Steve Harvey reflects on the most successful year in his career, faith and love. The funny man who has challenged women all over the world to ‘think’ like a man, lets readers into his own mind, spilling about how the woman who is now his wife, left him dumb-struck at first sight, mid-routine 17 years ago:“I’m sorry, I don’t know who this is, but this is going to be my wife. I’m going to marry this woman.” —Steve Harvey , ESSENCE (December 2009) (more…)

Kandi Burruss chats with Essence.com and talks about what viewers can expect to see in Season 2 of Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo), her aggressive new album and also tells us why she didn’t make the cut for BET’s reality show, ‘Tiny and Toya.’ Check out some excerpts from the Q&A:

“I was supposed to be on the ‘Tiny & Toya’ show along with our friend Joy, Lyfe Jennings’s ex-fiancée,” explains Burruss, an original member of the early 90s female quartet, Xscape. “For whatever reason, the producer and Joy had an uneasy disagreement during the first meeting that I was unable to attend and he simply decided to do the show with Tiny and Toya. (more…)

Check this out! This is super cool! ESSENCE.com introduces an exciting new virtual online makeover tool, Makeover Magic. Try on celebrity hairstyles, hair color, bright eye colors and bold accessories. I’m about to try my makeover and I might share it with you guys! Don’t laugh! LOL! (more…)

CONGRATS TO loyal reader MYIESHA, MZZJAYE, BETSY, KYLE, MAJESTIC GROUP CONTESTANT WINNER! who all won a pair of tickets to Essence Music Festival “Ultimate Party” Experience!!! Miss Xpose is at EMF in New Orleans for the long weekend! I’ll be back with some great scoop for you guys! xoxo!

For more information on EMF09 please visit http://www.essencemusicfestival.com/

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Tameka Foster Raymond’s best friend Nyiesha DeWitt decided to speak with ESSENCE.com about the recent rumors relative to Tameka and Usher’s divorce. Nyiesha, an educator and doctoral candidate who has been friends with Tameka for 20 plus years, says that she is really fed up with the blogs and media painting an ugly picture of her BFF. Check out excerpts from this X-clusive interview here:

ESSENCE.COM: Is it true she first learned that Usher filed for divorce after reading about it?
DEWITT: She didn’t know that he was going to file. Of course, she knew that there were challenges in their relationship and had been some discord since March and was aware there were some things that needed to be worked through. But did she know that divorce was imminent? No. It was a total surprise. (more…)

I was a bit shocked after reading an interview that Essence.com had with Jill Scott. Scott reveals that she and fiance, drummer Lil John Roberts, are no longer together. The two broke up before she gave birth to their son, Jett Hamilton. According to her interview with Essence.com, Scott is tackling the most important role in her life as mom to 2-month-old son, while continuing to enjoy a flourishing film and television career. In more postive news, the Philly soul singer may get an Emmy soon for her enigmatic role as Precious in HBO’s critically acclaimed series “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.” I love that show! Check out some excerpts from the interview here: (more…)

Essence.com’s Black Music Month celebration continues with the 25 Hottest Dance Songs. When Janet Jackson flicked on those lights in the garage and went to work, we followed her lead by rocking a pair of black jeans, tying up our T-shirt, kicking a couple of chairs and using an aisle of cars as our Soul Train line. Listen now

Name one of the hottest dance songs in your opinion that should’ve made the list!

More on Essence.com 25 Hottest Dance Songs

Who woulda thought Ginuwine was going through some troubling times during his hiatus? His latest album which is actually his his sixth solo effort entitled, “A Man’s Thoughts,” is a melodic reflection of his past and present lives.In a recent interview with Essence.com, Ginuwine discuss those crazy Justin Timberlake comparisons, his suicide attempts, and why he is helping the mentally disabled. Check out excerpts from his interview with Essence.com: (more…)

This morning on our local radio station, Rickey Smiley and Gary with the Tea spoke about how many women choose to be lesbians due to some type of sexual abuse by a man in their past. Well, Queen Latifah spoke with Essence magazine about how she was victime of sexual abuse as a child.

During her interview with Essence, Latifah says a male teenage babysitter preyed upon her, leaving her unable to form relationships as an adult.”He violated me,” said the 39-year-old, born Dana Owens. (more…)

First Lady Michelle Obama and her mother cover the May 2009 issue of Essence magazine. The mom and daughter team did their first interview together at the White House exclusively with Essence. They spoke about their family values, what it takes to raise kids, and being role models for the Black community.

Check out some excerpts from the interview:

Michelle Obama on what being First Lady means to her:
“It’s an honor and a privilege when you walk into the White House-at least I automatically felt a level of obligation. This is a big responsibility, a wonderful platform and I just want to make sure I take every advantage to serve as a role model, to provide good messages, to be a supportive mate to the President and to make sure that my girls are solid.” (more…)