GBK Gift Lounge at the 84th Annual Academy Awards

February 25, 2012 --- Hollywood’s biggest night never disappoints when it comes to the glitz and the glamour – the stars surely delivered at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Whether your fave actor actually won an Oscar, is another story. We’ve all been there. Despite what you may think, it’s not all about movie making and designer gowns for actors; they also lend their time and efforts to charitable causes.

In honor of this years Oscar nominees and presenters, GBK, a fundraising and special events company, hosted their annual celebrity gift lounge at the luxurious W Hotel in Hollywood. The mission behind the event is not only to educate the press and celebrities on the various foundations present but also to enjoy the lavish gifts, hor d’oerves and diverse services provided. Everyone gets to walk away with a plump gift bag or swag bag, as some of us like to call it. Including me! Yes, consider me a celebrity for a day.

Among the foundations present were the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation which is dedicated to the raising of funds for research and awareness towards a cure for juvenile diabetes, The HollyRod Foundation, Drawing for Hope and many more with great causes.

As you walked into one of the many celebrity suites, you left with a wealth of knowledge, goodie bag and moved to take action. Over 70 celebrity guests were in attendance such as AnnaLynne McCord (90210), Teri Polo (ABC’s Man Up), Rick Otto (Red Tails) and Holly Robinson Peete among others. The causes ranged from helping sexual assault survivors through art, to combatting human trafficking, and to providing a safe haven for those who have autism and Parkinson’s disease. The goodie bag was filled with high end skin and hair products, protein bars, travel and spa certificates, fragrances, candles and my personal favorite -- jewelry.

Alongside the red carpet, there stood Apple Revolution; custom candy apples that serve as party favors and yes, they’re edible! The apples appear very well crafted with designs like Justin Beiber’s face for those with Beiberfever or your fave team logo for the sports fanatic in you AND they look yummy. I will bite into mine a little later, can’t wait!

Apple Revolution created GBK’s invite (pic should come in another email). They are one busy organization. Ana Gonzalez, founded the company three years ago, which is based out of Orange County. She says it has gotten off to a great start. Although she does many wedding events, her next project is with the George Lopez Foundation. Check out her website for the fun and mouth watering designs, apple-revolution.com.

One of my favorite gifts and jewelry tables at this event was a gold beaded necklace from the Mayalei line of Chickboss, because the story behind the necklace is that much more beautiful.

Chickboss is an awesome organization dedicated to bridging the economic gap between young Guatemalans and their unskilled and illiterate parents. What they do is take non-working mothers and sometimes fathers and develop their skills in crafting all while evolving them into artisans. Their jewelry is exquisitely beautiful and has a soft touch to it (I’ll say it’s the loving and motherly touch) that leads one to believe that there’s more than just fine silver and copper being used in its creation.

Pat Pannell founded Chickboss when she noticed the disparity between the youth and their parents through a family she sponsored in Guatemala. She was moved to take action. The general manager of the organization, Carmencita Luna, shares, “It doesn’t feel like work because you’re helping people change for the better. For themselves, and the world, not only my country.” If you’re interested in helping bridge that gap and accessorizing a dress beautifully, please check out their website, chickboss.com. I was able to wear mine the next day to an Oscar after party, it was just what the dress needed. How do I look? (insert pic here I suppose).

GBK’s event was a huge success and what better time to do it than when the Oscars are in town. During Oscar weekend they were able to raise an additional $70,000 for a variety of charities. GBK gives 20% of their profits to the charities on site. Swag bag in one hand and a complimentary Blue Hawaiian drink in the other, I am happy but I’m also hopeful that the giving goes beyond this weekend. Here’s to the 2012 Academy Awards.

-Jennifer Fernandez
En La Escena
Visit: http://enlaescena.com

Brazilians Buying Big in the Big Apple

New York brokers take note! Brazilians are on a buying spree. New York is not only teeming with Brazilian tourists, with their booming economy and loads of cash, Brazilians are also (quietly) snapping up condo and apartment units in Manhattan. In fact, they have become regular clients of higher-end brokers in New York and Miami.

According to Marcos Cohen, a Brazilian broker at Prudential Douglas Elliman, a lot of people think of Manhattan as their dream town. In the past two years, Cohen had closed more than 15 deals for Brazilians who paid anywhere from $5 million to more than $15 million for Manhattan apartments. A lot of these Brazilian buyers in New York are professionals. They are in their 30s and 40s and are connected to the commodities or the finance sector, which is the reason why many Brazilians have become rich after a flurry of I.P.O.’s in their country in recent years. They favor addresses in Midtown near Lincoln Center or along Central Park on the Upper East Side. They also look at full-service buildings with their own concierge services.
Once they find an apartment, Brazilians tend to bring in their own architects and interior designers. One São Paulo-based architect who is well known in Brazil, Fernanda Marques, is now doing 3 projects for Brazilians: 2 in New York and 1 in Miami.

This phenomenon is not only found in New York. According to brokers and developers, Brazilians are also buying hundreds of units in high-end development projects in Miami. At the W South Beach Hotel & Residences, about 20% of the buyers since 2010 are Brazilians; they have bought 31 units with total value of almost $50 million, according to David Edelstein, a co-owner of the project. At Paramount Bay, almost one-third of the buyers for the past six months are Brazilians. Buying apartments in Miami (and in New York) is actually a cheaper venture for Brazilians than buying units in Rio de Janeiro, where apartment prices are increasing rapidly ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2014 World Cup. Prices in this magical city by the sea rose by 20 percent from April to October last year.

