Canadian Press Article: Montreal Is The Only Canadian City In The Top 10 Happiest Places On Earth.
Canada gets 1 spot on list of happiest places
By Nelson Wyatt, The Canadian Press
MONTREAL – Canada has an entry on the list of the 10 happiest places on the planet — no small feat considering the rundown included Happy, Texas, the self-proclaimed “town without a frown.”
The popular Lonely Planet travel guide picked Montreal for its list of cheerful locales, noting that Canada’s second-largest city hosts one of the world’s biggest comedy events every July.
Lonely Planet’s U.S. travel editor, Robert Reid, says the list was drawn by surveying a panel of the guide’s editors and authors.
“Happy is a relative term and the truth is you can find happiness anywhere you go,” he said in a phone interview from New York. “You have to pick some places that have certain things about it that kind of pop out.”
Happy, Texas, for instance, made the cut because its name is “irresistible,” he said with a laugh.
“What works for a place like Montreal is that a lot of travellers, they go there and it feels like a city that loves itself in all the right ways. Food is fantastic, it parties like crazy. I live in New York City and, believe me, this part of the (U.S.) knows where to party: you go north of the border to Montreal.”
First mention on the list went to the South Pacific island paradise of Vanuatu — which has the advantage of being considerably warmer than the next city listed, Montreal.
Lonely Planet says Montreal has a variety of other attributes, especially in the summer when it hosts the Just For Laughs Festival, which wrapped up its latest edition on Sunday.
“Clean, welcoming and refreshingly multicultural, Montreal is happy enough year-round,” the travel guide says.
“Come July, though, it’s downright hilarious. Just For Laughs takes over the city in summer, packing venues with the best in both Anglo- and Francophone comedy.”
Montreal has placed high on Lonely Planet lists before — last year it followed Belgrade, Serbia, on the top 10 list of party towns.
While Lonely Planet loves Montreal, the city appeared nowhere on a similar recent list by Forbes magazine. Forbes preferred famed destinations like Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid and Amsterdam.
Lonely Planet’s list highlighted some lesser-known spots. Montreal is the only Canadian location selected, along with places in China, Japan, Colombia and Africa.
Happy, Texas, is described as the “town without a frown.” Although it’s “a disappointing collection of silos and gridded streets,” tourists can find “the best of Texas” outside the city limits with stunning landscapes, sunsets and wildlife.
Of the other spots, Bhutan is described as a “jovial,” “Himalayan Shangri-La.”
Despite Colombia’s history and reputation for violence, the guide says it’s getting safer, calling a visit to the Caribbean coast, coffee plantations and carnival parties “infectious and uplifting.”
Wuyi Shan, China, is “a realm of secret valleys splashed with waterfalls and pocked with mysterious caves.”
Malawi is described as “the warm heart of Africa,” where visitors are greeted generously.
“If it’s grins you’re after — big, unabashed ones — head to Malawi, dubbed the ‘warm heart of Africa’. The country’s people are renowned for the effusive welcome they give travellers, despite living in one of the poorest nations,” says the guide.
“From the woodcarving markets of capital Lilongwe to the sandy shores of Lake Malawi and the elephant-grazed bush of Liwonde National Park, you’ll be accosted with smiles at every turn.”
Still, it’s tough to beat Vanuatu.
“Many a human’s idea of blissful living involves swinging in a palm-strung hammock while the ocean swooshes gently onto a white-sand beach nearby,” Lonely Planet says.
“The water’s ridiculously blue and teeming with life; the interior’s lush and volcanically rumbling, great for exploring amid the breadfruit trees.
“But it’s the sense of community that makes this a truly happy place.”
Reid acknowledges it was tough to pick places and that the list — which was whittled down from 100 suggestions — could easily have gone to 1,000.
“I’d be curious (about) what some of the other Canadian cities think with Montreal being at the top. Maybe Vancouver’s furious. They had the Olympics this year.
“You could easily make a case. Vancouver’s a good candidate, to be honest.” He said he’s had good times in Hamilton, Ont., as well.
And Toronto? Reid says he’s actually headed there for a few days on business at the end of the month.
“I like Toronto. Big fan. But I have two free days at the end of it and I’m going to Montreal.”
This cheerful list comes after several months where Montrealers found it difficult to crack a smile about their city.
Last spring saw the downtown vandalized in hockey-related hooliganism, and there are fears of a blood-spattered power struggle among the city’s organized crime families.
Last fall, Maclean’s magazine ran a cover story about the city’s mayoral election with the headline, “Montreal is a corrupt, crumbling, mob-ridden disgrace.”
While the happiness list was originally published in May, it was picked up Tuesday by the popular U.S. website the Huffington Post, where it quickly generated some discussion.
The page featuring Montreal includes a photo of two young men — their faces painted red, white and blue — wearing Montreal Canadiens jerseys.
There was some debate on a number of the choices, and on those excluded, from the list.
As for Montreal, one person on the Lonely Planet website wrote: “Really glad to see a Canadian city included since I am originally from there.”
Someone on the Huffington Post prompted a debate by writing: “Montreal? Ugh. That place is in a linguistic civil war.”
To which someone replied: “Not a problem if you try hard enough to speak French. It comes handy. Vive (la) joie de vivre!”
And someone else offered a more philosophical measure of bliss.
“Happiness is anywhere you happen to be — with good health, good company, and a fat wallet in your pocket.”
Black Women Speak Out About Essence Magazine’s Decision To Hire A White Female Fashion Director.
Here are some comments from black women about Essence Magazine’s decision to hire a white female to be the new fashion director. 
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nancyregan says:You black people are nothing more than ass kissers when whites, asian, latinos, and many non blacks have their own magazine which many of you can’t read based upon the language barrier alone. But, it not about racism its about pride and being able to have something of our own that reflects us becauses were always being told that we are wrong in the way we look, dress, sound, eat, body wise and so many other things.
Yet, we know dam well if you or I walked into vogue or any white runned magazine and asked for a f ucken job we would be denied straight out. This job should have went to a black person and I don’t care what they kumbaya dummies think. The fashion is full of racism and it has been acceptable since the beginning of its inception that is why its good for us to have our own.
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chandrab says:can’t you see we are only segregating ourselves more in thinking like this! it just doesn’t make sense to me, to work for years and years to achieve equal rights and then after having come so far we choose to isolate ourselves and lash out when a white person attempts to work with us. say what you will but I think it is despicable that this is even an issue in the first place
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[…] that “in grandmama dull as dishwater” Fashion Fair wig. But if you haven’t read this (Clutch is so on it) story by now there’s a woman by the name of Ellianas Placas whose […]
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Cree says:Oh! and i won’t be buying Essence anymore, as a matter of fact, I been stopped when Time Warner took over!
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de says:Yeah, I won’t be buying them anymore. I do just how THEY do, when someone of color takes over, keep my money in my pocket.
This is not against a certain color, but of all places for a sister who is well into fashion and beauty to get a job, she can’t even get one at Essence??? I say no! My money sticks with me!
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[…] Click here to read more […]
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[…] Davis is very upset, and since she is also a writer, I can understand her concern; Essence is one of the few places that has consistently provided employment to Black female journalists–and Black stylists and designers. Davis was quote in Clutch Magazine as saying that “I feel like a girlfriend died.” (Click on t… […]
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omg says:this not really about giving people chances, etc.
this is about the reason for the existence of ebony, essence, jet, etc.
do we remember why these publications exist in the first place?
they exist to:
1. EMPLOY and give breaks to our people because white publications do not.
2. EDUCATE our people about our own selves because white people do not/cannot.
3. EXPOSE ourselves to the greatness of each another.this is not about giving a white woman a chance. obviously, this woman has worked at large publications; people have given her chances and opportunities. and that’s the problem isn’t it? how many bw and bm have been given opportunities at large magazines? very very very few.
