Up Close with Ghanaian International Model Yawa Tsagli

 Model. Svengali. Ultraprenuer: that’s how it reads on her business card. Yawa Tsagli is a determined soul aiming to blend the allure of Alek, the star power of Naomi and the acumen of Tyra. Showing an early interest in fashion and modeling when her looks were praised one too often, she has decidedly followed her passion with gusto and panache.
The modelling scene in Ghana, like most places, is fierce-with a multitude of girls fighting for the limited amount of jobs however, Yawa understands these realities and saw an opportunity to use branding, out-of-the-box thinking and careful image management to set her apart from the fashionistic herd. ‘Talent, like beauty, is so over-rated’ she quips. ‘One has to be professional and focused if you want to be successful’ she continued.
Coupled with her adage ‘1% inspiration, 99% perspiration’, Yawa’s networking with top rated photographers, designers and brand consultants, has culminated in admiration and a blossoming career on the local front which has seen her on catwalks, calendars and commercials and an invitation to speak at an upcoming World Entrepreneurship Day event this April at the British Council. Things seem to be looking up for the spritely beauty. ‘Mind you, it’s not every door of opportunity you walk into’ Yawa said thoughtfully. ‘There are many pitfalls one has to avoid. For me, as a cub in this industry, I need to be mature, discerning and circumspect in my decisions, so I don’t get my dreams short-circuited.’
So what’s her masterplan? ‘That’s an easy one’ she says. ‘To ultimately create my own fashion label amongst a range of other business interests, hit the runways of South Africa, Europe and The States and appreciate life for all the good things God has done for me.’ Deep thoughts for one so young but Yawa assuringly states that she has quite a few mentors in her life, especially, her father, who continually mould her.
In the meantime, Yawa continually seeks opportunities to set herself apart. ‘I realised going for auditions and waiting for agencies or companies to come for me was going to be leaving too much to chance so I decided to build a better mousetrap, so to speak, so they could come to me instead.’
‘Yawa loves her career and naturally looks to the high-ranking supermodels for inspiration but she admires successful Ghanaian models like Belinda Baidoo and Kate Tachie Menson who have proven that with the right attitude, hard work and heaps of good fortune, anyone can make it in this business.’
So what’s next for Ms. Tsagli? ‘I won’t be a svengali if I let it all out, now, would I? she enigmatically noted. To get get in touch with  this Young professional aspiring model, you can get hold of her on Facebook and via her website below:
http://www.facebook.com/yawatsagli
http://yawatsagli.com/

source: omentgh

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Up Close with Ghanaian International Model Yawa Tsagli

 Model. Svengali. Ultraprenuer: that’s how it reads on her business card. Yawa Tsagli is a determined soul aiming to blend the allure of Alek, the star power of Naomi and the acumen of Tyra. Showing an early interest in fashion and modeling when her looks were praised one too often, she has decidedly followed her passion with gusto and panache.
The modelling scene in Ghana, like most places, is fierce-with a multitude of girls fighting for the limited amount of jobs however, Yawa understands these realities and saw an opportunity to use branding, out-of-the-box thinking and careful image management to set her apart from the fashionistic herd. ‘Talent, like beauty, is so over-rated’ she quips. ‘One has to be professional and focused if you want to be successful’ she continued.
Coupled with her adage ‘1% inspiration, 99% perspiration’, Yawa’s networking with top rated photographers, designers and brand consultants, has culminated in admiration and a blossoming career on the local front which has seen her on catwalks, calendars and commercials and an invitation to speak at an upcoming World Entrepreneurship Day event this April at the British Council. Things seem to be looking up for the spritely beauty. ‘Mind you, it’s not every door of opportunity you walk into’ Yawa said thoughtfully. ‘There are many pitfalls one has to avoid. For me, as a cub in this industry, I need to be mature, discerning and circumspect in my decisions, so I don’t get my dreams short-circuited.’
So what’s her masterplan? ‘That’s an easy one’ she says. ‘To ultimately create my own fashion label amongst a range of other business interests, hit the runways of South Africa, Europe and The States and appreciate life for all the good things God has done for me.’ Deep thoughts for one so young but Yawa assuringly states that she has quite a few mentors in her life, especially, her father, who continually mould her.
In the meantime, Yawa continually seeks opportunities to set herself apart. ‘I realised going for auditions and waiting for agencies or companies to come for me was going to be leaving too much to chance so I decided to build a better mousetrap, so to speak, so they could come to me instead.’
‘Yawa loves her career and naturally looks to the high-ranking supermodels for inspiration but she admires successful Ghanaian models like Belinda Baidoo and Kate Tachie Menson who have proven that with the right attitude, hard work and heaps of good fortune, anyone can make it in this business.’
So what’s next for Ms. Tsagli? ‘I won’t be a svengali if I let it all out, now, would I? she enigmatically noted. To get get in touch with  this Young professional aspiring model, you can get hold of her on Facebook and via her website below:
http://www.facebook.com/yawatsagli
http://yawatsagli.com/

source: omentgh

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dread locs natural kinky hair portraits

dread locs natural kinky hair portraits

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dread locs natural kinky hair portraits

dread locs natural kinky hair portraits

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AFRICA’S NEWEST NAMES IN FASHION SHOW DESIGNS IN U.S.

Los Angeles — African Vibes Magazine has held its fourth anniversary celebration in Los Angeles, California. The gala event on April 24 kicked off in the early evening with the “I Wear African” fashion show, highlighting some of the newest names in African fashion. There were musical performances as well as an after party where many of the Los Angeles African community socialized into the night.
Among the designers was Korto Momolu, who has appeared as a contestant on the American television show Project Runway. Momolu is a Liberian-born fashion designer whose work has been worn by celebrities and sold in American department stores. She has quickly become one of the most well-known young African fashion designers in America.


