Harlepolis said:

Ottensen said:

I hate to say it, but it looks like critics on this side of the pond aren't pleased, and not because they think she's not a style icon: I sort of had a feeling not everyone would be warm to the artistic direction:

Thats why I asked the question. When I posted it, it was already causing an uproar in the blogosphere, and true to form(just like she & her crew wanted) she kept people talking.

Because I don't believe in one second that she was naive about the history of this thing - despite the bogus apology that she & her camp will issue soon when this shit potentially hits the fan. She already raised a heap of eyebrows because of that infamous L'Oreal ad - and for a similar reason.

Its unfortunate though. This woman proved many times before that "fame" is her main objective, right or wrong, and this thing is just an addition to that long list, yet her fans wonder why people are disgusted with her.

[Edited 2/23/11 18:58pm]

Yep. Bey and hubby are high profile people with more money than class, style or sophistication.

They think that any and every hairbrained idea that showcases Bey is a good idea. For example, she can't act her way out of a paper bag but they keep casting her in movies.

she would've looked a lot better if she didn't have the blonde with the dark jigga boo face paint.

Allow me to be the ultimate judge of this.

[img:$uid]http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2011123//reg_1024.beyonce.lc.022311.jpg[/img:$uid]

Ladies & Gentlemen, I have received a verdict. Based upon every last piece of specifics, I, TVD, has found Beyonce Knowles-Carter.........Not Guilty (by the skin of her teeth)! At least Honey B isn't singing freaking Mammy.

However, I do find all French photographers guilty for coming up with some high risk photos lately. First they make Billy Ray Cyrus & his daughter Miley do a boyfriend & girlfriend-like poses and now they get a light-skinned sista like Beyonce to put on some blackface to look dark-skinned. Oh good grief, you mean to tell me Fantasia could NOT be hired to do the photo shoot instead?!?

Oh Please. When did we become this?

She's not tapdancin' and jugglin watermelons. Darkening of skin (on models of color as well as white is not anything new in editorial fashion shoots). True, wish as she may, Beyonce is not a "true" fashion model but so the fuck what?

The real tragedy here is that her mom keeps getting her shit promoted.

johnart said:

Darkening of skin (on models of color as well as white is not anything new in editorial fashion shoots).

Ok, first of all John, thats not a darkening of skin, thats straight up a jar of shoe black paint, blatant and just because its the norm among editorial fashion shoots, doesn't make it right. I think those people can do better, much better. I don't agree with Tony because I really don't think that was her intention to begin with, but guess what? Many readers/observers didn't think "ART" right of the bat when they saw those images, they associated them with the same ugly history that Tony pointed out earlier.

Anyway, I'm not really hung up over the idea of Beyonce's fashion sense or lack of. Hell, I'm the LAST person to call anybody out on their fashion sense given that mine is questionable. And I'm not even bothered by the "blackface" at this point either, believe it or not. Thats not the issue at hand.

What really tickled the hell outta me is, there're TONS on top of TONS of dark skinned models(African too, if the profile asked for it) and you mean to tell me that you'd rather paint on somebody's face rather than save yourself the trouble and hire one?

Beyonce's could've done this photo shoot justice if she wanted the au natural route - black paint free. And it would've been a fitting representation because not all African women are dark skinned either anyway.

But nooooooo, they'd rather fuck up what could've been an interesting project. The idiots.

[Edited 2/23/11 23:21pm]

Harlepolis said:

johnart said:

Darkening of skin (on models of color as well as white is not anything new in editorial fashion shoots).

Ok, first of all John, thats not a darkening of skin, thats straight up a jar of shoe black paint, blatant and just because its the norm among editorial fashion shoots, doesn't make it right. I think those people can do better, much better. I don't agree with Tony because I really don't think that was her intention to begin with, but guess what? Many readers/observers didn't think "ART" right of the bat when they saw those images, they associated them with the same ugly history that Tony pointed out earlier.