For a lot of Brazilians, this is a dream come true for them. After experiencing decades of economic crises, Brazil’s economy is now the sixth-largest in the world. Economic reforms have given them stability with steady money flowing in due to high commodity prices and demand from China. Recognizing this trend, American brokers and lawyers are now eager to do real estate transactions with Brazilians and are making more frequent trips to Brazil. They are also accelerating their marketing efforts in certain society publications in Brazil.

Jeisa Chiminazzo is now a resident in New York City's TriBeCa neighborhood. For the Brazilians who are now residents of these two states, hearing a familiar accent is no longer a unique experience for them. In fact, it had started to feel like a homecoming for them. But for Jeisa Chiminazzo, a 26-year-old Brazilian model who purchased a $1.65 million, two-bedroom TriBeCa loft in 2009, there is one downside to this. According to her, one cannot gossip in Portuguese anymore as it is very possible that a fellow Brazilian will bump into you and understand what you are saying.

ELE Promo - En La Escena

En la escena is a Latin Lifestyle television program, seen online and on cable in Houston Texas on Mi Casa Broadcasting and PTN Network online, Visit:http://enlaescena.com

Ambar Tropical Artist - En La Escena

Ambar manages to establish itself as the favorite in the Billboard and Mediabase Top lists. Her song "Tengo Ganas" is ranked # 5 on Billboard music magazine and the #8 on Mediabase Tropical list. Read More at http://enlaescena.com

AMBAR

Ambar, full of love and dreams, and with many desire … With the firm conviction that all good things take time, Ambar takes a step towards with her new album “Tengo Ganas” where it demonstrates the whole passion, the love and dreams that she possesses. Ambar comes determined to conquer the world through her songs.

Her stage name evokes to a precious gemstone that it takes several years to achieve beauty. For the same process Ambar went through after having conquer great achievements in her natal Puerto Rico and after a long parenthesis away from the stage and from the record industry, the singer returns with more determination and to present her new project, which launches worldwide, which will open the doors of the success in Central and South America, The Caribbean and The United States.

Ambar, as a woman, a mother, a daughter, as a business woman and artist, has very clear what she wants in this world and the purpose that God has for her. No doubt she feels her time "has come" and now is the time let free her talent, share her messages, her soul, without any fear... 

The gifted singer manages to establish itself as the favorite in the Billboard and Mediabase charts. With just a few weeks of diffusion, her latest single in bachata entitled "Tengo Ganas" was placed in the “Top 5” on the famous Billboard tropical list. Her single has been hailed as one of the favorite themes of the public by her catching style.

Her musical style cannot be called common, she may interpret a pop ballad, as well as meringue, cumbia, vallenato and bachata.

In January 17, 2012, will be the official launch of her long-awaited new album. That same day she will reveal the title. The new album will be composed of two volumes and that five large producers and pillars of the music industry worked on the production of the album: Janina Rosado, Daniel Espinosa, Alejandro Montalbán, Eduardo Reyes y Rodolfo Castillo, who along with Ambar were the general producer of the seventeen songs that will be included on the album.

Ambar speaks very enthusiastically of her valuable and ambitious plans with the foundation that bears her name and stands for: Supporting Women Blessed, Beloved and renovated, a project which she has dreamed much of her life and whose purpose is to help the members of the foundation to obtain services related to strengthening self-esteem, crisis management in an unexpected situation, professional support and a helping hand to any audience, supports and motivates them to go forward. This is one of the reasons why she has returned to win again her fans and audience that she loves.

Her history:

In 1987, debuted in Puerto Rico implementing a unique style in their songs and in their dresses, with her ​​short skirts that emphasized her sensuality that named her “La Chica Láser”, and later achieve high success with her songs like “Quiero Bailar Con Él”, “Como Un Robot”, “Como Amiga Sí, Como Amante No”, “Solo Me Quedó De Ti”, “Basta”, “Y Yo Me Rio”, “Piel Adentro”, “Entre Tú Y Yo”, among others.

Her discography: “Ambar La Chica Láser” (Disco de Oro), 1989 - “Ambar” (Disco de Oro), 1990 - “Por Ese Amor” (Disco de Oro), -2010 - “Me Dejé Llevar”, 2011 sencillo “Tengo Ganas” y -2012 – new álbum

For more information visit: http://enlaescena.com and http://ambarmusic.net

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CUSTO BARCELONA MESMERIZES NEW YORK WITH RAWVISION, THE NEW 2012 AUTUMN-WINTER COLLECTION

(February 12, 2012 - New York, NY) Custo Barcelona draws rave reviews at the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week with the launch of the 2012 autumn-winter collection at Lincoln Center. With the launch of the Fall 2012 collection, the designer takes us to a rule-less world, full of creativity and nontraditional elegance. The looks on the catwalk are translated into surprising combinations, which include a mix of fit and oversized lines to create drama on the runway.The touch of contradiction is demonstrated through the use of tromple l´oëil effects, thus painting and insinuating the feminine silhouette through strategic cuts symbolizing freshness and freedom. This season's key fabric is wool, crafted in different ways. Like graphic boiled wool or cut-off wool mimicking tectonic plaques on embroidered fabrics. The designer also presented perforated wools as a base for pieces revealing what is underneath, and wool cut in small geometric shapes that create ironic animal figures. Other important elements for this season are metallic colors and tricot pieces with high-quality materials. Color is a key player with shades of green, red, brown, ocher and gray dominate the color palette. Each color becomes a symbol on the catwalk, transmitting Custo's energetic and sophisticated personality. Once more, the room of international and domestic editors, photographers, VIP's and fans was at standing-room only to witness the Catalonian designer's risky proposals. The front-row at Lincoln Center was occupied by America's Top Model judge Miss "J" Alexander, NYC socialite Tinsley Mortimer, actress Torrey Devitto, Housewives of New York Jill Zarin, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, supermodel Almudena Fernandez, singer Zak Ambrose, and German television personality Loulou von Brochwitz.

