Grand dame, great beauty and pioneer in the fashion industry Naomi Sims has died of cancer. She was 61 years old.

"Naomi Sims was an incredible role model – a trailblazer who helped to define black beauty and open the doors for all of the African American models we see today -- and a savvy businesswoman," a shaken Beverly Johnson told Black Voices. "Mostly, she was a friend and someone I greatly admired. We lost a truly dynamic woman."

Sims was born in Oxford, Miss., on March 30, 1948. An awkward teen -- 5-foot-10 by the time she was 13 -- Sims and her family left the segregated South and moved to Pittsburgh, where she completed high school.

Sim's mother took ill, and the gangly teen and her two sisters were placed in foster care. After graduation, the ambitious beauty moved to New York City to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Because of financial constraints, Sims left school and began modeling in the big city. She broke through at the age of 18 when she appeared on the cover of Ladies Home Journal. She was the magazine's first African American cover model. In 1969, Sims appeared on a simple yet striking cover of Life magazine.

We first met Briana Bigham last year as when she trounced into our living rooms each week as the focused fashionista and self-proclaimed "bag lady" on the BET series 'Harlem Heights.' The finale of that show debuted her line of handbags, B. Marie Designs.

Since 'Harlem Heights,' Bigham has continued to work on the line, in addition to maintaining her full-time job at a major fashion brand.

For this year's centennial NAACP convention, Briana and her bags were in full effect as she not only hosted the fashion show 'Runway to the Future' but also showcased her fall line, which she describes as "vintage blue-denim inspired."

"I am co-hosting the show with one of my fellow FIT classmates and good friends, Jerome Lamaar Fortez," say Bigham. "He was a major part of Baby Phat in branding and design. We are the emcees who will entertain and introduce the designers."

In addition to B. Marie Designs, other notable and up and coming African American designers featured in the show include Funk'n Beautiful by Terrie Stevens of Project Runway, Byron Lars' Beauty Mark, Shades of Grey, Durant by Robert Durant, Shehaai U.S.A, Fames Allure Clothing, Autumn Adeigbo's Color Culture Conscience, Educated Negro, Human Intonations, and DeenScene.

(photo credit from show: Kitty Bradshaw)

How excited are you to be the host of Runway to the Future, the NAACP Youth & College Division presented fashion show?

I'm extremely excited. One of my main causes is to use whatever platform I have to promote talented independent black designers.

This Saturday marks Mandela Day, which celebrates international freedom fighter Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday and includes a star-studded event at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Mandela, the former head of the African National Congress, spent 27 years in a South African prison for his work against apartheid. South Africa now faces a devastating HIV and AIDS rate just as destructive as the racial subjugation it once contended with.

Mandela's Robben Island prison number, 46664 -- the same name as his nonprofit -- now manufactures precious jewelry with the number etched into it. Sixty percent of the proceeds go directly to combating HIV and AIDS. Celeb supporters of the 46664 bangle program include Angela Bassett, Alfre Woodard, Laurence Fishburne and Clint and Dina Eastwood, among others.

Unfortunately, the 2009 BET Awards were slightly disorganized and a bit of a yawn. Fortunately, our stars walked the red carpet with aplomb. Of course, being only four days after the death of Michael Jackson, there were flourishes of fashion tributes to him, big and small. Leather of all sorts was de rigueur, as were gloves, hats and splashes of glitter. There were subtle nods, like the one white leather glove worn by Estelle or Ne-Yo's black fedora, to more elaborate homages like host Jamie Foxx opening the show in the complete 'Beat It' outfit. Everyone, from T-Pain to Carmelo Anthony, had on a Michael Jackson T-shirt, and Keri Hilson's performed in rolled skinny jeans, white socks and loafers, a black leather jacket and a glittery white shirt, while Ciara gave Michael a wink in a black-and-gold military jacket festooned in rhinestones similar to the ones that the singer loved so much.

Estelle wore one white glove (vintage); dress by Acne, bag & shoes by Jimmy Choo.

Neyo, who earlier in the night wore a MJ-esque fedora, performed in a white leather jacket and red leather gloves.

It's not often that something truly original hits the beauty market (hello, lace-fronts) but when every starlet from Rihanna to Victoria Beckham started rocking a new nail treatment with abandon, it was just a matter of time before the beautiful masses latched on to this white-hot trend.

Often metallic in color, Minx nails are a nail coverings that are applied with heat and can be fashioned into almost any design. The system was created by an extreme-sports fanatic and a beauty professional, and the two have tapped into something that may just prove to be the next big thing.

Diamonds conjure up money and pearls say sophistication. But now you can be even more specific in what your jewelry says.

Thanks to Elisa Ilana's awareness line of earrings, bracelets, necklaces and anklets, you can support the health causes closest to your heart and look fly doing it. From ovarian and colorectal cancer to AIDS and diabetes, Ilana's Awareness Jewelry is more than a fashion statement.

Inspired by Velda Stokke, an employee who was diagnosed with breast cancer, the company launched its line in 2007. A percentage of the sales is donated to Liz's Legacy, a fund to advance cancer research.

"The purpose of the Elisa Ilana Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet is to raise funds for cancer research and awareness," says a company spokesperson. "It is our hope that we will be able to help make a difference in the race to find a cure."

So whether you want to remember your mother who is a breast cancer survivor or support your brother who is battling colorectal cancer, you can keep your loved ones close to your heart – and look fly doing it!

For more information on Awareness Jewelry, go to http://www.elisailana.com/

Although the shoot happened more than 10 years ago, Vogue editor Anna Wintour recently revealed that she "strongly encouraged" Oprah Winfrey to lose 20 pounds for her 1998 Vogue cover.

And Oprah did it!

'It was a very gentle suggestion,' said Wintour during an unaired portion of Sunday's '60 Minutes' interview with Morley Safer. "I went to Chicago to visit Oprah, and I suggested that it might be an idea that she lose a little bit of weight. I said simply that you might feel more comfortable. She was a trouper!"