It's been more than three decades since Vanessa Williams trailblazed her way across the national landscape, capturing the crown as Miss America 1984, in the process becoming the first ever African-American to win the prestigious pageant.

Thirty-one years later, another woman of color has leaped into the hearts of America, as Lupita Nyong'o – born six months before Williams' win – earned the 2014 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, in the process becoming an instant media darling.

Prior to Nyong'o's win at the Oscars, the 31-year-old with dual Kenyan and Mexican citizenship gave an impassioned speech at the annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon in California, admitting that as a young girl she prayed for lighter skin, as her dark complexion subjected her to ridicule and feelings of inadequacy.

Admitting to wishing she “would wake up lighter skinned,” the "12 Years A Slave" actress went on to explain how the emergence of model Alek Wek, who like herself boasted skin "dark as night," helped her to embrace her own beauty. FULL POST

Joined by legendary movie icon Harvey Weinstein, on Friday television anchor Piers Morgan shared his predictions for the upcoming 86th Academy Awards.

Seated directly across from the man behind such films as "The English Patient," "August: Osage County," and "Inglourious Basterds," the "Piers Morgan Live" host revealed his picks for "Best Actor," "Best Actress," and "Best Picture."

Watch the above web extra to learn who Morgan would hand the iconic statue to were he in charge of the voting, and for the full interview with the acclaimed producer and studio head, tune to CNN at 9p.
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In advance of an opening weekend which saw "Olympus Has Fallen" pull in more than 30 million dollars, good for top spot at the box office, Piers Morgan sat down with some of the case from the film, including Golden Globe winner Angela Bassett.

Perhaps most well known for her Academy Award nominated portrayal of Tina Turner in 1993's biopic "What's Love Got to Do with It," the 54-year-old reveals how her performance was received by the 8-time Grammy Award winner herself:

"I did see her a couple of years after. Oprah [Winfrey] did this big thing at her home...the young'uns and the elders and the legends," explains Bassett, in this web exclusive video clip. "She said, you played me well, you played me well. You did good."

As the movie was wrapping, Turner visited Bassett, even lending a helping hand in the most-unlikely of ways: FULL POST

On the heels of heavy backlash following Marissa Mayer discontinuing the telecommuting option enjoyed by many Yahoo! employees, this week "Piers Morgan Tonight" invited two women professionals to share their reaction and insight on the CEO's recent announcement.

As profiled in an "Only in America" segment in July, the 37-year-old Mayer took the top job at the tech giant and announced her pregnancy on the same day. With a baby boy born in late September, Meyer briefly worked from home, but has since returned to corporate headquarters.

According the Kara Swisher – the co-executive editor of All Things D who broke the story of the internal memo – in announcing her new policy this week the young executive has drawn the ire of many, despite having practical reasons:

"The concept of what she's saying is true: you want to be at the workplace to create collaboration and innovation. And Yahoo!'s been lagging for years," explains Swisher, who knew of the policy even before Yahoo!'s own staff. "The way she did it? It's a very hot-button issue. I think was a little bit – maybe inexperienced CEO – or a little too abrupt for people."

Serving to only add more fuel to the public fire, Mayer has built a private nursery adjacent to her office, where she and her personal nanny can easily care for her child. FULL POST

On Friday, Piers Morgan reunited with his former colleague and longtime friend, Sharon Osbourne, for a wide-ranging and spirited interview that touched upon everything from health and politics to entertainment and economics.

Joining the program for a face to face primetime exclusive, the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne revealed the reasons behind why she didn't make it to the polls on election day:

"Oh, because I'm a lazy old tart," said the woman who holds dual American and British citizenship.

But even though Osbourne didn't vote for the president, he nonetheless has her endorsement:

"I think that he's a very decent man. He's a decent man, and he really does want things to change for the better. And he is very proud of this country, loves it, and wants it to be the best. And I think his intentions are only honorable."

Asked by her fellow Brit how the United States can revitalize it's struggling economy, the co-host of "The Talk" emphasized the need for providing work to those living on American soil: FULL POST