Stylist and marketing specialist Ashley Chin has been putting in serious work building up her marketing and PR firm, Vanguard House, which offers marketing, styling and production packages for clients. Now Ashley is on to yet another venture with the creation of her upcoming publication, Zolly Magazine!

Coming up with the unique name Zolly (“I wanted something with a Z or Dolly, so I put those two together,” she stated), Ashley developed the idea specifically for tastemakers and entrepreneurs to learn and grow professionally and personally. “I really wanted to create a magazine that would not only talk about influencers in fashion, music or art,” she said. “I wanted to also talk about things like travel, how to "ball" on a budget, how to get a business started and more.”

Zolly Magazine will be offered online for now, but Ashley plans to offer the option for readers to purchase physical copies in the future with the intentions of giving back. “Half of the proceeds from the magazine will go to a charity that I end up partnering with,” she stated. The magazine will be officially ready around July or August, with Ashley and her team developing the site as well as great content before the launch.

The entrepreneur believes that Zolly will stand apart from the pack because of its content and purpose. “My whole purpose for starting the magazine is to gain recognition for giving back but also for talents who may be making killer moves but not able to get proper recognition,” Ashley said. Though she has hopes for the magazine to grow into one of the biggest publications, “I mostly want it to be a ‘go-to’ for people who are trying to find tips on being successful,” she added.

Be sure to be on the lookout for Zolly Magazine launching later this summer! You can also follow the magazine on Instagram!

8:14:00 AM

Ms. Lauryn Hill has officially launched a three-day series of music and art events celebrating the African Diaspora!

The singer came up with the series, entitled "Diaspora Callling," which, she explains,  is a collection of works “intended to celebrate the rich tapestry of artists from the African Diaspora while also illumining persistent and irrepressible themes... Even if we work independently, we are a resounding collective voice, both reconciling and embracing our relationship to history, our origins, our future and to ourselves."

With the official opening held last night, a private art gallery will be opened to the public today (April 14) and April 15 from 12-4 p.m. at Brooklyn's Kings Theatre. Lauryn curated the gallery with the assistance of MoCADA, Nader Haitian Art, and The Haiti Cultural Exchange.

In addition, her sold out concert at the venue (which will be live-streamed on Tidal) on April 15 will become the inaugural Diaspora Calling! Music Festival, featuring performances from Machel Montano (Trinidad), Stephen 'Ragga' Marley (Jamaica), Stonebwoy (Ghana), Mr. Eazi (Nigeria), EL (Ghana), Wondaboy (Nigeria), JoJo Abot (Ghana) and Paul Bearbrun (Haiti).

This sounds like a really cool event that will give people the opportunity to hear music and view art from different cultures! Though Lauryn now has a reputation of canceling on events and what not, I think this festival and series will be great. Kind of wish I could go!

Image via Billboard

8:12:00 AM

I’m always excited to feature people on The Spotlight, but even more so my girl Ashley Chin who is doing her thing in Miami, killing the fashion game with her styling and designing! Since our first encounter back in 2010, when I first interviewed her, we have stayed connected, and I’m so proud of her and happy for her success!

Now Ashley is heading into a new venture—a new style series entitled Style Zone with AC! “I’ve been doing fashion for so long with wardrobe styling and fashion designing, [but] I’ve always had an interest in broadcasting and was always told I have a natural ability to be on camera with confidence,” the designer stated. “I decided to create a stable foundation for myself and collaborate my two worlds.”







Though Ashley’s focus is fashion, the show expands beyond just style, featuring a variety of topics including music, art, and just over life experiences. “I didn’t want to just gear towards the fashion world because I felt as though it would be a bit cliché,” she said. “I want [viewers] to be able to view an episode and learn something new about the process of music, art, fitness, blogging, designing, and so much more. I want them to take in knowledge.”

The show will showcase “the lifestyle of different crafts within the industry, the process and growth with these amazing talents and again having that platform to just have voice to express their experience in the industry.” She plans to have the show air weekly, but is working on establishing great topics and interviews for the audience. In terms of balancing styling, designing, and the show, Ashley admits it’s a difficult challenge, but she’s definitely prepared to face it all head on! “I just try to keep a positive mind and keep myself in a zen balanced energy,” she said. “I’m a one-woman show!”

Check out a short clip of Ashley’s interview on the show with Miami designer Ashley G of Amp’d Up Apparel below! Be sure to check out Ashley's official website and follow her on Instagram! You can also directly email her, especially if you are in the Miami area, for more information on her own designs and styling rates! You can also follow Amp'd Up on IG as well to check out some of their clothes!

7:43:00 AM