Anyway, I'm not really hung up over the idea of Beyonce's fashion sense or lack of. Hell, I'm the LAST person to call anybody out on their fashion sense given that mine is questionable. And I'm not even bothered by the "blackface" at this point either, believe it or not. Thats not the issue at hand.

What really tickled the hell outta me is, there're TONS on top of TONS of dark skinned models(African too, if the profile asked for it) and you mean to tell me that you'd rather paint on somebody's face rather than save yourself the trouble and hire one?

Beyonce's could've done this photo shoot justice if she wanted the au natural route - black paint free. And it would've been a fitting representation because not all African women are dark skinned either anyway.

But nooooooo, they'd rather fuck up what could've been an interesting project. The idiots.

[Edited 2/23/11 23:21pm]

Just like I said, they could have hired a real dark-skinned sista like Fantasia to do the exact same phoot shoot.

johnart said:

Oh Please. When did we become this?

She's not tapdancin' and jugglin watermelons. Darkening of skin (on models of color as well as white is not anything new in editorial fashion shoots). True, wish as she may, Beyonce is not a "true" fashion model but so the fuck what?

The real tragedy here is that her mom keeps getting her shit promoted.

So the fuck what means she's not CHER- Perfect example of a triple threat style icon from pop culture if there ever was one.

...also...I thought Tina's $18 Walmart dresses were cute. A straight rip off of Diane Von Furstenberg's wrap and 1980's Norma Kamali, but they were the right price point for what she was offering

She looks fine. The skin darkening looks confusing and unnecessary.

It's the antiquated 'African Queen' theme that makes this so naff, for me. It's more 1950's Harry Belafonte than Fela Kuti! Ironically, one of the things it reminded me of was the look of the Cleopatra production that Beyoncé's character gets pushed into appearing in in Dreamgirls, even though there they let us know that she's cottoned-onto the notion that it's a pretty uninspired idea that has passed its sell-by date, even then.

There's an ironic distance to this shoot, which is obviously lacking in the earnest, epic production that Deena Dreamgirl gets cast in, but that only puts it on the 'next step up', I think. I mean, 'knowingly' commenting on a tired stereotype that doesn't really reflect what people are like is better than actually buying-into a tired stereotype, for sure, but it's still a sign of ignorance if that's all you can do. The sad thing is, this shoot does seem to be trying to break out of that mold at points. I thought the outfit that looked to be based around a sort of traditional Nigerian dress was actually quite nice. But then they have to go: "Oh, yeah: Africa! Lions! Tribal dress! ...but all in a 'knowing' way, of course!" for the dunces in the audience, and doll Clutzy up in that ridiculous thing she's wearing on the cover.

Funnily enough, I was reading this article by Guardian columnist, Hannah Pool, about black models in the (UK) fashion industry, after commenting on this thread the other night. She quoted a booker for on of the London agencies, who was saying, "When [clients] want a black girl, they will say 'looking for mixed-race girl, tribal-prints location, desert scene'. It really bores me when photographers shoot black girls the same way, with a tribal print and some bright eye-shadow going on. Come on, that was Alek Wek in the 1990s, do something different." This whole 'African Queen' was the fruit of a similarly tired imagination, for me.

I agree with people here who've said they could've done something far more interesting and imaginative. Why not, say, get contemporary African designers (or designers inspired by African styles) to do something that reflects on what Fela's work and legacy means to them; even if Sasha Safe is the dummy they have to dress up? (Ok, it's an off-the-top-off-my-head example, but it's surely more interesting than parading the poor girl in yet more of that rottweiler-of-a-mother's gaudy fare. God knows, she already spent too much of her teenage years having to endure that humiliation!)

Harlepolis said:

johnart said:

Darkening of skin (on models of color as well as white is not anything new in editorial fashion shoots).

