The Young, Black, and Fabulous

So Ricky Romance & "Maxine" From "Family Matters" Are ENGAGED?
MAGAZINE FAB: Italian Vogue Debuts The "Black Allure" Photoshoot
EVENT FAB: Kelly Rowland, LaLa Anthony and Carmelo Anthony Bowling At Lucky Strike In Colorado
Khloe & Lamar Gear Up for New Fragrance + Juelz Santana & Lil Wayne's "Home Run" Video
A Peak Inside Shaq & Hoopz' Suburban Life...And Their New Reality Show

So Ricky Romance & "Maxine" From "Family Matters" Are ENGAGED?

Posted: 06 Feb 2011 06:31 AM PST

Ever wonder what Laura Winslow's bestie "Maxine" has been up to these days? Well the "Family Matters" star went and got herself engaged....to Ricky Romance!

Read on for the deets....

I just feel a Heidi & Spenceresque show coming on. Cherie Johnson, who played on the 90's sitcom "Family Matters" as Maxine, has been dating Raz-B's mess making brother Ricky Romance. And TMZ reports they're now engaged. Interesting.

The two have been pitching a reality show about their upcoming wedding, pregnancy (err?), and other drama. No one's picked it up yet.

If you want a glimpse into how their convos go, here's what Ricky had to tell her on Twitter days ago about washing his draws:

Sigh.

Here's pics of what Cherie looks like now. She also wrote a book about her life called Around The World Twice:

And a throwback:

Hey Waldo Faldo!

MAGAZINE FAB: Italian Vogue Debuts The "Black Allure" Photoshoot

Posted: 05 Feb 2011 12:50 PM PST

Italian Vogue has done it again. For those of you who thought the legendary "Black Issue" was a one snap deal....think again. The magazine recently debuted a gorgeous spread featuring only Black models called "Black Allure." See the photos inside...

Under the direction of Franca Sozzani, Italian Vogue continues to embrace the richness and fullness of Black female beauty and proves Black models can sell high fashion magazines. Her latest work is absolutely phenomenal.

The entire spread has pics of Ajak Deng, Arlenis Sosa Peña, Chanel Iman, Georgie Baddiel, Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, Kinee Diouf, Lais Ribeiro, Melodie Monrose, Mia Aminata Niaria, Rose Cordero and Sessilee Lopez.

Gorgeous. Your thoughts?

EVENT FAB: Kelly Rowland, LaLa Anthony and Carmelo Anthony Bowling At Lucky Strike In Colorado

Posted: 05 Feb 2011 10:48 AM PST

Besties LaLa Anthony and Kelly Rowland went bowling in Colorado recently and we have pics of the gals hanging with Carmelo Anthony and other friends inside...

LaLa, Kelly and Carmelo were spotted at Lucky Strike Bowling Alley in Lakewood, CO on Thursday.

LaLa was killing it with the side ponytail as she rolled her ball down the alley.

And Kelly's hair was also LAID. These ladies were not playing.

This is called bowling alley fab.

Looks like Carmelo was checking the score....and keeping everyone honest.

Before they left Lucky Strikes, the gang all posed for a group pic. Here's Diego Cash, Carmelo, Po Johnson, Al Harrington, LaLa, Aaron Afflalo, Kelly and Gary Forbes.

Fun times.

Photos via WireImage/Eric Gruneisen

Khloe & Lamar Gear Up for New Fragrance + Juelz Santana & Lil Wayne's "Home Run" Video

Posted: 05 Feb 2011 10:15 AM PST

Khloe Kardashian and her baller hubby Lamar Odom are gearing up to debut their new unisex fragrance just in time for Valentine's Day. We have the deets on the new fragrance plus Juelz Santana's new video "Home Run,"Uncle Luke campaigning to be the new Mayor of Miami and Jay-Z talking about possibly bringing the 40/40 to ATL after the jump...

Another celeb another perfume. Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom have confirmed plans for a new fragrance. It will be titled "Unbreakable" and will hit the market on February 12, just in time for V-Day.

Khloe recently told E! Online, "He’s always wanted a unisex fragrance! It took a long time to create what we both wanted and would wear and love, and we found the perfect one." Unbreakable will be available Perfumania stores and has the scent features chocolaty notes that work for both genders.

It's launching in a week. Will you be copping it?

Juelz Santana has finally released a video for his single "Home Run" that debuted a year ago. Guess he was preoccupied with his extracurricular actvities.

The vid features Lil Wayne and was directed by James Del Gatt. By the way, Juelz hit the stage the other night right after he was freed from jail.

In other news, Uncle Luke wants to run for the Mayor of Dade County in Miami. (Yes, the same Uncle Luke Campbell who is famously known for his hit "Doo Doo Brown.")

He gave an interview with Miami New Times and spoke about his campaign and why his the best candidate for the job:

"I am mad frustrated. I have always been involved in politics, going back to my battles in the city of Miami Beach, dealing with the city commissioners and the mayor. I ran my own nightclub, and I believed African-Americans were treated badly during Memorial Day weekend.

