FASHION
With two divorces under her belt, Halle has evolved into a woman of independence – not allowing her life to be defined by the peaks or the valleys of a relationship. With a steady partner in model Gabriel Aubry, and a beautiful daughter, one-year-old Nahla Ariela Aubry, Halle has found balance in her life and says that her daughter makes her a better person. She hopes to empower and inspire other women to be self-sufficient and to live their dreams. One way that Halle gives back is by her work as the co-chairperson of the Jenesse Center, a non-profit domestic violence prevention organization that provides a holistic, comprehensive program to nurture victimized families back to a place of mental, financial, physical and emotional well-being.
Halle recently gave her time and support to the 2009 Jenesse Silver Rose Gala and Auction in Beverly Hills where the theme Self Sufficiency, Taking the Necessary Steps to Make a Change was celebrated through every aspect of the gala. 2009 Silver Rose Honorees Chef G. Garvin and Wendy Raquel Robinson made heartfelt speeches and Emmy Award winning performer Wayne Brady (the host for the event), Grammy Award winning singer Ashanti, and gospel powerhouse Kim Burrell gave powerful performances. 2009 Silver Rose Honorees AllState and Verizon Foundation both answered the clarion call to stop domestic violence through education by contributing major grants to the women of the Jenesse center.
Although Halle has clearly moved on from the pains of her past, she was once a victim of domestic violence. She revealed that she lost part of her hearing after a boyfriend violently struck her and she once considered ending her life because a relationship had gone awry. In an earlier interview the actress told me that she trusted too easily. But after going through the hard-knocks of life and love, Halle is stronger and wiser now. The Jenesse Center has given her an opportunity to be more pro-active in her plight to raise awareness and to be an advocate for change.
I met Halle Berry for the first time in the early 90s when she first gained notoriety playing a drug addict in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever. Just as pleasant and poised as she was pretty, I felt that she had a grace and sweetness about her that made her almost angelic. With a tambourine in her hand and wearing a flowing, low-cut red dress, I took a couple of pictures of Halle and a co-worker who wanted to meet her. Since then we have crossed paths at various award shows – and even at the mall in Atlanta. Back in 1992, when I interviewed Halle for Upscale Magazine, she shared her vision with me. “What I’m doing now is something that I want to do, but I can’t see myself still doing this when I’m 40 years old. I think I want to make my mark in the business – do what is fulfilling for me and then move on to another phase in my life – like getting married and having children,” she confided. “Hopefully I’ll do the right things with my money now so that I can afford to work once a year or whenever I want to and still have a normal life. I would also like to have a business of my own aside from entertainment. Although I’m not a pioneer by any means, I do feel that I’m aiding in the process.”
Almost two decades later, and past 40, Halle has come full circle. Her career has evolved to great heights, her personal life is fulfilling (in spite of the growing pains), she has given birth to a adorable daughter, and she can actually work whenever she so desires. Fame does come with a price, so a normal life for Halle, where paparazzi photographers aren’t following her, might be quite difficult. But in all, Halle Berry has accomplished her dreams and is the pioneer that she dreamed she’d become. And for that, we are all rapping and cheering, Halle Berry, Halle Berry.
Sonya Jenkins
Halle recently gave her time and support to the 2009 Jenesse Silver Rose Gala and Auction in Beverly Hills where the theme Self Sufficiency, Taking the Necessary Steps to Make a Change was celebrated through every aspect of the gala. 2009 Silver Rose Honorees Chef G. Garvin and Wendy Raquel Robinson made heartfelt speeches and Emmy Award winning performer Wayne Brady (the host for the event), Grammy Award winning singer Ashanti, and gospel powerhouse Kim Burrell gave powerful performances. 2009 Silver Rose Honorees AllState and Verizon Foundation both answered the clarion call to stop domestic violence through education by contributing major grants to the women of the Jenesse center.
Although Halle has clearly moved on from the pains of her past, she was once a victim of domestic violence. She revealed that she lost part of her hearing after a boyfriend violently struck her and she once considered ending her life because a relationship had gone awry. In an earlier interview the actress told me that she trusted too easily. But after going through the hard-knocks of life and love, Halle is stronger and wiser now. The Jenesse Center has given her an opportunity to be more pro-active in her plight to raise awareness and to be an advocate for change.
