Nick Verreos "Pageant Talk": The Miss California USA 2010 Edition

Sashes, a NIKOLAKI Gown, and Michael Phelps?
Crowning Moment: Miss CA USA 2010 with Rita Verreos (my sister) in a Nikolaki gown, handing the bouquet

A couple of months back, in November, the Miss California USA 2010 Pageant took place. Keith Lewis, its director, asked me to be a judge but unfortunately "duty calls" and I had to fly to Miami to film one of my Sears Holiday Gift segments for Despierta America. But my sister, the lovely Rita Verreos was there. Meagan Tandy, Miss CA USA 2007 and Rita Verreos at the recent Miss CA USA 2010 festivities

My sister, who was a former Miss Venezuela contestant "back in the day"--is now a very sought after Pageant Coach. She has helped many a hopeful Miss California USA contestant to walk, talk and act like she already has the crown on her head. This year, the pageant was held in Rancho Mirage at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa. Of course , the Miss California USA Organization and Keith Lewis have been in the news as of late because of all the events surrounding Carrie Prejean, her eventual dethronement, and all the subsequent backlash. So, more than ever, a lot of people's eyes were on this pageant.Crownin' and Sashin': Rita Verreos, in ivory Nikolaki gown, stands onstage at the Miss CA USA 2010 PageantBack View: Rita Verreos in Nikolaki gown, Miss California USA 2010 Pageant

For the pageant, my sister wore one of my NIKOLAKI gowns of course--an ivory silk crepe column gown with a draped bust and embroidered back which I designed years ago ("vintage" Nick Verreos). Nicole Johnson, Miss California USA 2010

The winner of the Miss California USA 2010 Pageant was a 24 year old from Ventura County named Nicole Johnson. She's very pretty and has a resemblance to singer Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls. She does come with a bit of gossip as well (it wouldn't be Miss California USA without it!): She used to date Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. I'm sure this little bit of dish might bring some added attention to her when she goes to Las Vegas for the 2010 Miss USA Pageant in April. Or maybe not. My pageant spies told me that the actual crowd favorite was former UCLA Bruin Women's Volleyball player, six foot one inch tall Nana Meriwether who represented Beverly Hills. And the Winner Is: First Runner Up Nana Meriwether (left) and Miss CA USA 2010, Nicole Johnson (right)

The "pageant talk" was that Nana had everything: The stunning all-over beaded open-back gown, the poise, the DIVA walk. Who knows why she didn't get the top crown? Maybe next year she will be the winner (they can try again and again in the Miss CA USA rules). Speaking of gowns, from what I can see in the photos, they looked quite nice. At least there weren't too many clear stripper heels and I-just-bought-this-in-Santee Alley Downtown LA dresses.
Except... Ironically enough, the winner's dress was, to put it nicely, not so good, if not the worst. From looking at these photos (see close-up above) and from reading the blogs of guests who were there, Nicole's burnt orange/red halter gown looked ill-fitting and a bit on the cheap side. Maybe for the Miss USA 2010 Pageant, she'll give this one to "Pageant Goodwill" and her First-Runner Up, Nana Meriwether, will let her borrow hers.

Good Luck to Nicole and the rest of Keith's Miss CA gals!
*A Special 'Thank You' to Husam Abedaker for some of the photos used here.

December Rain in Miami: Post-Despierta America Segment

Not Sunny In Miami: David's Wet Birthday Balcony View: A Sunny View from the Mandarin Oriental Miami

This week, while I was in Seattle, I turned on the news and saw that Miami was a chilly 40 Degrees!!! I couldn't believe it. But then David reminded me of the weather injustice we encountered while we went to that city recently. Last month as some of you may remember, I flew to Miami with my NIKOLAKI partner, David Paul. I was there to shoot my second Holiday Segment for Despierta America, the Spanish-speaking "Good Morning America". The segment, in which I showcased great gift ideas for the entire family--from electronics for the Dad to perfumes and jewelry for the Mom and of course, fun toys for the kids--went really well. Regalos Para Todos: Nick Verreos, Despierta America Sears Holiday Gifts TV segment

