Last night’s Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California was memorable for historic wins after long absences (Renee Zelleger for and Brad Pitt for after a 16- and 24-year lapse since each last one, respectively) and for notable as speeches (Michelle Williams about female empowerment, SNL‘s Kate McKinnon’s presentation to Ellen DeGeneres of the Carol Burnett Award role in making it easier for a lesbian TV star to shine and Joaquin Phoenix about climate change and the Australian wildfires)
Among the moms featured and “bump watched” before on the blog, Beyonce was nominated for Best Original Song for “Spirit” on The Lion King (and got roasted by a few Twitter for being the only one to not give Phoenix a standing ovation for his win); Christina Applegate for Best Actress in Dead to Me and Nicole Kidman for Big Little Liesand Reese Witherspoon for The Morning Show in the Best Actress in a Television Series-Drama category, and Jennifer Lopez for Best Supporting Actress in Motion Picture for Hustlers.
Fashion was classic and on point.
Jennifer Lopez in Valentino
Scarlett Johannson in Vera Wang
Salma Hayek in Gucci
Rachel Bilson in Brock Collection
Reese Witherspoon in wearing a custom Roland Mouret
The Primetime Emmys went down tonight at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
In contention for awards were several of the celeb moms we’ve featured on the blog in year’s past including Anna Chlumsky(in J. Mendel) for Best Lead Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Veep and Christina Applegate (in Vera Wang) who was nominated but didn’t win Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her amazing role in Dead To Me and finallyLaura Linneywho did win the Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Ozark.
On the Purple Carpet, we spottedPadma Lakshmi, my fave dress tonight in Christian Siriano; Busy Phillips in Lela Rose; Kerry Washington in Alexandre Vauthier; Taraji P. Henson also in Vera Wang; Regina King in Jason Wu; Betthany Frankelin stunning Alex Perry dress, Iris & Ink shoes, and an Audemars Piguet watch.
Kristin Cavallari interviewed stars as part of the E! Live from the Red Carpetevent wearing a sunny yellow strapless Nicole + Felicia Couture dress with Stuart Weitzman pumps.
Oh and The Good Life‘s Kristen Bellstunned as well celebrating her show’s nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series.
A family photo of Kerry Washington has surfaced which is a big deal because Washington is among those super private celebrities who have been able to shield their children from celebrity life altogether, and managed to have zero photos online or anywhere of them publicly.
Madame Noire, then TV One cited a tweet that featured a photo of Washington posed alongside other members of her former NFL player husband Nnamdi Asomugha‘s family as part of a feature inside a Nigerian magazine celebrating the life and work of the family matriarch, Dr. Lilian Asomugha.
BCK Online posted a link to the digital version of the magazine called Life & Times which published a full cover feature and interview in its Summer 2018 edition but apparently it slipped through the cracks of celeb stalkers and sleuths until recently.
It was awesome to finally get to see the offspring of the actress and her hubby, 2-year old son Caleb and 4-year old daughter Isabella, all dressed in traditional Igbo tribe clothing while posing alongside a massive family that included Washington’s 12-year old stepson with Nnamdi.
The couple married in Idaho in 2014 in a very private ceremony officiated by Nnamdi’s sister, Chisaraokwu Asomugha, a Silver Spring, MD minister.
But it was equally satisfying to me to read during this Black History Month about Dr. Asomugha’s immigrant story which is very similar to the story of my parents.
Nnamdi’s dad immigrated first to America in the early 1970s before sending for his wife. They worked hard jobs while attending school and welcomed their first child before dad got a Chemistry and Petroleum Engineering degree and mom a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Texas and later a PhD in Naturopathy.
(So my story because I was born before my dad completed his Bachelor’s and Masters at University of Maryland at College Park and after he sent for my mom )
Sadly, Nnamdi’s dad passed away after growing a small family of four children leaving mom to raise four kids on her own, and not only did she do it, but she eventually gave back to the kids in her adopted land,America, with her son’s Asomugha Foundation which takes at-risk children on college tours including to Ivy League schools among other philanthropic efforts.
Dr. Asomugha has penned 5 inspirational books including a parenting book, and started her own charity that has helped over 20,000 orphans and widows, built classrooms and schools, educated girls through college and runs an annual global female empowerment, leadership and entrepreneurial summit in their native Nigeria, West Africa. Phew!
I also dug the part of the interview when she was asked to give advice to other Nigerian families that were considering immigrating to America.
