Kiara Kabukuru

Kiara Kabukuru is in this month’s issue of Red UK magazine. She made a wonderful series of shoots entitled 'Work to weekend'.

Kiara is an American model originally from Uganda.She was born in 1976 in Uganda and started modelling in the 90’s. Her face must be familiar to you as she modelled for L’Oreal. She also made campaigns for Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino, Calvin Klein and CoverGirl cosmetics. Kiara made the cover of Vogue magazine and walked at the fashion shows of prestigious designers like Christian Dior, Gianni Versace, and Pierre Balmain.

She is all the more inspiring as she sported natural hair in a worldwide L'Oreal advertising campaign at a time when relaxed hair was the norm.

Inauguration hair

Essence magazine made a picture gallery with the best hair dos for Barack Obama's inauguration last week. Visit www.essence.com and see how Michelle Obama, Queen Latifah, Oprah, Rihannah and many other black celebs were styled. 

Yves Saint Laurent and black beauty

Yves Saint Laurent celebrated the beauty of black women through his entire career. The French fashion designer was among the first in history to use black models on runways.

His muse, Martinique-born model Mounia (see picture), became the first black top model in the history of Parisian haute couture and made the front pages of the major fashion magazines: Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

YSL also collaborated with Esther Kamatari, Sadiya Gueye, Katoucha, Naomi Campbell, Alek Wek and Liya Kebede.

Make it BIG

This winter's trendiest hair style is BIG. No matter how long you choose to wear your tresses, the key is to add volume. Fortunately, it's much easier to achieve with black hair.

To achieve this style, use rollers (ideally Caruso rollers which are steamed and add moisture to your hair) or a curling iron and hairspray.

Peg leg trousers

Peg leg trousers appeared last autumn in magazines, stores and on the red carpet. Even though celebs like Chloe Sevigny and Ashley Olsen immediately adopted the look, next door girls must be extremely careful.

With their triangular shape, the peg legged trousers can easily lead to a fashion faux-pas and give an unpolished look. Here’s our advice:

• wear them with heels,
• high-waisted,
• preferably in black,
• with a tight shirt or a t-shirt
  
• choose a soft and loose fabric,
• put a crease in the trousers towards the front, not the sides.

Emanuela De Paula

Emanuela De Paula is the new face of Next, the UK fashion retailer. Her gigantic pictures can be seen on the UK's biggest high streets like Oxford Circus.

She is a Brazilian model born April 25, 1989 in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Brazil. She started modelling at nine years old but only officially walked on a runway in 2005.

After bravely leaving her hometown to start a career in Tokyo without speaking a word of English or Japanese, she made her way to new York and modelled for Ralph Lauren, Bill Blass, Zac Posen, Mac, Victoria’s Secret and many other major designers.

Emanuela is featured in the 2009 Pirelli calendar.

Get inspired by… Little Brown Girl

Little Brown Girl is an inspiring black woman. She made a strong impression last month at the Cobden Club, near Ladbroke Grove, London. Many other artists performed that night but her voice were got the attention. Also, her lyrics perfectly related to a modern black woman’s life. But who’s hidden behind this enigmatic name?

Little Brown Girl is Alena Herel, a young and talented artist from London, niece of BBC DJ Ronnie Herel. Alena has been performing for a decade or so at Church, in professional sessions and open mic sets. Here, she answers our questions on her music, relationships, tv shows and of course, her hair journey.


How would you describe your music?
I tend to fuse soul, gospel, alternative and electro-jazz influences in equal measure and my style mixes acoustic ballads with neo-soul infused songs.

You come from a family of musicians but how did it all start for you? When did you discover your own voice and style?
I wouldn't say that I come from a family of musicians as my parents are not musical, however, my grandfather is a retired musician (trumpeter and guitarist in equal measure).

In terms of performance, it all began when I had to produce a 30 minute performance for my music degree 3 years ago.

With the help of my ever faithful, ever loyal music director MellowK, I began to write more and focus my material. My style and voice are still growing, developing and changing with me.

The experiences that mould and shape me as a person also shape me in terms of my style, mood and material.

One of your songs describes incredibly well the feelings one can have at the end of a relationship. This topic also inspired Common and Kerri Washington in I Want You (check my post on this) Why are relationships so inspiring for artists?
Probably because most of us experience being in a relationship at some point in our adult lives. Having loved and lost is a subject matter that most people can relate to. The audience can understand the feelings of the 'positive and negative' side of love that is portrayed or offered through a song. I guess it's something that's real to a lot of people.

What's next for you?
Hopefully, lots more performances! Watch my myspace page for updates: http://www.myspace.com/thelittlebrowngirl. I'm in the process of recording my material... at the moment it's title is Work in Progress!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who did you support at the X Factor final? JLS or Alexandra Burke?
Alex! She was fab!

Have you ever relaxed your hair? Why?
Yes, when I went to the States many moons ago, I was young and it seemed like a brilliant idea! It was great while I was there but when I returned (from my 4 week holiday) and relaxed it several weeks later... I stayed with the long flowing hair look for quite a while but 3 years ago I chopped it all off and decided to stick with my own curls!

Who's the most inspiring black woman for you?
My mumma

Where were you when Barack Obama won the US elections last November?
In bed, asleep... but glad to wake up to the fact he had suceeded!

Are you more Sade or Amel Larrieux?
Amel Larrieux

Facebook or Myspace?
Myspace

Grey's Anatomy or Gossip Girl?
If the options were Ally McBeal or Sex and the City, then I'd be stuck!