Social Sunday: A Night of Glamour by Rashan Ali's Sporty Girls

Thursday night Fashiona went to Atlanta's Blendz Hair Salon for A Night of Glamour to support her fellow FAMUan Rashan Ali and her Sporty Girls foundation. The radio personality started Sporty Girls in 2006 to help young girls increase their performance in "non-traditional" sports with the ultimate goal of receiving a college scholarship. The funds from Thursday night's event will help fund a sleep away camp in the summer.

Some of the elite fashion and beauty consultants who attended in support of Rashan Ali and Sporty Girls included: fashion designer Mychael Knight, lifestyle specialist Dwight Eubanks, celebrity wadrobe stylist Kim Maxwell, celebrity hair stylists Val Hamilton, Paula Britt and Nataki Minix, manicurist Terrance Terry, make-up artists Keka Heron and Tiffany Walker, Sleeve accessories by Lena Danielle, True You Cosmetics, celebrity personal trainer ShaNay Norvell and several others. Other special guests included Ebony Steele of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Wanda Smith of the Frank and Wanda Morning Show on V-103 FM and author Tracy Nicole Prather.



Between the lovely Rashan posing for pictures with fellow radio personalities Elle Duncan, Wanda from  The Frank and Wanda Show, designer Mycheal Knight,  Fashiona was able to grab her for a interview.

All photos by Jae Walker III

Rashan Ali

Alicia "aka" Fashiona: So when did you  graduate from FAMU?

Rashan: In 1997.  I went to school on a 4 year swimming scholarship.

Alicia "aka" Fashiona: Very nice! So tell me about Sporty Girls and what prompted you to start the organization.

Rashan:  I have been swimming competitively since I was 5 and still love the sport.  When I was going to college I saw that minority girls were missing out on athletic scholarships for sports other than basketball, volleyball and track. In 2006, I started Sporty Girls, for girls from all walks of life who really enjoy sports and have to the drive to pursue an athletic scholarship.

Alicia "aka" Fashiona:  Besides swimming what sports do you promote at Sporty Girls?

Rashan: Soccer, golf and tennis.  Every summer we have a free 1 week long sleep away camp (Camp Elite) where girls from 10 to 16 are given a glimpse into the life of a college athlete.  They live in a dorm setting, many for the first time. Their days are divided into blocks of time where they study, practice for their various sports, attend class and of course have free time.  Proceeds from tonight's event help raise funds for Camp Elite.

Alicia "aka" Fashiona:   A worthy cause indeed.  I know that the ultimate goal is to obtain an athletic scholarship but what other life lessons do you focus on.

Rashan:  We really try to teach life skills. Sporty Girls is open to girls from all levels of the socioeconomic ladder. Typically these girls run in different circles but they get along surprisingly well and learn from each other.  Their love of sports is a common bond.

Alicia "aka" Fashiona:   I love it. It is so good to see so many stylish people out to help raise awareness and funds for Sporty Girls. Thanks for chatting  with me. 

Celebrity manuicurist Terrance Terry

Alicia aka Fashiona getting the facts with her White House Black Market bag

Mycheal Knight posing with Rashan

Rashan Ali, Founder

Jen Price, Executive Director

Sporty Girls, Inc.

P.O. Box 4390

Atlanta, GA 30302

Ph: 404.806.7352

Em: sportygirlsinc.org@gmail.com

Ambermag.com brings the Adore Your Beauty to Spelman

One of Fashiona's favorite memories surrounding college is Homecoming Week...the step shows, the game, the wild "eventful" parties and the special events. 

Ambermag.com is making college memories that much more special for Spelman (recently voted the no. 1

HBCU in the country by U.S. News & World Report for 2010) with their Adore Your Beauty tour. 

Fashiona's alma mater, Florida A & M University was rated number 12.

The swag bags included  IMAN makeup, copies of Heart & Soul magazine and hair care products by Mizani.

College Chick, who has known Fashiona and Sis since she was a toddler, is a Spelman student and stopped by the tent to give Fashiona the real scoop.

