January/March 2015
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>January</strong>/<strong>March</strong> <strong>2015</strong><br />
Cover Contest<br />
Winner<br />
Jamie Vanessa<br />
Kevin Hamilton<br />
Southwest Soul Circuit<br />
Jan / <strong>March</strong><br />
TucsonModelMagazine.com<br />
Tucson’s BBQ Spot<br />
Chef Robert<br />
Ramos<br />
The Elite Glam Squad<br />
Sharon Kumle<br />
73
<strong>January</strong> / <strong>March</strong> <strong>2015</strong> Issue10<br />
Business<br />
10<br />
UP AND COMING MALE<br />
Entreprenuer<br />
Ryan Brimmer<br />
M A G A Z I N E<br />
COVER Contest Winner<br />
38<br />
Jamie Vanessa<br />
12<br />
EXECUTIVE CHEF<br />
Robert Ramos<br />
14<br />
UP AND COMING FEMALE<br />
ELITE GLAMOUR SQUAD<br />
Sharon Kumle<br />
18<br />
20<br />
Entreprenuer<br />
Jonathan Russell<br />
Featured BUSINESS<br />
FINE ART FRAMING<br />
Mo’s Gallery<br />
28<br />
32<br />
SPORTS & FITNESS<br />
FROM THE INSIDE OUT<br />
Phoebe Jenkins<br />
MODELS & PHOTOGRAPHERS<br />
COVER CONTEST RUNNER UP<br />
Tianna Camacho<br />
COMMUNITY/cHARITY<br />
BUILDING<br />
BEAUTIFUL<br />
CONFIDENCE<br />
Bellezza Models<br />
Top Model<br />
Contest <strong>2015</strong><br />
24<br />
34<br />
MIXED BEAUTIES<br />
Maria Fernanda<br />
Photographer<br />
40<br />
Roger DiFiore<br />
Tucson Model Magazine is a bimonthly publication. The subscription price per issue is $4.99. To advertise in Tucson Model Magazine, please call 520-220-0129. Printed in the<br />
USA all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the publisher is prohibited. From time to time we make our subscriber lists to companies who<br />
sell good and services by mail that would interest our readers. If you would rather not receive such mailings please send your full name and complete mailing address to Tucson<br />
Model Magazine 245 S Plumer Suite 31, Tucson AZ 85719.<br />
Like Tucson Model Magazine on Facebook<br />
www.facebook.com/tucsonmodelmagazine<br />
Follow Tucson Model Magazine on Twitter<br />
www.twitter.com/tucsonmodelmag
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT<br />
M A G A Z I N E<br />
<strong>January</strong> / <strong>March</strong> <strong>2015</strong> Issue 10<br />
42<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER<br />
Bill Kilby<br />
Musician / Entertainer<br />
56 Kevin Hamilton<br />
44<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER<br />
Fred Wille<br />
Singer Song Writer<br />
58 Julianna Bright<br />
ACTORS<br />
48 ACTOR<br />
Jonathon Booker<br />
60<br />
Musical Comedy<br />
Mik and Scott<br />
FASHION/BEAUTY<br />
HAIR STYLIST<br />
50 Nyaana Minjares<br />
64 Erin Photographer<br />
Durband<br />
52<br />
SPECIAL EFFECTS<br />
MAKE UP ARTIST<br />
Beth King<br />
66<br />
HIP HOP Artist<br />
Greg Sacks<br />
Rapper<br />
68 Stacc Styles<br />
Tucson Model Magazine is a bimonthly publication. The subscription price per issue is $4.99. To advertise in Tucson Model Magazine, please call 520-220-0129. Printed in the<br />
USA all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the publisher is prohibited. From time to time we make our subscriber lists to companies who<br />
sell good and services by mail that would interest our readers. If you would rather not receive such mailings please send your full name and complete mailing address to Tucson<br />
Model Magazine 245 S Plumer Suite 31, Tucson AZ 85719.<br />
Like Tucson Model Magazine on Facebook<br />
www.facebook.com/tucsonmodelmagazine<br />
Follow Tucson Model Magazine on Twitter<br />
www.twitter.com/tucsonmodelmag
M A G A Z I N E<br />
Rhonda Moretti<br />
Owner and<br />
Founder was<br />
originally born<br />
in Wisconsin,<br />
moved to<br />
Tucson in 2001.<br />
With a strong<br />
background<br />
in business and real estate<br />
management, she is proud to call<br />
Tucson her home. “I wanted to start<br />
a publication that would showcase<br />
the success of local hard working<br />
Tusconans.” Her vision is to bring<br />
all aspects of business in Tucson<br />
together as one while raising<br />
money for local charities and causes<br />
through the magazine bi-monthly<br />
launch parties.<br />
Our Founders<br />
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!<br />
www.Tucsonmodelmagazine.com<br />
Tucson Model Magazine celebrates the hallmarks of local everyday business. Our goal is to showcase the talented<br />
leaders, role models and entrepreneurship of our community in Fashion, Beauty, Business, Music, Nightlife, Arts<br />
and so much more. Our admiration of personal triumph, fascination with success, desire to be inspired, and<br />
universal optimism will ensure a strong publication. In an effort to move Tucson and bring all of our blossoming<br />
industries together as one, this magazine will feature Tucson’s best. The launch party for each issue will be a great<br />
source of networking and will always benefit a local Tucson Charity.<br />
Mission Statement<br />
Brad Phipps<br />
Originally<br />
from Rockford<br />
Illinois, Brad<br />
moved to<br />
Tucson in<br />
1973. With<br />
his specialty in<br />
videography<br />
and graphic design, he is a huge<br />
asset to Tucson Model Magazine.<br />
Known for his work and expertise<br />
with Access Tucson, his knowledge<br />
and capabilities are superior. “I<br />
feel honored to be a part of Tucson<br />
Model Magazine. I believe this<br />
magazine is a great way for us all to<br />
come together, share resources and<br />
highlight some really great people<br />
who inspire us everyday.”.”<br />
WWW.TUCSONMODELMAGAZINE.COM<br />
Tucson Model Magazine celebrates the hallmarks of local everyday business.<br />
Our goal is to showcase the talented leaders, role models and entrepreneurship<br />
of our community in Fashion, Beauty, Business, Music, Nightlife, Arts and so<br />
much more. Our admiration of personal triumph, fascination with success,<br />
desire to be inspired, and universal optimism will ensure a strong publication. In<br />
an effort to move Tucson and bring all of our blossoming industries together as<br />
one, this magazine will feature Tucson’s best. The launch party for each issue will<br />
be a great source of networking and will always benefit a local Tucson Charity.
M A G A Z I N E<br />
Meet our Team<br />
Michael Anderson / Writer / Editor: Fell in love with the power of reading and writing at a very early age. He’s spent his life studying<br />
history, particularly military history, and considers World War II one of the seminal events in human history. He has spent his life<br />
meeting as many veterans and learning as much about it as he could. He grew up on the San Francisco Peninsula, has a BA in History<br />
from San Francisco State University, and is a lifelong fan of the San Francisco Giants. He’s worked at publications in California and<br />
Arizona and is published locally and nationally.<br />
Therese Van Veghel Phipps / TMM Partner/Creative Assistant/Writer: Therese has always been passionate about expressing herself.<br />
She enjoys acting, writing, designing, and doing anything creative. Therese attended the Art Center of Tucson for interior design, has a<br />
keen eye and trend setting vision which adds a unique perspective to her work. Therese is also one of the owners of A Personal Reality<br />
Video Productions. She loves being in front of the camera and behind the scenes.<br />
Aura Vidal Otero/ Event Director: Born in Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico, Aura moved to Tucson at the age of 3. Was a member of the<br />
Mariachi Los Changuitos Feos and later Mariachi Tapatio. After many years in Banking she pursued Entrepreneurship in Residential<br />
Construction and Drafting Design, after the housing market crash she decided to change gears and use her artistic talents to coordinate<br />
and promote events from Tejano Music/Radio to Motorcycle Events. She is currently in the works of establishing Entrepreneurship<br />
downtown. She has two children, loves Karaoke and is a social media addict #happy #silly #DontMindifIDont #hashtag. @sabinaura<br />
David Clark / Photographer: Originally from a small town in Texas, David moved to Tucson in 1990, where he has worked as a<br />
caregiver for disabled children for many years. In 1998 he discovered a passion for photography which consumes most of his free time.<br />
It is not uncommon for David’s wife and son to loose him during family outings, as he frequently stops to photograph his surroundings.<br />
David loves everything about photography, down to the sound of the shutter and the pop of the lights. When he’s not shooting, David<br />
enjoys helping the rest of the TMM team in any way he can.<br />
Sandra Testa/Writer/Editor: Sandra taught at Chaparall College for seven years and was an administration assistant at University<br />
Medical Center for ten years. She is very detail oriented and possesses a strong background in editing, publishing and writing. She is a<br />
huge asset and Tucson Model Magazine is extremely lucky to have her as part of our team.<br />
Phoebe Jenkins/ Fitness Writer: An East Coast native who now calls Tucson home. She spends her time Health Coaching, teaching<br />
IntenSati, yoga and belly dance, working as a Licensed Massage Therapist at the 6 th Avenue Wellness Center and helping run Spiritual<br />
Gangsta Yoga (yoga classes with a live house DJ). To share a smile or connect with Phoebe, go to www.PhoebeJenkins.com or email<br />
Phoebe@Phoebejenkins.com.<br />
Cyrena Bagenstos/ Graphic Design (Intern): Cyrena is a feisty 21-year-old student, enrolled at Pima Community College, where she<br />
majors in Digital Arts, with minor concentrations in Multimedia and Web Design. She plans to transfer to SUVA to get her bachelor’s<br />
degree in Marketing. She is a Tucson native. She is the middle child of three girls; including her twin sister. She loves to read anything<br />
from Jane Austen to Cassandra Clare. She watches movies from the 1940s to modern films. She spends her free time playing with her<br />
four dogs and three tortoises. She is obsessed with anything British, from the television shows to the men. Her life’s dream is to live in<br />
England one day.
Ryan Brimmer<br />
Written by Michael Anderson<br />
Ryan Brimmer’s journey<br />
began in the high plains<br />
and rolling hills of<br />
Wyoming. He was born<br />
in Gillette, a small town<br />
in the northeastern part<br />
of the state. He always<br />
felt that he was destined<br />
for bigger and brighter<br />
things, and when 9/11<br />
occurred he knew what<br />
he had to do.<br />
Photo by David Clark<br />
10
He had always been into technology and computers and he<br />
figured that he could both serve his nation and further his<br />
technological education by joining the United States Air Force.<br />
“I wanted to be involved in something greater than myself. I<br />
wanted to get out of my small hometown, and I knew I was<br />
destined for greater things. 9/11 was a huge factor in my decision<br />
to join the Air Force.”<br />
In 2003, he was deployed to Italy, where he worked in medical<br />
supply and distribution directly supporting Operation Iraqi<br />
Freedom.<br />
He also had the opportunity to visit the southwest African nation<br />
of Angola to provide humanitarian assistance and training to the<br />
local villagers. It was his favorite place that he has visited, and<br />
his experience there was the most rewarding part of his military<br />
service.<br />
“The people there were completely in need of health care and it<br />
was very rewarding to be a part of that. The people we provided<br />
care to were so grateful and the whole thing was just extremely<br />
humbling.”<br />
In 2005 he returned from overseas and was stationed at Davis-<br />
Monthan Air Force Base. During his time there he met his futurewife<br />
Adriana and her nine-month-old son. After a six month<br />
courtship the couple married in June,2006.<br />
During the remainder of his Air Force career Brimmer was<br />
deployed to Balad, Iraq and also completed his studies. He earned<br />
an undergraduate degree and in 2011 he received his Masters in<br />
Healthcare Information Systems Management from the Keller<br />
Graduate School of Management.<br />
of Phoenix weren’t enough to make him want to quit, the small<br />
amount of money he made sure did. He is however grateful<br />
for the lessons the job taught him about sales and marketing<br />
techniques.<br />
He decided to pursue another career and in October of 2011, was<br />
hired as a QNXT technical consultant by TriZetto, a company that<br />
provides a state of the art claims payment system to major health<br />
insurance companies. QNXT is the system that TriZetto provides.<br />
He quickly rose to become the lead consultant, learning much<br />
about leadership along the way. He has been overseeing projects<br />
worth more than a million dollars, and credits the environment at<br />
TriZetto with helping him develop as a businessman.<br />
In February, 2013 he was activated into the USAF Reserves and<br />
retrained as a Systems Administrator. He continues to serve two<br />
weeks a year maintaining computer systems for over 300 users.<br />
In his spare time, of which he has precious little, he enjoys<br />
hanging out with his wife, and watching his kids play sports. He<br />
also plays golf and slow pitch softball. The remainder of his free<br />
time is spent working on expanding his business with Seacret<br />
Direct.<br />
While he is currently enjoying his success, he intends to<br />
keep building his marketing and sales team, both in the US<br />
and internationally, with the goal of being one of the top five<br />
producing sales agents for the company. Brimmer hopes to use<br />
the income this will generate to continue to branch out into<br />
other entrepreneurial endeavors. The future looks bright for<br />
Ryan Brimmer, largely due to his hard work and determination.<br />
Perhaps this is the beginning of an empire.<br />
During that time he and his wife also added to their family,<br />
having a boy in 2007.<br />
In <strong>March</strong> of 2011, Ryan and Adriana partnered with Seacret<br />
Direct, a skincare company whose products are infused with<br />
minerals from the Dead Sea in Israel. With this partnership he<br />
began building his sales and marketing team in Tucson and now<br />
has a thriving and highly productive organization that he oversees<br />
and manages throughout the United States and Mexico.<br />
In 2011, Ryan closed an important chapter of his life, deciding to<br />
separate from the active duty Air Force. This was a very difficult<br />
and somewhat risky decision, but given his education, business<br />
knowledge, and growing success in network marketing he figured<br />
he was destined for greater things, so he rolled the dice.<br />
At first it seemed like maybe he had made a mistake.<br />
He began with a short career in door-to-door sales, never an easy<br />
job. He was working for a roofing company selling new roofs after<br />
a storm had caused wide-spread damage in Phoenix.<br />
That was really not an easy job.<br />
“Being on the Phoenix roofs in the middle of the summer with<br />
the sun beaming off of the asphalt shingles…Everything is just a<br />
blur,” Brimmer said. If the scorching experiences on the rooftops<br />
11
Executive Chef<br />
Robert Ramos<br />
“Always give your<br />
clients and your<br />
community your best<br />
and the best will come<br />
to you!”<br />
12
Local Executive Chef Robert Ramos has had a<br />
love affair with cooking since he was a young<br />
child. Watching his relatives cooking from scratch<br />
and enjoying family get-togethers was all the<br />
encouragement he needed to pursue his ambition of<br />
following in their footsteps.<br />
“My grandmother was an awesome cook! She always<br />
took pride in preparing every meal,” he boasts.<br />
Chef Ramos had successfully opened and cooked for<br />
many restaurants and resorts before he opened his<br />
own restaurant and catering business, R & R Catering<br />
Company, in July of <strong>2015</strong>. With his continued<br />
success and growth he began to add more menus and<br />
eventually changed his company’s name to R & R<br />
Family Kitchen in <strong>March</strong>, 2012.<br />
He believes in preparing healthy, fresh and nutritious<br />
meals. He really enjoys working with his extremely<br />
diverse clientele including the United States Forest<br />
Service, the Department of Education National<br />
School Lunch Program, various state groups, foster<br />
homes and several Fortune 500 companies. He is the<br />
official caterer for the Tucson Rodeo, and served in<br />
that capacity for the 2008 NFL Super Bowl Tailgate<br />
Party in Glendale, Arizona.<br />
Chef Ramos caters any special events and works<br />
with every budget. He believes that the key to his<br />
continued success has been “paying attention to<br />
details.”<br />
“Every guest and client, no matter how old or how<br />
much they’re paying, we cook for with the same love,<br />
pride and consistency. Always give your clients and<br />
your community your best and the best will come to<br />
you!”<br />
Chef Robert Ramos can be contacted at<br />
wwwrrbbqtucson.com or by calling (520) 258-9994.<br />
13
“Jonathan Russell IS a<br />
rock star, but he is so<br />
much more than that. The<br />
man is a class-five artistic<br />
hurricane full of talent<br />
and potential.”<br />
Photos by David Clark<br />
14<br />
Written by Michael Anderson<br />
The first time I saw Jonathan Russell I knew he must be a rock<br />
star. It seemed obvious. I was at Mr. Head’s to see Stands With<br />
Fists, a heavy metal band that I’d heard good things about. I saw<br />
this tall guy who stood out from the crowd. He had wild hair,<br />
funky jewelry, and a flamboyantly awesome faux-fur jacket. I kept<br />
seeing him around the bar and he definitely had a charismatic<br />
aura about him. I was not the least bit surprised when Stands<br />
With Fists took the stage and he was their front man.<br />
Jonathan Russell IS a rock star, but he is so much more than<br />
that. The man is a class-five artistic hurricane full of talent and<br />
potential.<br />
He is a singer and the spiritual guide for Stands With Fists, a<br />
pioneering glass artist and a host of his own musical variety show.<br />
He is constantly working, and is a hard man to keep up with. He<br />
hasfun too, but he is very driven. “Relaxing is something that’s not<br />
going to happen” he said with asmile.<br />
Jon seems to belong in Tucson with its eclectic mix of cultural<br />
and artistic influences. He is a graduate of Tucson High School<br />
and is very grateful for his experiences there. They offered him<br />
opportunities to experiment in a broad artistic spectrum, from<br />
music to sculpture to television production. He had teachers that<br />
inspired him and helped him find his voice as an artist. Russell<br />
learned his lessons well, and continues to use and develop the<br />
skills he learned at Tucson in all of his endeavors.<br />
While he was well schooled and certainly has worked hard, he<br />
was blessed with enormous natural ability and a fiercely creative<br />
spirit. “I must have been born to work in these mediums, because<br />
they come so naturally to me” he said. He was not bragging, he is<br />
actually a humble guy, but he is extremely confident in his abilities<br />
and they are undeniable.<br />
Visually, he has drawn inspiration from the likes of H.R. Giger.<br />
I suspect he also gained some of his interest in extra-terrestrials<br />
from Giger as well. Aliens are a recurring theme in Russell’s<br />
artwork, and he was one tattooed on his arm.<br />
His artistic career began after high school when he started<br />
learning to blow glass. He turned himself into quite an artist<br />
during his eleven and a half years working for someone else.<br />
He grew tired of making money for others while gaining little<br />
recognition himself, so in 2013 he formed his own company, JRE<br />
LLC.
