They were among the most notable outfits in the halftime show. Many of the other outfits worn by the dancers and performers in the first Hip-Hop Super Bowl Halftime show had a street-cred look. But bang, the sparkling jumps suits worn by Mary J. Blige and her dancers were noticeably different, and they stood out.
The long-sleeved, body-fitting, blinged-out jumpsuits with the teardrop, waist-ringing cutouts were not to be missed.
The outfits were the vision of young Black designer Khala Whitney
Khala’s roots are Wichita-based. Her grandmother, Geraldine Braggs Morris, still lives in Wichita. Khala’s mother is Tanya Braggs, a 1972 Wichita North High graduate, who raised her only child, in Houston, TX.
She’s also the niece to Jerold Braggs, Twila Braggs Shaw, Taffy Braggs, Renee Braggs Honeycutt and Alanea Morris/Hanna. Twila, Alanea and Taffy still reside in Wichita. Khala is also the cousin to another “creative” in the family, Janice Burdine Thatcher.
Tanya’s a proud mom, who was glad to share news about her talented daughter’s design line., urged on by Janice who told The Community Voice about Wichita’s Super Bowl connection.
Khala, a Howard University graduate, now resides in Los Angeles, where her design company is exploding. She’s become a go-to designer for several Hollywood celebrities – including Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Remy Ma and Fantasia, just to name a few, have worn.
Her sixty-something mother, says the clothing line has a fresh, young feel, which limits her ability to appropriately wear many of the items from the line, but she still recognizes her daughter’s talent at setting, not following fashion trends. The reviewers describe the line, launched in 2016 as “edgy feminine fashion.”
In addition to her self-named celebrity clothing line Khala Whitney, the designer also has an exclusive clothing line Grayscale, featured exclusively in Macy’s. Go to Macy’s and search Grayscale to see that line and make purchases.
Khala, a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., says the line is all about self-love and encouraging everyone to feel bold and fearless in their own right.