INTERVIEW: Model Ashley Bailey

NJ What do you wish people understood most about Modeling?
AB Modeling is a fulltime job. It is to be taken serious and its hard work.. You have a lot of people that will sell you fake dreams and you have to be smart about the decisions you make . Never be quick to jump on the first boat to success without doing your research on the person or business. Not all business is good business.

NJ People often compare you to Amber Rose. What are your thoughts on this?
AB Yes, I get a lot of people that compare me to Amber Rose and I'm honored that people see me in that way. I actually cut my hair off for the first time in 2003 which was before Amber Rose was well known. I love Amber Rose she is very pretty and a great model .

NJ What would you credit for the success of your modeling career?
AB Growing up I never had a trainer to teach me how to model it kind of came natural for me. I recently came in contact with Lacrrious Thomas the owner of Nikki T Fashion and Johhny Hardaway with J Lydale House of Couture. They both took me in and molded me into the model I am today as well as my stylist Jara from The Stiletto Bar and my Makeup Artist Ellen Grandberry from 1 in a Million Salon. I couldn't have done it without their help and support and by the grace of God.

NJ How have you balanced your family and your career?
AB Balancing family and my career is easy. I am blessed to have a loving and supportive husband who is behind me 100% and my beautiful daughter who loves to watch mommy rip the runway. They are present at almost everything I do.

NJ Whats going through your mind while you're working the runway?
AB When I'm on the runway I'm in a different world. All that's running through my head is SHOWTIME . Its like a second home to me I'm very confident and my alter ego kicks in.

NJ Describe an obstacle you overcame to reach your current level of success.
AB When you are trying to be successful there will be people on your home team as well as people against you . I use to let a lot of negative people get under my skin. There was even a point when I stopped modeling for a while.. I learned that when you re not in the spotlight or doing great things no one speaks of you. But, the moment your career takes off everyone has something negative to say about you. It took me a longtime to move pass what people had said about me especially when all I do is help everyone I can. I ve had people tell me I wouldn't make it. I ve been rejected from a lot things I had my heart set on, but I never gave up. I never lost my HOPE, FAITH, and most of MY PRAISE.! There is nothing that no one can do or say to stop me or bring me down now. I'm on my way!

Rules to Get Back in the Datng Game

by Sheena Clark, DIVA Lounge Editor

I understand, its chaos out there and getting back on the scene is tough. If you are re-entering the dating world after a long vacation, here are several rules to follow in order to avoid the losers and leaches I encountered and find Mr. Right.

Rule # 1: Make sure he is able to carry on a conversation. "That’s nice" and "Hmm…" don’t count.

Everyone knows that a conversation requires two people. Even if you are the most skilled conversationalist, a date won’t work if your date has nothing to say. Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. You might as well find out right from the jump whether or not this will be a problem.

Rule #2: Make sure he is unattached. That means wives and not so ex-girlfriends.

Wives are not classified as "ex" until the ink on the divorce paper is dry. Ex-girlfriends are also a problem if your intended has plans to win her back. Stick with single guys. SINGLE!!! You’ll be very happy and less stressed in the end.

Rule #3: Do not date younger guys. They aren’t grown up enough for a relationship.

Take it from Steve Harvey's new book, younger guys may look nice and have firm bodies. But, a firm body does not get a commitment and he is sowing his wild oats. Although single men in their thirties are hard to come by, avoid younger men at all costs, unless of course, you are sowing on your own.... LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Rule #4: Ask the right questions. There are many frogs among the princes.

Stop trying to be nice to keep him and get right into the nitty gritty, as grandma use to say. Plain questions will get you plain answers and you are no closer to the answer you want to hear. Don't be afraid to ask and he surely shouldn't be afraid to answer them especially if he's serious about getting to know you.

Dating is like exercising. It’s painful. It’s boring. It makes you sweat. You really don’t want to do it but force yourself to do it unless motivated. Like exercise, dating can have its’ rewards. If you keep it simple, you just might end up with a healthy, strong relationship that other people admire

Runway Report: L.A.M.B.