He does what he describes as “scientific glass art” and he has<br />
taken a leading role in incorporating glass into fashion. His line<br />
of accessories is named Sio2, after the formula for silicon dioxide.<br />
He makes jewelry, buckles,decorative plates for shoes and other<br />
accessories. Over the last yearhe has been attaching custom glass<br />
plates to special Sio2 hats for clients and members of his “crew”<br />
giving them a wearable, unique piece of art reflective of their<br />
personality. They are quite cool and can be seen in the crowd at<br />
local shows.<br />
He has taught classes at the Sonoran Glass School, and is a regular<br />
competitor in their annual “Flame Off ”competition. He is a twotime<br />
champion, and this year was pleased to take second place<br />
with his “Zombie Voodoo Doll” entry.<br />
His clients include many Tucson businesses and major music<br />
groups such as Sepultura, and Fear Factory. If you are interested<br />
in having some work done, contact him at Facebook.com/<br />
jonathan.russell.<br />
While he obviously has a passion for creating art with his hands,<br />
it’s onstage where he seems to be happiest.<br />
He was the founding vocalist of Stands With Fists, a band that<br />
plays what he described as “cinematic metal”. They have played all<br />
over Tucson and have developed a large following. Last year they<br />
appeared at Knotfest in San Bernardino, California, and recently<br />
performed in Mesa on their way back to the coast on a brief tour.<br />
They recently released their second full-length album, “Cinematic<br />
Mind” which was very well received on Amazon.com and will be<br />
available in physical format soon. Check them out at Facebook.<br />
com/standswithfists.<br />
Musically some of Jon’s main influences are Jim Morrison and<br />
Kurt Cobain. He definitely has some of their soulfulness, but he<br />
brings an energy and athleticism to his performances that they<br />
didn’t. He is adynamic stage presence, sharing singing duties with<br />
Marcus Davis, who joined the band last year. He uses his signature<br />
twin-microphone technique to achieve an array of sounds and<br />
effects, and he and Davis work very well together, trading verses<br />
or joining in powerful harmonies.<br />
Russell gives his all onstage every time, pouring his heart and<br />
soul into each song. At the recent<br />
“Battle for KFMA Day” at<br />
The Rock, Stands With Fists<br />
took it up another notch. Towards the end of their electrifying set,<br />
both Davis and Russell leapt offstage and “surfed” the enthusiastic<br />
crowd. The sense of joy in the building was palpable. I followed<br />
his spiked-mohawk as he hugged and thanked his way through<br />
the crowd after the show and he reminded me of a Sioux warrior<br />
returning from a “Vision quest.” He was spent, physically and<br />
emotionally. He was in such a state of euphoria that it was<br />
contagious, and I can not imagine anyone there failed to be caught<br />
up in the intense feeling of release that Stands With Fists provided<br />
that night.<br />
Stands With Fists is not Jon’s’ only musical undertaking. He<br />
works with IPO Radio and has a local cable television show called<br />
“Music and Mayhem with Jon Russell and Mischief Madness.”<br />
Russell says “It’s my rendition of a new school version of what<br />
MTV should have been.”<br />
They show videos, conduct interviews with musicians and engage<br />
in shenanigans. They are currently in their fourth seasonand can<br />
be seen at 11 pm Friday (replay at 12am Tuesday) on Comcast 74<br />
and Cox 20.<br />
Jon is a fascinating artist with interesting tastes, including his<br />
predilection for faux-fur jackets, his fondness for skateboarding<br />
and his choice in pets. He has an adorable Chihuahua named<br />
Lady Chupacabra, whom he describes as the “World champion of<br />
snuggling.” Despite his out-sized personality he is a soft-spoken<br />
guy who can almost come across as shy, but he is friendly and<br />
engaging. He is very much an enigma, and he is doing a wide<br />
variety of work that Tucson can be proud of.<br />
Jon has travelled a long personal road and overcome many<br />
obstacles and much heartbreak to get to where he is now, but<br />
he believes that those difficulties have helped give him new<br />
perspective and mature as an artist and person. He thrives on<br />
positivity and wants “Everyone to love everyone.”This thought<br />
might ring hollow coming from some people, especially rock<br />
stars, but not from Russell. He has a genuineness about him that is<br />
very disarming and welcoming, and you can tell that he means it.<br />
Jonathan Russell has certainly achieved some success in multiple<br />
aspects of his life, but he thinks this is just the beginning. He has<br />
wild dreams and big ideas, and he does not plan on stopping until<br />
they reach fruition.<br />
15
2644 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, Arizona<br />
(520) 325-9936<br />
Toll Free: 888-325-9936<br />
Whether you’re going to a wedding,<br />
job interview, or special event,<br />
TUXEDOS ON BROADWAY is<br />
the place to find a complete line of<br />
in-stock suits and tuxedos for rent or<br />
sale. Our huge selection of in-stock<br />
tuxedos and accessories were created<br />
by some of the biggest designers in<br />
the industry—Andrew Fezza, Perry<br />
Ellis, Joseph Abboud Black Tie,<br />
Ralph Lauren, Jean Yves Formalwear,<br />
Calvin Klein, and Chaps.<br />
www.tuxedosonbroadwayaz.com<br />
Extensive Size Selections—Boys & Men<br />
We carry Suits and Tuxedos from a Boys 2 to 74L and shirts from BXS to 7XL—No Extra Charge.<br />
16
Sharon<br />
Kumle<br />
Elite Glamour Squad<br />
Photo by<br />
David Clark<br />
Written by Matrix Media Group<br />
18<br />
By all counts and measures, Sharon Kumle is an unequivocal<br />
business success. The picture of the young female entrepreneur,<br />
she’s the CEO and owner of Elite Glamour Squad, a Tucson-based<br />
beauty, hair, and fashion services company. Kumle, a South Pacific<br />
Islander-American born in the Philippines, came from humble<br />
beginnings.Her step-father is a retired United States Marine<br />
Corpsveteran, her mother is also from the Philippines, and she<br />
has a teen brother as well.<br />
Sharon did not grow up with beauty all around her and never<br />
really knew the meaning of true beauty until later, much later in<br />
life.<br />
We tell a story of darkness, of both mental and physical abuse,<br />
but Sharon insist that you never feel sorrow for her, only elation.<br />
Despite these horrific stories, she arose from the mundane to<br />
the glamourous life she now enjoys through her company Elite<br />
Glamour Squad. A driven and passionate entrepreneur with a<br />
love ofmakeup artistry, fashion, and beauty is at your service:<br />
MUAHs/Photographers/Fashion Stylists of Elite Glamour Squad<br />
–Glamour/Pinup Home Parties, Princess Parties, Weddings,<br />
Quincieneras, Proms, Special Occasions, Boudoir Photo Shoots,<br />
Fundraisers, you name it. That is exactly where Sharon Kumle<br />
wants to be.<br />
As a 5th grader she dressed up like every little girl does. It was her<br />
first pathway to glamour and she absolutely loved it. However,<br />
unlike other little girls Sharon didn’t have anyone to compliment<br />
her and tell her how pretty she was, which led to her having a<br />
feeling of non-acceptance.<br />
“Despite living what some might think is the ‘entrepreneurial<br />
dream’, I have suffered from very bad depression throughout all of<br />
my success and failures. We aren’t meant to be a success and suffer<br />
from depression. Just like many others, I had lots of probably<br />
outdated misconceptions about depression and thought it would<br />
never affect someone like me. Yet I was running a business when I<br />
first discovered I was suffering from it.”<br />
Sharon’s success depends upon her own resilience stemming from<br />
her inner-strength. She has the support of her husband of ten<br />
years, her dad, grandparents, extended family, and close friends. It<br />
has been her support system that has showed her what beauty was<br />
and it was her husband who showed her the love and support she<br />
needed in order to work past what she had considered for many<br />
years “faults”, realizing that they were actually stepping stones to<br />
what is now her future in business.<br />
Sharon, a United States Navy veteran herself balances her business<br />
while being a wife and mother of four. Her children are Kayla,<br />
17, Austin,16, Travis, 14, and three-year-old Zack. This is no easy<br />
task, but it makes her message even louder.<br />
“As women, we can do it all.”<br />
Here at the Elite Glamour Squad we want every woman of every<br />
age, of every ethnicity, of every walk of life to know that they are<br />
beautiful inside and out, and amazing in every possible way. It is<br />
important to us. Understand that we don’t sell makeup, what we<br />
do is create a lifetime experience, we build self-esteem, we groom<br />
young minds for greatness, we encourage excellence and most<br />
importantly teach that superficial beauty is insignificant and true<br />
beauty is character which exudes from within.<br />
Philanthropy: The Elite Glamour Squad continues to give back to<br />
the communitywhich they are a part of. Sharon Kumle’s passion<br />
for protecting and championing abused children, adults with<br />
mental illness and women who are victims of domestic violence
-Sharon Kumleis<br />
what drives her in her quest.Here are some of their more recent<br />
contributions:<br />
December 7, 2014- I Am You360 Fundraiser,“Old Hollywood<br />
Glamour”, Tucson, Arizona.<br />
December 22, 2014- Lend a Helping Hand: Families In Need at<br />
Christmas,sponsored a family in Tucson.<br />
<strong>January</strong> 31, <strong>2015</strong>- Miss Cochise County Scholarship Foundation<br />
Fundraiser and Glamour Contest – sponsored 2 future pageant<br />
contestants in Cochise County. Sierra Vista, Arizona.<br />
February 28, <strong>2015</strong>- PINK Fundraiser for<br />
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, southern<br />
Arizona affiliate, Tucson.<br />
Meet The Squad:<br />
Sharon Kumle: Principal/Owner/Makeup<br />
Artist/Fashion Stylist<br />
Carmen Bussey: Photographer since 2011,<br />
from Sierra Vista.<br />
Brittany Marie Schultz- Photographer,<br />
from Sierra Vista.<br />
MUAHs:<br />
RhaineThuma – MUAH for over 15 years,<br />
cosmetologist for over 22 years.<br />
Titia Lewis – MUAH for over 15 years,<br />
Faces by Faye.<br />
Kristopher Osuna – MUAH<br />
forover12years, graduate of Vidal Sassoon<br />
and has had work published 12 times.<br />
Maria Fernanda Machado – MUAH forover 5<br />
years, owner of Mixed Beauties.<br />
Samantha Gochanour – MUAH for over 5<br />
years, fashion stylist.<br />
Squad Highlights:<br />
Hair/Makeup – “Angels of Christmas” Fashion<br />
Show, December 2014 at Fox Theatre, Tucson.<br />
Hair/Makeup – Bollywood movie star<br />
and producer KalpanaPandit for Maya<br />
Palace Spring and Summer <strong>2015</strong> fashion<br />
commercials, Tucson.<br />
Hair/Makeup/Wardrobe Styling – Bollywood<br />
movie star and producer KalpanaPandit for<br />
the M.E.L. Show at Access Tucson, February<br />
<strong>2015</strong>.<br />
Makeup/Hair - Bellezza TOP MODEL <strong>2015</strong><br />
Competition, <strong>March</strong> – May, <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
Makeup/Hair – Women In Business<br />
Conference Fashion Show at theDoubleTree<br />
by Hilton, Reid Park, Tucson. <strong>March</strong> <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
Coquette Boudoir by Elite Glamour Squad –<br />
debut February <strong>2015</strong><br />
Sharon Kumle did not start in makeup artistry, but has always<br />
had a flair for the dramatic and started as a consultant, working<br />
for Mary Kay Cosmetics, Younique Cosmetics, and a few other<br />
direct-sell retailers. For information about The Elite Glamour<br />
Squad, log on to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elite-<br />
Glamour-Squad/1549905445244691 or call (520) 678-0887.<br />
Lexi Dellafosse – MUAH for over<br />
fouryears, and two years photography<br />
experience.<br />
“I want to be able to<br />
create an excitement<br />
amongst women of all<br />
ethnicities. I want<br />
them to feel beautiful<br />
both inside and out”<br />
19
Mo’s<br />
Gallery &<br />
Fine Framing<br />
Photo by David Clark<br />
Written by Therese Van Veghel Phipps<br />
“Good framing can make a world of difference to a piece of art.<br />
Just like a stunning mirror can change the feel of a room or make<br />
the bathroom pop.”- Corinne Gaul<br />
Mo’s Gallery & Fine Framing is an elegant custom art, mirror and<br />
framing store adjoined to Copenhagen and nestled on the south<br />
west corner of Ft. Lowell and Dodge in Tucson, Arizona. It offers<br />
a wide variety of services including art and mirror hanging for<br />
residential and businesses, picture and mirror hanging tutorials,<br />
placement and display consultation, art transportation, delivery<br />
and more.<br />
Mo’s Gallery, also known as Mo’s is a family owned business and I<br />
would like to introduce you to the owners, Mo and his daughter,<br />
Corinne Gaul.<br />
Their beginning: Mo was born in sunny California ,although he<br />
moved to Tucson with his family when he was nine years old. He<br />
graduated from Catalina High School in 1973 and decided to skip<br />
college. Mo has always had a passion for art and photography and<br />
in1981 he began his career working as a picture framer at the Ben<br />
Franklin’s store. He fell in love with and married his charming<br />
wife Carolyn in 1983, and in 1985, she gave birth to their daughter<br />
Corinne. In that same year, he proudly opened the doors to his<br />
own framing company:Mo’s Gallery & Fine Framing.<br />
According to his daughter and now business partner, Corrine,<br />
“Mo loves photography.” (Yes, she calls him Mo.)“He especially<br />
enjoys being out in nature and takes the opportunity to shoot<br />
whenever he can and got into the picture framing business by<br />
framing his own photographs. He has a real talent for that too.”<br />
Corrine would also describe him as “tinkerer” or an inventor. She<br />
says with admiration, “His mind works best when faced with a<br />
new challenge. It could be an unusual framing or display request<br />
from a client or coming up with the most efficient way to lay out<br />
his workroom. Mo’s mind is always thinking forward about how<br />
to improve.”<br />
Corrine and her father share a passion for the arts. She says, “We<br />
have similar interests where that passion involves the business<br />
but our own unique artistic interests as well. Art is our job, so<br />
it is a good thing that we enjoy it. However, our eye for art and<br />
beauty goes beyond appreciating the vision and the talent it<br />
takes for artists to capture something on paper, canvas or film.<br />
We find interest and beauty in even the ordinary, sentimental<br />
things. Our job as picture framers is to enhance that which brings<br />
visual pleasure to others, whether it is a simple memory or a<br />
masterwork.”<br />
Corinne was literally born into the business. She grew up playing<br />
