A New Year, A New Issue, and A New Chapter for AGENDA . . .
Welcome to 2025! Can you believe it’s been two years since our last print issue? My, how time has flown. In the past two years, so much has happened in the worlds of fashion, health, beauty, and entertainment. This issue bridges that gap and fills you in on the latest and greatest from AGENDA.
First, some exciting news: AGENDA was recently recognized by Feedspot.com as one of the top 20 magazines in Los Angeles, ranking at an impressive #10. This recognition couldn’t have come at a better time—right as we celebrated our 20th anniversary of launching our online magazine (agendamag.com). For those counting, we’ve also been in print for 10 years, since September 2014. As founder and editor-in-chief, it was a lovely birthday gift for the magazine, and believe me, I’m thrilled to be back in print! This year has been an unbelievable one for recognition—not just for AGENDA, but for me personally. I’ve had the honor of appearing on the covers of prestigious publications, including Vogue Monaco, Your Spirit UK, The Hollywood Magazine, and others, where I was celebrated as a Renaissance woman for my contributions to music, film, and publishing. These achievements are not just personal milestones—they reflect the creative vision and dedication that define AGENDA. I’m thrilled to infuse that energy into making AGENDA better than ever in this very special issue.
And what a return it is! This issue is packed with incredible features, starting with none other than the legendary Melissa Manchester. Last May, I attended the opening night of Funny Girl at the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown LA with journalist Sheryl Aronson. Melissa was cast as Rose Brice, and what a night it was! As a lifelong fan of the movie, I was blown away by the performances. Afterward, I approached Melissa’s manager, Susan Holder, to see if Melissa might be interested in gracing our cover. To my delight, she said yes, and we scheduled a photoshoot at the historic Biltmore Hotel, where the Funny Girl cast stayed during their LA run.
Our stunning cover photo, shot by Ash Gupta of 838 Media Group, perfectly captures Melissa’s timeless elegance. The shoot was a team effort, with assistant photographer Joel Wicecarver and makeup artist Diana Mendoza Beauty working their magic.
Inside, you’ll find my Fashion Talk column, “Melissa Manchester: A 50-Year Retrospective of Fashion & Music.” Chronicling her journey from 1971 to 2024 was a joy, offering a chance to look at how her iconic style has evolved over the decades. It begs the eternal question: “Who decides how fashion changes every ten years?”
Sheryl Aronson delivers an in-depth Q&A titled “50 Years a Star! Melissa Manchester: Funny Girl, Grammy Wins, and Her 25th Album, RE:VIEW.” This multi-Grammy-winning artist continues to amaze, proving that creativity truly has no expiration date.
In beauty, Shahada Karim dives into winter skincare, reviewing products designed to keep your skin looking its best during the colder months. From Costa Brazil’s Hydrating Cleanser to Dr. Jart’s Cryo Rubber Firming Face Mask, she provides a comprehensive guide to rejuvenating and protecting your skin. Other standout products include RE:NK Cell to Cell Essence, Habibi Bath & Body’s Fairy Drops Serum, R828 Peptide Overnight Cream, and May Lindstrom’s luxurious Honey Mud.
Melanie Wise of Wise Remedies delves into the fascinating world of Dr. Masaru Emoto’s water experiments in her article, “Playing the Field of Life: What Is It Really?” In the ’90s, Dr. Emoto discovered that water has “memory” and that emotions projected onto it influence its crystalline structure when frozen. Positive emotions create harmonious patterns, while negativity produces chaotic forms. Wise explores the profound implications of these findings, making for a thought-provoking read. 
Film buffs won’t want to miss Zac Baldwin’s “Hidden Gems, Big Stars in Smaller Films.” Highlighting lesser-known roles that rival blockbuster performances, Zac discusses Sidney Poitier’s Brother John, Dwayne Johnson’s Faster, Keanu Reeves’s Johnny Mnemonic, and more. These films and performances pack a punch far beyond their box office stats.
Painter Michael Stervinou makes a triumphant return to AGENDA. Known for his abstract style, he recently shifted to figurative work in response to audience feedback. “I paint because I love it—it’s an extension of me,” he says. In this issue, he shares new works and reflects on his artistic journey.
Addiction takes center stage in two compelling memoirs. Levy Lee Simon’s Odyssey Towards the Light: Book 1 traces his journey from a Harlem childhood to Broadway, interwoven with battles against addiction and encounters with legends like Tupac Shakur. His podcast Jazz Lion’s Den, blending memoir excerpts with new reflections, is a must-listen.
Laura Cathcart Robbins offers a raw and unflinching take on addiction in Stash: My Life in Hiding. Through vivid storytelling, she recounts her double life as a Black woman navigating Hollywood’s elite while struggling with prescription drug dependency. Garnering accolades like Elle Magazine’s “Best Memoir of 2023,” Stash is a transformative narrative of resilience and self-discovery.
Siddharth Mallya also addresses addiction in his book If I’m Honest: A Memoir of My Mental Health Journey. His story is highlighted in the fashion pictorial “Friends Without Benefits,” photographed by Ash Gupta and Joel Wicecarver.
On to fashion! This issue introduces Haute Off the Rack, a new column where we reimagine designer looks at accessible price points. This time, we’ve recreated styles inspired by Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, and Prada menswear—proof that high fashion doesn’t have to break the bank.
Deborah Lee curates “2024: A Year in Review,” celebrating milestones with the Black Design Collective. Highlights include the NAACP Image Awards Fashion Show at Vibiana, featuring designers like Okera Banks and BJ Gray’s Grayscale. Woodbury University honored Kevan Hall and TJ Walker, founders of the Black Design Collective, for their significant contributions to fashion. Other notable moments included Behind the Curtain’s interview with costume designer Antoinette Messam and ASU FIDM’s Fashion Connect, which interviewed Kevan Hall and exhibited his collections.
Fashion Whisperer Ty-Ron Mayes features Sabrina, the fearless muse of an exclusive AGENDA editorial titled The Un-Ubiquitous. This project, spearheaded by Antonin Merchler, aimed to transcend the ordinary by capturing fashion through Udo Spreitzenbarth’s distinctive lens. After an extensive search for a muse, they discovered Sabrina—a true embodiment of the “Un-Ubiquitous Girl,” bringing a fresh, dynamic presence to the narrative. Photographed by Spreitzenbarth, with cinematography by Merchler and styling and art direction by Mayes, Sabrina shines through bold prints, dramatic textures, and striking individuality. She also graces AGENDA’s back cover, tying the issue together with her undeniable star power. Also featured is Epperson’s “The Morph.”
Finally, we pay tribute to designer Patrick Kelly in Fashion Archives. His groundbreaking 1986 Paris Fashion Week show, a pivotal moment that catapulted his career, was celebrated in the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s renowned exhibit, Patrick Kelly: Runway of Love, a showcase of his enduring legacy.
As we usher in 2025, I want to thank you, our loyal readers, for coming along on this journey. May your days be joyful, and your nights filled with fashion. Happy New Year—we’re glad to be back, and we can’t wait to share more with you in the months to come! ~ Kaylene Peoples
Purchase information: https://www.klpublishinggroup.com/2025/01/09/agenda-a-renaissance-return-issue-19/
