2016 | ARTSNLA

Rising star Grace VanderWaal wins AGT and receives support from Ellen, Taylor Swift

Posted on September 19, 2016 by artsnla

Written by Giavanna Foster

On September 14, America’s Got Talent received the highest Nielsen ratings of the season. Fourteen million people viewed AGT’s season 11 finale on NBC. The AGT finale took place at the Dolby Theatre. In the end, America picked Grace VanderWaal as the winner.

Grace received $1 million dollars and the headlining slot at Vegas’ Planet Hollywood. The Clairvoyants were this season’s runner-ups. Grace VanderWaal cried tears of joy after winning America’s Got Talent. Howie Mandel said that Grace is “a shooting star” and that she’s “special”. Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum are seen celebrating with VanderWaal here:

Since day one, Grace VanderWaal attracted NBC viewers because of her innate ability to bring people together with her voice and ukelele. Grace’s AGT audition is unforgettable, as she sang her original tune “I Don’t Know My Name”. This easy going song is about the journey of self-exploration and finding yourself. Grace’s confidence shined through when she sang and played her ukelele. During Grace’s AGT audition, Simon Cowell stated that she is “the next Taylor Swift”. Grace VanderWaal is a genuine, relatable artist. Her music resonates well with people of all ages and attracts fans around the world. Now, Grace’s audition has over 50 million views on YouTube. Click the picture below to see her audition:

Grace VanderWaal received unwavering support from a long list of celebrities that include Ellen and Taylor Swift. See the link at the end of my article to read all of the supportive tweets. A good sport, Taylor Swift expressed her support towards Grace with a gift. The “Blank Space” singer sent Grace a large bouquet of flowers. Grace felt honored, as she posted this to Twitter:

Words can not explain how honored I am for this.. thank. You. SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! @taylorswift13 pic.twitter.com/KwcvIwGtpq

— Grace VanderWaal (@GraceVanderWaal) September 17, 2016

Ellen DeGeneres also reached out to Grace VanderWaal. On September 15, Ellen went to Twitter to congratulate Grace on her AGT win. Ellen also announced that Grace will soon appear on season 14 of her show. See the tweet below:

You are so amazing, @GraceVanderWaal. America picked right. See you next week on my show. #AGT

— The Ellen Show (@TheEllenShow) September 15, 2016

With over 247k Twitter followers, Grace VanderWaal is a true rising star. Her story proves that success is attainable with practice, hard work, and faith. Grace VanderWaal will appear on the Ellen show this week. See this article for ARTSNLA’s coverage.

The Ellen Show airs weekdays on NBC. Stay tuned!

Find out when Ellen is on in your area here.

Grace VanderWaal will also be performing at Planet Hollywood from October 27-29. See the Billboard article here.

See the People article about Grace VanderWaal with more supportive celeb tweets here.

2016 Summer Olympics throwback

Posted on September 18, 2016 by artsnla

Written by Giavanna Foster

The 2016 Summer Olympics took place in Rio de Janeiro. This year’s Games were filled with a display of hard work, friendships amongst competitors, and outstanding commitments to athleticism. All of the athletes are winners because they received well-deserved recognition for their commitment to athletic excellence. America, Great Britain, and China received the most medals. Each country earned over 65 honorary medals, which is an impressive nationwide total. If you were to add up the medals won from all three countries, it would equal 258 medals. Here’s the medal count chart for America, China, and Great Britain:

Great Britain placed in the top 3 with 67 medals. Andy Murray is a tennis standout because he earned his second consecutive singles gold medal after defeating Juan Martin del Potro. With his two-peat, Murray achieved an unprecedented Olympics record. Murray emerged from this year’s Games as a tennis legend in the making. A very humbled Murray felt emotionally overwhelmed and ecstatic after his victory. Click here to read more information about his impressive achievement.

From Great Britain, Lynsey Sharp is a track-and-field standout. As a sophomore athlete, Sharp is a good sport and she exemplifies the meaning of hard work and persistence. Sharp is Europe’s 2012 champion as well as a 2012 London Olympics participant. Also, Sharp earned a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. This year, Sharp placed in the top 6 for the track and field category. The top 3 winners of the 800 meter run were South Africa’s Caster Semenya, Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, and Kenya’s Margaret Wambui. To look at the complete score list, click here.