in its rooms, looking into its mirrors, absorbing the ins and outs<br />
of the business and getting lost in the artwork that hangs on<br />
the walls. While she was in junior high, she worked there in the<br />
summer for extra money, later on in her high school years at<br />
Salpointe, she worked at Mo’s on Saturdays and then continued<br />
working there while pursuing a nutrition degree at the University<br />
of Arizona. After five years of part-time college and working at<br />
Mo’s whenever she could, she says, “I was unmotivated by my<br />
major. Instead, I realized that the family business was my passion<br />
after all and I embraced it.” Corinne has now been working in the<br />
business full time for over ten years, enjoying every moment, and<br />
20
says, “I am so proud of the tradition my father built that I now<br />
have the honor to now share in and carry on into the future.”<br />
When asked about herself and her hobbies she replied “My<br />
personal artistic bent manifests in what I would call craftiness. I<br />
am a very tactile person and enjoy making things with my hands.<br />
Handmade cards, journals, books, anything that involves paper,<br />
leather and odd bits of fabric or ribbon, that is my medium. I also<br />
love reading and dancing, ballroom in particular.” She also claims<br />
to be a bit of a perfectionist and says, “I am passionate about a<br />
job well done and giving the best I can. Art is so personal to<br />
each individual and I want everyone to feel that his or her art or<br />
sentimental memories are being cared for.”<br />
Their family business bases itself off their love for art, each other,<br />
and God. Being a business owner takes courage and optimism;<br />
sometimes the uncertainty can be scary. Corrine says with all<br />
honesty, “There have been many times that we have been in<br />
anguish wondering if we will make it, and how will the bills get<br />
paid? However, because of our faith in God, there has always<br />
been enough. I believe it has been this dedication to do the best<br />
we can and being faithful to that even in uncertainty that has seen<br />
us through hard times and will see us through them in the future.”<br />
“We have similar interests<br />
where that passion<br />
involves the business but<br />
our own unique artistic<br />
interests as well.”<br />
Did I mention that this year marks their 30th anniversary of being<br />
in business?<br />
All of us at Tucson Model Magazine would like to congratulate<br />
them on their huge accomplishment and thank them for all that<br />
they have done for us!<br />
“Good framing can make a<br />
world of difference to a piece<br />
of art. Just like a stunning<br />
mirror can change the feel<br />
of a room or make the<br />
bathroom pop.”<br />
- Corinne Gaul -<br />
21
Who will be Bellezza’s Top Model <strong>2015</strong>?<br />
Written by Bellezza Models Inc.<br />
The lights are set, cameras are rolling and hair and<br />
makeup is on point this year for the Bellezza Models<br />
Top Model <strong>2015</strong> competition. The 22 contestants,<br />
ranging in age from 5-21, are ready to rock Tucson in<br />
preparation for this year’s competition that will run<br />
from February 28 th all the way to the Finale on May 3 rd .<br />
This year’s contest consists of five weeks of photoshoots<br />
with five photographers in five different locations that<br />
showcase the most talented photographers, hair stylists<br />
and makeup artists in Southern Arizona.<br />
24<br />
Throughout the competition videographer Brad<br />
Phipps of APR Video Production and David Clark<br />
Photography will be watching the girls’ every move.<br />
The Bellezza Top Model Competition judging is based<br />
upon performance, preparation, attitude, and overall<br />
photographs. Bellezza’s current Top Models Ashley<br />
Murariu, Cassie Wilkinson, and Chanel Stansberry<br />
will be crowning the new winners for <strong>2015</strong> at the Finale<br />
where the contestants will also be collecting donations<br />
for Goodwill.<br />
Bellezza Models celebrates its fifth year in business<br />
building confidence in Tucson’s youth and young adults<br />
by offering affordable modeling and acting classes.<br />
Bellezza Models’ monthly sessions strive to not only<br />
Photo by Neil Peters
uild confidence within each individual but also<br />
to foster character development which will lead to<br />
strong future endeavors for each of the students.<br />
Owner of Bellezza Models, Rhonda Moretti states<br />
“Our mission at Bellezza Models and in this yearly<br />
competition is to build beautiful confidence within Tucson’s<br />
youth and young adults. It is so much more than just modeling<br />
and acting, it is about developing future leaders in our<br />
community by teaching them about the beauty within each of<br />
them. You do not have to be a ‘model’ to look and act like one.”<br />
With the help of co-owner Lou Pimber, this power team<br />
also strengthens the kids’ personal development and public<br />
speaking skills. With a strong acting background and<br />
experience in law enforcement, Lou has been the perfect<br />
mentor and instructor for the kids and young adults at<br />
Bellezza. Some of his film acting credits include AMC’s<br />
award-winning “Breaking Bad”, Fox’s “Gang Related”, and he<br />
is currently filming a mini-series for the EWTN Network in<br />
which he plays “Chief Iowerano.”<br />
“We teach kids to become the main characters in the story of<br />
their lives” boasts Pimber. A special “Thank you” to all of our<br />
amazing assistants who are performing a variety of tasks this<br />
year for the Top Model Competition: Aura Vidal Otero, Maria<br />
Fernanda, and Therese Phipps.<br />
The Bellezza Top Model Finale will be held at the Scottish Rite<br />
Cathedral on May 3, at 5pm and is open to the public.<br />
Bellezza Model TOP MODEL <strong>2015</strong> Line Up<br />
Week One: Photographers Joe Ramirez/Bill Kilby<br />
Week Two: Photographer Neil Peters/ Hair by Kristopher<br />
Osuna/Makeup by The Glam Squad<br />
Week Three: Photographer Ashley VerHalen/Hair by The Glam<br />
Squad/Makeup by Ashley Verhalen<br />
Week Four: Photographer Domini Guintoni/ Hair by The Glam<br />
Squad<br />
Five: Photographer Erin Durband/Hair by The Glam Squad/<br />
Makeup by Nayaana Sarahy Minjares<br />
Photos by David Clark<br />
25
love your look at optique.<br />
Downtown<br />
25 E. Congress<br />
(520) 624-7658<br />
Lesco Optical<br />
North<br />
6028 N. Oracle Rd<br />
(520) 544-0766<br />
lescooptique.com<br />
Lesco Optical<br />
Central<br />
4444 E. Grant Rd<br />
(520) 323-1538<br />
South<br />
502 W. Ajo Way<br />
(520) 434-2020<br />
Lesco Optical<br />
East<br />
105 S. Houghton Rd<br />
(520) 751-2067<br />
now<br />
available<br />
27
Spring Cleaning From the Inside Out<br />
Written by Phoebe Jenkins<br />
You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your<br />
arms too full to embrace the present. -Jan Glidewell -<br />
Spring is here! It’s time to get rid of what we no longer need and<br />
make way for the new. Below are five simple poses to help you<br />
cleanse your body from the inside out and become more vibrant<br />
than ever.<br />
People like “stuff ”. We tend to hold onto<br />
it year after year. We save and stock up<br />
on things that we do not know what to<br />
do with anymore. Maybe we keep things<br />
because they hold precious memories<br />
of days gone by, they remind us of our<br />
loved ones or we just think they might<br />
be useful someday. Sound familiar? To<br />
part with these precious possessions<br />
seems out of the question. However,<br />
there is a saying that goes, “You have to<br />
get rid of the old to make way for the<br />
new.” If you are feeling stuck or stagnant<br />
in your life, try spring-cleaning from the<br />
inside out. Say goodbye to your past and<br />
welcome the new energy of your happy, healthy future.<br />
any number of ways”.<br />
You can clutch the past so<br />
tightly to your chest that<br />
it leaves your arms too full<br />
to embrace the present.<br />
-Jan Glidewell<br />
Have you ever worked out or experienced a physical activity that<br />
brought up an emotion or memory for you? Think of all these<br />
emotions literally lodged in the body. Just like old shirts in your<br />
closet that no longer fit, it’s important to spring clean these out.<br />
Exercising is an effective way to spring clean your body.<br />
As well as releasing endorphins in the<br />
brain, physical activity helps to relax<br />
insides some shine and polish as well.<br />
the muscles and relieve tension. It can<br />
also bring improved immune function<br />
and better digestion. Since the body<br />
and mind are so closely linked, when<br />
your body feels way better, your mind<br />
will too. Throwing away old stressors,<br />
stored emotions, and negative thoughts<br />
that no longer serve you will allow<br />
you to open your heart, make way for<br />
the new, and feel better than ever. We<br />
spend so much time perfecting our<br />
outside, our clothes, hair, car, home,<br />
that now is the time to start giving our<br />
I like to remind people that we actually have two “Houses” that<br />
need spring-cleaned: our physical homes and our physical bodies.<br />
Just as we accumulate “Stuff ” in the form of outgrown clothes,<br />
magazines, rusty bicycles, tools and random keepsakes, so do our<br />
bodies accumulate old food residues, emotions and toxins that<br />
need to be cleaned out. Just like we hold onto material possessions,<br />
we can also hold onto angers, past relationships, stress, anxieties<br />
and regrets.<br />
It is amazing to think of our organs, tissues and cells as a storage<br />
places for stress, emotions and old anxieties. Our body, however,<br />
is our subconscious mind and can be changed by the emotions we<br />
experience. Ever notice how your body feels when you’re under<br />
stress? Your muscles may be tense, especially in your face, neck,<br />
and shoulders, leaving you with back or neck pain, or painful<br />
headaches long after the original stressor has ended. You may feel<br />
a tightness in your chest, a pounding pulse, or muscle cramps.<br />
You may also experience problems such as insomnia, heartburn,<br />
stomachache, diarrhea, or frequent urination. The worry and<br />
discomfort of all these physical symptoms can lead to even more<br />
stress, creating a vicious cycle between your mind and body. Dr.<br />
Candace Pert, a Neuropharmacologist who worked at the NIH<br />
and Georgetown University Medical Center explains, “A feeling<br />
sparked in our mind or body, will translate as a peptide being<br />
released somewhere. Organs, tissues, skin, muscle and endocrine<br />
glands all have peptide receptors on them and can store emotional<br />
information. This means the emotional memory is stored in many<br />
places in the body, not just in the brain. We can then access the<br />
emotional memory anywhere in the peptide/receptor network, in<br />
28<br />
Here are five simple poses that will help you spring clean from<br />
the inside out.<br />
Pose #1. Simple Seated Twist<br />
Twisting positions relate to managing and untangling the knots<br />
and twists of life. They help us to deal with the problems and<br />
obstacles we all face. Twisting gives us the confidence and<br />
energy to learn to deal with these problems. As you do this pose,<br />
imagine yourself wringing out your spine like a dirty dish rag,<br />
getting rid of the old dirty water and preparing to cleanse it with<br />
clean, fresh hydration. Just like twisting a dishrag, winding your<br />
body around its axis compresses the organs, restricting blood<br />
flow and allow fresh oxygenated blood to flow back in when the<br />
twist is released. Twists are one of the most cleansing poses and<br />
often leave you feeling refreshed and clear-headed. Breathe deep<br />
in this pose!<br />
Pose #2. Easy Backbend with Heart Opening:<br />
While you are cleaning out your body and home, do no t forget<br />
to spring-clean your heart. A clean, open heart will allow you to<br />
receive all the good that awaits you each and every day. If your<br />
heart and mind are cluttered, there is no room for life’s gifts and<br />
surprises to enter. To cleanse and open your heart, try this pose.<br />
Backward bending poses are connected with the attitude of<br />
embracing life while facing life and all its challenges. This pose,<br />
also known as the Bridge Pose, will stretch your chest, neck, and<br />
spine, calm the brain, help alleviate stress and mild depression.<br />
It also stimulates the abdominal organs, lungs, and thyroid,
ejuvenates tired legs, improves digestion, and reduces anxiety,<br />
fatigue, backache, headache, and insomnia.<br />
Pose #3. Seated Forward Fold:<br />
To calm the mind, unleash anger, release the ego and surrender,<br />
try this forward seated fold. Forward bends stretch the muscles<br />
of the lower spine, pelvis and legs. They also stretch and stimulate<br />
the upper back, kidneys and adrenal glands. As you do this pose,<br />
be willing to surrender to whatever thoughts and emotions lie<br />
inside. Be willing to feel and breathe as you melt your heart<br />
toward to earth. It’s okay if your legs are bent!<br />
1.<br />
Pose #4. Twisting Punches:<br />
This is a fierce pose with the intention to bring awareness to what<br />
you intend for your life. Start thinking of the new and exciting!<br />
Start envisioning living a life you love in a body you love. Shifting<br />
our perspective from the old to the new is the first step to<br />
spring cleaning our body. In this pose, keep your knees<br />
over your ankles and twist side to side in the core as you<br />
alternate punching the arms forward. A great mental<br />
affirmation to go with this pose is “I am STRONG. This is<br />
my time. I am shining!”<br />
2.<br />
Pose #5. Seated Silence:<br />
Sometimes to hear, we have to create a space of silence. As<br />
you sit in this pose, mentally say “I am” while inhaling. On<br />
the exhale, mentally say “here”. Try repeating this mantra<br />
30 times. Know that there is nowhere to go, nowhere to be,<br />
but right in that moment, nourishing and caring for the<br />
wonderful body you call yours. It’s the only one you’ve got.<br />
If you don’t take care of it who will?<br />
3.<br />
Spring Food Focus: Leafy Greens<br />
To help cleanse your body from the inside out, try munching<br />
on some leafy greens before or after doing these poses. Leafy<br />
greens are some of the easiest and most beneficial vegetables to<br />
incorporate into your daily routine. Densely packed with energy<br />
and nutrients they uplift, renew and revitalize the body. Try kale,<br />
collard greens, Swiss chard, mustard greens, arugula, dandelion<br />
greens, broccoli rabe, watercress, beet greens, bok choy, napa<br />
cabbage, green cabbage, spinach or broccoli.<br />
4.<br />
Remember, that taking the first step is always the most<br />
challenging. Once you take action to clean out your<br />
“inner closet”, the journey becomes much easier and quite<br />
rewarding. Happy Spring Tucson! May you fill your “inner<br />
closet” with things you love that nourish and uplift you.<br />
To share a smile or connect with Phoebe, go to www.<br />