In her words:

"I went to the AMBERmag event briefly yesterday and today and it was really nice overall. They had a section where they were doing make-up consultations by Iman cosmetics and a section where they were styling hair using Mizani products. I'm thinking about going back to get my make-up done. There was a massage section as well and me and a friend got massages, which were really relaxing."

ASCAP presents: Women Behind the Music Part 2

ASCAP presents: Women Behind the Music was about honoring women that have achieved greatness in the music field.  Tuesday night...they looked absolutely fab on the Red Carpet.


Atlanta's DJ Traci Steele was amazing on the turntables and wore a bright yellow top, black mini and chunky bracelets.  Rashan Ali wore a black jersey pant suit with a low, low black...her skin is flawless.

Photo Credits: Jae Walker III

 Left DJ Traci Steele, Right Rashan Ali

 DJ Traci Steele

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland

Mega Star of the night Kelly Rowland very graciously held interviews with all the press including Fashiona.  Kelly shared with her that she was wearing a boat neck black dress and YSL platform heels and "vintage Kelly" gold jewelry.  


Part 3 will have excerpts from the panel discussion.

ASCAP Presents… Women Behind the Music Part 1

Tuesday  October, 12, Fashiona was delighted to attend  the Atlanta leg of the ASCAP presents: Women Behind the Music. Honorees included:

• Singer/Song Writer Actress/Kelly Rowland
• Entertainment Attorney Sandra Brown
• Hannah Kang, General Manager of Grand Hustle Records. 

Fellow FAMU alumni Rashan Ali moderated the panel discussion.

Photo Credit: ASCAP Presents… Women Behind the Music


From left to right: Rashan Ali, Sandra Brown, Nicole George( Head of ASCAP Rhythm and Soul) Kelly Rowland and Hannah Kang



Indeed these honorees mean business when they are representing clients, negotiating deals or navigating a still macho industry.  

All three honorees and moderator Rashan were beautifully dressed, well coiffed and showcasing a mean shoe game...all three honorees looked every bit of the power brokers they are...

Part 2 will have Jae's pics and who was wearing what!

Winter Ball Honorees, Nicole Ari Parker, Will Packer and Rob Hardy

Saturday night, Fashiona ventured out to her second holiday affair of the season. The event~ The Make Believe Winter Ball  at the Persian Gallery in Atlanta's Buckhead. 

Photo Credit:  Bernadette Truell

True story Fashiona bought this vintage dress in Vermont when she was 15 but she couldn't actually fit into until she was 25...fashion first.

The night was frigid but Fashiona's temperature rose as soon as she walked in because she was standing next Nicole Ari Parker and her stunning husband Boris Kodjoe.  They made a   picture perfect couple; she in head to toe black and he in pinstripes.

Photo Credit: George Butler

Photo Credit: Quinten Davis

From left to right: Rob Hardy, Atlanta Mayor Elect Kasim Reed, Nicole Ari Parker and Will Packer

Nicole, Will  and Rob were honored by the year old Collective Renaissance Guild for their contributions to Atlanta's booming film industry.

~UPDATED DECEMBER 9TH~

Photo Credit: Quinton Davis

Photo Credit: George Butler

From left to right: Tiffany, Terrinee Briggs, Mayor Elect Kasim Reed, Christine, Angela Watts, Ericka

The evening was hosted by former radio host Rashan Ali, a fellow FAMU alumni.  In fact FAMU was deep Saturday evening.  Honorees Will Packer and Rob  Hardy are both alum as well as Miss Fashiona herself.

In addition being honored by the CRG: Nicole, Will and Rob received recognition by the sitting Atlanta City Council.

Between all the photo opps and the award  presentations, Fashiona was able to talk to Will for a few minutes. She asked him what the biggest challenge he and his partner Rob faced in the film industry. 

~ Will Packer

Keeping a high level of excellence from project to project. Hollywood is a fickle town and you are only as good as your last project.

True story and Will and Rob and their film production company RainForest Productions keep turning out Class A projects.