Madame Noire | Black Women's Lifestyle Guide | Black Hair | Black Love

http://www.getnews.co.za

For those adventurous souls with a thirst for travel, if you’re thinking of completing a business degree abroad, South Africa may just be the place. MoneyWeb reports that the annual UK Financial Times Executive Education rankings listed the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) the top South African and African business school.

“This is a tremendous achievement for GIBS and clearly places us among the best business schools in the world,” GIBS’s dean Nick Binedell said.

“We live by our ethos of aiming to significantly improve the competitive performance of individuals and organisations through business education and this accolade will drive us to continue to improve our programmes even further in line with the ever changing economic landscape.”

The Financial Times’ survey has been ranking schools for 3 years. GIBS has been a top business school globally for nine years.

More on Madame Noire Business!

• Behind the Click: Asmau Ahmed, Founder of PlumPerfect.com
• How She Made It: Alia Jones-Harvey, Producer of A Streetcar Named Desire
• The Career Freshman Part II: Getting To The Next Level in Your Career
• Crisis Management Lessons: Handle Scandal Like Your Name Is Kerry Washington
• How She Made It: Jeri Lynne Johnson, Founder of Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra
• Entrepreneur Spotlight: A Sister-Run Business Brings High-End Tea Stateside

Today’s featured cute kids are healthy and happy infants being raised by a gospel singing mother, a Miami Heat playing father, and a leggy blonde actress from South Africa. What these kids all have in common is that they are adorable!

Source: Mary Mary's Twitter

Talk about cheeks we’d love to pinch! This little beauty is Zaya Monique Campbell, the daughter of Erica Campbell from Mary Mary and her husband Warryn. The three-month-old little one has started rolling with her mom and the rest of her family on the road, so Erica thought it was about time to give you an updated introduction to her precious “Zay Zay.” She’s so cute it’s not even funny!

Source: Mary Mary's Twitter

And in other newborn news, Adrienne Bosh has released more photos of her new bundle of joy with baller Chris Bosh. Little man’s name is Jackson, and he’s already got a thing for fashion like his mom. Check out that trendy scarf! Jackson was born on May 3, and he’s already trying to cheer on his dad in the NBA playoffs (just kidding, I’m sure he just wants to sleep all the time). Get a closer glimpse at the young’n.

Source: Sandra Rose

I can really see both Adrienne and Chris in their new addition…

Source: Sandra Rose

And lastly, we thought we would introduce you to Charlize Theron’s new son, Jackson Theron. Little Jackson was born in the U.S., and his adoption was revealed in March. This is one of the first times we’re getting to see the new man in her life, and he’s looking beautiful! The two were seen trying to hightail it out of Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, and Jackson definitely seemed startled by all the flashing lights. Cute, nonetheless.

Source: blogs.babycenter.com

Much respect to Charlize for going the adoption route. Love it when people open their hearts and homes to children who need it.

Source: gossipbucket.com

What do you think of these newbies? Makes your biological start ticking right? Just kidding! But they’re all very adorable indeed.

More on Madame Noire!

• Hip to the Game: Red Flags We Overlook In Our 20′s And Look Out For In Our 30′s!
• Ashton Kutcher, “Brown Face,” And Why These Images Persist in Media
• Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind the Making of “Boyz N The Hood”
• Why Do We Feel The Need to Keep Explaining ‘Our’ Fatness?
• Did You Know They Were The Daddy? Surprising Celebrity Parents
• 20 Years Later, Where Are They Now? The Cast of “The Cosby Show”
• Who You Calling a Bit**? A How-To on Properly Addressing Women
  

Source: Nationalpost.com

South Africans are shocked and outraged over a disturbing video of seven teenage boys and young men sexually assaulting a mentally-handicapped teenage girl that has gone viral.

The video, recorded on a cell phone, shows the men gang raping the 17-year-old girl who went missing March 21 and offering her 25 cents to keep quiet.

“The girl can be heard pleading with the boys to stop. They crudely jest and crassly spur one another on,” journalist Mandy Weiner reported.

The accused range in age from 14 to 20 years old and are suspected of holding the girl as a sex slave in a Soweto township. Police found the girl on Wednesday in the home of a 37-year-old man who has also been arrested.

CNN reports that the Daily Sun, a local tabloid, alerted the police after a concerned mother whose daughter was watching the video handed it over to the paper on Tuesday. The mother confiscated her daughter’s phone and a work colleague said they recognized some of the boys and advised her to take the video to the newspaper.