Ok, first of all John, thats not a darkening of skin, thats straight up a jar of shoe black paint, blatant and just because its the norm among editorial fashion shoots, doesn't make it right. I think those people can do better, much better. I don't agree with Tony because I really don't think that was her intention to begin with, but guess what? Many readers/observers didn't think "ART" right of the bat when they saw those images, they associated them with the same ugly history that Tony pointed out earlier.

Anyway, I'm not really hung up over the idea of Beyonce's fashion sense or lack of. Hell, I'm the LAST person to call anybody out on their fashion sense given that mine is questionable. And I'm not even bothered by the "blackface" at this point either, believe it or not. Thats not the issue at hand.

What really tickled the hell outta me is, there're TONS on top of TONS of dark skinned models(African too, if the profile asked for it) and you mean to tell me that you'd rather paint on somebody's face rather than save yourself the trouble and hire one?

Beyonce's could've done this photo shoot justice if she wanted the au natural route - black paint free. And it would've been a fitting representation because not all African women are dark skinned either anyway.

But nooooooo, they'd rather fuck up what could've been an interesting project. The idiots.

[Edited 2/23/11 23:21pm]

I agree with that part of your post, that there are plenty, and I stress plenty of darker-complected women, including celebrities, that could have filled that magazine representing each of Fela Kuti's wives. In this day and age, there really is no need to "blackface" models/celebrities of color, when there's a plethora of beautiful skin tones among them to choose from. Nia Long, Taraji Henson, Meghan Good, Naomi Campbell, Gabrielle Union, Angela Bassett, Kerri Washington, Kimberly Elise, Regina King, Tamala Jones, Jada Pinkett-Smith, all would have made a good choice, as well as, the pics of models Ottensen mentioned. I think photographing a group of some of these women, would have captured the strength, beauty and ld have made a good tribute to how Fela's strong women, stood behind his political/socio-economic beliefs through tumultous times in Nigeria. Would have made a great front cover and inside photos.

[Edited 2/24/11 6:59am]

Magazine Defends Beyonce Over ‘Blackface’ Controversy

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Buzz is swirling around Beyonce’s recent photo shoot for the French fashion magazine, L’Officiel Paris. Unfortunately for Beyonce, the response to the photos isn’t entirely positive.

The pop superstar appears on the cover of the magazine’s new March 2011 issue. However, in one photo inside the issue, the singer’s skin is visibly darkened with black makeup on her face and neck, which some blogs have labeled as offensive “blackface.”

In the rest of the photos, including the cover photo, Beyonce appears without the dark makeup, dressed in African-themed attire.

CLICK HERE to see footage from the photo shoot.

In a statement to Access Hollywood, the publication raved over Beyonce and the final images conveyed.

“A queen, a goddess, Beyonce is a bombshell beauty with a divine voice. We’re thrilled she’s opening a season of celebrating the 90th anniversary of L’Officiel de la Mode. The series was conceived as using art and fashion in paying homage to African queens,” the magazine’s statement noted. “Beyonce mentioned the artist Fela Kuti in the interview as one of her musical inspirations. It was later misquoted as the inspiration for the shoot. We would like to clarify that it is not the case.

“As for the artistic makeup, the inspiration came from several African rituals during which paint is used on the face. We find the images beautiful and inspiring,” the statement concluded.

A rep for Beyonce did not have a comment on the matter.

Fela Kuti, whom the statement mentions as one of Beyonce’s inspirations, was a Nigerian musician/activist who died in 1997.

This isn’t the first time Beyonce has been at the center of a photo shoot controversy. In 2008, some suggested the singer’s skin had been lightened for a L’Oreal ad.

http://www.accesshollywoo...icle_44229

NaughtyKitty said:

Magazine Defends Beyonce Over ‘Blackface’ Controversy

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Buzz is swirling around Beyonce’s recent photo shoot for the French fashion magazine, L’Officiel Paris. Unfortunately for Beyonce, the response to the photos isn’t entirely positive.

