Still, Ealy—whose breakout role was in Ice Cube‘s 2002 urban comedy Barbershop—knows that compliments about your good looks aren’t necessarily going to keep you working in Hollywood. (Even though appearing as one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” in the same year couldn’t have hurt.) What will keep you working? Diversity of roles—one after the other if you’re lucky.

On March 9th, Ealy throws the men a bone in his upcoming film, Think Like a Man, based on the ubiquitous, New York Times best-selling book by Steve Harvey. In the film, he shows how even a cash-strapped cook (his character in the comedy) can pull a sista as fly as Taraji P. Henson, if he treats her right.

“Yes, the film is hilarious, but I think people are also going to be surprised by how romantic it is,” says Ealy of the laughfest, which co-stars comedian Kevin Hart, Chris Brown, Gabrielle Union and Meagan Good. “I think we do a pretty good job at exploring just how awkward—but rewarding—love can be. It’s something Taraji and I talked about nonstop while we were filming.”

Ealy on the set of 'Underworld' (Image: Joe Lederer for Sony Pictures)

Months before the busy actor turns his game on full swag, he crosses over into the dark side for the latest installment of the popular vampire-versus-Lycan series Underworld: Awakening, in theaters today (January 20th). “This is the first film out of the franchise where you get to see the humans running things,” he reveals of the series’ fourth release. “I represent the human element as a detective.”

You can also see the Silver Spring, Maryland, native in the new buddy-cop TV series Common Law, airing this summer on USA Networks. “It’s about two detectives who cannot get along, unless they’re solving a crime,” explains Ealy by phone from the series’ New Orleans set. “It gets so bad that their captain sends them to couple’s counseling. Now that’s pretty bad,” he laughs.

But Ealy’s got another project—a raw and emotional film inspired by true events called Unconditional—that he says definitely won’t be. “That one’s coming out this fall,” he says of the independent flick, in which he plays a character that seeks to redeem the lives of a group underprivileged kids living in a rough neighborhood. Given his diverse palette of roles on the horizon, it should be a little easier for fans to look beyond Ealy’s physical talents and focus more on his acting chops. “As you can see,” he laughs, “I have been a very busy man.”

Indeed.

See a the trailer for Think Like a Man below.

Celebrity event planner Diann Valentine (Photo: WE tv)

Event-planning entrepreneur Diann Valentine has taken her dream of mixing business and love and made it a reality filled with celebrity clients and business success. Valentine’s journey spans from modest beginnings as a teenage wedding planner to  becoming the creator of lavish multimillion-dollar nuptial experiences for the likes of R&B icon Toni Braxton, top actress Lela Rochon, and Basketball Wives star Jennifer Williams. Among her latest pursuits is creating the perfect wedding for reality star Evelyn Lozada and NFL player Chad Ochocinco — a much-anticipated event that has blogs and TV fans on watch.

Famously known for sparking the “Tiffany blue” wedding color craze and incorporating exquisite details such as a fish tank dance floor, Valentine prides herself on catering to the client to design events that are both awe-inspiring and unforgettable.

BlackEnterprise.com caught up with the author and host of WE tv’s I Do Over on making a living centered on amour, her secrets to business success, and why event-planning is about more than just throwing a party.

(Produced by Janell Hazelwood; Videography and editing by Melissa Johnson)

Are you a Woman of Power? Then Join us for the annual Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm, Feb. 15–18, 2012, at The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, FL. This exciting, executive leadership summit is your chance to focus on YOU. Network with industry leaders, learn career strategies, find work-life balance, and start creating—and living—the life you really want! Register now and use code DGED12 to receive a $200 discount off the price of registration! (Cannot be combined with other offers).

Many experts agree that appropriate attire can vary depending on the culture of an industry, however, when it comes to that first interview or impression, skewing more conservative is often advised. In many offices, a tailored suit that’s not too tight or ill-fitting, with a modest oxford or pump usually does the trick, whether it’s getting the dream job or closing a deal with a new client.

VH1 recently highlighted the “business chic” of Love & Hip Hop star and young entrepreneur Yandy Smith, where she talks about a favorite head-to-toe look: a form-fitting, printed Alexander McQueen dress and metallic gold, open-toe booties. In the entertainment industry, this screams fashionable and on-trend, but what about for the typical entry-level candidate or worker in other industries?

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: In today’s business landscape, has traditional business attire — the suit (and tie) with a modest shoe — become obsolete?

Below, on Our World with Black Enterprise, Warwick talks about building her own legacy after years in the entertainment industry . Click here to register for this year’s Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm at The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, FL. Register now and use code DGED12 to receive a $200 discount off the price of registration! (Cannot be combined with other offers).

Kandi Burruss (KandiOnline.com)

Radio personality and BlackEnterprise.com contributor Lamont Baldwin caught up with Kandi Burruss, of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, to talk about the latest expansion of her business empire. The platinum-selling artist and songwriter has already seen great success in the music industry, having penned the hit TLC song “No Scrubs,” as well as other hits by artists including Destiny’s Child, Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys.

