If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime event, sometimes you need a once-in-a-lifetime location. And if you’re planning a wedding, anniversary, vow renewal, or just a long overdue getaway, there’s no place like Turtle Island.

A 500-acre, privately owned island in Fiji that looks like a picture postcard come to life, Turtle Island offers warm sunshine, beaches of powdery sand, sumptuous meals, warm local hospitality, and outdoor activities unlike any you’ll find at a typical all-inclusive resort.

Here are 10 reasons you should visit Turtle Island:

 

1. It’s Easy to Get There

 

Considering how far away Fiji is (hint: it’s in the South Pacific), getting to Turtle Island is surprisingly convenient. One direct flight from Los Angeles to Nadi via Fiji Airways takes less than 12 hours. If you’re in Business Class, the hours fly by—pun intended—quite comfortably.

 

Turtle Airways planes are equipped for land and sea. (Photo: Aniesia Williams)

 

Once you arrive, it’s a short seaplane or boat ride to the island. Depending on when your flight lands, you may need to stay overnight near the airport or relax at the rejuvenation center.

 

2. The Traditional Fijian Bure on the Blue Lagoon

 

Remember the movie Blue Lagoon, starring Brooke Shields? Parts of that movie were filmed here. High, thatched roofs and local wood are hallmarks of the bure—or cabins—on Turtle Island. But don’t let the eco-friendly design fool you; these are luxury digs with high-end fixtures and bedding.

 

Tradition and luxury come together in the Turtle Island bure. (Photo: Aniesia Williams)

 

3. Friendly People and Unforgettable Hospitality

 

Visitors to Turtle Island enjoy true Fijian culture, which stresses the value of friends and family, community, and caring. Culture is shared through stories, songs, and activities where you can learn about the local flora and fauna.

 

Resort staff and guests pose for a picture. (Photo: Aniesia Williams)

4. Being Pampered by Your Own ‘Bure Mama’

 

Couples are pampered by a “bure mama,” who attends to their needs during their stay—think of someone akin to a personal concierge. Bure mamas ensure all housekeeping needs are taken care of, can step in as a tour guide when desired, and will even take pictures and prepare photo albums for you to go home with.

 

The fine hospitality on Turtle Island. (Photo: Aniesia Williams)

5. Award-Winning Cuisine

 

Travel and Leisure rated Turtle Island’s food among the best in the world. Diners enjoy local seafood, Australian beef, and island-grown fruits and vegetables, accompanied by wines from around the world.

 

 

 

A refreshing salad preceding a delicious dinner. (Photo: Aniesia Williams)

 

Visitors can enjoy shared dinners open to all guests, as well as many specialty options, including beach picnics, private meals at the bure, lantern-lit lagoon dinners, and moonlit mountaintop dinners. Each bure also has a fully-stocked refrigerator for refreshments anytime.

 

6. Pristine Beaches That Stretch for Miles

 

Enjoy Turtle Island’s 14 white, sandy beaches from a daybed on the veranda of your bure, a seaside hammock, on horseback, or simply walking along the beach.

 

Picturesque Turtle Beach. (Photo: Aniesia Williams)

7. Blissful Pastimes

 

Guests of Turtle Island can enjoy as many (or as few) activities as they like. Scuba diving, windsurfing, sea kayaking, and fishing are included. Take a glass-bottomed boat ride, walk through jungle paths, or hike to the highest point on the island. Every evening, there’s a sunset dinner party, followed by the chance to take in Fijian music and stories.

 

Both pool and sea beckon on Turtle Island. (Photo: Aniesia Williams)

8. Private Getaways

 

There are never more than 14 couples at the resort at one time. Guests’ bures are wide-set for privacy and solitude. While couples are always welcome to dine together at dinner, guests always have the option of dining alone.

 

Tropical romance. (Photo: Aniesia Williams)

9. Unforgettable Special Events

 

Couples getting married or renewing their vows have the option of a traditional Fijian ceremony—complete with handmade wedding clothes—and a feast followed by wedding cake. The music, the minister, a champagne toast, and the marriage license are all taken care of.

 

Entertaining and educational culture. (Photo: Aniesia Williams)

10. No Additional Costs

 

Guests enjoy a truly all-inclusive vacation—where all meals and beverages are included—plus all activities, laundry services, cultural experiences, spa services, and entertainment. Just like you’d imagine in paradise.

* This article previously appeared on the A Global Lifestyle website.

 

---

Aniesia Williams is an LA-based, yet global senior brand strategist and expert, multimedia journalist, and digital beast. She was recently named as one of Network Journal’s Top 40 Under 40. She brings more than a decade of experience in marketing, new media, and branding. She has provided her expertise to some of the world’s largest brands, including Ford, Samsung, Shell, Lionsgate, and the Clinton Global Initiative. As a journalist, Aniesia also writes extensively about business and luxury travel experiences. Beyond her own media platform, A Global Lifestyle, Aniesia has provided content for top publications, including Business Insider, Black Enterprise, and Ebony Magazine to name a few.

 

 

Mastering a skill as an individual is something truly amazing, but this husband-and-wife duo tackles the photography industry together. Regis (husband) and Kahran (wife) both went from the world of marketing to capturing the essence of all things beauty within a few frames. Each of their skill sets has awarded them the chance to look out of their lenses from a different perspective.

Their approach to successfully taking the internet by storm with their ode to natural hair and kiddies makes us want to learn more about their work. BE chatted with CreativeSoul about all things photography.

Black Enterprise: How did you get started in photography?

CreativeSoul: We both started out in the marketing and design world and fell in love with photography while dating long distance. We decided to start CreativeSoul Photography together while Reg was in school studying photography.

(Image:creativesoulphoto.com)

 

BE: How did your sole focus become the natural hair movement?

CS: When we first decided to get started in the kid’s fashion industry, we noticed that a lot of the models would send us their snapshot before the shoot and would have gorgeous natural hair. When they arrived for the shoot, many of them would arrive with their hair straightened because they felt that’s what they needed to do to thrive in the industry. We decided to do a couple of personal shoots showing child models rocking their own natural curls and the success from those shoots allowed us to create our own niche in this space.

BE: What advice would you give other professionals looking to navigate through the business world with their significant other?

CS: The best thing that helped us in our journey was figuring out each other’s strengths/weaknesses and dividing responsibilities based on that. Reg is much better at some of the technical aspects of the business and Kahran much better handling the client side, business, and marketing. We try to stay in our own lanes, which gives us each a sense of personal ownership in the business.

BE: Describe your feelings toward your photos that garnered massive attention via social media.

CS:  We are always surprised when our photos go viral because we never really know which ones will take off. Our roller girls shoot was one of our very first photos to go viral garnering attention from celebrities to everyday people around the world. We love hearing stories from moms of little girls who say that they are inspired by our work and use our photos to inspire their daughters to be confident with who they are.

(Image: creativesoulphoto.com)

 

BE: Did you have any setbacks when creating CreativeSoul?

CS: In the beginning of our career it was very difficult to fully expand and grow our business while Kahran was still working a full-time job. With only one spouse being dedicated to the business it meant that we had certain aspects of the business that had to be put on hold until we could find a convenient time. After seven years of building our business, Kahran was finally able to leave the corporate world to focus on the business full-time.

BE: How important is it to find your niche?

CS: In the photography world it is extremely important to find your niche because it is easy to be forgotten in the large pool of photographers. Finding your niche not only allows you to stand out from the crowd but also allows you to focus on the things that you are good at and love to do.

(Image: creativesoulphoto.com)

 

BE: Explain your entrepreneurial mindset and what it means to society?

CS: In our business, we always strive to keep our brand positive and uplifting. Years from now when people see our work, we would love for them to be able to get a glimpse at our culture during this time and see positive images that uplift our community.

BE: Who are some of your inspirations?

