What happens when 200 girls spend a summer day filled with serious chatting, makeovers, and guest appearances by some inspiring celebs? GIRLTALK #takeover, that's what! Angela Simmons and her longtime friend Kerri Berson Levine joined forces with the Boys and Girls Club three years ago to form GIRLTALK #takeover, a day-long empowerment event for teen girls. On July 29, 2015, the dynamic duo headed to Harlem to inspire girls, ages 8-16, to feel beautiful, confident and informed.
Guests participated in fitness activities with Pretty Girls Sweat, fashion and beauty sessions, and health chats about relationships, sex, and puberty. Little League superstar Mo’Ne Davis, Ne-Yo, Diggy Simmons and Justine Skye were also on hand to greet the girls.
“I just want them to be empowered. Watching them, I mean I know when I was that age and I remember the struggle of being that age and with self-confidence and not knowing how your body is changing. So it just lights a fire in me to do more for them,” says Simmons.
Although the event is still in its pilot stages, Berson Levine says her and Simmons are taking this time to regroup and decide how they want the program to evolve in the future.“There are so many options. This is the third pilot event and we can either create a non-profit organization of our own or become a program at another non-profit. We are going through those talks now.”
“I’m excited most about the beauty and fitness and to get to learn more about the program,” said 11-year-old Shania White who admitted this wasn’t her first time getting to wear make-up.
Special guest and recent Breakthrough Athlete ESPY award winner Mo’ne Davis arrived to a swarm of excited girls during lunch. At the age of 14, Davis is a peer to most of the girls in the program and thinks “it’s pretty cool” to be an inspiration to them at such a young age. “I know that I’ve inspired a lot of people and hopefully more girls will get into sports,” said Davis. “Women’s sports don’t get enough recognition, so hopefully this can boost it a little and more girls join the sports world and follow their dreams.”
Follow @GirlTalkTakeover on Instagram!
Special thanks to...
FITNESS INSTRUCTORS
Courtney Alexander
Jessica Arango
AMBASSADORS
Branda Johnson
Jessica Bain
Maya Hajj
Mackenzie Heffernan
