NeNe Leakes channels Mary J. Blige in new look

NeNe Leakes is channeling another starlett with Georgia roots in a new look she recently unveiled in a photoshoot.
NeNe Leakes of the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" fame is trying to undo some of the bad publicity she received recently when a TV news crew chased her down over reports that she had gotten evictedfrom her $800,000 home after the first season of "Housewives".
The Mary look is a good look, but other than make people think of Blige what's the benefit for NeNe?
Despite the appearances, the two do have a few things in common:


NeNe Leakes is from Queens, New York.
MJB is born in the BX, but raised Yonkers, New York.


NeNe has a foundation called Twisted Hearts, for abused women.
In 2006 MJB told an audience on "Oprah" that she was molested when she was 5.


NeNe is married to Gregg Leakes, a real estate investor 13 years her senior.
MJB is married to Martin Kendu Isaacs, a former record executive who is now her manager.

The Next Mary J. Blige: When?

As batons go, none have been as reluctant to receive it from music titan Mary J. Blige. In her 19-year career the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul has garnered:
- Won eight Grammys, being nominated 26 times.
- sold more than 40 million albums worldwide.
Been nominated for a Golden Globe.
Yet, there comes a time when the Next Best Thing should have arisen and been chomping at the bit: Who is the next Mary?
Who will be the premiere female voice for the digital age? Now, Mary has some music left in her, but it's obvious her niche will never again be for the teeny-boppers, or that she can resort to the vocoder; that is for the next artist. The woman's accomplishments and brand image are top-notch here in 2008. There's nothing more she can do for us musically, although the big and small screen still await. Still, many have tried to fill her shoes but have not measured up. Let's see there's been Monifa, Monica, Lil Mo, Chante Savage, Shanice, Jonelle, Janelle Monae, Ashanti, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Solange Knowles, Beyonce Knowles, Keyshia Cole, Syleena Johnson, Alicia Keys, Blu Cantrell, and the list goes on.