According to Reuters, a front page editorial of the Star newspaper, one of South Africa’s biggest-circulation dailies, labeled the incident “Our Disgrace,” and government spokesman Jimmy Manyi described it as a “barbaric act.”

For as much discussion as the rape has raised, it’s unfortunately not all that uncommon of a crime in the country. Non-Governmental Organizations estimate a woman is raped every 26 seconds in the country. Other estimates say an average of 181 people are raped or sexually assaulted per day.

The men appeared in court yesterday and prosecutors said they could seek life in prison for the crime. They are being held until their next court date next week as the rest of the country continues to react.

“This episode must force us to take a serious look at ourselves and ask: how did we get here?” the Star editorial read. “How did we, as a people, raise monsters who find a joke in this repugnant act.”

Check out a video of CNN’s coverage below.

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Where Are They Now? The Cast of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
• Is 3 Months Too Long to Wait for Sex? The 90 Day Rule from a Man’s Point of View
• It Takes Two to Tango: Why Do We Always Focus Blame On The Other Woman?
• What’s Better for Your Hair? Flat Iron vs. Hot Comb
• Indie Pop Group Declares They’ve ‘Got A Thing For Black Girls’ in New Music Video
• Brooklyn Man Locked Up Nearly a Year for Rape Even Though Victim Recanted Story
• Think Like A Man’s Gabrielle Union, Meagan Good and Regina Hall Discuss “The Man List”
• For A Limited Time Only: 7 Signs You Might Be A Rebound

Source: Bravo

I don’t know about you but I could barely stomach Marlo on the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” trip to South Africa. From her knocking Sheree for only having one Rolex, to wearing Monolo’s on a safari, to having hotel staff pack her “red bottoms” one by one as she explained what they are, I couldn’t handle her.

But despite her appearance as a new-money boughie American on the trip, Marlo swears up and down that she’s not materialistic. She told ESSENCE.com:

“I just love being around beautiful things.”

Is that what it is?

Marlo went on to explain that her fascination with the finer things in life is just a result of not having much as a child.

“Because of all the darkness in my past and me being a child in foster homes, fashion is what I run to. And its not just fashion, I love having a beautiful home… I can sit right today and feel good because I have glitz and glam and it’s all mine.”

You would think someone who came from such humble beginnings would be much more…humble, but for Marlo, she takes pride in knowing she’ll never have to worry about going back to that type of life again.

“The main thing that always followed me from when I was a child is that I had to have a home. It’s just mine and I feel secure. I don’t have to worry about the foster care lady coming to move me to a different home.”

“It may not be the best thing to say, but it’s my truth.”

Well, I guess everybody has their own truth. Does Marlo’s past as a foster child justify her behavior or is there no excuse for her uppity attitude?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Karrine Steffans, Please Have a Seat and Delete Your Twitter Account While You’re at It
• Tips to Maintaining a Weave: Products, Hair Recommendations and More
• Ask A Very Smart Brotha Live: Sifting Through the Sh!t & Waiting for Him to Commit
• Top Beauty Picks: Exfoliators For Every Type of Skin
• When His Problems Shouldn’t Be Yours
• A Final Word: What Drove Whitney To Bobby?
• Celebs Who Rode Their Famous Sibling’s Coattails to Success
• Uplifting Nuggets of Wisdom From Maya Angelou

nelsonmandelaonline.net

Former South African president Nelson Mandela is reportedly in stable condition Saturday after undergoing surgery for an abdominal complaint. Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj told South African private news channel eNews that the 93-year-old former statesman is “in good spirits and well.”

As the country’s first black president after a history of white minority rule, the BBC’s Andrew Harding in Johannesburg says Mr Mandela occupies a special place in the hearts of South Africans. The Nobel Peace Prize winner is affectionately known in South Africa by his clan name, Madiba. He spent 27 years in prison for his fight against white minority rule before being released in 1990. In 1994, he became South Africa’s first black president, stepping down in 1999 after one term.

Read Full Story Here…..

Ryan: “Man, the look you gave me afterwards…”

Denzel: “Yeah, it was a REAL look. Like what the f***!? [laughs]”

Ryan: “Well, if it was your first on-set black eye, I’m glad it was by an apologetic Canadian.”

