LINDA GRAY

BRIDGING CULTURES, EMBRACING DIVERSITY

The woman behind Global Couture Gala (GCG), a unique, first class, cutting edge Couture Fashion Show rooted in diversity and inclusion

Linda Gray is the President and CEO of L Gray Image Consulting, LLC (LGI) and the Creator/Executive Producer of the Global Couture Gala (GCG). LGI provides image consultation services to clients, seeking to enhance their personal and professional image from wardrobe styling, makeovers to lifestyle services. The company helps to ensure the client’s image is consistent with their professional, personal and social roles. The award winning creatively driven entrepreneur gives credence to her mother and aunts who took one’s appearance very seriously. Today, she has taken her family tradition to a professional level. After mastering the art of style, Linda says, “Your image is all about your lifestyle and cannot be limited to your wardrobe but encompasses who you are from your first impression on how you show up.” Linda is a very passionate and a consummate professional. She has worked in various facets of fashion, image apparel, retail, marketing and entertainment. Driven by her passion for style, color, design, trends and innovative creative expression, she is considered a thought leader who ventures into unchartered waters.

Linda’s career has crossed over into a range of areas. She began as a Fashion Runway Model and Style Professional where she quickly expanded her talents as a Fashion Show Event Producer. She has produced a variety of fashion shows on the East Coast and West Coast at some of the city’s iconic and luxury venues.

The company’s signature event is the Global Couture Gala (GCG), a one of a kind, first class, cutting edge Couture Fashion and Awards Show rooted in diversity and inclusion. The show will be

on March 5, 2022 at The Majestic DTLA

starting at 5pm. There is a theme each show every year. The fashion segment features participation of diverse, emerging couture designers within various cultures all around the world. The designers are provided a platform to showcase their exquisite collection on the runway before an elite audience during Los Angeles Fashion Week Season. Some of these designers have styled some of the world’s top celebrities for red carpet looks will hit the runway. The gala commences with star studded red carpet arrivals, an opening cocktail reception, with celebrity emcees, a couture runway show, with live entertainment and after party. In her role as Creator and Executive Producer, she oversees everything from overall creative, strategic direction, event production, budgeting, casting professional models, global designers and contracts.

Various positions held during her career include: Fashion Stylist, Fashion Show Producer, Style Blogger, Home Collections Designer, Bed Linens Manufacturer, Interior Design Specialist, Entertainment Executive, FM Radio Station Professional, Fund Development Officer, Television Producer, Public Relations Officer, Marketing Professional, Magazine Publisher/Editor-In-Chief and a brief stint as a Real Estate Agent. Some of her career highlights include: Director of Marketing for Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, the first Regional Shopping Mall built in the country. The mall served the Los Angeles community for several decades as one of the city’s main attractions. Following the mall’s renovation in the late 80’s she increased foot traffic by 65% through innovative marketing and special events. She was responsible for promoting the largest art show in Southern California during Black History Month where the Baldwin Hills mall was transformed into an art gallery of over 10,000 pieces of art work featured by national, prominent and emerging artists, attended by thousands of art enthusiasts.

Linda has won awards for her creative marketing expertise and for her community programs. She has received awards from marketing organizations, city, county and state officials. Linda was Director of Marketing at WHUR-FM Radio, one of the leading radio stations in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia area where she was inspirational to growing the station’s listening audience; a Marketing Consultant for LA Fashion Week and Fund Development Officer for African Marketplace where she raised large sponsorship dollars for both organizations. There were three show rooms around the country that featured her luxury designed bedding made of the highest quality fabrics and unique home accent pieces.

Le Gre’ Home Accents showroom was headquartered in downtown Los Angeles. Her brand was represented by top wholesalers in Los Angeles and Dallas, Texas located in the World Trade Center. At her very first trade show, she was caught by surprise with an impressive achievement by winning the Best of Collection Design Award presented by the producers of the Los Angeles California Gift Show. She has been featured in numerous trade publications and magazines, nationally and internationally. She was recognized as one of very few African American female manufactures during the late 1990’s known for designing luxury “top of the bed” linens. Le Gre’ Home Accents was certified by the National Minority Women’s Business Enterprise Program through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

In 2010 Linda became Publisher/EditorIn-Chief for the first African American edition of Professional Performance Magazine, a quarterly publication and guide for personal and professional development through inspirational articles written by powerful personalities such as: the former First Lady Michelle Obama, Motivational Speaker Les Brown, Professional Golfer Tiger Woods, former Ambassador Andrew Young, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., former Executive Director and CEO of NAACP, Broadcasting Executive and Civil Rights Leader, Xernona Clayton, Author and Businessman, Stedman Graham, and Celebrity Chef G. Garvin among many others. Linda received business certifications from the City of Los Angeles and the Southern California Regional Purchasing Council, an affiliate of the National Minority Development Council. She served as a Consultant for LA Fashion Week, an Advisory Member of the City Summit and City Gala Host Committee, member of the Business Matchmaker Group, Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Corporation, Fashion Biz, Inc., Exceptional Women in Publishing, CEO Space International, Landmark Forum Education, etc.

