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The Simmons family is one enterprising clan—especially the Rev. Run’s daughters. Angela Simmons has launched more than one company since coming into the public spotlight. Now she has announced another. She has Pastry and a new lifestyle website, AngelaIAm, and now Simmons is releasing her new clothing line, Angela by Angela Simmons.

She has debuted a new funky black and white video (below), accompanied by the sound of a remixed “Real Love,” to give her fans a sneak peek at the collection. She is offering a wide range of piece – from high fashion sweats to bra tops.

“It is stuff you can wear for a long time. I think it is important to create fashion that is really fashionable, yet still affordable. I feel like this industry is such a fast moving place in the fashion world and it is important to stay up with the trends and be able to still afford it, to wear it, but let it still be fashionable at the same time” she told GlobalGrind.

She says it was her passion for fashion that made her want to extend herself beyond Pastry. “The passion for fashion has always been there for me. I am just following my passion and doing what I truly love to do…The designs will change with the seasons, but I am just excited about it,” she told the site.

Did you like Pastry? Will you buy Angela by Angela Simmons?

Source: Instagram

Apparently, Bow Wow has had some time to think these past couple days, and that thinking must have led him down the path of relationships past and present. Yesterday, the rapper and 106 and Park host posted this picture of he and ex girlfriend Angela Simmons with this caption:

I woke up and she was the first person i thought of… Next to my momma she the best woman i encountered!

Awww. Am I the only one who feels kinda sorry for the brotha? Normally I’m not thinking about Bow Wow. I’ve been done with him several times over; and once he started listing the names of women he’d smashed, I had washed my hands of him.  But this little photo share, though potentially embarrassing for Angela, seems pretty honest to me. Perhaps because it’s so reflective of the mistakes men make when they had a “good woman” back in the day. How many times have we watched our brothers, nephews, cousins, sons, friends etc lament the loss of “the one that got away” just because they weren’t ready to handle her at the time? Shoot, how many times have you been the woman he wasn’t ready for? It’s all a crying shame.

In case you need a late pass, while Angela and Bow Wow were together, the two went through a few breakups and makeups before ultimately deciding to split, most likely allegedly due to Bow Wow’s infidelity. Ain’t that the way it goes?

But what’s even more sad about their relationship drama is that Rev Run, Angela’s father, actually approved of the young man and had this to say about he and Angela’s relationship in his book “Take Your Family Back,” released in 2009:

“I should also add that I shared my views on relationships with Bow Wow, because beyond his relationship with Angela, I wanted to make sure that he was on the right path, too. I didn’t want my daughter dating a rapper who I perceived as a ladies’ man, but the truth is I also love Bow Wow…Which is why before they broke up, I decided to have a little talk with him…

“Now, you know in this house, we don’t believe in premarital sex. So if you’re truly serious about Angela, and she’s truly serious about you, then we have very high expectations for how you two are going to act…So if you’re serious about Angela, then ask her to marry you and do this the right way. And if you’re not, then you two can go your separate ways and still be friends.”

Whew! Daddy Run is no joke. Abstaining can be extremely difficult for anyone, man or woman, but especially a young man, with Bow Wow’s experience and maturity level. It’s not hard to see why he couldn’t handle all of that responsibility and accountability. Maybe I’m alone in this but I really liked these two together. And I wouldn’t be terribly upset if they decided to give it one more try. But that’s just me.

What do you think about Bow Wow’s Instagram confession? Do you think he and Angela will ever get back together, should they?

Rihanna living up to her username, @badgalriri, on Instagram.

There was a time when stars were more like the celestial bodies they are named for, mysterious and unattainable. Prince’s two-syllable interview non-responses and the mystery hands covering Janet’s breasts on Rolling Stone (that turned out to be her secret husband) come to mind. The most dynamic cultural icons kept you wanting more by staying slightly out of reach.

