Inspiration is contagious, right? Of course it is and True Belles is sprinkling it everywhere! As a community based organization, True Belles has a mission to recondition the minds of young girls teaching them to be individuals of tact, class and integrity through learning to love, respect and accept themselves! This empowering organization seeks to be productive in their lives so that they in turn become productive within their own lives and the lives of others.
True Belles is a community based youth development program that serve young girls 7-14 years of age. Their sole purpose is to enhance lives by providing the proper tools that will produce life long success. True Belles was formed under the the proverb ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ They understand that children are faced with many negative influences and experiences and for that reason alone it takes more than a mom and (or) dad to teach a child the ways of life.
Let’s get to know True Belles a little better…
True Belles reconditions the minds of young girls teaching them to be individuals of tact, class and integrity through learning to love, respect and accept themselves. What made you launch this empowering organization?
The inspiration behind the True Belles Mentoring Program is none other than my Belle herself, Miss Tiana Reed, who noticed a very disturbing preview of an upcoming reality show that depicted black females as being less than ladylike. Understanding that television is of a great influence to young girls such as herself, she decided that together we should provide an alternative to the negativity by coming up with something positive.
Your organization offers a variety of programs for girls – Discover, Lead, Serve. How does each program shape the success for girls?
Though each individual segment serves its own purpose, only together will it truly shape success. When girls are taught how to tap in and discover all the great qualities that are innate, they become strong, confident and bold which sets them up for to become leaders that will at some point serve their communities.
If you had to give one piece of advice to girls who are struggling with being comfortable in their own skin, what would it be?
My advice to girls who struggle being comfortable in their own skin is this: Puzzles come with many defining pieces. In order to see the full beauty of the puzzle, each piece has its own part to play and is equally important so understand that just like that puzzle piece, you have your own shape, size and color and no matter how different you may seem to others, you have an important place in this beautiful puzzle that we call our world; embrace your position. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?
I am inspired by so many great individuals however, my current inspiration comes from our Fist Lady, Michelle Obama!! Mrs. Obama is everything that a Belle is known for. She is beautiful, smart, innovative and classy but yet an all around, down to earth, fun girl.
Working with youth both parties learn from each other, what’s one trait you have learned from working with girls?
Working with today’s young girls I have learned to be resilient. Young girls have it hard and they go through so much but they somehow manage to shake it off and bounce back time and time again.
We’re all about empowerment at C.O.R.E Mag, what does EMPOWERMENT mean to you + your organization?
What empowerment means to myself and my organization is simple, it is nothing more than unadulterated awareness. They say that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear so when you open your mind to accept all of life’s great lesson you allow those new and powerful awarenesses to be untainted.
Summer style is here and so is the movie of our generation, DOPE. Style always repeats itself + of course makes a special appearance every 10 years or so. Well, there’s no surprise that the 90’s have been making a strong comeback for the past couple of years, right? Time to check into our style guide and see which 90’s trends we’re playing with this season—>
Box Braids- From Janet Jackson to Brandy, box braids are not only stylish but an easy way to protect your strands in the summer! Ok, so it takes like 6 hours to get done but you can enjoy an entire summer of care-free tresses!
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Overalls – C’mon so you know overalls were going to make the list! Either the one or double strap, overalls are a key component of 90’s style and slowly creeping back…just saying.
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Fresh Flannels- Either around the waist or turned into an updated cardigan, flannels have become a staple piece on today’s style.
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High Top Sneakers- Stay comfortable, chill & chic! It’s all about being comfy especially in the summertime. Pull out those high tops and get to movin’ towards some good vibes!
We can all agree that every Angel has a bit of Tomboy in her, right? Well, Madison Star + Mallory Iyana created a scrumptious bodycare line to match up perfectly with the brilliant characteristics all girls posses. Angels and Tomboys is a bodycare company for ‘tween and teen girls. After being bored senseless with their body care products, they had this cool idea to make everyday products that girls use fun. The ambitious kidpreneurs came up with fresh names, characters and unique fragrances for these products and pitched the idea to thei mom. After their mother falling in love with the idea she named the company Angels and Tomboys as a reflection of her children’s unique + complex personalities and interests!
