Inside This Issue: July 2009

BEAUTY

27 Nail It! A brilliant bunch of nails

32 Hair News Our stunning summer hues collection along with two weaving wonders

FASHION

39 Diva on a Dime Rocking fabulous on a budget

48 Perfect Fit Soak up the 1960’s with these sunburst patterns

FEATURES

106 I’m the One That They Call Queen She’s conquered the worlds of hip-hop, beauty and Hollywood, and now Queen Latifah tells us this is just the beginning of her reign By Regina R. Robertson

110 The Fabulous Single Girl’s Summer Dating Guide Sisters who are successful on the dating scene share their strategies for an active love life; plus let our quiz lead you back into the dating game By Demetria L. Lucas and Tanisha A. Sykes

116 High Five Be inspired to take your hair to a lofty level with this airy display of updos By Pamela Edwards Christiani

CULTURE

53 A Mighty Heart Jada Pinkett Smith practices strong but caring medicine in an original prime-time drama

54 Gazette Fresh face Lauren London makes her mark on the big screen; sounds from an Angel; remembering the biggest fight party

56 Books Move over Marvin Gaye; in our latest book club pick, author Jill Nelson gives lessons in getting it on; plus this month’s best sellers

WORK & WEALTH

61 Get Your Hustle On! Explore more ways to earn cash on the side

64 Money Makeover Rescuing a home owner from foreclosure

66 Working Smart Trading in your pink slip for a paycheck

RELATIONSHIPS

71 ESSENCE Single Man of the Month

76 What Men Think Crescent City fellas speak on dating women who make more

80 On His Mind Heaven help this preacher find love

OUR NEWS

93 Ten Things We’re Talking About

100 Obama Watch The White House gets serious about the spread of AIDS particularly among African-Americans

102 Opinion Guided by its new president, Benjamin Jealous, the 100-year-old NAACP renews the fight against unequal justice

HEALTHY LIVING

123 Fit & Fab Special It’s the perfect time to go slimming with our ultimate workout program; plus one woman shares how keeping the faith helped her to keep losing the pounds

132 Sexual Health Dr. Hutcherson tackles when sex brings stress; Cookie Johnson warns that the threat of HIV and AIDS is more dangerous than ever

136 How She Does It A married professor with three small kids discusses life with a special needs child

138 Summer Entertaining Aaron “Big Daddy” McCargo, Jr., invites us to a modern backyard barbecue

IN EVERY ISSUE

18 Between Us

20 Contributors

22 Your Letters

145 Where to Buy

148 Horoscope

150 Get Lifted Out of Harm’s Way by T.D. Jakes