CS: For photography, our biggest inspiration would be Gordon Parks. We absolutely love his work and the legacy he left behind. We love the way his images tell a story and leave the viewer wanting to explore more about what was going on during that particular time. For business, we love the way Oprah has continued to reinvent herself and her business over time while maintaining a positive image in the industry.

BE: What does the CreativeSoul brand look like within the next five years?

CS: We’d love to see our brand expand to much more than photography in the next five years. We’ve recently opened our online art store selling fine art created with some of our most popular photos turned into art. We’d also like to use our brand as a connection point in connecting the kids that we work with to other brands and organizations that can help them pursue their own dreams and initiatives.

BE: What are some brands, individuals or organizations that you would like to work with?

CS:  We’d love to work with organizations like Black Girls Rock! because we think that they would be a perfect fit for our brand. We’d also love to work with some of the major brands like Dove to be able to tell their brand story in a unique way.

BE: What are the various qualities the two of you bring to your business relationship?

CS: Kahran’s career in marketing, technology, and design allows her to bring a unique set of skills that are needed to help build and expand our business. Regis is amazing at the technical aspects of photography and is the key to bringing all of the pieces together. Reg keeps our day-to-day business running smoothly and makes sure everything is picture perfect.

Regis (left) and Kahran (Image: creativesoulphoto.com)

To view some of CreativeSoul’s other amazing work visit creativesoulphoto.com or their Instagram @creativesoulphoto

---

Written by contributor Regan Farley 

Spring is officially in full swing, which means summer is just around the corner! Although warm weather is an excellent excuse to get outside and enjoy all the majestic beauty that Mother Nature has to offer, for self-proclaimed sofa spuds like myself, it’s also a great opportunity to embrace the wonders of the great indoors—i.e. relaxing on a comfy couch beneath the frosty blast of an A.C., with a bowl of popcorn, glass of wine, and entertaining TV shows. And as the flowers continue to bloom and temperatures continue to rise, us indoor enthusiasts can take solace in the continuous rollout of summer series premieres.

So, whether the debut of a new season means finally getting some kind of resolution for a previous cliffhanger, or you’ve grown bored of current programs and are looking to discover fresh entertainment, here’s a list of five summer TV premieres that you can look forward to:

 

1. The Bachelorette 

Why You Should Watch:

Now in its 13th season, most are fairly familiar with the premise of this show and kind of know what to expect; there will be a parade of attractive guys from all walks of life, each desperately seeking a chance at true love (*cough* or fame *cough*) with one girl, a recently rejected fan favorite from a previous season of The Bachelor. We can also expect many romantic dates, exotic vacations, wild challenges, rose ceremonies, trips to “the fantasy suite,” and questions surrounding the authenticity and/or mental stability of certain contestants.

So, why is this particular season of The Bachelorette so special? See for yourself:

 

(Source: YouTube, User: tvtymes)

 

No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you! For the first time in the history of the franchise, America’s favorite “bachelorette” is black!

Although attorney Rachel Lindsay may not have taken home the final rose from Nick Viall on The Bachelor, it was clearly a blessing in disguise. Now, Lindsay has the chance to call all the shots as men vie for her attention. And, as she says in the promo, she’s “not looking to play games or get played”—her ring finger is “READY.”

 

When and Where Can You Catch This TV Show?

You can watch the history-making premiere of The Bachelorette Monday, May 22, at 9 p.m./8c (with future episodes moving to 8 p.m./7c) on ABC.

 

2. Beat Shazam

 

Why You Should Watch:

Executive Producer and Host Jamie Foxx challenges contestants, as they compete for cash prizes based on their ability to quickly and accurately identify a song’s title and artist. The catch is that rather than merely working against the clock, contestants must be able to produce an answer before these details are revealed by Shazam, an app designed to speedily identify a song’s credentials based on mere sound bites.

 

(Source: YouTube, User: PromosTV Network)

 

When and Where Can You Catch This TV Show?

The inaugural episode of Beat Shazam airs Thursday, May 25, at 8 p.m./7c on FOX.

