Kidrobot and Sanrio continue their partnership bringing Hello Kitty to the world of sports and beyond with the new Kidrobot × Hello Kitty Sports Collection featuring plushes, pins, and patches.
Lace-up those high tops, throw on your trracksuit, and get ready to get sporty with Hello Kitty as she competes to take home the gold star!
Shop the Kidrobot × Hello Kitty Sports Collection here.
During this time of national protest and unrest, many participants and volunteers within our organization have reached out to MAO to express their thoughts and feelings regarding the ongoing conversation around racial justice and MAO’s role in it. We have heard you and we are committed to further action.
As many of you know, a few years ago MAO formed a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) task force led by Miss America 1990 Debbye Turner Bell. A few weeks ago, the Miss America Organization put out the ask to Current Titleholders, Forever Miss Americas, Miss America State Titleholder Association, Executive Directors, and Volunteers to gauge their willingness to form a new committee with renewed focus. We are grateful that 68 women and men from across the country expressed interest in being a part of the forward movement of Miss America.
Given the current makeup of the Miss America Board of Directors and staff, we felt that it was appropriate to have an outside Selection Committee take on this important task. Below are the professionals who volunteered their time and energy to MAO:
Samantha M. Fennell
Samantha is the founder of HONE, a New York-based business development consultancy that helps purpose-driven organizations in three key areas: revenue growth, strategy, D&I sales talent, and strategic partnerships. Her clients include media enterprises, advertising agencies, B Corps, and e-commerce platforms who share her passion for driving societal transformation through corporate action and social change.
Samantha has held senior-level and management positions at both major media companies and start-up ventures. From a nearly decade-long stint at Condé Nast where she rose to become the first African American Advertising Director of Vogue, to growing an international advertising agency and building a digital division from the ground up, Samantha has achieved many “firsts” in her 20+ year career and continues to push boundaries.
Samantha launched an online publication this year- A Blessing of Unicorns- a repository of inclusive insights that seeks to dispel the myth of scarcity of outstanding BIPOC and change the world for the next generation.
Brian Vaught
Brian has over 14 years of experience in the advertising, marketing, and media industries. In his current role, Brian leads Publicis Media’s US Talent Inclusion practice across its six brands – Starcom, Zenith, Spark Foundry, Blue449, Digitas, and Performics. Brian leads internal inclusion programs including the Publicis Media Multicultural Talent Pipeline and the agency’s Inclusion Council. He also serves as a mentor and coach to the company’s business resource groups (BRGs) and drives awareness of professional development experiences.
He is a member of Publicis Groupe’s Talent Engagement & Inclusion Council, a board member for the American Association of Advertising Agencies Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, Do The WeRQ, and the T Howard Foundation. He is a recipient of the 2018 Leadership Excellence Award by the Tri-State National Diversity Council
Jason Bryant
Jason Bryan is an Associate Clinical Professor in Educational Leadership at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama for the past 4 years, and is now serving as the director of the Truman Peirce Institute with the College of Education at Auburn. Jason spent 17 years in public K-12 schools serving as a science teacher, high school assistant principal, middle school principal, and high school principal.
Linda Karbo
Linda Karbo serves as Marketing Brand Manager for Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS) at Michigan State University where she is responsible for strategic marketing initiatives & brand oversight of both REHS and the MSU Union. She is proud to be part of the task force that has advanced the “Hate Has No Home Here” and “You Have a Home Here” initiatives at MSU, which pledge and promise to foster a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and safe environment for all within the Spartan community.
Prior to joining the REHS team, Linda served as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events for the MSU College of Arts and Letters for six years and the Assistant Director of Development for the MSU College of Music for three years.
Linda is passionate about relationship building, empathetic listening, mentoring, bridging connections, and the art of the written word. She always has her eye out for a quality life hack or budding trend, and sincerely appreciates good manners and a can-do attitude. Linda describes herself as a realist with a very real layer of imagination mixed in and believes that integrity with a side of empathy is key.
