YFB February Issue- People- Elle King {Risse C}

Confidence, determination and patience are three characteristics which supermodel Elle King has credited to her success in the international model arena thus far. Unlike the scripted shows where young girls dream of being models from the time they could wobble in their mother’s heels, Elle’s initial career aspiration was to become a veterinarian, which stemmed from her passion for animals and she has plans on opening a clinic in the future. 

 In 2006, she walked in the Cave Shepherd Barbados Fashion Week and shortly after was offered to appear in BET’s annual fashion show ‘Rip the Runway’. This gained her much recognition locally and internationally and placed her among the likes of other supermodels such as Tenielle Stoute and Sara Collins. With a career that has taken her to various countries, she has come to the realization that as a model, she is also an ambassador for her country. She is usually greeted with the question, “so where are you from?” which when answered, stirs up even more curiosity, since many people have never heard about Barbados. She enjoys talking and promoting her country any chance she gets, knowing how vital tourism is to our economy.

Currently based in South Africa to build her portfolio, Elle is signed to RED Model Management NYC and Base Model Agency. Thus far, her accolades include but are not limited to: shooting her first commercial with renowned Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani for Woolworth South Africa, becoming the face of Vichy L’Oreal in Africa and opening the fashion showcase for Patricia Field, ‘Sex in The City’ stylist/designer.

Elle named local designer Shanika Burnett of Shakad Designs and international  designer Lavin as presently being her favourites and stated that “being a Bajan model has also worked in my favour, since I stand out from the competition as they’re few models working internationally from Barbados and the Caribbean in general”.

Even models have a day off, and Elle takes full advantage of these rare occasions. As an island girl, the beach is her second home and coupled with a good book, completes her perfect day R&R. She also like bike riding and since being relocated to South Africa has taken a keen interest in hiking. Her pet peeves include poor customer service, know-it-alls and being late, the latter being a key aspect of a model’s day to day, which can make or break their career.

Elle has great plans in motion for her future in the industry, having already walked in shows for Patricia Field, Halston and Monique Lhuillier, she would love to add Bottega Veneta, Lanvin and Chanel, but this list is not exhausted in the least.

She advises young women who want to pursue a career in the industry to take that leap of faith if they are truly passionate about modeling, but warns that this is no walk in the park or the runway for that matter. The industry is very competitive and cut throat so you must be able to roll with the punches and come out on top.

YFB February Issue-Style-Love n' Relationships {Niki H}

In the “I Confess” column of the January 1, 2011 edition of the Nation Newspaper, a letter was published that caused me immense distress.

The writer (let’s call her Bi-Why) mentions that her man is “a good lover”, respectful, “patient and tolerant”; he actually listens, seeks to “build her confidence”, is not focused solely on sex but is however, “fantastic in bed… and extremely sensitive to [her] responses”, and treats her better than any man has treated her before; he likes to dress nicely and keeps a neat appearance. Oh and he has a found a friend in lotion (“…his elbows are not white…”).

*crickets* Yea so ummm…. What is the problem?????

These are all good attributes that many women are currently seeking in a mate (wid nuh luck at all).

Well, she alludes to something that concerns her:

[. . .] he encourages me to play with him with my fingers, and when I do this he behaves in a manner I have never experienced with a man before.

*Gasp* (not really).

Fine, everyone is allowed to have concerns in a relationship – it’s normal. But Bi-Why’s concern only arises after she discusses her relationship with her bff who advises Bi-Why that her boyfriend may be bisexual.

Let me be clear that my intention and purpose here is not to ridicule.  From here on out I am speaking to everyone, with the above situation as a reference.

In Bi-Why’s case, There are a number of mistakes, which we all commonly make that ruin good relationships.

Letting outsiders influence your happiness in your relationship. I’m sure all your friends will have good intentions and try to protect you from heartache (sarcastic much?). Someone told me once to never tell your friends about what is going on in your sex life, because that stirs up curiosity. And we dun know how many cats curiosity send to de gallows! What happens in your bedroom (or wherever else you like to get freaky) is your business! Bi-Why mentioned no problems or unease in the relationship prior to her BFF planting that seed of doubt!

Stop relying on de girls or de fellas to fix your problems with their magnificent advice. Keep it 100! All your “friends” are not your friends and as such (a) don’t actually want your relationship to work and therefore (b) should not be advising you on relationships. If you must consult a friend, it should be the one or few that you trust the most, with a most objective perspective, and a genuine concern for you. Your relationship is not meant for public consumption!

You are in a relationship with him/her not your girls or boys- Take up your issues with your spouse. Your girlfriend should not find out from your best friend’s girlfriend that you don’t like her going out to the club 4 nights a week.

If you don’t trust him/her then why are you with them?- Trust is the cornerstone of every relationship. If Bi-Why is looking at him wondering if those same hands have caressed a man’s face, and the thought has done irreparable damage to her security and trust in the relationship, then she should do the right thing and move on. Staying in a relationship with no trust is basically volunteering to be tortured (not in the S&M way either).

Read the signs-They are always signs. Oprah is right. You have to pay attention. Since Bi-Why has stated that this is not the first man she has engaged in anal play with, if Bi-Why’s boyfriend is indeed bisexual then something more significant than well-lotion elbows & a hair cut every week will have to suffice.

YFB February Issue- Style- Health n Fitness {Dre J}

If the extent of your daily exercise regimen is to search for the remote control for the television or going to the refrigerator for a midnight snack, then unfortunately you living a sedentary lifestyle which places you at risk for the many health complications which go hand in hand with being a ‘couch potato’. Being active doesn’t mean you have to be a fitness fanatic, but an increase in your daily activity can start with a 30 minute walk.

FACT: A lack of physical activity is one of the leading PREVENTABLE causes of death worldwide.

