Wednesday, September 14, 2016

SPECIAL STAGE BITZ--COVER STORY ON 2017 MR COUTURE THOMAS LOPEZ

Photos by Jonathan





The 8th Annual Mista Couture Style Contest ,that was held Aug 21 at Winter St Louis' Studios, had two firsts. One, it was the first time  the contest was streamed live on Facebook and, two, the contestants who competed video called through Facebook Messenger Video. And the winner of the 2017 Mr Couture sash was Thomas Lopez from Philadelphia. We talked with him recently on his life and journey of becoming an established model in the entertainment industry.




OS:Are you originally from Philadelphia? If so how was it growing up in that city?

TL:Yes I am originally from Philadelphia; West Philadelphia born and raised. It was rough growing up in Philadelphia.  I lived in a single parent
household, my father had left when my twin brother and I were only 6 months. He left my mother in severe debt, so she and me and four of my sibling moved in with my grandparents. I actually recall a time when me and three  of my siblings used to sleep in one bed. My mother worked everyday as RN so that we could have better. Although we had little, because of the love of my family, I never felt like we had less. I was actually very sheltered growing up. By the time I was old enough to be allowed to leave the block, I only had a few friends, whom happened to be my neighbors. Often times, my friends and I would get into fights with the neighborhood bullies. It took us a while to earn our stripes, but eventually we earned the respect of our neighborhood. I really wasn't into the things most people my age were into so I felt kinda like an outcast. However I often found comfort in church, sports and my academics.






OS:When did you start to become into being stylish?

 TL:My junior year of high school I started getting more into fashion. I had a part time job, so started shopping at places like Express for Men, Urban outfitters and Armani Exchange. I fell in love with clothes and I started to pay attention to detail; layering clothes , accessorizing and etc. Soon after, I stopped spending money on expensive clothes and starting looking at the make of clothes as well as the detail as oppose to the name of them.


OS:Whats your favorite attire to wear and why? 

TL:My favorite attire is casual wear because that's  the attire I get most creative on. Casual attire for me can vary between and outfit such as, canvas shoes like Vans or low top Chuck Taylor's,  slim fit pants, V-necks, and cardigan to an outfit such as a pair of Oxfords, nice socks, slacks, a blazer,  a white button down shirt and some nice glasses. I can dress it up or dress it down depending on how I am feeling.


OS:Why did you decide to enter the Mr Couture Contest?

TL:Maatology Productions had contacted me on Model Mayhem and told me about the contest. I had never participated in a pageant  before and I thought it would be a great experience with good exposure.



                                                                                                                           



OS:Were you surprised when you won?

TL: I was really surprised I had won because this was my first pageant. I also took into the accountability that others had more preparation and time so I felt like the underdog.

OS:During the contest you elaborated on the fact when you were growing up you were teased by kids for being in their opinion being "ugly". How did you manage to cope with the teasing?

 TL:Growing up I was teased often. Between middle school up until my sophomore year in high school. I was often called "ugly" or referred to as "the ugly twin." Honestly, it was really hurtful, I felt very inferior.  It was the love of my mother and grandmother that helped me cope. My mother always said I was beautiful and encouraged me daily. My grandmother said I was beautiful and that I had features that resembled hers. With so much love and encouragement, I found courage and self worth in myself. We are all meant to shine just as children do so now in my adult life I try to shine the brightest.



OS:You also shown your great physique during the Undergear category of the contest. How often do you workout and what's your regimen?

TL: I love to work out and I love to be active. I was actually a jock in high school as well as college. I excelled in track and basketball so working out became a lifestyle. I currently work out with a herbal life group twice a week as well as my own personal workouts. I don't like weights so when I do lift, I lift smaller weights but longer reps. I have an evolution mask and I do high  intensity works, I prefer them better.


OS:So what are your hobbies?


TL:I love sports. I play basketball as often as I can. I still have b-ball ambitions. In my free time, I actually write poetry as well. I love to play chess, do crossword puzzles and anything that's challenging.







