Showing posts with label Hollywood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hollywood. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Star-Studded Night for a Worthy Cause: The Jonathan Foundation’s Annual Spring Fundraiser

On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City, California, transformed into a glamorous hub of compassion and celebrity support as The Jonathan Foundation hosted its Annual Spring Fundraiser, sponsored by L’OrĂ©al Paris.

The evening kicked off with the Red Carpet at 5:00 PM and the main program began at 6:00 PM. This special event honored dedicated individuals who have championed the foundation’s mission while raising critical funds to support children with Autism and other educational, emotional, and behavioral challenges.

Honored Celebrity guest Danny Trejo, the iconic actor known for films such as Machete, Desperado, Spy Kids, Heat, and many more, brought his signature star power to the evening. Watch our red carpet interview and his speech to the audience on my YT red carpet coverage!


Special Celebrity Guest Kellen Goff, the talented voice actor beloved by fans of the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, also walked the red carpet and participated in the evening’s festivities. Goff is best known for voicing Funtime Freddy, Glamrock Freddy, Sun, and Moon in the popular video game series, as well as Foxy in the FNAF movie and Toy Freddy in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.

The night was hosted by five-time Emmy Award winner Fritz Coleman, the beloved retired NBC Channel 4 weathercaster.

About The Jonathan Foundation

Founded in 2001 by Raja Marhaba after her sons Jonathan and Omar were diagnosed with ADHD and learning disabilities, The Jonathan Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to connecting families of children with special needs to vital resources. The organization provides advocacy, education, assessments, and professional referrals while fostering collaboration between families and school districts. Proceeds from the Spring Fundraiser directly support the foundation’s student assessment program.

Today, both Jonathan and Omar Marhaba sit on the Board and remain actively involved, using their personal experiences to connect meaningfully with children and families on the same journey.

For more information about the foundation and its impactful work, visit www.thejonathanfoundation.org or follow on Instagram @thejonathanfoundation.

Saturday, May 9, 2026

Colin Egglesfield Win Renaissance Man Award at Top Talent Hollywood

 I got an exclusive interview with actor, producer, and speaker, Colin Egglesfield while covering the Top Talent Hollywood Conference this week. Check out ur interview below to hear his tips on how he uses acting, and speaking skills from Hollywood in everyday life and to help his clients. Colin described how leaning into a challenge, dealing with rejection, and projecting confidence in any situation are all skills he gained on set, while also talking about how they can apply in real life situations. Plus, he revealed his dream collaboration and which actors he would love to work with now, and we even talked about the Devil Wears Prada, one of my favorite movies! 

 

 I also covered the red carpet at the Top Talent Hollywood event, and spoke to amazing guests who took the stage throughout the weekend including AC Caswell former NFL Star and fellow fashion lover, Amor Delus CEO of the Monique Wooley Foundation, and more! Check out my coverage below to see highlights from the Dolphin Tank competition, Speaker competition, and watch experts share their story on stage! 


Reunion Movie Premier and Review in Hollywood

I attended the blue carpet premier of the new comedy film "Reunion" at Madame Tussaud's Hollywood where I interviewed the cast and crew, celebrated the release of the movie and a special birthday, and then watched the film! I am bringing you exclusive footage from the event, where I spoke to the writer behind the story, John W. Kim, who revealed what he hopes the audience will get out of the film and even his next big idea! Don;t miss the exclusive red carpet footage where cast members revealed what they related to most about their characters and previewed some of the drama from the film! Watch below!

 


My Review 
After watching the movie for the first time at the Beverly Hills film festival, I would highly recommend this movie for anybody looking for an independent take on classic Rom Com style movies from the early 2000's. This film reminds me of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion because it is filled with heart and spirit and a dose of adolescent optimism that we all need but with an updated twist that reflects the reality many young people are facing in America today. The film doesn't shy away from the economic and structural challenges that are crushing young adult dreams, even for the successful and middle class characters in the film. It also weaves hilarious moments, crazy personalities, and pop culture into the ensemble cast so that everyone watching can find a character they identify with. 


Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Stormrider: The Legend of Hammerhead Premieres at Saban Theater Beverly Hills

 On Sunday night Stormrider: Legend of Hammerhead premiered in Beverly Hills with a star studded crowd in attendance. I covered the red carpet and watched the film. After having the chance to speak with producers and actors in the film, I got to sit down and watch it on the big screen in the ornate Saban theater. The Sci-Fi film, featuring a dystopian world where people were forced to seek refuge on an archipelago of islands brought a fresh take to the post-apocalyptic genre with water scenes, underwater special effects, and more departing from the traditional desert or cityscape settings of the genre. The film also featured a captivating plot, with many twists and turns to keep the audience guessing until the very end. I definitely recommend this film to any Sci-Fi fans who are looking for something different. Check out my red carpet coverage below to hear form the cast and crew, and see the celeb style from this glamorous event. 