Jennifer Munger
Jennifer Munger is a former elementary school principal and special education teacher. Jennifer’s experiences showed her the importance of every child having an effective teacher, especially students struggling academically and/or engaging in challenging behavior impacting their learning. She is currently an instructor in the area of special education at Dakota State University. Jennifer helps preservice teachers and strives to teach effectiveness by developing awareness and understanding of the students that will be entering their classrooms, leading them to better research-based instructional and behavioral tools and strategies.
Abby Charles
Abby Charles is a Program Director at the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI), The public health institute for Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. At IPHI she provides leadership and coordination for the Community Health Worker Initiatives and provides oversight to a network of Community Health Workers and a portfolio of programs in which the Institute for Public Health Innovation addresses cross-jurisdictional policymaking and information sharing, program refinement, policy, research, training, implementation, evaluation, and technical assistance.
Abby is one of IPHI’s lead trainers and provides technical assistance to organizations regionally and nationally on health and racial equity, collaboration & partnership development, community health workers, health in all policies, women’s health, gender-based violence, and HIV.
Abby is an Adjunct Instructor of Clinical Research and Leadership at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is also a graduate of the George Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Master of Public Health in Global Health Promotion. She presently serves on the board of The Well Project, the Bishop Anstey High School Alumnae Association of Washington, DC and serves as a Commissioner on the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Caribbean Community Affairs for Washington, DC.
Today City Girls release the fifth and final episode of a 5-part docu-series, CITY GIRLS: THE SERIES. Watch today’s episode; CITY ON LOCK IN THE MAKING, HERE.
Watch the full 5-part series HERE.
Produced by Quality Films, episodes feature honest footage captured throughout JT and Yung Miamiߣs turbulent lives and careers and will air in weekly installments. Watch the trailer for the whole series HERE.
The road to City Girls’ second LP, City on Lock, came with struggles and the girls’ strength and support to overcome those struggles. Yung Miami shows you can be a woman and do anything, Periodt.
In this vein, yesterday City Girls participated on a panel to de-stigmatize and aid minorities struggling with mental health issues. Hosted by Dr. Jessica Clemons MD and included G. Herbo, City Girls, Saweetie, Wale, NLE Choppa, and NAMI CEO Dan Gillison. Watch HERE.
Being a City Girl or City Boy means to keep honest, keep moving and never fold, be it prison or pregnancy, losses or leaks. And with the triumphant reunion and release of City On Lock, the City Girls quickly trended on twitter, went to #1 on the Apple Music album chart and #1 most added at the Rhythm Radio station format.
City on Lock speaks to individuals to do what they need to do to keep themselves moving and thriving in an unstable environment. The City Girls relay a consistent theme of Girl-Power, independence, and trying to have fun when the world feels like it can be working against you. Best friends since middle school, JT and Miami have made their way to the top with an in-your-face unapologetic swagger, demanding respect with a self-empowering message. As Billboard noted in their cover story, the ride-or-die sisterhood between the two is inspirational and exemplary in the way the City Girls wish to empower everyone.
Lolla2020, a favored Toyota partner, kicks off their free four-night broadcast concert event this Thursday, July 30 at 5pm CT, exclusively live on YouTube – featuring performances from 135+ artists including Chance The Rapper, OutKast, Arcade Fire, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Lorde, Kehlani, Alabama Shakes, Run The Jewels, LCD Soundsystem and many more!
This year, Lolla2020 is also proud to partner with and raise awareness for the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund, the Equal Justice Initiative, and When We All Vote.
Dates: July 30th -August 2nd, 2020
Event Address: lollapalooza.com and youtube.com/lollapalooza
Festival Hours: Broadcast begins today at 5pm CT
Additionally, for the past eight years, the Toyota Music Den at Lollapalooza has set the stage for emerging artists. This year, as part of the virtual Lolla2020 music experience, the Toyota Music Den will feature an artist each night.
Details on the Toyota Music Den-featured artists are in the alert below as well as information on a sweepstakes with the grand prize being two, 4-day Platinum Tickets to Lollapalooza 2021, flights, hotel suite and an all-new 2021 Corolla Apex.
Today, Chaz Cardigan shared the official video for his new single, Everything’s Wrong. While Vulnerabilia, his early 2020 EP, examined living with panic disorder, Chaz’s new song is all about not letting a breakdown keep you broken down. Directed by Haoyan of America (Crumb, Cautious Clay), the accompanying video features a scanned 3D model of Chaz, coming to life. The model was created using photogrammetry in a virtual environment. View HERE.