Dr. Asomugha gave a response my immigrant African parents often tell me, “Cut your coat according to your size” — in other words, take it slow, don’t take shortcuts, play by the rules and don’t get caught up in debt and credit cards!
Sage advice! Read more and see the photos in the digital version of the magazine below:
The 32-year-old Lip Sync Battle co-host took the stage at the Los Angeles rally on Saturday with her newborn son, Miles, in her arms to introduce her husband, who performed his new song, “Preach.”
“Let go of fear and see each other’s humanity,” the mother of two told the crowd at the event. Following Teigen’s speech, Legend also encouraged people to take action and spread the word about putting a stop to immigrant parents being separated from their children at the U.S.-Mexico border
“You can’t just talk about it or tweet about it. You’ve got to do something,” Legend passionately expressed. “We wrote this song that feels right for this moment… I know a lot of us have a strong temptation to just disengage, but we can’t. We can’t do that. I can’t do that. I have to do something.”
Following the performance, Teigen took to Instagram to share a touching snap of herself and her son onstage. “Baby’s first rally. #keepfamiliestogether,” she captioned the photo.
Last week, Legend performed “Preach” for the first time at an event in Los Angeles, where ET was in attendance.
“We’ve been watching what’s happening on the border and the turmoil the world is in right now. Every time we get outraged…it feels all you can do is tweet or vent about it,” he said prior to debuting the song. “But, sometimes you have to do something. You can’t just preach.”
"We've been watching what's happening on the border and the turmoil the world is in right now. Every time we get outraged…it feels all you can do is tweet or vent about it. But, sometimes you have to do something. You can't just preach." @johnlegend debuts new song #Preach ? pic.twitter.com/amMYsgexa3
I saw a few reports about how makeup mogul and reality TV star Kylie Jenner has selected to stop showing her daughter Stormi’s face on social media after a few mean trolls left nasty comments about the infant.
As Celebrity Baby Scoop reported, “fans noticed that Stormi’s face was hidden and one follower, in particular, noted that she had ‘cut her baby out’, Jenner replied, ‘Yeah I cut my baby out. I’m not sharing photos of my girl right now.'”
Reportedly, she was excited to share her baby with the world but has had to retreat amidst the mean trolls, and her beau and Stormi’s dad Travis Scott is doing the same, only showing her tiny Nikes in a recent Snap Story.
I cannot say I blame her. One of this blog’s most viewed post is about Aoki Lee, the brilliant daughter of Russell Simmons and our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum Kimora Lee Simmons, who avoids posting photos of her face on her own Instagram page, and how I believe it stems from nasty comments from the public about her looks.
The harsh critique from the public probably explains why Beyonce famously shielded her daughterBlue Ivy‘s face when she shared photos of her during her infancy to toddler years, and Kelly Rowland for the first year of her son’s life as well.
If you follow actress Zoe Saldana‘s social media, you will see that she was telling t to share a photo of her twin boys, Cy and Bowie and their baby brother either but has recently.
Then there are the other extremes who don’t show their children’s faces at all, like Kerry Washington, Eva Mendes, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Livelyuntil recently.
The fans demand it, and many fuss about being denied the chance to gawk at their babies, as if it their right like these who commented under one of Knight-Pulliam’s pics.
And those who do share like Tia Mowry and Solange Knowles have found themselves having to snap back and put mean trolls in their place who called both their sons ugly, as recently as a few years ago.
These reactions prove why it is not a bad idea to keep something private.
Eva Longoria says Kerry Washington has been the best in helping her prepare for the birth of her first child
The Desperate Housewives alum, who’s now in her third trimester, toldAccess Hollywood this tidbit earlier.
“Kerry has actually been one of my main friends that I’ve been leaning on during pregnancy,” Eva told us. “She helped me find a baby nurse and [figure out what] a doula is. She’s been an endless source of information.”
The Scandal star also hooked Eva up with a bunch of maternity clothes!
“She gave me this suitcase of maternity clothes,” Eva dished. “It’s like the traveling suitcase — it just gets passed on. Then I have to add to it and then I’ll pass it on. Kerry’s been amazing.”
Washington shared a photo at the Costume Designers Guild Awards of Longoria with herself, Longoria and actress Gina Rodriguez.
“Sisters from other misters. That baby’s gonna have a lotta aunties! THANK YOU @evalongoria for that beautiful introduction. You and @lynpaolomade me cry! And congrats to miss @hereisgina on being a bad*ss brilliant & beautiful host!!! Love y’all. #cdga20″
Last night was the Super Bowl. A lot of non-sports fans watch the big game for the creative commercials that debut. I pulled those that featured babies and kids in them and in particular two which paid homage to diversity, inclusion, motivation and inspiration to the youth and all of us to do better.
