Now I’ve been to my fair share of uppity Manhattan fundraisers and this is by far the most fun event of the benefit season.  The key?  It is run by an amazing group of 25 young people who are all uber passionate about helping this cause.  The event itself is the brainchild of friends that wanted to put their social lives to good use, and in two short years they have managed to pull in over $200,000 in proceeds for the Make A Wish Foundation. What made this different from any other charity event?  This group has concocted the perfect recipe for a killer bash:

1. Endless list of spirits sponsors & phenomenal food 

Perrier Jouet champagne, Patron tequila, Ultimat vodka, Pryat Rum, Corona & Sam Adams beer, Evian water, combined with a ridiculous amount of yummy Lavo appetizers put everyone in the best spirit to party and more importantly, shell out more cash for the #2 most important thing:

2. Killer prizes for an at-event raffle drawing and silent auction:

Partygoers were able to bid on a plethora of high-end auction items including airfare from Virgin Atlantic, a Ferrari driving experience from Gotham Dream Cars, gym membership to Equinox, boxing tickets from HBO Sports, premium seats to the New York Yankees and Giants, a golf outing at Winged Foot Country Club, designer purses, unbelieveable spa packages, getaway packages, autographed memorabilia, hotel stays, restaurant gift cards and more.  Rarely do you find such an array of can’t-otherwise-get prizes, especially ones that will surely impress any sort of date you brought with you.  This brings us to our third key element in throwing a successful shindig:

3. An Amazing speaker that gets personal when it comes to reminding us why this cause deserves your support

Make-A-Wish Alum Paul Rosario brought tears to everyone’s eyes with his heartfelt story of how much the team from Make A Wish changed his life as a young patient.  As his speech drew to a close, you could feel the love in the air as the wallets opened up.

After tripling the earnings from their inaugural event, WishNYC: A Toast To Wishes has officially cemented its place in the New York City benefit circle.  We cannot wait to see how far they go next year.  Check out a gallery of images from the event & read more about Make A Wish below.

To become a part of this event committee next year, tweet @iamsamlim or visit www.toasttowishes.com

More About Make A Wish: 

The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The Metro New York chapter, which serves the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau County, Long Island began in 1983 and is headquartered in Lake Success with a field office in Manhattan. Since its founding, the Metro New York chapter has granted more than 8,400 wishes. In Fiscal Year 2010, the chapter touched the lives of 793 wish children and their families by granting a record number of 531 wishes of local children and by facilitating 262 wish assists for children who reside in other areas, but whose wishes took place in New York – that’s more than one wish every 11 hours, making Metro New York one of the most active chapters in the national network of 65 Make-A-Wish chapters across the country. The Metro New York chapter is also the proud recipient of Charity Navigator’s highest rating- 4 Stars – in December of 2009 and is featured as one of the “50 Best Nonprofits to Work for in 2010” in The NonProfit Times. For more information, visit www.metrony.wish.org

The night involved art auctioned from Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Jenny Holzer and Kim McCarty and more. The event, sponsored by Fendi raised $839,000. And the lasting legacy of living vimeo proof that Coco Rocha can indeed Irish Jig.

[WWD, Modelinia]

Just click over to the Toast To Wishes website and pick up a ticket for yourself, one for the date you’re trying to impress (donating money to charity and getting into one of NYC’s toughest doors is sure to impress that certain someone), or be a mega baller and buy a table (If you do that we will personally make sure you get some extra FashionIndie swag, just mention you heard about it from us).

Either way you go, it is guaranteed to be one of the best parties of the year (Last year they packed out 1Oak with 350 people and Richie Rich auctioned off 2 front row tickets to his fashion show).  If you have any questions, tweet them at us and we’ll help you help them.  See you there!

Most importantly, these little spray bottles smell like angels, as opposed to the hospital smell that typically accompanies quick soap. Lavender/Vanilla, Mango, and Pomegranate scents also leave your hands buttery smooth. A bottle is $8, and if you use it four times per day, it will last you 4 months! It’s kind of a miracle.

Speaking of miracles, how will this wash the developing countries clean? Eve Echo has teamed up with FINCA, an organization that gives small loans and financing to women, who then in turn hire people from her community to help generate revenue and a livelihood. This then allows moms to make enough money to feed their families, and send the children to school. It’s a circle of investment, education, work with dignity, repeat.

Natalie Portman says it best:.

Their mission is to help children affected by autism communicate more effectively through education, job training, and specialized activities.  The appropriately named Golden Hat collection features a blush palette, a red lipstick, and a red nail polish.  We love that the baby pink blusher has the foundation’s emblem designed on it in a shimmery gold for an extra special touch. Lancome has pledged to dedicate at least 150,000 euros (about $207k) of its sale profits to the charity.

Why it is important to you that your products are produced in New York City?
There are so many reasons! First, it was about quality control and having the ability to be hands-on in the creation of my line during each stage of development. From the beginning, I imagined the line having a level of exclusivity to it, and manufacturing in New York City allows me to keep the production limited. Then it comes down to humanity. After learning about some of the unfortunate factory conditions globally, I wanted to know the people working on my collection were treated properly and paid well.

How involved are you in the creation of each bag? What goes into each product from design to production?
I am involved in every aspect of the collection. I design each bag myself and oversee it from idea to production. I start each season by choosing colors and the concept for every style, and the ideas begin to develop from there.

Each bag starts with a drawing, and from there, into a sample. Once a sample is finalized, all of the materials are handpicked and selected. After that, it is all sales, marketing and production. There is a great deal of work that goes on from conception to execution. Designing and picking colors is definitely the best part!

What are the must-have items in your bag?
Gloss, eyelash curler, Nars bronzer & brush, my iPhone and a digital camera.

What type of woman loves to carry your bags?
The ideal woman is stylish but has a relaxed, chic approach to her wardrobe. She appreciates a high-quality, well-made accessory. And while she loves fashion, she is probably not overtly trendy or overdone.

Your company is very dedicated to helping charity. What are your future philanthropic plans?
My goal is to produce a product line where profits would focus on benefiting charities and foundations that serve under-privileged children by giving them the resources and opportunities needed to succeed. My belief is every child should have the support, necessities and guidance to flourish.