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KARLA MONROIG GANA UN PREMIO 'ACE' POR SU PAPEL DE REBECCA EN 'LA CASA DE AL LADO'

La exitosa actriz puertorriqueña recibe este galardón de parte de la Asociación de Cronistas del Espectáculo de New York.

New York, NY. - 15 de febrero 2012 - La Asociación de Cronistas de Espectáculos de New York (ACE) anunció a Karla Monroig como ganadora en la categoría "Mejor coactuación femenina" por su papel de Rebecca en la telenovela de Telemundo "La casa de al lado".

"Estoy feliz y sorprendida con la noticia. Para mi es un honor que se reconozca mi trabajo con un premio tan importante. La actuación es mi pasión y me entrego totalmente a cada uno de mis personajes. Agradezco a los Cronistas de espectáculos de NY por el reconocimiento y al publico por el cariño y apoyo a mi carrera. Que rico se siente!," comenta Karla muy emocionada.

ACE es una asociación sin fines de lucro fundada en 1969 y formada por periodistas latinos con base en New York. Cada año sus miembros premian y resaltan el trabajo en las diferentes áreas del arte del mundo hispano. Este año, Karla fue elegida por su destacado trabajo en la telenovela "La casa de al lado". La ceremonia de la premiación se llevará acabo este 21 de abril en el Lincoln Center de New York.

Además de brillar en su trabajo como actriz, Karla Monroig tiene un gran espíritu altruista siendo unas de las portavoces de la Fundación Susana G. Komen que ayuda en la lucha contra el cáncer y la Fundación Orfanato de Niños de Cristo, en República Dominicana, entre otras tareas humanitarias.

Bella y polifacética Karla se ha destacado en cine, teatro, telenovelas, aparte de incursionar como presentadora de televisión y radio. Además de su importante papel en "La casa de al lado" para la cadena Telemundo que le valió este premio ACE, Karla participó de la novela de Televisa "Inocente de ti". También tuvo un papel protagónico en "Alguien te mira", "Más sabe el diablo", "Dueña y Señora", "El rostro de Analía" y "Dame chocolate", cuyo personaje le valió recibir el premio "Estrella sin límites" de New York a la "Mejor actriz".

Contacto de Prensa Latin WE:
Conchita Paz-Oliva
conchita@latinwe.com
(305)970-7589 / (305)572-1515

ROMEO SANTOS, The Bronx-Born King of Bachata, To Perform THREE SOLD-OUT

New York Event Alert For February 11, 23 & 24 – Rogers & Cowan

This Month, A Hometown New York Music Superstar Will Bring More Fans To Madison Square Garden Than Any Other Artist Currently Scheduled To Play The Venue This Year, Including Bruce Springsteen, Van Halen, Nickelback, The Black Keys and All Others…

ROMEO SANTOS, The Bronx-Born King of Bachata, To Perform THREE SOLD-OUT Nights At Madison Square Garden:

February 11 – February 23 – February 24

Romeo’s Three Night Stand At “The World’s Most Famous Arena” Marks The Kick-Off Of An Extensive Nationwide Tour In Support Of His Chart-Topping/Multi-Platinum Debut Solo Album “Formula Vol. 1”

“Crossing Over, No Translation Needed … Suave, sweet-voiced singer Romeo is a major star and heartthrob… one of the most prominent Latin singers in the country.” - New York Times

“Romeo Santos is the Bachata King… You can't turn on a Latin radio station without hearing Romeo … [Bachata] is going to become even more contagious… [Romeo] OWNS The #1 spot on the Latin charts …Santos has what it takes to win over English-speaking fans.” – USA TODAY

WHO: New York Latin Music Superstar Romeo Santos

WHAT: Launches His Nationwide “Formula Vol.1” Tour With THREE Sold-Out Arena Hometown Concerts

WHERE: Madison Square Garden – 7th Ave & 32nd Street, New York, NY 10001

WHEN: February 11, 23 & 24 – All Shows at 8:00PM

*For Press Credentials, Please Contact:

Nordhia Centeno At ncenteno@rogersandcowan.com

ROMEO SANTOS’ “Formula Vol. 1” Debuted In November With The Strongest First Week Sales Of Any Latin Album In The Last Four Years. The Album Has Held The #1 Position On Billboard’s “Top Latin Albums” Chart For TEN Weeks And Has Already Produced Two Consecutive #1 Singles

“Romeo Santos is a ladykiller with an unearthly falsetto... blending bachata & R&B with suave results” – Rolling Stone

“Formula Vol. 1 may redefine crossover …[Romeo’s singles] quickly crush everything else in rotation. Santos’ tortured love songs are impossible to resist, whether one understands all of the lyrics or not.” - Washington Post

“ROMEO SANTOS: BACHATA GOES BIG-TIME … With A Will Smith-Produced ABC Sitcom, And A Solo Debut That Already Features Two #1’s, Romeo Arrives With The New Heft Of The Latin Demo– But Aims To Reach Everyone [With] an album chock full of hits” – Billboard

www.romeosantosofficial.com - www.facebook.com/RomeoSantosOfficial

www.twitter.com/#!/RomeoSantosPage - http://www.youtube.com/romeosantosvevo

Spotlight on Style: Bridal Couture

CFW is delighted to present two stunning bridal runway shows as part of this season’s lineup. If you are a bride, bride-to-be, former bride, know a bride, or just love fabulous fashions and hair styling, don’t miss these shows.

