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Maria Gabriela De Faria PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS LOUVAGNY
DECEMBER 2019
#195
Photograhy PhotographyChristopher Sharad Bhat Rusev
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ISSUE 195
TABLE of CONTENT
Maria Gabriela De Faria DECEMBER 2019 Cover Look: DRESS: DULCE BESTIA CLIPS: MY KITSCH RINGS: GABRIEL & CO HEELS: 4TH AND RECKLESS
06 Letter From The Editor 07 BELLO Obsessions 08 Cover Story MARIA GABRIELA DE FARIA 20 Spotlight | BRYANA SALAZ 30 It Guy | iann dior
48 Maison Privée Shopping Guide 50 Close Up | Omer H. Paracha 52 Holiday Gift Guide 54 Destination | Hard Rock Guitar Hotel Florida 57 Masthead
38 It Girl | AVA MICHELLE
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Letter from the Editor
Over Thanksgiving weekend, I took the opportunity to catch up on one of my favorite tv shows: The Man In The High Castle. The first season was released back in 2015 on Amazon Prime, and my husband and I absolutely loved it. For some reason, when season 2 was released the next year, we did not really take the time to watch it. Before you know it, here comes 2019 and the release of the 4th and final season this past November. It was only 30 episodes to binge watch but honestly, the cold and rainy weather we had all weekend long in L.A. was actually kind of perfect to lounge by the fireplace and watch some tv. The Man In The High Castle is the ultimate “What If” series. What if the Nazis won the second world war? What if America got divided between the Empire of Japan and the Greater Rich? What if this, what if that ... and you end up with an exciting alternate history series. The Man In The High Castle is about the resistance, about war, but above all, it is about what makes an ideology (good or bad). What does it mean to be on the right or wrong side of things? How do we get to a point in our history where we are forced to look at the things happening around us, and then at the things inside of us, trying to determine what is our responsibility? There is not a lot of “fiction” in The Man In The High Castle, making it often quite frightening. Sadly, history is bound to repeat itself if we do not learn from it. It has been proven in the past and will most likely be in the future. The Man In The High Castle, is a good history lesson and reminder that an ideology does not run by itself, it takes an “all” to make it an entity and that includes the one that proclaims it and the ones ignoring it. The Man In The High Castle, is also a tale about parallel universes. As much as I am positive that we are not alone in the universe, I am still trying to comprehend the parallel universes theories. As for us being alone in the Universe? Nope, it's simply impossible. It’s not a question of believing it or not, it's simple logic. Our “observable" universe contains over 2 trillion galaxies, not sure how many solar systems are in each galaxy but our “ very own, the Milky Way contains a number estimated to be close to 500 billions!!!! it’s kinda fascinating and humbling to think of it. So in short, there is out there an infinite possibility of habitable planets. I am not saying they are more advanced than a bacterial world but maybe some other worlds are considering us to be just bacteria … which at some times, I can agree with. But that’s another story. I feel like the end of the series was very satisfying. Many things they said and did throughout the episodes resonated with me. There is a great introspection into most of the main characters from the most evil to the kindest one. In this last season, actor Brennan Brown, (who plays Robert Childan) the owner of an Americana antiques shop in San Francisco, talks about Wabi Sabi aka the Japanese art of impermanence and shares this beautiful sentence “Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.” What a wonderful way to describe life! Embracing this idea will avoid being disappointed in ourselves and others. It is our imperfections that often define us far more than our perfections. Hence, the pick of the “Kintsugi repair kit” in my BELLO Obsessions. We often wait for the new year to forget about our past and make new wishes and set new goals for the unknown that is the future. So why not switch things around by taking some time to think about how we would like to finish this year? And is there a more wonderful sentence than: “Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect” to give ourselves some well deserved inner peace? Ciao, Steph Stéphane Marquet Creative Director.