Beyond monetary contributions, I am currently researching ways to provide opportunity and empower individuals and small business owners internationally by giving them the chance to produce this product line to benefit and strengthen their communities and lives.

How different is your life now from your life as an art director? What prompted you to make the switch?
Working in fashion is a huge change but a welcomed one! I was starting to feel stifled creatively working in advertising. When I started Amanda Joy, I had one design, a clutch I needed in my personal accessory rotation. As soon as I saw it come together, I knew I was in love with designing bags and wanted to keep going with it. Very much like in advertising and branding, it takes a couple rounds to get it right. Thankfully I was already prepared for the time and effort it takes.

What inspired you for the Fall 2011 collection? When you’re designing, where do you turn for creative vision?
For Fall, I was inspired by the classic and tailored looks you are seeing everywhere. Amanda Joy emanates unfussy design, so this season I mixed simple, clean lines with luxurious, sophisticated leathers and rich exotic skins to bring that lady-like stylishness together.

For day-to-day inspiration, you can pretty much always find me buried in a glossy or reading my daily dose of fashion blogs. Living in Florida, I spend a lot of time outside. There is ease about fashion here – maxi dresses and sandals are a girl’s best friend. And I think accessories are definitely the best way to add glamour to a simplistic look.

You can learn more about Amanda Joy and see all her fabulous bags at shopamandajoy.com.

All through June you can purchase a pride T for $7.50 to $14.50 at select Old Navy stores throughout the nation, with 10% of the proceeds going to the It Gets Better Project.

I guess the gays* finally have a reason to shop at Old Navy. [LGBTQ Nation]

*I used to shop at Old Navy and can say from firsthand experience… it gets better.

FOR THE HIP MOM: Baby Phat Scoop Neck Belted Tunic, $49, babyphat.com.  A style that suits every body type, this tunic is flattering and trendy with gold studded details.

FOR THE DO IT ALL MOM:  a Keurig Platinum Brewing system, $179.95.  Because most of us cannot function before coffee, this system makes the process even simpler than it was before.

FOR THE STYLISH MOM: A membership to ShoeDazzle.com. Because if Kim Kardashian endorses it, you know its a quality product.

FOR THE MOM ON-THE-GO: Skechers Shape-Ups SRT or S2 Lite, $100. skechers.com.  Another Kardashian endorsed product, multitasking moms can get their workouts in while running errands.

FOR THE TASTEFUL MOM:  a yummy fruit and chocolate bouquet from Edible Arrangements.  Every mom loves a bouquet, so why not get one they can eat too.

FOR THE MODERN MOM: a ceramic photo frame by Jonathan Adler, $58.  If you order off the website and email them a picture, they will print and frame the photo, wrap it up and send it off to mom for you.

FOR THE BOMBSHELL MOM: Conair InfinitiPro Spin Air Brush, $69.99, conair.com.  This awesome tool will volumizes, shines, curls, and gives you the perfect blown-out look without going to the salon.

FOR THE ARTSY MOM: A gift certificate to the online gallery Zatista.com.  One of a kind, affordable artwork is framed and sold on this site, assuring your mom gets something truly unique.

FOR THE CHIC MOM: a limited edition Brenda Novak Silk Scarf, $120,brendanovackforthecure.org.  This beautiful silk scarf was designed in collaboration with Hayden-Harnett.  A portion of the proceeds goes to Novak’s cause, diabetes research — a disease that effects her own child.

FOR THE ULTIMATE HOSTESS: Perrier-Jouët Fleur de Champagne Rose 2002, $300.perrier-jouet.com.  Nothing screams elegance like a bottle of the classic pink champagne.  Guests will feel uber-chic and your hostess mom will be glad she can share her gift with loved ones.

Thanks so much to Robert and his team at the Luxe Laboratory for helping us keep our moms stylish and chic!

For a limited time you guys can go to select Bloomingdale’s locations and bloomingdale’s.com to purchase Surfrider exclusive pieces. 10% of all sales from the Surfrider pop-up shop exclusives will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation, as well as an additional $25,000 donation by Bloomingdale’s.

The Surfrider’s mission is the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.

FREEWATERS

Problem: Over 3,000,000 people die every year from unsafe water, most under the age of 5. That’s more than die from war annually.

Mission: Your new expertly innovated flip flops = one year of clean drinking water for an individual in a poverty stricken rural community.

WARBY PARKER

Problem: 1. Glasses are way too expensive. 2. One billion people don’t have access to glasses. That means 15% of the world is unable to work and learn effectively because they cannot see clearly.

Mission: Buy a pair of vintage inspired glasses for $95, they give a pair to someone in need.

TOMS

Problem: Hundreds of millions of children are at risk of contracting STDs (soil transmitted diseases) from volcanic and chemically contaminated soil. These diseases are 100% preventable by wearing shoes.

Mission: For every pair of shoes you buy, they give a pair to a child in need. And they don’t stop giving after that child outgrows them.

SUR EVOLUTION

Problem: Artisans across the world do not have a proper marketplace for their work, and thus are living in poverty.

Mission: Empower artisans by selling their products at fair trade prices, using sustainable materials and, respecting nature and cultures.

ORGANIC SURGE

Problem: 1. Our toiletries contain a staggering amount of harsh chemicals. 2. There are a staggering number of children in Africa living in poverty.

Mission: Proceeds from range of chemical-free beauty products goes to providing emotional and financial aid to vulnerable children in Africa.

“Shopping can do a world of good.” – Forever 21

Starting today the two are  encouraging readers to flex their artistic muscle with a contest to design a T-shirt to benefit a charity of their choosing.

Paul Marciano, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GUESS? Inc. has said “By entering into this promotion with Teen Vogue we hope to give other teenagers the opportunity to change the world we live in for the better.”

The online contest will run from March 15th through May 20th at Teenvogueallaccess.com/chari-t. A judging panel made up of Teen Vogue editors, GUESS executives and Ella Marciano, will select five finalists, whose designs will be presented in social and digital platforms for peer voting.

The winning design will be turned into a T-shirt and announced in August with an in-store event just in time for back-to-school shopping.     The winning T-shirt design will be sold online at www.GUESS.com with 100% of proceeds benefiting the selected charity. In addition, the Chari-T will be featured at the Teen Vogue Haute Spot, a pop up shop for the magazine in New York this September, and will also be the official T-shirt for Teen Vogue’s annual Fashion University in October.

