Young, Fabulous Females

 images via theRoot.com and talkingwithtami.com

YOUNG, FABULOUS FEMALES

By Alexandra Fizer

ATLANTA—Target rolled out its plush red carpet and poured rows of cherry-tinted Targetinis to greet guests of Young, Fabulous and Female, an event sponsored by the megastore and presented by TheRoot.com, an online publication that provides news from various African American perspectives.

On the evening of February 22, the swanky W Hotel in Buckhead welcomed over 200 of Atlanta’s and its neighboring cities’ women of color with the aim of encouraging them to pursue their passions.

The women offered insight on a variety of topics from beauty tips to body image, self-esteem and female empowerment, particularly black female empowerment.

The hotel’s conference room was fashioned with soft lighting and muted blue tones, lending a more intimate setting for the candid conversation between aspiring African American female professionals and their more well-known, and experienced, public figures.

Women from all over the Peach State, the fourth to host a YFF event, nestled into their seats in the conference room, waiting for the evening’s mediator, journalist Jacque Reid, to begin the panel discussion. With their Targetinis resting near their stilettos and camera-phones ready in hand, the audience peered at the similarly decorated stage.

21-year-old student and Ohio native Ashley Harris was excited about participating.

“It’s successful black women talking about their struggles, success, fears and hopes for the future," she said. "It’s awesome to sit in a room of determined black women and have the opportunity to network with everyone afterwards."

Reid greeted the crowd with frantic waves and a wide smile. After a few minutes of light joking and slight crowd hyping, Reid informed the audience that the panel discussion was designed to be casual and conversational.

She introduced the four panelists: “The Steve Harvey Show” and “Meet the Browns” actor Terri Vaughn; disk jockey and Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond; member of R&B group SWV and author of “Player HateHer: How to Avoid the Beatdown and Live a Drama Free World” Taj George; and Jones magazine Founder Tracy Ferguson.

Audience members wasted no time in asking the women about an array of topics. Most frequently, the women asked for advice on how to remain positive despite ill wishers, further their careers and what motivated them to participate in the event.

Each panelist offered their wisdom but actor Terri Vaughn delivered her words with fervor, “I am here at Young, Fabulous and Female because first of all that’s what I am,” she said.

“Second of all, I’m here because this is what we’re supposed to do, we're supposed to help each other to feel fabulous about ourselves all the time." 

“I’m very blessed with really great friends and so I try to extend myself to be that friend for young people, young black girls because they need to know how fabulous they are,” Vaughn said, noting that it’s a conscious decision to be fabulous and participate in what makes the aspiring professionals feel good about themselves.

21-year-old aspiring documentary filmmaker Blaire Smith appreciated Vaughn’s encouragement.

“It’s nice to be able to go to an event that is just for you," she said. "It’s a room filled with other black women who have similar goals for their lives."

As she stole a sip from her crimson cocktail, Smith added that all the women attending the event are seeking to be successful in their individual endeavors and passions.

“It’s really motivating to hear from women who have already accomplished so much and can share their advice with us and support us,” Smith said, as her eyes trailed the path of panelist Beverly Bond’s platforms.

“And it doesn’t hurt that they actually are fabulous.”