BellaSugar

Bella Donna: Dorothy Dandridge

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:00:25 -0700

It's time for this week's installment of Bella Donna. Last week I sung the praises of Joan Jett, and this week we're going back in time to talk about Dorothy Dandridge. The first African American to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, she was an immensely talented singer and actress.

For many young black women, Dorothy was one of the few Hollywood stars to look up to. But as you'll see, her life wasn't always as beautiful as she was. To view a gallery of this silver-screen beauty and to find out how to get her look, read more

You could say that Dorothy was practically born performing. As a child in the 1930s, she and her sisters toured the country as The Dandridge Sisters, and at age 13, Dorothy had her film debut in an Our Gang short. As she matured, she appeared in several films, but was mostly cast in stereotypical parts for African Americans. Rampant racism affected her solo singing career, too: She often found herself performing at hotels, only to discover that would not let her stay there because of her skin color.

Hollywood-and America in general-was a more blatantly racist place in the 1940s and 1950s, and leading roles for black actresses were scarce. But when Dorothy heard about an all-black film version of Carmen Jones, she successfully fought for the part. Her Oscar-nominated performance made her a star and landed her a spot as the first African American to appear on the cover of Life magazine. Other films followed, such as Porgy and Bess with Sidney Poitier.

Although Dorothy was finally a respected, famous actress, her off-screen life was tumultuous. As a child, she had been abused by her mother's partner; as an adult, she suffered from abuse at the hand of her second husband. Her only child was mentally handicapped, and she developed severe problems with alcoholism and depression. After a few attempts to regain her health, she was found dead of an overdose in her home. She was only 41 years old.

Dorothy Dandridge once said, "If I were white, I could capture the world." I think she's right. Her talent and beauty were remarkable, and a less prejudiced society would have allowed her to become an even bigger star. And her struggle to win quality roles serves as a legacy for the African American stars who have followed her. (In a coincidence, actress Halle Berry, the first African American woman to win a Best Actress Oscar, once portrayed Dorothy Dandridge in a TV biopic.)

To mimic Dorothy Dandridge's classic look, follow these tips:

Wear full but groomed eyebrows, with a defined arch
Eyes should sport neutral shadow and black liquid eyeliner
Dorothy favored bold, orangey-red lipsticks
She also drew small beauty marks on her face occasionally
For hair, go for soft, voluminous curls.

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Bella Donna: Diahann Carroll

BellaSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:00:18 -0800

Born in the Bronx in 1935, Carol Diahann Johnson started singing in her church choir at age six. Ten years later, she auditioned for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts show using the name Diahann Carroll, eventually winning the contest and performing on the daily radio show for three weeks. She sought modeling gigs, but her voice and presence presented her biggest successes.

Up against the color barrier on the big and small screens as well as on the stage, Carroll worked through it debuting both on Broadway in a supporting role in the Harold Arlen/ Truman Capote musical House of Flowers as well as having her film debut opposite Dorothy Dandridge in Carmen Jones, an all-black, updated version of the Georges Bizet opera "Carmen." Upon reflecting on her early years, she later told a reporter, "I like to think I opened doors for other women, although that wasn't my original intention." Regardless of what she planned, that's just what she did. Find out what happened next for Carroll when you read more.

Still unable to climb to the top ranks of film with a leading role, she briefly returned to Broadway (winning a Tony for her performance in 1962 musical No Strings, a role was written just for her by Richard Rodgers of famed duo Rodgers and Hammerstein). Next up: Her big breakthrough to become the first black actress in television history to star in her own series. Carroll's role as the lead character in NBC's Julia convincingly portrayed the sophisticated actress as a nurse and widow struggling to support her small son. At her request the show ran for only two seasons but she came out with a Golden Globe for "Best Newcomer," an Emmy nomination, and the clout needed to get her first leading film role.

Acting as the title character in the 1974 film Claudine, Diahann Carroll was then nominated for a "Best Actress" Oscar the following year, making her one of only seven African-American actresses to ever receive this honor. With a career now spanning nearly six decades, she's still as beautiful and active as can be most recently acting in a recurring role (as Jane Burke) on Grey's Anatomy and releasing an autobiography in 2008 titled The Legs Are the Last to Go: Aging, Acting, Marrying, Mothering and Other Things I Learned Along the Way. I'm a big fan of her varied hairstyles - and our shared love of eyeliner - so check out her glamorous shots over the years in the gallery below.

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Bella Donna: Faye Dunaway

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:54:36 -0700

It's Thursday, which means it's Bella Donna time! You loved last week's choice, Dorothy Dandridge, and I can't wait to hear what you think about this week's, Faye Dunaway. I confess that although I knew she was famous, I didn't see Bonnie and Clyde until a few weeks ago. (It's a great film, so if you haven't seen it yet, rent it! Rent it now!)

As an actress, Dunaway faced the same kind of challenge that many naturally beautiful women do in Hollywood: She had to fight to prove that she was more than just a pretty face, especially because she was a former beauty queen. "I wasn't some brainless beauty, and I didn't ever want to give anyone a chance to draw that conclusion," she wrote in her 1995 biography, Looking for Gatsby. Fortunately, a string of meaty roles gave her the opportunity to show off her skills along with her striking face.

For a gallery of Faye Dunaway photos throughout the years, plus a guide to creating her iconic Bonnie look, read more

Dunaway's makeup and hair shifted to fit the needs of various characters; for instance, in Chinatown, she wore red lips and drawn-on brows to mimic the style of 1930's Los Angeles. But the look she's best known for is the one she sported in Bonnie and Clyde. When the movie hit screens in 1967, Faye's version of Bonnie inspired countless women to mimic her hair, makeup and style. To get the look, try these tips:

Ask your stylist for a full, chin-length bob (without bangs) and part it on the left side. Approximate Faye's honey-colored hair with Feria Pure Diamond hair color. Top with a beret, of course.
Since Bonnie was busy robbing banks, she didn't have lots of time for elaborate makeup. The look isn't very fussy, so use a tinted moisturizer and concealer only where you need it.
A dash of rosy light pink lipstick, like Shiseido The Makeup Perfecting Lipstick in Shy Pink, will give lips a Parker-like flush.
Keep brows full but well-groomed.
Cream eye shadows will give you a fresh, dewy, we-just-robbed-a-bank look. I like those from Nars, especially Lili Marlene (storm gray) and Grand Bleu (shimmering heather blue).
Finish by using a dark gray or black liquid eyeliner to sweep along upper eyelids, then apply generous application of mascara.
For the perfect accessory, find a Warren Beatty lookalike. (And if you're only thinking of the old dude from Bulworth, again, I implore you: Rent this movie! Then tell me what you think).

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Source and The Fashion Spot

The Best of Bella, 7/15

BellaSugar — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 19:11:29 -0700

Was your boss looking over your shoulder all week at work? Don't sweat if you missed some of BellaSugar while putting your nose to the grindstone! I've collected this week's most talked-about posts in a handy, simple-to-skim format:

Preview Lancome's very cool Destiny Cube (shown above).
Get Angelina Jolie's makeup look. (Sorry, Brad Pitt not included.)
Is there such a thing as too young for Botox?
This week's Bella Donna is Dorothy Dandridge.
See the hand soap that 92% of you think is creepy.
Peek at Keira Knightley's Chanel ads.
Test your beauty trivia with this quiz!