You started out making bracelets for your family as a child and decided to design when you found a bag of your great grandmother’s vintage buttons. Before that discovery, did you always want to design jewelry or did you have something else in mind?
I always made string and friendship bracelets, and I would go to flea markets and find old vintage pieces and recreate them. After my mom found the bags of buttons and gave them to me, I started making the bracelets. People were literally buying them off my wrists. That’s what started everything. I said ‘I need to be doing something that makes me happy, something I enjoy,’ and this was it.

You work with gorgeous vintage buttons. Do you take inspiration from other vintage pieces such as clothing or furniture? What makes the buttons so enjoyable to work with?
Yes, antique furniture and vintage clothing are definitely of interest. Button designs are endless, and that makes them exciting to work with. I always find buttons I’ve never seen before, and it really allows me to be creative. That is what makes each piece unique. I don’t recreate a bracelet twice, and I think that’s why they’ve been so well received – no one is going to have the same design.

Do you only use vintage buttons or do you shop for new ones as well? Where do you find them?
I started with vintage and then began going to the fashion district and buying new ones. But I realized pretty immediately the new buttons were taking away from the product appeal, so I stopped buying new and am focusing on vintage again. I find the buttons I design with on clothing, from antique stores and flea markets, Etsy and people I know who give or sell them to me.

Old jewelry manufacturers and factories that have shut down are great places to find them too. They have old vintage jewelry, everything from beads and buttons to chains. You can find some cool pieces, but you must commit to digging because it’s the most unorganized thing in the world. There are pieces that have been sitting on the shelf since the 50s.

Also, if someone has special buttons they want me to use, I will design a piece for her or him out of them and incorporate some of my own. There is a story behind every item because the buttons could mean something special to the person.

What aides in your design process? Do you draw your intricate bracelets out first or lay out all of the buttons before assembling? What time of the day are you most inspired to design?
I have a huge coffee table on which I lay out thousands of buttons. I arrange them on a board and create from there. I do have some secrets on how I string them so they lay correctly on each other. If you put all the same type and shape of button together, they’re just going to lay flat and you wont be able to see the entire piece. But I end up having to re-string most bracelets about three times, either because I calculated the size wrong or they aren’t sitting correctly on each other. I start designing around 10:30 am and work all day. I don’t watch TV, but I do listen to music while I’m creating.

Do you have certain days you go on shopping trips and other days you reserve for designing? Or do you just go as the wind takes you?
I’m not really structured on when I do what because I work around the clock. Even when I get home from my regular job, I will work. My days are split between designing, making the pieces, shopping for the buttons, photographing the merchandise and maintaining the website. I’m really doing everything.

The E-commerce site launched in November, right in time for Christmas, and that has been so helpful. The site automatically updates when someone makes a purchase, so it saves me time.

It’s so amazing you taught in Africa and a portion of your proceeds is donated to “Make a Difference NOW.” How has your experience working and living in a different culture influenced your designs? Has it changed who you are as an American consumer?
Whatever I’m doing has to be beneficial to someone else other than me. When I got out of school, I had an itch to go abroad because your chances grow fewer as you get older. Africa really changed me, so I realized I needed to work it into my life back here. I figuring making a donation from the business would be the best way, and they have been very supportive. Make a Difference NOW is so close to my heart. No matter how big the check I am writing each quarter, it doesn’t pain me because it’s the best feeling in the world. Hopefully some of the packaging for Kates Design will eventually come from there.

I am more conscious of the things I purchase now; I’m always aware if the company I’m buying from gives back in any way.

Right now you are selling Kates Design merchandise in New Jersey. What is the next state(s) you would like to conquer? Any New York prospects we can look forward to?
The New Jersey store has been very profitable for me. It’s actually a really high-end jewelry store, and my stuff is more moderately priced. It’s different from everything else in the store, so it’s been doing really well. At first I was hesitant to even be in stores because all of my pieces are one of a kind, and the business must be willing to carry something that isn’t reorder-able. I have a handful of places that are in the works. My goal for the year is to work on getting in more boutiques. I have been eyeing some stores on the Lower East Side.

What is in the future for your designs? Do you think you’ll ever go beyond designing bracelets and earrings? How about other types of jewelry?
The earrings category is the newest edition and has been doing really well. I am still trying to perfect the button necklace, but I haven’t figured out how to make a longer design look nice. I always have people requesting cuff links, so those will probably be next. And you never know, I could always start something else. Right now I want to grow the business, get more press and get into more stores. Those are my goals for the year and then we’ll see.

You can learn more about Kates Design and shop for her jewelry on her website.

Richie Rich will show a 46 piece A/W 2011 collection designed as a tribute to the Female Urban Renegades of 1862-1928, as soul-pop group The Harlem James Gang provides the music and entertainment. Doors open at 9 p.m. with the show and after party to follow.

Get your tickets now and celebrate Fashion Week with us for a good cause!

Red Nose Day is Friday, March 18, and you can learn more about it here. OH, and Stone looks gorgeous!

LINK LOVE: The Huffington Post

We at FashionIndie are inspired by these women and want to help their causes, and you can too! There are already three winners, and they want you, the People’s Voice, to choose the fourth. Go to Facebook and vote for the woman who inspires you most. Honorees receive $50,000 in support of the organization with whom they are affiliated from the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation to further their work.

Vote NOW and make a difference!

Beginning yesterday, limited-edition, AE-designed “Help Haiti Heal” T-shirts are being  sold in more than 900 American Eagle Outfitters stores throughout the U.S., and worldwide at www.ae.com/haiti.  The T-shirts were made in Haiti, by Haitians, to mark the first anniversary of the earthquake and raise awareness about the continuing need to help Haiti heal.  The entire purchase price of US $15.50 will be donated to Concern Worldwide’s education program in Haiti, with the potential to raise as much as US $1 million.

The proceeds raised from the sale of the Help Haiti Heal t-shirts will:  rebuild and repair two schools that were destroyed during the earthquake, provide 1,000 earthquake-affected children with access to primary education, equip the two schools with classroom furniture (desks, chairs),  install clean water systems, latrines and sanitation at the two schools and ensure that the most vulnerable children in the communities receive a primary education.

This is a really great cause because Haiti has not fully recovered from the tragedy that happened almost a year ago and it is fantastic that brands like American Eagle are helping to support and raise awareness about Haiti even after most people have forgotten about it.

You can purchase one of these shirts from AE.com

The candle will be sold at White Castle locations nationwide for $13. All of the proceeds go to Autism Speaks. What a great way to smell the grease instead of eating it.

LINK LOVE: The Cut

One Dress is an honorable crew that works tirelessly to fight the global sale of women into marriage slavery.

Women uniting for a cause, women supporting a worldwide love for the dress.

Here’s a video telling more about the cause:

Instead of turning his wealth into gold coins and diving into them for fun, the young billionaire is donating most of his fortune to charity.

Zuckerberg signed on to the Bill Gates and Warren Buffet “Giving Pledge,” agreeing to give away most of his money to charity. “There is a big opportunity for many of us to give back earlier in our lifetime and see the impact of our philanthropic efforts,” said Zuckerberg.

Standing “O” for Zuck. Honestly, that is very cool.

For Holiday 2010, designer Trina Turk is supporting Nest Artisans by selling beautifully crafted necklaces and bracelets at select Trina Turk boutiques. One-hundred percent of proceeds from each piece sold will be used to empower and enrich the lives of the women who created the exquisite jewelry.  The bracelet retails for $21 and the necklace for $40. What a good deal! Get your asses out there and start shopping.

Celebrity nightlife impresario Unik is expected to bring some VIP friends like Gerard Butler, Rihanna, John Legend, Petra Nemcova, Wyclef Jean, and more to Ajna (formerly known as Buddha Bar), which will be decked out in insane decorations by Collin Abraham. The wild hoodoo-voodoo festivities serve as the perfect prelude to the annual NYC Halloween parade, promoting Haiti‘s cultural roots with artist Didier Civil‘s native voodoo flair.

All this party magic is set to benefit two prominent charity organizations, LakayPAM and Edeyo. Both non-profit organizations are dedicated to rebuilding Haiti and protecting children’s rights–helping them meet their basic needs, offer them better education opportunities, and providing new hope and opportunity to underprivileged youth. With such an extravagant guestlist, the $25 entrance fee will contribute to the Haiti rebranding project.

Convinced? Look who else is excited:

CAROLINA BITTENCOURT: “I can’t wait to bring my friends to a lavish Voodoo party and celebrate with my friends!“

RAQUEL ZIMMERMANN: “I’m very excited to show off my surprise costume…“

FERNANDA MOTTA: “I will be there for sure to party with my girls.“

JOHN LEGEND: “Sounds FANTASTIC! See you there.”

Dress up, mingle with A-listers, and contribute to two amazing charities…sounds like a pretty sweet Halloween. Parties this wild and star-studded usually give you the Studio 54 dismissal, so $25 is a steal. We recommend getting your tickets ASAP by RSVPing to PR@lakaypam.org.

Pics of the packs after the jump.

Some celebs tapped to design the bags include: Salma Hayek, Matthew McCounaghey, Shakira, Eva Longoria, Sheryl Crow, Jade Jagger and Slash.

While we’re at it, can we do something about that hideous t-shirt/short combination? I get the explorer theme and all, but a safari jacket never hurt anyone.

The annual FFC fashion and shopping event, hosted by media personality Suzy Malick, will feature ten designers, and a large portion of the proceeds will be donated to cancer foundations and research.

This FFC event will feature collections from ten designers including New York Fashion Week’s own Tadashi Shoji, Whistle Flute, and Byron Lars. New to the roster are famed designers Thuy, Karen Millen, and a plus-size collection by Lotis Clothing. Each designer will showcase pieces from their current collection on well-placed fashion models, and pieces will be available for purchase at the sample sale event. Proceeds will be benefiting the I’m Too Young for This Cancer Foundation and The Cancer Research Institute.

Participating designers and corporate sponsors include Tadoshi Shoji, Byron Lars, Lotus Grace, Khari by Kahrianne Kerr, H. Fredriksson, Thuy, Karen Millen,Zink Magazine, YMCA, The FAB Network, Love Life Now, YouAreOnTheList.com, Models International, I Concepts Media,  iFashion Network, and many more. Gift bags will be provided by Make Love Not Trash, and include items from Popchips, Equinox, CitySlips, The Racktrap, Boom Boom Revolution, Claudia Gill, Lotis Clothing, and more. Guests will indulge their sweet-tooth with cupcakes provided by Cupcake Provocateur. Special guest appearance will be made by Casey Gillespie, Editor and Chief of Zink Magazine.

Gift bags will be given to the first 100 guests in attendance, and two special gift bags sponsored by top brands including Maybelline and Zink Magazine will be silently auctioned off during the event.

General admission tickets are $50 and a portion of the ticket price goes toward the purchase of any item available at the sample sale. VIP tickets are $250. Both general admission and VIP tickets can be purchased at the official website: www.fashionfightscancer.com.

Fashion Fights Cancer on Twitter – www.twitter.com/fashionfightsc If you are on Twitter, the official twitter hashtag for the event is: #audiFFC.

Fashion Fights Cancer on Facebook – http://tinyurl.com/27x3e2u

I’m so excited to be a part of this event tomorrow. Hope to see you there!

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More teenagers and young adults die of suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined. Please support the Live Out Loud Charity in our quest raise awareness of suicide which is one of the most preventable causes of death. You may volunteer and/or attend any of our fundraising events, become a spokesperson, or more. SherrieGearheart@yahoo.com

As of July 31st: 70 Left                    -5 months left to meet my goal!-

Complete List of Sherrie Gearheart’s Public Appearances to date (newest to oldest)