Saturday, February 14, 2026

High Risk Launches on Rodeo Drive with Star Studded Fashion Show

This thursday an exciting new brand launched in LA's most high fashion district, Beverly Hills. High Risk, an exciting new fashion brand founded by serial entrepreneur Tommy Duncan and loved by celebrities from music, film, sports, and beyond, showcased their debut collection titled "hunting season" in the heart of Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive across from the famous Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The show premiered during New York Fashion Week, but according to Duncan, holding the show in LA was an intentional decision to highlight the fashion industry and craftsmanship in LA as well as the brand's LA roots. The show drew celebrities and influencers from across industries and had no trouble attracting major fashion players right in the brand's hometown of LA so the statement to keep the show in LA was a major success.The atmosphere at the show included champagne from Armand de Brignac, music, and bites for guests to enjoy before and after the show as well as amazing photo ops on Rodeo Drive. The show brought real energy back to the LA fashion scene reminding of a throwback cross between Beverly Hills Cop and Pretty Woman.  I spoke to founder and designer Tommy Duncan before the show for an exclusive interview about his inspiration for the collection, the brand, and more. For Duncan, the brand is all about details, that are either there for others to notice, or simply there for the wearer to know about as a kind of couture secret. 

Question: All right, so we're here at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel for this fashion show, which is kind of an interesting timing because we have New York fashion week is coming up right now, but there's not a lot going on in LA. So I kind of love how you're bringing this very like high fashion energy to LA. Tell me about that. 

Tommy Duncan: It's intentional, and I think L.A. should have it. I think one of the things that's overlooked in L.A. is the... the industry of fashion here, particularly downtown. It's overshadowed by the TV and all that stuff. But when you go downtown, uh, the best craftsmen in fashion are actually downtown L.A. The best. I talk about compared to Milan, and all over the world. The best are actually downtown L.A. And I don't think it gets the credit that it deserves. But the, uh, not only is the talent there, but the fabrics are there, the intention to detail is there. And so, you know, as a LA brand, where everything we're doing is in LA, it made sense to me to do a show here in LA. About fashion, because there is not just an industry, but there's a world of fashion that is here in L.A. Yes. And we need to bring it up to the forefront. I don't understand why it's not there. And so that's what I decided we're gonna do. 

Question: Now, tell me about this collection. Tell me about the inspiration behind this collection.

Tommy Duncan: So, the inspiration of the collection is one of the entrepreneur's journey. And what we create is the entrepreneur's uniform. Entrepreneur or the creator? The person who is going out to achieve whatever they're trying to achieve. Everyone has their own approach, their own talents they put to bear, their own skill sets, their superpowers. Essentially, they all hunt different. And so, this show is about hunting season. All of us hunters, the apexes. Do we hunt? And the collection is of high fashion, high design. intentional. Like the shirts, the shirt I have one now. You'll see it. It's, um, reminiscent of, like, uh, a warrior's armor. So it's cropped right here. It's very aggressive. Yeah. Um, it's, like, aggressive. Everything we have is silently aggressive. You can be wearing black. It's high risk. You will know there's something about it. So, like, we'll have wide sweatpants. We go, like, two inches wider than two wide. It's tension. Okay, okay. But then, we put weight at the bottom with a vintage gold zipper. That weight makes it so that it's, like, ocean rippling when you walk. So it's intentionally behind it. All of our pieces have distressing. Because to achieve, you go through stress. If you go through stress, your clothes are gonna have some distress. It's intentional. We cut the neck line low, so that when you are successful, or whatever case it may be, you're creative, you can show off your jewelry. Yeah. I like red, red for the bread. You see it on me all the time. I love rubies. This is my harbest watch I made. We do that, as a matter of fact, on our, when our hoodies on the sleeve, we actually cut it on purpose, to stress it, so you can see a watch poking through if you want to show it.  Even our locals, like, no logo, low logo. Really wouldn't notice it unless you know it. But when you do it, almost reminiscent of, like, a bullet hole? Like, a gunshot, I should say, like, an artistic version of it. But it's all about, you know, when you take shots, you take shots. And that's our whole message behind high risk is, first of all, have the self respect to go for your dreams. Take the risk. Take it. And then when you take it, you get there, show off your rewards. Don't be afraid to show yourself. High Risk is not for, like, a dopamine of confidence. Like, you come out, you put on some brand, you just feel like, oh, I had this brand on, no, folks are already confident. You already know who you are. We're all part of what I call the one tenth of one%. Not 1%. The one tenth of one percent. Okay. They're super special. Those are better on ourselves. And when we're successful, you don't mind being seen. We're already confident. So what we gonna do, 'cause you're already elevated, it's gonna take you up another notch. So from elevation to levitation. Superhero stuff. Not if anybody see you in it, for you to see yourself in it. 

Question: Now, talk to me about this show. There's some big names gonna be attending here tonight and you talked about kind of that there is a fashion culture here in LA, especially with the Hollywood industry. So, is that, you know, part of your brand or has that inspired you? 