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Puss In Boots Necklace IRIS TRENDS
Orange Blossom Soap AAA
Graffiti Tabi Boots MAISON MARGIELA
Orange Bitters Cologne JO MALONE Cybil Sunglasses TOM FORD
The Genaissance de la Mer Collection LA MER Pear and Chocolate Panettone EATALY
The Short Wimbledon Trench Coat BURBERRY GG Wool Tod GUCCI Chiavarina Dining Chair BESSA DESIGN
Kintsugi Repair Kit from Japan AMAZON
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Maria Gabriela De Faria
Photographer: THOMAS LOUVAGNY @thomaslouvagny Creative Direction: ALEKSANDAR TOMOVIC @alekandsteph Stylist: GABRIELA TENA @lagabstyle Hair: DANNI KATZ @dannidoesit Makeup: NICOLE WALMSLEY @nicolewalmsley Production: @BELLOMediaGroup x @MaisonPriveePR_LA x bonnetalex18
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The ray of sunshine we all need in our lives by Sonja Grunfeld
The lights are bright and it’s silent on set. Maria Gabriela de Faria is center stage with a camera pointed at her - scared to death. She is Maria Salazar, badass assassin on Deadly Class. This was Maria’s first lead role in America. She remembers the fear of getting fired at any moment and feeling like she didn’t trust herself. Luckily, she was in good hands. Her amazing cast and crew made her feel at home as she eased herself into the fierce role of Maria. However, "eased" isn’t the most accurate description considering the challenge of getting into assassin-shape. The cast had to attend a month of serious assassin training and Maria got in the best shape of her life. It takes sacrifice and responsibility to wake up at 3am and workout before a 14 hour day on set. But that’s Maria for you. She’s got the confidence to take on any challenge. Her bravery as an assassin on Deadly Class isn’t just for the camera. The fierce actress took on an even bigger challenge: advocating for mental health issues. On screen, Maria Salazar struggled with bipolar disorder. She wasn’t open or honest about it because she felt like it was a weakness. A lot of viewers felt the same way, and actually reached out to Maria through DMs to express how much they appreciated being represented on TV. Mental health is an issue which isn’t tackled enough in the media, and Maria thought it was time to change that. What many fans didn’t realize was that Maria could also relate to her character. She suffered from anxiety, and for a while, she experienced panic attacks every other day.
Nickelodeon Latin America. Unlike the horror stories we hear from some child actors, Maria loved acting. She described it as “a playdate with adults.” Working on shows packed with incredibly talented and respected people from Venezuela and all of Latin America was the best teaching experience for young Maria. When she wasn’t being taken under the wings of her fellow Nickelodeon actors, she went to school and had playdates with her friends, something that is rare for many child actors. Although it was challenging to both act and have a childhood, Maria never thought of either as a burden. “In a way, school was like my recess from work and work was my recess from school,” she recalls of her “best of both worlds” memories.
Instead of sharing with her friends or family, she would pretend she had a stomach ache or a cold to get out of the situation. It wasn’t until Maria started going to therapy that she realized how therapeutic it can be to share your feelings. The fan messages made her realize that she needed to be “freakin’ honest” about her struggles. Her managers weren’t too keen on the idea of opening up about her mental health. “They thought people would think I was crazy. And that’s exactly why I need to share; this fear of being judged is what makes everyone afraid to talk about mental health or reach out for help,” Maria disclosed. She has no regrets. Speaking out has been a truly healing experience for Maria and those who have heard her story.
Those lovely memories from that time in her life are much thanks to her mother, who joined her in Columbia at the beginning of her career. When she was old enough to be on her own, being away from home was difficult. Her choice to leave Venezuela came with new obstacles; for example, how to buy produce at the grocery store. As she gets older, Maria has learned to appreciate her parents and family more and more. “I have good days and bad days. Sometimes I wish I could get in the car and drive over to see my parents,” Maria shared. Her parents love Venezuela and don’t want to leave, but she doesn’t want to go back either. The distance comes with some hardships, like not getting to see her baby niece grow up. As she expressed: “At the same time, if it weren’t for the distance, I wouldn’t be so proud of my family, my culture, my roots, and who I am.”
Maria has come a long way to reach this comfortable point in her career. The glowing actress actually hails from Venezuela and got her start on 9
It took a while for Maria to be proud December 2019
of her Venezuelan heritage. When she first came to America, she pretended to be somebody she wasn’t. She would even try to hide her accent. With time and Hollywood becoming more diverse, Maria now introduces herself as “Maria Gabriela de Faria. I’m from Venezuela and this is what we eat, these are my traditions, and this is my family,” she shared happily. The proud actress talked about how she likes to invite people over for traditional Venezuelan meals and tries to share her favorite Venezuelan music with friends. She’s thrilled to be playing her first Venezuelan role, Cora, in her upcoming TV series, The Moodys. Maria auditioned for the role, originally just a Latina character, and turned her Venezuelan when she got the part. “You have no idea how proud I am. Hollywood is changing so much and allows you to be more open and embracing of your culture,” she raves. Having nothing but good things to say about her home country, Maria shared with me a touching memory from her life in Venezuela. Her parents were young when they had her, but that didn’t stop them from doing all they could to make each Christmas special. One year when she was little, Maria remembers writing letters to Santa and leaving them by the tree. In the middle of the night, her mother woke them up saying that Santa was there. The kids ran downstairs and saw one of the letters fly out the window (her parents had attached it to a string). A white glove grabbed the letter, and in through the window, there was Santa (it was her dad). Maria was in awe of this Christmas miracle. She hopes to recreate it when she has kids someday.
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This holiday season, Maria hopes to create more special family moments with her new show, The Moodys. Follow Maria as Cora and the dysfunctional Moody family on their holiday TV series event. The beautiful actress is so excited to be a part of such a fresh and lovely comedy. “I remember reading the script and thinking, ‘I know I’m not American but this is totally my family,’” said Maria. The show will relate to all of our families as the Moodys experience love, competitiveness, and other crazy relatives. I think we can all relate to the idea of going home and stepping right back into your childhood dynamics with your family. The comedy stars Maria alongside the talents of Denis Leary, Elizabeth Perkins, Francois Arnaud, Chelsea Frei, and Jay Baruchel. “Get ready to cry, laugh, and want to call your mom when you watch this lovingly, hilarious show,” Maria raves. And speaking of family, Maria’s is about to grow as she is getting married soon! Have you ever met such a bubbly, lovely, soul as Maria Gabriela de Faria? You probably haven’t. Maria is a ray of sunshine in the gloominess that is impeachment hearings, school shootings, and climate change. The Venezuelan actress has made a name for herself in Latin America and the US, and there’s no doubt that she will keep soaring to new heights. It takes courage to leave your home country to pursue your dreams, and her bravery continues each day. Maria will be gracing your screens again this holiday season in The Moodys and we can’t wait to see it!
Shirt: DIVINE HERITAGE Shorts: DIVINE HERITAGE Tights: SPANX Shoes: ZARA Earrings: UNODE50 Belt: VINTAGE CHANNEL Gloves: VINTAGE CHANNEL Ring: UNODE50
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Coat: ELLIATT Dress: ELLIATT Belt: VINTAGE Shoes: TOPSHOP Clip: FREE PEOPLE Earrings: VINTAGE
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Shirt: Dyspnea Pants: Chiara Boni Shoes: Topshop Coat: CHARLES AND RON
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Dress: DULCE BESTIA Coat: ELLIATT Shoes: TOPSHOP Earrings: IRIS TRENDS
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Ring: FRENCH KANDE
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Dress: NADYA DZYAK Hairband: CINTA THE LABEL Shoes: CAPPE ROBIN Tights: DKNY Earrings: 8 OTHER REASONS
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SPOT LIGHT
Bryana Salaz
Dress: ELLIATT Boots: CHARLES AND RON
UNLEASHING HER ACTING Bryana Salaz first started performing at the age of 12 and knew then and there that singing was was for her. In time, she worked her way towards acting and is now playing the lead on the Netflix original "Team Kaylie." As many would say, this is truly a dream come true and never did she expect to find herself working on TV. Open to the many possibilities the world has to offer, Bryana Salaz's eyes continue to sparkle as she unravels something new about herself a little every day.