• July 31st- Automated External Defibrillation Certified
• July 31st- First Aid Certified
• July 31st- CPR Certified
• July 31st- Special appearance at Dr. Tom Reits clinic
• July 31st- LOLC Message helping those in needs
• July 30th- Director of Fashion Week for Improv Playhouse with our FINAL FASHION SHOWCASE!
• July 29th- Director of Fashion Week for Improv Playhouse in Libertyville, IL a mentoring program
• July 28th- Director of Fashion Week for Improv Playhouse in Libertyville, IL a mentoring program
• July 27th- Director of Fashion Week for Improv Playhouse in Libertyville, IL a mentoring program
• July 26th- Director of Fashion Week for Improv Playhouse in Libertyville, IL a mentoring program
• July 25th- Follow up interview with Miss Teen International 2009 on the Tiara Talk Show
• July 25th- Interview with Miss Teen International 2010 on the Tiara Talk Show
• July 25th- LOLC Message helping those in needs
• July 25th- Follow up interview with Miss International 2009 on the Tiara Talk Show
• July 25th- Interview with Miss International 2010 on the Tiara Talk Show
• July 24th- Filmed Tiara Talk Show at the EYF 2010 FS: Special guests included Accessory Barn, SARET CHARITABLE FUND, and more!
• July 24th- LOLC Seminar to over 350 attendees at the Electrify Your Future 2010 Fashion Show
• July 24th- Orchestrated the Electrify Your Future 2010 Fashion Show fundraiser for the Live Out Loud Charity.
• July 23rd- LOLC Seminars
• July 23rd- LOLC Meetings
• July 22nd- EYF 2010 FS Rehearsal & LOLC Seminars
• July 21st- LOLC Meetings
• July 21st- LOLC Message helping those in needs
• July 20th- EYF 2010 FS Rehearsal & LOLC Seminars
• July 19th- LOLC Meetings and Seminars
• July 18th- Interview with Mrs. International 2010 on the Tiara Talk Show
• July 17th- Mrs. International Competition
• July 17th- EYF 2010 FS Model Coordinator
• July 17th- LOLC Seminars
• July 16th- LOLC Meetings
• July 16th- Meeting with Improv Playhouse- Chosen as the Director for Fashion Week in Libertyville, IL for Mentoring Program
• July 14th- LOLC Meetings
• July 12th- LOLC Meetings
• July 12th- LOLC Message helping those in needs
• July 11th- Attended the US Beauties Final Competition
• July 11th- Speech to the US Beauties Contestants
• July 10th- Attended the Glen Ellyn Jazz Fest
• July 10th- LOLC Meetings
• July 10th- Attended the US Beauties Prelims
• July 9th- Host of Tiara Talk Show interviewing US Beauties Girls
• July 9th- Speech at the Glitz & Glam Event
• July 9th-LOLC Meetings
• July 7th- EYF 2010 FS Model Meeting
• July 7th- LOLC Seminar
• July  6th- CPR Certified
• July 5th- Accepted into SPS- 4 more check points left before I become a suicide paraprofessional this fall
• July 5th- Instructor for Model Training for EYF 2010 FS
• July  5th- LOLC Meetings
• July 4th- Glen Ellyn Parade along with Miss Western Suburbs Outstanding Teen
• July 3rd- Mock Interview Judge for US Beauties Pageant
• July 3rd- LOLC Seminar
• July 1st- Instructor for Model Training for EYF 2010 FS
• June 30th- Wheaton Theatre downtown Wheaton, IL
• June 30th- Live Out Loud Charity Meetings
• June 30th- Five LOLC Seminars
• June 29th- Dr Tom Reits Dental Office Special Appearance
• June 26th- Advocate for the You’re the Cure Network & Go Red for Women 
• June 25th- Officially a member of the National Association of Professional Women
• June 25th- Live Out Loud Charity Meetings
• June 20th- Judge at the Miss IL & Miss IN Perfect Pageants
• June 20th- Tiara Talk Show on site at the Miss IL Coed Pageant
• June 19th- Miss Illinois MAO Pageant
• June 19th- Miss Illinois Coed Pageant
• June 18th- Meeting with Michael Galanes
• June 17th- Mock Judge for Miss IL Coed Pageant
• June 16th- Recipient of the People’s Choice Award
• June 14th- Sherrie Gearheart & Tiara Magazine became Members of SIFJ
• June 13th- Chosen by the FFF Editor’s Association as a Favorite Editor to Follow
• June 13th- Featured as a True Titleholder
• June 12th- Pretty Princess Tea Party, Indian Lakes Resort with International State titleholders
• June 10th- Downtown Chicago Photo Shoot with Lynea Tucker Plus Teen USA
• June 9th- Filmed by Video Crew for Talk Show with different guests
• June 9th- Cover Shoot for Tiara Magazine with Lynea Tucker Plus Teen USA
• June 9th- CIL Youth Mentoring Seminar with Jojo Sayson
• June 7th- Live Out Loud Charity Seminar
• May 30th- Miss Illinois Outstanding Teen & Preteen Competition
• May 29th- Illinois Got Talent Competition
• May 28th- SARET Charitable Fund
• May 28th- Visiting local downtown Glen Ellyn Shops
• May 28th- An interview for local magazine & newspapers
• May 28th- Glen Ellyn Farmer’s Market
• May 27th- Officially a QPR Certified Gatekeeper
• May 26th- MAO Mock Interview Judge for IL Outstanding Teen Competition
• May 23rd- MAO Mock Interview Judge for IL Outstanding Teen Competition
• May 23rd- LOLC Message helping those in needs
• May 23rd- Dr. Tom Reits at Dental Office
• May 22nd-Speech for Live out Loud Charity at the Winthrop Harbor Pageant
• May 21st- Taste of Glen Ellyn Day 2
• May 21st- Whistles and Bells Snackery Autograph Signing
• May 20th- DSW Shoes Miss America 2010 Caressa Cameron
• May 20th- Taste of Glen Ellyn
• May 16th- Miss Northern Suburbs Fashion Show
• May 14th- Ribbon Cutting Dogs n Scrubs
• May 13th- Glen Ellyn Fashion Show Committee Meeting
• May 12th- Chamber of Commerce BAH Dr. Murphy’s Clinic
• May 8th-Happiness is Pets Arlington Heights, IL Puppy Mill Protest
• May 7th- Ribbon Cutting A-Z Medical Billing Services
• May 6th- ALS Fundraiser
• May 1st- Dogs n Scrubs Grand Opening
• April 30th- Photo shoot at Tirage Studio “My Princess & Me”
• April 30th- Ribbon Cutting Wentworth Law Offices P.C.
• April 30th- Honey’s Restaurant
• April 30th- George Foundation for Excellence Fashion Show Fundraiser
• April 27th Featured on Webmii  As the chosen Magazine Editor
• April 25th- Vocal Coach Melisa Sugden
• April 23rd- Ribbon Cutting Glen Oaks Restaurant
• April 22nd- Photo shoot & Interview for Multi Media Package
• April 15th- Multi Media Package Meeting Tirage Studio & Optix Audio
• April 14th- Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce Breakfast
• April 13th- Tirage Studio Ribbon Cutting
• April 13th- Chamber of Commerce BAH Tirage Studio
• April 12th- Officially Miss Glen Ellyn International

