Thursday, May 18, 2006

Universal Beauty

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I first met actress/model and former Miss Universe, Brook Lee at the Los Angeles GLAAD Awards Gala. We instantly hit it off. Not only was she beautiful, she had an amazingly warm personality—rare in this town, especially for gorgeous girls like her. Before we knew it, I was slapping her hand as in a “High Five” and she was finishing my sentences with “OKAAAY!” What cemented our relationship was when she told me that Ali Landry (actress and former “Doritos Girl”) had crowned her when she became Miss USA. I designed the very same gown Ali wore to crown Brook Lee. Let’s just say it was fate that we would meet.
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Ali Landry and the Gown I designed for her when she gave up her Miss USA Title
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Brook told me she was flying off to New York to attend the launch of “Universal Beauty”, a book on the trade secrets of former and current Miss Universes. About 10 former Miss Universes would be in attendance, along with all of this year's 50 Miss USA contestants and “The Donald” himself. She was instructed to wear either black, gold or red. She called up my studio and we had a meeting. I designed a sexy one-shouldered silk charmeuse dress in Fire Red which fit her perfectly. When she returned, she came bearing gifts including a signed copy of the book plus her actual “Miss Universe 1997” sash. Well, I just about died, if you can only imagine. She warned me that if I slept with it, to be careful of the rhinestone crystals scratching my Duvet! Her sash is now draped on one of my forms and looks perfect with my gowns (and I have secretly worn it when no one is looking!).
*sorry for the grainy photos, if I find better ones I will replace these.