Britain’s Lynsey Sharp applauds during the athletics event at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. / AFP / OLIVIER MORIN (Photo credit should read OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images)

China placed in the top 3 with 70 medals. Weightlifter Deng Wei and diver He Zi achieved impressive feats. Deng Wei shined brightly in the weightlifting category. Deng Wei set two world records in 63 kg finals for clean and jerk (147 kg) as well as the total earned medals (262 kg). Wei has gained international fame as a Chinese weightlifter. She has also earned gold medals in Turkey, the United States, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Wei’s record is impressive and it proves that hard work and faith will catapult you to unlimited success.

Day 4, Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Riocentro – Pavilion 2. August 9, 2016. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He Zi emerged as a true champion and bride-to-be at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Zi earned a silver medal in the women’s 3-meter springboard diving competition. After the medal ceremony, Chinese diver Qin Kai surprised her with a golden wedding proposal. For Zi, this year’s ceremony is unforgettable because it celebrates her commitments to hard work and pure love. For more information, please click here.

America placed in the top 3 with 121 medals. Five exceptional girls stood out in the gymnastics category and they are well-known as the final five: Simone Biles, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas. Raisman and Douglas are sophomore athletes, as they previously competed in the 2012 Olympics. Also, Kocian won the 2015 uneven bars world championship. The Final Five are outstanding and they were featured on television after their golden win at the Olympics.

The Final Five will be featured on the 2016 National Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions. The tour begins September 15 and ends November 13. This year’s Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions is produced by USA Gymnastics in partnership with AEG Facilities. The Kellogg Company is primarily sponsoring it. GK Elite, Hershey’s, Hilton, International Gymnastics Camp and Procter and Gamble have also partnered as sponsors for this year’s Tour. To read more about the tour, please click here.

The Final Five have appeared on television since their big win. They presented the best female video award to Beyoncé at this year’s VMAs. The Final Five are featured on ABC, Access Hollywood and Jimmy Fallon. Also, Laurie Hernandez is competing in season 23 of Dancing with the Stars. Amber Rose and Jake T. Austin are also dancing for the Mirror Ball. Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays on ABC at 8|7 c. Read more about this season’s cast here.

In addition, Simone Biles appeared on the Ellen show twice. On Biles’ second television appearance, Biles sat down with Ellen to discuss her big win. If you missed it, then click here to watch the YouTube clip. Biles announced on the Ellen show that she will be releasing Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance. This autobiographical novel is inspired by her life story and victories, including 14 gold medals. Courage to Soar will be released worldwide on November 15. If you would like to pre-order Biles’ novel on Amazon, please click here.

This year’s Games celebrated the rewards of exceptional athletic commitment. Every athlete’s life story is inspirational because it proves that honorary recognition can be earned for doing what you love with tenacious hard work and faith. The next Summer Olympics will take place in 2020.

The 2020 Games will launch in Tokyo from July 24 to August 9. It will feature thirty-three sports: baseball, softball, skateboarding, karate, judo, and more. See the official YouTube video announcement posted by NBC Sports here.

Skateboarding star Jagger Eaton debuts new Nickelodeon series

Posted on September 9, 2016 by artsnla

Written by Giavanna Foster

Jagger Eaton is a rising Nickelodeon star. He is a force to be reckoned with and his athletic skills are as refined as a professional adult. Eaton has gained recognition as the Guinness World Record Award recipient for being the youngest X Games participant. Also, Eaton has gained international fame as a teen pro skater. Eaton has competed in South Africa, Munich, Barcelona, and Los Angeles. He has placed in the top 5 for three consecutive X Games competitions. Also, Jagger won the 1st place award in South Africa’s Big Air Best Trick Gap Competition at the Kimberly Diamond Cup.

Jagger Eaton is expanding his horizons as a skateboarding champion. Today, September 9, Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life debuts on Nickelodeon. This highly-anticipated television series is produced by Rob Dyrdek and Shane Nickerson of Superjacket Productions. Superjacket Productions has also produced Crashletes, Fantasy Factory, and Ridiculousness. Jagger Eaton genuinely expressed his excitement on Twitter here.

In Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life, Jagger lives the dream and interviews the athletes that he looks up to. Larry Fitzgerald will be featured in the first episode. Jagger’s new series will have 20 episodes. Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life is full of fun, excitement, interviews, and adventure. Jagger’s motivating series encourages discipline and consistent training.

Jagger Eaton is a positive role model. Eaton is a great example because he enjoys going to school and the art of education. Specifically, his favorite subjects are math and science. He also demonstrates the importance of being physically active, tenacious, and close to your family. Eaton’s life story is inspirational because he always pushes boundaries, challenges himself, and raises the bar. With his determination and strong spirit, Jagger Eaton is destined for major success.

Jagger Eaton’s advice to his fans? “Keep working hard towards your goals.” When you train your mind to work tenaciously towards your dream goals, anything is possible. Watch the official trailer for Jagger’s new show here.

Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life airs Fridays at Nickelodeon at 7:30pm PST.

Rihanna receives Vanguard Award and 2016 MTV Video Music Awards recap

Posted on August 31, 2016 by artsnla

Written by Giavanna Foster

The 2016 VMAs took place on August 28 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York. This star-studded event featured the latest trending videos and fan favorites. The list of presenters included Jimmy Fallon, Simone Biles, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Aly Raisman, Fifth Harmony, Drake, and Kim Kardashian. Here is the recap:

Rihanna shined bright like a diamond at the VMAs, as she was one of the biggest winners of the evening. She opened and closed the show with a 4-part set that featured a shuffled selection of her hit songs. This list includes “Only Girl (In the World)”, “We Found Love”, and “Diamonds”. Mary J. Blige introduced Rihanna’s closing number,”Love On The Brain”. (Rihanna also performed this soulful tune at the Billboard Music Awards.)

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Also, Rihanna is this year’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award recipient. With over 64 million Twitter followers, Rihanna has made her mark in the industry as an international icon that impacts music, pop culture, fashion, film, and philanthropy. She is also the best-selling digital artist. Watch her MTV Vanguard Award speech below:

At 28, Rihanna joins the prestigious list of Vanguard Award recipients that include Justin Timberlake, Madonna, and Britney Spears. Drake presented the Vanguard Award to Rihanna. Drake also delivered a heartfelt and respectful speech. In the speech, he said that Rihanna is “a living, breathing legend”.

Beyoncé was another big winner at the VMAs. This year Beyoncé won 8 VMA awards and she was nominated for 11 categories. “Formation” received 6 awards that include Best Direction and Best Pop Video. It also won the Video of the Year award, which Jimmy Fallon presented to Beyoncé. “Hold Up” received the Best Female Video award. Simone Biles, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, and Aly Raisman presented this VMA award.

Adele received 8 nominations at this year’s VMAs along with well-deserved recognition on YouTube. Adele’s “Hello” received 7 nominations that include Best Editing, Best Female Video, Cinematography, and Visual Effects. “Hello” has achieved the rare milestone of being featured in the top 10 most viewed YouTube videos of all time. Right now “Hello” stands strong at #6 with 1.7 billion views on YouTube. “Hello” reached 1 billion views on YouTube in 87 days, breaking Psy’s record.

The Chainsmokers and Halsey delivered an intimate performance of “Closer”. Their show featured strategic blue lighting, keyboard players, raw vocals, and lots of confetti at the end. “Closer” debuted at #1 on the iTunes singles chart. It joined Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, and others in the top 10 iTunes charts.

Then Kim Kardashian announced Britney Spears and G-Eazy‘s entrance to the VMAs stage. They performed “Me, Myself & I” and “Make Me…”, which is from her new album Glory. This performance featured structured choreography and colorful lighting.

Tonight was unforgettable 💫 Thank you #VMAs and thank you to my amazing fans! pic.twitter.com/I0t3jmOGED

— Britney Spears 🌹🚀 (@britneyspears) August 29, 2016

Britney thanked her fans by sending a sincere tweet after the show. “Tonight was unforgettable Thank you #VMAs and thank you to my amazing fans!”, Spears tweeted.