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LINK LOVE:Live Out Loud Charity (LOLC) Sherrie Gearheart

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In the last month I…

*Published Tiara Magazine
*the following week I ended my summer semester of college with good grades
*the following week I celebrated my HUGE fashion show for the LOLC
*and today I am happy to say I made it through Fashion Week as the Director in Libertyville for Improv Playhouse with great praise.
*And in between all of this I made time for filming the Tiara Talk Show and making other special appearances as Miss Glen Ellyn as well as mentoring those in times of need. Below I will share highlights of each accomplishment.
But first some thanks…..
Now I am turning my efforts inward to get ready for the Miss Illinois Competition. Special thanks to Jojo Sayson, Dr Tom, Alan P, Ashley Hatfield, Jason Browning, Toni Hasset, Theresa Robles, and the many others who have been instrumental on my road to success. And always thank you to God for keeping me grounded and steady as I forge forward trying to make a difference. I have to say I have been extremely blessed and I am grateful for these blessings. Without God’s help I would not have been able to accomplish all that I have. And these accomplishments could not have been possible without the help of so many others who have and still believe in me and my mission. Thank you….

Now highlights

MENTORING
I receive at least 3-4 texts, fb messages, chat messages, emails, or phone calls every week from people who know someone that is depressed and want to know exactly what to do. I am grateful the message is getting out there and people are asking me for help. Theresa is a friend of mine who has her own salon. Therefore I mentor a lot of her clients on health and also suicide prevention. This isn't the first time Theresa has sent someone my way and I am thankful for the opportunities. Together we have had major success stories. This time I received a text from one of Theresa's clients that her little sister is cutting and she doesnt know what to do. I had her call me and used my QPR training as I do in all of these cases to mentor her and lead her in the right direction. She had no idea how to approach her sister or how to help her. The alarming truth is that most people don't know what to do when someone is depressed or cutting or even when there is a substance abuse. In this case her sister was 15 years old and she expressed in their Indian culture cutting just doesn't happen. I explained to her that cutting is a serious sign of depression and needs to be taken seriously. I explained some of the signs of depression and she started to recall things she hadn't before. For instance her sister has been wearing long sleeves even during the summer for the past year and she never shows her arms. She also recalls how her sister usually doesn't smile. And when she found the marks on her arm her sister mumbled things like its just I can't handle school and this won't happen again. The truth is that most people don't know the signs and symptoms of depression. With depression and substance abuse being the 2 causes of suicide we must know what to look for and I shared my training with her. I will be following up next week.

FASHION SHOW for LOLC
I worked tirelessly the past few months to make this event happen and we had over 350 attendees!!! Thank you to my team members that assisted me with this incredible show. Electrify Your Future 2010 Fashion Show was a success because of you! I was able to share the Live Out Loud Charity Seminar with the audience and the models looked FABULOUS walking down the runway. I was also booked for other speaking engagements due to this event. We had great reviews and everyone can't wait for the next one. The crowd oooood and ahhhhhhd for the little girls and boy we had in the show and for Kathy who is 70 years of age. In the Tiara Magazine fashion shows we have all ages, sizes, ethnicities, and heights walking the runway. We had two mandatory rehearsals and I shared the LOLC seminar with all of our staff and models so they are equipped with the knowledge to save lives. It turns out many of the models themselves suffer from low self esteem and even depression. It is the greatest feeling in the world to help these women become more confident and just happy. Kathy expressed that her dream of walking the runway finally came true. For many that night it was their dream come true as well. I love orchestrating these shows. I did this for Ryan. I miss him and this is the least I can do. We celebrate life at LOLC and I ask that you join us. http://www.liveoutloudcharity.org/
Here is the first half to our runway show…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEXoZGDJtWA

FASHION WEEK
Two day's later I traveld to Antioch, IL to stay closer to my week long job. I was hired as Director of Fashion Week in Libertyville, IL for Improv Playhouse. I was given free reign on what I wanted to teach to the girls. I used this opportunity to mentor the girls and we covered several things including self esteem, walking the runway, health, fitness, beauty, and more. We truly bonded. I had 8 students and their ages were 10-13. It was a fabulous age range and I really miss the girls. It's only been 1 day!!! All week we worked hard to make our Fashion Showcase a success. Front stage we created walks and speeches but the day of the show I worked back stage to help the girls stay calm and focused before they went on stage. It was so cute to watch them and I can't express how proud I was when every single girl performed her speech and runway walk perfectly. All of our hardwork paid off!! They all want to return next year and the owner of Improv Playhouse, David, has mentioned us doing this again perhaps every quarter. When I receive pics from our final showcase I will post them here. At the end we said a big thank you to Improv Playhouse and we had a hugging session on stage! lol it was so cute

FILMING TIARA TALK SHOW
The past few weeks I have been fortunate enough to film Mrs. International 2010, Miss International 2009, Teen International 2009, Miss International 2010, and Teen International 2010. I have a great relationship with Denise from their PR firm. This organization is classy and professional. I really enjoyed watching the Mrs. International finals. I couldn't watch the Miss & Teen finals due to the Electrify Your Future 2010 Fashion Show. I purposely had the originial date set to July 31st but I had to change the date to comply with the venue. It all worked out in the end The International system is a platform based pageant the really emphasizes hard work and integrity. The interviews will appear on http://www.tiaratalkshow.com/ I was fortunate to meet the brains behind the International system. The director is beautiful and she was in fact a Mrs International in the 90′s. I hope to make it to the International stage one day!

LINK LOVE:My life…..

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Image courtesy of elitedcmag.com

LINK LOVE:Mya Attends NFL Player Clinton Portis’ Annual Charity Weekend Event in Washington, D.C.

