Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week Coverage: This Day/ Arise Magazine African Fashion Collective (MANY EXCLUSIVE PICS)

“Ahhhh..Fashion Week, I love you”

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First Barack Obama…Now this!

It was my esteemed honor and pleasure to attend The This Day/ Arise Magazine African Fashion Collective at Bryant Park. It was like Election Day 2008 all over again.

Four African labels — Xuly Bet by Malian designer Lamine Badian Kouyate, Tiffany Amber by Nigeria’s Folake Coker, Momo by Nigeria’s Fati Asibelua and Stoned Cherrie by South Africa’s Nkhensani Nkosi – all showed collections as part of The African Fashion Collective at Bryant Park. This is HUGE for Fashion Week!!!

The show kicked off to the pulsating sounds of Jamaican-American singer, model, actress – Grace Jones. And after the first designer’s collection, Ms Jones took to the runway. The crowd went nuts and I nearly required an adult diaper. Ms Jones was in peak form and didn’t miss a beat. She totally fed off the crowd’s energy and DID HER THANG! The crowd cheered “Grace” “Strange’ “…and SHE ATE IT UP.

Get a load of Ms Jones – Can you believe those legs??? I love it!

The African Fashion Collective was an amazing effort and a first for New York Fashion Week. I was front and center and snapped shots of my personal favorites. I was also extremely fortunate (Thanks to Farai and Saran a.k.a. The African Connection) to go backstage and get exclusive shots with some of the most beautiful models you will ever see.

Here I am front and center with “The African Connection”. These ladies rock. Saran Kaba Jones, the beauty in the Herve Leger dress, is spearheading Boston Fashion Week. Details to follow very soon. Farai Gundan, the lovely lady in the middle, is the “woman”. Check out her celebrity coverage on BlackTree TV.

Supermodel Tyson Beckford

Supermodel Alek Wek

Stacey McKenzie

Supermodel Oluchi

Here I am with some random male model. Anyone know this guy’s name? He’s adorable and I know I’ve seen him somewhere but his name escapes me (tee hee )

Backstage with the very beautiful Alek Wek

Backstage with Supermodel Liya Kebede

Backstage with Supermodel Oluchi

Here I am backstage with the super rockin’ Stacey McKenzie...

She set this picture up and posed me like so

Nnenna from America’s Next Top Model

Backstage with CNN’s Lola Ogunnaike

Very beautiful model whose name I unfortnately do not know…

but I just had to have a flick with her

In the W Lounge at Bryant Park. With “The African Connection”

Ok, now we’re just showing off

Am I camera hogging? YES. Do I care? NO!!!

Its Fashion Week baby and my excitement CAN NOT be contained.

Later beautiful