Although the venue was too packed and hot (people, start getting fans for these small spaces!), the Sam Fine “The Basics of Beauty” DVD launch, held at the Plaza and sponsored by Nuovo, was a cornucopia of the brightest African Americans in fashion and entertainment! Iman was an absolute doll of a hostess and Sam, himself was fun and upbeat.
Vanessa Williams is still, quite simply, the most beautiful Miss America that there has ever been. She is just lovely and real inside and out. Caught up with RuPaul, who I have known since I worked with him on “To Wong Foo,…” many years ago. (I was basically the “Drag Queen Handler” assigned to getting them to and from set. It was a blast and they were like mother hens giving me makeup and hair tips! )
It was really great to meet Taraji Henson who I feel was ROBBED of the Oscar she so deserved for “Benjamin Button”. I mean come on, she played Brad Pitt’s MOM and made THAT believeable! I can’t even remember who they gave it to. Bethann Hardison was also in the house and seemingly still shooting her documentary. She was being filmed by my fav doc director, Jeff Zimbalist who made the amazing “Favela Rising” which was another case of blatant Oscar robbery. While still one of the best docs I have ever seen, Favela Rising was not even nominated in the documentary category it should’ve won!
The only thing I would have done differently at this event (besides the fans) is that the guests should have all received a copy of the DVD in our gift bags as everyone is not familiar with Sam’s work.