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After the now famous “mental breakdown” episode aired, Kelly used the attention from media and fans to promote anti-bullying and safe sex and HIV/AIDS prevention.  Whatever you think of the stunning brunette Glamazon, one thing is for sure, she has a heart of gold. Kelly opens up in the August issue of Harper's Bazaar about the series, her experience on “Scary Island” and her charity work.

In the photo taken by Danielle Levitt, Kelly wears an Emilio Pucci dress and Manolo Blahnik shoes and makes a statement with boxing gloves, to tell others who want to pick on her to back off.   The August issue of Harper's Bazaar is already on newstands but you can also check out Kelly's interview at www.harpersbazaar.com/kellybensimon for the full story.

On the alleged breakdown on Real Housewives of New York City: “I am not crazy. I am unpredictable,” Bensimon says. And in case you were wondering, “I’m not in therapy.”

On the other Real Housewives of New York City: “Whether it’s my nail color, my hair color, or the shoes I’m wearing, everything about me bothers them.” “They want to go to the parties I go to, they want to hang out with me, they want to do the things that I’m doing.”

On moving forward: “I’m 42, and I have this new life,” she says. “Yes, I’m more mass market. And that’s okay. It’s my job.…I’ve worked so hard. It wasn’t always lollipops and unicorns.” “I tell my girls, ‘Your mom gets paid to engage in inappropriate behavior.’ It’s an amazing opportunity for them to see that being mean is not okay. I tell them, ‘If you’re in a situation like this, walk out. Don’t come back with jelly beans.’”

Andy Cohen on Kelly Bensimon’s alleged breakdown: “I think it was deeply disturbing. It seemed like she had a break of some kind, but I can’t say exactly what it was.” “She was not forced to go to Saint John by Bravo or the producers,” he says. “That’s untrue.”

LINK LOVE:Kelly Bensimon in Harper’s Bazaar: “I am not crazy. I am unpredictable.”

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Last Thursday I attended a happy hour that truly struck a chord with my Texas country girl heart.  My friend Kathy has been inviting me to attend an info session for Emerging Professionals in Conservation (EPIC) for probably two years.  Every time I’ve tried to attend something came up last minute and I didn’t make it.  Now I pride myself on following through with people.  I don’t like to cancel or flake out on anyone, especially my friends, so I was horrified that after two years I still hadn’t attended one of EPIC’s events.

That ended last week.  Even though I had two other events that I needed to attend that evening, I made it a priority to be at EPIC’s annual membership drive happy hour.  EPIC is a division of the fabulous Austin non-profit Hill Country Conservancy, which according to their website:

Our strategic vision is to create Vast Open Spaces. This plan leverages the open space already acquired in the Hill Country and adds to it adjacent or nearby land so the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts.

Eventually, we hope to have an open space “network” of more than 50,000 acres that will preserve the clean water, wildlife, rural character and scenic vistas that are currently threatened.

So in lamense terms, HCC’s mission is to preserve Texas Hill Country land and protect it from development.  EPIC is HCC’s way of getting the young professionals (like  me) interested in their cause.  While I know this organization is not fashion or style related, their vision is something I see eye-to-eye with.  Plus, to be perfectly honest, giving your time and money to a worthy cause is something I consider incredibly stylish and classy.  So there!

Anyway, this happy hour was way on the eastside at Utility Research Garden.  Never heard of it?  Me neither!  I certainly have now.  This little oasis nestled amongst the adorable homes that are springing up left and right on the eastside was the perfect location for an event celebrating nature and land conservation.  I walked up and literally my jaw was dropped the entire time as I took in the trees and foliage that make up this beautiful garden.  The greenery surrounds you to the point where you almost forget that you’re in the middle of an urban development.

I walked up, made my nametag, and jumped right into the mass of people drinking and mingling on a beautiful (yet steamy) summer evening.  Considering that I’ve been all over the happy hour circuit as of late I decided to skip the wine and stick with water in my uber cool new Hill Country Conservancy cup (man I love cups like this…they’re unbreakable!).  I quickly found my friend Kathy and met a few nice peeps from EPIC.  Kathy was one of the individuals looking to sign up new members so she gave me the spiel and I was in…hook, line, and sinker!  I knew I would be, so I signed up in a heartbeat.

Central Market provided the food, with fresh produce from Utility Research Garden.  Republic Tequila was nice enough to come out and give tequila tastings (hell yes I partook!) and they had cool sounds filling the garden from local band So Long, Problems.

All in all, this happy hour seriously impressed me.  The setting was lovely and unique.  The food was delish!  They had excellent local vendors (hello tequila in a Texas-shaped bottle!).  And it was all to develop interest in a worthwhile cause.  Well done EPIC!

If you’d like to join me for future events, check out HCC’s website and become a member of Emerging Professionals in Conservancy.  Seriously, do it.

LINK LOVE:Haute Charity: EPIC

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Was it written into their contracts that they must go into fashion following their exit from the show!?

Kristin Cavallari is following in Lauren Conrad‘s shoes almost literally, because she’s picked up a gig designing a pair of shoes for Shoe Dazzle.

The former Hills actress announced her new job at the Salt premiere on Monday night:

“I’m designing a shoe for Shoe Dazzle right now, which is like a one time, one deal show which a portion of the proceeds will go to my charity ‘OneKid OneWorld’. I’m excited about that because I want to have my own shoe line so it’ll be like a good first shoe to get my feet wet with.”

At least it’s for a good cause!

Would U buy Kristin’s shoes???

Image via FayesVision/WENN.

LINK LOVE:Kristin Cavallari, Shoe Designer

Rachel Uchitel, shown here in her natural habitat.

We knew that Rachel Uchitel would not fade into the woodwork forever after taking the alleged millions of dollars from Tiger Woods in exchange for shutting her uber-collagen enhanced lips about their illicit sexual affair. The good news is, who needed her to tell us anything, my sources told me plenty. In particular, Tiger would demand sex AT LEAST three or four times a day, that she would have to drop what she was doing and run to his side…no questions asked. Clearly, the slogan “Tiger in his tank” has new meaning. Woodsy also preferred a different orifice each time, or else. That’s a lot of poontang…even for a hooker. She knew from the moment this tryst started that it would be her life-long meal ticket. Rachel also became so obsessed with her own notoriety and image in the media during that time, that she was impossible to be around. Ummm, I am sure she still is.

