The 'Black Panther' Premiere Had Theaters Sprinkled With 'Coming To America' Realness
When it came to last night's Black Panther movie release, black people didn't just do it for the 'gram, they did it for the culture.
Today, Marvel's Black Panther officially hits theaters, but all this week, select guests and fans alike had the pleasure of taking in advanced screenings and of course, last night's late show.
Since the release of the official trailer back in fall, as promised, the Black Twitter conglomerate was sure to dress in their finest African-inspired attire and pop culture cosplay (Coming to America was clearly the popular costume choice!).
Check out some of our favorite looks below:
1. Yvonne Orji ("All Black Attack")
Pow, tadow, watch out now! Nigerian-American actress Yvonne Orji put the "war" in wardrobe in this all black fit, equipped with a high heels and a high kick. You can tell she was ready!
2. June Ambrose (Couture Come-Thru)
So fur real! Celebrity Stylist June Ambrose is where couture and culture meets with this royal look equipped with detailed fur. Fancy!
3. Cosplay Slay — Get into These Lion Kings
Oh, you thought the Black Panther royal slayage was limited to just women? Nope— the men came out to play too, equipped with faux lion fur and all. The popular Coming to America characters of choice to impersonate where none-other-than King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones) and Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy).
4. Prince Akeem and His Team with the Royal Flyness
We repeat, the men did not come to play on this unofficial holiday known as the Black Panther movie premiere. This attendee also tapped into Coming to America for style inspiration, and came equipped with rose-bearers and all.
5. Walking to Wakanda
#SquadGoals and #StrollGoals! Talk about stepping up your game. This group of friends were spotted at the Magic Johnson theatre in Harlem, New York and did not merely walk into the theatre, they strutted in for the win.
6. Vintage Black Panther
Sometimes less is more — and that's definitely the case with this fashion statement. This movie-goer may have opted out of rocking elaborate Afrocentric attire, but he embodied this classic "Black Panther Party" activist look, and channelled his inner Huey P. Newton by accessorizing with a power fist and beret. Power to the people.. and the panther!
7. Real Queens Wear Crowns #IssaWrap
On top of the bomb clothing choices of fans, we lived for the girlies who rocked multiple head wraps and pieces to the premiere, including this movie-goer, who flawlessly matched hers with her outfit.
8. Royal Crown Showdown
Get you a friend who will hold your veil, train, cape thingy whatever! This movie-goer gave us all types of "Black Female Superhero" goals with this one!
9. Going Hard in the Paint
This woman was sure to go beyond a winged liner, and slayed her beat face with some tribal-inspired accents added to her makeup look. Get into the dress, wrap and accent fur though. Yes!
10. Sista-Sista
Double the dopeness! When you and your bestie link up to slay Black Panther. Go off ladies.
11. It's a Black Panther... Party!
I mean, people not only made statements with their fashion, but they were sure to make a statement with their actions too. Check out this amazing entrance up the steps to their seats. We live!!
It's safe to say that last night, theaters were head to toe, wall to wall #BlackFolkMagic, and the numbers proved it. Not only did Black Panther bring in over $25 million opening night, it's slated to rake in an outstanding $180 million to $200 million this weekend alone, putting it on track to be one of the highest grossing Marvel films in history.
However, Black Panther is more than a movie, it's a movement. Thanks to director Ryan Coogler, Black Panther is made by us and is for us, and couldn't have come at a better time, given the current climate of our community and country.
Whether it's the news or social media, we are constantly seeing Black people fall victim to police brutality, gun violence, and the injustice that follows even after our deaths. In a time when we feel dispensable and invisible, it's important we're portrayed as invincible.
For once, we are not the victims, but the victors.
And while one might argue that Black Panther is, in the end, merely a fictional superhero flick, the sense of inspiration and hope it provides to its viewers, is all too real.
So yes, get dressed in your very best and go see Black Panther for both the customs, and the culture. #ForeverWakanda
A modest goddess who keeps it humble between mumbles. I'm a journalism graduate with a HERstory in digital media, print and radio. Roll the credits: Power 96, VH1, xoNecole, EBONY, SOHH. Deemed "Top 20 Women in Media" by Power 105. Bronx made me, Broward raised me.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Blac Chyna Opens Up About Her Initial Fear To Share Her Spiritual Journey With Others
Watching Angela “Blac Chyna” White’s transformation in real-time has truly been a sight to see. It wasn’t that long ago that she announced that she was reversing her cosmetic surgeries in an effort to go back to who she was before the world came to know her as Blac Chyna. In previous interviews, she stated that she was dissolving her facial and lip fillers, removing her breast implants, and getting a butt reduction, as well as removing the dimple piercings that enhanced her fame and controversial tattoos.
In a recent Tamron Hall interview, the mother of two said that she has “fully recovered” from the procedures. She is also celebrating one year of sobriety and opened up about being worried about how her new journey would be received by others.
“I’ve been in the entertainment industry for so long, right, and of course, like, you know, coming out, I’m like young, I’m gonna do wild things as we all have,” she said.
“...I feel like by me being vocal and showing everybody you can change your life and things can get better, like through myself, that right there is an accomplishment, and that’s a part of freedom, too.”
But as she started on her journey, many people have shown her grace, which is something she’s grateful for. “And then the fact that people have been showing me grace, it’s like amazing,” she said. “And I feel like when I did it, I just did it. It was more so like spiritual thing and I feel like people see that, and I’ve always been like my authentic self, so what you see is kinda what you get with me, and that’s just kinda what it is.”
Chyna, who recently received an honorary doctorate from Sacramento Theology Seminary and Bible College, has also repaired her relationship with her mom, Tokyo Toni. The social media celebrity surprised her daughter on the Tamron Hall Show. Prior to the sentimental surprise, Chyna dished on the reconciliation and having a better understanding of her mom.
“I must say, some of the things I have to take accountability for because, like my actions. As a mother, you don’t want to see your daughter doing certain things ‘cause it’s like it doesn’t matter what my past was or what we’re going through, I didn’t raise you that way,” she admitted. “So, it’s like, okay, maybe I was a little bit wrong. Maybe I was acting out a little bit. But I feel like as we grow older, I kinda see more, and I understand more.”
Chyna will be starring in season two of Fox's reality competition show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
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Feature image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
