More Than Meets the Eye

Many may know her as the Fiance of future Hall-of-Famer boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather, but Shantel Jackson (aka Miss Jackson) is much more than a pretty face who stands by her man.

A seemingly down to earth woman who is clearly focused on her future, Miss Jackson is a model, fashion designer and business woman who plans to take the world by storm.  She recently took time out of her busy schedule to sit down and answer questions pertaining to everything from business to beauty.

Getting started in print work as a model when she was about sixteen, Ms. Jackson states, “Modeling and acting are things I always wanted to do.”  And even though her success as a model is evident, she humbly states “…I truly have a long ways to go before I feel I have reached my ultimate goals…some of my future goals are to complete the samples for my clothing line, and to have a lead role in a great movie.”  And to keep herself busy between modeling and finishing her clothing line, she makes it a point to stay involved with every detail pertaining to her business ventures.

Constantly being in the lime-light, she must keep her skin looking radiant.  To do that, Miss Jackson uses Aveeno face and body products, ‘their whole line is so amazing!’ and during a night out on the town, there are two must-haves in her purse: My press powder because I have oily skin, and Mac Lipgloss called Underage.  When asked about beauty advice, there are four beauty tips she gives to women: 1) Always moisturize… it can really make a difference with your skin,  2) …dry hair shampoo is something that I live by because it gives you those extra few days u might need,  3) Deep condition your hair at least once a week  and 4) Use Botin’s Skin, hair and nail pills.  Being a model means that staying in shape is a must, and even though she states that she’s not really a fan of working out, she tries to workout at least 3 days a week.  However, she is also not one to restrict herself from eating some of her favorite foods: I honestly eat what I want but I never over indulge. Some of my food vices are french fries which are my favorite, fried chicken, and banana pudding.

Like all women, Miss Jackson has both good and bad days.  When having bad day, she uses comedy as source to uplift her spirits: I try to watch comedy, because laughter always makes me feel good when I’m feeling down.  And what does she do to relax? I love to shop, shopping helps me relax and helps me with stress… nothing takes away stress like a great pair of shoes… and to unwind, I like to sit back and listen to old R&B music.

This Miami native has come a long way in a short period of time and with all of her accomplishments, she has great sound advice for other women wanting to take a similar career path…follow through with your dreams, but always have a great backup plan.  What a smart lady!

**Miss Jackson is a Florida native who divides her time between Miami and Las Vegas.  For more information on Miss Jackson, click here.

Published in: on September 23, 2011 at 2:21 pm  Comments (14)  

A New Look for Fall

As the fall season begins to slowly approach, I am realizing that it’s time to slowly regenerate myself as well.

For anyone, who along with myself, is looking to revamp their image this fall, you must use  Vogue’s September issue as your guide.  Everything is covered for all who’s  ready to become new again.  From the pictorial of Kate Moss’ wedding to the article about Tom Ford’s Ten Beauty Commandments, there is  something that everyone wanting revitalization can relate to.

And for the true fashionistas out there, let’s not forget that this fall, Dontella Versace and H&M will collaborate to give the budget conscious,  an affordable yet dazzling, fashion line.  Another fall collaboration to get ready for consists of Missoni and Target.  The Missoni for Target fashion and home decor line will be in Target stores from September 13th – October 22nd.

Whoever thought Fall could be so fabulous?!

Published in: on August 25, 2011 at 12:53 pm  Leave a Comment  

As of late, I’ve been engulfing myself with knowledge for the betterment of myself.  There are so many things I want to accomplish and I had to come up with a plan to do it–all!!  The problem was that there was too much mental clutter going on inside my head for me think clearly.  So what does a girl like me do?  Clutter my brain with self-help knowledge that would assist me with de-cluttering my brain with the unnecessary knowledge and the planted seeds of doubt, holding me back from reaching my goals.  It may sound crazy, but I’m now back on track!

The two books that have forever changed my way of thinking are listed below.  Please get a copy, so you to can get on track to your true journey, which we call life.

You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay  

 

 

 

 

 

Key to Living the Law of Attraction by Jack Canfield and D.D. Watkins

Published in: on July 26, 2011 at 3:53 pm  Leave a Comment  

Blossoming in May

Spring brings a type of rejuvenation that we all yearn for.  Whether it be a rejuvenated spirit, wardrobe or home furnishings, we should all bask in the newness that the month of May offers.

Take a class, learn a language, travel, discover or rediscover something that has always intrigued you, but above all, bloom into May by blossoming in undiscovered terrain.

Published in: on May 6, 2011 at 10:53 am  Leave a Comment  

Really?!

Heat 1995This morning I read an article about Lindsay Lohan’s Wednesday court arraignment at which she plead not guilty to a theft charge.  What startled me however was the last paragraph of the article which stated: “If convicted, Lohan will join a long list of celebrities with sticky fingers, including Charlie’s Angels star Farrah Fawcett, who was arrested twice in 1970 for shoplifting clothes from two boutiques; Winona Ryder, who was caught on video trying to carry out more than $5,000 worth of merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills; and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s daughter, Caroline, who was nabbed for pocketing $150 worth of cosmetics.” Really?

Why would beautiful, famous and well paid women have to steal clothing, jewelry, or cosmetics?  Why can’t they just purchase less expensive clothing and wear costume jewelry?  Maybe someone didn’t give them the memo, that you can still look damn good in items from the sale rack.  Stealing cosmetics is just ludicrous.  Noxema and witch hazel can do wonders for the skin and with great skin, little cosmetics is needed.  I could go on and on, but the real question is why are you stealing and you’re a celebrity?  Are you stealing out of necessity or just for the hell of it?  Either way it is unnecessary theft amongst some within the Hollywood crowd and if caught, I think they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  Because with all of the perks that come with being famous, stealing is absolutely the last thing any celebrity should have to do.