Cue the internet age. Fans are now privy to the most miniscule details of their favorite celebrity’s life. What they ate for breakfast and what kind of toothbrush they used afterwards is just a click away. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

To be fair, the internet has made everyone more open. It demands that we continuously generate content for one another. Celebrities are not immune to the new kind of intimacy and community social media creates.

A New Kind of Star

Making stars used to be the job of an exclusive group of gatekeepers. Editors, studio heads, label executives and the like engineered what the story of the day or the phenomenon of the summer would be. That system has been blown to smithereens.

Well-established stars scoffed at Facebook and Twitter at first. Then they realized cat videos and GIFs were stealing their spotlight, and suddenly became keen to open up.

“Celebrity” has been democratized with the public setting the news cycle. Anyone can be one. If you can connect with people and keep them interested, you can build a career, whether your medium is video or 140 characters or less. Regular folks are using techniques previously reserved for the old guard of gatekeepers to promote themselves. A well-placed piece of news and a devout following birth a star.

Playing the Online Fame Game

Rihanna, named the top Social Networking Superstar by Forbes, and Chris Brown crooned that their tumultuous love affair was “Nobody’s Business” on her recent album. Days after its release, intimate photos of the pair were posted on their respective Instagram accounts. Both of which have millions of followers.

It’s a contradiction many stars play out (hello Robert).  They want a personal life, but like many social media users, they can’t seem to keep anything to themselves. The ones that do are criticized for not giving fans enough. The once private Beyoncé has made a foray into social media. Yet she’s still met with cries for more personal footage.

Going offline is not an option for the new generation of celebrity. Forums, blogs, and overzealous fans work around the clock to predict and perpetuate gossip. Social media gives stars an avenue to take control and elevate the conversation above the salacious. The trouble is many of them have no clue how to do that.

New Game, Old Tricks

To be a new age phenomenon, social media is based on old school principles. It’s about forging personal connections. Whether they’re on the playground or tweeting to millions, it is up to the individual to decide how to connect with another person. Gossip and private matters grab attention, but there are other things to talk about.

Some stars on catching on. Tracee Ellis Ross and Angela Simmons have launched websites based on their lifestyle interests. Starlet Jurnee Smollett uses her Twitter feed to bring attention to social issues.

Social media has created an audience that recognizes its power and wants to engage everything on a deeper level. Many in the public eye are still learning that a deeper level doesn’t always equal the tawdry or inane details of their private business. Forbes breaks it down like this:

We’re looking for celebrities who will acknowledge their dependence on us and their engagement with us. We want celebrities in fact who will admit that they are like us and… will also show us how they are different, bolder, more outspoken, funnier but not distant.”

Social media shrinks the distance between the stars and the rest of us, but we still want them to shine a little brighter.

C. Cleveland is a freelance writer and content strategist in New York City, perfecting living the fierce life at The Red Read. She is at your service on Twitter @CleveInTheCity.

Source: styleblazer.com

From styleblazer.com

After taking in New York Fashion Week, over the weekend, Angela Simmons celebrated her 25th birthday with a black- tie birthday party at the Martin Lawrence Art Gallery in Soho, NYC. The heiress to the Simmons rap throne and family empire has made a name for herself as a fashionista, designer and socialite. Angela partied with close friends and family at the intimate party, which of course included celebrity attendees like Tika Sumpter, Rev Run, Russell Simmons, Ty Hunter, Vanessa Simmons, and a special birthday song by Roc Nation newbie, Bridget Kelly. As just one of many celebrations we’re sure, Angela started her birthday off the right way, as yesterday the 18th was her actual birthday.