the fashion industry (and magazine industry in general) is known for being racist and exclusive. i watched the vogue documentary september. i recall seeing two black, gay guys – andre and some other guy. i saw no black people at all. it’s probably worse at other mags – allure, bazaar, seventeen, glamour, madamoiselle…
i’m amazed that people are okay with this. i wish i knew the ages of people posting; i suspect lots of teens and very early 20 somethings who barely even understand why a mag such as essence exists, beyond the superficial reason of to help find a nice lipstick or moisturizer.
sorry, don’t mean to be too condescending. but, i’m almost left breathless by the lack of consciousness and self-awareness exhibited by people here. then again, that ninja thread really told me all i needed to know.
i feel sorry for black folk. it seems we will never learn to put ourselves first the way others do.
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Sable M. says:Thank you! *snaps fingers* Thank you for laying out what any black owned anything, especially in the media has ever been about!! It’s so disappointing to hear trying to make equal opportunity for white people… it’s totally missing the point, like the big point! What it’s always been about, historically, socially, economic and politically in this dayum country!!!
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[…] Clutch Magazine Online – […]
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[…] First Susan Taylor left than Mikki Howard followed suite. Then there was the sustainable layoffs reported in November 09, which had folks speculating if Essence was on its last pages. But now it appears that the publishers are looking forward in a universal way with the hiring of Ellianna Placas, former editor of O Magazine and US Weekly, who will now begin her tenure as the new fashion editor at the magazine. Oh, one more thing: Placas is white. […]
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serenissima says:I’m 22… And I must agree that this is not about reverse racism or equal opportunities for white folk. I mean come on, really? You honestly expect me to believe that there is a lack of opportunities for white people in the fashion industry?
No way… I have a degree in journalism and while the entire industry IS suffering, white folks STILL have it better than the rest of us. It’s not about this woman being qualified. It’s about the fact that there are probably hundreds of Black journalists just as qualified, that won’t be given the opportunities outside of Essence that she would.
It also may sound exclusive to say that Essence is a Black publication that should have a Black staff, but exclusivity isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Especially when the White publications refuse to hire us, the runways refuse to use us, and this year White models are being painted Black. We need something for US, not more White women claiming th know us better than we know ourselves.
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Honey says:I did not receive my damn august issue yet that’s all I can say right now and this news adds up to my feeling that I won’t be renewing my subscription
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[…] on Clutch Magazine–an awesome online magazine for young, black women–that announced Essence magazine has hired a new Fashion Director. And she is […]
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Furaha says:I subscribe to both ELLE and VOGUE and love them. I look over my mother’s Essence because fashion is not poppin in there.
But does anybody remember Suede??? It was created by Essence and had excellent fashion spreads. I still look at them for inspiration. Of allll the women involved in Suede, none of them could help Essence? Suede got canceled due to the Time Warner takeover and hence the reason for the situation Essence finds itself in now.
If I want a white opinion about fashion I’ll go to ELLE and VOGUE so why is there a white fashion editor at ESSENCE???? Where is our voice??
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[…] Essence Hires White Fashion Director, Leaves Loyal Readers Asking Why [Clutch] […]
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BC says:Nancy Reagen, it’s all in the name…she has about as much a leg to stand on as I do a toilet to take a S__T!
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[…] called out by some of its readership and supporters for reportedly hiring a white Fashion Director, according to CLUTCH Magazine. Ellianna Placas, formerly of O: The Oprah Magazine and US Weekly is said to be starting at the […]
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2nd Thought says:For those who don’t regularly read a masthead, this new hire prob comes does as a great surprise and shock. But considering the new Fashion Director has been freelancing with them for quite a while now- and no one has complained- I
am unclear why readers think she’s not going to be able to nail the voice and mission of the magazine.Why did no one reach out to Essence for an explanation or a quote? Especially if this website is “the little sister” of the publication??
