A Diva is a Female Version of a Hustler, Part Deux

In the past, the term 'Diva' has had a negative connotation. Don't get me wrong, there are a few bad apples (and they shall remain nameless) who have tried to ruin it for the whole bunch. Still, singer/songwriter/entertainer, and let's not forget oh-s0-fab, Miss Bey has revamped the cliché expression, and all for the better.

Beyoncé tells us that a 'diva is a female version of a hustler.' But what she doesn't tell us is what it takes to be a TRUE diva. So now STOP THE TRACK--let me state facts! Check out the TOP FIVE to make a diva come alive!

To all the ladies in the place with...

1. STYLE and grace

This is the most obvious trait of a diva.

"Style is a magic wand, and it turns everything to gold that it touches."
~Logan Pearsall Smith

Beyoncé at "Notorious" movie premiere in New York City

Just like hubby Jay-Z said, 'You can pay for school, but you can't buy...'

2. CLASS

"Class is an aura of confidence that is being sure without being cocky. Class has nothing to do with money. Class never runs scared. It is self-discipline and self-knowledge. It's the sure footedness that comes with having proved you can meet life." ~Ann Landers

IMAN photo'd here with David Bowie

3. AMBITION

Plain and simple, divas have drive....

Take for instance a few of our spotlight divas: BEYONCÉ (hello!), MARIAH (hello!), not to mention diva-licious TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey. Let's not forget her protégé, Tyra Banks, who has also accomplished a number of 'firsts.' These women are divas on so many different levels, and nothing short of admirable. Keep it coming, divas!

...and when these two divas aren't working hard...

THEY'RE OUT TOGETHER PARTYING IN ST. BART'S!!!! :o)

Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks

4. PHILANTHROPY

To all of my little divas-in-training--it's not always about YOU. As defined, philanthropy is the act of donating money, goods, services, time and/or effort to support a socially beneficial cause.

By way of illustration, Alicia Keys, a true diva herself and an honorary member of the esteemed sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., is notably the ambassador for Keep a Child Alive. She has travelled to countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa, speaking to teens and young adults who have been directly impacted by the AIDS epidemic. She is the poster child of what it means to give back to one's community. Diva or no diva, we should all applaud Alicia Keys for her efforts and contributions to [hu]mankind.

Alicia Keys hosts the Keep a Child Alive Charity Ball in London.

Money means nothing if you don't have anyone to share it with, right? Well, Beyoncé donated a whopping $4 million dollar salary from her role in Cadillac Records to help Phoenix House, an American drug treatment organization that runs 98 residential and outpatient rehab programs throughout the United States, and treats over 5000 addicts a day.

Last but not least (and I bet you didn't see this one coming)...

5. ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

"I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, MAN!"~Jay-Z

This is a recent trend that has hit the entertainment world by storm! But move over big boys! The divas are taking over! From trendy clothing lines like "Baby Phat," "The House of Dereon," "Fetish," and "Just Sweet" by Kimora Lee, Beyoncé, Eve, and Jennifer Lopez respectively to perfume lines ("M" by Mariah Carey, "Glow" and "Still" by Jennifer Lopez, and "True Star" by Beyoncé), divas are getting their feet wet.

You can't really make money working for someone else, so ladies, take notes! And when that day comes when someone has the nerve to ask you "Where yo' boss at??," you can tell 'em--I AM THE BOSS!! Recognize game....

In short, anyone can be a diva. As I hope you've learned, being a diva is about more than just being beautiful and 'fly' and having swagger. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...besides, make up can do us wonders anyway. Style is eternal. Confidence is key. Strut your stuff with pride. Class is a must-have. Tisk, tisk...it isn't classy to throw a cellphone at someone when you don't get your way. Understand that we were put here on this earth to help others, and if you're not helping others, then...you're just a waste of space. And remember, a diva is a female version of a hustler, but you can't match a hustler without a hustle!

Check out Beyoncé's latest video, "Diva," right here...

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/beyonce-diva/1894555551

Tell me what you think!

A Diva is the Female Version of a Hustler

Diva (dē'və) n., pl. -vas or -ve (-vā).

1: an operatic Prima Donna.

2: a usually glamorous and successful female performer or celebrity, ex. a fashion diva; especially : a popular female singer , ex. pop divas.

[et. from Italian diva "goddess," from Latin diva (same meaning); feminine of dīvus, god] (Merriam-Webster Student Dictionary).

Contemporary artists like Beyoncé [Knowles...or Carter], Mariah [Carey], and Mary J. [Blige] have all paved the way for girls all around the world. These haute couture hotties are known for more than just their designer duds. They weren't always sittin' on top of the world.

Take Mariah Carey, for instance. She certainly wasn't born with a silver spoon. In her hit single "Make It Happen," off her sophomore album, Emotions, Mariah recalls a moment "not more than three short years ago" when she was "abandoned and alone without a penny" to her name. Sometimes she couldn't even eat. In the song, she encourages her listeners to believe in themselves with accompanied prayer, using personal struggle to get the point across. Today, she serves as an inspiration to us all, living proof that tough times don't last for long.

Frank Micelotta Photoshoot

June 12, 1990

Then there's Mary J. Blige, also known as M.J.B. the M.V.P. And she is the most valuable player, indeed. Mary J. is more than the just the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul (as if that weren't enough). She's a STORYTELLER. Many hip-hop artists glorify the conditions of inner-city living. She rose above it--the drugs, the poverty, domestic abuse. What didn't kill her only made her stronger (and who isn't glad for that). Never blinded by her success or jaded by her turbulent past, Mary J. Blige has always been and continues to be true to herself.

Last, but not least, we have Bee--not yours truly, but the [Queen] Bee, Beyoncé (duh). She has every reason to feel like she's that (oops!), now doesn't she? Beyoncé has reached a level of success that most of us can only dream of at the young age of 27. She's not even 30 yet for crying out loud! And already she has countless Grammy's and over 75 million albums sold under her belt! That's not even the half of it...I could go on, but I'd need a separate blog for that! Even so, all that glitters is not gold...Beyoncé has paid the price for her fame. On the brightside, every cloud has a silver lining--through it all, Beyoncé has still managed to come out on top!

Beyoncé at ABC Studio (2006)

So what do my three favorite ladies have in common?

Aside from the fact that the trio joined voices in 'Just Stand Up!', a fight for cancer....

Click on following link to see footage of this phenomenal collaboration

http://video.aol.com/video/just-stand-up-feat-mariah-carey-beyonce-mary-j-blige-rihanna-miley-cyrus-and-more/2301272

THEY'VE ALL POCKETED THE TERM 'DIVA'! "She ain't no diva!"

OH!! ...but they are...

Find out what makes a 'diva' a diva in the continuation, "A Diva is a Female Version of a Hustler, Part II."