By Nikki Diva Jackson

Gwen Stefani is definitely Diva Defined! Bold and fashion forward, we love how she matches to the bet of her own drum, in everything, especially her style. And though it seems to be eye-catching it always has a sense of ease, liv-a-bility and that, "why didnt I think of that" factor. Her NYFW S/S 2011 Collection displays exactly that. Our fave look is the "boyfriend shirt" inspired blouse.

Runway Report: Tracey Reese

by Nikki Diva Jackson

Tracey Reese has long been one of the designers we watch. Her showing at NYFW S/S 2011 did not disappoint. Whimsical fabrics and light careless style abound in this amazingly simple and chic collection. We hope it inspires you to take it easy this spring DIVA. Sometimes the key to being noticed is achieving effortless style.

Scam Scout: Four tax scams and how to avoid them

By Faye Scott, DIVA Contributor

Just sit through fifteen minutes of television and you know it's tax season . All the tax establishments are running commercials, some more interesting than others (rapping and dramtic story lines) . Beware though, every deal advertised may seem like the quickest way to get the biggest refund but beware of scams.

First time filer, and local Memphian Bianca Jenkins wishes she would have used another tax service. She chose Super Fast Taxes on Danny Thomas because it was in walking distance to her home. Jenkins reported to have lost $1800 at the establishment. After an IRS investigation, her refund was found to be deposited in the personal account of the owner.

Unfortunately scams like this are common all over the nation. Here are a few scams and how to avoid them. Keep your hard earned money in you account and not someone elses

1. Phishing
A tax phishing scam happens when a scammer tries to convince someone they are owed a tax refund but they have to provide personal information to prove their identity before the refund can be claimed. Providing personal information opens the door for identity theft. You can prevent this by being wary of emails supposedly sent by the IRS. The IRS never sends out unsolicited emails to individuals, all matters of business are handled by mail or over the phone.

2. Tax Return Preparation Fraud
There are dishonest tax preparers who can damage you financially. There have been reports of preparers keeping information from clients' tax returns or charging very high fees for getting you a very high tax return. To protect yourself you should realize that not all tax preparers are honest and you should find someone with a good reputation to help you. The IRS will begin placing regulations on tax preparers in the future, which will hopefully help this problem.

3. "Frivolous Arguments to Avoid Paying Owed Taxes"
There are "frivolous schemes" that encourage people to not pay the taxes they owe. In this type of scheme, the scammer uses several arguments convinces the consumer that they don't have to pay, such as:"paying taxes is voluntary" and filing 0 return means you won't have to pay any taxes and "the first amendment allows individuals to refuse to pay taxes on religious or moral grounds." You have to remember that these arguments are false and you still have to pay your taxes, no matter how convincing the scammer is.

4. "False Forms for Bigger Returns"
In some scams, an individual will file false information on their tax return in order to claim a refund they are not owed. In a bigger scheme, a tax preparer or scammer helps a tax payer file misleading information for a larger return (in exchange for a percentage of that return).

Always report everything 100 percent accurately on your tax return. IRS computers are becoming more and more sophisticated each year. They have a program that can compare your reported earnings against what your employer or contractor reported. The IRS also runs statistical analysis on your return to check for red flags.

Be Bankable: Tips to get the job you want

By Kesia Sanders, DIVA Contributor

Brainstorm words and images. Think about what sets you and your skills apart from other people looking for a job in your industry. Then, come up with words and images that illustrate these ideas.

Lead with the benefits. A stranger doesn’t care about you or your need for a job. They don’t care how much experience you have or what your passion is. They care mostly about themselves. If you’re going to interest anyone in yourself and what you provide as a potential employee, you have to tune prospective employers in to what is referred to as WIIFM, or what’s in it for me? So, open your elevator pitch with how your work would benefit a company and its customers or clients.