What is your earliest memory of singing in front of an audience? My earliest memory of singing in front of an audience is the very first time I ever sang. I was 12 years old and sang ”The Climb” by Miley Cyrus because it was the only song I knew all the lyrics to at the time. I knew after that performance that I was quitting my soccer team the next day. What made you pursue an acting career? Do you see yourself pursuing acting and singing at the same time? I started pursuing acting because I was a part of a theatre company in Atlanta, and the owner of the company referred me to an agency there. I stared with lots of guest star roles and commercials in Atlanta. I 100% plan to pursue both singing and acting. I am equally passionate about both, and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to pursue them at the same time. You are now playing the lead on the Netflix original “Team Kaylie.” What was challenging about taking on this role and how did it help you grow as an actress? The most challenging part of becoming Kaylie was finding what keeps her grounded. She doesn’t live in reality, her life is basically a tv show and she has been sheltered and controlled. It’s very easy for her to be taken the wrong way and come off as selfish or unlikable. So, it was very important for me to make sure her intentions always came across as good, because they always were. It helped me grow having to ground her in a very crazy reality, keeping her real and genuine.
How do you relate to your character, Kaylie, the most? Kaylie just wants the best for everyone, she only wants to help and genuinely cares about the people she loves. It’s my favorite thing about her. I would do anything for the people I love, and you see the same in Kaylie throughout the whole series. Kaylie has some cool ensembles on the show. How would you describe your own personal style? Ahhhh my style is very different than Kaylies. I'm very casual. It’s super dope dressing up for photo shoots and all, but i really just enjoy my jeans with a t shirt & some docs. Who is your favorite singer and why? I have many favorite singers, it’s hard to pick. I find inspiration in so many different artists. I definitely don’t have just one favorite singer haha. Did you ever think you would find yourself on screen? Definitely never thought I’d see myself on a screen. Literally as a teen, just chillin after school watching tv, never did i think I'd be working with those same people 5 years later. It still doesn’t feel real sometimes. So wild. Where do you see yourself going next? I have no idea what the future holds for me. I’m very excited for whatever it is. I believe everything happens for a reason, and I’m learning more and more every day to just trust the process. What’s meant to be is meant to be. I’m so thankful for how far I’ve come, and I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen in the new year.
Interview by Sonja Grunfeld Photographer: FIORELLA OCCHIPINTI @fiorella_occhipinti Creative Direction: ALEKSANDAR TOMOVIC @alekandsteph Stylist: ALEX SHERA @alexandersherastyle Hair: KELSEY GUSTOVICH @kelseygusto Hair Assistant: MCKINSEY MARRARA @mckmarr Makeup: MARIA VARGAS @themariavee Production: @BELLOMediaGroup x @MaisonPriveePR_LA x bonnetalex18 21
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Set: RONNY KOBO Earrings: CHARLES AND RON Belt: CHARLES AND RON
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Dress: MIMI TRAN DESIGN Boots: FREE LANCE
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Set: ELLIATT Boots: CHARLES AND RON
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Jacket: DULCE BESTIA Dress: MARTA MILJANIC Boots: FREE LANCE Handbag: SUSU HANDBAGS Earrings: CHARLES & RON
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iann dior
MAKING MOVES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY With all the talented rising artists around us, iann dior definitely stands out. He's got the style, he's got the vocals and he's got the charm. He started off by writing songs which allowed him to share his story and from there it just took off. He has been building his life one block at a time and is definitely making moves in the industry! His tour in 2020 is coming up soon, so keep an eye out!!
What inspired you to write your first song? I started off writing just for fun and liked that it gave me an ability to tell a story. My first song was about a breakup in high school. How did you gain traction on Soundcloud? Who was your audience at the beginning? I would put out a song a week and everyone went crazy for it so we just kept doing it. The same people that are my audience now were at the beginning, it’s just bigger now. What is the music scene like in your hometown in Texas? Describe your songwriting process. How do you know when a song is finished? Not big. I would make music with my best friend. It’s not finished until it sounds right for me. I go in [to the studio], listen to some beats and whatever I like, I start writing to it. I usually freestyle a melody over the beat and then fill in the words. How has your sound changed/or evolved since moving out to LA? I’ve grown more into myself and my own sound. It’ll constantly evolving, too. Moving to LA coming from Corpus Christi there’s no limits — nothing holding me back. I worked with Internet Money for my album [Taz Taylor, Nick Mara] so you’ll get to hear it all for yourself. What was it like filming your first music video? Did you take part in the creative process behind it? Yes and it was crazy because it was the first time I was in LA and it was sort of the start to everything.
