My Teen Vogue Story

My Experience 

Before Instagram and Pinterest were introduced to world,  Teen Vogue, along with Vogue, Elle, Grazia and other fashion/art like magazines were my only source for inspiration. 

Also I noticed, when it comes to magazines, I prefer to go to the shops and buy the actual magazine or order it, if i cant find it than to read it all online, even though it is easier with technology. 

I have been collecting it for the past 8 years, which means I have about 96 issues.

(12 issues per year x 8 years= 96 issues).  

My first issue that I ever bought was in 2008 and Rachel Bilson was on the cover.

Vogue Italia Event 2013 

In 2013 when I was interning at Esquire Middle East , I had the chance to the first Vogue Italia's Fashion Experience at Dubai Mall. At this event, it included a press conference for the media at Burj Khalifa, fashion show in Dubai Mall with various up and coming designers from around the globe and other store events. 

Throughout the event, I saw designers, models such as Naomi Campbell , who was sitting 2 rows in front of me and fashion editors and bloggers, like Derek  Blasberg, a former writer for Teen Vogue. 

I was so happy to meet him in person and tell him how much of a fan I was of his book.

To find out more about the event, click the link bellow.

Link: http://urbanistafashionblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/vogue-italia-fashion-experience-2013.html

Muslim and Black Beauty Awareness in Teen Vogue

Since i've been collecting Teen Vogue for years, I have seen a progression in the content they have created in the magazine. By that I mean, they are now including designers, bloggers, musicians, creatives..etc from different backgrounds and religious beliefs and I am so happy that they are doing this and I strongly believe they should continue to do so. 

As a young, black, muslim woman, I say this, because there aren't many magazines out there that celebrate this factor and I think this is important to show this and to inspire young black/muslim children.

These are the articles I am talking about; 

Watch this on The Scene.

Watch this on The Scene.

Watch this on The Scene.

Watch this on The Scene.

Link: http://www.teenvogue.com/story/beauty-cultural-appreciation-hair-makeup

Watch this on The Scene.

Watch this on The Scene.

Watch this on The Scene.

Watch this on The Scene.

Watch this on The Scene.

Link: http://www.teenvogue.com/story/muslim-girl-videos-islamophobia-america

Posted By Urbanista ( Azza Gasim)
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram (@azza_urbanista)

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Chasing Destiny: Mayah Denyelle Q&A

As I mentioned before, Kelly Rowland  has started her search with next biggest girl group on her show, Chasing Destiny.

For the past few weeks, I have tuned into every episode and I have to say, I have never seen so many talented female vocalists on one show.
With any show that is  like this, its inevitable that some of them didn't make the final cut and to those females I wish them all the best and to not give up and keep striving.

But to the girls, who did make it to the girl group, I will say this; You have one of the best female minds, who was in one of the biggest girl groups in history, mentoring you. Watch her very closely, listen to everything she says and stay true to yourself!

One of my favourites, who unfortunately didn't it to the group and I was absolutely devastated was  Mayah Dyson from Woodbridge, Virginia.
Before Chasing Destiny,  she was a sophomore at Berklee College of Music. People such as Quincy Jones and John Mayer are alumnus.

Here was her audition clips;





Q & A

Since I am all the way in UK  at the moment, I reached out to Mayah to see if she could so a quick Q & A for Urbanista. This is what she had to say;

1. When did you start singing? 
I started singing when I was 7. I started out in church, singing in the youth choir. I didn't get really serious about my music career until I was 14

2. If you could collaborate with any artist (dead or alive) who would it be and why? 
If I could collaborate with any artist right now it would be Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, or Brandy!! I've been studying them for years!

3. How would you describe your personal style? 
My personal style changes a lot, it really just depends on how I am feeling in the moment! I like a lot of earth tone colors!

4. What's one thing you can't live without? 
One thing I can't live without... MUSIC!

5. Do you have any advice or aspiring musicians?
my advice for aspiring musicians would be to take a leap of faith! Trust in God and in your talent and you will reach your goal. Never give up on your dream :)


Make sure you follow her on twitter @Xtreme_Ambition and also go buy her new single:
"Dont Cry" which is available on iTunes.