Read more at styleblazer.com

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Socialite and businesswoman Angela Simmons attended the 13th annual Art For Life Gala in the Hamptons this past weekend looking uber-colorful and “blinged” out. To the event she rocked this cream dress with a beaded skirt and ruched detailing on the bust. There were also beaded elements draped from the bottom of the skirt that gave it an extra fancy Showgirls costume look. On her feet were satin blue peep-toe pumps, and she brought out her most fabulous diamonds with iced-out bracelets, bangles, a ring and earrings. This is definitely a creative and fun look, and the satin blue pumps brought out the blue in the dress. I could see myself rocking something like this for a night on the town. Steal!

confessionsofaglamaholic.com

She’s more than Rev Run’s daughter, or one of the former stars of the MTV reality shows “Run’s House” and “Daddy’s Girls.” Angela Renee Simmons and her sister Vanessa are also the creative and corporate minds behind the Pastry casual shoe and accessory line. In addition to making major moves as a business woman, Simmons also commands the attention of the public any time she steps out with her eye-catching style. Whether she’s flaunting a care-free bohemian look, or gets dolled up in true femme fatale fashion, Angela’s eye for style is always sharp.

*In a Nina Simone voice* It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and it’s a new opportunity to showcase some of the cutest, or wackest looks from some of our favorite celeb ladies. Time to figure out whose look we’re trying to steal, and whose we want to just scream stop at. Shall we begin?

This past Sunday was the MTV Movie Awards in Cali, and wherever there’s an event, you know Amber Rose is there trying to be seen. She came with her fiancé Wiz Khalifa who was performing, and wore another tight-fitting dress to pose for the cameras. This detailed dress with its capped sleeves had a nude base with mint green flower appliques, beads and more. She wore it with nude peep-toe stilettos, had mint green nails and wore small studs. While I wish she would come out of the whole tight dress look that she’s been doing since we first saw her, I actually think she looks really cute in this dress and shoes. But next time, glue those eyelashes down a bit longer Ms. Rose, they’re looking kind of lopsided…Steal!

From HelloBeautiful.com

essence.com

Move beyond the basic plait with a fishtail braid. Stylist Tommy Bucket explains how to wear the hairstyle, like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Angela Simmons have already done.

STEP 1
Separate hair into two equal sections at the back of the head. Fishtail braiding requires only two sections (not three, like a classic or French braid).

For complete all the steps as well as a video, visit HelloBeautiful.com.

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Source: http://twitpic.com/97st7v

MOTHER’S DAY!? I know, we’re not even far from Easter and deep in April and folks are already prepping us for another big holiday. But I just had to share this very wonderful photo from Ebony‘s upcoming Mother’s Day issue (courtesy of Rev Run’s Twitter) that features all the kids, and both Rev Run’s current wife Justine, and his ex-wife, Valerie Vaughn. Vaughn is, of course, the mother of Vanessa, Angela and JoJo. She made an appearance or two on the show, Run’s House, but for the most part, she tried to stay M.I.A. from all of that. But I can now see where the girls get their good looks from!

In the photo op, her three babies stand around her, while Diggy, Russy (who is really growing up!) and daughter Miley all crowd around Justine (for those who didn’t remember, they adopted Miley near the end of the show). I wanted to share the photo because I was digging all the blended family love and I was also digging the fact that these ladies were more than happy to sit together for this photo (well, at least I’m assuming they were). Sets a great example for folks out here bickering with new wives, etc. Check out this spread and more when the Ebony issue drops on April 17. Better start figuring out what you’re going to get moms this time around…

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We saw her grow up right before our eyes. From a teen on MTV’s Run’s House, begging her father to get a tattoo, to a successful business woman manning her own empire, Angela Simmons has come into her own and proven herself as an intelligent, ambitious, dedicated entrepreneur. She was the editor for Angela’s Rundown, a monthly magazine targeted for youth, which covered teen topics, style, music, and fashion. In 2007, Angela and her sister Vanessa launched Pastry Footwear,  under their family’s line of footwear, Run Athletics. The first product line released was the “Cake Collection”, inspired by their favorite pastries. Pastry is now a household name and a multi- million dollar company.

At only 24 years of age, Angela is quickly securing her spot as a successful entrepreneur and doing an impeccable job maintaining her family’s ‘name’ and reputation. We sat down and talked to Ms. Simmons about her current business ventures, work ethic and passions. Check out what this business savvy young lady had to say!