Dionni Tabbers + Charlie Dupont Reconvene In Honey Birdette Lingerie For 'London Calling' SS 2019 Campaign

Dionni Tabbers + Charlie Dupont Reconvene In Honey Birdette Lingerie For 'London Calling' SS 2019 Campaign

Australian lingerie retailer Honey Birdette delivers its Spring 2019 lingerie ad campaign ‘London Calling’. The setting is spot on with news that Honey Birdette now has 63 stores worldwide and bills itself as the world’s fastest-growing lingerie brand.

The campaign follows “Dutch bombshell” Dioni Tabbers and “fierce French brunette” Charlie Dupont from Honey Birdette’s Indecent Manor campaign.  The duo hookup again in London, and the sparks fly with the same ferocious heat.

A visit to the lingerie boutique’s new LA Westfield Century City location greets us on the Honey Birdette US landing page. This represents HB’s first lingerie shopping location in the US.

Why the Catholic Church Is So Slow To Act In Sex Abuse Cases: 4 Essential Reads

Why the Catholic Church Is So Slow To Act In Sex Abuse Cases: 4 Essential Reads

By Kalpana Jain, Senior Religion + Ethics Editor. First published on The Conversation

The Vatican’s retired ambassador to the United States, Carlo Maria Vigano, has accusedPope Francis and other officials of covering up that they were aware of sex abuse allegations against Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington.

The accusation follows a grand jury report in Pennsylvania that revealed a long and shocking scale of sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Francis, who accepted McCarrick’s resignation last month, after an investigation found the allegations to be credible, has refused to comment on Vigano’s letter.

How The Colonial Past of Botanical Gardens Can Be Put to Good Use

THE ASWAN BOTANICAL GARDEN, ALSO KNOWN AS KITCHENER’S ISLAND OR EL NABATAT ISLAND, IS EGYPT’S WORLD CLASS BOTANICAL GARDEN THAT IS LOCATED ON AN ISLAND IN THE NILE RIVER AT ASWAN. VIA

How The Colonial Past of Botanical Gardens Can Be Put to Good Use

By Brett M Bennett, Associate Professor of History, University of Johannesburg. First published on The Conversation Africa.

Botanical gardens play an important role in shaping national attitudes and encouraging better human connectedness to nature.

They offer education and research opportunities that are critical to plant conservation. Visiting a garden can relieve stress and help give people a sense of place that extends to the wider region.

Scholars from a variety of disciplines have been working to understand the histories, impact and meanings of gardens to improve conservation outcomes and to build strong communities.

Winnie Harlow Poses In Bahamas As Sports Illustrated May 2019 Swimsuit Issue 'Rookie'

Top Model Winnie Harlow shared a sneak peek on Instagram of her first Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Edition photo shoot in the Bahamas. Winnie has left no stone unturned in her mission to shed light and understanding on the skin condition known as vitiligo. And now she will grace the pages of the prestigious swimsuit magazine, with a May 2019 publication date.

Winnie is the 2019 ‘rookie’ model, filmed at the Bahamas’ Grand Isle Resort xxxx

Harlow continues her win as another milestone for inclusivity. Some diseases remain relatively hidden from the general public. Vitiligo, a condition in which the pigment cells of the skin are destroyed in certain areas of the body is very visible. It’s generally believed by experts that vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the body's defense system mistakenly attacks and destroys the body’s pigment cells. The exact cause is unknown.

While the disease isn’t painful and doesn’t bring significant health consequences, itbrings countless emotional and psychological challenges as white patches spread larger across one’s body. For Winnie to bring her skin condition into the world of modeling prompts immeasurable compliments around her inner wisdom and self-confidence. Harlow also walked the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in November 2018 in another professional coup.

Winnie Harlow Model Archives @ AOC

'Knock Down the House' Documentary Featuring AOC + Three 2018 Democratic Candidates Sold To Netflix for $10 Million

'Knock Down the House' Documentary Featuring AOC + Three 2018 Democratic Candidates Sold To Netflix for $10 Million

The Kickstarter campaign read: When her daughter died from a preventable medical condition, businesswoman Amy Vilela of Las Vegas didn't know what to do with her anger about America's broken health care system. Bronx-born Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had to work double shifts in a restaurant to save her family’s home from foreclosure after losing her father. Cori Bush, a Saint Louis nurse, was drawn into the streets when the shooting of Michael Brown brought protests and tanks into her neighborhood. Paula Jean Swearengin buried family and neighbors to illnesses caused by West Virginia’s coal industry — and worries her children will be next. All four women understood that their lives were affected by politics, but none had considered running for office themselves. Until now.