Question- how many Black fashion EDITORS (not stylists, those are two totally different different jobs) are there in the industry that are willing to work for what Essence can afford to pay? How many even applied for the position? Show me this information and then I might be willing to feel some type of ways.
This one-sided conversation is so disappointing and typical.
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The Joy Krystal says:The idea of the black publications being made only for the sole purpose of education and knowledge from our people to our people is understood and respected but just the thought of having someone that is a caucasian sit there and be a leader in a african american dominated magazine is the problem. As long as she puts as much effort if not more than her african american counterparts into making the magazine fit to our lifestyle then i really wont have a problem with it.
now, if i start seeing more and more lighter faces then we will have a problem…. I am a MAC nc50 and i understand that i’m not dark but like hell will i read or subscribe to essence if they start putting other races other than african american or latino in the magazine.
Maybe the new director will actually have a nice fashion spread ya know…
Maybe she can get the magazine to put somebody else on that dayum cover… Sorry Mary,Jada,Latifah,#BEYONCE, Alicia, and Monique but i’m tired of seeing ya’ll.. how about joy Bryant, or Janelle Monae, Solange (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), Erykah, Christina milian, Kelly Rowland(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) ,CHRISETTE MICHELLE (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), Estelle, Thandie? SOMEBODY other than these people! I’m good and dog gon sure that Mo’Nique is not the only big person who is famous…. they could even put the big Gabby on there or something.. ANYBODY! I think i’m gonna write a letter-not that they’d read and consider it but i am REALLY tired of them on the cover!
okay let me hush… i’m through
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[…] Essence Hires White Fashion Director, Leaves Loyal Readers Asking Why [Clutch] […]
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Karen says:I don’t want Honey. The new owners of it have messed it up in my opinion. No thanks. If they bring it back I want Kierna and Joceyln (sp?) owning it. And since that wont’ be happening. no thanks.
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[…] called out by some of its readership and supporters for reportedly hiring a white Fashion Director, according to CLUTCH Magazine. Ellianna Placas, formerly of O: The Oprah Magazine and US Weekly is said to be starting at the […]
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Burcie L. Payne-Martin says:I will not buy or support Essence Magazine in the future.
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mallie says:The “fashion” section of Essence could use some new blood anyway; it’s boring as hell. And to be honest, I don’t see what makes it so black to begin with, save for a few black designer pieces it mixes in. Do you think this new white fashion director is NOT going to do the same? You think she’s going to edit out all the “blackness” or something? Gimme a break. She knows her audience and if she wants to keep her job she will serve them well. This is like one of us going into a job and giving it 250% because we know people expect more of us because we’re black. We’ll expect more of her because she’s white and she knows it and if she’s good, she’ll bring her A game.
And what’s with this outcry about representing “us” in the fashion section anyway? The “us” everybody talks about is out spending big money to buy designer labels headed up by Europeans. Are we being hypocrites?
Now, don’t get it twisted, OBVIOUSLY I know this is some kind of BS. CLEARLY they could have found a black person qualified enough to fill this role. Magazines are dying right now. DYING. This must have been some sort of move to stay afloat or to appease the powers that be or to appear to be more inclusive than exclusive and therefore reposition themselves in the market. Whatever the case may be, they are trying to keep their head above water and this was one tactic. Regardless of who’s editing the fashion section, it’s still a black magazine and you should go out and buy it and support it and keep it alive.
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mallie says:
ETA: And that rant came from someone who finds Essence HELLA boring, but I buy every month just the same. Yes, buy it. Every month. Newsstand sales mean more than subscriptions. Support black publications. End of discussion.
/rant
Serenity says:
Lisa says:Clutch Magazine Article: Essence Magazine Hires A White Female Fashion Director & Some Black Women Are Upset!
