Janelle Monae's rise to prominence came in three phases: she was born and educated in Kansas, took a scholarship to New York City's prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and then moved to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue her career. Strangely, she says that one of her earliest musical influences was the central character of Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz,' although we're less than clear on what Dorothy has to offer to a rap and hip-hop performer!
It was in Atlanta that Monae met Big Boi from OutKast, who was impressed by her raw talent and acted as both a mentor and sponsor for her early years in the music industry. Big Boi referred her on to Sean 'Puff Daddy' Coombs, and Coombs then signed her to his notorious Bad Boy record label in 2006. As a fan of the classic movie 'Metropolis,' Monae took on the alter-ego of an android called Cindi Mayweather. Nobody knew there was a gap in the market for science-fiction crossed with R&B, but Monae created it and ran with it. She's since moved into acting.
Wondering where to go in 2020 for an amazing deal, to beat the crowds, or for a truly once-in-a-lifetime travel experience? These destinations are on travel addicts’ radar for rightfully hyped 2020 events, new offerings, and recent developments that make them a must-visit right now.
On top of the majestic scenery its long been known for, Montana is a newly trendy nature getaway celebrated for its expanding luxury hotel scene, culinary offerings, and shop-local boutiques, according to an American Express study detailing where cardholders are traveling in 2020. But Montana is also about to get more accessible than ever before thanks to emerging flight routes sure to stir up competition. Launching two brand-new seasonal routes to Big Sky country, American Airlines will fly from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana, beginning mid-year and continuing through Labor Day. Take advantage of the new direct route before the secret gets out, and so that they’ll continue next year.
One of the cities featured in Booking.com’s travel trends for 2020, Urugay’s capital Montevideo is a stable and LGBT-friendly destination to visit in South America—a continent that’s seen dips in tourism of late thanks to political instability in travel destinations like Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Travelers identified the city as a trending travel destination for anyone seeking an immersive, one-stop escape; according to the study, “over half (54 percent) of global travelers say they want to go on one long trip to a place that has all of their favorite activities and sights close together.” Montevideo’s offerings include beaches, nightlife, markets, theaters, culinary prowess, and festive Gay Pride Day celebrations in September.
Europe’s intensely overtouristed spots (Venice, Barcelona, Santorini) have new Eastern European hotspots to thank for stealing away some of the spotlight: Romania is making a name for itself as one of the top five most trending Airbnb booking destinations for 2020. The nation that’s home to Transylvania, Dracula’s castle, and well-preserved medieval towns nestled among rolling hills has seen a 298 percent annual increase in Airbnb bookings.