Fiesta de Miss UNIVERSOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Designer and Muse: Nick Verreos and former Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee (wearing NIKOLAKI), True Beauty Rocks the Universe in Hollywood W Hollywood HotelLast night was the Finale of Miss Universe 2011. Of course, the actual pageant was in São Paulo, Brazil. Needless to say, I wasn't invited to go and therefore, did not. However, there was a BETTER Party I was invited to: The "True Beauty Rocks The Universe in Hollywood Official Miss Universe 2011 Viewing Party at the W Hollywood Hotel. It was sponsored by the Miss Universe Organization, The Atwell Group, True Beauty Special Events, LCH/La Casa Hermosa, and Telemundo.
A Suited Threesome: Actor/Comedian (and friend!) Alec Mapa, Nick Verreos and David Paul, True Beauty Rocks the Universe in Hollywood Miss Universe 2011 Viewing Party W Hollywood HotelMy good friend Brook Lee--who happens to be a former Miss Universe (and the last Miss USA to win that title!)--invited both my NIKOLAKI design partner David Paul and myself to this festive BASH! And naturally, I couldn't say "No"! A) I LOVE Beauty Pageants; B) I Love Miss Universes and C) I Love Parties!! Once we arrived, the party was in full swing on the street-level "courtyard" of the very happening W Hollywood Hotel. The place was PACKED with many, many gorgeous ladies wearing sashes (lots of Miss California USA contestants) and many well-dressed men following them!!
LOVE HER: Nick Verreos, Tara Conner, Miss USA 2006 and her cutie boyfriend, Brandon Belsky from their band Jamestown Avenue, True Beauty Rocks the Universe in Hollywood W Hollywood HotelA HUGE screen floated from one of the walls as Telemundo Network projected the Miss Universe "Pre-Show" that had begun at 8PM "Camino a la Corona", which highlights all the Latin American contestants in the Miss Universe Pageant. Hors d'oeuvres were passed around (I saw them but never got to try any--and I surely did not see any of those girls with sashes attempt to even reach for those plates!). There was a fully-stocked Open Bar as well. In addition to viewing the Telecast (it was like one of those "Oscar Viewing Parties", but with more gorgeous women around), this was also a Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Miss Universe. As a result there were some "Special Guests" in attendance.
Universal Announcer: Nick Verreos announcing the past Miss Universe Titleholders--flanked by (L to R) Chelsi Smith Miss Universe 1995, Brook Lee (in NIKOLAKI gown) Miss Universe 1997, Justine Pasek Miss Universe 2002, True Beauty Rocks the Universe in Hollywood W Hollywood HotelAs the time got closer and closer to the start of the Live Telecast at 9PM, I was asked to announce who these Special Guests were: TEN Former Miss Universe Titleholders, who were invited to Hollywood for this unprecedented celebration!
Look at My Face: Nick Verreos, as he greets Miss Universe 1964 from Greece (my father's parents' homeland!) Corinna Fields, True Beauty Rocks the Universe in Hollywood W Hollywood HotelI introduced la bellisima Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002 from Panama, my "Hawaiian Sister" Brook Lee Miss Universe 1997 (USA), the vivacious Chelsi (Those incredible legs!!) Smith Miss Universe 1995 (USA), the elegant Michelle McLean Miss Universe 1992 (Namibia), Mona (Face of a Supermodel) Grudt Miss Universe 1990 (Norway), the statuesque Margaret Gardiner Miss Universe 1978 (South Africa), the beautiful Janelle Commissiong Miss Universe 1977 (Trinidad and Tobago), the elegant Sylvia Hitchcock Miss Universe 1967 (USA), my "Greek sister" Corinna Fields, née Tsopei Miss Universe 1964 (Greece)...
And the MOST Special Guest, the FIRST EVER Miss Universe, Armi Kuusela, who was Miss Universe 1952, seen above being handed a special presentation by a Miss Universe Organization representative.
Las Misses: Nick Verreos with all the past Miss Universe Titleholders, True Beauty Rocks the Universe in Hollywood W Hollywood Hotel
Colors of The Universe: (L to R) Justine Pasek Miss Universe 2002 (Panama), Janelle Commissiong Miss Universe 1977 (Trinidad and Tobago), Nick Verreos, Margaret Gardiner Miss Universe 1978 (South Africa), and Mona Grudt Miss Universe 1990 (Norway), True Beauty Rocks the Universe in Hollywood W Hollywood Hotel
Pageant Squeeze: Shanna Moakler and Nick Verreos, True Beauty Rocks the Universe in Hollywood W Hollywood Hotel
My Girl: Actress ("Unstoppable") and former Miss California USA 2007 (she wore one of my NIKOLAKI gowns to the Miss USA 2007 Pageant!!), and Nick Verreos, True Beauty Rocks the Universe in Hollywood W Hollywood HotelI can't even begin to tell you what an honor it was to have introduced them at this amazing event! I felt like I was a little boy, back in Caracas Venezuela watching the Miss Universe Pageant and being all excited to see all the gorgeous girls in their gorgeous dresses! I had such a blast at the party that I almost forgot that there was a Pageant to watch on the big ol' screen!!!!
