Liya Kebede Is The New Face Of L'Oreal Paris

Written By: MIM!—Last week, Liya Kebede—international model, entrepreneur, actress, humanitarian and advocate for mothers and children as well as a mother herself—became a spokeswoman for L'Oreal Paris, joining the likes of other L'Oreal spokespersons such as Ines de la Fressange, Gwen Stefani, Freida Pinto, Jane Fonda, Aimee Mullins, Jennifer Lopez, Laetitia Casta and Gerard Butler. Liya shared about her new role with L'Oreal, "it is important for me that I represent a brand that reflects my personality. I'm pleased to play a part in sharing the uniqueness, the charisma, and the incredible stories of women of all origins and from all regions of the world."

MIMI Related Posts: Liya Kebede For Ann Taylor; Style Video: Liya Kebede And J. Crew Collaborate To Bring You Her LemLem Line

(Photo Credits: © PRNewsFoto/L'Oreal Paris)

Style Video: Liya Kebede And J. Crew Collaborate To Bring You Her LemLem Line

J. Crew / LemLem Promo from Garrett Hardy Davis on Vimeo.

MIMI Related Links: Liya Kebede For Ann Taylor; Liya Kebede For H&M

MIMI's Hot 21: Marcus Samuelsson: The Master Chef (No. 005)

Written By: MIM!—Try this refreshing banana avocado smoothie recipe from Marcus Samuelsson, The Master Chef of MIMI's Hot 21, and try more of his recipes by searching www.KitchenDaily.com's recipe archives.

You will need: 1 avocado, peeled and pitted || 1/2 cup orange juice || 2 tablespoons honey || juice from one lime || 1/2 teaspoon salt || 2 bananas, chopped || 1/4 cup plain yogurt || 1 tablespoon grated ginger || 1/4 cup vanilla ice cream.

Combine the avocado, orange juice, bananas, ginger, honey and yogurt in a blender and puree until smooth, and then mix in the lime juice and salt.

(Photo Credits: © Veer / Pablo Hernan)

The Global Fashion Show: African Mosaique By Anna Getaneh

Read more »

Liya Kebede For Ann Taylor

Written By: MIMI—Just in time for their holiday collection, Ann Taylor has announced that Liya Kebede is the freshest face to represent their brand. To see more of Liya Kebede's campaign for Ann Taylor, including behind the scenes footage from the photoshoot, visit www.anntaylor.com.

(Photo Credits: © Ann Taylor)

Incorporate Afri-Chic Style In A Pinch With LemLem's Sashes

Written By: MIM!—We're loving Lemlem's versatile sash belts—the perfect Afri-chic accessory (handmade in Ethiopia from natural cotton) that can be dressed up for any occasion. Work: black pencil skirt, white button down shirt + Lemlem sash belt. Weekend: jeans + drape front cardigan, Lemlem sash belt. All around fab: dress + Lemlem sash belt. For more information, visit www.lemlem.com.

(Photo Credits: Lemlem Look Book)

Style Knows No Age Limits With Bernos Baby

Written By: MIM!—We just love Bernos' t-shirts for tots. Bernos says, "the ... concept came about our appreciation of African beauty and aesthetics, as embodied by the Black is beautiful movement; from a 2 year old child to your 90 year old grandma." Aww! Get more information at www.bernos.com.

(Photo Credits: Bernos)

Ghana, Botswana, South Africa, Tunisia And Egypt Among Top 100 Countries In The World

Written By: Jamelia Mmari—Newsweek conducted a study evaluating economy, politics, health, and quality of life, to determine the world's best 100 countries. Eighteen African countries made the cut.

Here are the African countries that ranked in the top 100, as well as their relative rankings (for purposes of comparison, Finland ranked as number 1, while Canada ranked as number 7, the US number 11, and the UK number 14):

65. Tunisia

67. Morocco

74. Egypt

80. Botswana

82. South Africa

85. Algeria

86. Ghana

87. Kenya

90. Madagascar

91. Senegal

93. Tanzania

94. Ethiopia

95. Mozambique

96. Uganda

97. Zambia

98. Cameroon

99. Nigeria

100. Burkina Faso

Explore the world's best countries by visiting www.Newsweek.com.