Articles and stories about her work has been featured in the following: Interiors of London, Accent of New York, Images, LDB Textiles, Howard University Auricle, The Los Angeles Times, The Sentinel, The Wave Newspaper, The National Marketing Association, The International Council of Shopping Center Development, etc.

Linda has a proclivity to empower entrepreneurs and be supportive of others. Her passion for entrepreneurship, fashion, style, home furnishings and interior design, speaks for itself. Over the years, she has served on boards and supported many non-profit groups, educational and philanthropic organizations. She continues to be visionary and challenge herself with creative, innovative projects. So much is on the horizon for Linda, you just have to wait and see...

Global Couture Gala (GCG) will be held at the beautiful Majestic DTLA. This is an iconic, luxury filming and wedding venue recognized as a historical masterpiece built in 1924.

Sponsorships and Advertising Opportunities Available. Please contact Linda Gray at (310) 654-8792 or email GlobalCoutureGala@gmail.com

#1 VIETNAMESE

FILM “DAD I’M SORRY” LIVES UP TO HYPE, PERFECTLY PORTRAYS ASIAN It is clear to me why “Bố Già (Dad, I’m Sorry)” became the #1 box office hit of all time in Vietnam and the first Vietnamese GENERATIONAL FAMILY DYNAMICS, STRONG CONTENDER FOR 2022 OSCAR film to break $1 million in the US box office, as well as Vietnam’s official entry for the 2022 Oscars. The story, plot twists and turns and endearing characters created an authentic experience that made me laugh, cry and reflect.

Set in small-alley Saigon life in the midst of third world poverty, family dynamics were explored, as well as socioeconomic mobility and how modern phenomena like “youtube influencers” would rock traditional dynamics that stubbornly tried to persist.

The story centers on three generations of a family. The grandfather, Ba Sang, played by Trấn Thành, stole the show. As the story centers around him, his range of emotions as a father, adoptive father to his granddaughter and overall role as the glue that kept his family together, no matter how dysfunctional or unappreciative, was perfectly portrayed.

Between his siblings who take advantage of him to his son, a famous YouTuber, he plays the typical patriarch who quietly sacrifices for those he loves. His character, though, is not stoic and onedimensional but instead, we are able to see the range, the struggle and the tough decisions he had to make play out. The chemistry between dad and his children and siblings was undeniable. Tear jerking moments around his connection with his sweet 6 year old granddaughter involved humor and real dialogue, and it never went into cheesy territory, which is hard to do with this movie format. Credit to solid writing, editing and casting.

Tuan Tran plays son Woan, a Youtube star, who is nouveau riche enough to provide for his family. He represents a successful younger generation struggling to understand why his father would do certain things so old-fashioned. It becomes a recurring theme throughout

By Marc Ang

the movie, where the audience is able to see both perspectives but can see how situations would put father and son in different camps, whether it is the father’s unwavering loyalty to his abusive siblings, or the son’s desire to spend his money on a luxury apartment instead of a house.

The young daughter’s performance, as well as the father’s love interest and the drunkard and sometimes thief, brother who was shockingly willing to help Ba Sang in his time of need, provided shining moments for the supporting cast. The way the characters, even the bullying siblings, endeared themselves to the audience is a testament to the stellar writing, casting and directing.

While Parasite provided the fast pace Hollywood is used to, Bố Già is superior in its character development and stirring the heart and emotions with its plot and characters. Running at 128 minutes, an edit for the US audience may just create a home run, but that is just a minor critique. After the 45 minute mark, the movie accelerates and grips you like the best movies do. It is a welcome addition to the Oscars in 2022, where this is Vietnam’s official entry. The premier film academy will be treated with Vietnam’s fine work and debut breakthrough, of sorts, complete with cultural pride but also a universal treatment of emotional dynamics around family that breaks new ground for Asian cinema.

I predict this film will give the consistent hit-producing Korean entertainers a run for their money. Korea has made a name for itself in global and American film, but Vietnam, through this movie, has masterfully depicted the specific complexities of Asian cultures, patriarchy and family obligations in a non-cliche, heartwarming feature film that can grab your attention like the strongest moments of Squid Game. This was a great team effort with Directors Vu Ngoc Dang and Tran Thanh himself, and a great cast - a crown jewel for Vietnam and the foreign and comedy and drama genres.