424 backers pledged $28,111 to help bring the documentary ‘Knock Down The House: A Documentary’ to life. Created by Rachel Lears and Robin Blotnick, ‘Knock Down The House’ won the Sundance’s Festival Favorite Award, a fact that most certainly impacted the recent sale of all distribution rights to the film to Netflix for $10 million. Deadline reports that NEON, Focus, Hulu and Amazon were also vying for the feature

Kamala Harris Eyes March 3, 2020 California Primary | Early Voting Timed With Iowa + New Hampshire

Harris in Los Angeles with beneficiaries of the DREAM Act—which the senator has made a priority to protect. Photographed by Zoe Ghertner,Vogue, April 2018

As America readies another presidential election season and trained journalists are talking Iowa and New Hampshire — two states that do not at all mirror the voter makeup of America or the wins of the 2018 mid-terms — Sen. Kamala Harris is beating down door in California. Not content with a wait and see strategy, Senator Harris is locking down endorsements and financial contributions in her new Super Tuesday March 3 primary state — and her home state — that could give her an enormous edge in winning the Democratic nomination. The decision of California to move up its primary from being last in the country makes it suddenly very relevant.

If she has anything but stellar success in California, writes Politico, her presidential aspirations for 2020 could end quickly. Kamala Harris has a true political machine in California and no home-state challengers. Not that Harris isn’t busy making appearances out of California.

In particular, she’s courting voters in another Super Tuesday state — South Carolina. If Biden runs, he does have close relationships with African American voters in the South Carolina, but it’s pretty inconceivable that African American women won’t break big for Sen. Harris in South Carolina.

Rising Star Tyler Mitchell Eyes Sabah Koj, Thais Borges + Ugbad Abdi In 'A Courtly Dance in 'Triple Metre' For AnOther Magazine

Rising Star Tyler Mitchell Eyes Sabah Koj, Thais Borges + Ugbad Abdi In 'A Courtly Dance in 'Triple Metre' For AnOther Magazine

Rising photographer Tyler Mitchell captures models Sabah Koj, Thais Borges, and Ugbad Abdi in ‘A Courtly Dance in Triple Metre, styled by Robbie Spencer for AnOther Magazine’s Spring/Summer 2019 issue.

The marvelously creative editorial — LOVE the veiled shot of Sabah and Ugbad! — brings to mind the art of Nigerian-born, Alabama-raised Toyin Ojih Odutola, who mounted a solo show 'To Wander Determined' at the Whitney Museum in New York in October 2017.

I was very involved as the ‘Yankee’ working to elect Doug Jones as Democratic Senator from Alabama in November 2017. Most Americans don’t know that Jones — who is white and stands for re-election in 2020 — won justice for four young girls who died in the famous Birmingham church bombing during America’s civil rights movements.

Having shared much enthusiasm around the epic proliferation of models of color in our industry, especially from (South) Sudan, where I have deep activist roots, AOC hasn’t done enough recently to highlight the enormous cultural forces at play in America.

Artists are in the vangaard of articulating this new vision for America — one under assault this very moment, with Trump grabbing authoritarian powers to build his wall in Mexico, citing an alleged national emergency, when there is NO national emergency!

The emergency order is headed immediately to the US court system, where it will most likely be overturned. After months of tears around Trump, I’ve actually reached a positive place of defiance against the raging culture war operating out in the open now in my country.

The highly imperfect, yet noble American experiment is at a true crossroads under Trump. The battle is fierce and bloody, but there is a potential for a huge new vision of the ultimate social experiment if we are smart and dedicated. I tire of America callings itself the greatest country on earth, when every great civilization or nation is always eclipsed by another.

Still, America has a chance to prove itself in an incredible new way as a vibrant, non-white majority country led by a rainbow coalition of politicos and citizens truly committed to proving that such an important coalition of citizens can live, breathe and succeed together. ~ Anne

Why Blackface? A Scholar Weighs In On Why Blackface Is Part of American Culture's DNA

Covington Catholic High School Students carry on blackface tradition at 2012 basketball game.

Why Blackface? A Scholar Weighs In On Why Blackface Is Part of American Culture's DNA

By Michael Millner, Associate Professor of English and American Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell . First published on The Convervsation

Blackface is part of American culture’s DNA.

But America has forgotten that.

For almost two weeks, conflict has raged over the use of blackface by two current Virginia politicians when they were younger. The revelations have threatened the men’s jobs and their standing in the community.

The use of blackface is now politically and culturally radioactive. Yet there was a time when it wasn’t.

I teach the history of blackface in the United States. Like much of America, my undergraduate students suffer from a kind of historical amnesia about its role in American culture. They know little about its long history, and they haven’t considered its prevalence and significance in everyday American life.

Most of all, they’ve never asked themselves, “Why blackface?”