Until then, at least now we know who not to invite to the summer backyard cookouts!  Ladies make sure to keep your purse close-by.

Published in: on February 10, 2011 at 11:19 am  Leave a Comment  

….to the Nines

It is believed that the term, ‘dressed to the nines’ originated in  the Middle Ages when women would often wear fashionable gloves as part of their formal wear. These gloves were said to contain nine buttons from wrist to elbow, so if a woman was said to be “dressed to the nines”, she would be wearing her most formal evening wear.  There is also another theory stating the expression “dressed to the nines” is somehow related to the expression “the whole nine yards.” Each was once thought to originate in the tailoring profession, where it was believed that a quality suit or gown required nine yards of material.  However the term came about, thankfully a resurgence is quickly on the rise.

In the past 10 years or so, the way we dressed on a daily basis went from stylish to carefree–too carefree.  Fashion is an expression, but the basis of expressing one’s fashion choice should always remain stylish.  There is nothing stylish about looking drab.  Nicely fit clothing, being well-groomed, adequate accessories–that is style. Being stylish will never be outdated and you don’t have to have tons of money either.  When I see the comeback of men bow-ties and tailored suits, it brings a smile to my face. The comeback of pure femininity in women clothing is refreshing.

I only hope that we go back to dressing dapper, stylish, and elegant.  Let’s go back dressing to the nines!

Published in: on February 3, 2011 at 1:56 pm  Leave a Comment  

Social Grace

More and more people are now communicating via text, e-mails, e-cards and now (thanks to Apple) face-time.  With less one-on-one interaction, it seems as if people social etiquette and skills are not up to par.    Thank You, Excuse Me, Have a Great Day, are all social phrases that are being used much less and so infrequently, that people are not only becoming indifferent toward this ‘laid back’ attitude, but  are also accepting this new normality.

I come from a working-class family where etiquette was and still is taken very seriously.  Growing up in a home with 9 older brothers, I was such a tomboy–something my mother hated.   So before starting kindergarten, she made sure that I knew how to ‘properly’ conduct myself as a little girl and  sent me to etiquette classes for toddlers (as she did with my brothers years earlier) to learn how to properly sit, the proper uses for cutlery, how to properly treat your ‘table-mate’,  etc., and I never forgot when my etiquette teacher said, “Good manners and proper etiquette will open doors that money and status cannot.” She made that statement everyday and she was so right.  When I look at our society and the informal way people greet and socialize with one another on a daily basis, it makes me realize how very essential it is to have the proper knowledge of formal etiquette.  When I recently bought my first formal dinner set, the sales lady was shocked upon my knowledge of the difference in dinnerware sets.  She said, “Not many young people, know about difference of formal and casual dinnerware sets, this is the easiest sale I’ve made in a while without having to give a lesson!”  I laughed, but totally understood what she meant and we had a long conversation about how the decline and the undervalue of etiquette is affecting our society.

So please, take an etiquette class and invest in both Emily Post and Amy Vanderbilt’s etiquette books because as the saying goes, ‘Money can’t buy class!”

Published in: on January 31, 2011 at 5:10 pm  Leave a Comment  

Award Season 101

This is the time of year that fans of  music,  movies, and entertainment wait for:  Award Season!  We often hear about the rags to riches stories of many celebrities, but there are many artists out there who are looking for ways to break into this industry and just don’t know how.  Everyone is not a break out star who will be discovered while sitting on a park bench or standing on a corner.  Even going to networking parties, doing gigs at clubs or even good old fashion auditions will leave many out in the cold.  Many of us believe in the saying ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know’ and that has led some people to question “If I don’t know the right people, how will I ever get to where I want to be?”  Well sometimes you have to go through the backdoor and the old saying ‘Education is Key’, is as valid as ever.

Many of the organizations of the award shows that we watch (Grammy Awards, Oscar Awards, etc.) offer grants and scholarships to those who have the talent in their given field.  Everyone may not become a celebrity, but being able to make a great living by doing what you love, is star quality in my book.  And what better way to meet the people who know the right people?  Getting a scholarship or grant not only gives you access to the members of the organization, but now they even know your name.  Which will lead to a meet and greet, which then gives you the opportunity to present yourself as someone who is not only talented, but as someone having talent worth investing in.  The entertainment business is just that–a business.  Therefore, you are your biggest investment.  So back up that talent with educated confidence and apply for grants, scholarships and whatever else in addition to your gigs, auditions, etc. and see just how far you can go!  Here are some links to help get you started: http://www.oscars.org/education-outreach/index.html http://www.grammy.org/grammy-foundation/grant

Remember that sometimes it is what you know, that will lead you to who you need to know.  Good Luck!

Published in: on January 25, 2011 at 12:50 pm  Leave a Comment  

New Year…New Dreams…New Problems…New Solutions!!!

For many of us, New Year’s Eve brings on new sights for a new horizon.  Accomplishing what we envision for the upcoming year however, is no easy task.

One of the things that I’ve learned this past year is that if you set smaller goals, sometimes you get bigger results!  It may sound crazy but it’s true.  Previous years, I had a long list of goals that I would set out to accomplish by the year’s end.  However out of the 10 goals listed, only two or three got accomplished.  What I realized was that my goals were big and it takes time to strategically plan and accomplish huge goals.  But last year, I had two major goals that I wanted to accomplish.  With diligent planning and consistency I was actually able to accomplish more than the two major goals on my list and am a goal or two ahead for 2011!

So I encourage everyone to Dream Big, Plan Strategically and Work Consistently toward accomplishing whatever goals you may have.  Let’s get ready for 2011!!

Happy New Year 🙂 🙂

Published in: on December 28, 2010 at 11:37 am  Leave a Comment  
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