The pop superstar appears on the cover of the magazine’s new March 2011 issue. However, in one photo inside the issue, the singer’s skin is visibly darkened with black makeup on her face and neck, which some blogs have labeled as offensive “blackface.”

In the rest of the photos, including the cover photo, Beyonce appears without the dark makeup, dressed in African-themed attire.

CLICK HERE to see footage from the photo shoot.

In a statement to Access Hollywood, the publication raved over Beyonce and the final images conveyed.

“A queen, a goddess, Beyonce is a bombshell beauty with a divine voice. We’re thrilled she’s opening a season of celebrating the 90th anniversary of L’Officiel de la Mode. The series was conceived as using art and fashion in paying homage to African queens,” the magazine’s statement noted. “Beyonce mentioned the artist Fela Kuti in the interview as one of her musical inspirations. It was later misquoted as the inspiration for the shoot. We would like to clarify that it is not the case.

“As for the artistic makeup, the inspiration came from several African rituals during which paint is used on the face. We find the images beautiful and inspiring,” the statement concluded.

A rep for Beyonce did not have a comment on the matter.

Fela Kuti, whom the statement mentions as one of Beyonce’s inspirations, was a Nigerian musician/activist who died in 1997.

This isn’t the first time Beyonce has been at the center of a photo shoot controversy. In 2008, some suggested the singer’s skin had been lightened for a L’Oreal ad.

http://www.accesshollywoo...icle_44229

They're trying to cover their asses now. Whether the paintings respresented some type of rituals, they could have brought in models from various African, ethnic groups to represent the ritual painting common within that group. The thing is, they used Beyonce to get sales for their magazines, instead of being more creative and using African models, since they claim it was representative of African Queens, in which they didn't mention the names of any of these Queens she's suppose to be representing. I'm also wondering if they had a short explanation as to what the paintings on the face represented to a specific African Queen/ethnic group the Queens are from. I'm not buying the bs they're trying to pass off as an explanation.]

[Edited 2/24/11 7:00am]

2elijah said:

NaughtyKitty said:

Magazine Defends Beyonce Over ‘Blackface’ Controversy

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Buzz is swirling around Beyonce’s recent photo shoot for the French fashion magazine, L’Officiel Paris. Unfortunately for Beyonce, the response to the photos isn’t entirely positive.

The pop superstar appears on the cover of the magazine’s new March 2011 issue. However, in one photo inside the issue, the singer’s skin is visibly darkened with black makeup on her face and neck, which some blogs have labeled as offensive “blackface.”

In the rest of the photos, including the cover photo, Beyonce appears without the dark makeup, dressed in African-themed attire.

CLICK HERE to see footage from the photo shoot.

In a statement to Access Hollywood, the publication raved over Beyonce and the final images conveyed.

“A queen, a goddess, Beyonce is a bombshell beauty with a divine voice. We’re thrilled she’s opening a season of celebrating the 90th anniversary of L’Officiel de la Mode. The series was conceived as using art and fashion in paying homage to African queens,” the magazine’s statement noted. “Beyonce mentioned the artist Fela Kuti in the interview as one of her musical inspirations. It was later misquoted as the inspiration for the shoot. We would like to clarify that it is not the case.

“As for the artistic makeup, the inspiration came from several African rituals during which paint is used on the face. We find the images beautiful and inspiring,” the statement concluded.

A rep for Beyonce did not have a comment on the matter.

Fela Kuti, whom the statement mentions as one of Beyonce’s inspirations, was a Nigerian musician/activist who died in 1997.

This isn’t the first time Beyonce has been at the center of a photo shoot controversy. In 2008, some suggested the singer’s skin had been lightened for a L’Oreal ad.

http://www.accesshollywoo...icle_44229

They're trying to cover their asses now. Whether the paintings respresented some type of rituals, they could have brought in models from various African, ethnic groups to represent the ritual painting common within that group. The thing is, they used Beyonce to get sales for their magazines, instead of being more creative and using African models, since they claim it was representative of African Queens, in which they didn't mention the names of any of these Queens she's suppose to be representing. I'm also wondering if they had a short explanation as to what the paintings on the face represented to a specific African Queen/ethnic group the Queens are from. I'm not buying the bs they're trying to pass off as an explanation.]

