This past Saturday was a very special occasion: my sister Rita, got married. She married actor/writer/producer Carl Mergenthaler. Carl is originally from Mexico City, Mexico and knows how to cook REALLY well (LOVE his Scallop Salad!) and also knows how to make a DELICIOUS Dirty Martini (Hello!)...


Carl also is like a "Horse-and-Dog Whisperer"...in other words, he's amazing with all animals.

As part of my time in San Antonio Texas last week promoting my NV Nick Verreos line at the Dillard's North Star Mall (Click HERE for the Recap!), I had the chance to do some TV shows and press for my event. The day before my event, I was invited to appear on the #1 Local Entertainment/Lifestyle Program in San Antonio, KENS5 "Great Day SA" Morning TV Show.

The New Miss California USA is...a Former America's Next Top Model Contestant!!!
This past Sunday evening, a new "Miss California USA" was crowned. The statuesque (six feet tall, kids!), UC Irvine Junior, Natalie Pack, who represented "Miss Hoag Hospital 2012" (OK, I'll go with that!), was crowned "Miss California USA 2012", at the McCallum Theater in Palm Dessert. She wore a seductive one-shoulder gold sequined gown--to perfectly match her golden side-swept'ed hairstyle--when she got her crown. Natalie was very "Old Hollywood Glamour" with her Rita Hayworth-if-she-were-a-blond looks...
She will be California's representative in this year's "Miss USA" Pageant which will either occur in Las Vegas or Miami. I think they're still trying to figure out what city will play host...So, now it's time to train for that--and get herself a gown worthy of "Miss USA". If the very pretty Natalie looks familiar, it's because this is not her "First Time at the (spotlight) Rodeo": she was on the Reality TV Show "America's Next Top Model" Cycle 12, back when it aired in 2009.
During her casting session, she revealed to host Tyra, Miss Jay and Jay Manuel that yes, she was from Palos Verdes and came from money, but it wasn't "Gossip Girl" money. She was a brunette then, and was eliminated while the show was in Brazil. She came in sixth. Well, that was 4 years ago and things are much brighter now for her: she's the Most Beautiful Woman in California! Here she is in the photo above after being crowned "Miss California USA 2012" in her column gold sequined gown. There are some rather high expectations for her since last year's "Miss California USA", the beautiful Alyssa Campanella (above) did very well, in fact, she won the top title of "Miss USA" and was named a Semi-Finalist at last year's "Miss Universe" in Sao Paulo Brazil. I think that Natalie will probably do very well since she fits that role of being the ideal model/pageant beauty that the Miss Universe Organization is looking for:
My beautiful sister, Rita Verreos, was there in Palm Springs, training the "Miss California USA 2012" contestants (she's a Pageant and Stage Presence Coach, you know) and you can see more photos from the pageant HERE. Congrats Natalie, we'll all be excited to see you compete at the Miss USA Pageant and of course, see what Gown you choose! Here's Video of Natalie Pack "Miss California USA 2012" on KTLA the morning after her win:
And, here's video of her "Best Moments on America's Next Top Model Cycle 12":

Poster/Invite to IADT San Antonio's Imagine 2010 Fashion Show Last year I co-hosted International Academy of Design and Technology's/IADT Imagine 2009 Fashion Show and I guess it was such a hit, they invited me back this year! This time around, I will be hosting the Imagine 2010 IADT Runway Fashion Event on March 19th (next week!) along with my beautiful sister Rita Verreos. Brother and Sister Act: Rita Verreos and Nick Verreos at the 2009 IADT Imagine Fashion Show This is now going to be my 3rd time back to IADT San Antonio and they always put on a great event! And proceeds will benefit the non-profit Career Education Scholarship Fund. I love coming to San Antonio because my family lives there so it's a great excuse to see them! DETAILS: *Doors will open at 6 p.m. *Photo and interview opportunities also will be available beginning at 6 p.m. *7:00pm Runway Show *9:00pm Fashion Club After-Show Party *Tickets are $15 - $35 (great prices!!!) and are available for purchase on ticketmaster.com. Come enjoy a fabulous night of fashion and support the San Antonio Designers of tomorrow! Hope to see you there!

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.

Vampires Like Dogs...Orange Carpet: Nick Verreos at the LA Dogworks "A Night of Emotion" event Yes, it's orange. But it's still a "red carpet". Last week, before my trip to Orange County to attend and judge Style Week OC, I was invited to "A Night of Emotion", an event benefiting Good Dog Animal Rescue as well as to raise awareness for the National Service Dogs Foundation and Fidelco Guide Dogs Foundation. Not Benny: Rita and Nick Verreos hold a Chihuahua puppy at the LA Dogworks "A Night of Emotion" event As some of you may know, I own a beautiful Dachshund/King Charles mixed dog whom David and I rescued over a year ago, so ever since, I have become a "Dog Poppa" as well as a big supporter of all things canine. LA Dogworks is a fabulous "Doggy Hotel"/Kennel where we leave Benny when we have to go out of town (insert "sad face" here) and the location of this "orange carpet" event.Sisterly Love: Rita Verreos in ivory and printed silk charmeuse NIKOLAKI dress, LA Dogworks "A Night of Emotion" event I didn't bring Benny so instead I brought my sister, Rita Verreos, who had been visiting in Los Angeles while filming a pageant runway coaching video (she coaches pageant girls by the way). She came over to my studio and of course I let her borrow a little NIKOLAKI cocktail dress for the occasion. I showed my sister where Benny stays while we are away and we enjoyed some delicious Joe's Pizza slices as we surveyed items up for auction. Dog-Loving Couple: Actors Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin from HBO's "True Blood" I spotted Stephen Moyer and his fellow "True Blood" actress Anna Paquin. Aren't they engaged? I wanted to say "Hello" to Anna and commend her on how pretty she looked but it was a "No-Can-Do" situation: She was either holding on to Stephen for dear life and looking frazzled, or she was surrounded by too many people. I didn't want to be an added bother, as they say.Nick Verreos and stylists George Blodwell, LA Dogworks "A Night of Emotion" event I did get to hang out with stylist George Blodwell (clients include Bill Maher, Helen Mirren), who was looking very dapper as always. The event was great and I'm glad to have attended for such a good cause. I think my Benny would have enjoyed it though. Maybe next time!