Rihanna's 2009 had some highs -- Glamour's Woman of the Year, highest debut album ever, cover of GQ. But homegirl has some real lows, too -- getting her ass kicked in public, missing the Grammys, messy fall-out with very famous boyfriend.

Every curvy girl knows that jean shopping can be a chore. In what can be an endless whirlwind of trial and error, you may find a jean that fits the thighs but not the waist, the hips but not the butt, and on and on leading to that awful muffin top or crack peeking out the back of your pants -- so not sexy.

But one of our most famous curvies of all, Oprah, has discovered a new brand of premium denim that champions the curvacious -- Cj by Cookie Johnson jeans. Created earlier this year by Cookie Johnson, wife of former pro basketball player Magic Johnson, Oprah crows that Cj jeans are "The perfect jeans for real women with real booties."



"I had a hard time finding a jean to fit me," Cookie has said. "Every time I [would] go to the stores, I put the jeans on and I couldn't get them past my thighs. I thought: 'I'm in good shape. I work out. I eat healthy. Why can't I find a jean to fit me?'"

Black Girls Rock! -- a name that just pops and crackles with girl power -- is holding its annual awards show in New York City this Saturday. Regina King and Tracee Ellis Ross will co-host this star-studded event, which honors the outstanding achievements of baaaaaaaad women of color and raises funds for the nonprofit teen empowerment program founded by celebrity DJ Beverly Bond.

"I am proud that Black Girls Rock! is at the forefront of a movement inspiring women of color to take charge of our images, our dignity and our impact on the world," says Bond. "The annual Black Girls Rock! award show is our way of saying thank you to these stellar women, whose exemplary achievements help to navigate future generations toward excellence."

Now in its fourth year, Black Girls Rock! has raised hundred of thousands for Black Girls Rock Inc. BGR empowers young women ages 12-17 through the "fun" arts like DJing at the Scratch Academy, poetry workshops ("I Rhyme Like a Girl"), music making, culinary arts and so much more – all at little or no cost to the participants.

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.