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Monica: Alter Ego by Derek Blanks

Sandra Rose
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(Photos by Derek Blanks for DBlanks Photography)

From the moment I saw the “alter ego” photo of Monica taken by celebrity photographer Derek Blanks for his book, Celebrity Alter Egos, I was intrigued. As a photographer I could appreciate the intricate detail, set up and lighting angles in the photo.

Yesterday, word reached my ears that press photos from the same shoot were circulating the Internet. So I searched DBlanks sites and Monica’s fan sites but none of them had the images.

I finally found the pics online at a site featuring the Alter Ego images. According to the press release online, the photos show Monica as she appears in every facet of her day to day life.

In DBlanks’ Alter Ego photograph, Monica plays every role in her life from (left to right) the hot nanny (who is pushing baby Romelo in the car seat), two spectators, the paparazzi, the superstar mom (whose son Lil’ Rocko walks all red carpets with her), and the no-nonsense manager overseeing everything and everybody.

The backdrop is Photoshopped with the logo for Monica’s clothing line for boys called Regions of Rock. The other photos of Monica sporting a hot short asymmetric cut are beautiful.

In the press release accompanying the alter ego photo, Monica explained she wanted to show how it is for every mother who works and juggles different positions. “As a mother, I wanted my picture to reflect how you really feel like you’re 6 or 7 different people all the time.”

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This is not a man

Sandra Rose
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For the past two weeks, headlines about a pregnant man have appeared in many mainstream media outlets. The world is already a confusing place without the mass media adding to the confusion.

Thomas Beattie was born a female. Due to her gender identity crisis, she identifies more with being a man.

Some women who struggle with gender identity are satisfied with cutting their hair, wearing men’s clothing and affecting male mannerisms. This one decided to take it a step further by taking male hormones which ceases menstruation and causes male characteristics such as excess facial hair and a deep voice in women.

Beattie also had surgery to remove her breasts but left her female reproductive organs intact. This makes her a female with no breasts.

When Beattie and her “wife” decided to have a child, Beattie stopped taking the male hormones. The only man involved in this situation that I can see is the one who donated the sperm.

Gender identity crisis is a mental disorder no matter how you look at it. Sure, it’s politically correct to refer to Beattie as a man, but the bottom line is that she is a biological female. No amount of male hormones is going to change that fact.

Shout out to Mz Shyneka!

Congressman: ‘Whites will vote for Obama because he’s black’

Sandra Rose
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Everybody wants their 15 minutes of fame and Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver is no different. Mr. Cleaver injected himself into the race for the White House by making controversial statements that he knew the biased FOXNews would instantly pounce on and re-run every 15 minutes on all its stations.

In an interview with Canada’s CBC Radio, he said:

“I think for many white Americans, they are looking at Barack Obama and saying, ‘This is our chance to demonstrate that we have been able to get this boogeyman called race behind us, and so they’re going to vote for him, whether he has credentials or not, whether he has any experience, I think all that’s out the window.”

In so saying, Mr. Cleaver gives the impression that whites would vote for Obama based solely on his skin color. But Cleaver isn’t too far off the mark.

American voters are known for ignoring the issues and choosing their presidents based on his popularity or how handsome he looks on the cover of Newsweek. John F. Kennedy comes to mind, for example.

So Cleaver suggesting that whites (or blacks) will vote for Obama because he’s black sounds about right to me. Deep down inside, we all know it’s true. I’d rather see Obama on the cover of Newsweek than Hillary Clinton’s mug any day.

While I still don’t believe Obama can beat John McCain in a tight race, I do think he will win the Democratic nomination – making him the first biracial man in U.S. history to do so.

Sean Combs throws a hissy fit at People mag for dissing his twins

Sandra Rose
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Photo: Wireimage/Getty

A few years ago I had a discussion with a rep for a major photo wire distribution service. The conversation started when I asked her why photos I had taken of a certain urban celebrity weren’t receiving priority status. I reminded her that the artist was an A-lister.

She broke the truth down to me: there are only about a handful of black A-listers in Hollywood, and only 1 in Atlanta.

In urban entertainment, there is a mythical A-list that every black celebrity thinks they’re on. The reality is a bit harsher. Mainstream magazines and tabloids will not pay big bucks for photos of most urban celebs – even if they think they’re all that.