[Edited 2/24/11 7:00am]

Agree 100%

I don't think the dumb bitch meant any intentional harm in what she did. She just wants to do as many projects as she can to keep her tired ass name out there instead of letting her name fade away like it should.

vainandy said:

I don't think the dumb bitch meant any intentional harm in what she did. She just wants to do as many projects as she can to keep her tired ass name out there instead of letting her name fade away like it should.

I don't think she meant harm either, but just seems to have a need, like you said, to keep her name/image out there.

[Edited 2/24/11 7:25am]

NaughtyKitty said:

2elijah said:

I think it would have been nice if they just left her complexion alone;this way she could have just shown the many shades of women of color that exists among Black American and African women. That's what the magazine could have taken the opportunity to do. They should have gathered all the known African and Black American models, with their various complexions, and dressed them up like they did Beyonce. Also the fact that it was in honor of musician/activist, Fela Kuti, and the many wives he had. They could have picked a great selection of Black American/African women to model for that photo shoot.

[Edited 2/22/11 7:44am]

I agree with this. But seeing that they only used Beyonce for this leads me to think this is really supposed to be all about "the fabulousness & fierceness of Beyonce!" Look at her incredible beauty! She can pull off all kinds of looks! She is a fashion icon! I think this whole thing was concocted by her and/or her team to generate more publicity for her.

[Edited 2/22/11 9:55am]

You took the words right out of my mouth. It really is all about publicity for new record. I consider this early promotion. There's always the usual "controversial" stories when it comes to her publicity.

1. Beyonce Skin Complexion

Exibit A Is she bleaching her skin?

Exibit B Did the magazine lighten her skin tone on that cover?

Newly added this week: Exibit C Beyonce does Blackface!

2. Will Beyonce & Jay-Z divorce?

3. Is Beyonce ready to have a baby?

Give me a freakin break. We see ya Big Mat. You ain't fooling nobody

Is it me or did it seem like when Prince and Madonna were considered controversial, they seemed like they were just being themselves? IDK, just seemed less contrived.

I dont know if anyone quite knows what's going on in this pic! Best ask the dude in the back, I reckon....

This was the look I thought looked good on her (not least because of the rather more subtle makeup job!):

More pics from the shoot here.

the dark lipstick rmeinds me a little bit of her destiny's child days in the 90's

deebee said:

I dont know if anyone quite knows what's going on in this pic! Best ask the dude in the back, I reckon....

This was the look I thought looked good on her (not least because of the rather more subtle makeup job!):

More pics from the shoot here.

The first pic could have went to a model with that actual complexion;the second pic doesn't look bad, and it's not far from B's complexion.

Musicslave said:

NaughtyKitty said:

I agree with this. But seeing that they only used Beyonce for this leads me to think this is really supposed to be all about "the fabulousness & fierceness of Beyonce!" Look at her incredible beauty! She can pull off all kinds of looks! She is a fashion icon! I think this whole thing was concocted by her and/or her team to generate more publicity for her.

[Edited 2/22/11 9:55am]

You took the words right out of my mouth. It really is all about publicity for new record. I consider this early promotion. There's always the usual "controversial" stories when it comes to her publicity.

1. Beyonce Skin Complexion

Exibit A Is she bleaching her skin?

Exibit B Did the magazine lighten her skin tone on that cover?

Newly added this week: Exibit C Beyonce does Blackface!

2. Will Beyonce & Jay-Z divorce?

3. Is Beyonce ready to have a baby?

Give me a freakin break. We see ya Big Mat. You ain't fooling nobody

Is it me or did it seem like when Prince and Madonna were considered controversial, they seemed like they were just being themselves? IDK, just seemed less contrived.

