Degree® Women and The Vampire Diaries Star Kat Graham Celebrate Game Changing Performances at the 57th GRAMMY Awards®

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- With excitement building toward the 57^th GRAMMY Awards®, Degree® Women – an official sponsor of the show – is teaming up with triple-threat singer, dancer and The Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham to spotlight those unexpected and breakthrough moments that create a game-changing performance and distinguish Music's Biggest Night® from any other show. 

With a heritage in movement, Degree Women has always encouraged women to push themselves to perform their best and achieve their goals.  Now, the brand is redefining the deodorant category with its new Dry Spray Antiperspirant, which goes on instantly dry for a cleaner feel.  Unlike sticks and gels, Dry Spray Antiperspirant leaves no waxy or goopy residue and is dry from the moment it touches the skin. In the spirit of this game-changing innovation, the brand is celebrating those with the passion and vision to take performance, particularly in dance and music, to the next level. Together, Kat and Degree go behind-the-scenes with creative director and award-winning choreographer Laurieann Gibson, who has been behind some of the most breakthrough GRAMMY moments®, to see what it takes to deliver a performance that not only changes an artist's image, but can also change the industry. 

Kat will bring viewers along as she catches up with her friend and longtime mentor Laurieann to see firsthand how dance can elevate a song and deliver an unforgettable performance.  Together, Kat and Laurieann give fans an insider look into the unique and dynamic exchange between a choreographer and dancer, and showcase the magic that happens when great music and dance come together.   Their video series tracks the artistic process that starts with a creative spark in the mind of a choreographer and is then brought to life through the composition and three-dimensional movement of dancers.

"I'm always pushing myself to be at the top of my game, so I need products that won't let me down. Degree Dry Spray keeps me protected so I can keep moving and doing the things I love to do," said Kat.  "Dance is where I started and what I will always do. I was so excited that Degree brought Laurieann and me together to show how game-changing choreography and movement can create an emotional connection to music. There's only one night where fans can experience that connection together and that's the GRAMMYs."

Kat and Laurieann's first video is currently live at eonline.com and features Kat surprising Laurieann to kick off the series.  Three additional videos will follow, including two videos that will go live on the day of the GRAMMYs.  "A Day in the Life," which will air during the E! Live From the Red Carpet® broadcast and run online, will give viewers a glimpse into what it means to be a top choreographer.  In "Approach," which will also run online on Feb 8, dance lovers can see how Laurieann uses movement to tell a story in an industry that constantly demands innovation.  The series will culminate on February 9 with "A Game Changing Move" in which Laurieann teaches dancers, including Kat, a new dance move, demonstrating how some moves that seem as natural as the beat of a song actually require time, dedication and sweat to get to that breakthrough moment.

Inspired by the video series and Laurieann, Kat and Degree are encouraging fans to be on the lookout for the most unexpected and breakthrough moments of the GRAMMY Awards and to share which performances they think are game-changing during the show with @DegreeWomen using the hashtag GameChanger.

"At Degree, we're always pushing ourselves to break boundaries through innovation, which is what we've done with our new Dry Spray Antiperspirant," said Matthew McCarthy, Senior Marketing Director, Unilever North America. "Now, consumers can get the 48 hour odor and wetness protection they expect without any visible residue.  Similarly, Kat Graham has challenged herself to become a triple-threat performer and is the perfect partner to help us launch Dry Spray and celebrate game-changing performances at the GRAMMY Awards. We can't wait to see what Music's Biggest Night has in store this year."

Degree has something special in store as well.  In celebration of the GRAMMYs, Degree is giving its followers and Kat's fans an exclusive look at Kat performing some of her favorite dance moves through a series of short-form videos.  In the videos Kat will draw inspiration from past and current game-changing performances and songs to put the new Degree Dry Spray to the test.  @DegreeWomen will push out the videos during GRAMMY commercial breaks and encourage viewers at home to share their own dance moves using the hashtag DanceBreak.  

New Degree Women Dry Spray Antiperspirant
Degree Women Dry Spray Antiperspirant is a game-changing new way to get superior protection. The new Dry Spray provides the 48 hour odor and wetness protection consumers expect in a product that goes on instantly dry for a cleaner feel.  The formula incorporates patented MOTIONSENSE® Technology designed to respond directly to your body movement so the more you move the more it protects. The new Dry Spray is available in a wide variety of signature Degree Women fragrances such as Fresh Energy, Shower Clean, and Powder Fresh.