OS:.Talk a little bit about your social platform that you ran on during the contest?

TL:I am  a 6'2 , well built African-American male, so often times I get stopped by police officers. I have gotten stopped going to church , going to school , walking to a friend's house or walking to the corner store. Some experiences were OK and others were awful. Often times I feel like officers approaches were wrong  because they were fearful of the color of my skin and my size. However I feel how can police protect and serve a community that you are afraid of? Also in my community there is a lack of respect for those in authority so you believe it works both ways. I want to improve police and people's relations so we can end violence.



OS:So what's next for you? Any upcoming fashion shows or projects?

TL:I am always up to something, I like to get my hands on everything. I am participating in Philly fashion week as Mista Couture. I have a solo calendar shoot coming up in St. Louis.  I am participating in a short film that will later be entered in a film festival so everybody please stay tuned.



OS:What do you see yourself doing career wise in the next 10 years?

TL:My mother told me, "Before one door opens, you must close the other one." So I just graduated with my associate in Accounting and now I am focusing on my modeling career. In 10 years, I hope to be one of the faces of black male beauty; be involved in movies  and  fashion shows like for Calvin Klein.



OS:How can people contact you as far as booking you for modeling opportunities?

TL:To contact me, email is great especially for booking  thomaslopez143@gmail.com or reach me on Facebook at Thomas Lopez and Instagram at Tom_not_so_lopez. 

Friday, September 9, 2016

OUT 276--STAGE BITZ (SEPT 9-15)

HEY OUTTOWNERS, OUTSTAGRS, AND

 COUTURIANS....

CHECK OUT THIS WEEK  

 WE

ARE STAGIN!!! 







OUTTOWN celebrates 11 years in existence! 
July 5 was our birthday. 
Thank you to our supporters for continuing to read us!
To read past blogs over the years go to 









Congrats goes out to Mr Couture 2017 winner and Philly native Thomas Lopez who won the 8th Annual Mista Couture Style Contest that was held Aug 21 at Winter Opera St Louis Studio. Be on  the lookout for our one-on-one interview with Lopez 
next week and his upcoming appearances!







Maatology Productions is seeking gents of color who are fit, attractive and have a career for its debut issue of OBSDN The Blogzine, a quarterly body magazine featuring gents of color who are movers and shakers in their career.  If you are fit and are comfortable doing artistic nude shots (no frontal), email tomaat.atkins@gmail.com for sign up info. Deadline is Nov 1. Street date is Nov 15.

.


In the meantime, here is a review from Los Angeles based entertainment producer Chrys Yvette  who saw the show  Your show brought tears to my eyes, especially the 

ending. It was a perfect depiction of the  


Love childhood friends can share to help 

their families understand the impact rejection has on 


every aspect of  
their lives. Thank you for saying so beautifully 


what one of my dearest friends in the world  could not say to us 


before he left  this earth. LOVE conquers All. Celebrity


 photographer Steven Williams  said, 'The  ending made 

us warm and fuzzy."



Here is the link to some of the rehearsal pics. go


UPDATE:Here is the link to the extended teaser with booking info. Go to 


TO DONATE TO THE RESTAGING PROJECT OF SNAP HONEY  GO TO 
https://www.gofundme.com/2a6x6p8











For all of your entertainment coverage in the St Louis area check out New Scene News. Go to http://www.newscenenews.com/




For all of your jewelry needs go to 
www.kilojoules4.com

BELOW ARE THE SPONSORS OF THE 8TH ANNUAL MISTA COUTURE CONTEST THAT TOOK PLACE AUG 21












Check out my article about the new coffee table book Please Touch: Sculpture for a City
published in West End Word at 



HERE's THIS WEEKS STAGE BITZ





It looks like protesting the flag is good business for NFL jerseys. It was reported that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's No. 7 jersey has become the top selling jersey since his sit down-cum kneel down protest during the National Anthem at his games. The jersey shot from No. 20 up to No. 1 at $99 a jersey. 