What has been your favorite collaboration so far? Why? I would have to say my collab with Gunna because the s*** is just hard. Which project are you most proud of? It’s unreleased! How would you describe your style? It’s me — just categorize it as iann [LAUGHS] Favorite quote? “A wise man once said nothing at all.” What is one message you would give to your fans? And now, what is the best advice you have received? Be yourself because no one else is gonna be it for you. Things could always be worse and you’re always in a better position than you were before. What can fans/ soon to be fans expect from your Industry Plant album? Pure energy and good music— go listen to it and you’ll find out for yourself. What’s next for iann dior? I got a tour coming up in 2020 and I’ve been in the studio every night working on lots of new music.
Interview by Alexandra Bonnet Photographer: MEECH @meech213 Creative Direction: ALEKSANDAR TOMOVIC @alekandsteph Stylist: ALEX CLOUGH @alexclough.style Grooming: CANDICE BIRNS @hairbycandicebirns Production: @BELLOMediaGroup x @MaisonPriveePR_LA x bonnetalex18
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Set: BRAYDON ALEXANDER Sneakers: CREATIVE RECREATION Black Necklaces: KYLE CHAN Necklace: FRENCH KANDE Ring: FRENCH KANDE
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Shirt: CHARLES AND RON Pants: PARAVAL Sneakers: DIOR Bracelets: TALENT'S OWN Ring: TALENT'S OWN Necklace: TALENT'S OWN
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Shirt: KENNETH BARLIS Pants: UNIQLO Sneakers: CREATIVE RECREATION Vest: SINS OF WAR
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Sweater: KENNETH BARLIS Shirt: PARAVAL Pants: DULCE BESTIA Sneakers: VIVIENNE WESTWOOD X VANS Necklace: DIOR Pearl Necklace: TALENT'S OWN
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Hoodie: JOY RICH Pants: PARAVAL Crossbody: GOYARD Sneakers: DIOR
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Bello It Girl
Ava Michelle
AVA MICHELLE: INSPIRING THOSE AROUND HER WITH HER STRENGTH, VOICE, AND BEAUTY What matters in this world is how people act, not how they look or what they believe in. By looking past the exterior, there is someone in there who might surprise you greatly. At a young age, A va Michelle has understood that and embodies the idea of acceptance- of others and herself. Recently having starred in the Netflix film, TALL GIRL, she overcame the struggle of her height and embraced who she is. Young, wise, and beautiful, Ava Michelle is truly an inspiration to many!
Recently having starred in TALL GIRL, what would you say was the biggest challenge you had to face ?
Tell us more about your start as a dancer. What kind of dance did you do?
I would honestly say learning to truly believe in myself and love myself. My height was always a huge struggle for me, so the whole process of tall girl really helped me overcome both of these!
I started dance when I was 2 years old. At age 3, my mom opened her own studio, so I grew up there doing all styles of dance!
When you decided to become an actress, how did it happen? Did anyone try to stop you? I have always wanted to act, and when I moved out to LA when I was 13, I enrolled in an acting class! And that changed my life. Share with us one of the funniest moments you have had on set. One of our first takes for the knife throwing scene with Sabrina, she actually threw the knife at me and we just died laughing. She was to good at throwing those knives, lol. Growing up, what is an important piece of advice someone close to you gave to you ? If you don’t believe in yourself, what gives the right for anyone else to believe in you? -My mama:) How did you reach the point of self-acceptance and positivity for yourself? I feel as though this will always be a constant battle as we are going through different things, and changing ourselves! But I would say the biggest things for me was just knowing that I am a good person and what other say don’t define me. Also, just surrounding myself with people who love me for who I am and support me.