Connect with Degree on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by following @DegreeWomen.

About Unilever North America
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in more than 190 countries. Working to create a better future every day, we help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. In the United States and Canada, the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Becel, Ben & Jerry's, Breyers, Caress, Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy, Consort For Men, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Fruttare, Good Humor, Hellmann's, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!, Just for Me!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Magnum, Motions, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond's, Popsicle, Promise, Q-tips, Simple, St. Ives, Suave, TIGI, TONI&GUY Hair Meet Wardrobe, TRESemme and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies.

Our ambition is to double the size of our business, while reducing our overall environmental footprint (including sourcing, consumer use and disposal) and increasing our positive social impact. We are committed to helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being, sourcing all our agricultural raw materials sustainably by 2020, and decoupling our growth from our environmental impact. Supporting our three big goals, we have defined seven pillars, underpinned by targets encompassing social, environmental and economic areas. See more on the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan at http://www.unileverusa.com/sustainable-living/ or http://www.unilever.ca/sustainable-living/.

Unilever employs approximately 11,500 people across North America – generating more than $10 billion in sales in 2013. For more information, visit www.unileverusa.com or www.unilever.ca.

About The Recording Academy
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like "The GRAMMYs" on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Google +, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.

About Kat Graham
Kat Graham is a recording artist and an actress currently starring as Bonnie Bennett in the CW series "The Vampire Diaries" which will soon begin filming its 6^th Season.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Kat speaks four languages – English, Spanish, French and Hebrew – and is the daughter of a Liberian father and a Russian-Jewish mother.  At the age of six, Kat began acting in commercials for Barbie, K-Mart, Pop-Tarts and Old Navy, as well as television shows such as "Like Family," "Grounded for Life," and "Lizzie McGuire."  Her first significant role came when she replaced a young Christina Milian as the host of the Disney Channel's popular series "Movie Surfers."  Kat has also appeared in such films as 17 AGAIN with Zac Efron and Matthew Perry, THE ROOMMATE with Leighton Meester, and HONEY 2.  Most recently, Kat starred in Lionsgate's ADDICTED, which released in October 2014.

Kat furthered her natural acting talents with vocal training, piano lessons and dance classes.  At 15, she was chosen by renowned choreographer Fatima to perform at the BET Awards as a background dancer for Bow Wow, leading to stints as a dancer for Missy Elliott and Pharrell, before going on to work with choreographers Hi Hat and Michael Rooney.

In addition to being a professional actress and dancer, Kat began to pursue a career as a musical artist.  One of the first songs she wrote and performer, "Derailed," was featured in the Jean-Claude Van Damme movie of the same title.  She was inspired to purchase her own studio and equipment to add producer to her list of talents.  A year later she met producer Damon Elliott (P!nk, Mya, Destiny's Child) – and the two began working on perfecting Kat's skills as a musician and producer.  Meanwhile, Kat continue to work as an actress on shows such as "CSI: Las Vegas," "The OC," "Malcolm in the Middle," "Strong Medicine," and "Hannah Montana."  She appeared in dozens of music videos including Akon's "Mr. Lonely," John Legend's "Used to Love U," Nelly's "Just a Dream," and Diddy's "Looking for Love." 

At 17, Kat was selected by Coca-Cola as part of an international campaign to market their soft drink, Fanta.  While promoting the campaign, Kat simultaneously completed her degree in record engineering.  In 2007 Kat went on a world tour with The Black-Eyed Peas, and her voice is featured in Will.I.Am's solo release "Songs About Girl" ("I Got It From My Mama") and "The Donque Song" featuring Snoop Dogg.

Kat later signed to A&M Octone Records and she released her debut EP, "Against the Wall" in May 2012.  The first single, "Put Your Graffiti On Me," reached over 7 million views on VEVO and charted on the Billboard Dance Charts.  Her latest single, "Power" was produced by Mitch Allen (Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack") was released on iTunes on July 31^st 2013 and premiered on Billboard.com to rave reviews. 

In 2013 Kat became an avid supporter of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees) which she currently travels and campaigns for.  In January 2014 she went to Jordan with the organization to visit Syrian refugee villages.  Additionally, Kat is a council member for GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), as well as being an ambassador for The Water Project which helps fund wells for clean water in villages throughout Africa.

Media Contact:

Sarah Halle
[email protected]
212.546.7845

SOURCE Degree Women

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