Issue 3, Vol. 1, July 2013

Dianna Vernee

UrbanGround Promo

UrbanGround News

Black Man On Dollar

Two Bill?

UrbanGround

Changing It Up!

Who Is Benny Bekro

Word from the

publisher

UrbanGround

presents:

UrbanGround

Events!

Word From The Publisher:

Thank everyone for supporting UrbanGround Promo. I look forward to seeing the magazine

grow everyday. We are now changing the publications schedule from monthly to quarterly.

This way more talents have a chance to be in the magazine. Read more on our website.

See you in October!

Submit your talent online

www.UrbanGroundPromo.com

Changing It Up!

Cover:

Dianna Vernee

Kelly J Photography

Editor:

Abman Glaster

Publisher:

Dianna Vernee

Black Man On Dollar Two Bill? - pg. 12

Who Is Benny Bekro- pg. 8

Changing It Up! - pg. 3

UrbanGround Events– pg. 7

Changing It Up!

Quarterly 4 Issues a year!

January

April

July

October

Visit our website for more info. www.UrbanGroundPromo.com

UrbanGround Promo

UrbanGround!

UrbanGround Promo is a promotional magazine created and owned by DiannaVernee Inc. Since Ur-

banGround Promo came about, UrbanGround, Radio, News, Clothing, & Events followed. To tie everything

together Dianna Vernee has decided to create everything as one! So now you will see UrbanGround as a

whole. UrbanGround Promo's Facebook Fanpage and

UrbanGround's Clothing Fanpage is now one page as everything will fall under this umbrella

Instagram, Twitter, Google Plus, as UrbanGround!

So keep a lookout for the changes to come! Follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

@UrbanGround1 OfficialUrbanGround

Shaila Williams

My name is Shaila Williams, a southern sweetheart. I'm 20

and my dream is to become a model/actress. I recently

moved here to Joliet IL, coming all the way from Louisville,

KY. I've always been energetic and very ambitious about

my work. I strive hard in every aspect because I simply do

believe that this world revolves around money. I've learned

to remain optimistic through trials and tribulations, which

has kept me strong along the way. I know I still have a lot

of growing to do, but I'm sure, with the right people on my

side, that transformation won't be too hard. Here in Illi-

nois I plan to network with different actors, directors,

models, promotional companies, and anything that I could

benefit from with experience, pay or no pay. I hope that I

will get to know the right people that will help me grow in

the industry and get as much exposure as possible.

@optimistic_me

optimisic_me

shaila.williams.1

Natasha Di Fiore

I grew up participating in beauty pageant contests with my mom as a recreational and bonding activity. After years of "playing dress-up" with my mom, I developed a great passion and respect for fashion, which propelled me into the modeling business throughout my grade school years during the evenings and weekends, and currently, I have taken my passion in modeling seriously and have made it my career. I do com-mercial & fashion print, run-way, editorial, catalogue, fit, showroom and promotional modeling. In addition to fashion I am in-terested in music, film and theater. I can sing and song-write and so I can collaborate with musical artists on their songwriting, music videos and live performances as an actress/performer. Lastly, with my modeling back-ground, I am capable of act-ing in films and theaters.

natasha.difiore

natasha_difiore natashadifiore

32 year old Model in Massachusetts

My name is Marcus Murphy. I am a model and actor who fell in love with the craft during my senior year of

high school. It all started when I did a Shakespeare play called Two Gentlemen of Verona. The experience opened my eyes to exploring acting a little more. Then I landed a lead role in a production play called Snakes

in the Grass. The play was about Adam and Eve's creation. I was grateful for landing the role, but

it was too much going on in too little time, so I decided to remove myself from the production. I am 19 years

old and from Washington D.C. I study at Hiram College in Hiram Ohio. My major is Communications with a

double minor in African American Studies and theater.

Model & Actor In Washington DC @supermanmarc

marcomurphy

supermanmarc

NY/NJ Area

September 2013!

