Part II of Ike Love's Participation in a Men's Panel Discussion with BET Style Icon, Keith Ritzberg

The Emerging Icon, Ike Love and fellow emerging brands in the fashion/entertainment industry sat down with BET Stylist Icon, CEO of Point Blank Productions, Keith Ritzberg who is hosting an upcoming webisode series dealing with issues concerning men of colour. In this segment, the discussion is dating and interracial relationships....

Check it out!

Top International Model, Bertini, Introduces Mister Africa USA 2013

I am pleased to announce that an esteemed colleague and friend of mine, Bertin, International Model/Fitness Consultant/Actor/Underwear Designer will be holding his First Annual Mister Africa USA 2013, on Saturday, August 10th, 6pm-12pm at the National Black Theater at 2031 Fifth Avenue.

Mister Africa USA 2013 was a concept conceived by Bertini to celebrate the accomplishments of African men living in the United States and to empower young African Men in America, while embracing their African Beauty and Heritage. The pageant will provide the platform for young African male leaders to serve humanity and empower communities in Africa, USA and around the world. 

Proceeds from the event will go toThe Fabo Foundation for the Deaf, an organization that supports deaf young people in Africa, also founded by Bertini in honour of a younger brother who was born deaf.

For more info about the event, you can visit the Mister Africa USA website.

My Participation in the PSCOTT Dusk to Dawn Sleepwear Collecion Showcase

On the tail end of New York Fashion Week Spring 2013, Thursday, September 13th, I had the honour of being one of the models showcased at the PSCOTT Dusk to Dawn Sleep and Intimate Wear Showcase for Men.  It was a very cozy, intimate event and I had a lot of fun interacting with other models Bertini, Max Rivas, Neno Bland and Malaysia, along with photographers.

Sadly, it was also the last time I was to see Richard Sommerville, one of the videographers/photographers at the event, who left this earthly plane several days later on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 after a long, protracted battle with illness. R.I.P. Mr. Rich Sommerville, from the short time I worked with you,  you showed yourself to be a very giving, caring, beautiful soul.

Here are some pics from the event.

Photo by Ken Fitch

Photo by Giselle May

Photo by Giselle May

Photo by Giselle May

Photo by Ken Fitch

My Partcipation in Men's Panel Discussion w/ BET Style Icon, Keith Ritzberg

Late last year, sometime around November/December of 2011, I received a call from Keith Ritzberg, Celebrity Stylist/BET Style Icon.  During the course of our phone conversation, he told me how he was so impressed and inspired by a show I had put together that he attended back in November 2010 called The Ike Show - "Emergence of an Icon," and because of this, had wanted me to participate in an upcoming webisode series that he was producing and hosting that was going to be a panel discussion that talked about men's issues, somewhat of a male version of "The View."

 

His concern was that men weren't raising other men the way they used to like when he was growing up where men would look back at other men who were a few years younger and give them mentorship/advice as to the proper course of action to take.  He wanted to use his show, "The Ritzberg Report," to fill this chasm and also show the world what men, who were actively pursuing their dreams and developing themselves as men thought about certain issues.

The idea sounded very intriguing to say the least and I was more than happy to accept his invitation.

This was my first recorded panel discussion, and though it was challenging to talk about and share certain things, it truly was a joy and an honour to participate in something like this with other men: Bertini - Model/Actor/Underwear Designer/Fitness Consultant; Ivelaw Peters - Actor; Mark Henry - Video Procucer, and of course, Keith Ritzberg, who like me, are all on the grind making our life dreams happen.  I'm looking forward to doing more shows like this in the future.