She’s found great success with KandiKoatedNight.com, where she talks about relationships and sex, and the featured Web series opened the door to venturing into the adult toy industry with Bedroom Kandi. She will also be starring in her own talent reality show, The Kandy Factory, molding amateurs into superstars.

Check out the full audio interview, where Burruss talks sex education, diversifying her sources of income, nurturing talent, and making behind-the-scenes boss moves that will ensure a long-lasting legacy.

Kandi Burruss on adult toy company and new talent show

Check out BlackEnterprise.com’s Q&A with Burruss on advancing her career and legacy, here.

Kandi Burruss (KandiOnline.com)

In this season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you probably won’t see Kandi Burruss pulling wigs, bragging about how “rich” she is, or throwing drinks. The Grammy award-winning songwriter is using her newfound reality-TV stardom and turning Kandi Koated Entertainment into Kandi Koated cash.

Life after Xscape has included a notable transition for the multiplatinum singer, lauded for penning TLC’s mega-hit “No Scrubs.” Burruss has racked up an impressive roster of career highlights, working with top artists including N’SYNC, Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, Alicia Keys and Mya. The singer-turned-mogul has kept busy by launching a series of strategic business ventures and has effectively delved in untapped markets by continuing to use each new season as an opportunity to showcase her growing empire.

Since debuting on the show, Burruss has released her sophomore solo album, Kandi Koated, opened her own clothing boutique TAGS, and launched Website  KandiKoatedNight.com, where she, other celebrities and experts discuss sex and relationships. She also has her own top-selling Spades card-game app with Konsole Kingz, and will be starring in her own spin-off show, developing talent on The Kandi Factory.

BlackEnterprise.com talked with Burruss about how she’s diversified her business interests, how she’s found more success behind the scenes, and why it’s important to have multiple streams of income in building wealth.

BlackEnterprise.com: You’ve been in the music business for a long time. What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned from Xscape to now?

I wish that we would have toured a lot more because an artist’s money is really in the touring. You can make so much money on the road, and we just didn’t stay on the road like that. We didn’t like being out of town, away from home, [and we] half way weren’t getting along (laughs), so for whatever reason we didn’t take advantage of that.

Also, [I would have liked] writing more on our projects. I did do a little collaborating here and there but it wasn’t enough to say I got the largest percentage of the song. It wasn’t enough to get really big checks off of.

So me personally, I didn’t start seeing real publishing checks until after the group broke up, and I started writing for other people. When I started getting those checks I was thinking, ‘We should have been writing’ (laughs). You live and you learn. I learned a lot— from [how] you have to be more involved in your business. Even now, I still make mistakes. You know, trusting the wrong people sometimes.

Your store TAGS just celebrated it’s second anniversary recently. You and your business partner, Peaches, are doing an amazing job. What made you partner up for this venture?

Well, the main reason was because I don’t really know the whole business of how a store runs. I feel like just because you have money, it doesn’t mean that you can just open up a business and know nothing about the business. So, that’s why I partnered up with my friend because she had a store before and she knows how to run it and how to go and buy the stuff and stock the store. Eventually, I may one day branch off and do my own thing, but as it is now, it works. Don’t have to be at the store everyday to know its taking care of itself.

Let’s talk a little bit about your portfolio and the importance of having multiple streams of income.

Well, when I was young, I used to read a lot of financial books, and one thing they would say is you should have multiple [sources] of income to stay or become a millionaire. I definitely think that’s true because, say for instance, as a songwriter you maybe hot, then, what if you’re not hot anymore? Then you go through a period where you don’t feel like writing anymore. Those checks aren’t going to be as big as they were.

But, you still have these other things that are popping and making money. As far as me being a singer or in the music business that’s up and down. I wanted to have businesses that were not just about the music that I could still maintain and make money. So that if I ever chose to say “I’m leaving the music industry” I still had money coming in from something.

For more on how Kandi Burruss ventured into the billion-dollar adult toy industry, check out the full exclusive BlackEnterprise.com audio interview on BE Next.

Barbie Nation: Nicki Minaj all "dolled" up as a Barbie

Turns out pop superstar Nicki Minaj truly is a part of the “Barbie Nation.”

TheYBF.com reports that toy maker Mattel has officially begun production on the Nicki Minaj “Barbie.” On Wednesday (Dec 7) Mattel will auction a one-of-a-kind Nicki Minaj Barbie doll at CharityBuzz.com, with opening bids starting at $1,000. All proceeds will benefit Project Angel Food, which provides food for men, woman and children affected by HIV and AIDS.

In the past year, Nicki has proven to be more than a hot commodity. The rapper/actress is clearly determined to establish herself as a major brand.

Read more about the Nicki Minaj Barbie on TheYBF.com

Yandy Smith, of VH1's Love & Hip Hop (Season 2), says she wanted to add a different view of women in the industry. (Image: Smith)

We’ve seen the scandal, the tears, and the fights on VH1′s Love & Hip Hop, which follows the lives of women involved either in the music industry or with men who make a living from it. Now, as the show begins its second season, we’ll see new additions, with one being a young boss who brings a different aspect of the business to the table.