Haoyan explains, We approached the videos as a four-part series (quadrilogy) to support Chaz’s upcoming project. Each subsequent video loosely relates to and builds on the previous ones. The series will touch on topics like technological hubris, infinite regress and memory.
Premiering the single, Flaunt said, Everything’s Wrong speaks volumes to the current state of the world. The message: a bad day is never the end of the story. The track appeared on the Ones To Watch #NowWatching Weekly playlist and Billboard Pride’s weekly First Out roundup. Billboard noted, [the song] is Cardigan’s music declaration that things are messy, and he’s perfectly happy with that.
Chaz performed Everything’s Wrong on Today In Nashville earlier this week. View HERE. Check out his recent Nashville Scene No-Contact Show session HERE. Chaz also performed at To All The Music, a virtual concert event celebrating the vinyl release of the To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You original soundtrack, which includes his contribution, As I’ll Ever Be.
Hailing Chaz as a certified 21st century pop artist, Billboard praised the top 20 Alternative Radio hit Not OK! as a pumping mélange of bright beats, rough guitar riffs, and hypnotic sitar lines, with Cardigan’s deeply emotive voice soaring over all. American Songwriter said, [S.O.S] is an infectious, pop anthem. ADVOCATE called Chaz an alt-rocker for a new, angsty generation. The Nashville Scene observed, He writes songs grounded in compassion and honesty, often grappling frankly with mental health in a way that’s being heard more often in mainstream pop these days.
A classically trained pianist who taught himself to play guitar, bass and drums, Chaz grew up near Louisville, KY. Inspired by Prince and Stevie Wonder’s achievements in self-producing, he saved up enough money to purchase a four-track recorder and began recording himself at age 10. By the following year he was gigging in local punk bands. Upon moving to Nashville at age 17, Chaz began producing in a local hip-hop collective called The Diatribe. He made his full-length debut with the 2017 album I and soon was selling out headline shows throughout Nashville. Chaz is the first artist jointly signed to Capitol Records/Loud Robot. Loud Robot is the record label from J.J. Abrams’ production company, Bad Robot.
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) USA, the industry association that promotes the exports of South African wine, is calling on members of the wine trade, media and consumers to support the South African wine industry by buying and drinking South African wine. The ban on alcohol, currently back in place in South Africa, could be potentially devastating to the wine industry.
The South African wine industry has been hit especially hard by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the country having experienced one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. The country’s lockdown and prohibition on the sale of alcohol began at the end of March, which included a ban on wine exports. Wine industry associations and organizations came together to lobby against the decision, and, thankfully, the ban on exports was lifted effective May 1.
However, the prohibition of alcohol sales in South Africa remained for over two months, until it was lifted on June 1, for at-home consumption. Restaurants and bars were allowed to reopen in mid-June. Yet with the rationale of the need to free up hospital beds occupied by those suffering from alcohol-related traumas, the South African government reintroduced the latest ban on alcohol on July 13, which is still in effect, with no definitive end date.
The new regulations include both on and off-premise sales, so it is affecting not only wineries, but restaurant workers as well. Those in the wine and hospitality industry have been taking to the streets to protest and put pressure on the government to allow for on-premise sales for sit-down restaurants.
The alcohol ban brings a significant risk to the economic and socioeconomic sustainability of both the South African wine industry and the country as a whole, along with risking the livelihoods of rural communities who are directly affected due to the financial implications from an industry that could quite likely see devastation.
The wine industry creates close to 300,000 jobs directly and indirectly, and is South Africa’s second-largest exporter of agricultural products. As an industry, the contribution to the GDP for the South African economy exceeds more than $2.6 billion annually. The liquor industry as a whole has a deep value chain in the country, employing almost one million people.
The government’s decision has serious economic consequences, placing hundreds of thousands of livelihoods at risk. Many of South Africa’s wine producers are small and family run. It has been estimated that one in five wineries may not survive.