21+

HOSTED BY:

&

UrbanG

rou

nd

Eve

nts

Follow Us To Learn More

www.UrbanGroundPromo.com Learn more about the event and who's hosting online!

Click UrbanGround Events

Follow us on our

social networks to get

more information

about Auditions, Host,

Tickets & More!

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UrbanGround Events

The Ivory Coast is located within West Africa, and although it is a beautiful country, it is also well known for its dense and poor populace. I was given life from my parents Soualio and Ma-riam in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, West Africa. Seven years of my life were spent in a poor city within West Africa and the hard knocks of life taught me early on to appreciate every blessing that came from hard labor, work ethic and dreams. By no means was growing up in what was con-sidered the poorest part of the Ivory Coast, easy, but I was given the opportunity to move to New-ark, New Jersey in the United States with my father so I took it. My parents separated when I was a baby. I was forced to part ways with my mother, but when the time came to leave West Africa and travel to the United States to start my life over with a new set of directions that cen-tered primarily on survival of the fittest. I was divided from my her for five years, and was una-ble to see her again until I was 12 years of age. The only formal contact we had was over the telephone and that precious time was limited due to the expensive cost to call overseas.

Starting middle school in the United States defi-nitely was a culture shock for me as I watched how Americans seemingly took everything for granted. Everything was so different here and the opportunities seemed endless, even if I was struggling to fit in. This transition definitely was not a joyous time in my life because I was end-lessly picked on as the new kid that just hap-pened to be a poor African child with a funny accent, cheap clothes and perfectly smooth black skin. As the years passed it became appar-ent that I had to learn to fit in, so I decided that high school would be the time for me to shine and become extroverted. The ascension to high school was turbulent, but achievable as I was

forced to buckle down and excel in academ-ics. By the time I was a freshman in high-school I was entered into several advanced placement classes and I superseded my father’s expectations. Life in high school was a hard transition, but it made me stronger as I focused on my family values, abstained from earlier depression and mastered my skills in academia and sports. Basketball became my favorite past time and through rigorous work I eventually led Science High School to a Sectional State Championship in New Jersey as captain.

My home life was centered on abuse and control as my step mother made it her per-sonal vendetta to physically abuse and ne-glect me until I graduated from high school. For some reason she hated the air that I breathed and made it her mission in life to

make me miserable. Sometimes I feel she did this because she never accepted me as her child, much less her step son. Eventually, as the years passed and I began to close in on graduating, everything seemed to come full circle as my social, family and inner circle were in cohesion and the abuse at home stopped. However, a month after I graduated high school and my twin brothers were born, my step mother passed away due to complications at birth. This tragedy tore the family apart and my relation-ship with my father withered away as my sib-lings became motherless. I graduated with hon-ors and vowed to do whatever I could to take care of them, so I immediately applied at Rut-gers University to major in Economics and minor in French. I was accepted into Rutgers University on a scholarship and educational grant for their Division 3 team. I obtained the status of Dean’s List twice in college while simultaneously playing basketball and working a part-time job. By man-aging time, studying long hours and maintaining balance every semester, I was able to fly through college. I eventually learned to become self sufficient by cooking for myself, learning financial responsibility and becoming comforta-ble in my own skin. As a full grown man I was no longer shy, but outgoing and ready for the world. My insatiable appetite for social activities allowed me to become very well known on cam-pus and I was able to finally reach for what I believed I was worth. Looking back I realized more than anything I missed the relationship that had soured with my father, but having him turn against me over his new wife caused a seri-ous strain on our relationship as I proved not only to him, but my entire family that I was a force to be reckoned with and my dreams would soon become a reality. Post college, my degree afforded me the opportunity to work in the fi-

nance sector as I climbed the corporate ladder but I wasn’t happy. The corporate life was dull and stagnant due to the very “visible” glass ceil-ing that was beginning to crush my passion for a finance position. In a way, the underpaid, over-worked and underappreciated feelings that sur-faced due to my position allowed me to see where my heart really wanted to be.