Christy Turlington Burns Closes Marc Jacobs Fall 2019 Show, First Runway Show In 25 Years

Christy Turlington Burns Closes Marc Jacobs Fall 2019 Show, First Runway Show In 25 Years

90s supermodel Christy Turlington Burns hasn’t walked the fashion runway for 25 years. But Turlington rose to the occasion on Wednesday evening, closing the Marc Jacobs Fall 2019 show. Current stars like Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid, and Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber also walked, but Christy owned the night, writing a lengthy post about her experience on Instagram.

"Marc Jacobs invited me to close his beautiful show tonight and I couldn't resist," she wrote. "A. I have known and loved this man since I met him at age 16. B. I turned 50 this year and have arrived at a place where "Why the F not" is the answer that comes up when I ask myself questions. C. I have a 15 year old daughter who I desperately want to see and hear me and this is a medium that 'speaks' to her."

Related Christy Turlington As Activist

Michelle Goldberg: Ilhan Omar Damaged Her Democratic Allies and Squandered Some of Her Own Hard-Won Power

Michelle Goldberg: Ilhan Omar Damaged Her Democratic Allies and Squandered Some of Her Own Hard-Won Power

Writing for The New York Times, Michelle Goldberg reminds us that when America was unsettled over a crude mail bomb being found in the mailbox of George Soros, Representative Kevin McCarthy, the California Republican who is now the House minority leader, tweeted, “We cannot allow Soros, Steyer and Bloomberg to buy this election!”  Interviewed on CNN about receiving his own mail bomb, Steyer described McCarthy’s tweet as a “straight-up anti-Semitic move.”

There was no self-reflection, then, when Kevin McCarthy became a defender of Jews, threatening to force congressional action against two outspoken new Democratic representatives, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, for their criticism of Israel. Rather than rise above Kevin McCarthy, Omar found herself in the same sewer, quoting Puff Daddy’s ode to the power of money: “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby.”

Gucci Chief Executive Marco Bizzarri Meeting With Dapper Dan Over Blackface Sweater Disaster

Gucci Chief Executive Marco Bizzarri Meeting With Dapper Dan Over Blackface Sweater Disaster

Gucci Chief Executive Marco Bizzarri is planning to meet with Dapper Dan and other African-American leaders during a trip to New York this week to discuss the sweater debacle. “"I am a Black man before I am a brand," he wrote. “Another fashion house has gotten it outrageously wrong,” Dapper Dan said in an Instagram post. “There is no excuse nor apology that can erase this kind of insult.”

The renowned Harlen fashon designer and tailor originally gained fame knocking off Guuci’s logo in the ‘80s and ‘90s, before finding itself in the drivers seat when Alessandro Michele knocked off one of Dapper Dan’s designs in his own 2018 Resort collection. The two men signed a peace treaty with Dapper Dan collaborating with Gucci on a vintage hip-hop-inspired capsule collection. Then Kering stepped in to underwrite Dap’s new studio and atelier in Harlem, while making him the face of a special tailoring campaign. Gucci has also underwritten several art events celebrating black culture in Harlem and around New York.

As the former head of product development and fashion director for Victoria’s Secret, I recommend that Gucci load up a corporate jet with design talent and head for Washington, DC and a trip to the African American Museum of African American History and Culture. This will give them a complete understanding of the sensitivity of black face in America to progressives of every skin color.

Donald Trump and Beto O'Rourke Duke It Out In El Paso As Congress Works Against A New Shutdown

FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BETO O'ROURKE MARCHED IN HIS OWN RALLY MONDAY. IMAGE: IVAN PIERRE AGUIRRE FOR THE TEXAS TRIBUNE

Donald Trump and Beto O'Rourke Duke It Out In El Paso As Congress Works Against A New Shutdown

As Trump spoke, O’Rourke led a march to a park just steps away from the coliseum. There, the former congressman and U.S. Senate candidate pressed his case — to raucous cheers — that El Paso is “safe not because of walls but in spite of walls.”

“We can show the rest of the country ... that walls do not make us safer,” O’Rourke said, arguing such barriers force immigrants to cross in more remote, dangerous stretches of the border.

“We know that walls do not save lives,” he added. “Walls end lives.”

Mn. Rep Ilhan Omar Rebuked Over Anti-Semitic Tweet, Faces Loss Of Seat On Foreign Relations Committee

Mn. Rep Ilhan Omar Rebuked Over Anti-Semitic Tweet, Faces Loss Of Seat On Foreign Relations Committee

In a dramatic statement delivered on Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders are calling on Minn. Rep Ilhan Omar to apologize for tweeting the strong suggestion that political donations drive politiciams’ support for Israel.