I met Halle Berry for the first time in the early 90s when she first gained notoriety playing a drug addict in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever. Just as pleasant and poised as she was pretty, I felt that she had a grace and sweetness about her that made her almost angelic. With a tambourine in her hand and wearing a flowing, low-cut red dress, I took a couple of pictures of Halle and a co-worker who wanted to meet her. Since then we have crossed paths at various award shows – and even at the mall in Atlanta. Back in 1992, when I interviewed Halle for Upscale Magazine, she shared her vision with me. “What I’m doing now is something that I want to do, but I can’t see myself still doing this when I’m 40 years old. I think I want to make my mark in the business – do what is fulfilling for me and then move on to another phase in my life – like getting married and having children,” she confided. “Hopefully I’ll do the right things with my money now so that I can afford to work once a year or whenever I want to and still have a normal life. I would also like to have a business of my own aside from entertainment. Although I’m not a pioneer by any means, I do feel that I’m aiding in the process.”
Almost two decades later, and past 40, Halle has come full circle. Her career has evolved to great heights, her personal life is fulfilling (in spite of the growing pains), she has given birth to a adorable daughter, and she can actually work whenever she so desires. Fame does come with a price, so a normal life for Halle, where paparazzi photographers aren’t following her, might be quite difficult. But in all, Halle Berry has accomplished her dreams and is the pioneer that she dreamed she’d become. And for that, we are all rapping and cheering, Halle Berry, Halle Berry.
Sonya Jenkins
Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry is one of the most beautiful people in the world (she made People Magazine’s Most Beautiful List for the 13th time this year) and one of the highest paid and most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. A stunner since her beauty pageant days as Miss. Ohio, the now 42-year-old beauty is the first and only African-American woman to win an Academy Award for a leading role (for Monster’s Ball in 2001). She has also received numerous other accolades for her work in film and in television.
As if we didn’t already know that Halle is a true beauty and that men love her, rapper Hurricane Chris recently made a rap song about dream girls like Halle Berry entitled She’s So Fine, chanting, “Halle Berry, Halle Berry!” (see Halle dance to the rap song below). But even with a rap song and a perfume being named after her (Halle launched her signature fragrance this year), Halle admits to having a long and sometimes tumultuous road in both her personal life and in her career. She says that life is not all about winning, but that sometimes loses are what make you stronger.
“It is just as important to be a good loser as it is to be a good winner,” Halle told me in an interview. “To be able to persevere and come back the next day with the same enthusiasm that you had the day before is a real challenge. You sometimes want to take [rejection] personal, but you can’t. You might be rejected [in acting] for something as little as your skin being too light or you might be a bit too short. It could be a number of things, but it has nothing to with you personally.”
As if we didn’t already know that Halle is a true beauty and that men love her, rapper Hurricane Chris recently made a rap song about dream girls like Halle Berry entitled She’s So Fine, chanting, “Halle Berry, Halle Berry!” (see Halle dance to the rap song below). But even with a rap song and a perfume being named after her (Halle launched her signature fragrance this year), Halle admits to having a long and sometimes tumultuous road in both her personal life and in her career. She says that life is not all about winning, but that sometimes loses are what make you stronger.
“It is just as important to be a good loser as it is to be a good winner,” Halle told me in an interview. “To be able to persevere and come back the next day with the same enthusiasm that you had the day before is a real challenge. You sometimes want to take [rejection] personal, but you can’t. You might be rejected [in acting] for something as little as your skin being too light or you might be a bit too short. It could be a number of things, but it has nothing to with you personally.”
Halle & Sonya 2002
Halle holds up an issue I gave her of the premiere issue of Sonya's Spotlight Magazine at the Essence Awards in 2002
Halle Berry reacts and dances to Hurricane Chris' "She Fine," in her namesake - Halle Berry, Halle Berry - on Ellen.
Halle Berry - the first time I met her at the NAACP Awards in 1992
Halle Photography by Rickey.com
Photography by Rickey.com
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