I've thought about running for public office before, but someone would always end up talking me out of it, saying, "We have this good person here, he will do good for the community," so I always backed out. But I'd end up frustrated because they didn't do anything. I'd give them ideas and they would just tell me what they wanted to hear.

I get in my car, ride around Liberty City, and everything looks the same as when I was in the neighborhood growing up. I see the same crimes in the same areas. Officers and residents are still getting killed in the community I grew up in. I go to a city like Atlanta that has sensible affordable housing, and no one is being murdered. I go to Miami International Airport and see the same construction that has been going on for like a hundred years. All of that frustrates the hell out of me. Why aren't we getting it right in Miami-Dade? Why is our government only serving one set of people? That's what is pushing me to run."

Not sure how he's going to escape his raunchy past but his platform does seem clear.

The Randomness:

1. Jay-Z is bringing 40/40 club to ATL? Read here.

A Peak Inside Shaq & Hoopz' Suburban Life...And Their New Reality Show

Posted: 05 Feb 2011 09:20 AM PST

Well isn't this...special. Boston Celtic Shaquille O'Neal is now doing interviews with his reality-chick girlfriend Nikki "Hoopz" Alexander. And they let the Boston Globe in on their suburban home life together. Oh, and Hoopz's new reality show that will be shot there too.

Read on for the pics and interview...

I guess Shaq wants to show off his girlfriend to the public. Because they've been doing interviews together showing everyone their relationship is very official. Now that "Flavor of Love" and "I Love Money" winner Hoopz has moved to Boston to live with Shaq, they want to give everyone an inside look into their home and lives. So the couple did a two-on-one in an interview with The Globe’s Meredith Goldstein for a Home & Lifestyle section cover story.

What we learned from the interview:

Hoopz--who is obviously a workout queen and in great shape--has signed on to do a reality show based on women's health and fitness. She will be showcasing her own health in fitness in her new suburban lifestyle.
Hoopz brought her two dogs to the house. One is the doggie Shaq bought her a white lab named Koty after one of her dogs was fatally hit by a car.
They still won't confirm an engagement or if they want marriage. Shaq said "I'm not going anywhere. She's not going anywhere."
They met through Hoopz' photog who also took pics of Shaq. They went on a date 1 month after Shaq split from Shaunie.
Hoopz is 5'2 and more than 2 feet shorter than Shaq. What's THAT sex like?
Hoopz has her own "female dungeon" at teh top pf the house--complete with fantasy and girlie things and a tiny bathroom like "Alice & Wonderland."
They watch a lot of tv together and cannot stop laughing around each other. Nothing's taken too seriously.

Here's the interview in full since it's only available for subscribers:

Shaquille O’Neal stood in his kitchen on a recent chilly afternoon debating finances with his girlfriend, Nikki “Hoopz’’ Alexander. They argued about whether certain bills had been paid. Or at least, they tried to argue. They teased each other with wide grins. Within seconds of the debate, they were giggling. It’s difficult for either of them to stay serious when they’re anywhere near each other.

“I knew he was a goofball,’’ Alexander, 28, said of her boyfriend O’Neal, 38, who famously joined the Boston Celtics over the summer. “We’re the same. We’re both goofballs.’’

Alexander is 5 feet 2 inches, making her about two feet shorter than her low-talking, tattooed boyfriend, the oldest active player in the NBA. But despite her small stature, her presence is powerful. She’s feisty and quick with punch lines. Her voice commands attention. She’s a country girl with no filter. She’ll charm you in a heartbeat, which may explain how she won two reality shows, VH1’s “Flavor of Love’’ and “I Love Money,’’ not to mention Shaq’s heart.

Now Alexander is about to embark on her next entertainment project, a reality show that will have cameras following her life in the suburbs and her foray into the athletic-training business. Hoopz wants to become a guru for women’s health and self-defense, and she’s already meeting with her production team and concocting episodes.

She’ll be able to offer plenty of good reality, between the glittery events she and Shaq attend, their suburban life in Sudbury, their penchant for playing games and just goofing around. At home, she’s followed around by her two dogs, a teacup Yorkie named Hunny and a white Lab named Koty, which Shaq bought for her after another of her dogs was hit by a car. She and Shaq also share a new pit bull that he named Shamrock — for obvious reasons. The little ones trail Hoopz like she’s their boss.

The dogs seem most at home in Hoopz’s hideaway, a room on the home’s top floor where she keeps all of her girlie belongings and history books — she loves all things fantasy and narrative nonfiction. Shaq jokes that her room is the “dungeon,’’ but it’s anything but. There are candy canisters all over the place — she has a serious sweet tooth — and the room is decorated with Taylor Swift and “Alice in Wonderland’’ posters. A “Nightmare Before Christmas’’ calendar hangs on her wall.

The best part of the top-floor space is the tiny bathroom attached to it, which is almost all pink with a comically low ceiling. When Shaq steps inside of it, he looks like an “Alice in Wonderland’’ character himself, a giant trying to squeeze into a shrinking room.

