Nowadays it is becoming increasingly common for women of colour to go out and have cosmetic procedures. The most recent recipient was Tameka Raymond, Usher's 38 year old wife. Following the birth of her second son, Tameka travelled to Brazil for post-baby liposuction on her stomach. It was reported that after she went under general anaesthetic, she suffered a heart attack. Was it worth it?
On hearing this news my mind ran over previous cases of sista's and surgery. Kanye West's mother who sadly lost her life as a result of cosmetic surgery and also the late great James Brown's wife Adrienne Lois Brown also suffered the same fate.
You may remember my pictures of Lil Kim, she is a prime example of surgery gone too wrong and too far. What would make a beautiful and successful woman go and disfigure herself permanently. In our community it is very much acceptable to weave our hair and wear acrylic nails but what about bleaching and cosmetic surgery? 
I have a friend who when she came to this country was as fair as Michael Jackson, I never knew she was a bleacher until she returned home the same complexion as Grace Jones!!! I lie not Diva's, Once the effects of the bleach had worn off she said she felt black and ugly, her light complexion made her feel pretty...My question is and always will be what about the hands and feet???? Is it only the Jackson's that remember those parts of the body! Its like a Polar bear having the feet of a Gorilla!!! (somebody stop me!) Anyway back to my point...Our community accepts beautification as long as we don't cross the line, the line that is trying to look white. I believe the further away from your natural self you try to be, the uglier you become. Take a look at these pics of both black and white stars who have mash up themselves! Jackie Stallone and Latoya Jackson and Donatella Versace.
These pictures are both scary, funny and sad all at the same time. For me a weave, acrylics and makeup are as far as I will take beautification. At 18 I bought a tub of Palmer's skin success fade cream to get rid of my black knees (didn't work) and I've sat in the sun after having rubbed lemon juice into my elbows(didn't work)...I can laugh now because the things that used to bother me as teenager don't even cross my mind anymore. Its a shame that some of us just don't grow up and grow to love ourselves.
Peace and Love V xxx
Your fello diva's here on the other side of the world want to show you what we were up to this past Saturday. We got up in the morning, it's mad hot outside, we are hungry. No one wants to prepare breakfast so we decided to go out and buy. Taking our little diva in training baby Nialah. So we go to the South coast of Barbados, Hastings.
We sit there eating breakfast and taking in the beauty of Barbados and giving God thanks. 
When you look at the sea there's this thing that happens that you know, you are not alone, you appreciate life and you have to give God thanks for everything. There's too much beauty!
Your Diva Nicole xxx
Being called a daddy's girl or a little princess were not names I grew up hearing, you see like millions of other girls around the world I was raised without a D.A.D. I have found that many people like to act as though the lack of a father in the home did not and currently does not affect them but I always like to keep it very real and honest and admit that for me it did and still does affect me.
Yes of course I have got on with my life and yes I had a good childhood with an amazing Mum...but a DAD is a DAD and nothing or no one can replace that part of who you are.
I had to be told I laughed like my DAD or was feisty and sharp witted like he was, I didn't have him around to see it for myself.
I called his mobile this morning....'calls are currently not being connected to this number'....was all I got. I smiled because at least after 16 years I actually had a number to call him on. I remember at 13 years old sitting at the kitchen table with Mum, my younger sister and a man who I knew was my DAD but you see the last time I had seen him I was about 7 years old the word DAD could not come out of my mouth to address him it felt like a dirty word. MUM, MUM, MUM was all I knew, she helped me with my homework, she paid for school trips, she prayed over me when I woke up from a bad dream and later she would wipe my tears after my marriage broke down and she would be there to cradle my firstborn.
I think...No I believe things would have been different for me and my relationships with men had he been around. After all your DAD is the first man we women fall in love with...right? No one was there to scare the losers away, sit potential suitors down and talk to them man to man and basically set a standard. Mum being the generous and most welcoming woman you could ever meet would offer them bakes (fried dumplings)and fried chicken!
Anyway the fairytale ends with a random meeting with my father in West London last year, I spotted him and stood shocked for a moment but eventually approached him. I had been dreaming of this day for 16 years and now he was right in front of me. I was grown now and a mother what would I say to him, my DESERTER, ABANDONER AND DEPRIVER. 'Excuse me...are you ********' I asked. 'Yes', he replied. 'I'm Vee your daughter'..........!
One day I'll write what happened next, probably in my book as it is quite deep and there is always more to every story. I look at Eden-Rose now with her father and breathe a sigh of relief because I know whether me and her father are together or not she will never write this same story.
Hi diva's!
I have not written for a few day's but I'm back! FYI...Following the infamous bust-up between Rihanna and Chris Brown everyone's talking about domestic violence.
The BBC have produced a TV documentary that will be aired this evening called 'DANGEROUS LOVE' BBC3 @ 9PM...Be sure to catch it!
Why has
she done this to herself?
These picture's were taken just over a decade apart...
This is extremly sad. I could make so many jokes about this instead look out for my article SISTA'S AND SURGERY coming soon.
I wrote the blog below earlier today, but thought I would add some visuals to highlight just how brave Jade really is.
None of us who can hear or read could have possibly missed the headline grabbing story that is... JADE GOODY HAS CANCER . On the day it was announced that the cancer become terminal and that she would be dead in a matter of weeks I didn't sleep a wink. I stared at the ceiling, tears rolling down my cheeks, shocked to my very core that this 27 year old mum of two was going to die. I am a very rational person but this story caused me to become fearful and irrational, it caused me to ask the question 'what would I do if it was me?'
ly is excited about having their legs held open by force (don't answer that!) with your odd socks and poor attempt at a Brazilian exposed, then that medieval metal instrument shoved in your Miss Virginia and then having Cyril the cervix swabbed and scraped to within an inch of his life! NOT ME PEOPLE! Anyway saying that I am very on the ball with my smears after having an unsatisfactory result back in my early twenties. The letter came back to me stating that pre-cancerous cells had been found on my cervix and that I would have to have a colposcopy to remove them...The only word that stood out was 'cancerous' I was slightly shaken and proceeded to call my G.p and an appointment was made to have the cells lasered off. 
I remember lying once again on my back, legs in stirrups but his time having the privilege of seeing my cervix in all its glory on screen! As the Doctor began the treatment I began to smell burning, I thought the hospital was on fire and began to panic as to how I was going to get to the safety meeting spot in the car park with my bum hanging out of the gown! But obviously the hospital was not on fire it was the abnormal cells being burnt off making me pre-cancerous cell free and able to move on happily and healthily. After that procedure I had to have my smears annually as opposed to every 3 years...but now after 4 years in the clear I can revert back normal...YAY ME!!!
- Do you know that a broken tooth, can cause an infection that can enter your brain.
- A simple eye test can detect a brain tumour.
- A smear test can prevent cervical cancer leading to an hysterectomy and/or death.
- If you are bleeding very heavily during your periods you could have fibroids or endometriosis (I have been operated on for both-its no joke).
The list is endless, we take our kids and cars to get checked at the slightest sign of any problems. What about us? We run the show in our households so we need to be well and what's more our Health system is free so there is no excuse.
I have always liked Jade Goody even her racist episode with Shilpa didn't bother me that much , she is just stupid at times. I do rate the fact that for someone who speaks like they finished their education at 10 years old has done remarkably well for herself, I applaud her hard working nature and her carefree attitude to life and though I don't personally know her I will miss her on TV, I have enjoyed her.
Take care Jade, I salute you Diva x
