AnythingUrban - by R Eldridge

Her Royal Highness: Anika Noni Rose

ESSENCE.com exclusive with star of ‘The Princess and the Frog’, actress Anika Noni Rose. Rose provides great detail about the great social impact of her role as the first black Disney Princess character.

by Regina R. Robertson

For decades, our images were rarely featured in mainstream fairytales, but a new day has come. This holiday season, Anika Noni Rose makes history when she's crowned as Disney's first, Black Princess--Tiana--in 'The Princess and the Frog.' With credits spanning stage ('Caroline, or Change'), film ('Dreamgirls') and television ('The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency'), the 37-year-old Tony Award-winner is intent on keeping her good fortune rolling.

Essence.com caught up with Rose to chat about landing her dream job, seeing herself in animation and how she hopes to switch things up for her next, big role.

ESSENCE.com: What was your initial thought when you heard there was going to be a Black animated princess?
ANIKA NONI ROSE: Oh my God, I was thrilled. [Working with] Disney has been my dream, so I just focused on getting the part and when I did, I called home screaming! [laughs] There's no reason why a girl from Connecticut would end up being the first Black Disney princess.

Nick Cannon Named Chairman of TV Network TeenNick

(via Essence.com) - Don't let Nick Cannon's baby face fool you. He's a grown-behind-man with grown-behind-responsibilities as the chairman of TEENick (formerly known as Nickelodeon). But he's not your average fuddy-duddy-white-collar dude, Cannon, who jump-started his career as a comedian, actor, producer and writer, will manage to do close-ups on camera, get busy behind the lens, and do a little Web work. ESSENCE.com caught up with Cannon, who turns 29 next month, to talk prophecy, how he's preparing for fatherhoood, and why discovering the fountain of youth works for him.

Victoria Rowell Makes Bold Statement with 'Obama' Dress at 2009 Emmys

The 61st annual Emmy Awards delivered all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

However, actress and "New York Times" best-selling author Victoria Rowell marched to the beat of her own hem, so to speak, when she arrived on the red carpet in the boldest of fashion statements - a strapless dress emblazoned with President Barack Obama's face.

Check out more pictures of Black Hollywood on display at ESSENCE.com - or click here.

Did you get a chance to check out the new hot couture on display at Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week?

ESSENCE.com has your fresh New York Fashion Week Coverage - click right here.

Check out Kimora Lee Simmons' SPRING Fashion Week Baby Phat and KLS Collections Shows - click right here.

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ALSO, take a look at all of the commotion  -- and behind the scenes with Badgely Mischka - right here:

Essence Interviews: Toni Braxton, Hill Harper, family of Maia Campbell

(photo courtesy of ESSENCE.com)

Toni Braxton is back! The sultry diva returns to the music scene with a new single "Yesterday," and she's giving ESSENCE.com readers a first listen, and look for the six-time Grammy winner's upcoming album in stores in February 2001.  Listen to her new single here:

Hill Harper Talks Love and Relationships with His New Book 'The Conversation'

(photo courtesy of ESSENCE.com)

With his new book "The Conversation" in stores, Hill Harper shares what lessons he learned on Black love from the project and what it will take for our community to have healthy relationships. Read his interview here.

 

(photo courtesy of ESSENCE.com)

After a video was released of former "In The House" costar Maia Campbell behaving irrationally with incoherent banter, the blogosphere unleashed a hailstorm of criticism and ridicule about the young actress acting out. However, Campbell has suffered for some time with bipolar disease, and her family, including her late mother, award-winning author Bebe Moore Campbell, have always loved and supported her. Campbell's father, Ellis Gordon Jr., and grandmother, Doris C. Moore, have released an exclusive statement to ESSENCE.com addressing the recent events that have placed their daughter and granddaughter under much public scrutiny. "She is in treatment and in a facility," Gordon says.  Click here to read the entire response

 

Essence Interviews: Chilli, Mary J. Blige and Supermodel Jessica White

(photo courtesy of ESSENCE.com)

TLC's Chilli ain't too proud to find love on television. The top-selling singer has teamed up with VH1 for a new dating show this fall. We caught up with the southern beauty to see how her series is different from other reality shows, why she's open to men of all backgrounds and whether there's any chance for a reconciliation with Usher.  Read this article here:

(photo courtesy of ESSENCE.com)

In this ESSENCE Magazine feature, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul maintained the down-to-earth, accessible nature that fans adore by answering their most pressing questions collected from ESSENCE.com and Twitter. This Q&A features her answers to their questions on her fascinating career trajectory, love and marriage—as well as her role in the new Tyler Perry movie and album, aptly named ‘“Stronger’.  The link to this interview is here:

(photo courtesy of ESSENCE.com)

Supermodel Jessica White wants you to know she's more than just a beautiful face and far from the desperate woman that "The T.O. Show" portrayed. Besides serving as a Maybelline spokesmodel, the Buffalo, New York, native has catwalked national and international runways for some of the most elite designers including Victoria's Secret. ESSENCE.com caught up with the jet-setting beauty in Europe to get the nitty gritty on her future with T.O., surviving sexual abuse, and how she's putting her angel wings to good use.  The link to this interview is here: