Reese has been dubbed the "Bayou Barbie

(BBER) Angel Reese, a college athlete and women's basketball player at Louisiana State University (LSU), has become one of the biggest names in college sports after the 2023 women's NCAA tournament. Reese's NIL (name, image, and likeness) value has skyrocketed to $1.3 million, making her the third-highest-paid woman in college sports. Reese has over 17 NIL deals with companies such as Amazon Merch, McDonald's, and Bose. Additionally, Reese has a social media following of 3.6 million people across Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Reese's on-court skills are also impressive; she averaged a double-double with 23 points and 15.4 rebounds per game, and she was named the 2023 Women's Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Despite her success, Reese is only a sophomore and has not declared for the WNBA draft. She has stated in a recent podcast that she is in no rush to go to the WNBA due to the amount of money she is making in college.

Reese has been dubbed the "Bayou Barbie" because of her on-court style and pre-game routine. Her agent has noted that Reese likes to get her nails and lashes done before games. This exposure has sparked both love and hate from fans on social media. During the women's NCAA championship game, Reese taunted Caitlyn Clark, pointing to her hand where she planned to put her championship ring and waving her hand in front of her face. Reese's actions drew criticism, but her success is also drawing more attention to women's college sports. SponsorUnited notes that deals for women's college basketball athletes grew 186%, the second-largest area of growth for new deals behind football.

Reese's success also highlights the opportunities for female athletes to earn money through NIL deals. The average female basketball player partners with three brands, compared to two for men. Reese's popularity and success are not only benefiting her but also raising the profile of college women's sports as a whole.

Reese Brands Herself as the "Bayou Barbie"

Reese, a rising star in women's basketball, is not only making waves on the court but also off the court. Known for her on-court play style and pre-game routine, Reese has branded herself as the "Bayou Barbie."

Reese's agent revealed that the nickname "Bayou Barbie" came from her love for getting her nails and lashes done before games. Reese has always been vocal about her love for fashion and beauty, and she doesn't shy away from expressing herself through her appearance.

But it's not just her pre-game routine that has caught people's attention. Reese's play on the court has also been impressive. As a forward for Louisiana State University (LSU), Reese has already made a significant impact on the team. In her freshman year, she averaged 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, earning her SEC Freshman of the Year honors.

Reese's sophomore season was even more impressive, as she led LSU in points per game, rebounds per game, and steals per game. She was also named to the All-SEC First Team and earned honorable mention All-American honors.

Reese's style of play is characterized by her aggressiveness, athleticism, and versatility. She can score from the perimeter, attack the basket, and defend multiple positions. Her energy on the court is infectious, and her passion for the game is undeniable.

Off the court, Reese is just as impressive. She's an advocate for mental health awareness and has been open about her struggles with anxiety. She's also involved in community service and has worked with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of America.

Reese's success both on and off the court has made her a role model for young girls and aspiring basketball players. She's shown that you can be passionate about basketball and still express yourself through fashion and beauty. She's also shown that it's okay to be open about mental health and seek help when you need it.

As Reese continues to make waves in the world of women's basketball, her brand as the "Bayou Barbie" is only going to become more prominent. But it's her talent, hard work, and dedication to the game that will continue to make her a powerhouse in the sport.

Angel Reese – LSU

(BBR) On Sunday, the LSU women's basketball team made history by advancing to the NCAA championship game for the first time since 2008. The Lady Tigers' hard work and determination have paid off, and they are now just one win away from claiming their second national title.

LSU's journey to the championship game has been nothing short of impressive. The team entered the tournament as a seventh seed and faced tough opponents in the early rounds, including third-seeded Arizona and second-seeded Baylor. Despite being the underdog in both matchups, the Lady Tigers never backed down and earned hard-fought victories to advance to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, respectively.

In the Elite Eight, LSU faced a familiar foe in top-seeded UConn, a team they had lost to earlier in the season. But the Lady Tigers were determined to avenge that loss and put on a dominant performance, defeating the Huskies 69-61 to advance to the Final Four.

In the Final Four, LSU faced another tough opponent in fourth-seeded South Carolina, the defending national champions. But once again, the Lady Tigers rose to the occasion and pulled off a thrilling 66-59 victory to secure their spot in the championship game.

The key to LSU's success has been their balanced and unselfish play. Throughout the tournament, multiple players have stepped up and made crucial contributions. In the Elite Eight, it was sophomore guard Khayla Pointer who led the way with 19 points, while senior forward Awa Trasi stepped up with a career-high 15 points in the Final Four matchup against South Carolina.

The Lady Tigers will face a formidable opponent in the championship game in top-seeded Stanford, who are also vying for their second national title. But LSU has proven throughout the tournament that they are capable of beating anyone, and they will undoubtedly give it their all on Sunday.

Regardless of the outcome, the LSU women's basketball team has already made their mark in the NCAA tournament and has shown the world what they are capable of. Their grit, determination, and teamwork have been inspiring to watch, and they have made their fans proud. Now, all eyes will be on the Lady Tigers as they look to claim the ultimate prize and bring another national championship back to Baton Rouge.

The Figgers Neptune is the only smart phone produced by a Black-owned telecommunications firm

Nationwide — Freddie Figgers, CEO and founder of Figgers Communications, owns the first and only Black-owned telecommunications firm competing head-on with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. He is also now the only firm that is giving away his 4G smartphones for free when customers subscribe to a plan.

His newest smart phone model, called the Figgers Neptune, is comparable to Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy. It runs the Android operating system on a 4G network, features an HD responsive touch screen, a removable battery, a micro SIM.

The free smart phone offer is available in most areas across the country, and comes with several affordable plans including the Unlimited plan for $60/ month, the Economical plan for $40/ month, and the Senior plan for $15/ month. The phone also has a Shared Family plan for $120/ month.

All of the plans include unlimited calls, texting, and data usage, and other features like voicemail, caller ID, WIFI calling, call forwarding, and 3-way calling.

In his popular Netflix series called Trigger Warning, Killer Mike strongly encouraged the Black community to support Black-owned businesses and included Figgers Communications as a business that should be embraced by cell phone users nationwide.

For more details and/or to take advantage of the free smart phone offer, visit www.Figgers.com/free

To learn more about Freddie Figgers himself, watch his story on his official web site at www.Figgersinc.com

Former President Donald Trump

(BBR)  In a stunning development, former President Donald Trump will reportedly be indicted today on charges related to his involvement in the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. According to sources close to the investigation, the indictment will be announced later today and could include charges of incitement of insurrection, sedition, and conspiracy.

The news comes as no surprise to many who have closely followed the investigation into the events of January 6th. Trump has been under intense scrutiny since the attack on the Capitol, with many lawmakers and legal experts calling for his prosecution. It is alleged that Trump incited his supporters to storm the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

The indictment marks a significant milestone in the investigation, which has been ongoing for months. It is expected to be a high-profile case, drawing attention from media outlets across the country and around the world. Many are already speculating about the potential consequences for Trump, including possible prison time and the loss of his political rights.

The announcement of the indictment is sure to generate strong reactions from both supporters and opponents of the former president. Some are likely to see the indictment as a long-overdue reckoning for Trump's alleged role in the insurrection, while others will likely view it as a politically motivated attack on a former president.

In the weeks and months to come, the case against Trump is likely to dominate headlines and generate intense debate among legal experts and political commentators. As the case moves through the legal system, it is sure to be closely watched by millions of people around the world.

Despite the magnitude of the news, it is important to remember that Trump is innocent until proven guilty. The indictment marks the beginning of a legal process that will play out over the coming months, and it will be up to a jury to decide whether or not Trump is guilty of the charges against him.

For now, all eyes will be on the announcement of the indictment and the fallout that follows. This is a historic moment for the United States, and the world will be watching closely to see how it unfolds.

WHY 

Former President Donald Trump is facing yet another legal battle as he is set to be indicted in New York today. The charges relate to his financial dealings and alleged tax fraud, and could carry serious consequences if he is found guilty.

The indictment comes as the result of a long-running investigation by the Manhattan district attorney's office, which has been looking into Trump's business dealings for several years. The charges are expected to include tax fraud, bank fraud, and falsification of business records.

The case centers around allegations that Trump and his organization inflated the value of his properties to obtain favorable loans and insurance coverage, while also deflating their value to lower tax bills. Prosecutors have reportedly been examining millions of pages of documents and financial records in order to build their case.

The indictment marks a significant escalation in the legal battle facing Trump, who has already faced two impeachments and numerous lawsuits during his time in office. If he is found guilty, he could face fines, restitution, and even jail time.

Trump and his legal team have consistently denied any wrongdoing, calling the investigation politically motivated and an attempt to undermine his presidency. They have also argued that the charges are based on selective prosecution and a biased investigation.

Despite these claims, the case against Trump has continued to move forward, with prosecutors indicating that they have a strong case against him. The indictment is expected to be closely watched by legal experts and political commentators, with many speculating about the potential impact on Trump's political future.

For now, Trump and his legal team are bracing for a long and difficult legal battle. The indictment marks a major turning point in the investigation, and it remains to be seen how the case will ultimately be resolved. One thing is certain, however: the legal troubles facing Donald Trump are far from over, and he is likely to continue to be a controversial figure for years to come.

Get Help in Your Business Today

Baltimore (BBR) -  If you own or manage a business, chances are you don’t have all the answers. There are too many variables to be able to consider all of them on your own, and even if you did, there would never be enough time in the day to do it all yourself.

That’s why hiring business consultants can be such an effective strategy!

Image Source: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/become-a-business-consultant/

Here are 5 benefits of hiring a business consultant that can help you make an informed decision about whether or not it’s the right choice for your company.

1) Expertise

The first benefit to hiring a business consultant is that they bring years and years of experience in your industry, which can prove invaluable. Inexperienced entrepreneurs might make avoidable mistakes when first starting out because they aren’t aware of how things really work.

An outside perspective can provide an objective look at your business, making it easier to see where you might be lacking and how to fill those gaps.

2) Communication & Strategic Planning

You might be surprised that many small businesses don’t have great communication or work well together. So not only does hiring a business consultant to ensure you have someone who can unify your team and help them communicate more effectively, but it also provides you with strategic planning.

A good consultant will review your operations to make sure you’re using your time wisely, optimizing internal resources, and creating an efficient workflow from start to finish.

3) Professionalism

If you’re just starting a business, knowing how to handle day-to-day tasks can be intimidating. Working with a consultant gives you immediate access to support, such as help securing office space and organizing your first few meetings.

By working with experienced professionals from day one, you’ll gain confidence that will pay off in spades down the road.

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Purchase a copy of 12 Great Business Principles 

4) Enhanced Productivity

A business consultant can help organize tasks, establish efficient processes and optimize workflow. They can also motivate employees, as well as assist with administrative work. All of these factors lead to greater productivity and employee morale in your company.

5) Cost-Effective

A consultant’s fee is usually based on what you want to accomplish, not how many hours they work. As a result, a business consultant can save thousands of dollars by helping you streamline your business, manage projects more effectively and grow your bottom line.

This can mean paying a higher fee for more sessions or paying less for fewer sessions—you decide what works best for your business.

Conclusion

A business consultant is an impartial third party who can offer insight into your company and how to improve it. A consultant has no personal stake in your company and thus won’t be affected by the decisions you make. This allows them to provide objective advice to help your company grow and succeed.

Business consultants can help you make sense of everything from strategic planning to marketing advice, freeing up your time to focus on what matters to you and your company.

Power has its Price

Many of today’s most influential business founders are of African American heritage. In observance of Black History Month, Entrepreneur is celebrating the drive, accomplishments and contributions of all trailblazing, record-breaking black entrepreneurs.

They’re men and women who have built empires across industries, inspired millions and supported the next generation of black founders striving to make it big.

Click through the slideshow to reflect on the work and achievements of some of the nation’s most successful and celebrated African American entrepreneurs.

Related video: Daymond John Shares How to Grow Personally and Professionally Through Business

Paul Drinkwater | NBCU | Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey

Winfrey was famously fired early in her career from a television news anchor job at Baltimore’s WJZ-TV. Her boss labeled her “unfit for television news.”

However, she persevered and proved this characterization wrong. She went on to host and produce her own talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and become the chairman and CEO of Harpo, Inc. She later launched a magazine, O, and TV network, OWN.

Related: 10 Powerful Quotes From Oprah, 'The Queen of All Media'

Today, Winfrey splits time as a philanthropist, 60 Minutes contributor, actor (with a leading role in the upcoming film A Wrinkle in Time) and brand ambassador for Weight Watchers -- she owns a 10 percent stake in the weight loss company.

Her net worth as of Feb. 15, 2018, is $2.8 billion, according to Forbes, making her the richest black American.

Johnny Louis | Getty Images

Daymond John

Multi-millionaire marketing mogul and ABC Shark Tank investor can also teach up-and-coming entrepreneurs something about perseverance. He launched his clothing line, Fubu, in 1989, and over the next few years, he had to close the business three times as he learned the ropes of entrepreneurship. He also worked at Red Lobster during Fubu’s first six years.

Fubu reportedly was not John’s initial venture. He sold customized pencils to peers in his first grade class. It was in his late teens that he came up with the idea to start an apparel company, and his mom taught him how to sew and eventually mortgaged her home a second time to support the venture.

In addition to being a prominent investor and the CEO of Fubu, John is also the founder and CEO of Blueprint + Co., a coworking space in Midtown Manhattan, as well as The Shark Group, a brand management consultancy.

Various sources estimate that John has a net worth of $250 million.

VCG | Getty Images

Michael Jordan

The legendary basketball player who formerly played for the Chicago Bulls is a brand in and of himself. As a teenager, coaches rejected Jordan from teams for being too short, despite his persistent interest in the sport. He went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA.

Today, Nike’s Air Jordan line, or Jordan brand, named after the star athlete, is a billion-dollar business known for its coveted sneakers. Jordan has also earned several brand partnership and endorsement deals throughout his career, serving as a spokesperson Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, McDonald’s and more. Additionally, he’s the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets basketball team and a minority owner of the Miami Marlins baseball team.

Related: 30 Legendary Athletes Who Became Business All-Stars

In December 2017, the NBA Hall of Fame member became the world’s highest-paid athlete to date by Forbes. As of Feb. 15, 2018, Forbes reports that Jordan has a net worth of $1.65 billion.

Drew Angerer & Simon Bruty | Getty Images

Robert L. Johnson & Sheila Johnson

Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, or the BET network, shares the title of America’s first black billionaire with his ex-wife, Sheila. The former couple became billionaires when they sold BET to Viacom for $2.9 billion in 2001. Nine years earlier, BET went public and was the first African-American-owned company to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Since then, Robert and Sheila have achieved various other entrepreneurial milestones. In 2003, Johnson became the first African-American to be the majority owner of a professional sports team, the Charlotte Bobcats NBA basketball team. Meanwhile, Sheila was the African-American woman to be a part owner of three professional sports teams -- the Mystics (WNBA), the Wizards (NBA) and the Capitals (NHL).

Related: 5 Things You Should Know About America's First African-American Billionaires

Robert has also founded an investment firm, a digital content distributor and an on-demand video streaming subscription service, and Sheila has launched and led a resort chain, a film festival and a venture capital firm.

Larry French | Getty Images

Janice Bryant Howroyd

The founder and CEO Act 1 Group, an employment agency and consultancy, is the first African-American woman to operate a company that brings in upwards of $1 billion in annual revenue.

She moved to Los Angeles from her hometown of Tarboro, N.C., in 1976 with just $900 to her name, according to The Los Angeles Times. Two years later, she founded Act 1 despite not even owning a fax machine -- just a phone. She grew the company through word of mouth, and by adding new types of services based on client needs.

In an interview with CNBC, Howroyd said, “being the first African American woman to achieve anything in 2016 is not an accomplishment. … While I accept that applause with all the gratitude I can muster, the best thing I can be applauded for is simply being a woman building a great business.”

Rob Carr | Getty Images

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Diddy (also known as Puff Daddy or P. Diddy) is known for his Grammy-award-winning album No Way Out, but entrepreneurship preceded his recording fame.

