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Austin, TX, many celebrities, athletes, and businessmen came out in support of the Beverly Kearney’s Sixth Annual Minority Mentorship Symposium during Texas Relays at the University of Texas. Ledisi, Kenny Latimore, LeToya Luckett, Keisha Knight-Pulliam, Michelle Williams, Malinda Williams, Bun B, Beverly Johnson, and India. Arie were all in attendance to at the star-studded symposium, Intimate Conversations with Greatness. The goal of the symposium according to Coach Beverly Kearney, who has been honored by BET and CNN for her excellence in education, is to give students an opportunity to understand the hard work that goes into being successful:

…annual mentorship program, which encourage real-life reality as it relates to our speakers sharing how they transitioned through failure to success. Our students need the truth of struggle to success – not just the glitz and glamor.

Check out a few pics of celebs doing positive things and looking good doing it. I giggled when I saw LeToya Luckett and Michelle Williams on stage, I bet they have a lot in common

More pictures from the symposium when you continue…

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Last night, Lexus held the Verses & Flow Live private event in Dallas, a unique event that was created to honor talented up and coming music artists and spoken word poets. I had the pleasure of being on location for this event and snapped a few pics along the way! The MC for the event was comedianne Ebony Steele, co-host of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show. The highlight of the evening came when Lexus presented their 2012 Lexus Pursuit Of Perfection award to this year’s recipient, actress Gabrielle Union.

Recorded words of congratulations were shown, from actor Hill Harper, who was last year’s recipient, and Gabrielle‘s boyfriend NBA star Dwyane Wade (who sang a small bit of Vesta‘s Congratulations for Gabrielle, eliciting AWWWWWWs from the women in the crowd). During her acceptance speech, Gabrielle talked about the murder of Trayvon Martin, saying that she has had difficulty sleeping and forgetting the cries for help Trayvon made during the 911 phone call. As an avid activist in the fight against breast cancer, Gabrielle accepted her award on behalf of “those who continue to fight”, whether it be for justice, for cancer research or for life. There was also a performance by up & coming artist Luke James!  Check out LOTS more pictures from the event and see if Lexus will bring Verses & Flow to your city, when you continue…

Check out more events for Lexus Verses & Flow here.

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Rihanna in the kitchen cooking? Why yes! The singer shared a few pictures of her family as they celebrated Grandma Clara “Dolly” Brathwaite’s birthday in an apartment in Brooklyn, NY. You know it’s a special occasion when you see Rihanna grocery shopping at Whole Foods, and cooking a traditional bajan meal in the kitchen. Gran Gran Dolly was a trooper and even sported her birthday gear with, “guns in the air.” Awwwww Happy Birthday Gran Gran Dolly.

Me and gran gran Dolly gonna celebrate tonight! Happy burrday gyal!!!!

1Love #piscesrule

But oh, it gets even cuter!!! You haven’t met Rihanna’s grandfather yet…

My GranDad: Robyn how ya is get hair from red to cream to black??? Cuz ya don’t carry wigs!!! Ya does wash it out?!

ME: ROTFL (no words)

Oh and Uncle Lester, too

Rihanna also tweets, “This how u know u got caribbean grandparents”…

You can only appreciate Rihanna for sharing this special family moment. There are not a lot of celebrities who would.

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If you missed last night’s 84th Academy Awards, more famously known as the Oscars, here’s a brief recap of the highlights. Octavia Spencer wins an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. It’s a wondrous moment, as she nearly faints when her name is called. Spencer accepts the award with humor and tears, thanking the the cute guy who escorted her onto the stage. I can’t say she’s a better actress than Viola Davis, but if you’ve seen The Help, you know that Minnie (played by Spencer) owns the movie.

Speaking of Viola Davis, she looks amazing as she walks down the red carpet. I am so proud that she walks the red carpet for the highest honor in film, as her beautiful natural self. Davis misses the Best Actress nomination to Meryl Streep. Oddly, I think it’s an honor to be in the company of Meryl Streep, who is probably the best actor of our day. When Meryl Streep’s name is announced, she kisses her dear friend Viola Davis and brushes Davis’s cheek. I think Meryl Streep wanted Viola Davis to win, the two worked together in the movie Doubt, where Viola Davis earned her first Oscar nod. It’s a bittersweet moment…I’m not mad that Meryl Streep wins the Oscar, just sad Viola Davis couldn’t win too.