Essence Hires White Fashion Director, Leaves Loyal Readers Asking Why?
“I feel like a girlfriend has died.” – Michaela angela Davis
On Friday evening, cultural critic and writer Michaela angela Davis tweeted: “It is with a heavy heavy heart I have learned that Essence magazine has engaged a white fashion director, this hurts, literally, spiritually.” Michaela’s tweet erupted a series of reactions, re-tweets, and scores of Facebook comments. Responses ranged from shock, disappointment to utter confusion.
Our immediate reaction? As the publication unofficially deemed “Essence‘s little sister”—a growing young urban women’s online brand for news, critical commentary, lifestyle, fashion and beauty—it felt like our Mom walked us hand in hand to the center of the biggest shopping mall in the state, turned around, and left us. But we are no longer the little girls eyeballing the glossy giant who taught us how to love ourselves. We’ve been finding our way through the life, love and labels for quite sometime now; and the likely abandonment of the counselor who taught us everything we know is now evolving into clearer overstanding. The pressing question for many of us is how much does Time Warner have to do with the hiring.
In 2000, media giant Time Warner acquired 49 percent of Essence Communications Partners, and in 2005, the conglomerate purchased the remaining 51 percent. The news was met with a strong contention by the Black community who viewed the transaction as yet another Black business takeover. Time Warner’s purchase of the beloved Essence brand came on the heels of Viacom’s acquisition of Black Entertainment Television.
Essence announced it’s search for a Fashion Director in March after Agnes Cammock left the post several years before. The print’s latest Fashion Director was celebrity stylist Billie Causieestko, who had a brief stint with the magazine lasting less than a year. No information released on why Causieestko no longer holds the spot.
The company has yet to officially announce the new hire. However, media industry site Media Bistro released an article on Monday revealing the pick is Ellianna Placas, formerly of O: The Oprah Magazine and US Weekly. The report confirms Placas will make her official debut with Essence in their 40th anniversary commemorative issue in September. According to the brand’s announcement, the Fashion Director is responsible for developing and conceiving five to seven fashion stories and one feature per month. The position also requires the person to communicate the “Essence style mission on sales calls and represent the brand on television” among other managerial tasks.
CLUTCH spoke with Michaela angela Davis, a former fashion editor for Essence, and a current writer for the print, and fashion media personality Najwa Moses. Both women were gracious enough to share their honest and candid thoughts on the news.
Offering her immediate reaction to the hiring, Michaela says, “I am so so hurt and confused and frankly angry by this news. I feel like a girlfriend has died.” Michaela’s tweets and Facebook comments on the hiring informed many media insiders, and former Essence staff members who had no clue. “I am going against my own advice and publicly speaking when I’m so emotionally driven.” Michaela says she reached out to Angela Burt-Murray, current Editor-in-Chief of Essence. “I emailed her as a respectful heads up informing her that I would be speaking up.” Michaela says her feelings on the news have much to do with Black women’s hostile history with the fashion industry. Further explaining her concerns around the issue, Michaela wrote on Facebook: “It is personal and it’s also professional. If there were balance in the industry; if we didn’t have a history of being ignored and disrespected; if more mainstream fashion media included people of color before the ONE magazine dedicated to Black women ‘diversified’, it would feel different.”
Commenting on if the hiring of a White fashion director has to do with a possible Time Warner strong-hold, Michaela tells CLUTCH, “I do not dare speak on whose brand got who. What I do know is that I’ve seen women go to combat with the biggest of corporate big wigs to protect their audience.”
Michaela shares, “I remember when Vibe launched, I overheard Martha Stewart (whose magazine was a Time publication at the time) laying a corporate executive out–literally screaming at him telling him he has ‘no authority’ to tell her what to put in her magazine, and that he had ‘no idea’ what her ‘culture’ is like. Martha Stewart said ‘she was the expert!’ I will never forget that.”