Kaepernick says he will not keep the proceeds he gets from sales of his bestselling jersey. Instead he will donate the money back into the communities.

We are sure the 49ers staffers are quietly cheering this on because that just means more people will come to their home games just to see what Kaepernick will or won;t do during the National Anthem. It is also interesting that some protesters have protested his stance by burning their jerseys, ironically enough. He has also been dubbed this Millennium's Ali because of his political stance as an athlete. We just find it interesting that anti-Kaepernickers feel that he is disgracing the military and their services, but he is actually doing what the military fights for in this country--freedom of speech.



Kanye West debuted his new clothing like Yeezy Season

 4 collection this week to kick off New York Fashion Week. 

But the newz were the models' dire accommodations (ie. no 

water for the models)  during the fashion show that was 

held outside at Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms 

Park. Not to mention, his clothing line was panned by 

critics who braved the heat to report on the show. The show  was also streamed it on Tidal. Attendees reportedly waited hours in the sun and humidity \for it to begin. The New York Post dubbed it "a total disaster," while Billboard questioned whether it wasperformance art or a "hot mess."

Talk about "haute" couture LOL.  As far as the set up, we wonder who was the blame for the backstage set up? Ye? His production team? This show will definitely go infamy in Ye's legacy.

  



The NFL started its season this week with Super Bowl 50 contendees Denver Broncos and the North Carolina Panthers. The Broncos won in a dramatic finish  by one point from Panthers 21 to 20. The Panthers QB  Cam Newton took a beating all night long in a losing effort. The reigning MVP threw for under 200 yards and was intercepted by Chris Harris in the second half, sparking the Denver comeback.
Graham Gano missed a potential game-winning field goal with nine seconds left. After hitting the right upright on what amounted to a practice attempt as Denver called timeout, Gano yanked the real attempt wide left.
DeMarcus Ware led the way defensively for the Broncos with 1.5 sacks. C.J. Anderson had 139 total yards (92 rushing, 47 receiving) and found the end zone twice en route to victory.

We hope that Cam is Ok because the Broncos' defense was head tackling him like baited hook to a fish!



Czech tenth seed Karolina Pliskova reportedly has defeated Serena Williams in the US Open semifinals in a shock upset that knocks the US star from her No. 1 ranking.For the second straight year chasing history at the U.S. Open, Serena Williams crashed and burned in the semifinals.
Williams could not solve Karolina Pliskova’s serve, but just as significantly, she failed to adapt to playing with a sore left knee.
For her first time in her career, Pliskova goes through to the grand slam final -- playing Germany's Angelique Kerber who will replace Williams in the top spot when the new rankings are released Monday.
Serena was saying that her knee was giving out on her, but this definitely doesnt take her from being the most successful tennis player in history. We wonder if all that twerkin she been doin may have agitated that injury. We just sayin. 



"Live" host Kelly Ripa is continuing her search for a replacmenet cohost after Michael Strahan departed inMay for God Moning America. The new fall season started with actor Morris Chestnut co-hosting this week. Ripa's had a variety of guest co-hosts join her over the summer including Fred Savage, Anderson Cooper, Carrie Ann Inaba and Andy Cohen, and apparently she likes the idea of hosts cycling through.


"The show is going to stick to doing a round robin shuffle of guest co-hosts for the time being," a source told ET. "Kelly likes the dynamic right now, so they're not in a hurry to make a decision anymore."

Ripa is also interested in having a regular person off the street join her on live television. She announced that the network was opening up the co-host search to the public. Fans will be able to apply to host the show online between now and Sept. 20.


We think Morris Chestnut would be perfect top be the replacement co-host. He's handsome, charming and fits the mold that Strahan has left on the position. 