A Duality of Delicateness and Strength in "Essence" Couture Bridal Designs by Isabel Zapardiez

A selection of stunning couture bridal creations by the esteemed Spanish designer will be shown at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17. Ms. Zapardiez’s bride is enveloped in delicateness but with a strong heart and spirit; an ethereally-figured woman with an emphatic presence, a genuine goddess. Each creation is as unique as its wearer, with a predominant theme in the "Essence" designs being lightness and simplicity. The designer’s inspiration ranges from the fashion world of the 1950’s, and the great masters of design, to the aesthetics of the ancient worlds of Egypt and classical Greece.more »

Renowned Stylist Elie Esper to Present "Collection Amoureux" Couture Bridal Hair Designs at CFW

International hair designer Elie Esper’s latest couture bridal hair and makeup designs, “Collection Amoureux " will be shown on the runway at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17. The collection is inspired by the elegance, poise and grace of the renaissance bride, and is an eclectic, whimsical display of luxurious hairstyles where haute couture meets bridal. Opening for CFW this season, Elie Esper has created an enchanted trip down the runway inviting everyone to embark upon a fairytale of styles.

Elie Esper's experience and incomparable techniques have impressed the hairstyling industry for over 16 years. He is known in the bridal industry as the best couture hair designer, having earned the recognition by “crème de la crème” stylists, designers and artists in the world of bridal. The Elie Esper Salon team is the Official Hair Stylist for Couture Fashion Week this season. more »

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS’ VICTOR CRUZ KICKS OFF

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS’ VICTOR CRUZ KICKS OFF

MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2012—NEW YORK—Victor Cruz, of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, cut the ribbon to officially open Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center this afternoon. Cruz was joined by Stephanie Winston-Wolkoff, Director of Fashion at Lincoln Center, Peter Levy, SVP and Managing Director at IMG Fashion, Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton, Naeem Khan, this season’s Mercedes-Benz Presents Designer, and Lisa Holladay, Manager of Brand Experience Marketing, Mercedes-Benz USA. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is owned and operated by IMG Worldwide.

“It’s an honor to be here to help kick off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York,” said Cruz. “It’s been quite an incredible week for the City—our Super Bowl win, the great homecoming parade yesterday, and now the beginning of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I’m very grateful to my fans that came out to support us yesterday and today and looking forward to checking out some shows this week.”

“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center is internationally recognized as the premier industry event to showcase cutting-edge fashion,” said Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Director, Fashion at Lincoln Center. “We’re excited to open our doors and show the world all the innovative new designs that will hit the runways this season.”

“IMG and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week continue to put the world’s leading fashion designers and brands center stage in New York City the fashion capital of the world,” said Peter Levy, SVP and Managing Director, IMG Fashion Worldwide. “It’s great to have a huge star like Victor Cruz join us to launch the week and help us in welcoming all our guests. As New Yorkers we’re tremendously proud of the Giants’ Super Bowl victory and can’t wait to see Victor sitting front row at some shows this week.”

“I was incredibly honored to help Victor kick off Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week today and celebrate his and his team’s incredible success on Sunday,” said Naeem Khan, this season’s Mercedes-Benz Presents designer. “I’m very excited to present my collection this season and this is a great way to get it all underway.”

“It’s such an honor to be here at the opening of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week,” said Kate Upton. “Fashion Week in New York is such an iconic event; it's great to be a part of it."

"Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is always exciting and having Victor here along with our Presents Designer Naeem Khan to get things underway is a special moment," said Lisa Holladay, Manager of Brand Experience Marketing at Mercedes-Benz USA. "The month of February is a ball of energy for the Big Apple and that continues as we kick off the fashion festivities at Lincoln Center and the start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week."

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is New York’s largest media event, welcoming designers, celebrities, industry experts, models and the world’s fashion elite to Lincoln Center each September and February to see what’s in store for the next fashion season. Designers featured this season include Nicholas K, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Kaelen, Richard Chai, Honor, Tadashi Shoji, Candela, Chadwick Bell, Joseph Abboud, PARKCHOONMOO, The Greenshows - Collection Previews, Concept Korea, General Idea, Rebecca Taylor, Brandon Sun, Rebecca Minkoff, Tommy Hilfiger Men’s, Nicole Miller, Katya Leonovich, Charlotte Ronson, Academy of Art University, Popluxe, Ruffian, Lacoste, Porter Grey, Jill Stuart, Son Jung Wan, Mara Hoffman, Rafael Cennamo, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Vantan Tokyo, Tibi, Monique Lhuillier, L.A.M.B., Venexiana, Lorena Sarbu, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Tracy Reese, Joy Cioci, Custo Barcelona, Diane von Furstenberg, Falguni & Shane Peacock, Y-3, Carmen Marc Valvo, Mathieu Mirano, Timo Weiland, Jenny Packham, Negarin, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Zang Toi, Emilio Cavallini, Donna Karan New York, Reem Acra, Yeohlee, Bibhu Mohapatra, Betsey Johnson, Leather Japan 2012, Prete & Bruno, Norisol Ferrari, Tory Burch, J.Crew, Badgley Mischka, Vera Wang, Diesel Black Gold, Fotini, Naeem Khan, Dennis Basso, Pamella Roland, Haus Alkire, Narciso Rodriguez, EMERSON, Whitney Eve, Michael Kors, Rochambeau, Nanette Lepore, Ports 1961, Joanna Mastroianni, J. Mendel, Levi’s, Suzanne Rae, Milly by Michelle Smith, Farah Angsana, Anna Sui, Nomia, Vivienne Tam, b michael America, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein Collection.