Tommy Duncan: People have flown into town for walking in this show. And this is during NBA All Star, basketball. When people come into our show, making it about fashion. I think it speaks to the brand itself, because, you know, like anything, when you're an artist, you're creative. You put some out there, and the people have to respond. If they don't respond, then you gotta keep working on your craft. For some reason, people have responded until we put out there. And the word just gets out. And so we've been kind of like the, you know, brand in LA, and we're starting to get out. organically. And so the show is gonna be chalk full of, uh, successful people. Like, folks that are super successful. have taken risks. Like, you can't imagine. They going through the hell to get to wherever they got, and you don't see the scars, but they are there. You don't see the chip that drives them every day, but it's there. The influencers. You know how many times they do videos, get one video, right? People think it's easy to do a video. I tried it. It's hard. It's a grind to get a good video out. Mm hmm. To try to create virality. Try to create people to pay attention. It's hard. do a 1000 videos a day. The gamers. You think it's easy to beat everybody in the game? It's hard. It's hard playing basketball. Video, video game, basketball, the hardest playing? Real basketball. the highest of high level. So we have, just, I would say, a cadre, but just a plethora, of people, from different industries. But all higher risk takers and high achievements because of it. And they've been drawn to the brand. And what we provide. Hunting season. That's what we're doing. Okay. And so our pieces, runway pieces are gonna be, uh, you're gonna love the pieces. And you're gonna love this show even more. The story we're telling is gonna jump off the catwalk and off the screen.

The show drew celebrities including Raven Symone, Kyle Massey and his wife, Chanel West Coast, Hazel-E, Jessie & D'Lila Combs, Hitboy, G Herbo, Blxst, P Prime, InasX, Chloe Gibert, Coi LeRay, and more. Check out my red carpet coverage and runway coverage of the show to see celebrity interviews, exclusive behind the scenes coverage from the show, and highlights from the collection! 

Monday, February 2, 2026

The Apollo x Kwanza Jones Ignite Los Angeles With the Launch of Culture In Motion™ National Roadshow

 This weekend I attended the Culture in Motion roadshow kickoff in Los Angeles! Check out my Youtube video below for all the red carpet fashion and celebrity interviews! Read more about the event below.

    


LOS ANGELES, CA – For nearly a century, The Apollo has stood as a sacred cultural landmark in Harlem, New York – a legendary stage where icons were discovered, movements were born, and Black culture was amplified for the world. On Saturday, January 31, 2026, history turned a new page as The Apollo stepped beyond its storied walls and, for the first time, took its legacy directly to the people through The Apollo x Kwanza Jones Presents: Culture In Motion™, a national roadshow conceived and presented in partnership with visionary artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Kwanza Jones. 

 

Launching in Los Angeles during Grammy Week, the Culture In Motion Roadshow transformed The Beehive into a vibrant epicenter of creativity, community, and celebration. The event marked a defining evolution of The Apollo’s mission, expanding its nearly 100-year cultural legacy from a singular venue into a living, traveling movement designed to meet communities where they are. 

 

A centerpiece moment of the launch was the official unveiling of the SUPERCHARGED® Boost Bus™, a striking, custom-designed mobile platform that brings the spirit, energy, and cultural impact of The Apollo x Kwanza Jones directly into neighborhoods across the country. More than a vehicle, the Roadshow Bus serves as a rolling cultural hub, activating space for artistic expression, storytelling, discovery, and community connection. Designed under SUPERCHARGED® by Kwanza Jones’ creative vision, the bus embodies movement, momentum, and access - signaling a powerful new era where culture is not confined to a single stage, but alive and in motion. 

 

Rooted in Kwanza Jones’ future-forward SUPERCHARGED visionCulture In Motion reimagines what cultural access looks like in the modern era. Through immersive programming, live performances, storytelling, art, and dynamic mobile activations inside the Boost Bus, the Roadshow delivered inspiration, creative empowerment, and intergenerational connection directly into the heart of Los Angeles. 

 

The day began with Amateur Night Auditions presented by Coca-Cola, honoring The Apollo’s historic tradition of discovering new talent, followed by a high-energy red carpet and live experiences that blended heritage with innovation. Kwanza Jones (CEO of SUPERCHARGED), along with her partner in life and business, JosĂ© E. Feliciano (Managing Partner of Clearlake Capital Group)—co-founders of the Kwanza Jones & JosĂ© E. Feliciano Initiative—stepped onto the red carpet alongside The Apollo’s executive leadership: Michelle Ebanks, President & CEO of The Apollo, Joy A. Profet, Chief Growth Officer of The Apollo, and Tysus Jackson, Chief Development Officer of The Apollo, on the red carpet, underscoring the shared leadership and vision behind the Culture In Motion National Roadshow.

 

Celebrity guests including Algee Smith, Jaime Jones of the Grammy Award Winning Music Group All-4-One, Jon B, George Daniels, Ron Stewart (Senior Vice President of Warner Records), Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones Jr, Yung Muusik, DJ Rogers Jr., Chef Sean, Rugrat and many more joined artists, community leaders, and creatives in celebrating culture as a force for connection and progress. 

 

“Culture in Motion is a living expression of art, empowerment, and community. Launching in Los Angeles during Grammy week extends the spirit of The Apollo beyond its walls and into the streets where creators and communities move culture forward together. It sets the tone for a Roadshow that invites people to show up, participate, and see themselves reflected in what’s possible,” said Kwanza Jones.

