mercy Johnson for Best Actress;Eldee for Best International Album; B Eazy of Amplifyd Crew for 'I can't shout' and the list goes on. Check out the website for the entire list at http://www.nigeriaentawards.com.

LADYBRILLE.com: What names should we expect to perform at this year's event?
NEA: We have Amplifyd Crew, Eldee, Ndu, Kecha, Apexx and a host of others. We have a group of talented artists performing this year, I will have to say this will be the best line up we've had in our three years of existence

LADYBRILLE.com: For those who might not be too familiar with Nigerian celebrities except some of the few names we've talked about in fashion and media, who are the names with cross-over appeal they should watch for
NEA: The interesting thing about the Award show is, we really never know who's going to be attending till they do. But, I can tell you to expect some very noticeable faces in the industry. I guess that's my way of not mentioning names because a lot of these stars try to keep a low profile and we like to respect that and not use them to market the show.

LADYBRILLE.com: Where can people purchase tickets for the event?
NEA: People can call 678-799-4576 or 212-279-4200. Or buy tickets online: http://nea.eventbrite.com.

LADYBRILLE.com: We will be there and look forward to seeing you and your team soon. Congrats in advance to what we hope is an amazing show!
NEA:Thanks for the support, we look for folks like you and the company you represent to really carry us and show along. We thank all our sponsors and supporters, they have really kept this show going. I will also want to commend the work of the entire NEA staff, they have all done a great job in putting the show together. See you on June 21st in NYC.

Alright brilliant ones. You heard the NEA President Tope Esan. Get excited! Come out, look ABSOLUTELY AND DELICIOUSLY GORGEOUS [Ladybrille Fashion Police will be on duty [BIG SMILE] ] and support Nigeria Entertainment Awards 2008! To all of our NY fans, please feel free to approach us and introduce yourself. We'd love to finally meet you in person. See you at NEA 2008!

NEA 2007 from our friends at Shout Afrika

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