Photos and video footage from the ribbon cutting ceremony are available via the links below:

http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=138611959 (photos)

http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=138641193 (video)

Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is joined by DHL, American Express®, Maybelline New York, TRESemmé, W Hotels Worldwide, Diet Pepsi, Fiber One® Bars, WGSN, ideeli and Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits as well as the following media outlets: The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily and Getty Images.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is an IMG event.

The Fall 2012 Collections will take place February 9-16, 2012.

Official schedule is available at newyork.mbfashionweek.com/schedule

For more information please visit us online at newyork.mbfashionweek.com

Follow us on Twitter @mbfashionweek and on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Facebook!

Sandra Bacquero with Lifestyle Magazine

Elizabeth Ortiz of My Lifestyle magazine and En La Escena interviews Sandra Bacquero at Modalista.com fashion week showcase.
visit: http://enlaescena.com/

VI Fashion wk Final

Producer and Host Leticia Reyes, travels to the Virgin Islands to cover the Virgin Islands Fashion week. visit://enlaescena.com

DREAM Project Foundation

Miss Dominican Republic US ® Announces Partnership with the DREAM Project Foundation to Support the Education of Children in the Dominican Republic

Sharing a strong belief that the future of the Dominican Republic lies in its children and their access to quality education, Miss Dominican Republic US® and the DREAM Project Foundation launch a joint partnership to work in the field of education.

January 30^th, 2012, New York, NY- Edgar Payano, President of Dominican Beauties USA, and its associated partners XL Alliance, LLC and Soneros Entertainment, announce that The DREAM Project Foundation has been chosen as the official charity of the Miss Dominican Republic US® Pageant.

“We are extremely excited and honored to partner with such an amazing organization that works to bring better education to children and youth in the Dominican Republic,” said Mr. Payano. Nathalie Muñoz, Miss Dominican Republic US® 2011 and future title holders will focus their reigning twelve-months as ambassadors to promote the mission of the DREAM Project Foundation in its efforts to empower Dominican children with access to education. “I am looking forward to working with the Dream Project to bring hope to the children of my country. As a beauty queen, I want to be an inspiration to young children and nothing is more important than inspiring them to study for a better future,” commented Miss Muñoz.

The DREAM Project Foundation’s primary focus is the advancement of education for children of the Dominican Republic. “The DREAM Project is a unique and innovative non-profit organization; one is breaking the mold of traditional organizations and striving for effective, sustainable solutions to improve lives of Dominican youth. DREAM is proud to partner with Miss Dominican Republic US® in our efforts to promote and educate not only our Dominican partners, but the huge amount of support we receive from Dominican Americans and the Hispanic Community. With the help of MRDUS®, our growing generation will show the entire world what we can do with inspired, beautiful, cultured and educated Dominican youth.” Jonathan Wunderlich, Director of Development, DREAM Project.

 “In support of their vision, it is our hope that our efforts can be multiplied to allow the opportunity for every child’s gifts and challenges to be met with support. Through our participation and contribution to the DREAM Project’s fundraising events and volunteer work of the title holders, we are confident that this partnership will serve as a great bridge to connect Dominicans in the U.S., donors and other volunteers to support our beloved country,” said Payano.

In addition to elevating the awareness of the foundation and securing participation of the pageant’s winners and contestants, Bellezas Dominicanas USA will donate a percentage of its revenues to The DREAM Project Foundation.

To kick-off this partnership, Nathalie Munoz who is currently in Santo Domingo for the official events surrounding Miss Dominican Republic Universe, will visit sites under the support of the DREAM project. Also representatives of the Miss Dominican republic US® organization will attend The Dominican DREAM Independence Day Fundraiser Gala taking place on Wednesday, February 29^th, 2012, 7PM at the Hotel Americano located at 518 West 27^th Street, New York, NY 10001 with honorary Chairs: Junot Diaz and Celines Toribio. To get tickets for the Gala, donate or more information about the DREAM Project Foundation visit www.dominicandream.org. For more information about Miss Dominican Republic US® please visit www.missrdus.com.

###

Follow MRDUS®:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/missrdusoficial.

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dominicanbeautiesusa.

Twitter: @MissRDUS

 

About Miss República Dominicana US®:

The winner of Miss Dominican Republic US represents the Dominican community in the US at the exclusive Miss Dominican Republic Universe in Santo Domingo. Bellezas Dominicanas USA LLC holds the exclusive franchise rights of Miss Dominican Republic Universe as an official entity and representative of the organization in the U.S. For more information please visit:

www.missrdus.com

About XL Alliance & Soneros Entertainment:

Entities specialized in production, brand marketing and uniquely differentiated for their approach to branded entertainment. With offices in New York, Denver, Los Angeles and Bogota, Colombia, the organization has a team of over thirty professionals specialized in various areas of strategy, marketing and production. Their credibility is founded on a leadership and management of former corporate executives and experience managing global brands, celebrity relations and development of major productions. Some of their work include:, Diageo, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Latin GRAMMY Awards, Billboard en Concierto, Laila Ali, Serena Williams, Post Foods, among others. For more information visit: www.xlalliance.com/ www.bliptv.latineando.

Yesenia Selier Afro Cuban Dance - En La Escena

Yesenia Selier, explains to En la escena and Salseek.com the origins of Afro Cuban dance.

Beatriz Luengo BMI Live - En La Escena

"Noche Bohemia," an intimate, invite-only party to celebrate Latin music, with cocktails provided by Jack Daniel's. Sweet-sounding ingénue Beatriz Luengo will perform acoustic interpretations from her full-length album "Bela y Sus Moskitas Muertas". The soiree will be hosted by Porfirio Piña, BMI Senior Director, Latin Writer/Publisher Relations.