I just remembered something, about a week or so ago Beyonce was spotted out and about looking a couple shades lighter than usual and with very blonde hair. And people were talking about her "new look" as well. So week 1, she's seen out looking shades lighter with almost platinum blonde hair. Week 2 the "controversial" photo shoot where she's several shades darker (blackface). And like you mentioned the rumors of her and Jay-Z separating because Bey dont wanna have kids.

This is nothing more than calculated promotion/PR blitz for her new album she'll be releasing a few months from now And yes, when Prince and Madonna and even some of Michael Jackson's controversies were way less contrived and calculated and more about them just being themselves.

TonyVanDam said:

Harlepolis said:

Ok, first of all John, thats not a darkening of skin, thats straight up a jar of shoe black paint, blatant and just because its the norm among editorial fashion shoots, doesn't make it right. I think those people can do better, much better. I don't agree with Tony because I really don't think that was her intention to begin with, but guess what? Many readers/observers didn't think "ART" right of the bat when they saw those images, they associated them with the same ugly history that Tony pointed out earlier.

Anyway, I'm not really hung up over the idea of Beyonce's fashion sense or lack of. Hell, I'm the LAST person to call anybody out on their fashion sense given that mine is questionable. And I'm not even bothered by the "blackface" at this point either, believe it or not. Thats not the issue at hand.

What really tickled the hell outta me is, there're TONS on top of TONS of dark skinned models(African too, if the profile asked for it) and you mean to tell me that you'd rather paint on somebody's face rather than save yourself the trouble and hire one?

Beyonce's could've done this photo shoot justice if she wanted the au natural route - black paint free. And it would've been a fitting representation because not all African women are dark skinned either anyway.

But nooooooo, they'd rather fuck up what could've been an interesting project. The idiots.

[Edited 2/23/11 23:21pm]

Just like I said, they could have hired a real dark-skinned sista like Fantasia to do the exact same phoot shoot.

I see ya'lls points but it's all a sales game.

Fantasia aint gonna sell what Bey will.
If they wanted dark skinned model they sure could've found a bunch, they wanted BEYONCE.

Some of the images aren't half bad...Yes would have made more sense to go with authentic African models or AA models but it is what it is .....I just still cannot get over this blackened face only...it just looks like she stuck her head up a sooty chimney or something.

So I think there are only 3 of her in the dark makeup. The others are like the previous ones, more closer to her complexion, and not bad at all. This one has nothing to do with any "ritual" paint, and I also don't find anything significantly paying tribute to African Queens in any of these images, but more or less about the clothes, so there really was no need to paint the face shades darker, but that's just my opinion. I live around many African families, from various African, ethnic groups, of various complexions, and when some of them wear their African outfits, occasionally, they wear it well and with pride.

[Edited 2/24/11 9:45am]

Ottensen said:

johnart said:

Oh Please. When did we become this?

She's not tapdancin' and jugglin watermelons. Darkening of skin (on models of color as well as white is not anything new in editorial fashion shoots). True, wish as she may, Beyonce is not a "true" fashion model but so the fuck what?

The real tragedy here is that her mom keeps getting her shit promoted.

So the fuck what means she's not CHER- Perfect example of a triple threat style icon from pop culture if there ever was one.

...also...I thought Tina's $18 Walmart dresses were cute. A straight rip off of Diane Von Furstenberg's wrap and 1980's Norma Kamali, but they were the right price point for what she was offering

johnart said:

TonyVanDam said:

Just like I said, they could have hired a real dark-skinned sista like Fantasia to do the exact same phoot shoot.

I see ya'lls points but it's all a sales game.

Fantasia aint gonna sell what Bey will.
If they wanted dark skinned model they sure could've found a bunch, they wanted BEYONCE.

That's what many of us said, it was about sales, not really a "heartfelt" tribute to African Queens, because if that was the case, there were plenty African models of various skin tones, who could have represented ancient African Queens. Just like some of the ones "Ottensen" posted in her post.