Yandy Smith, 29, joins the cast as a young entertainment powerhouse, having worked with industry superstars Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes, and serving as manager to hip-hop artist Jim Jones and model Toccara. Smith got her big break as executive assistant to Mona Scott-Young—co-founder of Violator Management and founder of Scott-Young Monami Entertainment—and went on to work her way up the ranks to broker deals for clients of her own. BlackEnterprise.com talked with the Howard University alum about how reality TV benefits her brand, how she gained success, and how up-and-comers can get their big break.

BlackEnterprise.com: What inspired you to get into the entertainment business, and how did you land your gig with Mona Scott-Young?

Smith: Actually I came in as an intern to her assistant’s assistant. I’d just graduated from Howard, and I wanted to get into entertainment law. I wanted to see what the whole entertainment world was about and decided to seek out an internship. I came across Violator Management. At the time they weren’t looking to hire anyone. I decided I’d come back again, and I’d check back the next week and the following week, until they finally said, “Let’s just give her something to do.” I became an intern after that.

Then from being intern, I became an assistant to Mona’s assistant, and then became Mona’s executive assistant, and now Mona and I are partners.

How did you become involved with Love & Hip Hop?

I actually pitched the show to [the show's now executive producer] Jim Ackerman, but it was a story based on Jim Jones’ life. [Ackerman] thought it was great, so the pilot got picked up, and we started shooting. Shortly after, a lot of things began happening in Jim’s personal life that affected  shooting the show. I needed to rework [the concept], and I didn’t want to lose the deal at VH1. So I called Mona to come in and help me rework the idea. She had a great idea she was pitching to another network about the women behind the scenes in hip hop… We [thought of] how to incorporate that with [Jim's story] and the vision came to life.

I loved the show last year. The only thing I would’ve loved to add was to show a woman who stood on her own two feet and didn’t do it on the back of the men in the industry. So after thinking, Who would be that woman? Mona said, “Hey, how about you?”

The blogs have been abuzz about your conflict with Jim Jones’ girlfriend and fellow castmate Chrissy, which reportedly led to your professional split from Jones as his manager. What were the challenges you had, and how best do you think one should handle professional conflicts?

I can’t get into many details about the show, but my best advice is to draw a line, if you can, between business and personal. Sometimes your clients might get you involved in their personal space because you’re not only their manager, sometimes you’re also a psychiatrist, a friend, an adviser. And that sometimes can lead to lines getting crossed. I would say, as much as you can stay out of that, stay out of it.

[The management situation] plays out on the show… I love Jim to death, and not only has he been my client, he’s been my brother, he’s been my best friend for almost eight years now. We’ll always work together in some capacity, whether I’m managing him or not.

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Cast of VH1's Love and Hip Hop (Image: VH1)

Many young people romanticize the glamor and glitz—parties and perks—of being in the music industry. What are the realities of some of the other aspects people don’t see?

It’s absolutely a glamorous lifestyle—if that’s what you want—but to get to that, it takes a lot of hard work. It’s two-fold for me: a plus and a negative. I’ve given up so much time and energy. I haven’t had time to start a family or have a consistent relationship that flourished because I’m always on the road, always traveling… It’s hard, and it’s a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week job. There’s no vacation. My phones are attached to my hip even when I’m trying to vacation.

You do balance it out with a lot of the perks, like going to the great parties or traveling all over the world, but there comes a point in time when it’s, what’s more important— family or career—and that’s where I am now.

You’ve extended your brand into an online boutique and lifestyle blog, Everything Girls Love. Why did you start this venture?

When I decided to do the show, I knew how much the show aired and looked at it as a great branding opportunity. It’s like a commercial for whatever it is you have going on. I thought, What is something that I’d like to promote? I’m a businesswoman, first and foremost, and when I looked around my room and saw all these rings, necklaces and pendants, I said, “I got it. I’m going to get into the accessories business.”

What does the collection offer?

Right now, the collection consists of about 30 pieces, including earrings, rings, bracelets and pendants. What sets us apart from everyone else is that every one of our pieces are bold, strong while still feminine and beautiful. Also, not only are we an accessories line, we’re also starting a loungewear line featuring rhinestone and sequin accents that are very edgy, but cute. Our ultimate goal is to be the one-stop-shop for ladies before you go out, go on a date, or just hang out and do your girly things you like to do—all the little feminine things that you love. And we’ll also have a blog section discussing trends, beauty tips and [there'll be a] Rock Candy section, featuring handsome men you should be looking out for.

Where do you ultimately see yourself in 10 years?

A year ago I would’ve answered this question completely different and eight years ago, when I was graduating college, I would’ve answered it completely different. I never, in a million years, would’ve thought I’d be in front of a camera, so the sky’s the limit. I’m just open and willing to do whatever it takes to further my brand and my career, while empowering women and showing them we can do everything on our own if we need to.