In the dramatic statement, House Democratic leadership said that while "legitimate criticism of Israel's policies is protected by the values of free speech and democratic debate," Omar's "use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel's top supporters is deeply offensive."

Mixing Nelson Mandela's Spirit With Navajo + Peruvian Practices, Londolozi South Africa Opens Healing House Spa

Mixing Nelson Mandela's Spirit With Navaho + Peruvian Practices , Londolozi South Africa Opens Healing House Spa

Londolozi is one of South Africa’s original private game reserves, considered to be a pillar of global ecotourism. The word Londolozi comes from the Zulu word meaning ‘Protector Of All Living Things’.

Londolozi has also opened its first spa, the Healing House, and London-based Syz describes it as potentially “the most forward-thinking wellness offering in Africa.” In a story that spans generations Dave and Shan Varty have been replaced by their children Bronwyn and Boyd, who are the newest visionaries behind Londolozi.

Trained by Oprah’s life coach Martha Beck, the duo is heavily impacted by Beck’s belief “that the senses are deadened by desk jobs and smartphones and that you need to learn to listen to your body, the ultimate navigational tool, to tap into your innate wisdom”. Beck struck a deep cord in the modern0day hearts of Bronwyn and Boyd.

Impacted by their studies with Navaho medicine men and Peruvian shamans, sound — long considered to an original healing fix — is at the center of their rituals. These practices render Londolozi’s new spa as a fusion experience of ancient global practices that now harness the energy of the African wilderness.

Democrats Court Rural Southern Voters With Stacey Abrams’ State of the Union Response

Democrats Court Rural Southern Voters With Stacey Abrams’ State of the Union Response

By Sharon Austin, Professor of Political Scieence and Director of the African American Studies Program, University of Florida. First published on The Conversation

In a brief, direct and optimistic speech about fighting immigrant scapegoating, racism and voter suppression, Stacey Abrams celebrated diversity in her Democratic rebuttal to Donald Trump’s divisive 2019 State of the Union address.

“We will create a stronger America together,” she said.

Abrams is the first African-American woman to deliver a State of the Union response in the 53-year history of this tradition. She is the first black woman to be nominated by a major party to run for governor. Before that, she was the first African-American ever to serve as House minority leader in the Georgia General Assembly.

Her State of the Union response has increased speculation that she is a rising political starwith a bright future in the Democratic Party.

By choosing Abrams to give the State of the Union response, Democrats were clearly reaching out to African-Americans and women, a key base for the party.

But Abrams’ speech also spoke to an often-overlooked constituency the Democratic Party may not have even thought about when they picked her. It’s a constituency Abrams has already cultivated: rural Southerners of color.

Abrams campaigned in both urban and rural counties last year, defying the logic of a Democratic Party that tends to court big city voters while leaving rural Americans to be won over by Republicans like Donald Trump.

Dem. Rep Ilhan Omar Masterfully Questions Elliott Abrams About His Support For US Backed 80's Coups

Dem. Rep Ilhan Omar Masterfully Questions Elliott Abrams About His Support For US Backed 80's Coups

I so regret the tweets from Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) about Jews from the other day and agree w/those who say she threw away some hard-won power and capital. This article by The Daily Beast shows another side of Omar, questioning Elliott Abrams, who has been appointed as the U.S. Special Envoy to Venezuela. Her questioning leaves me very proud of her.

Watch the video to see the fearless, composed, questioning that Omar is capable of doing. She confronts Abrams about El Salvador and how proud he is of the country as a democracy. Abrams is very dismissive of Omar, but she stays totally focused and on point. ***** (5-stars)

As women, we know this is a hideous answer from Abrams about a country — El Salvador — where femicide runs rampant right under the eyes and noses of the Catholic Church. Women are garbage in El Salvador, and Abrams' answer is very much the white male, hawk answer. She also challenges him on his past lies -- why is he telling the truth now. 

Related:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Emerging As Unlikely, Egoless Unifying Force Among Democrats

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Emerging As Unlikely, Egoless Unifying Force Among Democrats

No freshman member of the new House of Representatives has gained more national media attention than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Less than one week after her victory in the November 2018 midterm elections, AOC joined environmental activists in a protest in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. Politico published a story that AOC denied, advancing the theory that she was encouraging activists to primary Democratic incumbents in the 2020 elections.

The Republican obsession with Ocasio-Cortez has bordered on full-frontal misogyny, with many Dems reporting that “a cloud” of uncertainty hovered over her. Was she determined to build her own disruptive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brand? Or was she truly interested in passing collaborative legislation with fellow Democfrats.

Writing for Vanity Fair, Abigail Tracy says that AOC has emerged “as an unlikely unifying force for Democrats — and a surprisingly egoless champion of a new, progressive politics.”