(Photo Credits: © Dreamstime / Milosluz)

"Say Goodbye To Love" With Kenna

Africa Is In Style: WUBET

Written By: Otae Ubomba-Jaswa—

Name: WUBET

Head Designer: Arnold Haas

Style Notes: Unique accessories, woven, ancient, Ethiopian.

Background: WUBET is a line of handbags and shawls made from authentic Ethiopian fabrics in modern designs. From small bags to clutches and even a new ipod bag in Ethiopian cotton, these designs prove that the synergy between culture and contemporary style lives on. Weaving in Ethiopia is an art practiced as far back as the Middle Ages. The designs of the Tibeb are seemingly infinite in number with colourful geometric designs.

Why You Should Know WUBET: Short of making a trip to Ethiopia, it’s pretty difficult to find any of these textiles outside the country. Moreover, WUBET’s designs are effortlessly contemporary meaning you can incorporate these accessories into your everyday style.

More Information: www.wubet.com

(Photo Credits: WUBET)

MIMI's Fabulous Find Of The Month: Aiyda Clutch

Written By: MIM!—We ♥ this £30.00 scarlet handmade leather clutch by Ethiopian designer Aiyda. Visit www.aiyda.com for more details.

(Photo Credits: Aiyda)

Separating Fact From Fiction: Are Some Stereotypes About "Africa" True?

Written By: MIM!—In the Spring 2010 article A Typical African Woman, writer Nana Bonsu challenged stereotypes about African women (and Africa more generally). She started, "Think Africa, think poverty stricken, famine ridden, war torn pit of despair." While we can think of African countries that do not fit any of these stereotypes, we cannot hide from the inescapable truth: this laundry list of stereotypes was born from tragic real-life events.

Think "poverty stricken," think Zimbabwe's claim to the title world's highest inflation rate in 2008. Think "war torn," think Rwanda's genocide in 1994. Think "famine ridden," think Ethiopia's famine in 1984-85. But after public outcries about the state of affairs in these countries, how much of this remains true today? Particularly in the case of Ethiopia's devastating famine, which happened over 25 years ago now? This year, two different production houses will be releasing films exploring this very question from very different perspectives. Take a look at the trailers below:

Ethiopia Teaser from REKO TV on Vimeo.

Love, Ethiopia - A documentary (teaser) from ReFocus Media on Vimeo.

To learn more about these films, visit Twenty5Ethiopia.org and RefocusMedia.org. And tell us, are some stereotypes about "Africa" warranted today?

Style Your Legs In Daddy Long Legs

Written By: MIM!—Who knew leggings could be a creative fashionable expression and so much fun? Well, British/Ethiopian fashion designer Beth Teshome, did. She is the brand creator and designer behind Daddy Long Legs, an exclusive leggings brand that has fast become one of the most famous leggings brand because of its multitude of tight offerings. "We were the first people to make the printed leggings (bit of a trend setter)" shares the creative fashionista who "lives and breathes fashion." A fast growing brand, Daddy Long Legs is stocked at Bloomingdales, Urban Outfitters, Istan, Fenwicks, IT and other major department stores and retailers in the UK, US and Japan. See what all the buzz is about by visiting www.dllegs.com.

(Photo Credits: Daddy Long Legs)

Fatima Siad For BCBG Spring Summer 2010

Written By: MIM!—America's Next Top Model Cycle 10 third place winner Fatima Siad is the face of BCBG's Spring/Summer line. The designer posted some new photographs of Fatima on the set via his Twitter account (pic 1, pic 2) with the caption "Looks Sick." We agree, and are looking forward to seeing more from the designer's Spring/Summer collection. In the meantime, follow BCBG at twitter.com/BCBGMAXAZRIA.

