Get to know your Alabama JET Beauties

 

The renowned weekly published African American magazine, JET, has given many of Alabama’s own the opportunity to have one page dedicated to their beauty.

The page that many men desired to reach and the page that many women desired to be on is the, ‘JET Beauty of the Week’ page.

The Chicago’s Johnson Publication Company published magazine was founded in 1951 by entrepreneur John Harold Johnson.

The Johnson Publication gave men the opportunity to drop their jaw and African American women the opportunity to show off their beauty to the world.

Some of the most recent Sweet Home Alabamians that have been given the opportunity were Kenyetta ‘Sway’ Smiley, Talon Rawls, and Shanel Nelson.

Raised in Montgomery, Sway started modeling during her teenage years and became part of an agency out of Atlanta at the age of 19. She has moved up in the modeling field to an assistant, fashion show coordinator, runway walk trainer, mentor, inspirational public speaker and event host. Sway now has her own modeling agency, Sway’s Way Modeling Group which is located in Montgomery. She attended Faulkner University where she received her bachelor’s degree in business. Looking up to the inspirational model, Tyra Banks, Sway found herself having similar characteristics. “She’s a black women, doing things her way, and as a child she was not looked at as the most pretty girl being because she was overly tall and very skinny, (now add glasses to that picture and you got me as a child).” Sway describes the best characteristics of a model should be: “personality, their own sense of style, ability to adapt quickly and take criticism.”

Talon stared modeling at the age of 13, but had no clue that something she seen as a hobby would grow into something she still continues to pursue. Staying close to her home, Montgomery, Talon attends Auburn University of Montgomery. Talon was intending to bring something different to JET Magazine, “I was curious to see if i could make it, I never seen anyone in the JET with an exotic look and tattoos so i was eager to make that happen.” Talon is one of many models whose home agency is Sway’s Way Modeling Agency. Talon advises anyone who wants to be a model to always: “Be professional, Speak with confidence, and always find ways to be on top of your game from the next model such as eating right, working out, and do your HOMEWORK research other famous models.”

Also from Montgomery, Shanel attended Auburn University where she obtained three degree. Starting to model at the age of 18 and now also being part of the Sway’s Way Modeling Group, Shanel’s dream goal since the age of 4 was to be a model. “I have been prancing and prissy since I was 4 years old, I was waiting to get taller, but learned there are other parts of the industry that I could excel in. Once I explored those opportunities I knew I was a force to be reckoned with!” Shanel looked up to the beautiful Halle Berry, finding that she had similar body structure. Anyone that wants to be a model but doesn’t feel they have the ideal model image, Shanel inspires them to, “find your look and rock it! This industry is about being unique in every way and standing apart from the next beautiful person!”

JET Magazine is still up and running as it did 60 years ago. If anyone wants to gain some inspirational knowledge about a chance to chase a dream in the field of modeling, these ladies and few other Alabama JET Beauties also JET magazine fashion photographer Michael Carson and some of the fashion and entertainment industry leaders from Alabama and Georgia will be at the Power & Beauty: JET Beauty Edition event. The event will be held at the Highland Conference Center in Birmingham, Saturday June 25, 2011 at 9 p.m.

Are you working on your ‘Look Good Naked?’

When going to one of the many fitness centers you may say that you’re working on your abs, chest or lower body, but why not say, “I’m working on my LGN?” LGN being your Look Good Naked is not saying an overall full body workout, but an overall full body experience.

LGN Tees wants everyone to do just that, as they call it “living the good life.” The good life as defined by one of the three owners of the Chapman Mobley Nwagwu as having fun, living stress free, no boundaries and enjoying life.

The term LGN moved from an in the gym dispute of who looks better to an empowerment term used on Facebook and Twitter based on promoting the slogan, ‘living the good life.’

“It started in a gym but doesn’t end in the gym. Not everybody works out, we would like for people to do that to be healthy but we want everyone to enjoy life, because you only have one of them,” said owner Bernard Nwagwu.

The LGN Tees logo, the transparent eagle, was created transparent to give the impression of being a desired reflection of having no restrictions and no boundaries.

In the background of the eagle is the LGN Tees Creed that is a pledge to pursue ones dreams and to enhance what you have already been given: your mind, body and spirit.

Being in the starting peek of their business, the growth of LGN Tees has already surpassed their expectations.

“We believe in what we’re doing at LGN Tees and we’re going to make every effort to say we put a good foot forward and that we tried,” said Nwagwu

The summer line of LGN Tees can be obtained and viewed online at lgntees.com. The latest alteration to the ladies shirt, Power & Beauty, will debut at the Power & Beauty: Jet Beauty Edition event celebration at the Highland Conference Center in Birmingham, Alabama June 25 at 9:00pm.

Returning home to perform in the 5th Anniversary of the Preserve Jazz Festival, Alabama Hall of Fame inductee, Eric Essix, tells Urbanham how he made it to the top.

By TreNeisha Ross
tross@urbanham.com

It has been said that in order to get your foot in the door of a record label, you have to know someone that knows someone; however, this was not the case for Birmingham’s own Eric Essix.

Singing in church and listening to a few of the world’s greatest artist, Essix was inspired at the age of 10 to learn how to play the guitar. At the start of his career in 1987, Essix never waited for anyone to give him anything.

“I knew I wanted to make records and play music, so I just did it without stopping to think about how difficult it would be,” said Essix.

Using his proactive ambition to be part of a difficult to enter industry, as the music field, Essix used his own money to finance and produce every single to take to record labels.

“No one was more interested in my success than me, so I have worked hard to get where I want to be in the music industry and often times that has meant making my own way,” Essix said.

During his pursuit of success, Essix faced many detrimental and unfavorable aspects of life, including the loss of his mother.
“Being without a record label for a few years and many personal challenges along the way have been difficult; however, each one in some way has always made me stronger and led to bigger and better things.”

Essix has released over four albums, 40 songs and has started his own record label, Essential Recordings where next year he is hoping to release his 8th album. He is just now returning from a tour performance in Israel and Hungary where he enjoys interacting with people from different cultures.

“It is such a humbling experience and I look forward to every opportunity I have to travel abroad and share music,” said Essix. “We really take for granted in this country the power our music (jazz & blues) has in the minds and hearts of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.”

Essix encourages those who would like to pursue a career in the music industry to not wait on an opportunity but to create an opportunity.

He explained how the old model for the music business of waiting to be signed by label and putting a record out has deceased. “We are living in an age of technology where (for better or worse) it is possible to make music available to the audience easier than ever before in our history,” said Essix. “I still believe if you put good music out there, someone will hear you.”

This year in the annual Preserve Jazz Festival, Essix will be performing with special guest and saxophone player Eric Darius. Essix assures that this year’s performance will be a performance that attendees will not soon forget.

“We are proud to promote an event that brings in major national artist for a day that exclusively showcases contemporary and traditional jazz in a beautiful outdoor setting that is not Florida or Atlanta,” said Essix. “It brings all kind of different people together in harmony and peace with a common goal to enjoy a day of food, music, and fellowship. And that is a beautiful thing to see.”

The 2011 Preserve Jazz Festival will be held Sunday, June 5th starting at 4pm in the Preserve- Hoover, Alabama.