 

The Los Angeles stop set the tone for the National Roadshow’s journey, reinforcing The Apollo’s enduring role as a catalyst for cultural expression and civic impact, now amplified through movement, mobility, and modern storytelling. 

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Edgar Allen Poe Inspired Red Carper Fashion at the Premiere of the Raven Film

 I spoke to the cast members, stars from the Bay who came to support the film, and LA creatives from all industries including fashion, film, directing, and more! But the one thing that brought everyone together for this red carpet event was finding inspiration in Edgar Allen Poe and his famous classic poem "The Raven". From feathered dresses to dramatic trains, red carpet stars showed up in style while paying homage to the drama and flair of Poe's famous work. 


Reality TV Stars Celebrate Kendra Wilkinson's Magazine Cover Reveal at Sur in WH

 Check out my Youtube video red carpet coverage where I got to speak with reality stars representing fashions from the 2000s to now. 

I covered looks from the Supermodels Unlimited cover launch for reality star turned real estate biz owner Kendra Wilkinson! I headed to Sur restaurant the home of Vanderpump rules in West Hollywood for the event which brought together different generations of Reality TV stars! From Peter Madrigal who told me he “grew up at Sur” and revealed how his Vanderpump rules days influenced his business ideas to Will Blackmon who told me about his journey from NFL star to sommelier this is one red carpet you don’t want to miss! I met so many fashionable guests who stepped out in true West Hollywood style from Sarah Sokol milliner to the stars who showed off her artistry with a hot pink suit and matching hat, to Ashley Alexis who shares my love of shoes! We had so much fun trying the amazing bites and sips from the Sur bar, and celebrating Kendra’s cover!


Thursday, July 17, 2025

Michelle Stokes Celebrates Opening of the Lyric Lounge at Star Studded Birthday in Hollywood

 Music industry veteran Michelle Stokes celebrated her birthday in style on Saturday at a star studded event for the opening of her newest concept The Lyric Lounge. Friends, family, and music industry influencers came out to celebrate the event at the Well in the center of Hollywood. Owner of The Well Vincent Riverside attended the event and told guests he was looking forward to the opening of the Lyric Lounge which will be hosted Saturday nights at the Well. Stokes described her concept as celebrating the history of the building which had previously served as a place for Motown performers such as Smoky Robinson while bringing new voices into the industry and updating it for modern day music. Check out my full interview and red carpet coverage of the event in the video below! 


Tuesday, May 13, 2025

MOCA Gala 2025: BVLGARI Partners with MOCA to Celebrate Art, Innovation, and Legacy

 The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is gearing up for its highly anticipated annual Gala on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Los Angeles’ vibrant Little Tokyo. This year’s event, presented in partnership with luxury brand BVLGARI, promises to be a landmark occasion as MOCA introduces its new MOCA Legends format. The evening will honor three transformative figures—Theaster Gates, Frank Gehry, and Wendy Schmidt—whose contributions have shaped MOCA’s legacy as a global leader in contemporary art.

Honoring MOCA Legends

The 2025 Gala marks the debut of the MOCA Legends initiative, a new tradition celebrating individuals who have profoundly influenced the museum’s mission and the broader cultural landscape. This year’s honorees are:

  • Theaster Gates, an artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans sculpture, performance, and urban planning. Gates’ 2011 solo exhibition at MOCA Geffen was a milestone, and his work continues to redefine how art engages with community and history.

  • Frank Gehry, the legendary architect whose 1983 renovation of The Geffen Contemporary pioneered adaptive reuse and set the stage for MOCA’s bold exhibitions. Gehry’s innovative designs, from dynamic buildings to sculptural furniture, remain iconic.

  • Wendy Schmidt, a philanthropist whose transformative support has fueled initiatives like the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Environment and Art Prize, launching at MOCA in 2025 with projects by artists Cecilia Vicuña and Julian Charrière.

As MOCA Board President Carolyn Clark Powers notes, “We’re proud to position the MOCA Gala moving forward as a platform to recognize legends like Theaster, Frank, and Wendy, who have radically transformed everything we do.”

A Night of Art and Celebration

The Gala will bring together artists, philanthropists, and luminaries from the entertainment and fashion worlds for an unforgettable evening. Guests will kick off the night with a cocktail reception in the Aileen Getty Plaza, where they can experience a special viewing of Olafur Eliasson: OPEN, an immersive exhibition exclusive to the event. The evening will culminate in a seated dinner, accompanied by a performance from GRAMMY-nominated artist Tierra Whack, whose critically acclaimed 2024 album World Wide Whack has solidified her as one of today’s most dynamic voices in music.

MOCA’s collaboration with BVLGARI underscores a shared commitment to creativity and innovation. “MOCA’s bold spirit and dedication to contemporary creativity mirror our own passion for craftsmanship,” said Herve Perrot, BVLGARI North American President. This partnership not only elevates the Gala but also reinforces BVLGARI’s long-term support for Los Angeles’ thriving art community.