[Edited 2/24/11 8:34am]

2elijah said:

johnart said:

I see ya'lls points but it's all a sales game.

Fantasia aint gonna sell what Bey will.
If they wanted dark skinned model they sure could've found a bunch, they wanted BEYONCE.

That's what many of us said, it was about sales, not really a "heartfelt" tribute to African Queens, because if that was the case, there were plenty African models of various skin tones, who could have represented ancient African Queens. Just like some of the ones "Ottensen" posted in her post.

[Edited 2/24/11 8:34am]

Absolutely. It always is.

I'm not familiar with this magazine, but if this isn't a magazine like Essence or Ebony with a built in black audience, they're gonna be just selling stuff with this type of "tribute" (her album, the clothes, her celebrity/brand, Her mama's clothes...). Not to say African American publications don't sell too. Everybody gotta make $$$

And if this is a mainstream type mag like Vogue or Elle, let's face it too, they're gonna try to sell stuff mainly to rich white women. Rich white women aint gonna buy shit from Fantasia, but I bet they know all the words to Single Ladies.

[Edited 2/24/11 8:38am]

johnart said:

2elijah said:

That's what many of us said, it was about sales, not really a "heartfelt" tribute to African Queens, because if that was the case, there were plenty African models of various skin tones, who could have represented ancient African Queens. Just like some of the ones "Ottensen" posted in her post.

[Edited 2/24/11 8:34am]

Absolutely. It always is.

I'm not familiar with this magazine, but if this isn't a magazine like Essence or Ebony with a built in black audience, they're gonna be just selling stuff with this type of "tribute" (her album, the clothes, her celebrity/brand, Her mama's clothes...).

And if this is a mainstream type mag like Vogue or Elle, let's face it too, they're gonna try to sell stuff mainly to rich white women. Rich white women aint gonna buy shit from Fantasia, but I bet they know all the words to Single Ladies.

Well that says a lot doesn't it? Nothing new.

johnart said:

2elijah said:

That's what many of us said, it was about sales, not really a "heartfelt" tribute to African Queens, because if that was the case, there were plenty African models of various skin tones, who could have represented ancient African Queens. Just like some of the ones "Ottensen" posted in her post.

[Edited 2/24/11 8:34am]

Absolutely. It always is.

I'm not familiar with this magazine, but if this isn't a magazine like Essence or Ebony with a built in black audience, they're gonna be just selling stuff with this type of "tribute" (her album, the clothes, her celebrity/brand, Her mama's clothes...).

And if this is a mainstream type mag like Vogue or Elle, let's face it too, they're gonna try to sell stuff mainly to rich white women. Rich white women aint gonna buy shit from Fantasia, but I bet they know all the words to Single Ladies.

Well that says a lot doesn't it? Nothing new. I don't see the point in Bey "representing or giving tribute to African Queens" to a magazine whose audience is mainly rich, white women who wouldn't buy or wear those outfits anyway, but I sure know and seen many African women in my community, with similar to those outfits Bey is advertising.

[Edited 2/24/11 8:43am]

2elijah said:

johnart said:

Absolutely. It always is.

I'm not familiar with this magazine, but if this isn't a magazine like Essence or Ebony with a built in black audience, they're gonna be just selling stuff with this type of "tribute" (her album, the clothes, her celebrity/brand, Her mama's clothes...).

And if this is a mainstream type mag like Vogue or Elle, let's face it too, they're gonna try to sell stuff mainly to rich white women. Rich white women aint gonna buy shit from Fantasia, but I bet they know all the words to Single Ladies.

Well that says a lot doesn't it? Nothing new.

In some ways yes, in others HELLLLLLNAWWWWWWWW.

Most rich white women probably think it's Fantasia in that Real Housewives show.

EDIT:

I kid of course. They think it's her sister.

[Edited 2/24/11 8:42am]