Benny Bekro , Model In New Jersey

After a few months, I was able to break into the modeling scene due to my exotic looks and I took off after my first big break. The major modeling productions I have been blessed to be chosen for run the gamut: New York Fashion Week, and sev-

eral fashion shows all over the East Coast such as Atlanta, Hyattsville, Balti-more, Washington D.C., Delaware, Newark, New York City and Boston. I have walked the runway for Lisa Raye, Carl Thomas, Dramatik Fanatik, Ray Vincent, Rocawear, BET, the United Nations, and Black Men/Women Maga-zine. I was also able to play a small role as an extra on the major blockbuster “Rise of the Dark Knight”, main role in “Teno” by Zara Gretti (an African pop star), Brisa (a European pop sensation) and several internationally distributed magazines such as Fashion Avenue News, Black Tie Magazine and Black Sapphire Magazine which is owned by 50 Cent (rap artist). Recently, I was selected to be one the top five roman-tic book cover male leads in the coun-try, therefore breaking the mold and bringing forth a different dynamic for African American male models. These books with my image will be repro-duced in many local libraries through-out the United States. As New Jersey’s top model I am creating a niche market which was not there before, by step-ping out and loving the skin I’m in. My current project is the play that I was casted for called; “While You Were Preaching” and it will play at the Apollo Theatre before going on a national tour. My dark skin, exotic looks, locks, slight accent and hard work ethic has proven that being different can at

times make you feel like an out-cast, but it can never truly ex-clude you from success if you fight for what you be-lieve in.

Benny Bekro , Model In New Jersey

@bennybekro

bennybekrofans

bennybekro

Thomas Owens

Thomas Owens, 23 years of

age, is a Fore U.S Marine and now a college student

at UMBC with a Major in Homeland Securi-ty and minor in Computer Science. I am originally from Seattle, WA, but moved here to Maryland to go to the school i wanted to attend. I work at American Eagle Outfitters. I surf, play soccer, skateboard, sky dive, and into pretty much anything ad-venturous. Fitness has always been a part of my life, I mean all we ever did when we deployed, other than the mission at hand, was workout everyday. Now that I am fully separated from the Marines, I am going to become a fitness trainer and help people reach their fitness goals as i have done in

the past. I LOVE LIFE AND THE FREEDOM THAT IT GIVES. FRIENDS ARE A BIG PART OF MY LIFE AND I INTEND TO MAKE MORE AS LIFE GOES ON.

Model in Maryland

motivist

Treasa is a 23 rising lyricist, singer and producer from Harlem New York. Her unique style, in and out the booth, is what keeps her fans wanting more. With roots in hip hop she is currently working on an album with a slight pop/electronic feel. Treasa is determined to make music that is unique and es-tablish her own lane. Doing so led her to start pro-ducing her own music and to produce 90% of her up-coming album. With raw lyrics and hot dance tunes she is a force to be reckoned with. "I want to make music that people can listen to and help them get through tough times in their lives, but on the other hand I love to dance and sometimes we just need a good song to help us forget our pain, if only for a mo-

ment. I feel like so many issues that are affecting our world are being brushed under the rug and I want to be the one to bring more realness back to mu-sic,"says Treasa. With her upcoming album she intends to do just that. "The music I have out now is just to get people talking, but the album, that's what I'm putting my all into. From suicide, to dancing all night, it's all going to be on the album because I feel like the trials and tribulations I faced in life can help someone else, if all it does is have someone think to themselves, I am not the only person who's felt this way, and find comfort" says Treasa. In her journey in music Treasa has performed at Hot 97's Brooklyn Unity Day and opened for hip hop artist Sheek Louch. Treasa is determined to make a lane for herself in this industry. All I have to say is remember the name.

Treasa Rapper & Singer /HipHop Artist

@TreasaMusic treasamusic treasamusic

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