Funds raised at the Gala will directly support MOCA’s ambitious programming, including its world-class exhibitions, education initiatives, and operational needs. With nearly 8,000 objects in its collection and a history of groundbreaking shows, MOCA remains a vital hub for contemporary art, thanks to the generosity of its supporters.

Monday, February 24, 2025

A New Generation: Aaron Brown Debuts New Music and Fashion Line In Hollywood


 Aaron Brown, son of musician George Brown who played in the legendary 70s funk band KOOL and the Gang debuted his music and fashion taste at an intimate party at the Poet's Road Gallery on Hollywood blvd this weekend. The multi-hyphenate creator hosted a party to celebrate the launch of his new single "What Are We" along with a fashion show and red carpet to raise money for LA fire victims. 

The event drew influencers in the music, fashion, food, and entertainment space bringing together cultural icons to raise money for a good cause. The night included food, signature cocktails, and merch from the Aaron Brown collection. 

The night started off with the fashion show, where young models and Aaron's friends showed off the Gen Z styles with a twist of 70s flair on the runway. All the styles were available to purchase and all proceeds went to raise money for victims of the LA fires. The stylish and unique looks adorned with lyrics from Aaron's music were a big hit and many pieces sold out after the show. 

The night continued with Aaron's performance. He and his band gave a great performance debuting his unique musical style. The show was professional with a hint of homemade flair to it that made the crowd feel like we were jamming at a house party while a also getting a taste of the up and coming talent. Aaron's music was fresh and the lyrics felt very Gen Z while some of the musical styling had influences from his father's funk career. I can't wait to see what's next for this up and coming artist! Check out my full red carpet interview with Aaron on the red carpet on IG to see more! 

Monday, March 28, 2022

The Griot Gala Oscars AfterParty




On Sunday night celebrities came out in style to celebrate entertainment's biggest night at the Griot Gala Oscar's afterparty. This year the Gala honored Diversity and Inclusion in the film and entertainment industry and Cedric the Entertainer hosted the event celebrating nominees award-winning stage, television, and film actress Phylicia Rashad, revered for her portrayal of Claire Huxtable on the Cosby Show, Cheech & Chong’s Cheech Marin, and the Have & Have Nots ReneĂ©  Lawless. The theme for the night was elegant Parisian splendor with a nod toward Moulin Rouge created by Dwight Eubanks & Annette Bibby Oliver/Dreamhouse MBG. The night kicked off with red carpet arrivals from post-academy awards ceremony celebs. who all came dressed in their best awards-worthy styles. Sparkles, mermaid silhouettes and artistic designs were all trends from the night. I interviewed celebrities such as comedian Cheech Marin, Layla Crawford, Sabrina Lewis Miss California USA, Jabari Banks who plays Will on the Bel Air reboot, and more to get the scoop on their red carpet looks. The House of Stars fashion house designer walked the red carpets with several of the stars and models wearing his looks for the night including this amazing red creation worn by a supermodel. 











After the red carpets guests headed inside the BOA steakhouse restaurant to enjoy food and complimentary drinks from Beam Suntory/Courvoisier. There was also a DJ with music and dancing for a celebratory night! Check out more of my red carpet style coverage on Instagram! 

Friday, August 16, 2019

KAOHS Swimwear Fashion Show and Afterparty in Hollywood


The end of summer might be coming but here in LA we're still soaking up these long summer days. Last night KAOHS swimwear a trendy bikini line that's popular among celebs and models showcased their new line at an amazing fashion show held at The Casita in Hollywood.

The event was filled with fun photo ops and delicious appetizers that guests enjoyed while relaxing in the tropical paradise at the Casita.


The fashion show kicked off at 7 and KAOHS debuted their latest collection featuring leopard print designs and bright neons as well as some fun 80s inspired prints. There was a bikini for almost anyone on the runway as well as several adorable beach cover ups. Check out some of my favorite looks from the retro inspired collection on my Instagram! 
The party continued after the fashion show with a celebratory after party at the exclusive 1oak club in West Hollywood. The club is a favorite among celebs like Selena Gomez, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sophia Richie and many others! The fashion forward crowd filled the club and everyone celebrated with  music by DJ Jack Henry.


Friday, May 10, 2019

The Real Story Behind Ariana Grande's 7 Rings: Victoria Monet Shares The Crazy Story Behind the Hit Single's Title

"We had Ariana Grande looking at us like yo, bro, I need a big record like right now."