PhoebeJenkins.com or email Phoebe@Phoebejenkins.com.<br />
Quote in the article is from this website: http://candacepert.<br />
com/where-do-you-store-your-emotions/<br />
5. Photos by David Clark 29
When quality is a must, Creative Catering is the clear choice.<br />
Creative Catering is the<br />
professional choice for reliable<br />
Tucson catering services and<br />
event planning. We offer<br />
exceptional catered cuisine,<br />
elegant presentations, superb<br />
service, and free consultations.<br />
EXCEPTIONAL TUCSON CATERING SERVICES<br />
Creative Catering offers<br />
Tucson’s highest quality,<br />
individualized catering<br />
services for business,<br />
organizational or personal<br />
events. We have more<br />
than twenty years of<br />
experience in skillfully<br />
planning and coordinating<br />
events, resolving last<br />
minute issues and<br />
ensuring that all details<br />
have been properly<br />
addressed.<br />
The premier Tucson catering and event planning professionals. Specializing in<br />
corporate, business<br />
and organizational catered events.<br />
Phone 520.690.0146<br />
www.tucsoncreativecatering.com<br />
31
Written by Therese VanVeghel Phipps<br />
The stunning Tianna Lynette Camacho, born <strong>January</strong> 16, 1986,<br />
is a native of Tucson and attended Cienega High School. Tianna<br />
is quite competitive and her hobbies include fitness, drawing,<br />
singing, dancing, modeling, and volleyball.<br />
She thinks of herself as outgoing, friendly, competitive, and possessing<br />
the intense ambition to grow as a model, performer and<br />
person.<br />
Tianna began her modeling career when she was twenty-four<br />
after winning her very first bikini contest at DV8 nightclub. After<br />
the birth of her adorable daughter Thalianna, a local promotional<br />
pin-up group called Your PinUps discovered Tianna in downtown<br />
Tucson and asked her to join their group, an invitation which she<br />
accepted with glee. It seemed like kismet, as she quickly began<br />
gaining experience and recognition for her ever-growing abilities<br />
and expanding her modeling portfolio.<br />
Some refer to her as the “beauty under the sun”, and she is now a<br />
professional both in front of the camera and in her public promotions.<br />
She says that she is discovering a true passion for modeling<br />
and acting, and aspires to be a very diverse actor.<br />
She has made many appearances at car shows, charity events, and<br />
on music videos, with artists such as Darren Vegas, Young Rich<br />
Majestics, and MC Yo Wassup. She has also been using her vocal<br />
skills collaborating with local talented artists.<br />
Tianna is excited about being a calendar model for Sagebrush<br />
Cantina and the featured model for the rap artist Eclipzo’s new<br />
Eclipzo burger at Lindy’s on 4th Avenue in Tucson. She has<br />
recently competed in many bikini contests, placing third at the<br />
Harley Davidson’s Hogtoberfest bikini contest, her burlesque Marie<br />
Antoinette doll with an Asian twist won the sexiest costume<br />
contest at Junxion nightclub and she received second place in a<br />
photo contest for Tucson Model Magazine.<br />
Aside from her ambitious career plans that include more music<br />
and video collaborations, acting roles, merchandising, contests<br />
and event appearances, Tianna wants to travel. She is preparing<br />
32<br />
to travel to the Mendenhall Ice Caves of Juneau in Alaska, and<br />
cannot wait to see White Heaven Beach on White Sunday Island<br />
in Australia. Although, when asked by our editor if she would like<br />
to stay in Tucson or is there somewhere else she would like to live<br />
she responded by saying, “I do not think any where would make<br />
me as comfortable as my home town and I love the weather.”<br />
She is extremely busy with her family and blooming career and<br />
says, “My motivation and dedication stems from regular exercise<br />
and positive influences in my life.”<br />
Tianna has a big heart and one of the ways that she has contributed<br />
to the community is by volunteering with the Salvation Army/<br />
by participating in charity car washes and promoting charity<br />
awareness.<br />
She wants to be a positive role model for her four year old daughter,<br />
who she wants to grow up to be a smart, positive and strong<br />
woman.<br />
Tianna has some advice for younger girls who want to model,<br />
“Encourage yourself to pursue your passion and feel secure with<br />
yourself in front of the camera , stay motivated through local<br />
events. The best way to grow as a model is by putting yourself out<br />
there to meet new people, and photographers to work with. Every<br />
accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Do not be afraid<br />
to fail. Learn from it. Grow and always stay humble.”<br />
Speaking of growing, lately she has been producing more than<br />
just her career; Tianna has a green thumb. Her gardening hobby<br />
began when she opened up an avocado to remove its seed and it<br />
had started spouting inside. She cleaned it, buried it, and completely<br />
forgot about it until one day she looked over and there was<br />
an avocado plant with three leaves. She says that she currently is<br />
growing an avocado tree that is over three feet.<br />
I believe that because of Tianna Camacho’s talent and positive<br />
attitude, that just like her avocado plant, her career and success<br />
will continue to grow.
“My motivation<br />
and dedication<br />
stems from<br />
regular exercise<br />
and positive influences<br />
in my<br />
life.”<br />
Tianna Lynette Camacho<br />
Photos by C. Reynolds Photography<br />
33
Written by Sara Schaffer<br />
Maria Fernanda was born in 1993 in Obregon Sonora Mexico,<br />
and had early dreams of the fashion world. In her youth she<br />
pictured herself owning over 1000 pairs of heels. At twentyone<br />
years old, she has achieved her desire, yet this is only<br />
one of her visions. Her entrepreneurship and draw towards<br />
beauty combined when she began Mixed Beauties in 2013.<br />
Maria wanted an outlet for girls to help them feel better<br />
about themselves and embrace their lives, instead of turning<br />
to wild parties, drinking and drugs. She envisioned a group<br />
where all bodies, races and sizes were valued for their natural<br />
state, and all seen and respected as beautiful. With societies’<br />
preoccupation with a very narrowly defined set of beautiful<br />
attributes, her message is a well needed change of attitude.<br />
A few years ago, at the age of nineteen, she was hosting<br />
her first fashion show. Like many first-time events and<br />
fashion shows, there were many road blocks and hardships<br />
throughout the process, yet she did not let anyone in on<br />
that, and stayed positive. She felt her first fashion show was<br />
a disappointment with only eight girls showing up to walk,<br />
yet she did not let that stop her. Maria did not show her<br />
discontent, and instead focused on the things she could learn<br />
from the event. After putting photos from the show online,<br />
she saw quite an influx of attention, and quickly had a second<br />
show scheduled. She has grown and learned with every show<br />
since, and continues to seek the positive in her events and life.<br />
Maria did not let her personal life slack, and has graduated<br />
with a business degree from Pima Community College<br />
Right now she is working towards a University of Arizona<br />
scholarship to further pursue her business education. She<br />
would also like to get herself a cosmetology license, as she<br />
has always loved the transformative power of makeup. Her<br />
favorite part of makeup is before and after’s, and capturing the<br />
delight and surprise in the people she works on. She sees how<br />
looking good can help a person feel good about themselves,<br />
and would like to bring this feeling to as many women as she<br />
can reach. She says “Confidence is the best product a girl can<br />
carry with her” and a cosmetology license would help her<br />
bring this positivity to reach more people and she could assist<br />
more at fashion shows and with her girls.<br />
Being only 4’11”, Maria did not fit the typical model profile<br />
but did not let that deter her at all. This fueled her desire to<br />
achieve her ambition.She has been able to make money selling<br />
posters of herself. There are also various cover photos of<br />
Maria on many people’s Facebook pages.<br />
Photo by David Clark<br />
34
She loves when young girls come up to her or write her fan mail and<br />
tell her how she inspires them or they want to be like her. It makes her<br />
feel like a celebrity, and she is honored. Maria had her own celebrityshock<br />
moment when Rhonda Moretti asked her to work with her for<br />
Bellezza models in the <strong>2015</strong> Bellezza top model competition. She has<br />
long since followed and looked up to Moretti, and is thrilled to get the<br />
chance to support her by representing her and working at the <strong>2015</strong><br />
Bellezza top model competition. Like Fernanda’s own Mixed Beauty<br />
shows, she will bring a noble attitude and her strong work ethic. She<br />
feels her determination can help her push through many difficulties<br />
and rise to the heights she envisions for herself.<br />
Currently there are 32 girls representing Mixed Beauties and over<br />
4,500 followers on Facebook. Maria refers to her followers as “Beauts”<br />
and has her own personal fan club on Facebook with over 3,000<br />
likes. She would like to see Mixed Beauties develop into a clothing<br />
brand, with makeup and accessories. Maria is appreciative of all her<br />
supporters, and thankful for all the opportunities she has been given<br />
thus far in her career.<br />
“<br />
Mixed Beauties<br />
Fernanda would like<br />
to see Mixed Beauties<br />
develop into a clothing<br />
brand, with makeup<br />
and accessories.<br />
Fernanda is appreciative<br />
of all her supporters,<br />
and thankful for all the<br />
opportunities she has<br />
been given thus far in<br />
her career.<br />
“<br />
35
We Are An All Occasion<br />
Transportation Service!<br />
We are a 24/7 family owned luxury transportation service.<br />
We hire only the most professional chauffeurs with a vast<br />
knowledge of Tucson and the surrounding areas.<br />
Formal attire is required for all chauffeurs which consist of a<br />
black suit, white shirt and black tie and a well groomed<br />
appearance.<br />
Mention Tucson Model Magazine when you<br />
book a 3 hour rental and receive the 4th<br />
hour free!<br />
Types of Events We Offer:<br />
Small to Large Venues<br />
Corporate to Private<br />
Weddings,<br />
Exclusive Wine Tours,<br />
Special Events<br />
Seasonal Events and more.....<br />
36
Pizza • Pasta • Sandwiches • Ribs • Wings • Salads • Catering<br />
Full Menu Available at:<br />
MyRosatisTucson.com<br />
Tucson<br />
520.662.2200<br />
1838 E. 6th St.<br />
Corner of 6th & Campbell<br />
Tucson<br />
531.1100<br />
2944 W. Ina Rd.<br />
37
Jamie Vanessa<br />
Written by Sara Schaffer<br />
Jamie Vanessa was born and raised in Tucson, AZ and began<br />
her modeling career at the age of 18. She initially had a passion<br />
for acting, and her first on-screen experience was hosting a<br />
television show on a local network. Jamie first dabbled in modeling<br />
while she was interviewing at a Tucson car show. She was asked<br />
to model for a few photos on a motorcycle. Although she did not<br />
have much interest in modeling, she agreed and found it to be fun<br />
and exciting experience. About a week later she saw her picture on<br />
the front page of a website and was surprised to see how well the<br />
photos had turned out. This helped her gain a new appreciation for<br />
modeling. Jamie then began appearing at more local car shows and<br />
met many people who shared her passion.<br />
During this time she met Angelica Pequeño, owner and editor of<br />
Latin Affiliated Magazine. Angelica was in the beginning stages of<br />
her magazine when she asked Jamie to join her team. Jamie was<br />
responsible for composing interview question and conducting<br />
interviews. Jamie then moved to Long Beach, California for the<br />
summer where Jamie and Angelica were present at red carpet<br />
events, movie sets and video shoots. Jamie also saw her move<br />
as an opportunity to gain more modeling experience. Jamie<br />
appeared in her first music video with former Roc-A-Fella artist<br />
Omillio Sparks’ “Dj Turn It Up”. After a successful summer, she<br />
moved back to Tucson, AZ with an even stronger desire to pursue<br />
modeling.<br />
Jamie began traveling to Phoenix, Arizona to model at car shows,<br />
as well as in photo shoots and music videos. In 2008, she met her<br />
fiancé Alex Siqueiros. Siqueiros recognized her passion and knew<br />
she was driven and unique. Believing in her dream, he offered to<br />
help push her career further and became her booking manager.<br />
Together they traveled to California, Nevada, New Mexico and<br />
Texas for different projects which have added to Jamie’s extensive<br />
résumé; including photo-shoots featured in Lowrider Magazine<br />
and Impalas Magazine, a music video starring Nicki Minaj, Chris<br />
Brown, Problem, Juicy J, 2Pistols and many more.<br />
She also appeared in the film “Big Red Friday”, playing the role of<br />
a “homegirl” named Vanessa. Jamie was very excited to play this<br />
character because it was different from the sexy video vixens she<br />
commonly played. This opportunity allowed her to experiment<br />
with different roles and flex her acting skills.<br />
Clothing and, is now their featured model. Jamie is currently in<br />
the process of releasing her 12 th and 13 th posters in spring <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
She has accomplished much in her modeling and hosting career,<br />
and has done the work to create a name for herself. You can view<br />
her most recent work, resume and many featured music videos at<br />
ModelJamieVanessa.com.<br />
Jamie also loves to give back to her community. She volunteers<br />
with the Salvation Army serving and delivering meals to those in<br />
needEaster, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Jamie has overseen<br />
or participated in fundraising campaigns for young athletes and<br />
other similar events. She believes strongly in helping others and<br />
lives by her motto to “never judge a book by its cover, be kind to<br />
one another, stay humble and always chase your dreams”. Jamie<br />
Vanessa is living proof that growing up in a small city does not<br />
mean you have to dream small and she’s a shining example of<br />
anything being possible with determination, passion and hard<br />
work.<br />
“Never judge<br />
a book by its<br />
cover, be kind<br />
to one another,<br />
stay humble and<br />
38<br />
The trailer for the film was released during the Tucson Model<br />
Magazine Awards Show Gala. She has recently joined School 46<br />
Productions, owned by artist Joey “Delinquent” Velasquez and<br />
graphic designer Desirae Edaakie. Jamie is also sponsored by<br />
Determined Records & Clothing, AZ Vixen ENT. and Impalas<br />
Clothing. Jamie is in her second tour with Impalas Magazine &<br />
always chase your<br />
dreams”.