If you’ve seen any of the advertisements and TV spots for the new film Safe House starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, and read the above correspondence, you probably noticed two things: for one, there is clearly a lot of eye candy for women of all ages in this film, okay? But secondly, there is a whole lot of action, including black-eye inducing car accidents like the one mentioned above, that will keep you fully engaged and sucked in. People are running on the tops of houses in the film, getting caught up in the craziest and most visually insane car chases (Ryan actually drove in a few of those scenes), there are knife fights, actual waterboarding (which Washington says he did with NO stunt double), knock down, drag out, swinging brawls…and Denzel. Sounds like a great Friday night flick right?

The two charming and charismatic actors went in depth about their characters during a press junket about the new film recently. Reynolds plays Matt Weston, the sitter of a South African safe house in which criminals are held for interrogation and protection. When his safe house is attacked by rebels hoping to capture ex-CIA agent Tobin Frost, Weston goes from simple house sitter to a pseudo-agent trying to track down, battle, and often protect Frost. Washington plays the rogue agent, who is both calculated, and at times, pretty sociopathic while trying to escape capture from the agency he turned his back on. In preparing for the role, Washington says he worked with CIA operatives and studied the behavior of sociopaths.

“There are different kinds of sociopaths, and they don’t have to all be violent. Many can just like to create chaos because it’s simply a power thing. A sociopath will do anything to win.”

And he sure does. Frost lies, imitates others, kills and goes through a lot more to be victorious in his complex situation. He’s the ultimate bad guy, but he’s bad for good reasons (I can’t go in depth as to why, you’ll have to find out on your own). If you’ve been pining to see Denzel go from good to bad again (because we loved it in Training Day and so did the Academy), but also want to see him get his Street Fighter on like in The Book of Eli, here’s your opportunity. There are so many twists and turns and acts of betrayal in this film, I found myself with the bug eyes many a time (until a swift knee in the back of my chair knocked me back into my senses). Plus, the small side story surrounding Weston’s relationship issues is intriguing–and so is that body Reynolds has may I add!

All in all, Safe House is a pretty good piece of work. I’m not a die-hard action fan so I didn’t go in with the highest expectations–however, I was pleasantly surprised. Aside from a few slower moments of talking every now and again, it’s very entertaining and will keep your attention throughout its 117 minutes. And even if you were to go in that joint sleepy, there’s no way you would you find yourself knocked out. There’s too much intense action and noise for all that. Oh yeah, and hotness…

More on Madame Noire!

• Shopping With the Enemy: 7 Signs You Might Have a “Frenemy” in Your Circle
• How To Cope With The Agony of Unrequited Love
• Boy, Bye!: 6 Stupid Reasons to Turn a Man Down
• 7 Things That Should Never Happen In The Bedroom
• Scent From the Heart: 10 Fragrances Perfect for Valentine’s Day
• Ish is Getting Real: Gonorrhea’s Becoming Untreatable
• Hair Q&A: Front Edges and Dry Scalp
• Don’t Get It Twisted: Mo and Kita Say Terrell Owens Betrayed Them

If any of you watched last night’s episode of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” maybe you can tell me what was going on because for the last 7 minutes or so I had no idea.

Apparently amongst all of the yelling, screaming, and awkward sound effects between her and Sheree, she threw a shot commenting on Sheree’s gay friend whose party she wasn’t invited to, saying:

“Well anyway, that’s why you don’t have a man. Go and hang with them f*****s with your ugly A$$.”

Today she wrote an apology on her website stating that immediately after the incident she reached out to her close friend and assistant to apologize for her language and that she looks forward to continuing to build support with the gay community. You can read the full letter on the YBF, but here’s a snippet:

“I would like to offer from the bottom of my heart the fullest and most heartfelt apology for my recent use of an anti-gay slur. When I used this word, I was not mindful of the demeaning connotation that this has in the gay community. My speech was irresponsible, thoughtless and said with the intention of conveying anger rather than as a statement on my feelings towards the gay community as a whole…

“I applaud and admire this community for their triumph over a sometimes harsh, mean spirited society that discriminates and even violently attacks those who are different. These are obstacles that I relate to and that I have been inspired by them to overcome. I celebrate this community and am saddened by any indication otherwise, that my actions may have caused…”

Maybe at some point she can get around to apologizing to black women too because she was an absolute mess on last night’s show. Still, it’s good she saw the error of her ways and quickly corrected it when it came to the gay community.