Among her fans is Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for whom Momolu designed a piece to wear. The garments that Momolu showed at “I Wear African” featured several solid and well-designed items accessorized with pieces from her line of handbags.
Other designers included Sheila Denanyoh, a Ghanaian college student based in Ohio who founded Ill-la-la Designs in 2008. Sheila, in her last year of college, brought a design style to the fashion show that was young, fresh and playful. Her kente cloth print dress was a creative 21st century interpretation of a tradition African print.
Designer Arthlene Legair is from Dominica, West Indies, and is also based in Ohio. As the founder of Legair Brand, her collection at the show included pieces that were a throw-back to classic African silhouettes and others that clearly reflected a blending of African and Caribbean influences. Legair’s daughter is also a designer and there are plans for a line she designed for younger women to be added to the Legair collection.
Chicago-based Congolese designer Kahindo Matee is the founder and head of Modahnik. Using high quality Vlisco wax material, Matee has created a line that appeals to the progressive African woman who loves the rich colors of African fabrics but requires a modern design style.
The fashion aesthetic of Cameroonian designers Maryanne Mokoko and Stephanie Mouapi is eccentric and avant-garde, two terms that have become clichés, but are nonetheless completely applicable to their designs. Mokoko and Mouapi take African fashion in a unique direction. The designers, based in the Washington, DC, area, created Cote Minou in 2006 and have been showing their designs at fashion shows all over the United States.
Ethiopian fashion designer Mekdes Tefera Taye has participated in fashion shows all over the world, and will debut her skills as a costume designer in the upcoming Ethiopian film, “The Return of Grace”. Based in Ethiopia, her designs presented at “I Wear African” reflected a variety of influences. Some of her pieces featured traditional Ethiopian cloth and most featured a flare of sexuality with exposed backs and strategically-placed straps.
Ivorian designer Christiane King was also a contestant on Project Runway and brings diverse experiences to her designs. Based in Los Angeles, King’s designs reflect the designer’s experiences in France and the United States. Her pieces at the fashion show were fun, colorful and playful.
Nigerian jewelry designer Monalisa Okojie showed pieces from her Coral Collection. Okojie is the creator of NEHITA and specializes in using various stones and gold in her jewelry collections.
The “I Wear African” event included musical performances by Dallas- and Virginia-based Cameroonian group Avenue C and Atlanta-based Liberian artist 2C.
Avenue C is an up and coming trio that blends rhythmic singing and rap lyrics. The group is relatively new and has plans to release an album soon.
Rap artist 2C is also new to the music scene. He dedicated his song “Liberian Girl” to fellow Liberian Korto Momolu. This portion of the evening was closed out by headlining act, soukous superstar Awilo Longomba. Longomba gave a brief but memorable performance, ending the show and ushering in the after party celebrations, which lasted until 2am.

sources : allafrica.com

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AFRICA’S NEWEST NAMES IN FASHION SHOW DESIGNS IN U.S.

Los Angeles — African Vibes Magazine has held its fourth anniversary celebration in Los Angeles, California. The gala event on April 24 kicked off in the early evening with the “I Wear African” fashion show, highlighting some of the newest names in African fashion. There were musical performances as well as an after party where many of the Los Angeles African community socialized into the night.
Among the designers was Korto Momolu, who has appeared as a contestant on the American television show Project Runway. Momolu is a Liberian-born fashion designer whose work has been worn by celebrities and sold in American department stores. She has quickly become one of the most well-known young African fashion designers in America.

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Trip to Ghana

Country: Ghana, West Africa. Nestled in Western African region, Ghana is considered to be a fairly peaceful country surrounded by lush minerals. Housing about 22 million people, Ghana is a diverse hub equipped with over 100 languages among it’s different tribes.  Laying close by the Ivory Coast, we found models, actors, singer, artists and musicians…..the findings were enormous but, like a banquet table, you can’t feast on everything. Here is a sample of the talent that resides in the beautiful country of Ghana.

Great Ghanaian Desinger:  Sika. Designs are a fusion of London’s urban fashion with the beautiful textiles of Ghana.



Great Accessory Designer: Kua Designs

Menswear Designer: Oswald Boateng (also dressed Barack Obama for trip to Ghana)

Belinda Baidoo: Ghanaian Model

Duke Dadzie: Model

Lyrio Boateng: Model

David O’cansey: Model

Angela Asare: Model and Miss Universe Ghana 2006

Teiko Dornor: Model

Yvette Nsiah: Ms Ghana Universe 2008

Richard Ampaw: Model

Becca: Ghanaian songstress (contemporary and Afro-pop)

WANLOV: Ghanaian musician (aka Mr. Emmanuel Owusu Bonsu)

Van Vicker: Actor

source: http://runawaypresidents.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/trip-to-ghana/

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Trip to Ghana

Country: Ghana, West Africa. Nestled in Western African region, Ghana is considered to be a fairly peaceful country surrounded by lush minerals. Housing about 22 million people, Ghana is a diverse hub equipped with over 100 languages among it’s different tribes.  Laying close by the Ivory Coast, we found models, actors, singer, artists and musicians…..the findings were enormous but, like a banquet table, you can’t feast on everything. Here is a sample of the talent that resides in the beautiful country of Ghana.

Great Ghanaian Desinger:  Sika. Designs are a fusion of London’s urban fashion with the beautiful textiles of Ghana.

Read More