Photos by Malcolm Flowers<br />
Photos by Joey ‘Delinquent’ Velasquez<br />
39
40<br />
Roger DiFiore (aka Roger D) is doing God’s work, or at the<br />
very least Godard’s. In this era of multimedia and rapidly shifting technology, he assists aspiring and experienced<br />
photographers in connecting to both digital and traditional photography. He is rare in this ability, not only<br />
bridging the perceived gap between the two forms, but also in simplifying and making accessible each format<br />
to even the newest beginner. Due to this, he finds himself sought out as a teacher to newcomers and a resource<br />
and guide for photographers trained in one or the other style. He is able to teach the digital connections to those<br />
steeped in the “Film” photography world, and to give the new photographer a solid footing in the basic skills of<br />
the art and craft.
Roger DiFiore<br />
The University of Arizona Continuing and Professional<br />
Education department reached out to Roger in 2014 to develop<br />
and instruct new and exciting comprehensive modern DLSR<br />
photography classes with an innovative teaching style. Their<br />
goal was to meet the modern educational needs of today’s<br />
photography students at an affordable cost to the community.<br />
These classes launched in <strong>January</strong> <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
The classes are marketed to students who may be unfamiliar<br />
with digital photography, not only focusing on basic familiarity<br />
with digital cameras, but learning more advanced techniques,<br />
utilizing more of the features of the camera, and developing<br />
artistry and intentional creativity within the medium. Since<br />
the early 2000’s, digital photography has largely superseded<br />
traditional film photography. The ease of use as well as<br />
immediate availability of photos to the user, boosted by the<br />
instant ability to print and share the photos, affords many<br />
people access to photography that was previously unavailable.<br />
Due to both the expense in time and materials required to<br />
capture, develop and masterfully print traditional film photos,<br />
it is no surprise that the popularity of digital photography<br />
has so rapidly overtaken the medium. However, the cameras<br />
themselves only do part of the work. There is still a great deal<br />
of flexibility and freedom to interpret, compose and work with<br />
digital photos, both in the use of the camera as well as once the<br />
picture has been taken.<br />
Roger began his career in 1980, when he received his early<br />
training in the field by a protégé of Ansel Adams, one of the<br />
grand masters of film photography. Ansel Adams is known for<br />
his sweeping black and white landscapes, a great deal of the<br />
contrast and fine-tuning of which were done in the darkroom.<br />
Adams experimented with various exposures in specific ways to<br />
bring depth and flavor to his photos, developing a unique style<br />
which continues to inspire love of nature in his audiences to<br />
this day.<br />
From his first experiences with it, Roger developed a quick<br />
passion for photography. He subsequently operated his own<br />
darkroom for almost 20 years, all the while studying such<br />
things as camera, lens and film design, lighting, posing<br />
theory, and make-up for photography. In the mid-90’s,<br />
when digital technology began to revolutionize the world of<br />
photography, Roger was an early adopter, buying a Kodak<br />
DC50 camera (which had a “whopping” 1/3 megapixel!),<br />
learning 3D animation with Autodesk 3D Studio, and<br />
beginning a now 20-year relationship with Photoshop. For<br />
those who feel intimidated by the thought of using computer<br />
and photography together, Roger D has already done<br />
the legwork.<br />
A 13-time winner of the worldwide Model<br />
Mayhem Picture of the Day Contest, Roger’s<br />
enthusiasm for photography led him to<br />
start hosting workshops for the Tucson<br />
Photography Meetup Group (TPMG)<br />
in 2008. He then took over as organizer<br />
in 2010 and increased the group’s<br />
membership from roughly 100 to more<br />
than 1000 today. As TPMG organizer,<br />
in 2011 Roger brought Lee Varis,<br />
author of “Skin: The Complete Guide<br />
to Digitally Lighting, Photographing,<br />
and Retouching Faces and Bodies”,<br />
to Tucson for a seminar and<br />
demonstration for members of<br />
TPMG. Varis uses Photoshop<br />
techniques for skin smoothing<br />
in digital photography, as well<br />
as a host of other methods for<br />
a fulfilling and rich photographic<br />
relationship.<br />
Roger’s experience as a composition<br />
photographer gives him versatility to<br />
work with photography of all kinds,<br />
though his most notable work utilizes<br />
models. His approachability and<br />
welcoming demeanor create a relaxed<br />
presence, while his experience makes<br />
the time well-spent and efficient. Roger’s<br />
continually evolving ardor for the medium<br />
as well as a patient willingness to share his<br />
knowledge make him a valuable asset to<br />
Tucson’s arts community.<br />
41
P H O T O G R A P H E R<br />
Bill Kilby<br />
“He fell in love with<br />
photography in 1980, and<br />
dabbled in his passion for<br />
many years before he decided<br />
to look at life through a<br />
completely different lens.”<br />
Written by Therese VanVeghel Phipps<br />
Bill Kilby was born September 15, 1958 in Kansas City,<br />
Missouri and graduated from Solanco High School in<br />
Quarryville, Pennsylvania. He studied Electronics System<br />
Technology and Management at Eastern Kentucky University.<br />
He is also a former motivational speaker for teens at Motivational<br />
Productions, motivationalproductions.net.<br />
Bill enjoys traveling and I am assuming that this zest to explore<br />
helped guide him to enlist in the military. After many years<br />
of actively serving his country in the United States Air Force,<br />
he can enthusiastically say that he has seen most of the world.<br />
Some might even call him some sort of a gypsy because he<br />
has lived in so many places in the United States and abroad,<br />
including Pennsylvania, Maine, California, Louisiana, Florida,<br />
Colorado, Texas, North Carolina, England, and South Korea. In<br />
1987, after his many feats, and immense and extensive travels,<br />
he retired from his military career to develop his more creative<br />
side.<br />
This positive and empowering man is also a professional photographer<br />
and the owner of Copper Sky Images, copperskyimages.com.<br />
He says that he fell in love with photography in 1980,<br />
and dabbled in his passion for many years before he decided to<br />
look at life through a completely different lens.<br />
Speaking of love, on September 10, of 1994, Bill married his<br />
friend, soulmate and business partner of Copper Sky Images,<br />
Danetta (Dani) Patton Kilby.<br />
While on one of his many business trips as a teen motivational<br />
speaker, he says that fate brought him and his wife Dani to<br />
Sierra Vista, Az. They really enjoyed Sierra Vista, and made<br />
the life altering decision to stay and continue building their<br />
42
photography business there. They were also looking to expand<br />
their business, broaden young people’s minds and to help them<br />
in achieving their goals. Bill says, “We had some friends in the<br />
pageant industry and always had a desire to help young people<br />
fulfill their aspirations. Following along with the pageants<br />
and our love for photography, modeling and acting portfolios<br />
seemed to be the logical and natural next step.”<br />
You might be wondering what exactly Copper Sky Images does.<br />
According to Bill, “We perform any kind of photography from<br />
scenery, to commercial, to weddings and graduations, but we<br />
specialize in modeling and acting portfolios. We do not just<br />
stop at building portfolios. We work with parents to use photography<br />
and modeling as a motivational tool as well. We have<br />
found that photography is a great way to help build confidence<br />
and self-esteem.”<br />
What else do they do? “We also advertise for our clients to<br />
talent and advertising agencies wherever they might live. Most<br />
recently, one of our models signed with Heyman Talent Artists<br />
Agency, a Screen Actors Guild agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is<br />
our goal not just to build a portfolio, but also to help the individuals<br />
become successful.”<br />
Bill and Dani want the very best for everyone, especially their<br />
clients, selflessly connecting their models to fashion shows<br />
with well known companies like Dillard’s, Rue 21, Eccoci, Sears,<br />
Maurice’s, and Spur Western Wear, just to name a few. However,<br />
it is very important that I make it abundantly clear that according<br />
to Bill, “We are not a talent agency, as we do not represent<br />
any of our talent but we do serve as a communication point.”<br />
He continues by saying, “We have considered becoming a talent<br />
agency but for right now we are concentrating on the photography<br />
and advertising end. We are excited to be expanding<br />
our role in the Tucson and Phoenix areas and so pleased to be<br />
working with Tucson Model Magazine to help bring success to<br />
all those around us.”<br />
43
Q & A<br />
Fred Wille Jr.<br />
“I do photography<br />
to open doors for<br />
me, to meet new<br />
people, pass out<br />
business cards,<br />
show people<br />
my work and<br />
have a great<br />
time. Every<br />
time I go to an<br />
event, I meet<br />
new people, I learn<br />
stuff and it’s like a<br />
whole new world<br />
out there.”<br />
44
By Andrew Paxton<br />
Native Tucsonan Fred Wille Jr. has been snapping shots of<br />
beautiful cars and models for more than 15 years. Tucson Model<br />
Magazine recently sat down with the shutterbug to pick his brain<br />
about his work, and a few other things along the way. Some<br />
answers are edited for clarity.<br />
Tucson Model Magazine: So tell us a little about yourself to get<br />
started.<br />
Fred Wille Jr.: Well, I was born in Tucson, back in the day. I lived<br />
here all my life, and I love it. I work for transportation here in<br />
Tucson, been doing that almost 20 years. I mostly do photography<br />
as a hobby, on the side, stuff like that.<br />
TMM: How did you get started in photography?<br />
FWJ: My sister was going to high school and took photography,<br />
and one day I was helping her move out of the house and I<br />
happened to see a Canon camera sitting there. So one day I just<br />
picked it up, put a roll of film in there and started taking pictures.<br />
The pictures came out ok, so I took it to a camera shop and the<br />
guy said, “Let me make it better.” So he fixed up all the settings<br />
and said “Now go out and take some pictures.” From then on, I’ve<br />
been experimenting with cameras and photography.<br />
TMM: So you’re self-taught then?<br />
FWJ: Self-taught, and self-motivated. I love it and enjoy it. I<br />
wish I would get paid more sometimes, but I do it more as a<br />
passion. It keeps me out of trouble. So probably back in 1989<br />
is when I started shooting, to present. I’m still advancing in<br />
my photography and I’d like to get better. I learn from other<br />
photographers in general, ask questions, go to seminars.<br />
TMM: Your work features mostly cars and models. What led you<br />
that type of photography?<br />
FWJ: A long time ago, when I had my first 35 (mm camera),<br />
I went to my first car show, a low-rider show. It was different.<br />
(laughs) A friend of mine was into low-riders, and he took<br />
me with him. So I just started taking pictures. It wasn’t what I<br />
expected, but I went in thinking “I’m going to have fun.”<br />
I started taking pictures of all these cars, would get the film<br />
developed and then call up the guys and show them the pictures<br />
of the car. Before you know it theywerewanting to schedule photo<br />
shoots. This was way back before anybody had digital. I just wish<br />
I had a better camera back then. Now I’m shooting with a Canon<br />
T3.<br />
I just really enjoy it. During the week, I work Monday through<br />
Friday, and on the weekends I check the pages, see what’s going<br />
on, whatever events are coming up, I call my friends and go shoot<br />
it and see who we can meet.<br />
expect, but she was the most sweet, most awesome person I ever<br />
met. She knew her stuff, and I was nervous at the time. But she<br />
learned I was an OK guy, not the best photographer, but I’m going<br />
to do positive work. So I’m sort of the event, behind-the-scenes<br />
photographer for the past few years.<br />
TMM: What challenges have you faced with your photography?<br />
FWJ:Right now my struggle is learning lighting techniques,<br />
indoor and outdoor lighting, to make the models look more<br />
glamorous.<br />
TMM: Is there a photo shoot that sticks out in your mind as<br />
particularly memorable?<br />
FWJ: I did one with a friend of mine, it was her first shoot, at<br />
Sabino Canyon, bikinis and waterfalls. That shoot was intense, the<br />
water was cold, but there were people around and I was taking<br />
pictures, we started getting an audience. The model felt like she<br />
was on top of the world, so it was a very fun shoot.<br />
TMM: What’s your favorite part about shooting in Tucson?<br />
FWJ: It’s the positive impact I get from people. They like my work,<br />
when I post pictures and they say “great shot” or start asking me<br />
how I got the shot. So they are asking me questions, so now I<br />
feel like I’m helping and teaching them, and that’s positive. It’s all<br />
positive feelings.<br />
TMM: Let’s switch gears a bit. What’s on your playlist right now?<br />
FWJ: Oh, music? I like classic rock, AC/DC, a little bit of rap.<br />
When I’m driving my truck, I’ll listen to just about everything.<br />
I can go from hip-hop to country or heavy metal in minutes,<br />
whatever mood swing I have.<br />
TMM: Favorite TV show?<br />
FWJ: Anything educational, channel 6 (PBS). Space, science,<br />
how it’s made, those are my programs. They talk about people<br />
who travel all around the world, take photos of volcanoes and<br />
stuff I would never dream of doing. I love learning the science<br />
of photography, the world and things around us, making and<br />
creating positive things.<br />
TMM: Building positive things seems to almost be<br />
a motto for you.<br />
FWJ: Yea, that’s correct. I like to work with my<br />
hands and build things, just to see what I can<br />
do. For me, if I can build it with my hands,<br />
or shoot it with my camera and make it<br />
look good, that’s what it’s all about.<br />
The camera is a tool that I use to<br />
transform the image in my mind<br />
and share it with other<br />
people.<br />
I do photography to open doors for me, to meet new people, pass<br />
out business cards, show people my work and have a great time.<br />
Every time I go to an event, I meet new people, I learn stuff and<br />
it’s like a whole new world out there.<br />
TMM: How long have you been shooting with TMM?<br />
FWJ:I met Rhonda at a meet and greet event at a nightclub, to<br />
see what the magazine was about. I didn’t really know what to<br />
45
46<br />
7355 N I-10 EB Frontage Road, Tucson AZ 85743 | 520-751-3380 | www.tucsonharley.com
Jonathon Booker<br />
Photo by David Clark<br />
“I have found myself<br />
playing malefactor parts<br />
in films due to my size,<br />
physique and demeanor<br />
on camera. To be honest,<br />
I am completely fine with<br />
it and very confident I will<br />
deliver every time.”<br />
Meet 6’4” Jonathon Booker, hailing all the way from Illinois. This Midwesterner was born in Carbondale Illinois on <strong>March</strong><br />
20, 1985 and was raised by his single mother Genevia Buchana In Marion, Illinois.<br />
Jonathon graduated in 2007 from Milliken University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management. After<br />
graduation, he worked in hospitality management for Main Event Entertainment. He currently works in education as a<br />
behavior specialist where he enjoys making a difference and enriching the lives of young people. In his free time, Jonathon<br />
is actively pursuing his dream career as a model and actor.<br />
Jonathon was most recently seen as Martin in “Annihilate”, a web TV series. Other credited work includes “Anchored<br />
Sky; Truth Beyond Convention”,” RideShare” produced by Rebel Saint Studios and “Rise of Capone” produced by Oculus<br />
Films. All of the film work that Jonathon has done was for IMDB credited films. He recently worked on the set of “Kruger<br />
Aftermath” produced by Oculus Films playing the role of Michael Kruger. Currently, Jonathon is taking on a new role<br />
to gain acting experience in a play called “Dover Road” produced by The Comedy Playhouse where he plays a butler.<br />
Additionally, Jonathon has also had some experience on the set of a few commercials cast by Bellezza Models LLC.<br />
Jonathon’s goal is to make his mark in the film industry both locally and nationally. “I have found myself playing male<br />
factor parts in films due to my size, physique and demeanor on camera. To be honest, I am completely fine with it and very<br />
confident that I will deliver every time.”<br />
48
CINEMATIC MIND<br />
the latest release from<br />
STANDS WITH FISTS<br />
available now on<br />
Amazon.com and CDbaby.com<br />
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!<br />
49
Nayaana<br />
Sarahy<br />
Minjares<br />
Nayaana makes her client’s comfort<br />
and trust her top priorities.<br />
Written By Rebecca Bermudez<br />
50<br />
Photo by David Clark<br />
How many of us can say that we entered our high school<br />
bathroom expecting a breathtaking new haircut and actually<br />
walked out with one? Several San Miguel High School friends<br />
of Nayaana Sarahy Minjares are lucky enough to have walked<br />
into that bathroom, head held high and in defiance of all<br />
odds emerged looking, yup, BETTER than when they walked<br />
in. Nayaana, age 23, a 15 year Tucsonan (not to mention<br />
borderline magician with a curling wand), has a long standing<br />
history of working wonders on those that find their way to her<br />
chair.<br />
Like many of us, Nayaana took several detours along<br />
the way to her current place as a passionate up-and-coming<br />
member of the beauty community. She meandered through<br />
several careers, searching for the right fit before finding herself<br />
back where her true talent and motivation, the beauty industry.<br />
This realization led to her attending and graduating from The<br />
Aveda Institute Tucson where she honed her craft and gained<br />
the experience necessary to begin her profession. She initially<br />
wanted to own her own salon but then found a love of editorial<br />
and runway work, noting she enjoys, “all of the creative<br />
freedom it gives her” and states she has been hooked ever since<br />
she first worked in this area.<br />
Despite being a bright eyed and bushy tailed new graduate,<br />
she has hit the ground running, styling hair for the Tucson<br />
Model Magazine All White Party this past July as well as<br />
their Red Carpet Awards Gala at The Fox Theater downtown.<br />
She also brought her talents to Tucson Fashion Week where<br />
she styled hair for many of the runway models. She has also<br />
branched into the world of makeup, having worked on the hair<br />
and makeup for the Buffalo Exchange Fashion Show hosted at<br />
the Desert Museum as well as numerous weddings and other<br />
special events.
