Michaela Angela Davis
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Michaela Angela Davis is a writer on
African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...
style, race, gender and hip-hop culture in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. She is also a fashion expert and an "image activist."


Early life

Michaela Angela Davis was born on March 31, 1964, in
Landshut Landshut (; ) is a town in Bavaria, Germany, on the banks of the Isar, River Isar. Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free state (government), Free State of Bavaria, and the seat of the surrou ...
, Germany, and raised in
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
She is the daughter of Harold Edward Gregory Davis and Helen Jean Butler. Her mother was convinced that her next child would be a boy and, after visiting the
Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel ( ; ; ) is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Originally known as the ''Cappella Magna'' ('Great Chapel'), it takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and ...
during her pregnancy, decided to name him Michael Angelo. When Davis was born, her mother gave her the female version of the name, Michaela Angela."Michaela Angela Davis: The Makings of an Urbanista"
Ganeka Gray, ''Clutch Magazine'', August 1, 2008
Davis has two sisters, Debbie and Monica, and a brother, Eddie. She began her studies at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., as a National Arts Scholar. She went to college at
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
, and studied at the Stella Adler Acting Conservatory, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.


Publishing and writing career

After completing her studies, Davis went to work in 1991 for ''
Essence Essence () has various meanings and uses for different thinkers and in different contexts. It is used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property (philosophy), property or set of properties or attributes that make an entity the ...
'' as an associate fashion editor.Michaela Angela Davis biography
American Program Bureau speakers
Her first assignment was the styling of Anita Hill in preparation for her testimony before Congress for the nomination hearings of
Clarence Thomas Clarence Thomas (born June 23, 1948) is an American lawyer and jurist who has served since 1991 as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. President George H. W. Bush nominated him to succeed Thurgood Marshall. Afte ...
as a Supreme Court justice. Davis became the associate fashion, culture and the executive fashion and beauty editor for ''
Essence Essence () has various meanings and uses for different thinkers and in different contexts. It is used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property (philosophy), property or set of properties or attributes that make an entity the ...
'' magazine. She was the founding fashion director for '' Vibe'' magazine, and she was the last editor-in-chief of ''
Honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several species of bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of pl ...
'', a magazine for 18- to 34-year-old black women. Davis has contributed to many projects, such as ''Everything But the Burden: What White People are Taking from Black Culture'' (ed. Greg Tate; Broadway Books, 2003). She wrote ''Beloved Baby: A Baby's Scrapbook and Journal'' (Pocket Books, 1995). In 2020, she and
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey ( ; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Songbird Supreme" by ''Guinness World Records'', Carey is known for her five-octave voc ...
published a memoir entitled, '' The Meaning of Mariah Carey,'' and in 2022 they published a picture book, '' The Christmas Princess''.


Stylist

Davis has worked as a celebrity stylist for people such as
Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is an American television presenter, talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show' ...
,
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...
,
Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...
,
Diana Ross Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Known as the "Queen of Motown Records", she was the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown#Major divisions, Motown's most suc ...
,
Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Qu ...
and
LL Cool J James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip ho ...
. She has also worked as a stylist on several films, including '' Paid in Full'' (2002).


Film career

She has been featured in documentary films including ''The Souls of Black Girls'' (2008). Davis has had several television appearances, most recently on BET in their presentation of ''Hip Hop vs. America II: Am I My Sister's Keeper?'' Davis executive produced the 2022 Hulu docuseries " The Hair Tales" along with
Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is an American television presenter, talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show' ...
and Tracee Ellis Ross.


Activism

Davis is working on a novel called ''The Revolution of Happiness: A Book and Digital Conversation Project.'' It is a culmination of "honest and innovative cross-generational conversations with revolutionary-thinking Black women about disturbing the pain that has burdened or molested our natural exquisite selves". Davis is the leader of "Mad Free," a multi-platform, multi-generational critical community conversation.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Michaela Angela Living people 1964 births African-American women journalists African-American journalists American women journalists 21st-century African-American women writers 21st-century American women writers 21st-century African-American writers American non-fiction writers Journalists from Washington, D.C. New York University alumni American fashion journalists Stella Adler Studio of Acting alumni American expatriates in Germany