Author Archives: Sonya's Spotlight
← Older posts Newer posts →The Dream Project Symposium Soars in Atlanta
April 26, 2016The EGAMI Group presented its fourth annual Dream Project Symposium in Atlanta, Ga. on April 21 – 22, 2016 at The Atlanta Marriott Marquis. The two-day conference connected small business owners, current/aspiring entrepreneurs, creative and business professionals, with tangible methods to help them tap into their creative side and make their dreams a reality. More than 300 participants, industry influencers and celebrities from various industries including retail, technology, fashion, creative services and marketing attended. Hosted by The EGAMI Group’s Founder and CEO, Teneshia Jackson Warner, the symposium provided invaluable business insights from keynote speakers Jennifer Fleiss, Miss Robbie and Mr. Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Following the keynote presentations, attendees participated in interactive and intimate workshops with experts who shared advice and strategies to help them take charge of their dreams. Highlights from this year’s conference include the Welcoming Night of Dreams Networking Reception (Powered by Prudential Financial) featuring Guest DJ, Mc Lyte and a welcoming remarks from the City of Atlanta City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell. Prudential Financial keynotes Jennifer Fleiss and Miss Robbie gave guests the additional push and tools needed to help build and grow their businesses. By mid afternoon the room was filled wall to wall to hear from the legend himself, Mr. Magic “Earvin” Johnson powered by Infinity sponsor Delta Air Lines. His in your face brother to sister approach, reminded Dream Project guests how important self-authenticity is to not only your brand but to your lifestyle. His thrilling and invigorating speech on how to Capitalize on Your Skills and Create Your Own Doors of Opportunity spark many guests to unleash the creators within them and to start living their dreams. Prudential Financial, Delta Air Lines and The Coca-Cola Company were the event’s supporting sponsors and helped foster two days of empowerment and growth. For more information, please …
Posted in On the Scene | Leave a commentBeyoncé returns with an electrifying album of new music – Lemonade
April 25, 2016New Visual Album Beyoncé returns with an electrifying album of new music and a stunning video experience. Lemonade is available now. View In iTunes $17.99 Genres: Pop, Music Released: Apr 23, 2016 ℗ 2016 Parkwood Entertainment LLC, under exclusive license to Columbia Records, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment Parental Advisory Get It on iTunes Biography Genre: Pop One of the most recognizable figures in contemporary music, Beyoncé rose to fame as the central member of pop-R&B group Destiny’s Child before embarking on a multi-platinum, record-breaking solo career in 2001. Booming record sales, Grammy awards, movie roles, and marriage to rapper/CEO Jay-Z combined to heighten her profile in the 2000s. Billboard named her female artist of the decade, while the RIAA acknowledged that, through 64 gold and platinum certifications, she was the decade’s top-selling… Source: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lemonade/id1107429221?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 Also Visit: http://www.beyonce.com/
Posted in In The Spotlight | Leave a commentVIVICA A. FOX Announces Collaboration With POETIC JUSTICE JEANS
April 23, 2016In an effort to provide contemporary fashion for curvy women everywhere, CEG client and actress VIVICA A. FOX has announced today that she will be collaborating with Poetic Justice Jeans (PJ) for their Fall 2016 collection! The line was hand selected and curated by the celebrity fashionista and boasts a range of PJ’s signature jeans and French terry ath-leisure wear. The LA-based brand has been serving women with curves of all sizes nationwide since 2013. Vivica chose to work with PJ Jeans as she greatly admired the brand’s efforts to make clothing accessible to women with curvy figures of all sizes. The Poetic Justice Jeans collection ranges from waist size 28 through plus-size 24 with price points starting at $24.00 up to $54.00. Check out the new collection here! In May 2016 Vivica will celebrate the collaboration at a private event in Los Angeles and again with a grand launch on her birthday, July 30th!…Be sure to grab a pair when her jeans hit store shelves this Fall! #StayFoxy