South African wine exports make up roughly 50% of the total production. Since exports of South African wine are still allowed, support overseas is crucial. The US, and other export markets, can play a vital role and make a difference in keeping the industry alive. We are urging those in the trade and media to spread the word, and to educate and encourage consumers to support the South African wine industry by purchasing and drinking South African wines. Keep the discussion and support going on social media with the hashtag #DrinkSouthAfrican.
WOSA USA has some great resources on its website. For those in the wine trade, a list of importers of South African wine is available. For those looking for local retail shops that carry South African wine, a list of retailers across the country can be accessed on the site.
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is the organization representing all South African producers of wine who export their products. WOSA, which was established in its current form in 1999, has over 500 exporters on its database, comprising all the major South African wine exporters. It is constituted as a not-for-profit company and is totally independent of any producer, wholesaling company or government department but is recognized by the South African Export Council. WOSA’s mandate is to promote the export of all South African wines in key international markets including the United States.
Bastille’s electrifying new song might feel like a bit of a surprise release, not least to the band themselves, but as frontman Dan Smith says, “We finished the song, and it felt urgent. We didn’t want to sit on it.”
A thunderous, furious, short sharp shock, “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” feat. Graham Coxon comes after the dust settled on the band’s acclaimed third album Doom Days—the final instalment in a trilogy that’s spanned eight years and brought Bastille multi-platinum sales, global success and a position as one of the world’s most-streamed bands. Fans may have grown accustomed to albums arriving with fully formed, meticulously executed, creative ecosystems, but this time it’s all change.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE!
This next phase feels like a new beginning. It’s about completely tearing up our process, being spontaneous and starting again,” Dan states. “We’re just really excited by the new songs. I think we’re making some of the best music we’ve ever made. We want to put it out now and not wait for the whole album to be done before anyone starts to hear it. This is about where we are now and hearing us in real-time.”
Produced by Dan and Mark Crew, it’ll surprise anyone who thought they knew what to expect from the band—the song features Graham Coxon on guitar and vocals.
The tongue-in-cheek chorus of “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” explores a frustration with the attention economy in which our ears and eyes are fiercely fought over, yet so few use it for anything worthwhile. “Whether we’re outside or online, we’re perpetually hit by so many people vying for our attention,” Dan adds, “but we’re just left rolling our eyes at how rarely it’s for anything that decent or funny.” The track was written before 2020 turned on its head, but it’s hard to ignore the poignancy of a song that questions the squandered attention of billions of captive eyeballs.
The track’s extraordinary video sees Bastille collaborating with Rezza, a British/Iranian, London-based animator who brings a seismic visual shift for Bastille: the video is a mash up of mixed media using illustration, photography and live action, which results in a unique and innovative style that is winningly berserk.
Sonically “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” is either the first clue to a brand new chapter for Bastille or a complete red herring. Either way, it marks the beginning of an exciting and surprising new era for the band.
Hailed by Rolling Stone as “Britpop’s new crown princes,” Bastille was introduced internationally with the single “Pompeii,” which is now 6x Platinum in the U.S. “Pompeii” and subsequent hits, “Good Grief” (2016) and “Quarter Past Midnight” (2018), each topped the Mediabase Alternative chart in the States. The GRAMMY®-nominated band – comprising Dan Smith, keyboardist Kyle Simmons, bassist/guitarist Will Farquarson, and drummer Chris Wood – has global consumption exceeding 6 billion cumulative streams across all platforms, including 48 million adjusted singles and 7 million adjusted albums worldwide. Bastille’s hit single with Marshmello “Happier” topped charts around the world, with cumulative streams approaching 7 billion. Certified 6x Platinum in the U.S., “Happier” held the No. 1 position for 3 consecutive weeks on the Top 40 Radio Airplay chart. 2019 brought Bastille’s acclaimed third album, Doom Days, which charted in the top 5 in the U.S, making Bastille the only UK band to have achieved this chart landmark alongside The Beatles and Queen, and received massive critical acclaim, as NME called it “their most inventive boundary-hoping album yet.” Following a 2 month-long sold-out U.S. and U.K. tour last year, 2020 sees the band return with the ferocious “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???,” which sonically is either the first clue to a brand new era for Bastille or a complete red herring. Either way, it marks the beginning of an exciting and surprising new era for the band.