If you are an Ari fan as much as I am then you have probably listened to "7 Rings" about a thousand times by this point. The song is all about celebrating female friendship and empowerment and the title 7 rings obviously refers to Ariana's lyric, "Wearing a ring, but ain't gon' be no "Mrs." Bought matching diamonds for six of my bitches". 
The smash hit broke several pop records including making it to Billboard's Hot 100 top 3 for 7 weeks. The song is so popular because the message of girl power resonates with so many fans. At this year's ASCAP I Create Music Expo the team behind Ariana's majorly successful album Sweetner and the 3 record breaking singles she released in 2018 including Thank U Next, 7 Rings, and Break Up With Your Boyfriend I'm Bored attended the Pop Panel to discuss the process of creating these amazing songs with the artist. I got the inside scoop on the inspiration and song writing process behind all of these songs from Victoria Monet who is a long time friend and co-worker of Ariana. She explained what it was like creating these anthems and how they worked to express the message that Ariana wanted to convey of celebrating female success unapologetically
She said, "It's about being observant and empathetic enough to recognize the feelings of an artist that the world needs to hear." 
Victoria told the story of how the song title came about as they were working in the New York studio one day and once you hear this crazy tale it will only make the song that much better! 
According to producer Tommy who was also on the panel, Ariana had wanted to use the theme of her favorite song from the Sound of Music movie "Some of my favorite things" to create a song about her favorite things to do with her girlfriends. She wanted to have a retro vibe in the intro of the song and had told them, "Lets do something like the sound of music, but not." 
So they were already working with that theme when Ariana showed up at the studio with Tiffany bags and started handing them out to her girlfriends. According to Victoria Grande had been out shopping that morning and had seen some rings in the Tiffany store that she liked. She apparently misjudged the price tag after not seeing a comma on it since she was "a little tipsy" according to the team and asked to get 7 rings for herself and her best friends. She wanted to show appreciation for her girlfriends after going through the hard times she had during her break up with her boyfriend the previous year. Once she got to the register and found out how much they really were she decided to buy them anyways and came straight to the studio where Victoria helped her create the "7 rings" song that day. 
So the song is truly based on a real life experience and I still can't get over it! 


Monet also went on to share the process behind Thank U Next, the other record breaking hit that Ariana released in 2018. According to Victoria, Ariana came to her saying she wanted to write a song about her exes and they started working to create the single. 
"It came together in about two weeks." said Monet.
Once it was written Ariana didn't release it right away becasue she was hesitant about naming her exes by name in the song but she ultimately decided to do it and called Victoria and the team up one morning aroudn 8 o'clock saying. today is the day! This was surprising because in pop there's usually a roll out and some marketing with a song but Victoria said that Ariana, "dropped it like a rapper" and even though people were skeptical of the song being successful it ended up breaking records. 
When asked what made the song so successful Victoria said, "We were writing about what was actually going on, we were literally just narrating what was really going on to a beautiful melody with a fire beat." 
When asked what it felt like to affect pop culture she said,"I think it's incredible. It was really cool to be in a session where we could talk about some real things that people wanted to hear that only we could say." 


She continued saying, "The whole process was just us with our friends stripping down our feelings." 
Victoria compared working with Ariana to a box of crayons saying, "When you go to a restaurant and they give you 3 crayons to color with, Ariana is like having a a whole coloring box. She's just so talented...she makes it very easy she writes and produces." 

The panel ended with some amazing advice from the team telling future creators to never give up on their passion and it was definitely an inspiring session. I loved hearing the process behind creating these hits that truly have affected pop culture in such a big way. I can't wait to see what's next from this group! 

Monday, February 25, 2019

Check Out My Article for Hollywood glam magazine on the CityGala Oscars Afterparty in Hollywood!


On Sunday night, I got to celebrate Hollywood's biggest night at the CityGala Oscars afterparty where stars like Collin Farrel, Mario Lopez and more made appearances on the red carpet. Check out my outfit for the event and read the full article at the link below!

http://www.hollywoodglammagazine.com/2019/02/27/the-city-gala-oscars-after-party-2019/

Friday, February 22, 2019

Macy Grey Performs at the Chef Dance Pre-Oscars Party

On Friday night February 22nd I got started celebrating the Oscars early this year at the ChefDance Pre-Oscars party held at a beautiful private mansion in the Hollywood Hills. My best blogger gal Shauna of Skin by Shauna attended the event with me and we had a great time enjoying the party and food and of course the fashions!

The party kicked off with some amazing appetizers including mini sliders, shrimp skewers, crab cakes and much more! We enjoyed mingling and trying out all the delicious snacks out on the patio of the mansion. It was decorated with lights and music and the courtyard was the perfect place to start the intimate get together.

We explored the house finding some great photo ops for our OOTN pics and had fun with the selfie stations they had set up at the party! Check out all the fun below!



Then we enjoyed the main course which was served buffet style in the dining room. The food was amazing and all the guests gave rave reviews but on a side note, look at this kitchen you guys!

Wow talk about goals. Some of my favorite dishes were the pasta, wild rice, and grilled chicken and steak. I enjoyed watching all the guests arrive dressed up in the latest fashions for the occasion. Slip dresses and nude heels were definitely trending at this event.

After hanging out and exploring the house and beautiful patio we were invited down to the poolhouse for an intimate performance by Grammy winner Macy Grey. The host told us that he had this space designed specifically for entertaining and we were the first to christen the area with this party! It was designed like a jazz club with small tables, mood lighting, and a stage at the front. Macy grey gave an amazing performance and even commented on the space saying, "Everybody, he took this room and made it into a club for us. That's how you know you have too much money that's when you know you're doing alright!" Everyone laughed.