The goal of the company is to produce products …that every girl will love and enjoy with an emphasis on every girl. Because each girl is unique and has different interests, hobbies and styles, the products are created with every girl in mind: the ballerina, the tree climber, the fashionista, the sports fanatic, the music lover and the book worm. Angels and Tomboys is not just a brand, it’s a movement. This dynamic sibling team plans to change the world one girl at a time.
Let’s get to know Mallory & Madison a little better…
Angels and Tomboys is a body care line that empowers young girls and boost their confidence with fun and feel good scents. What made you ladies to launch this line?
Madison: We got tired of wearing our mom’s perfume and going into the stores with her and not being able to touch anything. So, me and my sister decided to make our own lotions and body sprays. It’s a lot of fun. I get inspired by everything, like things that my family does, dancing, sports, my friends and then I try to make a scent for it.
Mallory: I like it because we get to help people, like the women in the shelter. We’re going to givethe girls there some of our lotion and body spray so that when they go to school they feel good about themselves and they smell good. Every year for my birthday party I ask people to give something that they can donate to charity like coats and shoes. I like to help people.
Ranging from Peanut Butter Jelly Time to Candy Star Glam to Rockin’ Blueberry, Angels &Tomboys offers delicious scents for tween and teen girls! How do you create + come up with these tasty scents?
Madison: I think about everything that I do and like and that my friends do. My family inspires me too. For example, my signature scent is Candy Star Glam and I came up with it because I like celebrities and I want to be famous. So I thought, hmmm Candy Star Glam. It had red glitter. All of the signature scents have glitter.
Mallory: I like hot chocolate and I like ice cream, so that’s how I came up with Frozen Hot Chocolate. Frozen Hot Chocolate is my signature scent and it smells so good that I wish I could eat it! I try to take everything I like and make it something I can smell and remember. I want to have fun and I want to smell good, so I think about that when I think about my lotion and body sprays.
Being young and having responsibilities can sometimes get to be a bit overwhelming, how do you regroup and motivate yourself when you’re feeling a little defeated?
Madison: I talk to my mom and my sister and then we do something fun together. My mom helps us and she loves us. I talk to my friends too and hang out with them at sleepovers or they come over my house and we play video games and dance.
Mallory: I talk to my mom and I dance, something creative.
What are 3 pieces of advice you would give girls to be confident in themselves?
Madison: I would say, be you, be smart and be beautiful. I say my prayers then tell my sister Mallory something nice that I like about her and I tell my mom that I love her. Before I go to bed, I say my Prayers, drink warm herbal tea and write in my journal so I can get my feelings out.
Mallory: You have to like you and be nice to other people. Every morning I say my prayers, wake my sister Madison, and tell her something nice that I like about her and tell my mom that I love her.
We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?
Madison: I look up to my mom. She’s a business woman and I watch what she does and try to help her. She’s really nice to everybody and she helps accomplish my goals and do what I need to do for school.
Mallory: My mommy. She dances with me and I can tell her all of my jokes.
We are all about empowerment, what does EMPOWERMENT mean to you?
Madison: Empowerment means to me that I can do anything, so I try to. I dance, I sing, I make lotions. I like to feel good and I like to help other people feel good and when you do that you feel like everything is right.
Mallory: To me, it’s like when you think you can’t do something but you do it anyway and you say, oh that felt good! So, I’ll do it again and again until I’m good at it. It means I don’t give up.
Time for the Faves! Celeb Crush? Artist? Food? Movie?
