Fashiona

One of biggest compliments that  Fashiona’s mom  has paid her recently is on the “quality of her close friends.” While Fashiona is  generally a friendly and upbeat person, she surrounds herself with like minded people and quickly divorces herself from equally toxic people.  Having traveled the world extensively, she has found that  race, religion, title, career choice or  background is of little consequence  when Fashiona is choosing her friends.

What DOES matter to her is that they are loyal and honest and agree to disagree.  They support her (and viceversa) when she is on the right path and give her tough love when she is being self-destructive.  Another quality that her close friends have…is their ability to  learn from their mistakes and to resist the “woe is me” mentality.

Consider celebrities like:

• Mary J. Blidge vs. Lil Kim~Mary has evolved from a being young woman with a troubled past into a dynamic wife and step-mother with an admirable singing career.Lil Kim is turning herself into a Barbie doll.
  

• Hillary Clinton vs. Sarah Palin~Both suffered a major political defeat last year. Mrs. Palin has continued whining incessantly while  Ms. Clinton accepted the position of Secretary of State.
  

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In the example of Tyra vs. Naomi Campbell: They are both about the same age and achieved comparable success in their respective  modeling careers. Tyra has traded in her swimsuits for a TV career (not that Fashiona particularly cares for either show but does applaud her growth).

Ms. Naomi (who even more beautiful in Fashiona’s opinion)seems to be finally emerging from her cycle of cell phone temper tantrums and using her fame for good causes. Ms. Campbell first launched her Fashion for Relief in 2005 to help bring aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Photo Credit: EPA

Naomi Campbell modeling for her Fashion for Relief event London last year.

Next week she is partnering  with  India’s Vikram Chatwal  to help Mumbai recover from the horrific terrorist attacks they suffered last year. Some of the most glamorous designer labels in the world, including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Zac Posen, Roberto Cavalli, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Matthew Williamson, Diane von Furstenberg, Manolo Blahnik and Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee are all lending their  designs to  a charity fashion show held on March 28. to help kick off Lakme Fashion Week.

Has Naomi really turned a corner in light of her more positive recent headlines? …Fashiona certainly hopes so and maybe it hints to  Naomi  “cleaning” up her inner circle?

Fashiona’s best friend,Topaz, always says “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.”

Truer words have never been spoken and is one of the premises behind the hit show Harlem Heights which follows the lives of 8 black professionals and their friends who are all post college 20 somethings in their pursuit of  love, life and happiness.

Four episodes into a 10 part series, Alicia “aka” Fashiona interviewed Randolph Sturrup,co-creator of the show.  She and he went to college together at Florida A & M and  have a shared love of business and the creative world. 

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: What is the average age of the cast? They seem young…or are we getting older?

Randolph: They are between 25-30 and remind me of us when we first came to New  York…full of dreams and boundless energy.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: You are right…it is like a flashback but these days I prefer stomping around Brooklyn.  I see that June Ambrose, a well known stylist,  is attached to the project.  How involved is she?

Randolph: For most part the cast, “dressed” themselves and June came in as needed. How do you like their style?

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: I have plenty of comments on that but I will save them for a post next week. But for the most part, they are true to their own style and that counts for a lot.  What was the casting process and is any part of the show scripted?

Randolph: All the cast members knew each other directly or indirectly and so there was a certain chemistry built it.  I call it a docudrama-because it is a documentary with all the drama.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: Drama yes…4 episodes in and I can sense a bougie showdown coming between Ashlie and Brooke.  All that pettiness is the no 1 reason I never pledged.  I knew that New York City  would be more than enough of a hazing process for me.  I  worked briefly with Briana and I appreciate her realness then and now.

So  far, we are getting a taste of what the cast is doing these days. Will we get to know more about their various backgrounds and what really led them to Harlem?

