Everything You Need To Know About The 'Bel-Air' Reboot
Will Smith finally dropped the trailer for the much-talked-about series Bel-Air, which is a reimagining of the family sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Talks of the ‘90s hit show receiving a reimagining began in 2019 after up-and-coming film director Morgan Cooper created a fan trailer with a dramatic take on the beloved sitcom.
After the trailer went viral, Will took notice and acquired the show as part of his Westbrook Productions and is co-executive producing it with some of the show’s original producers such as Quincy Jones and Benny Medina.
Morgan serves as the creator and an executive producer as well. As fans gear up for the premiere in February on Peacock, here’s what we know.
The New Will Has a Similar Story to Will Smith
Bel-Air’s Will, played by newcomer Jabari Banks, is also a West Philly native like Smith.
Another fun fact is that while Jabari was in high school, he and his friends dressed up like Smith and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast.
Rounding out the Bel-Aircast is Adrian Holmes who plays Philip “Uncle Phil” Banks, Cassandra Freeman who plays Vivian Banks, Olly Sholotan who plays Carlton Banks, former Disney star Coco Jones who plays Hilary Banks, Captain Marvel’s Akira Akbar who plays Ashley Banks and Jordan L. Jones who plays Jazz.
The Storyline is the Same, but Not Really
Like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s theme song notes, Will ends up leaving his hometown of Philadelphia to live with his aunt and uncle in Bel-Air after he gets into trouble with some local gangsters.
The same goes for Will in Bel-Air, however, it’s a little deeper. After getting into a squabble on the basketball court in Philly, Will pulls out a gun and shoots it in the air when the police arrive which gets him into trouble with the law.
Will has tension with both Carlton and Uncle Phil
Peacock
Also in the trailer, we see the tension between Will and Carlton as they both vie for power at their high school.
Carlton, who appears to be the king of the school, seemingly tries to take Will under his wing, but the Fresh Prince does the opposite of what Carlton says, which makes him an outcast.
However, he appears to find his footing and wins over his classmates, which threatens Carlton’s position at the school. While Uncle Phil agreed to take Will in, he doesn’t seem too thrilled to have his nephew around. In the trailer, Uncle Phil advises Will to keep his head down after he pulled strings to get him out of trouble.
Peacock ordered two seasons of the show after a bidding war with HBO and Netflix. Bel-Air will premiere on February 13 right after the Super Bowl.
The first three episodes will be available to stream during the premiere. After that, new episodes will be available for streaming weekly.
Featured image courtesy of Peacock
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy