Lauren Williams
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People's annual "Most Beautiful" list features attractive entertainers, television personalities and politicians, but is often rather monochromatic. This year's list notably includes stunners Zoe Saldana and Kerry Washington, but there are a number of beautiful men and women of color who are unlikely to get shine in the mainstream media. That's why Black Voices editors decided to compile a list of our own. Click through our gallery to see who made BV's first annual Most Beautiful People list, and weigh in with your own picks in the comments!

Continue reading BV's Most Beautiful People List

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Members of the music, television and film industries might just be keeping the plastic surgery industry alive. Whether it's by continuing to pursue procedure after procedure to keep up with the demands of the business or by inspiring fans to hit up their doctor's to achieve the impossible bodies and wrinkle-free faces of their favorite stars -- today's celebrities are definitely surgery-centric . But is all the botox, silicone, collagen and liposuction hurting their careers more than it's helping them?

Lately, a perfect face, Barbie boobs and an enhanced butt might be more of a hindrance than an asset if you're trying to make it in Hollywood. Several casting agents and directors recently spoke to the New York Times about how they are putting their foot down when it comes to casting talent with visible surgery. Marcia Shulman, who casts Fox's scripted shows, put it simply.

"I think everyone either looks like a drag queen or a stripper," she told the Times.

Sometimes subtle surgery, like the liposuction that 'Why Did I Get Married Too' star Tasha Smith recently admitted she got on her arms, is not noticeable and can help with an actor's confidence. But did transforming one's face Lil Kim-style ever magically propel anyone into respectable super-stardom?

"The era of 'I look great because I did this to myself' has passed," movie director Shawn Levy said. "It is viewed as ridiculous. Ten years ago, actresses had the feeling that they had to get plastic surgery to get the part. Now I think it works against them. To walk into a casting session looking false hurts one's chances."

Good or bad for their careers, celebrities will keep going under the knife as long as the pressure to say skinny, young and sexy remains in Hollywood. Click through our gallery to see which stars may have dabbled in plastic surgery over the years.

Continue reading Celebrity Plastic Surgery: A Career Mistake?

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Earth Day is more than just a reminder to recycle, it's a day that should inspire us all to make lifestyle changes -- big and small -- that positively affect the environment. In the world of beauty, there are some choices you can make, whether it's because the company donates money to environmental causes, uses sustainable packaging or avoids harmful chemicals. Check out some options:

Continue reading Earth Day Beauty: Green Makeup and Skin Care

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Gossip columnists used to only gab about whether or not Hollywood's it girls have gotten breast implants or nose jobs. Plastic surgery is still a hot topic, but the focus is often on another part of a woman's anatomy. Everyone's obsessed with having a bigger butt these days, and many are willing to go to great lengths to achieve the look they want. Although having a curvy lower half is certainly not a novel concept (many black women have been holding it down forever), a handful of sexy stars have made the look trendy and desirable.

Whether it's Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé or rap newcomer Nicki Minaj, celebrities with notable posteriors are and causing regular folks to head to the nearest plastic surgeon.

Dr. Anthony Griffin
, a Los Angeles-based plastic surgeon who invented the Brazilian Butt Lifft, during which fat from the patient's body is injected into the buttocks to make it fuller, says that what used to be a hush-hush procedure is now both popular and commonplace -- especially among people of color.

"Initially, it was funny, because I thought it was mostly going to be Caucasians that wanted this procedure," he told Black Voices. "But, ironically, mostly people of color wanted it, because they're like, "Hey, look -- I'm supposed to have a butt.'"

The rate has slowed a bit due to the economy, but for a while Griffin said he was doing a few procedures a week. Since 2000, he said, buttock procedures have been up 162 percent at his clinic.

"The problem is that a lot of things that we do follow fashion," he said. "Fashion is more denim and tight-fitting jeans, low-rise jeans -- [larger butts are] what people want because, ultimately, most people want to be able to fit in their clothes and look good in their bathing suits. That's whats driving it."

Continue reading No Butts About It: Celebrity-Inspired Butt Enhancement on the Rise

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Best known these days as the sister of Janet Jackson and the late King of Pop, La Toya Jackson is trying to make a name for herself in an industry not yet conquered by her famous family. Jackson is the spokesperson for and inspiration behind a new luxe hand lotion -- diamond powder is among its ingredients -- called Dream Cream from German beauty company Alessandro.

The cream is very limited edition -- according to WWD, only about 1500 will be carried at Alessandro counters. The company's president, Sylvia Troska, said the Jackson was very involved in the process.

"La Toya kept me [focused] on the product," she told WWD. "She called me at 3 a.m., took me out of my bed, because she wanted to talk about the samples that I sent to her. So she's very tough!"

Continue reading La Toya Jackson's Dream Cream

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Awards season ended two weeks ago with the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles, but the kids had their moment in the sun over the weekend at the 2010 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. Even though the event was for the children, the adults were certainly ruling the red carpet with serious fashion and beat-to-perfection faces that showed off the latest spring trends.

Dusted in different colored pastel shadows and blushes, celebs such as Rihanna, Zoe Saldana, and Keke Palmer shared one look in common at the youthful event -- pink lipstick. The versatile lip color is clearly here to stay for the warm spring and summer months. Check out how different celebs rocked the versatile shade at the Kid's Choice Awards.

Continue reading Kid's Choice Awards Beauty Breakdown: Pretty in Pink

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Ford model Amber Rose, who is now official enough to hit up red carpets and industry parties without her famous boyfriend, Kanye West, by her side, rocked very on-trend (of course) bright pink lips, bronze cheeks and, under her dark glasses, heavily masacared lashes at a GenArt event in Hollywood this week. What do you think of her of-the-moment makeup?

Continue reading Hot or Not Beauty: Amber Rose

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Most know of Iman as the iconic model whose gorgeous face graced countless magazine spreads and ads throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. But the Iman of 2010 is focused less on the world of fashion and more on business -- her eponymous cosmetic line, Iman Cosmetics, and the accessories line inspired by the Somalian-born beauty's love of travel, Global Chic.

Iman sat down with Black Voices for an exclusive shoot to discuss her post-modeling career.

Continue reading Iman Talks Beauty: Black Voices Video Exclusive

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Sade proves on the April cover of Ebony that there is nothing old about 51. The 'Soldier of Love' singer looks amazing and ageless in her cover photo, but the magazine has generated some internet buzz because one of the Brit's signature features seems to have been airbrushed away. Her freckled fans are up in arms. It's not as if she wouldn't have looked just as beautiful with her nose and cheeks covered in the familiar dots.

Continue reading Ageless Sade Covers Ebony, But What's Missing?

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Leona Lewis showed up at Monday night's Elle Style Awards in London with out-to-there false eyelashes, shimmery eye shadow, and bright red lipstick to complement her jaunty beret and side bun. Was the British songstress giving good face?

Continue reading Hot or Not Beauty: Leona Lewis

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