T-Mobile used actress (and our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum) Kerry Washington to narrate and give empowering messages in commercial featuring lots of super adorable and cute babies.
“Some people may see your differences and be threatened by them,” Washington intones. “But you are unstoppable. You’ll love who you want. You’ll demand fair and equal pay. You will not allow where you come from to dictate where you’re going.”
Love it! Coca-Cola also had a pretty poetic commercial. Various cast recite a poem:
There’s no one quite like you. Or her. Or him. Or them. The world is filled with over 7 billion unique yous who are all special in their own ways. And while we’re different, there’s a Coke for every single one of us. Whether it be in a glass bottle, or a mini, or an ice-cold Coke Life, or a Coke Zero sugar in a can, there’s a refreshing way to Enjoy Yours. There’s a Coke for he, and she, and her, and me, and them. There’s a different Coke for all of us–– Especially one for him. No feet have wandered where you’ve walked, No eyes saw what you’ve seen. No one’s lived the life you live, No head has held your dreams. To act the same would be mundane— what a boring thing to do! That’s why there is just one me and a billion unique yous. We all have different looks and loves, likes and dislikes, too— But there’s a Coke for we and us, and there’s a Coke for you.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants alum made a New Year’s-themed baby announcement on Sunday, December 31 by posting a super cute photo of herself with her hubby, actor Ryan Piers Williams.
“Mas besos (por favor).” she captioned with the couple wearing shimmery “2018” glasses and America’s holding up a small onesie. “We’re welcoming one more face to kiss in 2018! Wishing you #MásBesos in the New Year! #babybesos #HappyNewYear ?.”
Piers William shared an identical photo, as well as a close-up of the onesie, writing, “Making room for new and beautiful things to come in 2018!#happynewyear.”
Congrats!
Ferrera is part of a new movement announced on Monday which involves women of power and influence including Shonda Rhimes, our Bumpwatch alums Kerry Washington, her fellow first-time mom-to-be Eva Longoria; the lawyer Nina L. Shaw; the actress Reese Witherspoon; attorney Tina Tchen and more, pledging support to working-class women in an open letter signed by hundreds of women in show business, many of them A-listers. The letter also ran as a full-page ad in The New York Times, and in La Opinion, a Spanish-language newspaper.
The year is winding down to a close and we are going to acknowledge some of the most stylish celebrities who managed to pull off the stressful time that is pregnancy with style and flare.
But in the meantime, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to some of my faves of yesteryear:
Kerry Washington Opens Up about Balancing Breastfeeding and Hollywood and Producing TV Projects about Multicultural Families and Mothers in Order to Diversify the Stories Usually put out in Tinsel Town
Kerry Washington is mom to 7-month old son Caleb and 3-year old daughter Isabelle who she manages to keep out of the public eye. Once in a while she discusses them and life with them during an interview.
That was the case recently in an interview for Net-A-Porter‘s fashion magazine The Edit. In the mag which features Washington in its new “Power Women” issue, the Scandal star talked balancing motherhood with being a working actress.
“I can be covered in spit-up on a conference call while I’m pumping and that’s OK, because this is my perfect,” Washington told The Edit in comments posted online Thursday, “It may not be somebody else’s, but this is mine.”
Washington, who is married to ex-NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha, said her boss, Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes is among her mom role models.
“Shonda’s got I-don’t-know-how-many shows now, plus three kids, and she just figures it out,” Washington said. “However busy I feel, Shonda feels busier, so I’m just going to rise to the occasion. She’s been a real role model. Seeing the community she’s created and the work ethic—I feel like there should be more of this in the world.”
With buzz of Scandal finishing off its last and final season, Washington has been busy with her Simpson Street Production company, named for the Bronx street where her mom grew up.
Her company wrapped “Confirmation”, the Anita Hill story on which Washington starred and played the embattled attorney who almost took down Clarence Thomas during his US Supreme Court confirmation hearing over allegations he sexually harassed her.
And now they have three projects in the can: a TV show about a multicultural family and two movies for the big screen about mothers. Nice!
“We’re looking to do diverse work that brings more and more people to the table—anyone whose voice is underrepresented,” the actress told The Edit. “We’re trying to carve out a space for them at the table of empowered storytelling.”
