I’m Everywoman

Driving towards the grand entrance of The Dorchester Hotel I knew I’d arrived, but hadn’t really realised that ‘I HAD ARRIVED’. 

Parking the car I saw Bentleys, Maybach’s, Mustangs, Roll Royce’s, you name it (one things for sure, no one would be stealing my car… hee… hee!).   Then walking through the hotel reception I see people having tea with cucumber sandwiches, not just any kind of cucumber sandwiches – the £30 kind, not the £1 kind I’d be making at home. What happened to the credit crunch?  I tell you, people are still living it up! 

First things first, all the finalists gathered for press interviews; all of us being ‘ultra polite’ giving professional interviews, but all secretly eager to be the one walking out the hotel the winner.  Who wants to come second place, come on truly, who remembers second place.

The ceremony was opened by no other than Sarah Brown, the Prime Ministers wife.  I’m guessing Oprah was filming her show.  Lunch was nice I had some great people at my table; international high flyers, that were down to earth and funny – you know I did some serious networking and exchanged business cards.  It’s not just what you know, but who you know.

Then the moment everyone had been waiting for, except me chatting away as usual… the award winners were being announced.  “And the winner of this year’s Everywoman Athena Award 2009 is Diahanne Rhiney of 15 Degrees”.  When Fiona Bruce (BBC Presenter – Antiques Road Show) announced me as the winner I didn’t even hear her.  Then it hit me – well my friend hit me, literally hit me, screaming “It’s you, it’s you” – Wow! It’s me! OH MY GOD! 

I collected my award and said my Oscar speech: “I’d like to thank my mum, my dad, my horse (oh no sorry, I don’t have one), my family, my team, Roberto Cavalli, Jimmi Choo, Steven Spielberg, my make up artist, my hair stylist, my fans, and I mustn’t forget my Blackberry or should I say Crackberry.” 

No seriously, this award means so much to me, and as a Christian, God is first and foremost in my life and I would like to give him Thanks for all that I have achieved. It also means a lot to me because I feel I’ve arrived at a stage in my career where I have been recognised by my peers. 

Driving away in glee, the journey was topped off as the radio played “Chaka Khan & Whitney Houston’s… I’m Everywoman.”  Well it didn’t really happen, but it sounds good and I like that song.

X Factor or Simon Factor

More than 19 million people watched Joe McElderry win The X Factor on Sunday! 
Did the best man win? 

Joe can sing, but he’s boring; Olly Murs is not as good a singer, but he’s entertaining.  Please, please, please someone tell me – what is The X Factor all about?

The last time I checked The X Factor was about giving ‘Joe Bloggs’ a shot at stardom, but Series 6 showed otherwise.  Increasing viewing numbers and Simon Cowell making more money than usual seemed to be the X Factor!  Oh, and Cheryl Cole showcasing her new single.

I think the judges are only in it for the money and fame, which conflicts with their votes.  The ‘Jedward’ drama was ridiculous; they had no talent.  I know the X Factor isn’t just about singing, it’s also about charisma and being an entertainer, but come on they were in the show for far too long… don’t you agree?   Simon disappointed me, he had the opportunity to vote out the ‘talent-less’ twins, but they increased ratings and generated publicity, so he put the vote to deadlock in their favour and justified his decision by saying that he was voting in ‘Jedward Land’.

As for the judges’ comments, this year they had more personal jibes than professional critiques and some bordered on bullying.  Poor Daniel what’s his sexuality got to do with how he sings?  Danni should have known that was an absolute no, no!  This wouldn’t have been acceptable in our jobs; we’d be expecting our P45 in the first class post.  The judges critiqued in favour of their act, which I appreciate, but when critiquing other acts they should still have integrity.

Personally, I think they need a new format that includes a member of the public on the judging panel; someone with no personal interest and no allegiances to anyone, like me… I’d give Simon a run for his money.  After all, the public have an opinion… we vote… and ultimately they want us to put our hard earned cash towards buying the winners CD.

So I ask again did the best man win?

“This years X Factor 2009 winner is…. (wait for it)… (wait for it)… Simon Cowell. 

And now, Simon Cowell is getting the Political Factor! He’s going into politics… Oh well what can I say Arnold Schwarzenegger is now Governor of the State of California.

Hair, Camera, Action

Roll out the red carpet… for me well no.  After spending hours deciding what to wear ‘Red Dress’ red carpet, get it!

 I went with two colleagues, who I must say, represented.  Fashionably late, no traffic late – traffic, traffic, traffic.  Those of you who follow my twitter (diahanneUK) would know that we survived this ordeal, by listening to the one and only Dennis Brown, on Lightening FM.

 So, officially… The Black Beauty / WAHL Hair Awards Ceremony 2009 was an exciting and entertaining night as the echelon of hair gathered to celebrate the creative skills of stylists across the UK and European-wide.  The event was held at The Hilton Metropole, with over 358 guests who, I must say, looked stunning. 

 Ladies in ball gowns and cocktail dresses, nails manicured, dazzling make-up; men looking sharp in their suits; and of course as to be expected hair was amazing, colourful, creative, totally on show!

 It was a great night, but for me it was work and play!!! College Stylist of the Year, Barber of the Year, Avant Garde Stylist of the Year were amongst the few awards of the night that were sponsored by a number of hair product suppliers.  On behalf of Phytospecific, I presented the Newcomer of the Year Award to Nuno Domingues, Hype Coiffure, based in Battersea.  Stylist of the Year Award was won by Abena Richardson, Asquared, based in Catford, you go girl!

And unofficially… what you really want to know is who looked bad and who didn’t win (who remembers third place?).  Sorry, this girl doesn’t kiss and tell, not today anyway!  I can’t resist, just a morsel, in the house was Kat, Funmbi, Sadie Ama, Linford Christie, Debbie Allen (FAME), Phylicia Rashad (you know you wanted to be part of the Cosby family), and Brenda Emmanus, to name a few. 

But the real stars of course were the guests on my table: Parees Taylor (my hairdresser of 20 years, so you know she must be good), Sherry Dixon (well what can I say, she is just The Sherry Dixon, check out BANG FM), Hannah Pool (Journalist and boy did she look beautiful in the flesh), Lorna Hunte (hey, hey, hey PR people be afraid), Charlotte Mensah (If you want a hair salon that attracts all the A-List’ers the Hair Lounge is the one), Ngozi Omambala (The Nigerian Max Clifford), Wande Alugo (Funny as hell, new assistant for 15 Degrees, watch this space), Sherece Rainford (If you want to be known, there is only one-stop Rainford Consultancy), Michelle Edwards (The conscious sista, there always has to be one to keep us grounded), Ebony Garwood (Hair stylist to the stars and I’d say stylist to herself – damn she looked fine), then obviously the one and only Moi, no words need.

Well just a few…   http://www.diahannerhiney.com/  www.twitter.com/diahanneuk   www.15degrees.com  www.facebook.com/diahanne   girl’s got to plug herself!

 All round, it was a great night in great company, bring on 2010.

Joint Enterprise, or is it?

PANORAMA broadcasted a show on a 300-year-old law called Joint Enterprise, which the police in London are employing to aggressively pursue young people who are present at violent attacks.  Watching the show I questioned the real focus the story was giving.

The law in action

Det Supt Morgan told BBC’s Panorama “Anybody and everybody that is involved in an incident of violence, we will look to identify them and if the evidence is there, we will look to prosecute them.”

In principle, I understand what the law is trying to do through Joint Enterprise, but if someone is present whilst someone commits a violent act should they get life for just being there? Is it fair?  I think if someone is there and watches, jeers on, doesn’t try to stop the violent act, or try to help the victim, then there should be some type of sentence, but life?

Single Focus

It would be nice to really know what Panorama’s core objective was in producing this programme, if the core objective was to inform adults then hopefully they achieved their objective, but if it was to put the fear amongst gangs, then I feel that this objective was not achieved based on my speaking to a number of young people.

Media representation

Clearly, the show should really be reaching out to the ‘young people’ themselves, even though I learnt about Joint Enterprise from watching Panorama, how many teenagers really watches the show?  I spoke to my nephew, who watches various programmes, but he didn’t see Panorama.  Shows about Joint Enterprise should be shown on MTV and programmes alike.

Also, when they showed examples of how the Joint Enterprise works the footage contained people of ethnic origin, why?  Why is it that whenever the media portray negative images it always portrays people who are none white in a bad light.  I think a programme of Panorama’s calibre should take more responsibility in how things are portrayed to viewers.

BBC Link:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_8366000/8366280.stm