After working his way up to an executive role at Uptown Records, he later launched his own record label, Bad Boy Entertainment, in 1993, and signed major acts such as Notorious B.I.G.

Combs founded apparel line Sean John in 1998, and in 2004, it won the Council of Fashion Designers of America award for Menswear Designer of the Year. In 2014, he launched Revolt, a cable music network. He’s also owned restaurants and appeared in films throughout his career, and he owns half of Ciroc vodka, for which DJ Khaled is a brand partner and spokesman.

Forbes labeled Diddy the richest person in hip-hop in 2017, with an estimated net worth of $820 million.

Kevin Mazur | Getty Images

Jay-Z and Beyonce

Rapper Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) has founded and run a number of companies, his first being (the now defunct) Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995. He also co-created the urban apparel line Rocawear, the 40/40 club chain of restaurants and later, after serving as the head of Def Jam Records, the Roc Nation label. He’s also the founder of Tidal, a music streaming service, which he co-owns with his wife, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

"I'm not a businessman / I'm a business, man," Jay-Z raps on Kanye West’s “Diamonds of Sierra Leone (Remix).” Just behind Diddy, Jay-Z has a net worth of approximately $810 million, according to Forbes.

Related: Want to Be More Like Elon Musk and Beyoncé? Here Is Who They Follow on Twitter.

Beyoncé, in addition to being a multi-platinum recording artist, performer and Tidal co-owner, has had a range of lucrative product endorsements throughout her career. In 2005, she founded a fashion line, House of Deréon, with her mother, Tina Knowles, and in 2014, she launched athleisure line Ivy Park. In 2016, she invested in a watermelon-water company, WTRMLN WTR, and in 2017, Forbes estimated her net worth at $290 million.

Jason LaVeris | Getty Images

Dr. Dre

Andre Young, a.k.a. Dr. Dre, partnered with Jimmy Iovine in 2008 to release Beats by Dre headphones. The brand scored collaborations and endorsement deals with various artists, athletes and designers, expanded its product line to include earbuds, speakers and a music streaming service and was acquired by Apple for $3 billion in 2014. It’s now known as Beats Electronics, and Beats Music morphed into Apple Music. At the time of the Apple deal, Dre reportedly surpassed Diddy to become the richest person in hip-hop.

Prior to that, Dre began his musical career as a member of N.W.A. and performed solo as well. He co-created Death Row Records, which put out albums including Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle and 2Pac's All Eyez On Me, then founded Aftermath and partnered with Iovine on Interscope Records, which signed Eminem. Interscope became part of Universal Music, and people dubbed Universal “the house that Dre built” because of the value and talent Interscope brought to the business.

Michael Ochs Archives | Getty Images

Madam C.J. Walker

Born Sarah Breedlove, Madam C.J. Walker (1867–1919) became one of the first American women to become a millionaire when she formed a business around a product she made for African-American hair care. The invention was based on a personal need: Walker suffered from hair loss due to a scalp condition.

With her husband, she traveled around the country promoting her products through a series of lectures and demos of what they called the “Walker Method” of hair care. (The couple later divorced.)

As the business grew, she expanded into cosmetics and cosmetology with the establishment of Madam C.J. Walker Laboratories. The beauticians trained there, called "Walker Agents," became well known throughout the black communities of the United States.

Toward the end of her life, Walker also traveled around the Caribbean and Latin America promoting her business and donated part of her wealth to charitable initiatives.

Martin Rose | Bongarts | Getty Images

George Foreman

Former professional boxer George Foreman earned the title of oldest heavyweight champion of the world in 1994 at age 45.

He went on to help train his son, George “Monk” Foreman III, as a boxer, and when Monk established a gym brand, Everybody Fights, Foreman Sr. invested. Later, he and his son co-founded a boxing promotion company, Foreman Boys. In March 2016, Foreman founded George Foreman’s Butcher Shop.

Then, of course, there’s the George Foreman grill. Foreman has said the idea came from a hallucination he had after Muhammad Ali knocked him out during a match.

The manufacturer of the Foreman Grill, Salton, Inc., paid Foreman $137.5 million in 1999 for the rights to Foreman’s name and image. Today, estimates put his net worth at $300 million.