“But closer to home Susan L. Taylor (former Essence Editor-In-Chief and Creative Director) demanded things for her people, and the community, like the free empowerment seminars at the Essence Music Festival.” Michaela continues, “My point is there are examples of people braving corporate pressures for the love of their audience.”
Connecting the news to the Shirley Sherrod controversy, Michaela says, “I think I am also so sensitive to this ‘unprotected Black women’ issue off the heels of Shirley Sherrod. The NAACP didn’t even call her or Google her history.” Michaela says, “How many qualified Black fashion professionals did they [Essence] call?”
Fashion media personality Najwa Moses has her own set of qualified Black women who should have received a call. “I can think of a few qualified Black women, and men too.” Najwa says. “My picks would be celebrity stylists Patti Wilson, June Ambrose, Kithe Brewster, Memsor Kamaraké, and Sydney Bolden.” Najwa also says that Michaela angela Davis herself would have been a good pick.
Najwa, a dominant force in the world of fashion media—particularly new media–also shared her immediate reaction: “I was blown away—in shock really.” Najwa tells CLUTCH. “I mean, how could such a prestigious title who is deeply rooted in its target audience let someone who is not even apart of the African Diaspora detonate our image?”
Offering further thoughts on the popular Black women’s brand’s very first White Fashion Director, Najwa reveals she doesn’t really look to Essence for fashion anyway. “I only look inward for fashion to be upfront, but I do look to Essence to continue to inspire and enrich the Black woman’s experience.”
Najwa questions, “How can a White woman dictate and decide what style and beauty is for the Black woman?”
But in a ‘post-racial’ world, some people call Michaela and Najwa’s point of view on the hiring reverse racism. One commenter on Facebook wrote, “I’m surprised that everyone assumes this is terrible news simply because the new person is White. We know absolutely zero about them besides that.” Another commenter stated, “What’s makes her not qualified? I hope that beauty can be found in every woman.” The commenter advised us all to consider her performance first.
Still, media insiders are not buying it. Joan Morgan, an award-winning journalist, author and long-time writer for Essence says she could care less how qualified the brand’s new white Fashion Director could be. “This is about the fact that the publishing industry, particularly when it comes to mainstream women’s magazines remains just about as segregated in its hiring practices as it did in 1988.” Joan referenced a 1988 Folio article about Blacks who are discouraged by the publishing industry’s “laissez-faire attitude toward recruitment.” Joan says, “When these same institutions (naming Conde Nast, Hachette and others) start to employ hiring practices that allow Black publishing professionals the same access to their publications, that’s when I can get all ‘Kumbaya’ about Essence‘s new fashion director.”
For many, the magazine’s bold step of hiring a White Fashion Director signals a new era–or the end of one. When we asked if this is an attempt to broaden the print’s demo, Michaela said, “Having worked at Essence, Vibe and Honey, I know all too well how incredibly difficult it is to get ad sales support. This is such a treacherous time for print.” But Michaela also says that Essence‘s long time cultural standpoint is the brand’s strongest selling point. “The greatest asset a brand can have is a unique promotable position. There is so much brand value there for Black and non-Black readers.” Michaela says if Essence forgoes it’s Black women’s posture, what would make its fashion pages any different from Vogue, In Style, or even O: the Oprah magazine?
Loyal Essence readers and media insiders are eagerly awaiting an official announcement from the publication on the shocking decision, or better an explanation.
How will a White Fashion Director affect the 40-year-old Essence brand—the publication that has become a formidable Black American institution? How will long-time subscribers respond—many who include aspiring Black female writers and editors? Najwa says only time will tell. “For the insider’s insider like myself, I’m planning to peep through the issue to see where it goes–but I won’t be buying it.”
Houston Chronicle Article: Transgender Widow’s Deceased Husband Did Not Know His Wife Was Born Male!