She sang some of her top hits like "I try" and other throwback favorites and the whole crowd sang along. It was definitely a special experience and a great way to kick off oscars weekend! Stay tuned for more Oscars coverage here on the blog! 

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Your February Playlist is Here: Up and Coming Country Star Tiffany Woys Releases Her First EP All About Finding Love


Tis the season of love! With Valentines day 2019 just behind us up and coming star Tiffany Woys is releasing her first EP titled all about the journey to finding true love. The album features 5 songs with her signature sweet and vibrant voice telling the story of how she came to find true love herself. According to Tiffany if you listen to the songs in order it should all make sense. She compared her view on love to one of her favorite shows, Sex and the City, and specifically Charlotte's character saying, "I'm a big hopeless romantic...Every time I've gotten my heart broken I've just gotten back up and believed that that person is out there.I just don't ever stop trying to find it. I don't  get discouraged in that sense. These 4 songs kind of represent a little bit of a journey of the ups and downs to finding that."

California native Woys made a stop back in her home state this week for a special performance of her trending song Priceless at the Radio Disney studios. The talented singer invited me to an interview on Tuesday night where we talked about her new music, style, and more! Woys unique country pop sound is appealing to any country music lover but the pop influence makes it fun for all fans! The young singer moved to Nashville one year ago from California to pursue her country music career full time.
When I asked if her California roots influenced her music at all, she said, "Absolutely, I would not be honest if I didn't say that I'm country pop that's what I am. I mean my two biggest favorite artists are Micheal Jackson and Celine Dion how can they not have some kind of a pop influence. I wouldn't say that there's a lot of really typical traditional country. I'm definitely more on the modern side. But that's just kind of what I gravitated towards and before I was an artist I started as listener so for me I wanted to  put out something that I felt like if I were the listener would I like it. And that's kind of the process of what I went through making my music."
Tiffany elaborated on what brought her to be a country music listener in the first place telling me, "The storytelling in the writing, the honesty and how I felt like the audience related so much more to country artists because it felt like they were hearing a story from their friend or their ex boyfriend or their mom you know it was like something where they could initially grab on to those lyrics and say yeah I know someone who's been through that or I've been through that and that right there was why I wanted to do country. And to take it a step further as much as I love to get dressed up and do fun things I kinda wanted to take a stage without doing 6 costume changes or dance routines. I just wanted to hold a microphone and sing and that's the show."
She said, "For country music what inspired me vocally and who I looked up to was Leann Rhymes and that was when I think I was about 5 and she was singing the national anthem and it wasn't too long after star search. It was like How do I live was coming out and that's kind of how I discovered country music which was through Leann Rhymes and then I just started to find other people because my parents weren't really big country listeners. It was like Rod Stewart, Micheal Bolton, Celine Dion it was those kinds of singers so I just ended up kind of veering off on my own and listening to like Martina McBRide, Faith Hill, and then I noticed that those were really like vocalists and stylists and that's what made me focus on the path that I'm going on right now where I'm focusing on being a vocalist."

On the subject of her childhood musical influences she talked about what artists inspired her most growing up and to this day saying, "The people who inspire me as an artist, my number one is Celine Dion always has been since I was 5. That's what my mom would play all the time was Celine Dion and that is not a bad artist to look up to. Really big shoes to fill if you're trying to fill that vocally."

Tiffany is a big believer in working hard to achieve your dreams and shared, "I found that listening to her and her being kind of my inspiration made me work harder and strive to always be better. Because I started studying what she does and how much she works to be as amazing as she is like still to this day she doesn't just settle and sit back and she practices 4 days a week still and does all this stuff so I'm like yeah that's what I look up to."

Speaking of hard work, Tiffany told me that this album has been 6 years in the making saying, "My mom would say I'm a very stubborn and impatient girl, but when it comes to music I'm not I'm really patient but I'm very excited just to get it heard." She is looking forward to sharing all her hard work with her fans and is hoping to get back to live performances now that her album is coming out.

She elaborated on her last 6 years in the music industry saying, "So kind of how I got into this entire journey is I love entertaining I love being on stage I love performing so I put a band together and toured the west coast and that was a ton of fun and then when I moved to Nashville it was obviously about making the music and the business."

We also talked about her style and what she hoped to say with her look. She described her personal style saying, "I'm a leather and denim girl whether that means a leather jacket with jeans or a denim dress with a leather jacket or leather pants and that's kind of my everyday go to that's kind of my look."
When I asked her if she preferred style over comfort she said, "I think I could be both but I would probably say style over comfort. Except when it comes to heels. I wanna be better at them. I watched Carry Underwood work a stage in them and I was like I would've died...I would love to wear some heels on stage every once in awhile because I'm not a cowgirl boots kind of girl that's not my style like I have them but I don't wear them in my day to day or on stage but yeah I'm all about style over comfort other than heels. I'll put on converse."
She shared her tips for dressing with confidence on stage or off saying, "Be yourself and that means even in your style. The same way that the song [Priceless] is about not settling that's how I feel about style. You know that's what that song is, just kind of like being true to yourself and if someone doesn't like it then keep it movin' and that's kind of how I feel about style. If someone doesn't like what you're wearing or how you dress don't settle. And that goes for a guy too. This song, I wouldn't just want it to be for girls I mean yes it's coming from a girls perspective but guys shouldn't settle either. Guys should feel the same way because you know I've seen a girl try and tell a guy how to dress before too."