For me, Esperanza Spalding’s voice is the highlight of the night. During the In Memoriam section of the Academy Awards, Esperanza Spalding sings What A Wonderful World. Not only is she beautiful and easy on the eyes, her voice is refreshing, clean, and technical. If you do not know Esperanza Spalding, then it’s time!!! Spalding is an amazing jazz musician. She not only sings, she also composes music, and plays the the bass.

The Best Film of the Year, is The Artist; a silent movie that won big last night. Maybe the Academy is trying to tell us less is more. During the age of blockbuster, big budget movies, plus computer animation and enhanced films, a silent film wins…a french silent film… O_-

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The Game’s Wendy Raquel Robinson, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne’s Lance Gross, reality star and legal analyst Star Jones, actress and dancer Vanessa Bell Calloway, singer Aaron Fresh, Grammy Nominated singer and songwriter Melky Jean (Wyclef’s sister), and Danny Glover all attended the Syncairly Yours first annual Diamonds & Caviar Fundraising Gala in Bermuda. The celebrities gathered on the luxurious island of Bermuda to help raise money and awareness to battle the influx of premature births and the impact of premature births on families. The celebrities were brought together by International Entertainment Mogul Qadree El-Amin at the beautiful Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort & Spa.

[Publicist Love Logan & Wendy Raquel Robinson aka Tasha Mack]

[Lance Gross]

[Special Thanks to Love Logan Productions]

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Octavia Spencer (The Help) wins Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Morgan Freeman wins Cecil B. DeMille award, and Idris “Yas” Elba (Luther) wins Best Actor in a Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie at the 69th Annual Golden Globes Awards in Beverly Hills. I was hoping Viola Davis could round out the win with a Best Actress in Drama for her role in The Help, but the award went to Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), who is arguably one of the best actress of our time. It’s hard to beat Meryl Streep!

Check out more pics of the winners and nominees when you continue, plus pics of Paula Patton and Mary J Blige. Congrats to all of the nominees and winners last night!

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CNN Heroes, is one of my favorite awards shows; everyday people doing extraordinary deeds for others. This year’s recipients stand up for human rights, fight crimes against children,  advocate for those in poverty, raise awareness and seek aid for the inflicted. These people prove that a single person with one big idea, can in fact change the world as we know it.

Legendary singer, Chaka Khan, hit the red carpet to show her support, along with many other celebrities including, Ice Cube and his fro, Veteran J R Martinez (winner of Dancing With the Stars), Holly Robinson-Peete, 50 Cent, and Rachel Crow.  Wow, didn’t take Rachel Crow long to bounce back and hit the red carpet with her famous smile.

[Rachel Crow]

[J R Martinez & GF Diana Jones]

More pics when you continue of Ice Cube and his daughter Kareema, and more…

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Dallas is the place to hide if you’re a celebrity. You can sneak in, take care of business, and exit quietly with little to no publicity splash. Oprah, Tyler Perry, and the cast of Red Tails which includes Ne-Yo, Cuba Gooding Jr, Terrence Howard, and Nater Parker attend a special private screening of Red Tails at the AMC Theater – Northpark Center in Dallas, TX. Red Tails is a based on the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, an esteem group of black pilots from the US Army Air Corps fighting as American heroes in World War II, during a racially segregated period in our country. This movie focuses on the struggles the Tuskegee Airmen faced integrating the US army, plus their desire to help America win a war and stand up for the values professed in the Constitution.

Check out the trailer when you continue, and see why Oprah was so impressed with Ne-Yo that she sent him a special tweet:

@neyocompound you were really good and added humor to this film. I loved the camaradie with the bro’s. Loved meeting you.

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Angela Simmons, Russell Simmons, Kimora Lee, and Djimon Hounsou attend the 3rd Annual “Change Begins Within” Benefit in Los Angeles hosted by the David Lynch Foundation.  The Change Begins Within campaign teaches at risk kids stress reducing meditation techniques to reduce incidents of violence and increase focus in the classroom. O_0 The meditation reportedly works well!

Since then, nearly 150,000 inner-city students have begun utilizing these techniques to eliminate traumatic stress that undermines academic achievement and short-circuits lives. These students have dramatically better test scores, grades, and graduation rates while drop out rates, suspensions, and expulsions have greatly decreased. {Source}

More pics when you continue…Angela Simmons is all grown up, now!

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Jurnee Smollett is all grown up, and she is one of my favorite people in Hollywood, and has been since she was three. I just love the way that young women like Raven Symone, Tia & Tamera Mowry, Kyla Pratt, and Jurnee Smollett have transitioned from childhood actresses into beautiful adult women. Along the way they have managed to maintain their dignity, and work in such a manner that is classy, respectful, and inspirational to so many young girls. Obviously growing up in the spotlight isn’t easy, but these young women have managed to do so in a positive manner.