Posted in Music | Leave a commentTATYANA ALI STARS IN SECOND SIGHT – ON TV ONE
April 22, 2016By Kimberly Alsup and George Pringle Sonya’s Spotlight bloggers Kimberly Alsup and George Pringle were excited to dial into a Tele-Press Conference with Tatyana Ali, Sharif Akins and Executive Producer Susan Banks from TV One’s SECOND SIGHT, premiering Saturday, April 23, at 8pm/7c. During our call with the cast and producer, we were given the synopsis, insight into the characters, and explored several subjects pertaining to the sensitive storyline in SECOND SIGHT. ABOUT SECOND SIGHT: Starring as a young teacher plagued with visions, Tatyana Ali (Zoe Ever After, Love That Girl!, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) returns to TV One in the new made-for-television movie Second Sight. Premiering Saturday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET, Ali plays Clara Randall, whose gift of “prophesy” leaves her haunted by premonitions of horrific kidnappings. Despite people’s unwillingness to believe her “second sight,” Clara takes it upon herself to search for one of her students who has gone missing. Shot on location in Los Angeles, this suspenseful thriller marks the third project executive produced by Radio One Founder Cathy Hughes and Executive Vice President of Special Projects Susan Banks. Living in a constant nightmare, Clara has trouble understanding her abilities as well as convincing others – especially her boyfriend Tony – that the visions are not just a figment of her imagination. Along with her mission to save an innocent life, Clara discovers disturbing secrets and lies surrounding those she trusted most. CAST: Tatyana Ali (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Love that Girl, Zoe Ever After) Sharif Atkins (White Collar, Rizzoli & Isles) Texas Battle (The Bold and The Beautiful) Edwina Findley (If Loving You is Wrong) Denise Boutte (Meet the Browns, Why Did I Get Married) Marla Gibbs (227, The Jeffersons) Photo Credit: Matt Harbight, Courtesy of TV One/The FrontPage Firm Highlights from Tatyana Ali (Clara, in SECOND SIGHT) : Tatyana …
Posted in Inspirational | Leave a commentEn Vogue Pays Tribute to Classic Hollywood Beauty and Glamour with New Song ‘Deja Vu’
April 22, 2016Beauty, class, transcendence…the award-winning, multi-platinum female group, En Vogue, embodies the very definition of each word. After countless accolades, 20 million albums sold, multiple Grammy nominations, American Music Awards and Soul Train awards, the ultimate girl group of the 90s has now evolved into legendary R&B icons affectionately known as the “Real Funky Divas”. Today, En Vogue is redefining the idea of beauty, music and style with original members Cindy Heron-Braggs, Terry Ellis, and long-standing member Rhona Bennett. As a thank you to their fans, for the first time in nearly 5 years, the group is sharing a new song, Déjà vu, from their forthcoming release, Electric Café, that can be streamed via music services, En Vogue SoundCloud, Pandora and Spotify. Musically, Déjà vu, evokes memories and pays homage to the sounds of 1960s R&B, with the visceral and precise harmonies that are synonymous with En Vogue. The song recreates images that capture the timeless and stunning beauty of old Hollywood. Visually, the ladies are styled by seasoned creative director, Troy Jensen (stylist for iconic En Vogue videos, Free Your Mind & Don’t Let Go), capturing the sophistication and elegance long associated with the En Vogue ‘style’. “We’re proud of being considered trendsetters, fusing music with style from the beginning with our little black dresses to our red ‘hot’ “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” video to the futuristic look of “Free Your Mind”, says Ellis. Now celebrating 25 years in the business, En Vogue has sustained their unique look and sound. “We adore our fans and constantly strive to give them music from our hearts,” says Bennett. To support the new music and Electric Café release, the group is currently embarking on a world tour, with shows throughout North America (U.S. and Canada) and Europe (Holland, the U.K., Denmark). Fans can visit …
Posted in Fitness | Leave a commentTV ONE’S NEWS ONE NOW GOES LIVE WITH PRIMETIME SPECIAL DEDICATED TO LEGENDARY MUSICIAN PRINCE