Deposition: Wharton firefighter unaware wife born a man
By PEGGY O’HARE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
July 26, 2010, 10:33PM
Firefighter’s ‘horrified’ widow
A Wharton Volunteer Fire Department captain whose estate is now the subject of a bitter court battle questioning whether his marriage was valid testified in April that he did not know his wife used to be a man, according to a court deposition obtained by the Houston Chronicle.
Thomas Araguz III’s widow said Monday that Araguz intentionally lied when the subject of her sex change surfaced in depositions taken in a child custody case earlier this year. Nikki Araguz said she also lied in her deposition. They were hoping to keep joint custody of his two boys, she said.
Nikki Araguz, who was born Justin Graham Purdue, testified she did not recall ever discussing her birth name with her husband.
The depositions were taken in April for a child custody case filed by Thomas Araguz’s ex-wife, who did not want their two young sons around Nikki Araguz, attorneys said.
The court documents are of interest since the fallen firefighter’s parents filed a lawsuit alleging his marriage is void because Nikki Araguz was born a man.
Nikki Araguz, 35, is temporarily prohibited by a Wharton state district court from spending or collecting any benefits related to her husband’s death while the case remains pending in court.
“That deposition is a lie,” Nikki Araguz said from her Wharton home Monday night.
“At the time, Thomas and I thought it was in the best interest of our children to lie. They were the center of (our) lives,” she said.
Deposition transcript
Thomas Araguz, 30, died July 4 while fighting a fire at an egg farm near Boling. He had been married to Nikki Araguz for 20 months when he gave his deposition April 28.
“Do you know that your wife was formerly a male?” asked Frank Mann III, a Bellaire attorney representing Thomas Araguz’s ex-wife and the mother of his children, according to the deposition transcript.
“No,” Araguz responded.
“You have no knowledge of that?” Mann asked the firefighter.
“I have no knowledge,” Araguz responded.
If their marriage is voided in Texas, all benefits will go to Thomas Araguz’s two sons from his previous marriage, said Chad Ellis, the attorney for Araguz’s mother.
During another part of the inquiry focusing on Nikki Araguz, Mann asked her husband, “Would it surprise you if it said male on her birth certificate?”
“Yes,” Thomas Araguz responded.
“When did you first tell your husband about the fact that you had that prior name?” Mann asked Nikki Araguz during her deposition.
“I don’t recall ever discussing that with him, to be honest with you,” she responded.
In his deposition, Thomas Araguz also said he knew nothing about his wife’s arrest by Wharton police in 2007 for possession of a controlled substance, specifically cocaine, a charge that landed Nikki Araguz deferred adjudication and two years of probation.
Nikki Araguz said Monday her husband did know of the arrest.
Probation completed
Thomas Araguz testified that while he knew his wife had a criminal record, he did not know his wife was on probation earlier this year in Wharton County or that she checked in with a probation officer every month.
Nikki Araguz just completed her probation for the cocaine arrest on July 14, court records show.
Formerly known as Nikki Paige Purdue, she married Thomas Araguz in Wharton County on Aug. 23, 2008. The couple previously ran the Wharton County Living magazine before it closed earlier this summer.
Before she married Thomas Araguz, Nikki Araguz was married to another man almost 20 years her senior. Their marriage lasted for eight years before they divorced in 2007.
Gayblackcanada 
I love Essence because it represents me. However, they need to venture out with articles and fashion spreads. The same people are recycled from month to month. March and December it is Mary. In the May issue they have Jada.Then, on the January issue they have Queen Latifah,Lastly, on the September and November they have Beyonce and Alicia. I mean really….lol. There are so many people doing so many things. By now, they should have an Essence Africa, France, Britain…they are not expanding the brand nor are they keeping the US customers. They need to clean house and start over. Would Vogue hire a minority..nope but there circulation is crazy and they make the money to make big demands. We need to do better. Let’s not even talk about Ebony….wow…I don’t buy that at all…they need a younger staff……