Madison
Favorite Angels and Tomboy Scent: Candy Star Glam
Favorite Color: Turquoise
Favorite Music Artists: Katty Perry, Beyonce’, and Taylor Swift
Favorite Actor: Taraji P. Henson
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Book: Diary of a Whimpy and Dork Diary Collections
I Like To Wear: Skirts, Ballerina Flats and Anything That Sparkles
Mallory
Favorite Angels and Tomboy Scent: Frozen Hot Chocolate
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Music Artists: Usher, Missy Elliott and Janelle Monae
Here at C.O.R.E Mag, we always adore a fresh female with a big personality to match. In a world where girls are always fighting to be heard and not just seen, it’s always refreshing to spy a girl who’s comfortable in her skin. The talented singer + actress Skye Townsend is one of our fave funny girls! Check out her hilarious Beyoncé impersonations and true story situations..
Keep scrolling to also tune into her fresh song from her new EP “Rcocking Chairs’…
Stylish, smart + business savvy are all of the qualities of veteran journalist + editor Tai Beauchamp! Known for her savvy sense of style and ability to deliver inspiring and aspirational insights, women of all ages recognize her as the voice of stylish living.
Hailing from NYC Beauchamp earned a B.A. in English literature from Spelman College and attended New York University’s Television Production program.
Beauchamp launched her editorial career interning at Good Housekeeping and Harper’s Bazaar magazines and went on to work as a beauty editor at O, The Oprah Magazine, Suede, and Seventeen. She later served as the deputy editor of VIBE Vixen and style contributor to www.ivillage.com.
Today, Beauchamp is Style Ambassador of InStyle, a lauded host, beauty and style authority, and CEO of Tai Life Media, LLC. Tai has partnered with some of the most reputable consumer and retail brands including Dior Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Tacori, Target, and Proctor & Gamble where she served as spokesperson of P&G’s My Black is Beautiful Movement. She appears regularly as a correspondent on network and cable television for the likes of ABC, CBS, BET, TV One and shows including “The Today Show,” “Good Day New York,” “Entertainment Tonight”, “The Talk”, “Bethenny” and the “The Wendy Williams Show.” Tai has also hosted The Grammy and Academy Awards red carpets and is a powerful public speaker.
She is also a social entrepreneur and champion for causes, most of them aimed toward youth and education and empowering women through fashion and beauty.
Let’s get to know Tai a little better…
You’re an amazing journalist and editor who has worked with a variety of top media outlets! How did you first dive into your career?
Interning is the most critical experience a young person can have when pursuing any industry or career. And not just for the obvious reasons. Sometimes you are fortunate as I was to find something and an industry I loved but sometimes interning can be about learning what you don’t want to do–it can be a process of elimination. Interning is also about building relationships and meeting people in your industry who might be future bosses, colleagues, mentors, etc. Internships also help individuals understand how to operate in a professional environment. My first internship in publishing was a full summer internship at Good Housekeeping. At the time Hearst Magazines had an organized summer internship program for about 30 young people. I worked really hard and built solid relationships during that internship that I still have today. I interned the following summer at Harper’s Bazaar. And when I graduated the following year, O, The Oprah Magazine was just launching and that’s where I began working officially in publishing as the fashion/beauty assistant.
Having an extensive background in style & beauty what is one fashion & beauty tip that you live by?
True style is individual…there is no set formula for style. Use your style to say something fabulous to the world.
Life can become stressful specially when you’re achieving your dream, how do you regroup & stay focus?
This is a tough one because I believe that no matter how perfectly wrapped things may seem on the outside, nothing is perfect! It’s certainly challenging for everyone, no matter where you are in life. Whether you are a company CEO, a manager, or an intern, there are and will be challenges. There are a few things I do to recharge and stay focused.
1) I pray and meditate daily.
2) I workout at least 4-6 x a week.
3) I surround myself with people who believe, champion, and support me and my dreams. These are my “riders”! When I don’t have the strength or vision on a day, they remind and ultimately rally me.
4.)I take inventory and stock of my goals at least quarterly. This is a good way to not only evaluate your progress but to determine if there are other avenues I should consider.
5) I get out of dodge! I love and know how to check out. I can’t do it often but I’m a big believer in taking time away from it all! And I do it as often as possible.
6) I mentor. People think that to be a mentor is all about giving. Truly, mentoring is as much about giving as it is receiving. I learn so much from the young people that I mentor. And at the end of it, however, these young people are also my inspiration to keep going.