April 22, 2016TV One’s New One Now, the only daily news program targeting Black viewers, went live with a primetime special dedicated to legendary musician Prince, who passed away today, April 21, at the age of 57 in Paisley Park studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Media personalities and celebrity guests joined News One Now host and managing editor Roland S. Martin to celebrate and pay tribute to the singer/songwriter’s life and his contributions to music worldwide. A News One Now Special: Prince Remembered aired Thursday, April 21 from 8-10 p.m. ET. Confirmed Guests Anthony Hamilton Russ Parr L. Londell McMillan Cori Murray, Essence Billboard Magazine Writer Peter Himmelman – Singer/Songwriter and many others… Prince is celebrated around the world as an innovator and was widely known for his eclectic work, colorful stage presence, and wide vocal range. “Prince is such an iconic figure in our community. There is no way we could not do a primetime special on this legendary musician,” said Martin. “I met, admired, and absolutely love his music. There is no better way to pay tribute to his life and legacy than News One Now is currently saluting Prince on its website with a list of his Top 10 Best Songs<http://newsone.com/2741915/salute-to-the-purple-one-top-10-prince-songs/>. And TV One will encore an episode of Unsung featuring Sheila E., Prince’s former protégé, collaborator and ex-fiancée throughout the weekend. Thursday’s special also featured a host of social media interactivity. TV One viewers can join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/tvonetv>, Instagram<http://www.instagram.com/tvonetv>, Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/tvonetv> and Periscope<https://www.periscope.tv/tvonetv> (@tvonetv) using the hash tag #PrinceGoneTooSoon. The network is honoring the musical genius by sharing top responses from social media on its website (http://www.tvone.tv/) alongside a running list of TV One’s Staff’s favorite Prince songs. TV One’s News One Now continues its commitment to honoring the legacy of notable African Americans with its special show …
Posted in In The Spotlight | Leave a commentCIARA FEATURED ON ESSENCE MAGAZINE’S MAY ANNIVERSARY COVER
April 22, 2016Single motherhood wasn’t on Ciara’s to-do list. As the singer shares in ESSENCE’s May issue article, Secret Garden, when Baby Future came into her life, so did a new focus on what matters most: her son and her faith. And now that she’s found a new love, everything’s coming up roses. With a clear vision, a focus on family and a life firmly rooted in faith, singer Ciara promises that there are even more “goodies” in store for her, her fans and the future. ESSENCE’s May anniversary issue hit newsstands on April 21. “Marriage is something I look forward to. I believe in family, and the beauty of two people committing to spend their lives together. We talk about everything. To me, to both of us, that’s the foundation you need for love to flourish and reach its highest place. I want to live with as much lightness as possible, so I can stay focused on my love of God, and being the best mom, and the best person, I can be…”—Ciara, ESSENCE Magazine
Posted in In The Spotlight | Leave a commentThe Secret She Kept Premieres Sunday, July 10 on TV ONE
April 13, 2016By Kimberly Alsup As the new TV/Film correspondent & Entertainment Blogger for Sonya’s Spotlight, I was pleased to get the opportunity to visit the set of TV ONE’s THE SECRET SHE KEPT, filmed in Atlanta and premiering Sunday, July 10 on TV One. I got a chance to meet and interview a few cast members, as well as the writer. TV ONE ADDRESSES NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH WITH THE SECRET SHE KEPT About THE SECRET SHE KEPT – (Content Courtesy of TV One) Based on Best Selling Author ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s Book About A Family Coping With Mental Illness, Network’s Original Movie Starring Kyla Pratt, Gavin Houston, Kellita Smith and Vanessa A. Williams, Premieres Sunday, July 10 at 7 p.m. ET TV One is shedding light on mental health in the Black community during National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month with the premiere of its original movie, The Secret She Kept, this Sunday, July 10 at 7 p.m. ET (encore at 9 p.m. ET). Inspired by the best-selling novel of the same name by NAACP Image Award-winning author ReShonda Tate Billingsley, TV One’s