What would you say to those who “judge a book by its cover” ? DON'T. There is so much more to a person then their appearance, and would you like to be judged just for what you look like? At BELLO, we love to see different types of fashion. How would you describe your style? Oooh I love fashion! Hmmm... I’m kinda all over the place, I say anything comfy always! I love to play around with different styles, but anything that makes me feel cool, beautiful and ME is what I go for! Who do you feel understands you the most? Why? My mama 100%. We are not only mother daughter but best of friends! She has been through everything with me and is my rock! I look to her for all advice because she knows me so well, I am incredibly thankful for the relationship we have! In ten years from now, where do you see yourself? One of my biggest goals is to just simply be a positive influence to as many people as possible and to truly make a difference in someone’s life. Also, an Oscar or Emmy would be pretty amazing, haha.
Interview by Alexandra Bonnet Photographer: ALENA SAZ @alena_saz Assistant Photographer: ADAM MONT @adammont Creative Direction: ALEKSANDAR TOMOVIC @alekandsteph Styling: NEAL ST ONGE @nealstonge Hair: CLAYTON HAWKINS @claytonhawkins Makeup: KENDAL FEDAIL @kendalfedail Production: @BELLOmediaGroup x @MaisonPriveePR_LA x @bonnetalex18 39
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Turtleneck: NORBLACK NORWHITE Dress: CHARLES & RON Jacket: ST JOHN Shoes: NINE WEST Bracelet: XIV KARATS Rings: HEARTS ON FIRE
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Romper: NARCES SS20 Socks: CHARLES & RON Shoes (gold): FREE LANCE Bow tie: DULCE BESTIA Rings: IRIS TRENDS Bracelet: CHROME HEARTS Bag: OTT
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Shirt: LIN ART PROJECT Pants: UNPUBLISHED Bustier: MARTA MILJANIC Shoes: FREE LANCE Rings: CHROME HEARTS Ring: HEARTS ON FIRE Vest: MARTA MILJANIC
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Dress: NARCES Shoes: UNDERGROUND Crown (cover): EPONA VALLEY Earrings: IRIS TRENDS Rings: CHROME HEARTS Ring: HEARTS ON FIRE
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Dress: NARCES Shoes: UNDERGROUND Crown: STYLIST’S OWN Earrings: IRIS TRENDS Rings: CHROME HEARTS Ring: HEARTS ON FIRE
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MAISON PRIVÉE Shopping Guide
By Alexandra Tuil
Jane Iredale ($30) www.janeiredale.com
Emera ($30) www.emerahair.com
Dr.Loretta ($50) www.drloretta.com
"Define your cheekbones and give those cheeks a just-blushed color with Queen Bee PurePressed® Blush"
"Even your hair needs emotional support sometimes. Get your Nourishing CBD Scalp Therapy, today!"
"Even during winter your face needs to be protected from the threats of UVA, UVB, HEV/blue light and pollution with Dr.Loretta's sunscreen"
The Mane Choice ($52.96) www.themanechoice.com
Reebok ($130) www.reebok.com
Temptu ($235) www.temptu.com
"Get ready to ROAR into the new year with Cheers Supreme Strength & Full Protection Collection for your hair"
"Your feet deserve the ultimate comfort thanks to Reebok's Nano 9 shoe!"
"Get that A-Lister glow with TEMPTU's Exclusive Rose Gold Airbrush Makeup Set"
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Photography Alex Seinet
Photography Alain Pham
CLOSE UP
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Close Up On
Omer H. Paracha After interviewing producer and business owner, Omer H. Paracha, we got to see a small piece of his life and his plans for the future. Paracha has come a long way, from starting out in his college dorm to now being featured on some of the biggest red carpets in Hollywood. From his interview, you will understand his vision and how he continues to thrive in not only one, but two industries.