What is your ultimate goal you would like to achieve in this lifetime?
There are so many things I want to achieve…spiritually, personally, and professionally. All my goals for the most part, center around touching as many lives as meaningfully as possible. I do look forward to being a wife and mother…it’s about that time.
Being a teen can be tough when you’re growing up, what was the most vital lesson as a teen you learned that carried into your adult life?
The most critical lesson I learned as a teen that I didn’t necessarily believe at the time but know it is true today is cliche that so many parents still stay “you are the company that you keep”. I’m still best friends with two of my childhood best friends. But even more than that, I know that the people I surround myself with are a reflection of who I am andmy style. Keep good people around you!
We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?
I don’t know if I “pull characteristics” from others as much as there are qualities I respect and admire in others. Some of the people who inspire me are my grandmom, Oprah, Ryan Seacrest, a dear friend who is like a little sister to me, Clementine Wamariya and so many of my friends that are truly too many to write. They all inspire me for different reasons. My grandmom inspires me because she has always been a beautiful spirit with a warm heart. She’s also the strongest and most resilient person I know! Oprah because I so admire her as a business woman, philanthropist, champion of women and brilliance. He has redefined what it means to be a super producer. Clementine is like the Buddha come to real life…she exudes peace, love and grace and makes me to want to be more peaceful, loving, and gracious. And I’d also say my godchildren because their happiness is contagious.
Time for the Faves! Celeb Crush? Artist? Food? Movie?
Celeb…hmmm Brad Pitt, I think. I can be a bit fickle…after “Happy” came out, it was Pharrell…I’m sure it will change again.
Favorite artist, I’m blasting Beyonce, Jay Z, Stevie Wonder, and Pharrell right now…I wish I could get them to put something out together…all four of them.Sushi, I could each sushi everyday!
What a whirlwind life can send you on! Things are changing in the blink of an eye. One day it’s your freshman year of high school and the next you are applying for college and scholarships. You need a break. It’s time for a reset. Summer is here and everything about you needs to say that you are ready. You’ve been cramped up in the house for months, thanks to little Miss Winter. It is time to get activeand knock off those cobwebs. Enjoy being able to hang outside. Go for walks with your friends, join asummer softball league, or do yoga in the park. Lucky you, you’re young and your metabolism is in overdrive (compared to what it will be later in life—trust me, I know). It doesn’t take much to tip the scale in your favor. Give yourself 20-30 mins, 3 times a week. That little bit of winter weight will wilt away.
The temperatures are rising and everybody is rocking crop tops, skater skirts, and high waist denim shorts. Don’t get caught with the burger bloat. As the new season settles upon us, you should also take the time to cleanse your body. A good starting point is to remove the junk food and fried food from your diet. Indulge in seasonal fresh fruits and veggies and fire up the grill for your meats. These are sure ways to get good sources of antioxidants and vitamins while keeping your bad fat intake low.
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Two things that collect dust: your wardrobe and your make up brushes. Take the time to clean and organize your closet. Obviously, you want to remove winter’s heavy coats and thigh high boots, but you also want to make sure you give those summer clothes a good wash. Everyday your face sheds dead skin. That dead skin is spread to your make up brushes. If you don’t have a consistent cleaning regimen for your brushes, the new season is a great time to incorporate the habit. You don’t have to buy a fancybrush cleaner; all it takes is a little soap and water. Run the brushes under hot water. Add your soap,lather, and rinse. Repeat. I highly recommend Dr. Bonner’s Castile Soap for a deep, deep clean.
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You can purge your body, move your muscles, and dust your closet, but the reality is a reset isn’t official until you’ve done something different to satisfy yourself. I am not talking about going for ice cream or hanging with friends—something extraordinary. Take a trip, visit a theme park, or lay on the beach for hours at a time. Doing your different doesn’t have to break the bank, but it does have to be a everlasting memory. Celebrate your life and the fact that you’ve attained goals you set out to achieve.