Whenever any of the women mentioned above are working on projects, MrsGrapevine.com is happy to promote their projects. So, check out Jurnee Smollett at the 21st Annual Beat The Odds Awards in Beverly Hills, hosted by the Children’s Defense Fund-California:

Founded in 1990,  Beat the Odds honors outstanding high schools students who have overcome tremendous adversity, demonstrated academic excellence and given back to their communities. The program identifies and rewards young people who have experienced significant hardship in their lives and supports and trains them to become future leaders in adulthood.

More pics when you continue…Plus pics of Zoe Saldana, who also attended the awards ceremony.

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Lila Brown reporting for MrsGrapevine.com attends the 2011 Soul Train Music Awards. I just want to share a few red carpet pictures from the event with our readers. ALL of this hustling and ALL of the work we do behind this computer…is ALL for each and everyone of you. Check out a few of your favorite celebs on the red carpet: Tami Roman, Shaunie O’Neal, Sheree Whitfield, Cynthia Bailey, Eric Benet, Earth Wind & Fire, Kenny Latimore, Robin Thicke, Phaedra & Apollo Parks, Jasmine Guy, Traci & Evelyn Braxton, plus Tamar:

[Tami Roman]

[Tamar Braxton]

Lots more pics when you continue reading…

[Shaunie O'Neal]

[Sheree Whitfield]

[Earth Wind & Fire]

[Singer Lloyd]

[Marsha Ambrosious]

[Robin Thicke]

[Phaedra & Apollo Parks]

[Jasmine Guy]

[Kenny Latimore]

[Traci & Ms Evelyn Braxton]

[Mary Mary]

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The 2011 Glamour Women of the Year Awards honoring Jennifer Lopez, is simply a night of beauty and charity. LaLa Anthony looks amazing in all pink, while Jennifer Lopez is stunning in her Atelier Versace dress with a thigh high split. Kerry Washington and Wendy Williams are also beautiful on the red carpet.

Jennifer Lopez nearly in tears as she accepts the award, dedicates her speech to the women in her life, who are obviously helping her through difficult times with the divorce and transitioning to a single mother of twins.

It’s the women. Through the ups and the not so ups, that’s the one thing that got me through. My grandmother, who taught me to cook and not be afraid to serve and be humble. And to go out looking nice because people like that and then they respect you…My daughter Emme (3) inspires me to be a better human being.

More pics when you continue…

Jennifer Lopez better werk it in her Versace dress and Jimmy Choos!!!

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Alicia Keys hosted her 8th Annual Keep A Child Alive Black Ball at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC, and it was indeed a star studded event. Celebs in attendance included, Queen Latifah, Kerry Washington, Carmela & LaLa Anthony,  Serena Williams, Clive Davis, Chanel Iman, will.i.am, and Tyra Banks. Swizz Beatz was also in attendance; he escorted his wife on red carpet. Swizzy and Alicia Keys pulled off another successful gala all in the name of charity. Congrats!

On a *side note* I wonder if Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys are planning on having anymore kids.  I know it’s off topic, just popped in my head. Continue reading for more pics…

Serena Williams seemed uncomfortable in all of the pics or distracted. Maybe she had a lot on her mind…

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Artist for Peace “Never Again” Concert took place Monday Night in Universal City, CA to honor Stevie Wonder and peace efforts against genocide.  It was the Lost & Found event of the year. Bobby Brown made an appearance, along with Eric Benet, Pras, Wayne Brady, and Tommy Davidson. Seriously where have all of these people been? Chaka Khan serenaded her good friend Stevie Wonder. Many of you may not know this, I really didn’t either (I’m not that old), but before their was a Beyonce, Chaka Khan held the title of the voice with the body.  As you can see below in her leopard boots and bodysuit, Ms Chaka Khan is holding on to that title.

Actually in her younger years, Chaka Khan and Nicki Minaj resemblance is quite striking. It’s almost eerie. I would like to see Nicki Minja remake this photo in Ebony Icons.

Anyway, back to the topic. Stevie Wonder is holding on to his braids, but I don’t know how much longer the braids can hold on, his iconic look is fading fast. Eric Benet, steps out on the red carpet with his wife pregnant Manuela, who is also the ex-wife of Prince. Plus pics of Bobby Brown, Tommy Davidson, and Wayne Brady when you continue…

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Celebs hit up the 2011 Angel Ball (Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research) in New York City, and of course everyone looks amazing, but there is something about Eve, that just stands out to me. Not really feeling the pants suit at a gala, but the color and the hair just really makes her features pop. Look at those cheek bones poppin’.

