ESSENCE MAGAZINE CELEB MOMS & DAUGHTERS; BRANDY, FANTASIA, HOLLY, VANESSA & ALFRE

A mother's bond with her daughter(s) is something special, unconditional and everlasting. And with Mother's Day being right around the corner, Essence magazine, in true form is featuring several Hollywood moms and their adorable daughters in beautiful portraits in its May 2010 issue as they celebrate what they've learned from--and what they cherish about--each other. They speak of their bond, revel in their mutual triumphs and share how they're building a legacy for future generations.

These intimate mother/daughter portraits feature starlets Holly Robinson-Peete and her daughter Ryan; Alfre Woodard and her daughter Mavis; Vanessa Williams and her four daughters; mom-mager Sonya Norwood along with her superstar daughter Brandy and Brandy's daughter Sy'rai; and Fantasia and her mother Diane.

Click on each pic below to read each how each mother likes to spend their time with their daughter(s).

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FAVORITE MOM-AND-ME TIME: GOING TO HORSE SHOWS-AND RIDES TO THOSE EVENTS, WHEN ALFRE SAYS THEY TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING: 'LIFE, SEX, RACE, MEAN GIRLS....'

Alfre Woodard's 18-year-old daughter Mavis is a champion equestrian. 'Even when she was a little girl, I never got nervous when she'd do five-foot umps, because it was a God thing. I feel like the Creator speaks when I'm watching her.' This past January, Alfre coaxed Mavis into trading boots and jodhpurs for high heels and a Valentino gown to assume the role of 2010's Miss Golden Globe. 'I rarely put makeup on. Afterward,I was like, 'It's time to get back to reality.'' Mavis says embodying the statuette at the sixty-seventh annual telecast. 'I was always an independent person. It makes Mama proud. 'Mavis is smart. She's an alpha girl and she's unapologetic about it.'

Credit: Susan Fales-Hill

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EXCLUSIVE PICS FROM MALINDA WILLIAMS WEDDING TO DERRICK 'D-NICE' JONES.

Actress Malinda Williams married her 'best friend' and love of her life, former rapper turned celebrity deejay Derrick 'D-Nice' in an elegant wedding ceremony at The Mezzanine in Newark, New Jersey last Saturday (August 23, 2008). And as you can tell by the pictures below, she looked absolutely beautiful! The beaming bride wore an ivory, strapless, beaded, ruffled-tiered gown by Maggie Sottero, champagne Christian Louboutin satin pumps, and a veil and hair adornment compliments of Lori London, while carrying an eggplant calla lily. As her dad, Frederick A. Williams, III, escorted his baby girl to her hubby-in-waiting, Derrick watched his bride intently, his eyes brimming with tears. "When I saw her I lost it, because she was so beautiful," said Jones, who was debonair in a Giorgio Armani tuxedo, shirt, and pocket square, a Brioni tie, and Salvatore Ferragamo shoes. "I'm thinking, This is my wife. I'm marrying my best friend." Malinda echoed her husband's sentiments: "All I kept thinking was, I'm almost there," said the former Soul Food series star, beaming now that she can officially be addressed as Mrs. Jones, "just a few more steps and this is it!"

At the reception, the newlyweds, who have known each other since they were 18, enthusiastically greeted their guests as husband and wife before sharing an intimate first dance to Grover Washington, Jr.'s Just The Two of Us. As the evening came to an end, the couple walked away, hand-in-hand, but not before sharing their promises to each other. "I just want to spend every day showing her how much I love and appreciate her," said Derrick. "It's the only thing I plan to do for the rest of our days together." Malinda said, "I don't believe in forever. What I do believe in is living it up every day, because tomorrow is not promised to us, so we can only let tomorrow take care of itself and maybe we'll reach forever. Let's just get through today and make every day a choice to stay married."

AFTER THE JUMP VIEW MORE PICTURES FROM MALINDA AND DERRICK'S WEDDING AND FIND OUT WHICH CELEBRITIES WERE A PART OF THEIR WEDDING PARTY.

The bridal party of thirteen, including bridesmaids and groomsmen were equally chic. Malinda's sis Leslie Dunn served as matron of honor, while maid of honor duties went to celebrity fashion stylist Tiffany Hasbourne. The bridesmaids included Terri J. Vaughn, Nicole Ari Parker, Vanessa Williams, Malinda's sis Lisa Sorensen, and junior bridesmaid Ashli Jones, Derrick's daughter. All were radiant in taffy, strapless David’s Bridal gowns and chocolate sashes clipped by beautiful broaches. Derrick's best men, Chris Lighty, founder and CEO of Violator Management, and Keith Forte, along with groomsmen Scotty Morris, Anthony Rahsaan and Ryan Jones were slick in black Ralph Lauren suits. During the exchanging of vows, Malinda caused a ripple of laughter among family and friends by proclaiming an emphatic "I absolutely do!"

SOURCE: ESSENCE.COM.

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PICS: MARTIN LAWRENCE, NIA LONG, ESSENCE ATKINS, TATYANA ALI, TAYE DIGGS & OTHER CELEBS AT HOLLY ROBINSON-PEETE'S 'HOLLYROD' EVENT.

A plethora of celebs gathered at a private residence last week in Malibu, California to support actress Holly Robinson-Peete and her husband Rodney Peete's 10th Annual DesignCure Benefit for the HollyRod Foundation fund-raiser party. Celebs in attendance (I've posted 2 different events) included: Essence Atkins, Taye Diggs, Kel Mitchell, Keith Robinson, Tatyana Ali, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Ricki Lake, Lela Rochon, Nia Long, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and his wife Cookie, John Salley and his wife, Barry Bonds and his wife Liz, Sugar Ray Leonard, James Ingram, Cathy Hughes, Cedric the Entertainer and his wife Lorna, Vanessa Williams, Jimmy Jam and his wife Lisa, Martin Lawrence and his longtime girlfriend, Eriq LaSalle, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Chef Garvin, Judge Mathis and wife.

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