Every girl should live bold, love strong and laugh loud! Girls; Live, Love, Laugh, Inc. is a nonprofit organization focusing on 6-13 year old girls living with limited resources in the inner city of Newark, New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Their vision is to empower girls by building positive self-esteem, proper etiquette, self respect, and health/fitness. They aim to make a difference by removing obstacles that stand in their way, so that they can become respectable, successful, productive, and happy young ladies. This influential organization offers a variety of programs that focuses on many pressing issues that are relevant in today’s society.
Let’s get to know Girls; Live.Love.Laugh, Inc. a little better…
Girls; Live. Love. Laugh, Inc. empowers girls by building positive self-esteem, proper etiquette, self-respect, and health/fitness! What made you launch this empowering organization?
I didn’t launch this empowering organization, God had this vision and is just using me to do his work. I was the chosen one. I now know that every test, every trail and tribulation that I have been through he was preparing me for this assignment. When God blesses you with a gift or a calling, it is up to us to answer him and use our gifts. Girls; Live. Love. Laugh. Inc. in here because of Him.
How does Girls; Live. Love.Laugh, Inc. encourages positive family influence in young ladies lives?
Family is extremely important to the very foundation of Girls; Live. Love. Laugh, Inc. Losing our parents at an young age, all of my sibling and I had was each other. I do not know what would have become of us if my parents did not instill the value of family before their passing. We teach our girls that in our organization we are family. We may not always agree or get along, but as with blood relatives, we work through it together. We also encourage open communication between mentors and the parents. It’s about building a support system that let’s our girls know that they are not alone and there are people who they can turn too no matter what. At GLLLs, there is nothing more important than family, but God.
If you had to give one piece of advice to teen girls who are struggling with being comfortable in their own skin, what would it be?
God made no mistakes when he made you. You are beautiful just the way you are. Your uniqueness separates you from everyone else in the world; embrace it, love it and own it. There will never be another You; so live life impressing yourself, and being the best you can possible be. YOU ROCK!
We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?
My mom is my greatest inspiration. Growing up in the projects with 7 siblings I never knew that we were what society deemed as “poor”. My mom worked and went to school. She was not just a provider for her children, but all the children in the neighborhood. Although it wasn’t much, she shared everything she had with everyone. She raised her children on the scripture Mark 12:31 “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”. I inherited my spirit of community giving and loving from my mom.
Working with youth both parties learn from each other, what’s one trait you have learned from working with girls?
One of the most transforming things I have learned from our girls is to DREAM BIG and FEAR NOTHING! Every year we ask the girls to fill-out profile cards where they are allowed to share anything, specifically, their dreams and goals. Over the years I’ve noticed that some of the girl’s dreams were the same dreams I had at their age. Unlike our girls, I was fearful and lacked the self-esteem to pursue my dreams. Because of their fearless spirit I was inspired to pursue my college degree and start my own business. I am now entering my final semester at Essex County College, where I will be receiving my degree in Social Work. I am also the proud owner of The Youthpreneur, LLC. a dedicated to providing events and entertainment specific to youth. As they set out to make me proud, I want to make them as equally proud.
We’re all about empowerment at C.O.R.E Mag, what does EMPOWERMENT mean to you + your organization?
To me, Empowerment means finding your own voice, and then helping others to find theirs. Empowerment also means investing in your community by giving back through volunteer work and community service. Girls;Live, Love, Laugh Inc. believe that Empowerment is helping your sisters; wanting for them, the same things you would want for yourself. We have an obligation to one another as sisters, and that is to pull up the next sister by providing them with the tools and resources that were afforded to us.
Fun Faves! Song? Food? Artist? Celeb Crush?
Eating Pizza, Traveling, Singing and Reading are my fun faves. My favorite song is Fantasia’s “Sometimes you have to lose to win again”. My favorite artist includes Fantasia and Pastor Shirley Caesar. My favorite celebrity crush I would have to say my husband Andre. He’s my celebrity and I have the biggest crush on him.
