Jada Collins is the current commentator for the Ebony Fashion Fair. She was born in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she attended Contra Costa College and majored in English/Communications. She also attended Emerson College in Boston majoring in Broadcast Journalism. Jada is the co-founder of the Be-You! Foundation, Inc which is a non-profit organization designed to educate, encourage and increase self esteem in battered and abused women and children. Jada, works tirelessly through self-empowerment conferences and workshops to give back to communities nationwide. Jada is also an inspirational speaker and minister who encourages women to believe in God and lives by the personal motto: "Just be you!" Each year after the tour ends, Jada speaks throughout the United States in churches, schools, and community organizations. In 2006, Jada was a guest speaker during God's Leading Lady Conference held at the Potter's House in Dallas, TX where Bishop TD and Serita Jakes are pastors. In 2005, she received a proclamation from the city of Orlando for her outstanding work in urban communities.
Jada is a member of the National Coalition against Domestic Violence and the National Communication Association. She also contributes to organizations such as Harbor House women's shelter and Miracles Outreach children's home in Florida. Jada enjoys encouraging young girls and women across the country to do their best, love themselves, and reach for higher heights. In 2003, Jada married gospel artist and minister Ernest Collins, Jr. Together they are building upon their strong Christian foundation to impact the world with a powerful message of hope through fashion, music, dance, and ministry. Multitalented Jada lives in Orlando, FL and is also the author of Be-You-Yiful: The Threefold Process to Becoming You, a testimony of overcoming domestic violence, abuse, and embracing success. Her book is available at amazon.com, borderstores.com and target.com. Jada States in her Press Kit: When we see a model, we think: she's so lucky she has it all, beauty, nice clothes, money. But we don't see what's on the inside. It could be ugliness, self-doubt or even self-hatred. We don?t know what models? lives are really like, or were like. Beauty is only skin deep. Behind the beauty, there is oftentimes emotional turmoil. Young girls all over the world see pictures of models on magazine covers and on TV and wish to have a life like the ones they imagine the model's lives are like. But imagine growing up with abuse and hatred. How do we overcome the feelings rooted within us? How will we become happy? Author Jada Collins recounts her abusive childhood in Be-You-Tiful: The Three-Fold Process to Becoming You. When Ms. Collins heard, You're just like your ugly momma,from her fathers mouth, she didn't realize that those words would eventually disarm and disable her. By the age of eight, Ms. Collins hated her life, and would have loved to run away by the age of10. But she felt she needed to be around for the sake of her younger sister, who Ms. Collins says, was the only one who really loved me. But the word that would radically re-engage her and enable her to proceed with her purpose came from the mouth of a boy in the 6th grade: You're pretty like a model. Her excitement about this revelation caused her to change her pursuit from her own restoration to encouraging other women to pursue their purpose over pain.
Ms. Collins advice for the young women pursuing their dreams is: Be who you are without force or strain Pursue your purpose despite your pains, negative influences, or lack of resources. Don't lose focus of your own identity by compromising your beliefs. Take responsibility for harnessing hurt and pain but also take ownership of your deliverance through faith. Exchange your anger, fear and disappointments for love, confidence and true fulfillment. The childhood dream of becoming a successful model and public speaker has come true for Ms. Collins. She believes in sharing not only her struggles but also her victories so that young women will be encouraged to be themselves. As hard as it may seem right now, the process of healing is far more valuable than a great ending. Jada Collins is the commentator and spokeswoman for the largest traveling fashion show in the world, Ebony Fashion Fair. She and her husband, Gospel artist and minister, Ernest Collins, Jr.,reside in Orlando, Florida, where they are building upon their strong Christian foundation to impact the world with a powerful message of hope through fashion, music, dance and ministry. Be-You-Tiful a heartfelt and inspirational coming-of-age story,says Ms. Collins. It reveals a glorious transformation that takes place in the face of neglect and abuse.