Randolph: Yes, in later episodes, the cast of characters reveal more of themselves. One of my goals was to really start a conversation on what really happens after college.  You and I have been in situations like in episode 4 where  the  offensive question comes up “Why didn’t you go to regular college?”(referring to choosing a HBCU). We all have our stories and reasons for the choices we make… Harlem Heights shares that experience of these 8 and their friends.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: Again I applaud you for  spearheading such a quality production.  What is next for you?

Randolph: My plate is full right now with pending projects and when I get the green light, you will be one of the first to know.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona: One last question: The girls on the cast  are very attractive.  Do you have your eye on anyone?

Randolph:(Laughing) I am like Papa Smurf to them.

Alicia “aka”Fashiona does not  buy it and drills him off the record…

See the remaining 6 episodes of Harlem Heights Monday nights on BET 10 pm eastern/9 central.

Alicia “aka”

Fashiona braved the bitter cold in her signature fishnets to attend the premiere of the much anticipated Harlem Heights at the Apollo.

Photo Credit:Divine(Day)Richards

To see more of her photos go to www.betterphotos.com and type in Divine Richards in the search area.

Verdict…Bravo…the cinematography was impeccable (as said by Mr.”Beats”). The tasteful make-up was expertly applied, hair and clothing choices fit the characters  perfectly. Fashiona credits fellow Rattler and SBI graduate Randolph Sturrup for spearheading  such a  high class production (one time for FAMU). The series starts on Election Night when the world changed for us all. 

The balanced cast of the fashionista Brinana, hustler Jason, pretty boy Pierre, do gooder Landon,  scene stealing Brooke, actress/diva  Ashlie, go-getter Bridget, and milk chocolate Christian…get ready for some drama.  Don’t let the designer threads, high class jobs and pedigrees fool you…this cast is young, full of drive and fiercely competitive in their personal and professional life.

Cast from left to right: Pierre, Brooke, Landon, Bridget, Jason, Ashlie, Christian and Briana

Watch your back Ashlie…Brooke showed you her trump card…don’t play Checkers~doll…she is playing Chess.  Catch  new episodes of Harlem Heights every Monday at 10/9C. 

So Fashiona and Topaz were out on the town last night, dressed to the nines…their destination the Katra Lounge for Roxie’s Masquerade Ball.

Fashiona trekked across Brooklyn to Dina’s to get ready…why well not. Two hours later… gowns professionally steamed,  make-up and lashes expertly applied and Dina our resident über stylist snapping pictures…the glam dolls then ease into a cab and are whisked away to the lower East Side.

Fashiona, feline in more ways than one,prefers to observe a room before she pounces…

However, Ms.Topaz emboldened by her red lipstick…dove right in, chatting up the opera singer.

Lucia Palmieri, a soprano soloist,amazed the crowd with songs from the Phantom of the Opera.

Fashiona learned while interviewing Lucia after her performance, that she worked as a cook and actually owned her own restaurant before a fateful meeting landed her in Julliard and singing with New York Grand Opera.  Just as Fashiona found Roxie through Craig’s List, so did Lucia and decided to lend her voice to help raise Roxie raise money for her volunteer efforts.

Lights, camera, flash and repeat……

Many pictures and a few fancy foo foo sandwiches later…Roxana Colorado arrived… and looked absolutely FANTABULOUS. Fashiona loved her look (Eva Longeria meets WestSide Story) right down to the fire engine red peep toe pumps.

Once center stage, Roxana spun a tale of a single mother leaving her homeland with her children and  coming to New York City, learning English and putting herself through school…a story repeated by many immigrants from all parts of the world.  Well…this woman was Roxana’s mother…and by the story’s end our hearts were a-flutter. Roxana, second generation New Yorker, is very cognizant of her mother’s bold courage and struggle found a way to give back.

In April, Miss Roxana is going to Peru to work in an orphanage…talk about a party with a purpose.

Bon Voyage Roxie

~ Fashiona thanks you for allowing her to share this journey with you.