What was producing Echo Boomers like? How was it getting involved and jumping into the project with such an established task? Echo boomers where to start. It’s been a fun journey producing this project. I was lucky to come on board with everything in place as projects go. They have a great team on board you know. Dealing with the floor producer Mike Ware and Seth Savoy on this project has been absolutely amazing talking about how it’s going to be edited. What cuts that they are going to make to it. It’s going to be great project. Who would you say you most closely worked with on the project? I guess the floor producer Mike D Ware, the director Seth Savoy and another two producers Matthew Swartz and Kelly Mi Li. These are the people I worked closely with the most. From deciding what to do with project, cuts, edits and putting it together to present to people. What was your main vision in creating your fashion brand, Paraval? Paraval was created to help bring light to issues around the world one of them being children education. That’s why early on I partnered with the Amani Hope Foundation. To help raise awareness to this issue and help people. Are you looking to do any collaborations with Paraval? As a brand owner and designer we are always looking for collaboration to happen. Our brand as a whole has been in front of so many peoples eyes that it makes me feel good that finally we are getting some recognition. So yes we are always looking for collaboration with other designers and like minded brands.
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What do you see next for Paraval? We are looking to do more collaboration. We are currently under works with talking to major designers in regards to these collaboration. I’ll be sure to talk about with the public soon. Being a producer and a business owner, what do you see yourself doing next? We’ll eventually after producing some more movies here in Los Angeles. I would love to produce a movie. Which brings pakistan and the US more closer. Making a movie that brings the countries closes make a multicultural movie. That being said i would love to direct my own movie eventually trying to take on that as well. In Echo Boomers, did you face any challenges while producing? As a producer you always face problems on how to package a project as well as how to make sure everyone is doing there job. It’s requires a lot of patience as you have to deal with a lot stuff all at once. But that’s the exciting part.
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Photography Mona Enndra
By Alexandra Tuil
Holiday Gift Guide
Invroheat $130 www.invroheatusa.com Safe and cute decorative room heaters
CongĂŠs Signature Collection $875 www.congeslife.com Carry love and positivity wherever you go
Cooluli Thermo-Electric Cooler/Warmer $49.99 www.cooluli.com A mini-sized option to keep snacks, drinks, and other necessities cool or warm all year round
Helmm $55 www.helmm.com Pit-Friendly, planet-friendly deodorant Nine West Bag $89 www.ninewest.com Your perfect backpack for your hands free on the go lifestyle
Combatant Gentleman Bowtie $16 www.combatgent.com The perfect accessory for all holiday events
Ascention Beauty Co $29 www.ascentionbeautyco.com Self-care fragrance collection to help one discover their best-self
Wine Society $99 www.winesociety.com Red, white, and rosĂŠ wine, something for everyone WP Standard Weekender Bag $419 www.wpstandard.com Perfect for short-term travel, gym, or just running around town
itSpray DREAMit Spray $24.99 www.itspray.com Fall asleep in any time zone
Kevin Murphy Shimmer Time $65 www.kevinmurphy.com.au Renew and restore dry, damaged hair
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Colonel Popper $16 www.shopcolonelpopper.com Bring the theater home
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Immerse In Culture at the Hard Rock Guitar Hotel By Rebecca Kang The iconic Guitar Hotel at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino officially opened as part of a $1.5 billion expansion that catapults the integrated resort and casino to world-class status as an unrivaled gaming and entertainment destination. With a state-of-the-art performance venue, expanded casino, 13.5 acre pool and lagoon, luxury spa, nightclub, day club, and more than two dozen innovative dining, lounge, and entertainment options, the hotel is thoroughly prepared to provide an unforgettable experience. A quick fifteen minute ride from the Fort Lauderdale airport and one speedy check in later, we started off the night toasting at Abiaka, the new American wood fire grill restaurant. While offering both large-format entrées and small plates, the menu was perfect for sharing. The entire restaurant experience felt like a conversation with a friend. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating to any dietary restrictions. Even more extensive than the food menu is their drinks menu. Here’s the thing, I highly recommend not even bothering and just asking for whatever pairs well with what you’re eating because they definitely know best. Don’t leave without dessert, it’ll be the biggest mistake of your night. You may be full but if there’s a will, there’s a way and an argument does not have to be made for the churros. As this was the second week into the opening of the Guitar Hotel, there was plenty of buzz on the light show extravaganza and we were excited to see it for ourselves. Videos cannot do the show justice. The detail put into the show was incredible and truly elevated the experience. LED lights were built into every side of the hotel and programmed to change color and intensity timed to music accompanied by six fixed high-powered beams of light that project at least 20,000 feet into the night sky and mimic the strings of an imaginary guitar neck. It’s an experience you have to witness for yourself, even if it’s just in passing. About an hour out of the hotel, down a road reminiscent of the CSI Miami title sequence, you can find the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation where the attractions focus on adventure, learning and camping. We started at the Billie Swamp Safari, where for the adventurous, frog legs and gator nuggets await at the Swamp Water Cafe (they also have french fries). We got to do a meet and greet with the cutest furry and scaly critters at the Billie Swamp Critter Show before heading off into the Everglades for an airboat tour with a real life, real friendly, alligator wrestler.