Sean Combs learned the hard way that although two A-lists exists – only one is important – and his name isn’t on it.

According to the NY Post’s Page Six, Sean Combs lashed out at People magazine for what he saw as lousy placement of photos of the twin girls he had with ex-girlfriend Kim Porter.

There was no mention of it, but I’m sure Sean also bristled at the fact that the mag didn’t offer him nearly the same amount that they offered Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony for exclusive pics of their twins.

It isn’t so much about race as evidenced by the fact that there are a few blacks on the real Hollywood A-list. I hesitate to name them though for fear of crushing any overinflated egos.

While Gabrielle Union is a solid C-lister, her status would be permanently elevated to A-lister if she turned up pregnant by, say, Brad Pitt. The demand (and financial offers) for exclusive pics of their baby would be off the charts.

PICS: On the set of ‘Notorious’ the movie

Sandra Rose
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Photos: Wireimage/Getty

Newcomer Jamal Woolard plays Christopher Wallace aka Biggie Smalls in the new biopic on Biggie’s life called “Notorious” currently being filmed on location in Bellmore, New York. I can’t see this dude as Biggie. He doesn’t give me that Biggie vibe. Gay vibe maybe, but the Biggie vibe isn’t happening.

Singer Naturi Naughton plays rapper Lil’ Kim. Would you believe this is the girl from 3LW? If she looked this hot when she was with 3LW they never would have kicked her out of the group.

Model Call Tonight! (4/2)

Sandra Rose
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This is the real deal. I don’t post just any open call. If you’re an aspiring model, this is the opportunity of a lifetime! The Complex is owned by Devyne Stephens, former choreographer for celebs such as Usher, Ciara and Sean Combs. The facility houses recording studios, fitness center, dance studio and salon.

Quiet as it’s kept, you can stop by any time of day and spot top tier celebrities milling about outside. Akon‘s tangerine Ferrarri is always parked out front. But keep that between me and you.

Source: Jamahl King, S.T.E.P.S. Events Planning Firm

Gabrielle Union Sues

Sandra Rose
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Photo: Wireimage/Getty

Actress Gabrielle Union, who visits Atlanta very often for personal reasons that I won’t reveal since she’s in a litigation mood, has filed a lawsuit against two Atlanta men who took out a Craiglist ad using her name without her permission.

    Union’s invasion of privacy suit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleges that Steve Raymond, who purportedly lives in Morrow, and Calvin High, who purportedly resides in Morrow or Forest Park, fraudulently advertised a job opening for an assistant for a Hollywood actress. When potential applicants called, Union’s Atlanta attorney Tony Mulrain claims, the actress’ name was mentioned.

    According to the suit, Union does not know the defendants and at no time either advertised or authorized a job opening listing.

    “What scares me the most is that people associate my name with safety for women, and there’s a trust in that,” said Union, who starred in “Bad Boys 2” and “Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls.” “What happens when these people who show up who knows where to interview for a job that doesn’t exist?”

    The suit seeks punitive damages in excess of $100,000. (Source)

You can’t tell them nothing now!

Sandra Rose
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Well, Day 26 has done the impossible: the group’s debut album “Day 26” is the #1 album in the country with about 190,000 units sold. How did that happen? How does a manufactured group sell more units in its first week than the legend Janet Jackson?

How does Janet hold her head up after this? These are the signs of the times. The music industry is in its darkest days. But congrats to the guys. I can imagine how their heads are swelling right about now.

And by “manufactured group,” I mean a group that was put together in a short period of time for a specific purpose such as a TV show. En Vogue and other groups worked together for years before they made it big.

Black judge kicks whites out of courtroom

Sandra Rose
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I’m familiar with Marvin Arrington Sr because I knew his son when we both worked on Bill Campbell’s successful campaign for Mayor back in the 90s.

Mr. Arrington finds himself in a little controversy after ordering whites out of his Atlanta courtroom so he could lecture blacks on the proper courtroom etiquette.

Mr. Arrington’s actions garnered him national attention. I watched him handle himself very well in an interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN.

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Video: Usher – Love in This Club Preview

Sandra Rose
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(Video source)

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