 

3. America’s Got Talent 

 

Why You Should Watch:

This spring/summer oldie but goodie competition show, which seeks out raw American talent with the potential to parlay into an international phenomenon, will be changing things up a bit for its 12th season. Earlier this year, Nick Cannon announced his departure from the summertime smash on Facebook, after hosting the show for eight seasons.

And who will replace Cannon as the emcee for America’s Got Talent?

 

(Screenshot from America’s Next Top Model, Season 13, Episode 3. Source: The CW via Hulu.)

 

None other than veteran supermodel and reigning queen of “smize,” Tyra Banks, will be taking over as host for season 12 of America’s Got Talent, alongside judges Mel B, Heidi Klum, Simon Cowell, and Howie Mandel.

Perhaps Banks is brushing up on her hosting skills in anticipation of the upcoming season of America’s Next Top Model? Although Banks has remained at the helm as the program’s executive producer, she did take a step back from hosting ANTM, when it relaunched with Cycle 23 on VH1 last winter. However, Banks recently announced that she would be replacing host Rita Ora, reclaiming her OG hosting gig in the upcoming season.

I missed my ANTM baby so Mama’s back! #ANTM #ANTM24

— Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) March 16, 2017

Mizz @ritaora, you exemplify Business Boss Brand to the fullest! Thank you for all the amazingness you brought to ANTM ?

— Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) March 16, 2017

 

Although Cycle 24 of ANTM is currently still casting, one can only hope that, in the meantime, we can catch Banks unleash her arsenal of impassioned, one-of-a-kind Tyra-isms on the America’s Got Talent audience.

 

(Screenshot from America’s Next Top Model; Season 4, Episode 3. Source: The CW via Hulu. Meme Source: imgflip.com)

 

When and Where Can You Catch This TV Show? 

Season 12 of America’s Got Talent premieres Tuesday, May 30, at 8 p.m./7c on NBC.

 

4. Fear Factor

 

Why You Should Watch:

I’m sure everyone remembers this ick-factor driven competition show from NBC; contestants face a series of dares that push them to their emotional, physical, and psychological limits. Challenges involved graphic, grotesque, hair-raising stunts like eating live roaches, being buried alive with live snakes, or bathing in cow’s blood. Those strong enough to withstand these stunts and ultimately face their fears were rewarded with a hefty cash prize.

Well, after a five-year hiatus, Fear Factor is back! Now on MTV, Fear Factor‘s Executive Producer and Host Ludacris is aiming to put a fresh, youthful spin on the series. According to an article from The Hollywood Reporter:

“The new incarnation will flip the script on its targeted Generation Z audience and instead of gross-out challenges (like eating worms), will be more playful with the hope of providing a cathartic tension release along the way. The newly designed stunts are geared at tapping into visceral fears of today’s anxious youth — such as couch surfing at 300 feet and waterlogging personal cell phones.

Inspired by urban legends, scary movies and online videos from the zeitgeist, contestants will be pushed beyond their comfort zones where their body’s physiological responses will take over.”

 

(Source: YouTube, User: MTV)

 

When and Where Can You Catch This TV Show? 

The reboot of Fear Factor will premiere Tuesday, May 30, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

 

5.  Steve Harvey’s FUNDERDOME

 

Why You Should Watch:

The always entertaining Steve Harvey hosts this new show, which helps entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams.

According to the casting announcement published on ABC’s website:

“Steve Harvey is hosting a new, groundbreaking show on ABC looking for great innovators and entrepreneurs to help fund their American dream. We’re looking for mom-and-pop businesses, unique and interesting products, or creative ideas that just need a little more money to jumpstart their next phase. You could win anywhere from $10,000-$100,000, all you have to do is win over the live studio audience and convince them that you deserve to be funded.”

Think Shark Tank meets American Idol: those looking for a chance to finally make their big, entrepreneurial break will compete for a chance to obtain funding. But, rather than impress a panel of judges, the winners are ultimately determined based on the opinions of the live studio audience.

 

When and Where Can You Catch This TV Show? 

Watch the premiere of Steve Harvey’s FUNDERDOME Sunday, June 11, at 9 p.m. on ABC.