(Photo Credits: BCBG)

MIMI's Fabulous Find Of The Month: Bernos' Made In Africa Tee

Written By: MIM!—Uniquely African with its statement of pride that we don't hear enough of, and comfortable, what's not to love about Bernos' $22.95 "Made In Africa" t-shirt? This is the second edition of the ever popular tee that was sold out after K'Naan wore it in a music video. Get yours at www.bernos.org.

We ♥ Bernos Tees

Written By: MIM!—Start with "two guys a girl and a t-shirt idea" and with creative vision and drive, you end up with Bernos, an online t-shirt company. "[I]t all started, over a conversation about how there aren’t any t-shirts that highlight the rich culture that comes from Africa. All of us originating from Africa, but growing up in Europe and North America, found a gap not reached by other designers. Being lovers of tees, we wanted to design t-shirts that expressed our historical and cultural landmark, while breaching the gap between our origin and what we currently call home." We ♥ the Addis Ababa tee, for its artistic Ethiopian take on the Coca Cola logo, a logo which all of us, no matter where we grew up are sure to recognize.

Learn more about Bernos tees by visiting www.bernos.org, and while you're there, take a look at their active blog, which serves as an online Ethiopian community.

(Photo Credits: Bernos)

Maaza Mengiste's Beneath The Lion's Gaze

Written By: Nicole Parker Jones—Maaza Mengiste whose writing has earned her accolades such as “New Literary Idol” by New York Magazine and a Pushcart Prize nomination has published her first book, Beneath The Lion's Gaze. If you're looking for a piece of historical fiction (Beneath The Lion's Gaze depicts in part the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie), this "epic tale of a father and two sons, of betrayals and loyalties, of a family unraveling in the wake of Ethiopia's revolution" should be right up your alley.

Here's what we know about the book which will be released in the US today and in the UK on March 11:

This memorable heartbreaking story opens in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1974, on the eve of a revolution. Yonas kneels in his mother’s prayer room, pleading to his god for an end to the violence that has wracked his family and country. His father, Hailu, a prominent doctor, has been ordered to report to jail after helping a victim of state-sanctioned torture to die. And Dawit, Hailu’s youngest son, has joined an underground resistance movement—a choice that will lead to more upheaval and bloodshed across a ravaged Ethiopia. Beneath the Lion’s Gaze tells a gripping story of family, of the bonds of love and friendship set in a time and place that has rarely been explored in fiction before. It is a story about the lengths human beings will go in pursuit of freedom and the human price of a national revolution. Emotionally gripping, poetic and indelibly tragic, Beneath the Lion’s Gaze is a transcendent and powerful debut.

You can find out more about Beneath The Lion's Gaze and read an excerpt by visiting maazamengiste.com.

Liya Kebede For H&M

Written By: Staff Writer—The gorgeous Liya Kebede is one of the faces of H&M's Fall 2009 knitwear ad campaign. More on the campaign after the "Read More" jump ... Read more »

Marcus Samuelsson's New American Table

Written By: Staff Writer—On October 26th, renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson will be releasing his new book New American Table. Samuelsson, author of The Soul of a New Cuisine, Aquavit and The New Scandinavian Cuisine and co-owner/executive chef of restaurants Ringo and Aquavitvit, shares more than 300 recipes for American dishes such as breakfast burritos, beer-braised short ribs, and red berry cobbler in New American Table.

Samuelsson says about the book, "I'll introduce you to friends I've met along the way who have shared their foods, told me their stories and inspired me with their passion. With recipes that range from elaborate entrees to simple snacks, I give an overview of American food as I see it and, hopefully, will provide a primer to navigate through an array of international influences to bring a world of flavor into your own home."

Additional details about New American Table are available after the "Read More" jump ...Read more »

The 21 Hottest Africans

Written By: Staff Writer—Buzzworthy talents from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Tanzania, Mali, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone are represented in this year's Hot 21, which is published in MIMI's September 2009 issue.