Kim Kardashian is showing up for Black-owned businesses, despite recently stirring controversy online with her support of first lady Melania Trump.
The reality TV star and media mogul was spotted at the Fifteen Percent Pledge gala on Saturday night in Los Angeles. The Fifteen Percent Pledge is a racial equity and economic justice nonprofit advocacy organization that lobbies major retailers and corporations to commit 15% of their purchasing power to Black-owned businesses.
In the fashion department, Kardashian stunned in a backless black dress by Balmain, which featured a crocodile scales imprint on the bodice and sequined, sheer embellishments.
Fifteen Percent Pledge founder Aurora James, alongside R&B star Kelly Rowland, presented a series of grants for the 2025 Achievement Award to three businesses: RedDrop ($200,000), Brooklyn Tea ($35,000) and Bernard James ($15,000).
Meanwhile, the second annual Sephora Beauty Grant, a $100,000 grant created to honor exceptional Black beauty brands, went to Sienna Naturals co-founders Hannah Diop and actress-comedian Issa Rae.
Kardashian’s gala appearance comes after she ignited political backlash last month when she posted a photo of the first lady attending President Donald Trump’s inauguration on her Instagram story. “The Kardashians” star shared the photo without comment; she hasn’t clarified the post since.
Despite sharing a close relationship with first daughter Ivanka Trump, the Skims founder and her famous family rarely publicize their political leanings and when they do, the Kardashian-Jenner clan tend to lean toward Democrats.
Fans lashed out at Kardashian on social media for her perceived endorsement of the Trump family, with one commenter writing, “girl…. sold out out for far right maga propaganda.”
In 2016, Kardashian endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her race against President Trump, which he ultimately won. After former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2020, she posted three blue hearts on X alongside a picture of the pair.
The Mazda Miata is a car that remains forever young, even as it reaches its mid-30s. To celebrate, Mazda has announced a special-edition 35th Anniversary model that will be available in the U.S. for 2025. The existence of the anniversary MX-5 was no secret, as the car was revealed in Japan in October 2024. Mazda said in December the car would be coming to America, but plans and details about the U.S. model have been under wraps until now.
Mazda chose the Rolex 24 at Daytona as the backdrop to its announcement, appropriately timed with the MX-5 Cup race. Mazda showcased the 35th Anniversary alongside a Miata-only parking area and several Miata models from the Mazda North American Operations collection.
The 35th Anniversary will be limited to 300 cars in the U.S. and will only be available in Artisan Red Metallic—a glittery wine red, slightly darker than Mazda’s famous Soul Red Crystal, which was first seen on the CX-90. Wheels are 17-inchers in a multispoke bright finish wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza tires. A beige soft top folds back to reveal tan nappa leather Grand Touring seats, which are more comfort-oriented. There’s also tan carpeting and floor mats as well as color-matched trim around the climate vents and upper door panel. Anniversary badges including the car’s serial number offer a callout on the front fender, while an interior reminder is embossed into the headrest.
The Miata earned its reputation as a sports car due to its accessible handling and enjoyable driving characteristics, and the 35th anniversary will be no different. It features tuned Bilstein dampers, an asymmetric limited-slip differential, and a stiffened shock tower, all of which are also on the Grand Touring trim. With no changes to the driveline or curb weight, we expect the 35th Anniversary to share performance numbers with the previous RF Club, which had a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.5 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 14.3 seconds, and a skidpad result of 0.90 g.
The 35th Anniversary features the same Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. Customers for the special edition will benefit from all the equipment found on the Grand Touring trim, including heated seats (a must in a convertible), wireless phone connectivity, Alexa Built-In, Bose audio, and native nav in an 8.8-inch infotainment screen. The 35th Anniversary is only available as a softtop convertible and with the six-speed manual, so it’s top-down and revs up (to a 7500-rpm redline) as the only option.
The Miata earned its reputation as a sports car due to its accessible handling and enjoyable driving characteristics, and the 35th anniversary will be no different. It features tuned Bilstein dampers, an asymmetric limited-slip differential, and a stiffened shock tower, all of which are also on the Grand Touring trim. With no changes to the driveline or curb weight, we expect the 35th Anniversary to share performance numbers with the previous RF Club, which had a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.5 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 14.3 seconds, and a skidpad result of 0.90 g.