Link: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/dont-cry-single/id1114974586

Website: https://www.mayahdenyelle.com/

Posted By Urbanista ( Azza Gasim)
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram (@azza_urbanista)

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Powerful Words from Kanye West on Ellen

Posted By Urbanista ( Azza Gasim)
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram (@azza_urbanista)

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YouTube Collection

Ever since I moved back to UK, I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos and they have made me become more motivated in life and inspired me to create more artwork!

So to these YouTubers;
( Note: I have included links to their vlog and main channels. Also I have included some Artworks inspired by them.)

Superwoman 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/IISuperwomanII
Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/user/SuperwomanVlogs

FouseyTube  
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/fouseyTUBE
Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/user/DOSEofFOUSEY

Swoozie
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/swoozie06

Alex Wassabi 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/hoiitsroi
Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/user/alexxwassabi

LaurDiy 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/LaurDIY

LazyRonStudios 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/lazyronstudios

Roi
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/aynakoitsroi

Marlin 
Main Channel:https://www.youtube.com/user/marmarchanmar

Adam Saleh 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TrueStoryASA
Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/user/ASAvlogs

Slimmofication 
Main Channel:https://www.youtube.com/user/SlimmySlim94

Tootsie Time 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/dainaclarke

Alyssia Forever 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CurlyByNature21

SBTV Jamal Edwards 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/smokeybarz

Curly Hair YouTubers

The following YouTubers, I have already given them a shoutout on here;
(Link: http://urbanistafashionblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/curly-hair-youtubers.html )

 But make sure you subscribe to their channels :)

Luhhsettyxo 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Luhhsettyxo

Curly Penny- 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CurlyPenny

Shameless Maya 
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/shamelessmaya

Samio
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe5mzleXyv0-YCqaSuvnq3Q

Uk Curly Girl
Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/UKCurlyGirl


      To finish off, I wanted to say; Thank You for re inspiring me and I will continue to support you. :)

Posted By Urbanista ( Azza Gasim)
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram (@azza_urbanista)

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BLACK GIRL MAGIC

To show more encouragement to young black women, Essence Magazine have started a new docuseries called "Black Girl Magic" which is being directed by Laurie Thomas, a film maker from New York.

This series is following the lives of young black women in America, who I would call young leaders and want to change to world with their talents & beliefs.

"ESSENCE celebrates the young women shaping our future and pays tribute to the #BlackGirlMagic movement through visual storytelling..."

Episode 1:  "Meet Artist and Activist Sage Adams"
For this episode, Essence shines a light on the 18 year old  Sage Adams, who is an artist and activist from Brooklyn.  

Click here to watch : http://bcove.me/z5mv2od8

She is also part of the collective Artho Collective. This collective is known as 
" A group of young creatives making a digital platform for underreprested artists to show their work.". This is is something that I celebrate and support because there are so many neglacted, talented, young, black artists out there and this collective not only celebrates it, it embraces and make you feel part of a community.

Click here to watch : http://bcove.me/xf4hpz6t

Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthoecollective/

Episode 2 :  Ammarah Haynes

This next episode introduces us to this young girl, Ammarah Haynes, who happens to be a young muslim teen living in America trying to change peoples perspective and stereotypes about muslims and Islam.

Click here to watch : http://bcove.me/kelnbzvu

As a muslim myself, I feel so strongly about this and I want people to have a different perspective on muslims. Not all muslims are bad. It's only a small number of people over the years, who have given all muslims a stereotypical image, that we are all terrorists, which we are not. In Islam, it is writen that

"...whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. " - Qur'an 5:32

Make sure you watch the rest of the docuseries on Essence Magazine Online.
Link: http://www.essence.com/package/black-girl-magic

Posted By Urbanista ( Azza Gasim)
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram (@azza_urbanista)

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