Then she added laughing, "I mean sometimes there's good tips okay" Her songs and outfits definitely reveal her confident and bubbly personality.

Speaking of her songs, each one has a very powerful message and Tiffany hopes to use her music to empower young women and inspire her fans to follow their dreams.
She said, "To me its always about keep dreaming. People say get a 9-5 that's a one in a million chance and that's fine that's still respectable but this is my passion this is what I love..For me its just always follow your passion."
As for some of her future goals that she's still working towards Tiffany has a few things she's looking forward to. She said, "I want to be someone's first concert that they never forget. that was my childhood dream."
In 2019, she is really excited to start doing more performances. She said, "I'm just itching to get back up on stage so that's what I really wanna do in 2019 is perform."
Her inspiring commitment to her career is contagious and she offered some great words of motivation for anyone looking to pursue a career in the arts saying, "Don't let anyone ever tell you your dream is too big because crazier things have happened. Can you imagine telling the wright brothers that their dream was too big and they were never gonna get a hunk of metal in the sky and then we wouldn't be able to travel from state to state. So my thing is, is just dream big and always keep going for it. Chase it."

Tiffany has had experience with having to chase after her dream as her parents initially wanted her to pursue a career in law and throughout college she had to continue pursuing music part time before she finally switched to making it a full time career. Based on her experience she offered some words of wisdom to anyone looking to make the jump saying, "It's definitely not easy...its hard for both men and women to be an artist. I don't think anybody just walks through the door and its like well that was easy record dear where do I sign? I don't think its like that I think you have to really believe in yourself. And then a lot of the time there's gotta be some people out there that believe in you too. It takes a village sometimes and I don't think people necessarily realize that. I think its hard because you see so many people doing it on their own like I'm doing it on my own but I'm not really doing it on my own. I have a lot of people helping me that believe in me. But first and foremost you gotta believe in yourself because without that well, I don't know. You just have to believe in yourself."

Tiffany's album comes out on February 22nd. Check out her new music on Spotify and Apple Music!

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Golden Globes Coverage: Check Out My Interview with Octavia Spencer in Hollywood Glam Magazine!



Awards Season is here!! If you are watching the Golden Globes tonight you will def want to check out my red carpet coverage of the Official Gold Meets Golden Pre-Party where I interview 2019 presenter Octavia Spencer about her on stage look for the big night! Watch at the link below!

http://www.hollywoodglammagazine.com/2019/01/06/celebs-share-their-awards-night-style-and-more-at-the-gold-meets-golden-pre-golden-globes-party/


Tuesday, December 11, 2018

What Does Tom Schwartz Want For Christmas This Year?


I got an exclusive interview with reality star and new bar owner Tom Schwartz at the ChildHelp Charity night in Beverly Hills where he told me all about his plans for the holidays including what he wants most for Christmas this year! It’s definitely not what you’d think either! The Vanderpump rules star made a rare solo red carpet appearance for the event held at the Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills. You can read more about the event in this article.
First, he talked about how exciting it was to finally be living his dream of owning his own business here in LA saying, “It’s surreal to see my name on a billboard on Santa Monica Blvd you know? I’ve just been lucky since moving to LA. I mean there were highs and lows don’t get me wrong I went through a few rough patches but lately I’ve just been really fortunate. The bar is going really well. I just got to have my mom out here and I took her to the bar and it was such a magical moment I cried and it as like a dream come true.”
Then we got to talking about the holiday season and what a great time of year it is to give. Tom said, “I’m looking forward to giving back more I’ve just been blessed lately and I want to pay it forward and I’m always looking for more charities to contribute to and be a part of and just give back a little bit.”
Tom mentioned the ChildHelp charity that he was supporting on the red carpet that night and said, “It’s really cool, I was aware of this but I didn’t realize the reach, I had no idea how long it had been around and I was just reading about their story and the creation of this. I was just blown away. They’re making a difference every single day and they’re doing great work and I plan on being more involved here now that I know more about the charity.”
But besides giving, the other big thing the holidays brings to mind is what we can get. Speaking of presents Tom shared what his number one on his list for Christmas this year saying, “I just wanna spend more time with my family. I don’t get to see them nearly enough, they live on the opposite coast and I miss them so much I literally think about them everyday. I’m gonna go home and I’m just gonna snuggle with my mom and my dad and give my brothers a big kiss. I’m gonna spoil everybody maybe take them on some sort of lavish trip like the keys or something. Get some scooters, go fishing catch and release of course!”
So there you have it, more time with family is what Tom is most looking forward to this Christmas. What a great way to spend the holidays! What are you guys most looking forward to this season??