Fifth Harmony presented the Best New Artist award to DNCE. Then Joe Jonas spoke on behalf of the group. Jonas mentioned the power of creating and evolving as an artist in his speech. The experience of winning Best New Artist was surreal for the group, as they later expressed gratitude towards their fans with this tweet. DNCE’s win proves that tenacity and hard work pays off in the long run. Success is always possible when you make a daily commitment to your dream goals. Don’t stop believing.

Gordon Ramsay Dash is latest trending digital app

Posted on August 11, 2016 by artsnla

Written by Giavanna Foster

Gordon Ramsay is a professional master chef, restaurateur, and television personality. Ramsay also has a partnership with WWRD that includes Waterford, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, and Royal Albert. His international restaurants have earned a grand total of 16 Michelin stars. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, his primary signature restaurant, is the owner of 3 Michelin stars. Ramsay’s culinary journey exemplifies the product of success through consistent tenacity and due diligence. Also, Ramsay is a positive role model because he emphasizes the importance of cleanliness, time management, teamwork, and cooking at home with fresh ingredients. Hotel Hell and Kitchen Nightmares demonstrate the extreme consequences of lacking teamwork and structure. Now, Ramsay has millions of social media followers worldwide.

Gordon Ramsay’s high reputation is shaped by his commitment to culinary perfection. Recently, Gordon Ramsay teamed up with Glu Mobile to create Gordon Ramsay Dash. It took two years to develop this highly anticipated digital project. Gordon Ramsay Dash made its debut in the Google Play and App stores on June 28, 2016. Ramsay’s culinary game has gained international fame and it is now the latest trending digital app. In Gordon Ramsay Dash, customers experience the atmosphere of realistic timed work shifts in a restaurant. All customers are given an avatar that can be customized with new upgrades that include a variety of aprons, outfits, and shoes. More upgrades are unlocked when the avatar reaches a new level in Gordon Ramsay Dash.

Gordon Ramsay Dash features individual challenges as well as chef duels and sometimes free play events. (During the free play events, customers will be able to complete episodes without spending goods.) For the individual challenges, the first goal is to unlock the expert mode by earning three stars in each episode. After unlocking expert mode, customers will then have the opportunity to aim for five stars in as many episodes as possible. After earning stars in Gordon Ramsay Dash, customers will be rewarded with gold and coins that can be used to upgrade the food and appliances. Upgrading food will help you win more chef duels, earn maximum profits, and unlock more restaurants faster. Gordon Ramsay Dash currently has five international venues: Big Bay Burgers, Chef Arena, Pizza Paisan, Lucky Langoustine, and Delish n’ Chips. The VIP list expands as you reach a new FAME Tier. Sue, Mandy, Melon, Ty, and Nigel are part of the VIP list. They present customers with fame that can catapult them to success as a celebrity chef.

I downloaded Gordon Ramsay Dash after I first heard about its debut in the Google Play app store. I’ve been playing for over two weeks now as “Chef Gia” and I simply love it. Gordon Ramsay Dash is the perfect simulation of a day’s work in the kitchen of a professional restaurant. Gordon Ramsay plays the role of a culinary mentor in Gordon Ramsay Dash. In the game, Ramsay oversees the service to help customers complete each level before the time runs out. Sometimes he helps complete your orders with the Frenzy Flare booster. However, you can build up the Frenzy Flare meter when all orders are completed in a timely manner. By working with Chef Ramsay in Gordon Ramsay Dash, customers learn the important relationship between teamwork and time management. This game has a realistic and adventurous culinary atmosphere. It teaches you how to pace yourself and stay alert.

Gordon Ramsay is a very talented and versatile chef who understands the importance of continuity. Honestly, I’m glad that Gordon Ramsay partnered with Glu to create this game. I love Gordon Ramsay Dash especially because it highlights the importance of culinary arts as an important life skill. This game also demonstrates that time management, structure, and teamwork are key factors that contribute towards maintaining a successful business. Gordon Ramsay Dash is now available to download in the Google Play and App stores. This game is compatible with all smartphones.

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Giavanna Foster is a journalist and editor-in-chief at ARTSNLA. We are on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @artsnlanews.