Vanessa Obioha
The musician cum designer, Victoria Beckham has beaten celebrities like Amal Clooney, Kendall Jenner, Heidi Klum, Lupita Nyong’O to emerge on the top list of the airline best celebrity traveller.
Compiled by British Airways and top Hollywood fashion stylist Elizabeth Saltzman to celebrate the relationship between flying and fashion and to honour today’s globe-trotting trendsetters, spanning the worlds of film, music and entertainment, the list is a mix of inspiring celebrities who travel in style and instigate major wardrobe envy every time they step on the plane. Hundreds of images of the celebrities jetting out in airports were reviewed by seasoned judges.
Victoria Beckham landed the coveted spot, according to Saltzman, for “always getting it right when flying and it’s so impressive. Usually there is a menswear element to her travel wardrobe; it is chic and sophisticated but still classic and comfortable.”
She concluded by adding that “People are more aware of themselves, whether it is their health and beauty regimes, time management or carbon footprint. The women on this list are all powerful examples of the modern world. Their style is classic with a personal twist. This is about the power of women and being able to balance it all.”
The list is the first of its kind to be organised by the airline. Abigail Comber, British Airways’ Head of Customer, said: “We’ve always been associated with travelling in style – most recently with our elegant, new short-haul cabins and our new-look First cabin, created especially for the 787-9 aircraft. We wanted to honour today’s style elite and those frequent flyers who embrace the enduring glamour and excitement of jumping on a plane.”
Intelligent Life no Longer on Ava DuVernay’s List
With many big projects landing on her laps since her immeasurable success with Selma last year, director Ava DuVernay was forced to dump DreamWorks ‘Intelligent Life’ from her list due to busy schedule.
She was fingered to direct the sci-fi movie after co-writer Colin Trevorrow got buried in his galaxy projects.
Hot on her list of projects is her new drama series on Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), Queen Sugar. She is also signed to direct HBO Films’ The Battle of Versailles, Disney’s Fantasy Adaptation ‘A Wrinkle in Time’, and is developing a Hurricane Katrina drama, which features David Oyelowo.
Co-produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, Intelligent Life stars Lupita Nyong’O and revolves round a United Nations employee whose job is to monitor outer space for potential contact with extraterrestrials. He meets and falls for a beautiful woman who may actually be an alien.
A Historic Leap for Hamilton
The hip-hop show musical about America’s First Treasury Secretary made history last week when it swept over 16 nominations in the upcoming Tony Awards.
The diverse theatre which involved a multi-ethnic cast, was deemed show prize-worthy in every category of theatre-making; from acting, writing, directing, dance, to music and design. About seven “Hamilton” performers were singled out and in two categories, “Hamilton” actors will compete against one another.
The creator Lin Manuel Miranda got three nominations and is currently ecstatic about the success of his production. The show won a Pulitzer prize for Miranda.
The show’s success largely depends on its ability to use a diverse cast and contemporary music to suggest that the revolutionary impulses of the founding generation of America are still relevant in today’s society.
Hamilton is expected to win the coveted Tony Awards, the prize for the best new musical. Other musicals nominated in the category include ‘Bright Star’, ‘Waitress’, ‘School of Rock – The Musical’ and ‘Shuffle Along’.
Tupac’s ‘Dear Mama’ Bows Out at 69
An unfortunate incident hit the Shakur family on Monday night when its matriarch Afeni Shakur gave up the ghost. Her death was confirmed by the Sheriff’s Office in Marin County, California on Twitter. She died of cardiac arrest.
Until death, Afeni Shakur was highly revered for preserving the legacy of her slain son and rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur who died in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996. She established the Tupac Amaru Shakur foundation.
A social activist, philanthropist and former member of Black Panther, Afeni was regarded as her son’s biggest inspiration in music. Tupac in his ‘Dear Mama’ track talked about his relationship with her and her addiction to drugs. In more than one way, he expressed his deep love and respect for her to which Eminem and more recently The Game attributed same respect to her.
Born Alice Faye Williams in 1947, Afeni was involved in a messy divorce scandal with husband, Gust Davis prior to her death. She is survived by a daughter named Sekyiwa.
Dear White People Gets TV Series
The critically acclaimed 2014 post-racial comedy drama will have its series debut on Netflix next year. The streaming platform announced recently that the drama, which was directed by Justin Simien, is already under production and will consist of 10 episodes of 30 minutes each.
Although Simien is writing the series and will direct the first episode, the streaming service didn’t divulge any information on the characters. Simien however said the series is still based on the original premise of the movie.
Dear White People follows the lives of a diverse group of students of colour as they navigate a predominantly white Ivy League college where racial tensions are often swept under the rug.
Comedian Arsenio Hall Sues Singer Sinead O’Connor
A Facebook post by singer Sinead O’Connor allegedly claims that comedian Arsenio Hall is responsible for the late Prince’s drug addiction. In defense, Hall filed a libel suit against O’Connor, calling her accusations false.
According to TMZ, the comedian said he barely knew the singer and she probably despised him.
O’Connor on Monday posted on Facebook that investigators looking into the possible cause of death Prince should question Hall. She insinuated that Hall furnished the late singer with drugs. She also accused Hall of drugging her too.
Hall’s lawsuit against O’Connor seeks over $5 million in damages but the verdict will however be awarded by a jury.
