Real Housewives of Atlanta Star, Kandi Burruss Chats with The Glamazons

Anybody remember when I met Kandi Burruss of Real Housewives of Atlanta at The Magazine? Well, back then, she had just started the show and we (her, Ferocia, Magazine staffers and I) chatted about everything from her songwriting (TLC's No Scrubs is a favorite) to her Mom's disapproval of her late fiancee A.J. to her beef with Nene. Now, she's back for a new season of the hit show and a new album with a fresh, positive outlook on life.

And can I add that her album is glaaamazing! I heard it for the first time last night at her album signing at Carol's Daughter in Harlem. Her voice should be a national treasure the way she hits high notes. I've been playing the intro nonstop where she does vocal acrobatics with expert ease (Kim, pay attention!). The lyrics are beautifully-written and sung with pure, raw emotion that any woman can relate to. Along with Kanye's latest classic, Kandi Koated will be dominating my iPod for months to come.

Along with a stellar new album, Kandi opened up to me about her hair secrets, her popular Atlanta boutique Tags and why she continues to put effort into Kim's controversial singing career.

Watch the video of our interview at Carol's Daughter here:




Make sure you pick up her new album, Kandi Koated. You will thank me! (And if you already have it, tell me what song is your favorite in the comments section.)

Here's hoping she invites The Glamazons on Kandi-Koated nights next, LOL.


Kisses,

Coutura

SHE'S BACK!!! Watch Mary J. Blige Tonight On HSN!

Hey Glamazons! I know we just gave you the scoop on Carol's Daughter with the Chrisette Michelle interview (isn't she the cutest?!), but I feel that it's my beauty duty to also let you know that Mary J. Blige will be back on HSN tonight. (Get excited!)

In case you've been hiding out on an island somewhere and don't know anything about this, Mary J. Blige collaborated with Carol's Daughter to create her own signature fragrance, My Life. In what some said is a crazy move (because how do you sell something no one can smell?!), she teamed up with the good folks down at HSN to sell My Life on television and the rest is history! Not only did she break records by selling more than 72,000 bottles (that's $3 million in sales!) but she also donated $1 from each sell to the nonprofit organization she shares with Steve Stoute called Foundation For The Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN).

Wowza! Luckily, I had the opportunity to fly down to HSN (it's located in Tampa, FL..that's a pic of Mary and I on-set above) interview and watch the songtress in action on-set. It was quite amazing!

Although I won't be on-set with her this time (insert sad face here) I did have the opportunity to sit and chat with Mary over lunch Tuesday afternoon about her fragrance, life and other fun stuff. She eagerly mentioned that this time around she will be selling My Life gift sets that will consist of the fragrance, body lotion and shower gel. She also plans to have a couple of surprise celeb call-ins (last time Oprah called in and I thought I was going to pass out..literally!)

Mary will kick off selling again today at midnight and continue segments into tomorrow (12/10) during the following times:

-1 a.m.

-12 p.m.

-2 p.m.

-4 p.m.

-9 p.m.

-10 p.m.

With every purchase made, $1 will be donated to FFAWN. Be sure to tune in and support Mary, Glamazons! I can't even begin to tell you what an amazing and inspirational woman she is! For more deets, visit the Carol's Daughter Facebook page.

xo

Ferocia

10 Minutes with...Chrisette Michele

It's rare that you meet a Glamazon who is brilliant, talented and beautiful all in one. Chrisette Michele and Carol's Daughter owner, Lisa Price, are all that and more. I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing them both at an in-store event at the Carol's Daughter event in Harlem. Days like that are why I love this city!

Even though I was beyond exhausted from a whirlwind holiday schedule, I took the train from my job on Wall Street uptown to one of my favorite places: 125th street in Harlem. The legendary street which is always bustling with people of all ages also houses the first Carol's Daughter boutique. On this particular Monday, the block was lined with Chrisette Michele fans eager to meet their favorite soul singer.

 

They weren't alone. I was just as excited to sit down with Chrisette as she prepared for the release of her latest album, Let Freedom Reign. We had met once before at Fashion Rocks around the time I started this blog and a lot has changed since then.

For one, she ditched the long weave for a gorgeous short natural cut, and her musical content has taken a new direction as well. She tells me all about it in the video below. Check it out!





I was lucky enough to chat with the woman behind those glamazing products Chrisette speaks of: Lisa Price.

A beauty expert and entrepreneur, Price gave me all the secrets behind her upcoming Carol's Daughter products...and dished on why she loves Chrisette Michele and Harlem.





Don't you just adore them both? Shop some Carol's Daughter finds below including Chrisette Michele's faves:

More Carol's Daughter...

And tell me what you think of Chrisette Michele's new album. Goodbye Game is my sooong!

Kisses,

Coutura

Mary J. Blige Creates A "Life" Fragrance

Mary J. Blige may be joining the "I'm A Celebrity And Launching My Own Fragrance" bandwagon, but she's completely bucking the trend when it comes to how she's launching it.

Named My Life [after her groundbreaking 1994 album; still one of her best, I'd say!], the fragrance will launch exclusively on HSN July 31 and will then be sold at Carol's Daughter. [No surprise there considering that Blige is a shareholder in the company, Carol's Daughter].

Turns out that Blige also had the inside scoop when it comes to fragrance creation with her family tie to Pamela Baxter, president and chief executive officer of LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics North America. Baxter is married to the uncle of Blige's husband, Kendu Isaacs.

According to wwd.com, the scent's top notes are gardenia petals, Bartlette pear and white freesia; the heart is tuberose, blooming jasmine, gold lily and apricot flower and the drydown is cashmere woods, praline, sesame and incense. Blige admitted that she had no problem taking her time in creating the fragrance and was very adamant about being involved in the total process. Here's what she had to say about her new juice:

"It's a special tribute to us as women. My fans and I are smart now. We know we're smart now, but we didn't know it then. We know we're beautiful now, we didn't know it then. We're educated now, we didn't know it then. We're soft, we're edgy - we're all those things. And I wanted this perfume to represent every female's everyday life."

Now, if that's not empowering, I don't know what is! Blige also shared with WWD that she's currently taking French and acting classes in preparation for her acting debut as Nina Simone in the biopic film slated for 2012 release. She also plans to launch her own eyewear line this fall, Melodies by Mary J. Blige.

My Life, the fragrance, will retail for $46 and I personally can't wait to get my hands on this one!

xo

Ferocia

*images from wwd.com