Sam Smith and Burna Boy join forces on Smith’s new track “My Oasis,” out now via Capitol Records. “My Oasis” marks the start of a new chapter for Smith who has to date sold over 25 million adjusted albums worldwide. Born from a mutual respect for one another, Smith and Burna Boy made this cross-continent collaboration happen over the last few months and the result is a brilliant song of love lost and longing, intertwining their distinctive vocals. Stream “My Oasis” HERE.
This track has been a beautiful release of emotions for me during this time, says Smith who wrote the track with Jimmy Napes and Burna Boy. I’ve been a fan of Burna Boy for years now and am so happy to have a tune with him.
Since the release of their 2014 debut album, In The Lonely Hour, Smith has sold over 25 million adjusted albums worldwide. They have won four GRAMMY Awards, an Oscar, a Golden Globe and three BRIT Awards. Smith’s sophomore album, The Thrill Of It All, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2017 and also topped the charts in the U.K., Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium. Awarded four stars by Rolling Stone, the album included the hit single “Too Good At Goodbyes,” which recently became Smith’s second song to receive over a billion streams on Spotify, after “Stay With Me.”
In the course of the last year, Smith has released a quartet of smash singles. The chart-topping collaboration with Normani, “Dancing with a Stranger” has sold more than 13 million units and racked up over 2.5 billion streams worldwide. It was followed by “How Do You Sleep?,” which has amassed over 8 million units and 1.5 billion global streams. “To Die For,” released along with its accompanying video on Valentine’s Day, has surpassed 35 million video views and the powerful and unabashed slice of pop perfection, “I’m Ready” with Demi Lovato will appear on Smith’s forthcoming third studio album.
ABOUT ARIANA PAPADEMETROPOULOS
Ariana Papademetropoulos (b. 1990, Pasadena, CA, USA) lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Papademetropoulos completed her BFA at California Institute of the Arts in 2012. Solo exhibitions include Vito Schnabel Gallery, New York, NY (forthcoming), Soft Opening, London, UK (forthcoming), Just Like Arcadia, The Breeder, Athens, Greece (2019), Sunken Gardens, Soft Opening, London, UK (2018), and The Man Who Saved a Dog from an Imaginary Fire, Wilding Cran, Los Angeles, CA (2017). Selected group exhibitions include All of them Witches, Deitch Projects, Los Angeles, CA (2020), and Anima Mundi , Manifesta , Marseille, France (forthcoming) . In 2017 she curated Revenge of the Crystal at SADE, Los Angeles and in 2014 she organised Veils, an exhibition at The Underground Museum in Los Angeles.
Her tears were expensive; fresh water pearls
Archival Pigment Print
Limited Edition of 50
20″ x 16″
$200
Memento Mori Wall Clock
$350
Fountain of Youth
$200
Capri Interior
$150
Blue Star (Saquasohuh)
$250
Fight the Future
$600
Untitled (Flag)
$150
Today, rising Atlanta rapper Mulatto releases “Muwop” featuring Gucci Mane, the first official single and video from her forthcoming major label debut mixtape coming this summer via RCA Records.
On “Muwop,” Mulatto flipped Gucci Mane’s 2008 track “Freaky Gurl” and made a witty, female response in a way only Latto can. The video was shot in Miami and directed by ARRAD.
Leading up to the release of “Muwop,” Latto took to Instagram to pay homage to Gucci Mane by recreating the covers of his iconic albums and mixtapes. Latto talking about “Muwop”: “I flipped Gucci Mane’s ‘Freaky Gurl’ for my project and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if he could get on it.’ When I got the text that Gucci recorded a verse for the song, I started screaming! Gucci is my favorite rapper of all time. Even when I was ten years old, in interviews I would say he was my favorite.”
Rapping since the age of 10, Mulatto is part of the elite new wave of female rappers, such as Flo Milli, City Girls, Saweetie and more, proving that women can also rule the rap scene with their unique styles, flows and verses. To date, Latto has garnered over 151 million streams on Spotify and Apple alone and her “Bitch From Da Souf (Remix)” video featuring Saweetie and Trina was viewed over 22 million times in just five months.