FACT: A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to or be a risk factor for:

•Anxiety
•Cardiovascular disease
•Depression
•Diabetes
•High blood pressure
•Obesity
•Osteoporosis

Another risk is muscle atrophy - the shrinking and weakening of muscles which subsequently makes them more susceptible to physical injury, so it’s like they say if you don't use it you lose it. This is usually associated with persons in their senescence, but can also be found in younger generations. It should be noted that there is a direct link between physical activity and the human immune system, less activity equates to a weaker immune system.

Sedentary lifestyles carry with it the same risks as SMOKING, and we all know smoking kills. Physical activity at any level can: make the heart stronger; reduce blood pressure; help control stress levels and help maintain or lose weight.

Some exercise is better than none, so let's get out there and get active.

YFB February Issue- Style-Fashion n' Beauty {Paula J}

Beauty is skin deep. What is inside the black woman, or any woman regardless of ethnicity, is of tantamount importance if not much more important than her weave, false lashes, afro, any of it. But ladies (and gents brave enough to read this) the body is a temple and it must be treated as such – what people see and most importantly what you see when you step in front of the mirror can make or break your day, your week even your life!

So what does the young, fabulous, Bajan gal do to keep on top of her game? We can’t fit all that into one article so (permission to be redundant?) I’ll start at the beginning – skin care. Now guys don’t stop reading just yet, skin care is asexual… like Godzilla? I just lost my one reader. Cleansing, toning and moisturizing daily are the three basic steps all of us can take – men, women, and even children to ensure we avoid breakouts, wrinkles, and a variety of skin ailments and remain beautiful on the outside. The face is the most exposed part of the body so it requires our care and attention. P.S Ladies, clean skin is the best palate for your fabulous makeup!

Welcome to the Best 5 Minutes of Your Life

And I promise you will not have to call your ex! All you need is warm water, a wash cloth, facial cleanser or foaming face wash, toner, after shave (for men) or daily acne cleansing pads, cotton balls (or suitable equivalent) and a daily moisturizer with at least SPF 15.

Step 1 – Cleansing:
Moisten the wash cloth with warm water. Then moisten the face using both hands starting at the base of the neck and working up to the face with upward and outward circular motions.  Next take a nickel-sized portion of facial cleanser and dab small amounts of it all over the face and neck. Then moisten fingertips with the warm water and work in small circular motions upward and outward starting on the neck and working up to the face. Once we’re all covered then we use warm water to rinse that off thoroughly.

Step 2 – Toning
Using the toner, after shave, or cleansing pads you need to cover the cleansed surface of the neck and face. I usually put a small portion of it on a cotton ball and rub the solution and my neck and face in the same upward and outward motions used for cleansing. Why do we keep using these upward and outward motions? This gentle massage is doing the skin wonders and you’ll thank me in your 60’s! I know you’re with me now.

Step 3 – Last one! Let’s moisturize…
Dab small drops of moisturizer on each side of the neck, chin, lower jaw, on each cheek, each side of the nose, each eye lid, each temple and about three dabs across the forehead. Smooth the lotion all over the neck and face (I know you see it coming) in upward and outward circular motions as before. By now you may feel exhausted just reading it. But as my closest girlfriends will point out much to my embarrassment, if I can do it in all my lazy glory then anyone can! Of course there is more… much much more to skin care but what reason would you have to read next issue if I said it all now?

YFB February Issue- Music- Azman 'De First Wun' {Risse C}

From the get go Azman established that they aren't your average quartet, but a coalition of young men who are willing to push the envelope where local music is concerned. Their debut album 'De First Wun' which dropped in 2009, is lyrically multifaceted - from the daily struggles of Barbadian youths to battling with de girls bumpa in de fete to the lackluster approach  by local deejays and radio stations to Barbadian music.
 

 Azman is the collaboration of four immensely talented young men- Levitance, Dee, Doddy and Gibbzy Dan. A group who has pioneered their own genre, known as fling, there is no questioning their originality. One must agree, some of the content calls for an in-depth knowledge of Barbadian culture and slang that is readily used to spit the ciphers which require an attentive ear and a sharp mind.
 

From the sound of the bell in the introduction, you get the impression that a battle is about to ensue, but listening to tracks such as 'Still Livin', 'Play On' and 'Dreams', you begin to realize the challenge is present but the nemesis varies according to the situation. Regardless of a mother telling you to stop wasting time with music and get to the books, a dead end job or a radio station who lost your cds, Azman presses forward in the face of all obstacles.

The flipside of Azman however, brings the 'wufflessness' to the fore, with 'Too Wutliss', 'Wuffliness' and 'Gurl Child', you get a play by play of the social interactions in the fete, from the tease to the chase. Mesmerized but not willing to accept defeat, they stand their ground when 'de girls pooch back de bumpas'.
At varying intervals, you come across individual tracks from each member, simply entitled 'Unorthodox'. Needless to say, these solo tracks only reaffirm the potecy of each member, which meshes beautifully to create the Azman sound.

In the closing track, are snippets of spoken word from the popular poet Adrian Greene. This throws the final nails in the coffin, regarding the fickle nature of the support that local artistes who strive to produce local vocals receive. With no sugarcoating whatsoever, they lay it down to the nitty gritty, not losing the metaphorical twist which they are known for, but casting light on the grave issues which they faced on their musical journey.

Azman, the real real bajan music, with the adequate amount of dialect, metaphors and alliterations, coupled with effortless flow, in de words of Barabus in 'Represent'-"I bring you Azman, is dem I recommend! Wuh tell me where you could find men dat could better dem?"

To hear more from Azman:

'De First Wun' Download here

See Azman's Myspace here

Follow them on Twitter here

Like them on Facebook here