AGENDA: A Renaissance Return, Issue 19 Paperback – January 6, 2025

AGENDA triumphantly returns after a two-year hiatus, commemorating 20 years as a leading online publication and 10 years in print. Recognized among Los Angeles’s Top 20 Magazines by Feedspot, this landmark edition delivers exclusive content across fashion, beauty, music, health, and entertainment—offering stories of resilience, creativity, and innovation in signature AGENDA style. The issue spotlights legendary Grammy Award-winning artist Melissa Manchester, photographed by Ash Gupta of 838 Media Group at the historic Biltmore Hotel. In Fashion Talk, Editor-in-Chief Kaylene Peoples explores Manchester’s remarkable 50-year career in music and fashion. Complementing this is Sheryl Aronson's exclusive interview, "50 Years a Star: Melissa Manchester—Funny Girl, Grammy Wins, and Her 25th Album, RE:VIEW."Project Runway designer Epperson showcases a bold narrative, The Morph, photographed by Papa Louche and modeled by Victoria James. Ty-Ron Mayes styles two masterful editorials, including The Un-Ubiquitous, photographed by Udo Spreitzenbarth, enhanced by Antonin Merchler’s captivating cinematography and featuring fearless muse Sabrina who stars on AGENDA's back cover. Meanwhile, Ron Contarsy captures Being Bowie, featuring model Alexandre embodying the essence and iconic style of the legendary pop star David Bowie.Discover affordable luxury in Haute Off the Rack, where AGENDA "REimagines" the styles of Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and Prada Menswear—delivering high-fashion looks without the high price tag.Memoir lovers will be drawn to powerful narratives like Levy Lee Simon’s Odyssey Towards the Light: Book 1, chronicling his Harlem roots, Broadway successes, and battles with addiction. Laura Cathcart Robbins recounts her struggles with prescription drug dependency amidst Hollywood’s elite in Stash: My Life in Hiding. Actor and author Siddharth Mallya, featured in the pictorial Friends Without Benefits (photographed by Ash Gupta, and asst. Joel Wicecarver), offers raw reflections on addiction, mental health, and his acclaimed memoir, If I’m Honest: A Memoir of My Mental Health Journey.Beauty expert Shahada Karim shares reviews standout products like Costa Brazil, Dr. Jart, Habibi Bath & Body Fairy Drops Serum, and May Lindstrom. Melanie Wise delves into the thought-provoking piece on Dr. Masaru Emoto’s water experiments, exploring how emotions influence molecular structures.Art lovers will appreciate Michael Stervinou’s latest figurative works, reflecting his artistic evolution. Film buffs can enjoy Zac Baldwin’s Hidden Gems, uncovering unforgettable performances by Hollywood icons.Continuing its commitment to the Black Design Collective, AGENDA presents 2024: A Year in Review. Highlights include the NAACP Image Awards Fashion Show at Vibiana, featuring BDC designers, and Woodbury University’s tribute to Kevan Hall and TJ Walker, honoring their contributions to fashion and education at the Alex Theater. Additional features include insightful interviews with designers Antoinette Messam (Pull Back the Curtain) and Kevan Hall (ASU FIDM’s Fashion Statements), Pay tribute to groundbreaking designer Patrick Kelly in Fashion Archives, revisiting his iconic 1986 Paris Fashion Week debut and the Runway of Love exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.Packed with exclusive fashion features, memoirs, beauty insights, and entertainment highlights, AGENDA: A Renaissance Return – Issue 19 is a must-have for lovers of style, storytelling, and culture. Don’t miss this extraordinary edition—celebrate the voices shaping today’s creative landscape! Read more