Earlier this week, I saw the new documentary, Invisible Beauty, spotlighting Fashion revolutionary Bethann Hardison.
Co-directed by Frédéric Tcheng (DIOR AND I, HALSTON), the film explores the life and career of the legendary model, entrepreneur, and activist.
It’s equal parts memoir, with Bethann musing about her life choices in her various beautiful homes and historical testimony of the prolific racism in the fashion industry.
Bethann Hardison is uniquely qualified to take on racism in the fashion industry as a 70’s top black model. She admits she was the first “black, black” model who shared the catwalk with many women of color. When she stopped modeling to start her modeling agency, she prioritized hiring a diverse talent pool. She succeeded in creating supermodels that didn’t fit the prominent blonde and white cookie-cutter image. Two of her biggest finds were Veronica Webb and Tyson Beckford. Sadly, after she closed her agency, the whitewashing of the runways and advertising campaigns began.
The documentary argues that the trend of heroin-chic, white female models proliferating the runways and advertising campaigns was due to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The tidal wave of Russian beauties erased everything Bethann strived for – more inclusion.
The actual footage from runways during this time is alarming. There is no way anyone can deny the suppression of models of color after watching a parade of lookalike young, x-ray-thin white women on every runway.
How did Bethann address Racism?
She organized. Her brilliance is displayed as she gathers thought leaders and stakeholders in the fashion industry to start a dialogue. She smartly deflects anger, frustration, and short tempers to keep people focused on the goal. She provokes conversations in every sector of the industry. She expertly switches from being a nurturing, motherly presence in the lives of young models to a powerful activist on talk shows and media outlets.
The documentary makes a point to show that racism is cyclical. Every time Bethann succeeds, a few short years later, her work is virtually erased—two steps forward and three steps back. But somehow, she knows this and can calm the others as she seeks to unify and move forward again. It’s fascinating to watch her turn her thoughts and words into action. She is so clear in her message that her various supporters, including Naomi Campbell and Iman, never waiver in describing her purpose.
The documentary is too long. The last thirty minutes are painful. I kept wanting it to end repeatedly, but Bethann rattled on and on about death. Afterward, I told my friend I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see her cough; I stopped listening. The good news is she’s still alive and kicking.
The bad news is when it comes to motherhood, she’s right up there with Joan Crawford on the Wall of Fame. She’s elusive when discussing her strained relationship with her son. But clearly, her son bears the scars from his upbringing.
Whether or not she finishes her memoir is never addressed either. Repeatedly, she is seen on screen staring at a blank page, talking to her therapist and psychic about her writer’s block, and meeting with her editor. But we never find out what happens is a misstep.
New York Fashion Icon Evetta Petty, the owner and designer of the New York City Hat Boutique Harlem’s Heaven, shares how she stays on track with type 2 diabetes while running a successful small fashion business.
We’re talking about movie characters with diabetes, including Steel Magnolias, Soul Food, Mad Money, The Baby-Sitter Club, and Nothing In Common on this Divabetic podcast.
How realistic are portrayals of living with diabetes on screen?
How accurate is information about diabetes and diabetes self-care? And how do we feel after viewing them? With all the emotional and physical complications comes drama, making characters with the condition a good plot point on the silver screen.
Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, Kent Gash, Jessica Clark and Muniq Gut Health Shakes Founder Marc Washington.
This podcast features music from the album ‘Score’ by 2Celloscourtesy of SONY Music.
Divabetic’s monthly podcasts are dedicated to Music Lovers living with, at risk and/or affected by diabetes. We aim to be the epicenter of the circle of care, a link between patients and their healthcare providers, a translator of clinical speak, and a bridge between denial and acceptance, fear and confidence.
Divabetic was inspired by the late music legend Luther Vandross and created in 2005 by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, who, as Vandross’ assistant of 14 years, witnessed his boss, mentor, and friend struggle in silence and solitude with diabetes and its related complications.
Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at divabetic.org
Divabetic (Divabetic.org) presents a month-long showcase celebrating 10 years of diabetes podcasting. Each of the featured podcasts spotlights our favorite guests, topics, poems, games and/or musical inspiration. Enjoy!
Our monthly podcasts are dedicated to Music Lovers living with, at risk and/or affected by diabetes. We aim to be the epicenter of the circle of care, a link between patients and their health care providers, a translator of clinical speak and a bridge between denial and acceptance, fear and confidence
Divabetic was inspired by the late music legend, Luther Vandross and created in 2005 by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, who, as Vandross’ assistant of 14 years, witnessed his boss, mentor, and friend struggle in silence and solitude with the diabetes and its related complications. Since its inception, Divabetic has presented outreach programs in 15 major U.S. cities, reaching hundreds of thousands of women, their families and health care professionals.
Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at divabetic.org
Divabetic’s Diabetes Roundtable podcast from August 2010 centers around our Diabetes Numerology game puzzle. Diabetes Numerology Game puzzles pair random blood glucose values with real-life situations to help you brush up on your problem-solving skills and test your Divabetic IQ. Always check with your doctor to find out what your specific game plan should be for any given diabetes self-care situation.
On this episode, three of the smartest and friendliest diabetes educators from around the world aka ‘Charlie’s Angels of Outreach’ make their debut. Our dynamic certified diabetes educators featured are: Jessica Issler RD, CDE from Norfolk, VA, Judi Wilcox RD, CDE from Hollywood, FL and Lori Bednarz RN, CDE from Pennsylvania, PA.
Help us to learn more about our community! It’ll only take a minute … and you could win the chance to make your acting debut in our Annual Mystery podcast in September 2020!
The article reports how a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine uncovered: That a healthy lifestyle can dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease – even if your family’s health history isn’t stellar.
The researchers found that people who don’t smoke, aren’t obese and eat a healthy diet, may still be able to beat the family odds of succumbing to heart disease.
Don’t know where to start to improve your diet? Try Whole Oats!
Research suggests that beta-glucan, a viscous soluble fiber found in oats, can help lower total and LDL cholesterol levels. When it comes to choosing which type of oats to buy, keep in mind that how they’re processed matters. According to Johnson McRorie, co-author of a recent article on the subject, the more processed the oats, the less potent the beta-glucan and its ability to lower your blood cholesterol levels. So, while old-fashioned oats take a few minutes longer to cook than instant oatmeal in the morning, they’re probably better for your heart.
Start your morning off with a bowl of oatmeal. Add a dash of cinnamon, which will add natural sweetness to your breakfast. When making meatballs or breaded chicken, swap out some of the breadcrumbs for oats.
We’re talking about ‘HEART HEALTH & DIABETES’ with musical inspiration from the rock band “Heart” on March’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast.
Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.
People with insulin resistance or diabetes in combination with one or more of these risk factors are at even greater risk of heart disease or stroke. However, by managing their risk factors, people with diabetes may avoid or delay the development of heart and blood vessel disease.
The rock band “Heart” was started in Seattle in the 1960s. Heart’s mix of hard rock and folk yielded one of the longest lasting and most commercially successful bands of all time. The band is fronted by sisters, Ann and Nancy Wilson who wrote many of the band’s songs. Heart’s new “Love Alive” Tour kicks off this Summer with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, Elle King, and Lucie Silvas.
Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Author of ‘Nutrition & You’ Dr. Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND, Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.
Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Heart’s “The Essential Heart” album courtesy of SONY Music
Divabetic will presenting the first-everDiabetes & Heart Health Escape Room Experience: Clued Innon Diabetes Alert Day, Tuesday, March 26, 2019 in New York City. Currently we have over 150 pre-registered for Clued Inn but there’s still room for you and your friends to participate! Register now at CluedInn.org.
