Beyonce's new bling is courtesy of Philly woman
Also: Creed is heating up for a Philly shoot; Channing Tatum gets a taste of South Jersey.
Beyonce's new bling? That's all thanks to a Penn Valley-raised jewelry designer.
Laura Wass, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, is the mind behind WXYZ Jewelry, which designed the leather-lined baseball cap, visor and bracelets featured prominently in Queen Bey's new video "7/11."
The video, which was posted Friday, already has more than 20.6 million views on Beyonce's official YouTube page.
Wass, who attended Friends Central, told me that Beyonce's team had pulled pieces from WXYZ before but had never worn them. She was totally shocked when her work, which creates structure through repeating elements (such as the triangles that make up Beyonce's visor), was featured so prominently in the final minute of the intimate video, where Beyonce reminds anyone listening that she's "fresher than you."
As if we didn't already know.
Wass launched the WXYZ brand in 2012. Since then, WXYZ has garnered props from Women's Wear Daily, W Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Nylon, Elle and Harper's Bazaar.
'Creed' director in town
Ryan Coogler, the director who hit the scene with last year's incredible "Fruitvale Station," was spotted in Philly recently, gearing up for "Creed," the "Rocky" sequel he's directing.
Starring major up-and-comer Michael B. Jordan, "Creed" follows Apollo Creed's grandson Adonis (Jordan) as he steps into the ring.
As I reported some time back, the film is scheduled to start shooting in January, and Coogler sightings mean that it's right on schedule. Philly-based Heery Casting has been putting up notices on their Facebook looking for actors, including men who can do a Liverpool accent and a Filipina woman in her 40s.
I hear Coogler and his fiancee, Zinzi Evans, stayed at the AKA Rittenhouse Square (135 S. 18th St.) and patronized the Rittenhouse Farmers Market, including Rambling Roots Farms' stand.
In other "Creed" news, boxers Andre Ward and British champ Tony Bellew also have been cast in the film (which includes a part for "Rocky" star Sylvester Stallone, as well). Bellew will play the younger Creed's main rival, "Pretty" Ricky Porter.
* In other Hollywood-related news, Channing Tatum has picked his first directorial project: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, a South Jersey-set book by Matthew Quick, who immortalized Eagles fandom in literature form with Silver Linings Playbook.
Two legends meet
Can you believe that WMMR's Pierre Robert and Philly music luminary Kenny Gamble have never crossed paths? I hear that the two musical mainstays chatted for the first time yesterday when Gamble and wife, Faatimah, were at BEN-FM studios (which share a spot with WMMR) to promote "An Evening of Style & Grace." The Dec. 3 event is a fashion show benefiting the couple's "Pearls of Wisdom" (for girls) and "From Boys to Men" (for boys) etiquette and character-building classes. The couple can be heard on Marilyn Russell's "Woman of the Week" segment, airing Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on BEN-FM.
I hear, despite their common interests, that Robert and Gamble didn't talk music. Instead, the duo talked charity and giving during the holiday season.
For tickets to the fundraiser, go to universalfashionshow.org.
Kidd and play
Talk about loyalty. Fans of former WYSP's Kidd Chris, who was fired from the station in 2008 after allowing a guest to play a racist song on the air, paid for Chris to come to a Flyers game through crowdfunding site IndieGoGo. Fans raised $1,276 for Chris, who now works mornings at 102.7 WEBN in Cincinnati, to see the Flyers beat the Blue Jackets in Philly last Saturday, and fans recognized him throughout the game. I hear eight donors who gave $100 were treated to a pregame pizza party at South Philly's Flat Iron (26 E. Oregon Ave.)
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