original feature film, The Secret She Kept, immerses viewers in the story of a prominent family that lets shame, confusion and misunderstandings about mental illness send them down a tragic path. Kyla Pratt (Recovery Road, One on One, The Proud Family, Dr. Doolittle) stars as beautiful, high-powered attorney Tia Jiles, who has just married the man of her dreams, successful magazine executive Lance Kingston (Gavin Houston, The Haves and the Have Nots, Guiding Light), and is on the brink of launching a major political campaign when a pattern of erratic behavior uncovers her secret: she suffers from mental illness. “So often, we trivialize that someone is just ‘crazy’ and we don’t recognize that mental illness is real and relevant. I wanted to show not only was this something that deserved our attention, but that …
Posted in Streaming | Leave a commentThe Jungle Book in theaters April 15th – Atlanta VIP Pre-Screening Photos
April 11, 2016Disney hosted a private, VIP advance screening of their highly anticipated new movie, THE JUNGLE BOOK, on Saturday, April 9th at 11:00 AM at Regal Atlantic Station in Atlanta, hosted by Ferrari Simmons from V-103. The screening was well attended by local celebrities and influencers including Chilli (R&B Group TLC), Tameka Foster-Raymond (VH1’s Atlanta Exes, Rock City (Rap Duo), Lisa Nicole Cloud (Bravo’s Married to Medicine), Aydin Huq (Bravo’s Married to Medicine), Eugene Harris (Bravo’s Married to Medicine), Kay J (Block Entertainment R&B Artist), Sarah ViVan (W233BF-FM), Ryan Cameron (WVEE-FM), Ferrari Simmons (WVEE-FM), Sonya Jenkins (Sonya’s Spotlight Web Mag, Author of SHAYLA’S CATCH), to name a few attendees. Check out a few photos below: Photos – Paras Griffin for Getty for Disney Photos – Sonya Jenkins About THE JUNGLE BOOK SYNOPSIS: Raised by a family of wolves since birth, Mowgli (Neel Sethi) must leave the only home he’s ever known when the fearsome tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) unleashes his mighty roar. Guided by a stern panther (Ben Kingsley) and a free-spirited bear (Bill Murray), the young boy meets an array of jungle animals, including a slithery python (Scarlett Johansson) and a smooth-talking ape. Along the way, Mowgli learns valuable life lessons as his epic journey of self-discovery leads to fun and adventure. #Jungle Book in theaters April 15th
Posted in Cinema | Leave a commentGAME OF SILENCE Private Red Carpet & Party with Larenz Tate
April 11, 2016On behalf of NBC’s new show, GAME OF SILENCE, Sonya’s Spotlight was invited to a private mix and mingle party with actor LARENZ TATE, on Thursday, April 7th at STK Atlanta. Larenz greeted guests, posed for photos and gave interviews to bloggers. Rapper and actor Ludacris and actress Vanessa A. Williams were also on hand to celebrate with Larenz. GAME OF SILENCE premieres Tuesday, April 12/ Thursday, April 14 – 10/9c. Photos courtesy of Allied M – Prince Williams ATLPics.net. Check out a few of the evening’s highlights via Sonya Jenkins’ YouTube video below: About GAME OF SILENCE: Five best friends have a dark secret they thought was buried 25 years ago, but they soon discover that you can’t hide your past forever. From the executive producers of “CSI” and “Friday Night Lights” comes a gripping new drama about friendship, love, revenge and the moral dilemma of how far one will go in the pursuit of justice. Jackson Brooks (David Lyons, “Revolution”) is a successful attorney who seems to have it all. He’s engaged to his boss, Marina (Claire van der Boom, “Hawaii Five-O”), and he’s on the fast track to becoming partner at his firm, but his world is turned upside down when his long-lost childhood friends unexpectedly reappear after 25 years. Jackson, Gil Harris (Michael Raymond-James, “True Blood”), Shawn Polk (Larenz Tate, “Rush”) and Boots (Derek Phillips, “Friday Night Lights”) always stuck together, like brothers. They spent their boyhood summers in the small town of Dalton, Texas, swimming in the quarry, shooting bottle rockets and doing everything they could to mine the fun out of small-town life. But their idyllic world turned chaotic one fateful summer afternoon when a well-intentioned and heroic attempt to save their friend Jessie (Bre Blair, “Last Vegas”) from her alcoholic mother ultimately cost the 13-year-old boys nine …
Posted in Inspirational, MOTIVATION | Leave a comment ← Older posts Newer posts →
