November 20, 2025
NOVEMBER 20th
(SOCAL BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)
Beverly Hills, CA
BEVERLY HILLS WAS IN THE PRESENCE OF GREATNESS WITH ACTOR AND SPORTSCASTER JAYNE KENNEDY AT THE BLVKBOOK IN BEVERLY CENTER
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BEVERLY HILLS WAS IN THE PRESENCE OF GREATNESS WITH ACTOR AND SPORTSCASTER JAYNE KENNEDY AT THE BLVKBOOK IN BEVERLY CENTER
A Night of Legacy and Resilience with Trailblazer Jayne Kennedy in Beverly Hills With Fireside Chat Host Dr. Marie Y. Lemelle, PhD
BEVERLY HILLS, CA November 21, 2025 Platinum Star Media Group (PSMG), led by President Dr. Marie Y. Lemelle who had a special, intimate tribute and Fireside Chat event honoring cultural icon and broadcasting trailblazer, Ms. Jayne Kennedy. The event, “Platinum Star by the Fireside with Jayne Kennedy,” took place on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the chic BLVKBOOK in the Beverly Center. This event was fully delighted by the melodies of “Maestro The Vocalinist” @thevocalinist.
Hailing from Fayetteville, NC, the Actor and Poet Sheldon Bailey has prepared a special Spoken Word Piece in tribute to Jayne inspired by her book. Sheldon is known for TV roles on Shameless, Game Shakers, NCIS, Hulu series Clipped, and many more. He’s a published author of the spoken word collection “180 Degrees”. He has 4 musical albums on music streaming platforms.
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The evening was designed as an exclusive Fireside Chat and Book Signing, dedicated to celebrating the life and enduring legacy of Ms. Kennedy, a woman who epitomizes perseverance and excellence. Jayne Kennedy famously shattered barriers as the first Black woman crowned Miss Ohio USA and went on to redefine representation in sports broadcasting and entertainment, establishing herself as a powerful, multigenerational cultural force.
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The gathering brought together influential leaders, community members, and key media figures for an evening centered on impact, empowerment, and the advancement of women and communities of color.
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“It was honor to host Ms. Jayne Kennedy, whose career is a masterclass in breaking barriers and setting new standards,” said Dr. Marie Y. Lemelle, MBA, PhD, President of Platinum Star Media Group and President of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Beverly Hills Chapter. “This event was more than a tribute; it was an opportunity to learn from a true pioneer and align purpose-driven partners with her story of resilience and leadership. We invite organizations to join us in supporting this historic evening and positioning their brands at the heart of this inspirational experience.”
Mr. De Pena, owner of BLVKBOOK said: “We are in the presence of greatness. Jayne Kennedy is a legend and we are happy to hosted this special event that will go down in history of Beverly Hills”. One of the evenings attendees, Juliette Hagerman, summarized the event as follows:
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“Last night’s book signing was nothing short of enchanting — a seamless blend of literature and visual beauty set within the halls of the BLVK Art Gallery. The gallery itself, bathed in great lighting and lined with creative outstanding pieces, created a backdrop that felt inspiring.
At the center of the evening was the author, Jayne Kennedy the still strikingly poised and captivating woman whose presence filled the room from the time she walked in to when she spoke. Her warmth and confidence made the event feel less like a formal signing and more like a gathering of friends. As she talked about her life and the things she had gone through in life including her ups and downs.
The signing that followed felt personal; she took the time to speak with each guest and taking pictures offering thoughtful comments rather than hurried signatures. It was refreshing to see an author so genuinely connected to her readers.”
Ms. Belle Aire of Belle Air Art praised this event her remarks:
“Dr. Lemelle’s Fireside Chat and book signing was an elegant and memorable celebration of Jayne Kennedy. Hosted at the BLVK Art Gallery, the venue provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of artistry, reflection, and storytelling. Jayne, still strikingly poised and captivating, commanded the room from the moment she entered. Her honesty about her life, her triumphs, and her challenges created an intimate connection with everyone present.”
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PSMG is actively curating a small circle of corporate partners for the event. Sponsorship opportunities are available to tailor brand visibility, collaborative content creation, on-site activations, and strategic engagement.
This event was well-attended by dignitaries, celebrities, civic engagement leaders, and members & honored guests of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce.