For Alexander, the whole place is a home away from home, much like the suburban town where she grew up in Michigan, although Alexander says she and O’Neal could have settled anywhere and been happy.

“We’re chameleons,’’ she said. “We can just go wherever and adapt.’’

They seem settled, which raises the question: Are they getting married? There have been reports of proposals, but neither O’Neal nor Alexander will confirm that they have any specific marriage plans.

Hoopz is coy about it. “We have plans on . . . someday,’’ she said, smiling.

Shaq offered this: “She’s not going anywhere, and I’m not going anywhere.’’

The Fix-up

About six years ago, Alexander was living in her hometown of Brownstown, Mich., and was working as a TSA agent in Detroit. During a trip to Los Angeles, an acquaintance in the entertainment business asked her if she’d be interested in appearing on a dating reality show. She said yes without knowing too many details. The program wound up being “Flavor of Love,’’ the VH1 show that featured Flavor Flav, of the rap group Public Enemy, choosing among bachelorettes.

She didn’t know she’d be vying for Flav’s love until she had already signed up for the gig and the cameras were rolling. “It was such a surprise. I was like, ‘Oh no, what am I doing?’ ’’

But she played along and had a great time. After completing a number of tasks — including hot tubbing with Flav — Hoopz won the first season of the show, which earned her the rap star’s on-camera affection, and, in place of jewelry, a set of gold teeth.

Of course, that romance was just for television — there was no lasting connection — so Alexander went on to compete on VH1’s “I Love Money,’’ which included “Flavor of Love,’’ “Rock of Love,’’ and “I Love New York’’ and other reality show castoffs doing stunts to earn a $250,000 cash prize. Alexander won that competition, too. She began appearing in magazines and did some pinup modeling — becoming Hoopz, the brand.

Alexander had met O’Neal a few times, through the Hollywood scene, but hadn’t thought about him much, at least not in a romantic way. It wasn’t until last summer that she was reintroduced to him through a friend. Alexander was visiting her photographer pal, Christopher “Yella’’ Hawkins, in St. Louis, and saw an autographed picture of Shaq on his wall. She told Yella that she had met Shaq and thought he was cool. Yella texted O’Neal that Alexander had said hello. Almost immediately, O’Neal texted Yella back, asking if Hoopz had a boyfriend.

Shaq was divorced at that point and was ready for a new relationship. Within a month, Alexander and O’Neal had lined up a dinner date in Las Vegas. She was in town for her birthday; he was there to tape his show, “Shaq Vs.’’ Yella wasn’t surprised to hear the first date went well.

“They’re silly together. They can act stupid together,’’ Yella said. “For me, knowing the both of them, there’s nothing really surprising to me. They almost met their match — practical jokes, being daredevils, and just having fun and being uplifting personalities.’’

After the first date, Shaq visited Hoopz on her home turf, which at that point was Tennessee. She’d moved south after “Flavor of Love’’ to be with her then-boyfriend, basketball player James “Boo’’ Jackson. After the two split, she wound up staying in Tennessee.

O’Neal jokes that his visit wound up being one big test. Alexander made him dive into a quarry. She took him fishing and to a Waffle House. She forced him to listen to her favorite musicians — Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift.

It was culture shock.

“He likes old-school rap,’’ Alexander explained, shaking her head.

The trip solidified their relationship, O’Neal explained, and was the start of many surprises. Hoopz turned out to be incomparably witty, and compassionate. She’s a tomboy who managed to make turkey for his mom and three of his kids on Thanksgiving. When he decided to dress up like a woman and run around Boston on Halloween, she dressed up as his pimp.

Shaq paused for a moment, trying to explain it. “She’s my first female best friend,’’ he said, “besides my mother.’’

Average suburban couple

At home in Sudbury, they’re a pretty average couple. Well, they do have a live-in chef and other fancy services, but their lifestyle is surprisingly modest in some ways. They like to go to the Coach Grill down the street. They watch a lot of television.

“She makes me watch things I would never watch — like freakin’ ‘Spartacus,’ ’’ O’Neal said, referring to the Starz network show about Roman gladiators.

When they’re not watching TV, they’re playing games, mostly little ones they invent themselves, on the spot. O’Neal says that when they go to the movies, Alexander takes off running out the door. The first person to the car wins.

“I’m the first girl who can beat him at anything,’’ she says proudly.

And while she prefers to stay in sleepy Sudbury, Alexander does make it into Boston. She goes to every Celtics home game and can be seen at the TD Garden shouting for Shaq to get off the bench. She tweets about her local experiences (@TheRealHoopz).

From the sound of it, all that will be fodder for the new reality show. In the meantime, the big question facing them was what they wanted to do on this cold night. “Movies?’’ Shaq suggested.

“What do you want to do?’’ she responded.

“What do you want to do?’’ he asked again.

He stared her down. Alexander stared back, as if they were having yet another contest, but eventually she broke down laughing. It was hard not to.