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We made our way to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and Big Cypress Resort & Campground also located on the Seminole Reservation. The museum houses more than 180,000 unique artifacts, replicas, and archival items. One of the best parts of the trip was learning about the Seminole people and their historic connection to Florida. While Seminole tribe history may seem arbitrary at first, it plays a large role in the hotel and its many features. Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International, guided the Seminole Tribe’s acquisition of Hard Rock International in 2007, making the Seminoles the first North American Indian Tribe to purchase a major international corporation. Elements of the Seminole Tribe can be found sprinkled throughout the Guitar Hotel, such as Council Oak, one of the many fine dining options named after the historic oak tree which has been the site of significant historical events of the Seminole Tribe as far back as 1957. For seafood lovers, Council Oak is a must. A three-tiered raw bar seafood platter is one of their specialities and the dragonberry mojito is a must. At night your legs will naturally gravitate towards DAER Nightclub, the new South Florida hot spot. There were many drinks, lots of dancing, and amazing guest: DJ T-Pain. Fast forward one pounding headache (memorabilia of a fun night), we got to experience the new Rock Spa. We couldn’t think of a better way to spend the morning than unwinding and letting the toxins of the previous night out into the steam room. A friendly and attentive staff is on hand to make sure you have the most relaxing experience possible and a ste am room is now my new standard for nursing a bad headache after a long night.
incredible. We snuggled, had some food and drinks, and watched some of the Harry Potter marathon while waiting out the rain (Florida weather, am I right?) before relaxing on the in water chaise loungers. The best way to end the trip was watching Sting perform. Playing his own notable pieces as well as hit Police classics, it was an incredible and unforgettable performance. The crowds’ energy was amazing! We screamed until our voices went hoarse, and got to play a live rendition of the “Roxanne” d rinking game. One of the best parts of the trip was how culture and history emanated from every part of the hotel. Classic Hard Rock music memorabilia and influential Seminole Tribe history is prevalent all throughout the hotel and made us feel truly connected throughout the weekend. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is the perfect little getaway – or staycation – for everyone! Special thanks to The Z!mmerman Agency for being the most amazing hosts! Photos provided by Hard Rock
We were lucky enough to spend a day at the beautiful Bora Bora Cabana, appropriately named because it really felt like we were transported to a lagoon. The cabana was spacious and the personalized service was, again,
December 2019
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Photography Michel Olsen
Bello PUBLISHER @BELLOmediaGroup 6404 Wilshire Blvd. #500 / Los Angeles CA 90048 IMAGE NATION STUDIO L.L.C. California, USA editorial@bellomag.com BELLO STYLE | BELLO DESTINATION | VULKAN | TILTED | QP ADVERTISING Collaborations | Advertorials
advertising@bellomag.com ALEKSANDAR TOMOVIC (editor in chief) alek@bellomag.com Stephane Marquet (creative director) steph@bellomag.com Alexandra Bonnet (Entertainment Editor) alex@bellomag.com Nicole Walmsley (beauty editor) nicole@bellomag.com Alexandra Tuil (contributing editor) alexandra@bellomag.com Ed Solorzano (contributing writer) pr@bellomag.com LAYOUT Stephane Marquet + Rebecca Kang PRINT ON DEMAND (available around the world) Order here: www.bellomag.com/print SUBMISSIONS www.kavyar.com/bello-magazine WEBSITE www.bellomag.com + Digitaly Distributed On www.issuu.com/outnext
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December 2019
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Maria Gabriela De Faria PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS LOUVAGNY
DECEMBER 2019
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