Event Link: Platinum Star by the Fireside with Jayne Kennedy · Luma (https://luma.com/xqb3l27c)
Sponsorship Pitch Deck: Platinum by the Fireside with Jayne Kennedy | PDF to Flipbook (https://heyzine.com/flip-book/5b2fa8c7a4.html#page/8)
ABOUT JAYNE KENNEDY:
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Jayne Kennedy is an actress, sports broadcaster, television personality, writer, and producer. Her accolades for being a trailblazer are numerous, including the National Sports Media Association’s Roone Arledge Award for Innovation, Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit’s Legacy Award, and the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress for the film Body & Soul, which she also produced. Viacom/BET named her one of the Ten Black Female Firsts in TV Journalism Around the World, and in 2018 she was inducted to the prestigious Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C., in the Television and the Media Landscape exhibit, presented in the Oprah Winfrey Wing of the institution.
Perhaps best known for her ground-breaking work on the Emmy-Award winning CBS’s The NFL Today, Jayne Kennedy is a trailblazer in every sense of the word. From becoming the first Black woman to win Miss Ohio USA, to being the only woman to host the long-running syndicated television show Greatest Sports Legends and pioneering the fitness industry with her fitness program Love Your Body, nobody has had a career trajectory quite like Jayne. And she has never gone on the record about her personal experiences and the joys and scars that resulted thereof — until now. Her candid and conversational storytelling will endear her once again to fans in Plain Jayne. Jayne has long been a beacon of Black and female excellence and has opened doors for female talent. Tracing her upbringing in Ohio, and her journey shattering ceilings in American contemporary culture, Plain Jayne is a breathtaking story of endurance, survival, and achievement. For more information, visit: https://jaynekennedy.com/. Stay tuned for upcoming event on December 6th, 2025.
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To order a copy of Plain Jayne click link below: https://jaynekennedy.com/book/
ABOUT THE BLVKBOOK:
BLVKBOOK is a concept fine art and cultural retail destination spotlighting both emerging and established artists, fashion designers, and creative brands. Based in Los Angeles, BLVKBOOK merges fine art, lifestyle, and local storytelling — offering curated exhibitions, exclusive product drops, and in-store activations that celebrate creativity and community.
Come discover what’s next — right here in the heart of LA. For more information, visit: https://beverlycenter.com/stores/blak-book and https://blvkbook.com/about/
CONTACT
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Dr. Marie Y. Lemelle, MBA, PhD President, Platinum Star Media Group President, Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Beverly Hills Chapter International Goodwill Ambassador for DreamChild Foundation, Accra, Ghana. She can be reached at 213–276–7827 and marielemelle@platinumstarmediagroup.com.
Dr. Marie Y. Lemelle, MBA, PhD, is a global entrepreneur and award-winning entertainment executive whose career is built on transforming stories into movements and ideas into lasting legacies. She founded Platinum Star Public Relations, Inc., Platinum Star Media Group, Inc., and Pitbull PR Agency, certified minority woman-owned firms in California, that provide international branding, marketing, talent management, and film production services.
As CEO and Founder of Angel City Salute Alliance, a 508(c)(1)(a) nonprofit, she has championed unhoused veterans, domestic violence survivors, and justice-impacted individuals, earning the U.S. Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award in 2024. She was recognized as Global PR Personality of the Year at the 3rd Annual Afro Awards and appointed International Goodwill Ambassador by the DreamChild Foundation in Accra, Ghana. In 2025, she co-founded Worldwide Elite Boxing with the mindset “One Ring. Every Nation.”
A respected academic and certified speaker by JT Foxx, wealth coach Dr. Lemelle holds an MBA from the University of La Verne and an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities from the United Graduate College and Seminary International. She has earned four advanced theological degrees, including a Master’s in Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry from The Word of God International University. She is listed in the 78th Edition of the Marquis Who’s Who.
Dr. Lemelle leads the revitalized Beverly Hills Chapter of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce as President, where she fosters inclusive economic empowerment, cross-industry collaboration, and legacy building.
She is an award-winning playwright of “Harambee, Harambee! All Pull Together.” A modified version of the play is published in the inaugural release of “Experiencing The Seven Principles: Kwanzaa Anthology Vol. 1,” a fantastic literary and visual work. Dr. Lemelle is writing a new one-man play 2026 premiere titled, “After Dark with Miles Davis,” starring award-winning actor Idrees Degas.
Driven by a belief that service is global and aligned with strategy, she leverages storytelling, strategic insight, and spiritual empowerment to help underserved populations transform goals into greatness.
Follow her on Instagram @platinumstarpr
Learn more about the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Beverly Chapter at https://blackchamberofcommerc
For more information on this article, contact Angel of The Beverly Hills News:
THE BEVERLY HILLS NEWS
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Dr. Jose Angel Manaiza Jr (Angel)
424–457–1316