And speaking of Michael Strahan, he debuted at his new gig 

this week co-hosting  on "Good  Morning America" alongside Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos. Strahan,  who continues to work for Fox Sports as a football commentator, even got to take part in the voice-overs that start the show. He will  be spending his weekdays in New York City for GMA then jetting to L.A. on weekends to host Fox NFL Sundays.

We wonder if Kelly Ripa have seen telecasts of her former host on GMA and vice versa.  Ripa more than likely we think.  LOL






Based on its two-night debut night numbers, Queen Sugar is a ratings winner for OWN. While the September 6 opener reportedly came in as the second-best premiere for the 5-year old network, the September 7   episode of the Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey series hit the best Night 2 OWN has ever had with 2.14 million viewers.
The Tuesday-and-Wednesday rollout of Queen Sugar reportedly  drew an average of 2.42 million viewers and a 1.9 rating among the net’s core demo of women 25-54. The pre-aired renewed series has a 13-epsiode Season 1.  The series is based on based on Natalie Baszile’s 2014 novel.

So did you like the series so far? We think that it is outstanding from the storytellling to the cinematography!

Newly crowned Miss Missouri Erin O'Flaherty has made history of sorts, She has become the first openly gay Miss America contestant who was chosen during the preliminary round. Ahead of the pageant show that will air later this week, the 23-year-old has gained more attention than other contestants for her courage to be open about her sexuality during the competition.She hopes to add to that milestone on September 11, by taking home the crown. (ABC will broadcast the pageant from Atlantic City at 9 PM EST.)
The 23-year-old beauty queen is running on a platform of suicide prevention, an issue especially prominent in the LGBTQIA community. 

O’Flaherty told the Associated Press, “I knew going in that I had the opportunity to make history. 

Best of luck to her and we will see how well she does this Sunday!





Hey St Louisans, are you going to see Beyonce's Formation Tour  this Saturday at Scott Trade Center? When you attend, let us know how was it by leaving a comment below!


 The St Louis Black Rep will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary when it debuts its new season this week with its season opener — Miss Julie, Clarissa and John, which stars Andrea Like, Eric Conners and Laurie McConnell, is an adaptation of Swedish playwright August Strindberg's drama Miss Julie.  Directed by Andrea Frye (from the TV soap Tyler Perry's If Loving You is Wrong), the three-person play is based on the 1888 drama by Strindberg and adapted by Pittsburgh playwright Mark Clayton Southers 

In the play, Miss Julie (McConnell) has returned to take over her family’s plantation.  But her dangerous attraction to the top servant and former slave, John (Conners), creates a crisis with his wife, and cook of the house, Clarissa, (Like)that explodes through social class and racial lines. 

Miss Julie, Clarissa and John opens Friday, September 9, at Washington University's Edison Theatre (6445 Forsyth Boulevard;www.theblackrep.org) and continues through September 25. Tickets are $35 to $40.





RIP BITZ




Jerry Heller, a veteran music manager who helped introduce N.W.A to the masses and promoted gangsta rap to a mainstream audience, died on Friday in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was 75.
The Associated Press reported that Mr. Heller’s cousin, Gary Ballen, said he died in a hospital after he had a heart attack while driving.
AND

Rap artist and Ferguson activist Darren Seals was pronounced dead after his body was found in a burning car in Riverview, Mo.  last Tuesday morning. When the fire was extinguished, the body of Seals, 29, reportedly was found inside. Seals had suffered a gunshot wound. The investigation in his murder is still pending.



FIT BITZ




This week we feature Colin Kaepernick who is in the newz these days for his protest of the National Anthem during his football games, but before all of the controversy, he was just a NFl player on the field. In 2013, he could be seen in the July 2013 Body Issue of ESPN Magazine showcasing his chiseled frame. 







This week we feature award winning director Ava Duvernay who is getting critical accolades for writing and directing the hit series Queen Sugar on OWN. Since her splash on the mainstream directing the Oscar winning film Selma in 2015, she has made a name of herself with her  luxurious locs, even having a Barbie doll in her image. 
,  

WORDZ TO THE WHYZ