From voluminous waves to intricate braids to a killer Balayage,<br />
many of her diverse works can be seen at local events as well as<br />
her personal social media accounts where she highlights some of<br />
her finished clients and shares her more personal connection to<br />
them. Knowing the vulnerability associated with revealing how a<br />
person would like to change their appearance, Nayaana makes her<br />
client’s comfort and trust her top priorities. After consulting with<br />
one woman, she stated, “From talking to her she made it clear she<br />
wasn’t very confident so I gave her a complete makeover. Seeing her<br />
light up and smile made my day.” The joy she receives from helping<br />
people feel more confident she says, is one of the biggest rewards of<br />
her work.<br />
She admits that much of her motivation and compassion is<br />
rooted in the help and inspiration she has received from others.<br />
Her aunt, she says, had a lot of influence over her drive to become a<br />
stylist. She details her relationship as one of guidance and patience<br />
and says her aunt taught her “The ins and outs of opening and<br />
maintaining a salon.” Nayaana also lists her instructor at The Aveda<br />
Institute as a strong influence. She feels her instructor encouraged<br />
her to push her limits as a stylist and helped her, as she puts it, “<br />
Develop and get the ideas out of my head” enabling her to make the<br />
beautiful images she imagines into reality.<br />
Now that she has finished her training at The Aveda institute,<br />
she is doing freelance work and states that she is keeping an open<br />
mind about any new professional opportunities that may come her<br />
way. She wants to make sure that she finds a good fit for her talents<br />
and interests. She says she has enjoyed her time at Aveda and is<br />
excited to embark on a new journey. One thing she said she takes<br />
away from the Institute that she tries to apply to her daily life is a<br />
quote she learned there. “Beauty is as beauty does.” It is a gem she<br />
says the Institute shared with her that reminds her every day that<br />
true beauty is within us all.<br />
51
BETH KING<br />
Photo by David Clark<br />
Written by Therese Van Veghel Phipps<br />
I am proud to introduce you to Tucson native, Beth King. She<br />
is an extraordinary Special FX makeup artist, the creator of<br />
The Look, and is constantly practicing, and expanding on her<br />
multitude of artistic skills and knowledge.<br />
As a child, Beth dreamt of becoming a superstar when she grew<br />
up and was always fascinated with the application of cosmetics.<br />
Her face became her canvas and her mom, awoke quite frequently<br />
with her make-up done by none other than, wait for it, Beth<br />
King. In 1995, her older brother Matthew, also known as “Zip”,<br />
introduced her to horror movies. On that very momentous day,<br />
an intense love and passion for horror and Special FX make up<br />
began, Beth says, “Now I love all things horror, the scarier the<br />
better. The movies that make you want to hide behind a pillow,<br />
grab onto the person next to you and scream. Those are the<br />
movies that I absolutely love!”<br />
She has a long list of favorite movies, including, “Halloween”,<br />
“Day of the Dead”, “Friday the 13 th ”, “Nightmare on Elm Street”,<br />
“Evil Dead”, “Hellraiser”, “Dawn of the Dead”, “The Exorcist”, and<br />
“Night of the Living Dead. She says, “The first time I watched “The<br />
Exorcist”, it was like the clouds parted and the angels sang. I knew<br />
that was what I wanted to do when I grew up, (she wanted to)<br />
make the characters that make the viewers squirm.”<br />
Throughout her high school years at Sahuaro, Beth took theater<br />
classes, and shone especially bright doing hair and make up for<br />
the Drama Department. Prior to her graduation in 2003, she<br />
became aware that Pima Community College offered a Theater<br />
scholarship and auditioned for it. After receiving the scholarship<br />
at Pima, she took a Theater Makeup course where she feels<br />
extremely fortunate to have met and studied under her mentor<br />
Suanne Woodward. Beth says, “Suanne really opened me up<br />
to different techniques for stage makeup: old age, cuts, bruises,<br />
corrective makeup. This was when I was introduced her to Ben<br />
Nye products, Scar wax, liquid latex, etc... All things that make an<br />
FX makeup artist drool.”<br />
When her scholarship ended, she decided to get her Cosmetology<br />
license, she chose Artistic Beauty College, and received her<br />
license in 2006. She worked in a couple of salons doing hair and<br />
makeup, but it really did not make her happy, Beth’s passion is to<br />
do FX. She says, “When Halloween came around, I was always<br />
busy doing Special FX make up for friends and family, and one<br />
year I decided this was going to be my main focus, not hair,<br />
not formal make up, but special effects makeup. It was time to<br />
make people squirm. I decided I needed to educate myself on<br />
more FX techniques.” Beth began watching and practicing the<br />
tutorials on youtube.com and says that Syfy Network’s show<br />
“Face Off ” absolutely blew her mind and that it has been a hugely<br />
educational tool.<br />
Her FX career began to take off after a friend named Lindsey<br />
Basham introduced her to model and creative director Jake<br />
Rafus. She happily did FX makeup on Jake and professional<br />
photographer, Dominic Arizona Bonucelli’s photo project entitled<br />
“Zombie Apocalypse”. This creative project opened the door to<br />
more work, including working on Dominic’s spoof of Bing Crosby<br />
and David Bowie’s Little Drummer boy “A Very Special Bing and<br />
Bowie Christmas” where she received a positive mention for her<br />
FX work on Tucsonweekly.com. Beth did hair and makeup on a<br />
pilot for a Netflix series written by John Brozo and directed by<br />
Chris Klok, called “Lucky Stiffs”. She also competed and won first<br />
place in both the Tucson’s Face Off Zombie Prom contest and The<br />
52
“Now I love all things horror,<br />
the scarier the better. The<br />
movies that make you want<br />
to hide behind a pillow, grab<br />
onto the person next to you<br />
and scream. Those are the<br />
movies that I absolutely love!”<br />
Zombie Apocalypse FX Makeup Contest. She says, “Everything<br />
has started to head in the right direction and I am so grateful for<br />
all of the amazing opportunities.”<br />
Beth is ready for anything and says with a smile, “I have always<br />
been one to have a backup plan, and a backup plan for my<br />
backup plan. If I were not doing Special FX makeup, I would be<br />
a cake decorator and have my own bakery. I love making custom<br />
cakes, wedding cakes, baby shower cakes...Hell, I even make<br />
zombie cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and pastries. I love baking<br />
and I love feeding people!” Besides baking, she enjoys writing,<br />
painting, sketching, and taking photos, which she says is a stress<br />
reliever and she also has an insatiable love for reading, especially<br />
mysteries, thrillers, and horror books. The book “Carrie” by<br />
Stephen King is her absolute favorite.<br />
Her life focus is building a bright and colorful future for herself<br />
and her adoring family, which includes her two wonderful<br />
parents, her mom, Kim, who she calls her life coach, cheerleader,<br />
and the strongest woman she has ever met. Beth says, “My mother<br />
is not only my number one fan, but she truly is my hero. I don’t<br />
know if she knows it, but I am her number one fan.” Her step-dad<br />
David King, adopted Beth when she was seventeen on Father’s<br />
Day, and she is very appreciative of the fact that he has always<br />
treated her with such love, as if she were his own blood. Then<br />
there is her older brother and best friend Matthew “Zip” Howard,<br />
and her nephew, Jacob, who she calls the “love of her life”. Beth<br />
also has three dogs, or as she lovingly calls her “fur-babies,” a<br />
Maltese named Kaydee, a Shih Tzu named Abbie, and Prescott, a<br />
197 pound Great Dane, who she teasingly calls “My little pony.”<br />
When I asked Beth if she thought of herself as a role model, she<br />
said no. “I do not think of myself as a role model. I am just a<br />
chick who loves doing what she does. As far as what is next for<br />
me? Anything and everything, I believe life is like a ride. It has a<br />
beginning and an end, it has its ups and downs, it can make you<br />
want to puke sometimes, or you might freak out and want off<br />
altogether, but when you choose to ride it, I mean really let go<br />
and finally do it, you’re guaranteed to have a blast. In fact, if I was<br />
to write my own epitaph, it would say; Here lies Beth mafuggin<br />
King... she came, she saw, she conquered, #kickinItWithJesus.”<br />
Photos by Dominic Bonuccelli<br />
53
Community Media<br />
accesstucson.org<br />
studio, digital field & animation classes<br />
organizational production services<br />
summer kid production classes<br />
volunteer opportunities<br />
check out our website<br />
accesstucson.org for more details<br />
We join the Tucson<br />
community<br />
every day to<br />
educate,<br />
inform and<br />
promote<br />
public dialogue<br />
through cable TV<br />
and<br />
online media.<br />
Please call Access Tucson at 520-624-9833 to<br />
participate in community media.<br />
Celebrity Interviews ,<br />
special guests and<br />
music videos.<br />
Watch us on Friday<br />
nights at our new time<br />
11pm<br />
On Access Tucson<br />
COX 20 &<br />
COMCAST 74<br />
Like Us on facebook<br />
www.facebook.com/<br />
MusicMayhemWithJonRussell<br />
54
Kevin Hamilton<br />
As a singer and pianist he has<br />
over 3,000 live performance hours<br />
throughout the United States and the<br />
Far East. Kevin has also produced<br />
hundreds of hours of live concerts,<br />
festivals and studio recordings<br />
through various businesses over the<br />
past 20 years.<br />
Written By Kevin Hamilton<br />
I have a drive and passion for entertaining audiences, expressing<br />
my desire for cultural enrichment and entertaining people as<br />
co-founder of Southwest Soul Circuit based in Tucson, Arizona.<br />
As President, CEO, and Music Director, I have a unique position<br />
as chief strategist and performing artist enabling me to know the<br />
ins and outs of event production. As a singer and pianist I have<br />
performed over 3,000 live performance hours throughout the<br />
United States and the Far East. Kevin has also produced hundreds<br />
of hours of live concerts, festivals and studio recordings through<br />
various businesses over the past 20 years.<br />
As Music Director for Southwest Soul Circuit, I am responsible<br />
for providing music contracting services and musical direction.<br />
With every event, my goal is to find the perfect balance between<br />
fun, entertaining events, and cultural enrichment, all with a<br />
specific goal in mind. As the Music Director for a local church I<br />
coordinates rehearsals, service music, morale-building events and<br />
the church ministry choir and band. My aim in everything that I<br />
do is to uplift, inspire, and entertain audiences and congregations<br />
through cultural and spiritual enrichment.<br />
I began my career as a performer at the age of five in Dallas, Texas<br />
and never stopped. I started singing in church and community<br />
choirs and quickly found myself singing in congregations,<br />
auditoriums, and theaters for audiences of over 1,000 people.<br />
At age twelve I lead choir songs in the Dallas Baptist Training<br />
Union’s “Youth for Christ” Choir of over 600 kids, gaining big<br />
exposure in the Dallas church community. Shortly after joining<br />
the United States Air Force in 1989, I then started playing piano<br />
for the Baptist Church Service at Chapel Number One on Kadena<br />
Air Base on Okinawa, Japan.<br />
56
Southwest Soul Circuit<br />
This on-the-job training created a sink or swim environment which accelerated<br />
my growth as a pianist. While on Okinawa, I soon learned music direction while<br />
working on various plays produced by a fellow US service member. Upon my<br />
honorable separation from the military in 1994, I was asked to headline a tour<br />
of Kyushu Island, playing eight shows over ten days in three cities including<br />
Miyazaki and Oita.<br />
In 1997 I started my formal collegiate training at Tennessee State University<br />
and transferred to the University of Arizona in 1999. I took advantage of<br />
living in America’s “Music City”, Nashville, Tennessee by playing for various<br />
gospel legends and touring. While I served as Assistant Choir Director at<br />
Tennessee State University I introduced various forms of gospel music<br />
to the university choir.<br />
As a student at the University of Arizona I landed<br />
principal roles in various full-operas as a Baritone,<br />
including the role of “Maseto” in Mozart’s “Don<br />
Giovanni.” All that I do, I put my all into it. I<br />
not only want to impact people’s lives<br />
in a way that raises their quality<br />
of life, I also want to make a<br />
significant contribution<br />
that will live long after<br />
I’m gone in every<br />
community I visit.<br />
“All that I do, I put my all into it. I not only want to impact<br />
