Abiola Abrams, BET Host and Author of “Dare”
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June 23, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
What Makes You An “It Girl”?
This is so exciting. I love SassyBean and everything that sassybean represents, so I guess that in addition to being an it girl, I am a SassyBean Girl!
The other day someone called me a renaissance woman, and I really like that term too. To me, an it girl doesn’t mean that you are out DUI’ing every night. An It Girl is someone who is seeking to make her mark on the planet and leave it in better shape that she found it. That’s my goal. I will confess that I do love dancing on tables, but I also work as hard as I play. Simon and Schuster just published my debut novel Dare about a good girl who goes a little bad to find herself, so I am calling my tour the Dare to Be B.A.D. Revolution. B.A.D. stands for beautiful and daring, and stems from the quote, well behaved women rarely make history—yeah! My debut novel Dare is chick lit with heart. All of my work is about using fun to empower women emotionally, politically, culturally and sexually.
What Inspires You?
Good question. I am inspired by the belief that we all have a right to happiness. Joy can’t be underrated. Pursuit of happiness is in the American Constitution. Sometimes as women we forget that. We each have a right to joy and pleasure-emotional, sexual and otherwise. Dare is raw, funny, honest, sensual and socially conscious, but more than anything I want this novel to inspire the pursuit of joy. Let’s dare to dream bigger and live juicer lives!
It Girl picks:
Oh—fun. OK, Abiola’s 5 It Girl Beauty Picks:
1) When I am rocking my natural hair, nothing beats Ojon Conditioner in Ultra Hydrating. A stylist used it on a shoot once and my hair instantly defrizzed and my curls looked amazing. I was hooked. It was supposedly discovered in the rainforests of Central America. They also have a shampoo and restorative hair treatment that I would recommend for people with very curly hair.
2) Ken Paves and Jessica Simpson’s hair extensions are incredible. I love my natural fro, but I also press or blow dry it out and add extensions to it. This hair clips right in and out with no commitments or damage to your hair or scalp. It looks natural and gives you instant dareitude. Make sure your color matches though.
3) Kevyn Aucoin Makeup Brushes are to die for! Grab his books too. This late genius was a master of women’s faces. Makeup is fun to play with when you’re a big kid like I am.
4) Thierry Mugler’s Alien is a powerful fragrance, and fragrance is a must have for the it girl who seeks to be dangerous! And don’t we all?
5) Carol’s Daughter Almond Cookie Shea Soufflé is a yummy and amazing body butter. It is delicious. You’ll want to eat it—but don’t.
6) I love undiscovered designers. (Although if I keep yapping, I don’t know how long they will be undiscovered!) For great looks no one else has check out Harriet’s Alter Ego in Brooklyn, Najwa Moses’ Celebrity Styleaholics Earring line, Gemstone King jewelers, Inkslinger jeans and tattoo inspired clothing, Unified Soul t-shirts, and for the most beautiful crochet pieces on the planet, Double Stitch Wear, by twin sister designers in Chicago.
6) Dare – a new novel by Sassybean It Girl Abiola Abrams. (giggles) Hey if you don’t promote yourself, ladies, no one else will! While you are at the bookstore, also pick up Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues and Candida Royalle’s How to Tell A Naked Man What to Do and get comfortable with your body, and soon, Why Hasn’t He Called? to get your dating game together.
Who do you consider an “It Girl”?
This is a great question because I have something called the DARE Awards which honor women who are B.A.D. – beautiful and daring. For me, that’s the same as an it girl. So in my personal It Girl Hall of Fame are Madonna, Pink, Oprah, Gwen Steffani and Mary J. Blige,
In my book, I say that they keys to living the Dare lifestyle are joy, truth, moxie, beauty, harmony and love. These women exemplify all of these keys. They are true it girls.
Additional Information:
The website for my debut novel Dare is www.daretogetalife.com and sassybeaners can find contests, book club questions and other fun stuff including an interview with me and Carrie Bradshaw! Yes, the Carrie. (laughs) My show The Best Shorts airs on BET J weekly throughout North America and the Caribbean. If you have basic cable, you have BET J, and BET is not just for black folks! I am also launching this winter a daily online show called Planet Abiola, which you will find more info on at www.planetabiola.com or www.myspace.com/goddessfactory, where I will also be blogging about all of my B.A.D. girl antics. The novel Dare is available at Amazon.com, Powell’s, Barnes and Noble or wherever books are sold. Tell a friend!
DARE BOOK SYNOPSIS
DARE is the crazy, sexy, smart debut novel by BET host Abiola Abrams of indie film show The Best Shorts. DARE is the sizzling story of a sociologist who goes undercover and winds up in too deep as a racy rapper searching for love in the glam world of entertainment. Dare is a searing tale of love, music and temptation that we follow through the story as well as Maya’s notebooks and blogs. Brimming with electric sensuality, Dare is an unforgettable, envelope-pushing odyssey of Maya and her best friend Athena, two gutsy women playing by their own rules. Dare is a chick lit retelling of Faust. On Maya’s fantabulous journey through the delicious world of temptation, the real question is whether Maya really finds joy or loses herself?
ABOUT ABIOLA
Watch ABIOLA ABRAMS weekly as the host of BET’s THE BEST SHORTS on BET-J with 26 million viewers throughout the US and Caribbean. Abiola Abrams is a TV host, filmmaker, and published author who gives motivational talks. Simon & Schuster published her first novel DARE, an intelligent, fun and sexy story about finding true love and self-esteem in the crazy world of entertainment. Abiola has BA from Sarah Lawrence and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is an opinionated tastemaker, cheerleader, fashionista, cultural critic and all around blabbermouth. She’s every girl’s best friend and every guy’s girlfriend-- based in Harlem, with roots in Guyana, and at home in your living room.