More pictures from the Angel Ball, including LaLa Anthony, Kim Kardashian, Solange & Tina Knowles…

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Diddy just recently coming off some bad press after being checked by Rapper T.I. over some vodka issues, is making news for doing something great. I know everyone likes the drama and what not, but when a celebrity does a good, it shouldn’t go unnoticed. Diddy helps save the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem by donating a significant amount money.

So significant, that the amount has not been revealed, but will save the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem from having to cut their programming and operating budget. More details when you continue…*claps hands for Diddy*

October 11, 2011 (New York, N.Y.) The Boys & Girls Club of Harlem, an organization dedicated to youth development by providing access and opportunities for young people in their community regardless of economic, social and family circumstances, today announced a remarkable contribution from business magnate Sean Combs, founder of the entertainment conglomerate Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide.

The donation will significantly impact the organization’s operations budget, which has been under tremendous pressure due to enormous shifts in federal, state and private funding.

“Mr. Combs’ contribution comes at a time when we were faced with the possibility of eliminating existing programs and/or club sites. 100% of Mr. Combs’ contribution will go directly to the young people, and provide educational, recreational and social enrichment programs allowing us to move forward as a club, uninterrupted.” Willie C. Bentley, Jr. Board Member and Resource Development Chair.

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So Jennifer Hudson just skips the Michael Jackson Tribute in Wales at the last minute. In other words, the singer is a no-show at a tribute for the King of Pop. Now get this, the singer has been paid in advance of the show and pulls out just hours before show time. But why would Jennifer Hudson do such a thing? Jennifer Hudson has been so reliable in the past, even stepping in at the last minute to bail out Donald Trump at a charity event when Rihanna was a no show.

Find out why Jennifer Hudson pulls out of the concert at the last minute when you continue…I’m not saying she’s a diva, well actually, that’s exactly what I am saying…READ on!

To my uk fans that were coming to the mj show in wales. I will no longer be attentding [sic] due to major production issues. I would have thought they would have informed you all by now , so since they did not , I am. Thank u for your support. {via twitter}

According to TMZ, Jennifer Hudson was upset over “production issues”:

According to our sources, Hudson is claiming she felt the show’s producers didn’t give her enough time with the music she was supposed to be singing. According to our sources, Jennifer received her music the same time as all the performers.

Our sources say JHud signed her contract and was paid in full.

A rep for Hudson confirms the reason she cancelled, but says producers “completely understood.” Our sources say that’s not the case at all.

Since Jennifer Hudson has lost the weight her personality doesn’t seem as humble as before, this is coming from a Jennifer Hudson stand. I also can’t believe Jennifer Hudson gets on twitter, and says that the MJ Tribute should have told her fans by now. Ummm, they were probably too busy trying to re-produce the show to cover Jennifer’s last minute cancellation. I am sure more details will follow…so stay tuned!Similar Posts:

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Rihanna goes back to red, but don’t worry, it’s only a wax statue of Rihanna this time. Yes, Rihanna gets waxed for the Madam Tussauds Museum in London. I think they did a great job, down to the red wig and all. What do you think?

I know someone had fun sculpting this statue. Look at the details in the legs. More pics…

Oh Snap! They got the rat tail comb out, they are making sure they do Rihanna just right.

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Amber Rose, the model, is happy to be in Ghana.  Amber Rose has been confirmed as the host of Vodafone 020 Live, a concert in Ghana that will feature local artists, along with singer Trey Songz as the headline. Amber Rose is also scheduled to visit an Islamic school  and speak on the importance of education for girls. It’s refreshing too see another side of Amber Rose, not often seen:

Just landed in Ghana, everyone here is so sweet! I really can’t believe I’m in Africa right now! God is great. TeamAmberRose and I went to a village in Ghana today we laughed, cried and the locals made us really cool bracelets. It was an amazing experience.

Apparently I am not the only one happy to see a certain side of Amber Rose. I was so excited about this picture, but at a second glance, I noticed something not so amusing…Do you see it, too or is it just me? Continue reading to see what I’m talking about… Ugh! No matter where you go men will be men, but at least Amber Rose is stepping out of her comfort zone to do something more worth-while. So we’ll just ignore the men staring at her backside instead of smiling for the cameras. I can’t wait to go to Ghana!

OK, now this picture is a lot better…Although Amber Rose was born in the states, she does have real African roots. She is half Cape Verdean. Cape Verde is small island off the coast of Africa.

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