people’s lives in a way that raises their quality of life, I also<br />
want to make a significant contribution that will live long<br />
after I’m gone in every community I visit.”<br />
57
Julianna Bright<br />
“I am a survivor,<br />
every day I use my<br />
experimental knowledge<br />
and troubled path to<br />
bring a message of hope<br />
to the lost, forgotten, and<br />
addicted. It is possible<br />
to break the chains, my<br />
life is an example of<br />
freedom.”<br />
Written by Therese Van Veghel Phipps<br />
This is a story of strength, of sinking low into the murky water of life, rising up<br />
through its turbulence and becoming your own true, embodied, beautiful self.<br />
This is Julianna Bright’s story.<br />
Julianna is a talented Tucson singer/ songwriter and self-taught musician. She<br />
has her own solo act and two bands that she artfully plays her guitar, keyboard<br />
and sings lead in. She says that her band Rotary Speed Dial “has an Indie soul<br />
rock vibe.” She continues, “We take you on a journey of powerful vintage vocals,<br />
beautifully blended harmonies, colorful viola melodies, groovy, fat, funky bass<br />
lines and ethereal beats that will excite and enchant you…Rotary Speed Dial is<br />
comprised of drummer Casey Hadland, violist Seth Murzyn, backing vocalist and<br />
guitarist Sandy Delozier, bassist Joaquin Zamido, and myself singing lead.”<br />
Royal Agaves formed in the fall of last year, she joins with gifted bandmates<br />
Sandy Delozier and Seth Murzyn to form what she describes as an “acoustic<br />
indie trio.” Julianna plays regularly in Tucson venues as a solo artist or with<br />
these talented musicians and is planning a summer tour, as well as a Rotary<br />
Speed Dial EP.<br />
Julianna was born into a large, musical family and states, “I guess you could say<br />
that I was destined to be a singer, after all I was named after Julie Andrews.” She<br />
has five siblings, but instead of feeling as though she was part of the group she<br />
always felt like an outcast, or as she puts it, “the black sheep.” Her parents were<br />
extremely religious and strict, and at the age of 16 she strongly rebelled against<br />
their morals and Christian beliefs.<br />
A year later her life spiraled out of control. She dropped out of high school and<br />
became a slave to heroin.<br />
Photos by David Clark<br />
58
Julianna describes her fuzzy recollection, “The next seven years were a blur. I ended up<br />
in San Francisco’s Mission District, where I found an unlimited supply of every drug,<br />
and beat cops who were hot on the trail. On a good day, I played my guitar busking in<br />
restaurants, in the subway, on the street, anywhere money was to be found. I recall belting<br />
out Portishead’s “Glory Box.” As I sang“give me a reason to love you” a gentleman replied,<br />
“I’ll give you 100 reasons to love me.” He handed me $100. I slept in a hotel that night.”<br />
Julianna wrote hopeful songs, though she had little hope herself. She remembers a<br />
homeless man telling her in 2003 “Honey, you don’t belong here, you have a gift, you can<br />
touch the world with your music, why don’t you go home to a family who loves you before<br />
the streets steal your soul?”<br />
What he said haunted her, and she could not get it out of her mind. She says, “I had<br />
created a self-imposed prison.”<br />
She felt that it would be easier to die than to continue living such a bleak and<br />
meaningless existence. After years of drug abuse and self-sabotage she decided to<br />
make a change and rose up out of the gutter.<br />
Eight challenging years later she says with passion, “I am a survivor, every<br />
day I use my experiential knowledge and troubled path to bring a<br />
message of hope to the lost, forgotten, neglected and addicted. It is<br />
possible to break thechains; my life is an example of freedom.”<br />
Julianna continues“I’m convinced that if it was not for the<br />
multitude of prayers interceding for my life, my guitar<br />
strapped to my back, and my voice which strived to<br />
convey a message of hope through every desperate<br />
note that I sang, I would have died a long time ago.”<br />
She claims that if she were to sum up her life in<br />
one sentence it would be that God gave her a gift of<br />
undeniable favor and grace. She firmly believes that<br />
being featured in this edition of Tucson Model Magazine,<br />
and the events leading to her selection, are a perfect example<br />
of her many blessings, and it is important to her to share this<br />
story with the TMM audience.<br />
On Thursday November 6, 2014 she decided to go “busking” on 4th<br />
Avenue. She says that as she walked along 4th Avenue she was just<br />
not feeling it and decided to go into a wine bar on Congress. She<br />
walked in, and to her surprise, they did not have live music. The<br />
bartender asked if she was there to play. A smile lit up her pretty<br />
face as she placed a tip jar on the piano and according to the soulful<br />
Julianna, poured her heart out onto the keys. Her night drastically<br />
changed for the better when Rhonda Moretti walked up to the piano<br />
and handed her a business card for Tucson Model Magazine. As<br />
she read the card, Rhonda conveyed her intriguing proposition,<br />
inviting her to perform at TMM’s Red Carpet event at the Famous<br />
Fox Theatre. She happily agreed, beaming as bright as the moon.<br />
On the night of the event last December, her performance was<br />
amazing. She looked beautiful and completely captured the<br />
audience with her soulful voice. Julianna has star qualities,<br />
is ambitious, and is totally focused on her bright and<br />
exciting future.She plans to release her first solo EP this<br />
fall after working with talented producer Jim Waters.<br />
In closing, she says with confidence,”I know that<br />
God saved my life for a special purpose, to do<br />
what he created me to do, touch people with the<br />
gift of music, which is the life blood coursing<br />
through my veins.”<br />
59
Photos by David Clark<br />
"We truly love mmmmusic!"<br />
60<br />
Written by Sandra Testa<br />
Mik Garrison a native Tucsonan and Scott Kerr who originally<br />
hails from Ilion, New York (a small town of 8,000) are<br />
musicians known for their high energy and animated dance<br />
music. This multi-talented duo not only sings but each plays a<br />
wide variety of common and not so common instruments. Mik<br />
plays electric bass, baritone saxophone, keyboards, children’s toys<br />
and beat boxes. They explain their unique approach by stating,<br />
“Each instrument is played live in real time and then “looped”<br />
using an effects pedal. While all of this is happening, Scott plays<br />
trumpet, trombone (often at the same time), mountain dulcimer,<br />
kid’s toys, and percussion. The result is a multi-layered and<br />
organic groove machine that has much more raw funky power<br />
than one would ever think possible from only two people.”<br />
Both Mik and Scott are interested in and work on building<br />
custom electronic musical devices. Their musical influences<br />
include Parliament, Prince, Zapp and Rodger, Spike Jones, Charles<br />
Mingus, Frank Zappa, Roland Kirk, KXCI and local music.<br />
Before they met, Mik and Scott each played in dozens of different<br />
bands some were the same bands but they never played in them<br />
at the same time. Individually, they were each frustrated with<br />
being in large bands. Both found success in performing on the<br />
downtown streets and in 2011, their paths crossed and they<br />
played together for the first time at the Ricas Art Auction.<br />
Their combined years of experience and talents are evident when<br />
they entertain. Mik started playing cello in the 4 th grade and<br />
moved to the saxophone the next year. He played in his school<br />
bands until his senior year when he picked up a bass and started<br />
forming large funky bands. Scott, who played percussion since<br />
infancy, took up the trombone in elementary school and switched<br />
to guitar during his high school years. His musical experience
Saloon” and their plans to play music for a production of ‘Alice<br />
in Wonderland’ in May. They went under the name ‘G’ playing<br />
per-paired guitar with video artist Adam Cooper.<br />
Aside from their music, Mik is a web developer, Scott works in<br />
electronics, and they both enjoy traveling, hiking, swimming<br />
and hanging out in coffee houses. When asked to describe the<br />
best days of their life, the response is “Sundays is the ‘Funky<br />
Brunch’ at La Cocina where we play for 3 or 4 hours with our<br />
friends, great people, food and drinks”.<br />
Mik and Scott give credit to each of their brothers for always<br />
encouraging them to grow as musicians. They also both<br />
appreciate the influence of several Jazz musicians that Mik<br />
worked with who have re-invented music, they include<br />
Thelonious Monk, Mingus, Miles, Roland Kirk and Sunny<br />
Rollins. Both are fans of so many musical genres, theater and<br />
dancing and are excited with the way music continues to evolve,<br />
ways to get the music across and ways to play the music. They<br />
say, “We truly love mmmmusic !”<br />
allowed him to play in several bands during his college years. He<br />
began playing multiple horns after moving to Tucson.<br />
Mik and Scott gained popularity and public support allowing<br />
them to catapult from playing in front of the Rialto Theater to<br />
playing at the Rialto. In addition to their many duo performances,<br />
Mik and Scott have been fortunate to play as background<br />
musicians for local songwriters, to do avant-garde performances<br />
and theatrical scoring.<br />
When asked how they want others to see them and where they<br />
get their strength from, their response was “We are all in this<br />
together and we would like the listener to be a powerful part of<br />
the music”. They go on to express, “Tucson has always been a<br />
place of expression and creative musical experiences. We carry<br />
the torch of the silly music of Fourth Avenue street musicians,<br />
to the funky dance bands at the greasy dive bars, to the groovy<br />
music played in the hotels, and troubadours’ of downtown<br />
Saturday Night on Congress.” If they could have a super power,<br />
it would be to make you dance, and if they were writing their<br />
epitaph, it would say, “We made you dance, play and inspire.”<br />
You can catch this dynamic duo at ‘Funky Brunch’ at La Cocina<br />
(201 N Court Ave) Sundays 12pm – 3pm.<br />
Mik and Scott enjoy playing in Tucson because its vibrant musical<br />
scene encourages eclectic performances.<br />
Going forward, the two have goals to produce videos<br />
incorporating their music and to hit the road on tour. In that light,<br />
they are currently working with videographer/photographer Abril<br />
Castillio along with sound engineer Duncan Hudson to make<br />
their first video “Tournament of Destruction”. Plans for their next<br />
exciting video are in the works and they plan to call on Elysia<br />
Hansel, puppeteer, along with an array of local talent.<br />
They say, “The incredible Tucson community inspires us!<br />
From the fans who stop and gawk on the street, to club owners<br />
like Jo Anne Schneider from La Cocina, Joshua Levine at the<br />
Tucson Weekly, and everyone down at KXCI, it’s the wonderful<br />
local support system that inspires us.”<br />
When asked about friends that inspire them, they credit Michael<br />
P Nordburg. He is a friend and local musician that has played<br />
around the world and makes music a full time job. He has played<br />
with hundreds of local musicians, and at every venue in town. He<br />
plays guitar/bass/drums, has put out powerful CD’s, does musical<br />
theater and plays out all the time.<br />
Always striving to improve and expand their skills, Mik and Scott<br />
make a quarterly EP that pushes them to record & write a song<br />
a month. In addition, they strive to expand their musical skills<br />
by performing in theater and avant-garde shows. An example of<br />
their success is the soundtrack they did for the play “Sinful Moon<br />
61
A Special Thank You To Our<br />
Contributors<br />
Zanes Law<br />
(520)777-7777<br />
www.zaneslaw.com<br />
Roof Coating Specialists<br />
(520)296-4024<br />
Aja Cooke<br />
It Works<br />
www.beskinnybytomorrow.com<br />
Pamela Mitchell<br />
(520)404-0101<br />
www.youniqueproducts.com/pamelamitchell<br />
Jasons Deli<br />
Broadway-(520)790-7000<br />
Oracle(520)407-1100<br />
Cutting Edge Collision Center<br />
(520)624-2787<br />
www.cuttingedgeref.com<br />
Majestic Limousine<br />
(520)9776243<br />
Mo’s Gallery<br />
(520) 795-8226<br />
www.mosgallery.com<br />
Desert Toyota<br />
(520)296-8535<br />
7150 E. 22nd St.Tucson, Az.<br />
www.deserttoyota.com<br />
WWW.LOUPIMBER.COM<br />
David Clark / Photographer<br />
(520)401-9113<br />
dlclarkaz@hotmail.com<br />
Ability Care Executives<br />
520-271-5400<br />
www.abilitycareexecutives.com<br />
Rosa’s Chante Assisted Living Home<br />
(520) 751-1998<br />
www.rosaschante.com<br />
Buffalo Crown Cigars<br />
520-222-9647<br />
www.buffalocrowncigars.com/<br />
Ultimate Automotive<br />
520-622-1125<br />
Tucson Speedway<br />
YOUR NASCAR HOME TOWN TRACK<br />
www.tucsonspeedway.com<br />
L’Visage LuxuryCosmetics<br />
La Encantada Mall<br />
(520) 342-6669<br />
62<br />
Support these fine businesses for supporting you Tucson.