Usually after I film my TV segments or appearances, I depart for the airport right away. However, the day of this segment was also David's Birthday, so we decided to stay a couple of days in Miami--My gift would be two fabulous SUNNY no-work, days in Miami (or so we thought). While doing my Sears segments, the clients had us at the ultra-luxe Downtown Miami-located Mandarin Oriental, which was AMAZING. But we decided to "re-locate" to the Mondrian to be closer to South Beach and all the shopping.

Our Girlfriend During the Storm: The Mondrian "Children of the Corn"

The day we moved was beautiful and sunny but there were some minor clouds creeping in. All we could think of was "Please keep the rain away!" These were the first two days in a LONG time that both David and I had any "break" and all we wanted to do was fall asleep in the pool chairs.

Birthday Boy On His Throne: David Paul enjoying the Mondrian South Beach Pool Love Seat

After checking in, we went straight to the pool and in the evening, we celebrated David's Birthday at one of our favorite Miami restaurants, Red. No sign of rain, Gracias a Dios, as they say. The next morning, we woke up to a TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR!! Yep, and it lasted for the entire time we were there. This was supposed to be our "lay out by the pool all day" time but no, the "Weather Gods" had something else planned. We stayed in the hotel room and watched the nonstop rain from our balcony. In fact we later found out, the rain turned into a Hurricane Warning. Nice.

Rainbow Miami: A brief pause in the rain

David was bummed and so was I, but what could we do. After 12 hrs of sitting in our not-so-cheap room, we decided to don our Top Shop blazers, get the umbrellas and have some chimichurri and empanadas at Baires Grill and take in a movie off of Lincoln Road. We saw the very good--but very depressing Precious. This was David's 2-day Not-So-Sunny-In-Miami Birthday "extravaganza". Remind me next time to check the Weather Channel.Click Below for the video I shot of the Torrential Rains in Miami from our Mondrian Hotel Balcony:

Raquel Welsh Inspired FOTD

Ever since watching this Pixiwoo video on You Tube I have wanted to try this look out, it's so glamourous and I just love that sexy, sleepy eyemakeup look that so many starlets have used over the decades.

If you don't know who Raquel Welsh is, then here's a pic to give you an idea of what her look was all about...This wasn't the exact look that Nic from Pixiwoo did in her tutorial but it's similar. The look is all about matte bronzed skin, contouring, brown e/s and a nude lip. This was my first time I have tried this look and I kinda decided to do it on a whim, I was going out to meet a few friends and felt like trying something new (not so much colours but techniques and playing with the shape of my eye with e/s). I decided to tone down the look slightly as something this dark would possibly make me look a bit tired. So I skipped the false eyelashes, used a little less Carbon e/s in the crease and was light handed with the bronzer but apart from that, I followed the tutorial to the letter. And here's the finished result..

When your eye is open, the look is very subtle but all the drama of this look is in the crease using MAC Satin Taupe and a teensy bit of MAC Carbon e/s to accentuate... I really enjoyed slightly changing my eye shape by extending the Satin Taupe out towards my temple and using the gel eyeliner to draw a line parallel to that (I also followed the video and applied a white liner under the gel liner at the very outer corners to sharpen the line). Doing all that extends and lifts the outer corners of your eye. Here's a close up to show you what I mean...

The only thing that didn't go to plan is my mascara (I used Lancome Hypnose Drama)...it went a bit spidery and I hate it when that happens! So you'll have to excuse that.

I am making it my mission to try out one of their looks each week to avoid getting stuck in a makeup rut. Sometimes I find myself doing the same look every time I go out just because it's easy, I'm on autopilot and it's quick. But it was really fun to sit at the mirror with the laptop and follow the tutorial...it was like playtime! Makeup is always a pleasure, never a chore.