Sofia Vergara

It's often said that Hollywood is a young woman's game, but AskMen.com readers officially bucked that trend in 2012, as Sofia Vergara was named #1 on the men's online magazine's annual list of the Top 99 Most Desirable Women, which was announced on Tuesday. But while the 39-year-old "Modern Family" star snagged the top spot on the site's Top 99, former A-list mainstays like Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie gave way to recent additions and fresh favorites, a clear signal that, as far as AskMen.com readers are concerned, there's a new guard in town.

Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2012

But when it comes to "desirability," Sofia Vergara proves that age is just a number -- in this case, #1. After enjoying a breakout year thanks to ABC's "Modern Family," Vergara placed third on the website's list in 2011. And AskMen.com readers obviously haven't cooled on the fiery Colombian bombshell in the past 12 months, bumping her up to first in 2012. In doing so, the actress beat out a number of younger leading ladies and newcomers to lead the Top 10, such as Victoria's Secret favorites Miranda Kerr (#4) and Candice Swanepoel (#10), rapper Nicki Minaj (#5), and actresses Emma Stone (#6) and Scarlett

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2012 Collections- Sponsor News

For Immediate Release

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2012 Collections- Sponsor News

New York, NY (January 31, 2012)- Today, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week announced new and exciting information regarding this season’s official sponsors. Over the course of the event, the sponsors will be providing five-star services, products, demonstrations and amenities, all contributing to the unique experience of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Outlined below is the sponsor news for the Fall 2012 Collections.

Mercedes-Benz

· Haute CARture. Two examples of superior design and craftsmanship rule the runways this season: the all new SL Roadster, a stylish, sporty and elegant luxury sports car with classic proportions, and the ML63 AMG, the perfect combination of pure performance and chic design roaring with 518 horsepower hand-built engine and an ultra luxe leather interior. Both vehicles make a fascinating fashion statement on display in the Lobby at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

· Mercedes-Benz kicks off the week right with an exclusive invite only Fashion’s Night In event on Thursday, February 9^th. Invited guests will take part in a Mercedes-Benz DIY Style Studio to make their own bespoke fashion accessories out of luxe vehicle materials. Naeem Khan will make a special appearance along with event hosts, Nicola Ehrenberg-Uhlig, Head of Conceptual Design Team Color & Trim for Mercedes-Benz, Erica Domesek of P.S. I made this… and accessories designer Paige Novick.

· Naeem Khan receives the distinguished title of “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designer for the Fall 2012 season. As part of the program, Mercedes-Benz is featuring a display in the lobby of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week showcasing pieces from the Naeem Khan collection. The Naeem Khan runway show is being held on Tuesday, February 14^th at 2pm in the Theatre.

· This season’s Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge is once again getting its new look from interior designer Wesley Cadle. From visually stunning wall coverings and textiles by Porter Teleo to artwork by New York native Stephanie Hirsch, the lounge will offer a luxurious and chic experience during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

· Lights, camera, action! Photographers will charge at the sight of Lara Stone, the Mercedes-Benz fashion ambassador, while she shares her experience working with famed photographer Alex Prager to shoot the Mercedes-Benz International fashion key visual for Fall 2012 on Monday, February 13^th.

· Mercedes-Benz is empowering fashion enthusiasts to explore their personal style through a social platform that allows for the creation of virtual sets powered by Polyvore. The Mercedes-Benz Star Style www.mbstarstyle.com initiative kicks off February 7^th to usher in the start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Those attending can vote via their mobile device for their favorite set and receive a special Essie nail polish inspired by exclusive Mercedes-Benz vehicle paint colors.

DHL

• Always in Style, DHL is returning to the runways in New York for the eleventh straight season as the official logistics provider of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

• DHL's capabilities targeting the fashion sector, including fashion week events worldwide, offer fuly customized, integrated logistics solutions, supply chain management services and door-to-door deliveries.

• DHL’s global expertise, service excellence and international focus, which spans more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, helps customers in the fashion and apparel industry operate more efficiently and effectively.

• DHL is proud to partner this season with LIM College and help immerse visual merchandising students into the competitive world of high fashion. The students are designing unique couture using DHL packing and shipping materials to style and trim high-gloss abstract fashion mannequins and competing to have their creations showcased at the DHL activation area in the lobby of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Voting takes place online at www.zangzing.com/limdhlcontest from February 3rd - 6^th, 2012.

American Express®

· Celebrating its tenth season as a sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, American Express®

continues to showcase its dedication and commitment to the fashion industry through its evolving roster of tailored experiences. With the return of the coveted Skybox space, the Cardmember Lounge perched high above the runways, Cardmembers will once again have unparalleled access to the week’s most exciting shows from the comfort of the plush VIP lounge.

· American Express® is proud to join Tommy Hilfiger in presenting a one-of-a-kind Spring 2012 runway show featuring The Hilfigers exclusively for American Express® Cardmembers on Thursday, February 16^th at 6:30pm. For the first time ever, the designer’s fashionably fictitious family will grace the catwalk, giving Cardmembers a truly unique experience complete with pre-show cocktails and conversation with some of the industry’s biggest names. The evening will provide a unique experience that offers a deeper look into Tommy Hilfiger’s inspiration and personal style.

· In addition to Cardmember activities, American Express® is proud of its continued support of emerging designers with a $250,000 donation to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (CVFF), a program of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). All proceeds from the sale of Skybox packages will go towards the American Express® donation. In addition, American Express® is proud to showcase its support of IMPACT: 50 Years of the CFDA – an ode to the illustrious designs of the CFDA’s many members which will mark the organization’s fiftieth anniversary in 2012.