A Special Thank You To Our<br />
Contributors<br />
APR Video Productions<br />
Event video specialists<br />
(520)777-8573<br />
www.apersonalreality.com<br />
Mike Lambert Photography<br />
(520)-343-2105<br />
mwww.mlambertphotography.com<br />
Bellezza Models Inc.<br />
Building Beautiful Confidence<br />
(520)220-0129<br />
www.facebook.com/bellezzamodelsinc<br />
Tuxedos on Broadway<br />
Formal Wear<br />
(520) 325-9936<br />
www.tuxedosonbroadwayaz.com<br />
Emma Anne Newton<br />
Tucson Pedicab Service<br />
Transportation Service<br />
(800) 879-1839<br />
www.universitypedicabs.com<br />
Creative Catering Corporation<br />
Caterer<br />
(520) 690-0146<br />
www.tucsoncreativecatering.com<br />
Access Tucson<br />
www.accesstucson.org<br />
Michael and Jayde Ellenby<br />
Travel buddies, Life buddies, Awesome<br />
friends!<br />
V Modern Thai<br />
Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant · Thai Restaurant<br />
(520) 882-8143<br />
www.VModernThai.com<br />
Marsha Hirschhorn<br />
Hashani Spa<br />
3800 W Starr Pass Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85745<br />
(520) 792-3500<br />
Jaybees Auto Service<br />
5070 E. 22nd st.<br />
Tucson, Az.<br />
790-6035<br />
Gary Hagen Jr.<br />
Cutting Edge Refinishing<br />
www.cuttingedgeref.com<br />
(520) 468-2363<br />
Cleaning Specialist<br />
“We are Cleaning Green”<br />
275-7770<br />
Kachina Sign Center<br />
290-2000<br />
www.kachinasigncenter.com<br />
Majestic Limosine<br />
“We are an all occasion<br />
transportation service”<br />
977-6243<br />
Cup Cakes By Natashia<br />
Cutomized Cupcakes<br />
for any occasion<br />
332-9297<br />
Support these fine businesses for supporting you Tucson.<br />
63
Written by: Therese Van Veghel Phipps<br />
Erin Durband born in Page, Arizona is ambitiously working to<br />
achieve her goal as a high fashion photographer. Her passion for<br />
photography began in high school when she received her first<br />
camera as a gift from her Dad. Erin remembers transforming<br />
her bedroom into a studio, using sheets as backdrops and lamps<br />
as camera lights. Her next step was getting a job in the business.<br />
In 1998, without any previous training, she began her career<br />
shooting old-fashioned style pictures of children at Antique<br />
Tots photography booth in Foothills mall and furthered her skill<br />
at Picture People. She briefly considered becoming a wedding<br />
photographer and attended a bridal show in Las Vegas. At the<br />
show, photographer John Michael Cooper’s work inspired her.<br />
“He really breaks the mold of conventional wedding photography<br />
and pushes the limits on what is considered shocking in main<br />
stream imagery.” Erin goes on to say, “He turned photography<br />
upside down and did things with it that I didn’t know could<br />
be done. I was mesmerized”. She decided to take one of Mr.<br />
Cooper’s classes that he called an Anti-workshop. She said, “It<br />
radically changed my view of what I wanted to do.”<br />
Erin decided to explore the fashion industry and began<br />
brainstorming. She invented her own photography style,<br />
designed a career plan, and in 2008 she created her own business,<br />
e-kah-d photography, www.ekahd.com. Her companies name is<br />
pronounced E-K-D, which are also her initials. The name Kah is<br />
very special to her because it is her grandmother’s maiden name<br />
and her middle name.<br />
Erin describes her photography style as edgy fashion and says, “I<br />
love taking pictures for the art of it; the camera is just my tool of<br />
choice. My images are meant to be blown up big and hung on the<br />
wall as a piece of art.” She is elated that her work is published in<br />
various magazines including 480 Brides, Eloise, Fashion Faces,<br />
Meuse and Vedere.<br />
Photo by David Clark<br />
64
stems from being in front of the camera herself. Erin makes it<br />
incredibly easy for them to focus on what they are both there to<br />
do. They are there to take momentous and amazing pictures with<br />
depth and they have a story to tell and/or a product to sell.<br />
Photo by Erin Durband<br />
Erin specializes in Trash the Dress or as she calls it, Dirty<br />
Laundry photography. When asked to describe Dirty Laundry<br />
Erin said, “I am always wanting to do pictures with people in<br />
dressed up formal attire in the most un-formal locations, such as<br />
water, mud, fire, snow, urban streets and forests, giving the image<br />
a bit of shock value, causing the viewer to pause and really take a<br />
look. “<br />
Erin decided to follow her dream of being a high-fashion<br />
photographer, various modeling agencies have contacted her<br />
because of her raw talent and keen eye and she is now proudly<br />
shooting for: Courtier, Kavir, Bellezza Models and Barbizon.<br />
Photography is not her only talent. Erin has been on both<br />
sides of the spectrum. She has dabbled in modeling and enjoys<br />
transforming into something different, being a character in front<br />
of the camera. Erin knows that modeling is challenging and gives<br />
models props for what they do.<br />
Advice from Erin: “I like working with people who study their<br />
craft. If you are truly interested in modeling then you should be<br />
studying images in magazines looking to see where the models<br />
hands are, legs are, how their body is positioned, face angle,<br />
and you should always know where your light source is.” Erin<br />
respects models and what they do, but feels that photographers<br />
deserve equal respect and says, “Great images come from a<br />
balanced relationship between photographer and model. They<br />
are there to do their job and I am there to do mine. We should<br />
both bring important skills to the table. I am not there to tell you<br />
how to model.”<br />
Erin is a professional and likes to work with models,<br />
photographers, and make-up artists that are also. One of her<br />
many talents is making the model feel comfortable. Perhaps it<br />
Underwater fashion-photography is extremely intriguing to Erin,<br />
she loves it when the models dress in long flowing gowns, wear<br />
heels, jewelry and use props, and she describes it as ethereal. A<br />
couple of years ago she rented an underwater camera and decided<br />
to take the plunge into the underwater world of high fashion<br />
photography. After much practice, she thinks she has it down and<br />
since then has done two underwater photo shoots for Bellezza’s<br />
Top Model contest.<br />
Erin has been married for 21 years to photographer Donovan<br />
Durband and together they have two “fur babies”, dogs Coco and<br />
Ruby.<br />
Aside from photography, she likes to get crafty creating hair<br />
clips made from pieces of vintage romance novels. For more<br />
information visit www.contextomy.etsy.com. She also fabricates<br />
packaging bags fashioned out of up-cycled men’s t-shirts, available<br />
online at www.laundrybags.etsy.com.<br />
Erin Durband’s ambition, dedication and talent are turning her<br />
teenage dream into her fabulous reality.<br />
Photo By Purple Nickel Studio<br />
65
much of his childhood there, enthralled by the work of such east<br />
coast rappers as Nas, Notorious B.I.G., and KRS One. His roots are<br />
definitely east coast, but he was transplanted to Tucson to flower.<br />
He considers Tucson to be his true home, and he is a graduate of<br />
Sabino High School. It was during his time there that he began to<br />
rap.<br />
It was not until he was 26 that he became serious about his craft,<br />
and began his career under the tutelage of fellow artists Shaun<br />
Harris and Black 1. In 2011 he dropped his debut album “Release<br />
Papers” and along the way he has performed at all of Tucson’s<br />
seminal venues.<br />
Relentless drive with a laidback attitude might seem like a<br />
contradiction, but it is not. It is what rapper Greg Sacks is all<br />
about.<br />
Greg, 33, is well known in the Tucson music scene for his<br />
promotional talents, high-energy stage persona and networking<br />
abilities. Indeed he has the vast array of contacts befitting a man<br />
whose mantra is “Network ‘til your head hurt.”<br />
He is half of the rap duo The Optic City All-Stars, is frequently<br />
called upon to host shows, and has recently been appearing with<br />
metal band Stands with Fists as part of their “Wolfpack”.<br />
In addition to working as an artist he does promotional work for<br />
other musical groups and Space Galleria Smoke Shop. He’s also<br />
involved in other projects coming down the pipeline. The man has<br />
irons in a lot of fires, but manages to make time for all of them.<br />
His grind is relentless.<br />
“It’s where<br />
I release<br />
all of my<br />
negative<br />
energy”<br />
Written by Michael Anderson<br />
Even when he is relaxing he is thinking about work. He can not<br />
help it. He definitely knows how to have a good time, but he likes<br />
what he does so much that his gears are always spinning, always<br />
formulating new ideas for his varied interests. I suspect this comes<br />
from his east coast beginnings.<br />
He was born Greg Redman on Long Island, New York. He spent<br />
66<br />
In 2013 he teamed up with Stacc Styles to form The Optic City<br />
All-Stars (he also serves as Styles’ hype-man for his solo shows).<br />
Despite the fact that neither were born here Sacks and Styles are<br />
proud to represent “The Old Pueblo”, and their name is a reference<br />
to Tucson’s position as a leading manufacturing center of highquality<br />
optics.<br />
Over the last year they have crossed over into the heavy metal<br />
realm, performing with Stands With Fists, A Fall to Break and<br />
others. Sacks and Styles enjoy metal, and those audiences seem to<br />
relate to their brand of “high-energy hip-hop”. Hip-hop and metal<br />
have been melding ever since Run DMC and Aerosmith released<br />
their collaborative version of “Walk This Way” back in 1986.<br />
Somehow that fusion hadn’t really happened in the Tucson scene,<br />
but Sacks hopes that they’ve broken the ice and that the crossover<br />
will continue. He and Styles are very thankful for the positive<br />
reception they have received from the metal fans and they want<br />
them to know that they appreciate it.<br />
Recently Sacks has begun to focus more on the business<br />
side of music, working tirelessly to promote and foster other<br />
artists, particularly Styles, but he will always thrive on the live<br />
performance.<br />
“Every time I even think about the 15 or 20 minutes before I hit<br />
the stage for a live show I get goosebumps all over.”<br />
Indeed he is a sight to behold when he’s in his pre-show trance;<br />
pacing back and forth, visualizing and stoking the fire.<br />
“It’s a beautiful transformation from my everyday laidback vibe, to<br />
the MOST intense, focused and passionate side of me. It’s where I<br />
release all of my negative energy…It’s my high and it’s better than<br />
ANY drug out there.”<br />
He clearly enjoys what he does and is fired-up to do it. This<br />
attitude is contagious and when crowds here his booming voice<br />
bellow out his familiar “ TUCSON, ARIZONA” greeting they<br />
know it’s about to pop off and get crazy. This makes him a very<br />
effective host and hype-man, as well as an entertaining performer.<br />
All of his hard work has begun to pay off. He is currently hosting<br />
the Strange Music “Southwest Kings” tour featuring Rittz, Crooked<br />
I, The Horseshoe Gang and J Hornay. The tour will take Sacks<br />
coast-to-coast playing 54 dates in 63 days. This is his biggest<br />
opportunity to date and he is excited to see the country while<br />
doing what he likes to do.<br />
While he loves to perform and finds his work rewarding in many<br />
ways, he acknowledges that it is a tough racket and has some<br />
advice for those who might want to follow his path.<br />
“If you’re thinking about rapping…Don’t...go to school, get a<br />
regular job...be happy with a family…Don’t do this $%*@.”
Greg<br />
Photos by David Clark<br />
67
“Look into the ames…<br />
See the Eye of the Dragon”<br />
Written by Michael Anderson<br />
Photo by David Clark<br />
That dragon is here in Tucson and his name is Stacc Styles.<br />
Styles, also known as “The Southwest Chopper”, has blazed a wide<br />
trail through the Tucson hip-hop scene with his lightning-fast<br />
delivery, sheer exuberance and unbridled energy. “Eye of the Dragon”<br />
is a single from his first full-length album, “Inside the Ride”, dropping<br />
this spring. It has been a highlight of his recent shows and is<br />
becoming a signature tune.<br />
In addition to his solo work, Styles has been a key member of the<br />
heavy-hitting local rap outfit The CCS Crew, is half of the Optic City<br />
All-Stars, and has his hand in several other projects as well.<br />
Styles has always loved music, and his parents, both musicians,<br />
encouraged his musical interests, “I’m pretty much musically driven”<br />
he said.<br />
68
He was born in Conroe, Texas in 1984 and spent much of<br />
his childhood in places ranging from Houston to Santa Fe<br />
to Oakland before landing in Tucson. Being exposed to<br />
those different cultures early in life taught him to appreciate<br />
and enjoy a wide array of musical genres, from classic rock<br />
standards to hip-hop to country rock and R and B. Despite<br />
not being a native, Styles calls Tucson his home.<br />
“I get sick of Tucson, but anytime I’ve ever left I’ve always<br />
wanted to come back”<br />
“Tucson is underrated and overlooked…On so many levels<br />
of culture” he said proudly but more than a little annoyed.<br />
“There’s such a beautiful mix here and I think a lot of people<br />
overlook it, and pass up Tucson…They don’t realize how<br />
many beautiful people are here.”<br />
He also echoes a belief I’m sure many of us share, “We’ve got<br />
the best sunsets hands down.”<br />
Tucson may be his home, but it was in Oakland, California<br />
where he found his life’s direction. It was there that he first<br />
heard the west coast gangster sound typified by N.W.A, and<br />
there that he decided he wanted to rap someday. When he<br />
was twelve he began to rap, and in 1999, he helped found<br />
The CCS Crew. They started out modestly, misbehaving<br />
and making tapes on a boom box. From those humble<br />
beginnings they rose to became a cornerstone of Tucson’s<br />
hip-hop scene, withstanding several lineup changes and the<br />
tragic death of their driving force, Joseph “MC Wobbly Pop”<br />
Hernandez along the way.<br />
The Crew has released four albums, including 2009’s “Lyrical<br />
Bartenders” and 2011’s “Mental Currency”, both of which<br />
were well received and kick serious @$$.<br />
While the CCS Crew will continue to perform, Stacc and<br />
some members have formed a side-project called Cultivate<br />
Creative Sound which features a female singer and is<br />
straying slightly from the Crew’s underground roots by<br />
pursuing a more commercial sound. They will be releasing<br />
their self-titled debut EP this spring.<br />
While Styles has serious musical aspirations, he also likes<br />
to have fun with it as well. He and CCS Crew member Jerse<br />
record under the name Tustoned Kids. They just released<br />
their self-titled second album, which is a collection of light<br />
hearted and humorous party tunes with an herbal vibe. It’s<br />
very funny stuff and is available on Amazon.com.<br />
In 2013, while the CCS Crew was taking a break Styles<br />
joined forces with Greg Sacks to form the Optic City All-<br />
Stars. They have crossed over to become a presence in the<br />
local heavy metal scene, both with Sacks as Styles’ hype-man<br />
and as the “All-Stars”. As a nod to the metal fans they have<br />
recorded a metal version of “Eye of the Dragon” with Adrian<br />
Wilson on violin and Marcus Davis and Matt Good on<br />
guitar. Wilson and Davis are members of local band<br />
Stands With Fists and Good helped produce and master<br />
“Inside the Ride”.<br />
There is a video for the original version of “Eye of the<br />
Dragon” on YouTube featuring Styles, Sacks, and Jonathan<br />
Russell. Russell is Styles’ friend, sponsor, sensei, partner in<br />
crime and a vocalist for Stands With Fists.<br />
Sacks and Styles work very well together and have natural<br />
onstage chemistry. Their shows are full of energy and the<br />
joy they get from performing is contagious. Sacks is the<br />
best hype-man and host around and Styles rapping skills<br />
are renowned and impressive. His raspy voice is instantly<br />
recognizable, and gives a distinct flavor to his rhymes. His<br />
delivery styles vary widely from fast and choppy to slow<br />
and ominous, adding to his appeal.<br />
That appeal is widespread.<br />
“Stacc is a great artist and I see big things for him in the<br />
future. That future is now. He’s humble and talented, he’s<br />
got a good team and a lot of support on the music scene”<br />
said Han Yi, music promoter and owner of Sic6 Music.<br />
All of Styles’ projects have pages on Facebook, and he has<br />
just launched a new website at www.staccstyles.com.<br />
With his growing popularity and variety of upcoming<br />
releases, Stacc Styles is on the rise and poised to be the<br />
next hip-hop star to break out of Tucson.<br />
69
Your Wedding Video<br />
Simply book your event with us and our friendly<br />
videographers will capture your event without all<br />
the hassle of a big production crew. Beautiful high<br />
definition coverage, Including audio, edited into a unique<br />
personalized DVD with 2hrs of event footage including a<br />
music video highlighting the events of your day.<br />
71
7375
We Are An All Occasion<br />
Transportation Service!<br />
We are a 24/7 family owned luxury transportation service.<br />
We hire only the most professional chauffeurs with a vast<br />
knowledge of Tucson and the surrounding areas.<br />
Formal attire is required for all chauffeurs which consist of a<br />
black suit, white shirt and black tie and a well groomed<br />
appearance.<br />
Mention Tucson Model Magazine when you<br />
book a 3 hour rental and receive the 4th<br />
hour free!<br />
Types of Events We Offer:<br />
Small to Large Venues<br />
Corporate to Private<br />
Weddings,<br />
Exclusive Wine Tours,<br />
Special Events<br />
Seasonal Events and more.....<br />
72