This #essencefest was one for the record books, in This #essencefest was one for the record books, in more ways than one.  Nola will always be one of my favorite places to visit, and I’m looking forward to being in the place again next year. Until then…
My first full day at #essencefest is in the books. My first full day at #essencefest is in the books. It’s very—different from years past, but I’m proud to be covering it this year. 🙌🏾
Awesome human. Magna Cum Laude. Editor-in-Chief. Awesome human. 
Magna Cum Laude.
Editor-in-Chief.
School podcaster.
Quill and Scroll recipient.
Citizenship award winner.
Spirit of Excellence  Award 8 yrs. running. 
Class of 2022. 
Job well done, daughter!
P R O M. That’s the caption. P R O M. That’s the caption.
You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar. 🎓#classof2022
Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! Laylah is off Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! 

Laylah is officially registered at St. John’s University and will begin her freshman year in August as a Public Relations Major. I’m so proud of her hard work and dedication—proud of the young woman that she has become.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. Dan Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. 

Danyelle Little, the NEW Director of Marketing and Communications at @rungforwomen . Been sitting on this for a while—now it’s officially official. 🙌🏾
Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ev Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ever have. Kind. Supportive. Talented. Creative. Caring. Smart. Courageous. The list goes on and on. You’ve overcome so much in the past year, and I know that God’s plan for you is working. I love you more than words can say. ❤️❤️❤️
And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Cl And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Class of 2026! 🙌🏾@stjohnsu #acceptedstudentday
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Controversy, FABulous Women, Watercooler · September 20, 2010

ELLE Magazine & The ‘Lightening’ of Actress Gabourey Sidibe


When I found out that Academy Award nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe was going to be on the cover of ELLE magazine, I was elated. Here was a sister with meat on her bones sporting unperfect perfection. Gabby would be gracing the coveted cover of a fashion magazine that is usually held for underweight waifs with little substance. Despite what you may have heard (or been force fed by the media), Gabby is fierce. Baby, she is a thick snack with a confidence unseen in women like her. I thought, “ELLE magazine is all good with me!”. But that was before I saw the cover of ELLE.

I first saw the cover online and was shocked and appalled. WHO is this chick? Certainly, it isn’t the chocolicious lovely young woman we first came to love in the movie ‘Precious’. Not only did the cover not doing her justice (bad hair, subpar pose, awful crop job) but her skin was most un-luminous and shaded three to four shades lighter than her actual skin tone.

Not good.

Now I am not an expert when it comes to photography and lightening, but I do know during the photography process, angles, lighting, and other tricks can be used to slim a face, contour, and yes, make someone look lighter. We would be hard pressed to find any celebrity that has been photographed for a cover that hasn’t been altered in some kind of way for “creative” purposes. But when does it go too far?

Gabourey’s skin has been lightened in a way that is distasteful and downright wrong on this ELLE cover. So much so that it tinges or borders on racism. Is having a chocolate fabulous sister on the cover too much for ELLE readers?

And we cannot just discuss ELLE without discussing other magazines who are guilty of this practice. Airbrushing is one thing but ‘whitewashing’ or ‘lightening’ the skin tone in such a degree that it looks like a Porcelana ad (Porcelana is a skin cream which lightens skin) is another. Sophisticates Black Hair Care Guide is another publication that is guilty of airbrushing and over lightening skin of the celebs that grace the cover. I often do a double or triple take at the cover because the stars are unrecognizable. Just as I hold ELLE responsible for this egregious error, I have to also fault Sophisticates Black Hair Care Guide for overdoing the use of “artistic integrity”.

I will no longer buy ELLE magazine until they issue a complete apology to Gabourey and to their readers and to the Black community. And presently, ELLE is not backing down from their stance.

“We absolutely did not lighten her skin,” Elle’s EIC Robbie Myers told E! last night at the Oscar de la Renta show. “It’s not a controversy.”

—Fashionista.com

What is your take on Gabby’s ELLE cover?

Below is a photo comparison of Gabby. Decide for yourself:

Photo credit: PopEater


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In: Controversy, FABulous Women, Watercooler · Tagged: Controversy, ELLE, Gabourey Sidibe, magazines

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This #essencefest was one for the record books, in This #essencefest was one for the record books, in more ways than one.  Nola will always be one of my favorite places to visit, and I’m looking forward to being in the place again next year. Until then…
My first full day at #essencefest is in the books. My first full day at #essencefest is in the books. It’s very—different from years past, but I’m proud to be covering it this year. 🙌🏾
Awesome human. Magna Cum Laude. Editor-in-Chief. Awesome human. 
Magna Cum Laude.
Editor-in-Chief.
School podcaster.
Quill and Scroll recipient.
Citizenship award winner.
Spirit of Excellence  Award 8 yrs. running. 
Class of 2022. 
Job well done, daughter!
P R O M. That’s the caption. P R O M. That’s the caption.
You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar. 🎓#classof2022
Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! Laylah is off Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! 

Laylah is officially registered at St. John’s University and will begin her freshman year in August as a Public Relations Major. I’m so proud of her hard work and dedication—proud of the young woman that she has become.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. Dan Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. 

Danyelle Little, the NEW Director of Marketing and Communications at @rungforwomen . Been sitting on this for a while—now it’s officially official. 🙌🏾
Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ev Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ever have. Kind. Supportive. Talented. Creative. Caring. Smart. Courageous. The list goes on and on. You’ve overcome so much in the past year, and I know that God’s plan for you is working. I love you more than words can say. ❤️❤️❤️
And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Cl And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Class of 2026! 🙌🏾@stjohnsu #acceptedstudentday
Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Lo Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Louis Family Magazine—page 10 to be exact! I’m honored to be able to share a glimpse into my life as an author, Social Media Manager, and most importantly, a mom! 💕

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