Be real. Though you’re in the midst of a potential employment opportunity, don’t treat your elevator pitch like a sales transaction. People don’t typically enjoy interacting with pushy salespeople, so avoid acting too aggressive. Instead, focus on building a relationship first.

Tell a compelling story. People love stories and storytellers. They engage us and let us feel free to interact and converse. Telling a story with your elevator pitch is a great way to interest the listener and ensure the conversation moves forward into the details of what you do.

Don’t tell too much. Rather than divulging every aspect of who you are and what you do, create an elevator pitch that compels the listener to ask more about you. The best elevator pitches transition into conversations driven by the listener’s curiosity. This has the dual impact of engaging your new contact and enabling you to go into greater detail on your skills and expertise.

Stay flexible. No matter how much time you spend developing the perfect pitch, you’ll have to adapt it to each person you meet. Also, it’s vital to keep it updated and practice it regularly so it comes off naturally and sincere.

For more information about Career Placement and Employment Services visit Kesia Sanders website http://employmentservicesinc.webs.com/

Fashion Fix: Trying Spring Colors

By Iyuana Childs, DIVA Style Editor

Change is good! Why not apply it to yourself? Come out of your "comfort zone", and add life to your wardrobe. Do a mental check of your closet. Is it full of blacks, browns and neutrals? Adherence to professional dress codes can wreak havoc on any attempt to add individuality and flair to your career style.

The best way to achieve this is with color and fun accessories. Not too bold or bright. You want a subtle change not a drastic one. Pastels and soft spring hues are a perfect way to achieve this, and this is the perfect season to infuse them with the neutrals, browns, and blacks you already own.

It may take a while to get used to new colors so start small. Select only two unique pieces for a quiet pop to your ensemble. Lay colors against each other as you prepare your look to achieve a complimentary match. Color is hot, and so are you. So break a couple of your style rules and experience the benefit of fresh fashion.

Runway Report: Marc Jacobs

by Nikki Diva Jackson

Vibrant colors, luxurious fabrics flowing movement, floral embellishments and signature style are all phrases that come to mind while peeking at Marc Jacobs offering at NYFW S/S 2011. How could you not feel like a DIVA in any of these looks? Even the makeup is infused with bold color. All, in all we feel it's a good look!

Shatter Ceilings: 10 Tips for Career Success

By Niki-Smith Brown, DIVA Biz Editor

1. Talk to your boss. Sit down and have a very direct and pointed conversation with your boss about your future in the company.

2. Ask for more. Volunteering to help out other departments or teams — or simply asking for more responsibilities — increases your value within the organization.

3. Volunteer for boards. Seek out opportunities to volunteer or serve on advisory boards, where you can build a reputation as someone who is passionate and dedicated to your particular industry.

4. Sharpen your people skills. Be friendly, outgoing, and personable. Listen carefully to people, and practice being a clear and effective communicator.

5. Be innovative. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you — and your boss — look good.

6. Find a mentor. Mentors are also great sources of information and career guidance.

7. Sell yourself. Learn the fine art of self-promotion. Let it be known that you are seeking a promotion or the next step up in your career.

8. Keep learning. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current résumé reflects those needed skills.

9. Network. The more people who are aware of your strengths and abilities, the better your chances of hearing about any new opportunities that might arise.

10. Build your reputation. Be known for being dependable, professional, and cooperative. Make a name for yourself by attending conferences, delivering speeches, or writing articles

Red Carpet Report: Jennifer Hudson Best Looks

By Nikki Diva Jackson

Jennifer Hudson has experienced an amazing transformation and we are incredibly proud of the strength, courage, determination and persistence she has displayed in overcoming personal tragedy and staying focused in her career even in the midst of motherhood and marriage. She even managed to make her weight loss goal. OK DIVAS! No Excuses.

Enjoy this Red Carpet ode to J Hud who won best dressed Oscar 2011 in our book, hands down. These are a few other red carpet looks we loved from this talented DIVA!