DECEMBER 2007
12.1.2007 - 6:00 pm Evansville, IN
12.2.2007 - 7:00 pm Louisville, KY
12.7.2007 - 8:00 pm Rogers, AR
12.8.2007 - 8:00 pm St. Louis, MO
12.9.2007 - 6:00 pm Kansas City, MO
12.11.2007 - 7:00 pm Wichita, KS
12.12.2007 - 8:00 pm Columbia, MO
12.14.2007 - 8:00 pm Middleton, WI
12.15.2007 - 7:00 pm Kankakee, IL
12.16.2007 - 4:00 pm Bloomington, IL
JANUARY 2008
1.10.2008 - 7:30 pm Hopkinsville, KY
1.11.2008 - 8:00 pm Jackson, TN
1.12.2008 - 8:00 pm Nashville, TN
1.13.2008 - 5:00 pm Birmingham, AL
1.15.2008 - 7:00 pm Anniston, AL
1.16.2008 - 7:00 pm Huntsville, AL
1.17.2008 - 7:30 pm Florence, AL
1.19.2008 - 6:00 pm Dothan, AL
1.20.2008 - 4:00 pm Montgomery, AL
1.22.2008 - 8:00 pm Tallahassee, FL
1.23.2008 - 8:00 pm Gainesville, FL
1.24.2008 - 8:00 pm Brunswick, GA
1.25.2008 - 8:00 pm Jacksonville, FL
1.26.2008 - 8:00 pm West Palm Beach, FL
1.27.2008 - 4:00 pm Ft. Myers, FL
1.28.2008 - 7:00 pm Daytona Beach, FL
1.29.2008 - 8:00 pm Waycross, GA
1.31.2008 - 8:00 pm Melbourne, FL
FEBRUARY 2008
2.1.2008 - 8:00 pm Coral Gables, FL
2.2.2008 - 8:00 pm Orlando, FL
2.3.2008 - 3:00 pm Tampa, FL
2.4.2008 - 8:00 pm Petersburg, FL
2.6.2008 - 8:00 pm Lauderdale, FL
2.8.2008 - 8:00 pm Savannah, GA
2.9.2008 - 8:00 pm Columbia, SC
2.10.2008 - 7:00 pm Charleston, SC
2.12.2008 - 8:00 pm Wilmington, NC
2.13.2008 - 8:00 pm Fayetteville, NC
2.15.2008 - 7:00 pm Aiken, SC
2.16.2008 - 8:00 pm Macon, GA
2.17.2008 - 3:00 pm Atlanta, GA
2.19.2008 - 7:00 pm Watkinsville, GA
2.21.2008 - 8:00 pm Columbus, GA
2.22.2008 - 8:00 pm Jackson, MS
2.24.2008 - 5:00 pm Tupelo, MS
2.27.2008 - 7:30 pm Pine Bluff, AR
2.28.2008 - 7:00 pm Little Rock, AR
2.29.2008 - 8:00 pm Biloxi, MS
MARCH 2008
3.2.2008 - 5:00 pm Greenwood, MS
3.4.2008 - 8:00 pm Hattiesburg, MS
3.7.2008 - 7:00 pm Mobile, AL
3.9.2008 - 3:00 pm Baton Rouge, LA
3.13.2008 - 8:00 pm Monroe, LA
3.14.2008 - 8:00 pm Shreveport, LA
3.15.2008 - 8:00 pm Tyler, TX
3.16.2008 - 2:00 pm Dallas, TN
3.17.2008 - 7:00 pm Mobile, AL
3.18.2008 - 8:00 pm Longview, TX
3.19.2008 - 8:00 pm Texarkana, TX
3.19.2008 - 8:00 pm Lawton, OK
3.21.2008 - 8:00 pm Tulsa, OK
3.22.2008 - 8:00 pm Midwest City, OK
3.25.2008 - 7:00 pm Killeen, TX
3.26.2008 - 7:15 pm Fort Worth, TX
3.27.2008 - 7:00 pm Austin, TX
3.28.2008 - 8:00 pm Corpus Christi, TX
3.30.2008 - 5:00 pm San Antonio, TX
APRIL 2008
4.1.2008 - 7:00 pm Lubbock, TX
4.2.2008 - 8:00 pm Amarillo, TX
4.3.2008 - 8:00 pm Albuquerque, NM
4.4.2008 - 8:00 pm Tucson, AZ
4.6.2008 - 4:00 pm Las Vegas, NV
4.9.2008 - 8:00 pm Lancaster, CA
4.10.2008 - 8:30 pm Moreno Valley, CA
4.11.2008 - 7:00 pm San Bernardino, CA
4.13.2008 - 3:30 pm Los Angeles, CA
4.17.2008 - 8:00 pm Fresno, CA
4.18.2008 - 8:00 pm Sacramento, CA
4.19.2008 - 8:00 pm San Rafael, CA
4.20.2008 - 4:00 pm Stockton, CA
4.23.2008 - 8:00 pm Reno, NV
4.25.2008 - 8:00 pm Portland, OR
4.26.2008 - 4:00 pm Tacoma, WA
4.29.2008 - 8:00 pm Airway Heights, WA
4.30.2008 - 7:00 pm Kennewick, WA
MAY 2008
5.3.2008 - 8:00 pm Colorado Springs, CO
5.4.2008 - 2:00 pm Denver, CO
5.9.2008 - 7:00 pm Council Bluffs, IA
5.11.2008 - 1:30 pm Minneapolis, MN
5.13.2008 - 8:00 pm Waterloo, IA
5.14.2008 - 8:00 pm Davenport, IA
5.16.2008 - 7:00 pm Rockford, IL
5.18.2008 - 3:00 pm Chicago, IL