Maybelline New York

· As the number one makeup brand worldwide, available in 129 countries, Maybelline New York continues to be the proud Official Makeup Sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.

· Maybelline New York, the undisputed color authority, will bring their vast beauty expertise and inspired creativity to the world’s most respected fashion platform.

· A team of sought after artists including Maybelline’s Global Makeup Artist, Charlotte Willer, and world renowned makeup artist, Charlotte Tilbury, will lead the backstage makeup teams, creating exciting looks that translate from the catwalk to the sidewalk.

· Maybelline New York will partner with a selection of heavy-hitting labels and indie darlings including BCBGMAXAZRIA, Betsey Johnson, Bibhu Mohapatra, Carlos Miele, Custo Barcelona, DKNY, J. Mendel, L.A.M.B. and more.

· Personalized color consultants and giveaways will happen every day at Maybelline’s lounge in the lobby at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (at pre-determined hours).

· Maybelline New York will bring the excitement and energy of the runway to women everywhere by presenting live streaming fashion shows on the YouTube Live from the Runway Channel.

· To get your behind-the-scenes beauty fix on all things fashion week, follow Maybelline on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Maybelline and on Tumblr at www.maybelline.tumblr.com.

TRESemmé

• TRESemmé, the #1 styling brand in the US, returns as the official hair care sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for the eighth consecutive season.
• TRESemmé shows women how they can achieve runway-ready looks at home, straight from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
• TRESemmé Stylist Jeanie Syfu will be creating fashion-forward looks at the Charlotte Ronson, Tracy Reese and Rebecca Minkoff shows. Fans can find out how to recreate the looks at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week by logging on to TRESemme.com and checking out the brand's Facebook, YouTube and Twitter updates (#TRESemmeMBFW) to get Jeanie's hair how-to’s.
• The TRESemmé Salon and Lounge, located inside Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, will be offering guests a chance to achieve chair-worthy hair through complimentary dry-styling sessions. In addition, guests can pose for professional photos and receive free samples of the new Split Remedy Collection, available in stores this March.

W Hotels Worldwide

• W Hotels Worldwide is back for another season of its innovative, industry first initiative called Fashion Next, a global platform for rising fashion visionaries.
• Handpicked by W Hotels Global Fashion Director Jenné Lombardo, this season’s Fashion Next designers include Haus Alkire and Suzanne Rae as well as three returning designers - Bibhu Mohapatra, Nomia, and Rochambeau - demonstrating W’s commitment to supporting promising fashion talent throughout their journey.
• Four of the Fashion Next designers will present their collections in The Box venue during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, while Bibhu Mohapatra will stage his first-ever runway show in The Studio.
• In addition to supporting the designers during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Fashion Next fosters and showcases the talents beyond fashion week through exclusive events at W Hotels around the world, bringing them front and center to new audiences in some of the most dynamic and emerging centers of style. For example, Bibhu Mohapatra will soon hold market appointments at the highly anticipated W Paris - Opéra, opening February 14, 2012.
• W Hotels is an innovative, contemporary design-led lifestyle brand and the hotel category buster with 41 hotels and retreats in the most vibrant cities and exotic destinations around the world.

Diet Pepsi

· Diet Pepsi is back as an official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to refresh consumers by providing fun and uplifting moments throughout the week.

· The Diet Pepsi Refresh Studio, designed by Jonathan Adler, provides guests a place to relax and recharge in the Grand Lobby, while staying up-to-date with the week’s trends and shows.

· Diet Pepsi will also treat guests to ‘refreshing moments’ – daily, surprising experiences designed to delight and uplift fashionistas.

· Together with fashion commentator Simon Doonan, Diet Pepsi will present a cross-country runway show with looks created by regional American designers on February 9^th. After the show, attendees will have the opportunity to view and interact with the looks at the Refresh Studio throughout the week.

· Follow @dietpepsi or check out Diet Pepsi’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/dietpepsi to get real-time updates from the front lines of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Fiber One Bars®

· Fiber One® Bars and Brownies are the Official Snack of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and this season’s must-have tasteful accessory.

· These stylish little snacks will be making a grand appearance at the Fiber One space from February 9-12 in the lobby of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

· Fiber One 90 Calorie Chewy Bars and Brownies are high in fiber and taste delicious, making them the perfect portable snack to stash in your bag when you’re running from one designer show to the next.

· Now through March 31, 2012, fashionistas can visit www.fiberone.com to enter the

Great Taste Giveaway for the chance to win Fiber One Bars or Brownies or one of 100 $500

gift cards for a designer handbag of their choice – a perfect prize for stashing snacks when

you’re on the go.

· Fiber One Bars®would love to hear about what hot, new fashion trends you love – especially when it comes to tasteful accessories. Visit Fiber One Bars® in the lobby of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week or join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/FiberOne.

· Remember, when you keep Fiber One Bars and Brownies in your bag, you’ve always got great taste at your fingertips!

WGSN

· WGSN (www.wgsn.com) is proud to embark on its inaugural season as the Official Trend Sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. As the world’s foremost provider of strategic, creative and business intelligence for the apparel, style, design and retail industries, WGSN’s presence is long overdue at Lincoln Center.

· If you happen to miss a show, watch it in full exclusively on WGSN.com, which for the first time this year will feature every runway show from the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week schedule.

· At the new WGSN TrendZone, located in the Grand Lobby at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, attendees are invited to experience WGSN trend analysis in real-time; visitors can access our cutting-edge online portal WGSN.com on-site, or speak with WGSN’s expert trend analysts, Maren Hartman and Sally Lohan, who will be on-site compiling and reporting the key trends as they happen.

