IslandMix - Soca, Reggae, Zouk and Caribbean Entertainment

Stephanie Pfriender Stylander
TWEET: This single mom and Missy Elliot protégé has one rule of (green) thumb when it comes to the floral trend: “Don’t ever wear a matching floral set of anything, because that’s way too much going on.” Talk about a lot going on. Tweet, 34, has been busy promoting the release of her sophomore album, "It’s Me Again," the follow-up to her platinum solo debut, "Southern Hummingbird."

KEISHA KNIGHT PULLIAM: Remember Bill Cosby’s beloved baby girl, Rudy Huxtable? In real life, the child star and Spelman grad, who has been in the business since she was 9 months old, has made a conscious effort to reinvent herself. “If you want to grow, you can’t lie to yourself,” says the 26-year-old.This month her turn as Darnelle, Queen Latifah’s “hot-in-the-pants” sister-in-law in the feature film "Beauty Shop," serves further notice that she’s all grown up. “

AUNJANUE ELLIS: After her arresting turn as one of Ray Charles’s scorned lovers in the award-winning biopic Ray, this Mississippi-born actress is fast becoming a marquee fave. Upcoming projects include a suspense drama, "Freedom Land," costarring Samuel L. Jackson, and Jonny Zero, an urban TV drama. Ellis, 36, says she tries to avoid sameness—both in the roles she chooses and the clothes she wears. “Fashion should always be surprising,” she says.

ROKIA TRAORé: Though she rarely sees flowers in her native land, this nightingale from Mali can still appreciate their beauty. “Mali is two thirds desert, so it’s hard for flowers to grow,” she says. Traoré’s music career, however, is flourishing. Her third album, "Bowmboï," pays homage to the oppressed women of her country. “For African women, strength is dignity,” says Traoré, 30.

REGINA HALL: When it comes to banking screen credits, this former New York University journalism grad student is no ingenue. Hall’s zany girl-next-door charm has stolen the spotlight in movie blockbusters like "Scary Movie 1, 2 and 3," "Malibu’s Most Wanted" and "Love & Basketball." This month she stars as Anthony Anderson’s frivolous, fashion-forward mistress, Peaches, in "King’s Ransom." Look for her this summer in "The Honeymooners" (she plays Trixie).

LEELA JAMES: This 27-year-old songstress, whose kinetic performances have been compared to Tina Turner’s, has been slow to embrace change. But it’s clear from the impassioned lyrics that make up her debut CD, "A Change Is Gonna Come," that she’s learning. “If you’re holding on to something, it creates stagnation and bitterness,” says the California native, who has worked with hit-making producers like Wyclef Jean, Raphael Saadiq and Kanye West.

FLOETRY: Singing-rap duo Natalie Stewart, 25, and Marsha Ambrosius, 27, who recently released their third album, “Flo’ology,” are childhood friends as well as Grammy-nominated artists. Their lyrical skills even caught the ear of Michael Jackson, who made their song “Butterflies” a chart-topper in 2002. Their talent for blending different styles extends to their wardrobes.