Rachel Uchitel has a real talent for handling snake-like objects.

Now Rachel is back in the media with a vengeance, signing on to do two reality shows. Who does she think she is…Bethenny Frankel? Anyhoo, La Skank is going to be on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew as well as The Celebrity Apprentice. The thing I take issue with is…SHE IN NOT A CELEBRITY. SHE IS A LOW-LIFE, EXTORTIONIST HOOKER! But, what do I know? According to the New York Post in regards to her upcoming appearance on Celebrity Rehab, “She will be treated for an addiction to pills, the network said without disclosing what type of pills”. Well, that’s a no-brainer. She is clearly addicted to birth control pills because she’s never been pregnant and has had more sex than perhaps anyone on Earth. As for The Celebrity Apprentice, I am not so sure that Donald Trump is going to include some kind of cheesy sex act into the show’s format in order to have her conceivably win one challenge. I mean…can she do anything else? Oh, right, she used to work the door at a tacky nightclub. Now that’s a real talent needed at the Trump Organization. And (B) what would her charity be, The Ashley Dupre Writing Camp, who takes wayward girls off to a farm to learn how to write a tell all?

LINK LOVE:Rachel Uchitel Is Back…With A Vengeance

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Rap star Nelly hosted a fashion show for his latest Apple Bottoms… Read more..

LINK LOVE:Nelly Debuts Apple Bottoms Fall Collection in Las Vegas

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Betty White is proving that anyone can be a Calendar pinup girl at any age. The 88-year-old “Golden Girl” actress is starring in her own 2011 calendar but it’s for a good cause, Honey Bees. According to Stylelist.com, the 2011 calendar benefits the Morris Animal Foundation, “which supports research on animal health and welfare,” with all the proceed from the sale going to the charity. While some photos show Betty posing with animals, she also took the time to pose with scantly-clad hunks as they cater to her by the pool. The $12.99 calendar will be out in September.

Image Source: Stylelist

LINK LOVE:Betty White Brings All The Boys To Her Calendar Shoot

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Everybody tries to make the best of this World Cup event. If I don’t expect the Vuitton case to show up anytime soon on a store near you, I do expect the new Mango tees flooding the streets. Especially in the concerned countries. Waka Waka This time for Africa are also the chorus lines of Shakira’s World Cup hymn. Pretty wild for my taste. What say you? (photos via)

Shakira Designed Collection For Mango

LINK LOVE:Shakira Designed Collection For Mango

Just a few blocks down the road, Dog Addiction, will be offering $20 off their grooming if you bring your pets in for a “Shave Down.” (So both owner and pet are helping in relief efforts)

WHEN:  Thursday, June 3rd, 5:00pm-8:00pm

WHERE:  Woodley & Bunny Salon and Apothecary
196 N. 10th Street (Williamsburg)

The limited edition Fashion’s Night Out charity tee was a huge seller for stores in NYC last year and this year, the tee has now been expanded to a limited edition capsule collection, available for purchase in August. Keep reading…

The FNO collection includes pima cotton short and long sleeve t-shirts, tanks, and unisex hoodies emblazoned with the FNO logo and an abstract cityscape print. Forty percent of the proceeds raised from the sales of these style-savvy shirts will go to the NYC AIDS fund.

Carelle is proud to partner with Sanctuary for Families, a non-profit organization that empowers victims of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and their children.  To aid their fundraising efforts, Carelle has created a special limited edition sterling silver 3/4″ diameter initial pendant. Available in every letter of the alphabet on a 16” sterling chain. Forty percent of the proceeds will be donated to Sanctuary for Families.  The sale is set to run for 1-month period on Carelle’s site.

This year marks Sanctuary’s 25th anniversary. In commemoration of this milestone year, Sanctuary is rededicating itself to envisioning a world where every woman and child lives with dignity.  Your donation will help a family in need find shelter, expert legal representation, skilled counseling, and economic empowerment. With your support, Sanctuary for Families will continue to provide the tools that transform lives.

Unfortunately, this sleek pink lipstick that was created by the Lady Herself won’t allow you to sing like her, but you’ll look really pretty.

Since it’s part of the MAC Viva Glam lipstick series, every cent of each purchase goes straight to the MAC AIDS Fund. That’s definitely worth $14, I’d say.

Versace is auctioning off an internship at their New York offices for CharityBuzz. The bidding is already up to $3,250.

LINK LOVE: NY Mag via FWD

All rape eyes aside, which is a pretty big aside when Adam Lambert is glaring at you through those layers of eye liner, this is so so cool. Adam helped raise $229,000 for public schools. Let’s just hope he doesn’t get this country educated enough to stop buying into the cash cow that is his American Idol fame.

LINK LOVE: Justjared.buzznet.com

Fashion Indie is on the search for ring girls. We’ve been working around the clock with All for Africa and their upcoming charity boxing event Knock Out Poverty. The event will surely be one of the biggest charity boxing events and will raise millions for charities across Africa.

If you’re a model looking to be a part of this event contact Busie Matsiko at busie@fashionindie.com for more details.

Renzo Rosso has been attending amfAR galas for more years than he will comfortably admit. The philanthropist recently hit in the Cinema Against AIDS benefit at the Cannes Film Festival, where it appears that seatmates Juliette Lewis and Petra Nemcova set the Diesel chief’s charitable fire up a notch or two.  On the spot, Renzo donated $150,000 to the construction of a hospital for the care of children suffering from AIDS in Malawi. No word on whether Madonna will be involved, but Lewis cheered in approval. She certainly looked the part in her frock from the Diesel Black Gold casual luxury collection launching this fall.

Source: Fashion Week Daily

Next up on the collaboration trail are indie girls Cory Kennedy, Jenny Han, and Lisa Kline (above) for Billabong. Personally, Cory could not sell me anything, but Lisa is a hottie, and putting her in a bikini for Billabong is a really great marketing ploy. The funny part is that this is all for charity. Billabong has jumped onto the charity bandwagon when they realized that the only people that pay attention to their brand are twelve year old girls that shop at Pacific Sun. Now two years in the making, Design for Humanity is going strong this year benefiting the Surfrider Foundation. The entire collection will be available June 4th on ebay. Check out the website for more info.