Check out a clip of the argument here. Did you watch last night’s episode? Who do you think is wrong, Marlo or Sheree?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Close Call! Actors Who ALMOST Played A Few Surprising Roles…
• Reasons To Love Him, Not His Loot
• Sisters In Hiding: Not So Famous Sisters of Famous Celebs
• Say Cheese! Unfortunate Yet Unforgettable Celebrity Mug Shots
• 8 Signs The Guy You’re Messing With Is NOT a Grown A** Man
• Reader Sound Off! Why the Nicki & Beyoncé Beauty Standard is WAY Off
• Want Kids? See What Mother’s Wish They Knew Before Starting A Family…
• Somebody Come Get This Fool: Bow Wow Reveals Celeb Chicks He Slept With

South Africa’s Simone Besterfield is making moves in online fashion and beauty advice. The 20-year-old part time student from Cape Town in South Africa started MyFashionBeautyTips.com in August 2011.

“MyFashionBeautyTips started out as a small website intended to give young girls and women inspirational ideas about Fashion, Beauty, Make-up, Hair and all other things ‘girly,’” Besterfield said on her website. Six months after its launch, the site currently receives about 1,200 hits daily and has a Facebook following of over 1170.

“I never in my wildest dreams thought that it would grow into such a popular website and get as many visitors as it does,” Besterfield, who started the site as a hobby, said. Besterfield is both the owner and editor of the site and works with web developer and SEO consultant Daniel. The site has tabs for everything fashion and beauty from hair, handbags and magazine to news shoes and make up. It features articles on fruit that help you lose weight, juicy couture and the highest earning women celebrities.

In a press-release Besterfield says she “keeps strict quality control on the website so that the content is always helpful and informative for her readers.”

She hopes that this year her site will reach 500,000 visitors.

A poster from the Democratic Alliance in South Africa’s Youth wing depicting a naked white man and black woman with the tagline “In OUR future, you wouldn’t look twice,” is causing some people to do much more than that in the present.

Most have been supportive of the alliance’s message of racial tolerance and integration, but others say they don’t approve of the sexual innuendo, much less the implication of white male dominance, as the Washington Post points out in comment found on the organization’s Facebook page:

“Who is the head of a house? Yes, a man, and the man makes the choices and the women listens. So to some it has been offensive that the man is white and the woman is black, because it places the black nation under the head of the house, so to speak.”

South Africa’s trade-union congress, which is closely aligned with the government, had a much stronger response:

“The poster says, ‘Join the DA to have an affair with a white person,’” Zet Luzipo, a provincial secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, told a South African news service.

“It entrenches the white supremacy that we fought against during the liberation struggle. We will not be excited with having an affair with a white person; we will not be enticed by that.”

Those who support DA Youth’s mission say this image has opened up a conversation that the country should have had nearly 20 years ago, and the alliance is standing strong in defense of the poster as well.

“We will not defend people who try to force others to comply with their preferences when those preferences show intolerance, unkindness, lack of imagination, failure of sympathy, absence of understanding, ignorance of alternative interests and needs in the human experience and arrogance in believing theirs is the only acceptable way.”

Sounds like the alliance is prepared for a fight.

Do you understand people being offended by the poster or do you think some are reading too much into the image?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Evening Eye Candies: 6 HOT Reasons to See “Red Tails” NOW…The Delicious Cast
• Sisters In Hiding: Not So Famous Sisters of Famous Celebs
• Delusions Of A Thirsty Chick
• Racism? Why I’m Not Surprised By The Help’s Nomination For Best Picture
• 7 Curl Defining Products to Get Your Curls and Coils Poppin’
• Traits of Trifling Parents
• He Loves Me: Men Who Just Adore Their Wives
• New Documentary Gets ‘In Our Heads About Our Hair’

You know Oprah wouldn’t miss the first graduating class from her school in South Africa, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, and she also wouldn’t show up at the graduation looking a mess. She kept it simple but fresh in this green frock, contrasting with the white dresses of her students.

Check out Oprah’s fit and some other pics from the day’s events at Styleblazer.com.

More on Madame Noire!

• Let’s Be Real: Things in Life You Need to Blame Yourself For From Time to Time
• Color on Campus: What It Really Feels Like to Be the Only Black Girl
• The Most Painful Things A Woman Can Say To A Man
• 10 Artists That Blew Up…But Shouldn’t Have
• We Are Family: Shocking Celebrity Relatives!
• Vitamin B(eautiful): Nutrients To Help You Stay Healthy and Gorgeous