· Attendees of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week visiting the WGSN TrendZone are also invited to experience the recently launched Vogue Archive, featuring every page of every issue of American Vogue from 1892 until today. This content has never been available digitally before and is only accessible via Vogue Archive and through WGSN.

· WGSN’s 38,000 subscribers are an elite group of tastemakers and influencers who currently have exclusive access to all the latest global trends in color, textile, design and retail at the click of button. To find out what they know, visit www.wgsn.com/mbfw during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and register for a free Spring/Summer ’13 Key Items Report.

· Don’t forget to check out the new WGSN blog at http://wgsn.tumblr.com/ and follow @WGSN on Twitter for comprehensive coverage of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

ideeli

· ideeli (www.ideeli.com), the online retailer specializing in limited-time sales, will bring the excitement of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to its 5 million members by providing incredible "front row" access to the shows at Lincoln Center through:

· A week long Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week online “shop in shop” featuring curated daily sales from designers including BCBGMAXAZRIA, Candela, Joseph Abboud, Nicole Miller, Custo Barcelona, Tommy Hilfiger, Vivienne Tam, L.A.M.B, Tadashi Shoji, Betsey Johnson, Badgley Mischka, Calvin Klein and more.

· The launch of “The Buzz” (www.ideeli.com/thebuzz) - ideeli’s all-encompassing social style hub with live streaming runway shows, special sales and giveaways, as well as exclusive ideeli content featuring interviews and tips on how to rock the trends seen on the runway.

· Live updates on Twitter from @ideeli and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ideeli.

The New York Times

· The New York Times is celebrating Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with a wide array of editorial and digital offerings designed to bring readers into all elements of the shows.

· The Fashion section online (http://www.nytimes.com/fashion) serves as a launching point for readers to find all that The Times is offering, with frequent in-depth show reviews by top critics, daily wrap-ups and behind-the-scenes coverage.

· The Collection, a new app from The New York Times, also creates a new way for tablet readers to experience fashion coverage from The Times. The Collection builds on exclusive coverage from Styles, T Magazine and the International Herald Tribune and adds slide shows, video and updates from The Times’ fashion blogs.

· Coverage will feature Bill Cunningham’s street fashion, along with comprehensive reviews by Cathy Horyn, Suzy Menkes and more.

· In addition to the in-depth written and visual coverage of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week from The Times’ Fashion & Style section and T Magazine, readers can enjoy countless multimedia features online from photo slide shows and videos to interactive social media components. Video features will include street fashion and the “Morning T” interview series with top-notch guests. A runway player will showcase photos from a hundred New York runway shows, as well as slide shows of backstage and party photos.

· Throughout the week, On the Runway (www.runway.blogs.nytimes.com) and The Moment (www.tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com) will be offering the latest news and continuous updates from the runways, and Times editors and reporters will be posting updates on Twitter @nytimesfashion, @CathyHorynNYT, @ericwilsonnyt and more.

The Fall 2012 Collections will feature Nicholas K, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Kaelen, Richard Chai, Honor, Tadashi Shoji, Candela, Chadwick Bell, Joseph Abboud, PARKCHOONMOO, The Greenshows - Collection Previews, Concept Korea, General Idea, Rebecca Taylor, Brandon Sun, Rebecca Minkoff, Tommy Hilfiger Men’s, Nicole Miller, Katya Leonovich, Charlotte Ronson, Academy of Art University, Ruffian, Lacoste, Porter Grey, Jill Stuart, Son Jung Wan, Mara Hoffman, Rafael Cennamo, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, Vantan Tokyo, Tibi, Monique Lhuillier, L.A.M.B., Venexiana, Lorena Sarbu, Lela Rose, Derek Lam, DKNY, Tracy Reese, Joy Cioci, Custo Barcelona, Diane von Furstenberg, Falguni & Shane Peacock, Y-3, Carmen Marc Valvo, Mathieu Mirano, Timo Weiland, Jenny Packham, Negarin, Carolina Herrera, Carlos Miele, Zang Toi, Emilio Cavallini, Donna Karan New York, Reem Acra, Yeohlee, Bibhu Mohapatra, Betsey Johnson, Leather Japan 2012, Prete & Bruno, Norisol Ferrari, Tory Burch, J.Crew, Badgley Mischka, Vera Wang, Diesel Black Gold, Fotini, Naeem Khan, Dennis Basso, Pamella Roland, Haus Alkire, Narciso Rodriguez, EMERSON, Whitney Eve, Michael Kors, Rochambeau, Nanette Lepore, Ports 1961, Joanna Mastroianni, J. Mendel, Levi’s, Suzanne Rae, Milly by Michelle Smith, Farah Angsana, Anna Sui, Nomia, Vivienne Tam, b michael America, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein Collection

Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is joined by DHL, American Express®, Maybelline New York, TRESemmé, W Hotels Worldwide, Diet Pepsi, Fiber One® Bars, WGSN, ideeli, Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits as well as the following media outlets: The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily and Getty Images. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week features shows and presentations of over 90 designers. Over 100,000 guests will pass through Lincoln Center in eight days, as top international designers showcase what they have in store for Fall 2012.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is an IMG event.

The Fall 2012 Collections will take place February 9^th-16^th, 2012.

Press and Industry Registration is now open at registration.mbfashionweek.com

Official schedule is available at newyork.mbfashionweek.com/schedule

For more information please visit us online at newyork.mbfashionweek.com

Follow us on Twitter @mbfashionweek and on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Facebook!

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Contact:

Andrew Serrano

IMG Fashion
212.774.4437
Andrew.Serrano@imgworld.com