Thank You! – Helen Troncoso

It’s been awhile since my last blog post geez!! *Warning* This post is kinda long so go grab a snack. So much has happened, and its a miracle I didn’t go screaming off into the night somewhere 🙂 Let’s see, since my last blog post I attended quite a few events and also competed at the Ms. Belleza Latina 2012 pageant where I came in as first runner-up! That experience is a blog post in itself…

Today I wanted to thank my sponsors, friends and family that have supported me throughout this year. Going to events can be loads of fun, meeting celebrities and working (snap snap) the red carpet. I have to first thank all of the dress designers that generously loaned and even custom made me gowns, especially Simone Rodrigues of SISA Designs. Simone and her staff have always been beyond accommodating to me,. Her creative use of feather and crystals in her pieces always made me stand out. The list of celebrities she dresses is impressive, and I am happy to be included on that list.

With designer Simone Rodrigues, MUA Darya Latham, photo: Lillie Morales-Torres

Another incredible designer is Sandra Baquero. Wow! If you do not know this woman, you need to check out her website immediately. Sandra’s clothing is impeccably tailored, unique and daring. I met the twin celebrity designers, Sachika, at an NFL draft week party, we all instantly clicked and I was lucky enough to wear one of the sexy dresses for an event and launch of a public service campaign. Gail Travis, designer and founder of NFP Studio has clothing even those without any interest in fashion would appreciate. Using traditional and unique fabrics, every piece can be worn by itself at least three different ways making it truly multi-functional. Angelica Palacios of Angie’s Boutique personally picks out the clothing in her boutique and has an eye for what is trending currently – all at an affordable price. Love it!

With designers Sandra Baquero & Simone Rodrigues

Illusions Hair Spa is run by two uber talented men, George & Diego. Both are perfectionists, so I knew not only would I leave their doors dazzling, but also with an education on skin care and styling products. Melinda Marki from Platinum Salon at the Rivington Hotel has been a dear friend and my colorist even before Belleza Latina. The lady that deserves a lot of credit for my tresses is Josephine Kroprivko. I love her sayings; “If you can’t achieve it, weave it, & if you can’t grow it, sew it” She is beyond talented!

With George & Diego, Illusions Hair Spa in Union, NJ

I love makeup! I love makeup artists (MUA) even more. What they do is truly an art form. There have been so many makeup artists I have used but I wanted to thank in particular the stylEast group. Led by Jessica La-Rotta, her talented MUA’s Argie, Lissette and Monica were always courteous and professional. Thank you also to Venus Angelique, Darya Latham and Nicole Jay. Nicole besides being an incredible MUA is also a true friend that has stood by me always. I of course cannot leave out my wonderful eyelash sponsor, JJ Eyelashes. Give them a try – I guarantee you will not be dissapointed.

Swarovski necklace, bracelet by Jewels by D. LaPaix

My jewelry sponsor (and bff) Denise LaPaix of Jewels by D.LaPaix. There are tons of jewelry designers out there but many just buy them wholesale and resell them to you. Denise handcrafts each piece using only the best quality gemstones – even Latina magazine loved them and featured her jewelry in the pages of their magazine. There was a period where it was so hard to respond to every email and also attend every event. I have to thank Melissa Showers and Teresa Holmes of TLH Communicationsfor their friendship and assistance this year. Should you invest in a great PR firm as a public figure? Yes, yes, yes!!

I also did not want to forget some very talented people I consulted as I was preparing for nationals. My personal trainer Shaun Spencer, his workout plan and coaching helped to keep me focused and reach my fitness goals. Lashaye and Merlix, my great runway coaches. I can’t wait to cheer on Merlix this January as she competes for Miss New York USA 2012! My life coach, Rossmery Gomez who always pushed me to be authentic and delve deeper into who I really am as a person. The beautiful and intelligent Mpule Kwelagobe. How many women can say they were Miss Universe? And yet, she is so much more an intellectual, so real and such a beautiful spirit. I am so happy that we will be continuing to work together. Of course longtime friend and designer to many former international beauty queens, Javier Munoz. If you compete in pageants, you need to contact this man to make you a beautiful custom gown. While in Chicago, I have to thank Bisi and Lena from Crystal-Eyez makeup artistry.

JJ Eyelashes, Makeup by Crystal-Eyez

My foundation through all of this has been my family and some very close friends. My beautiful parents who love me unconditionally and have always been my greatest fans. My brothers, sisters and of course Barry – it’s been an incredible journey!

Once a queen, always a queen! I am so excited to soon be passing on this title and once in a lifetime experience to another woman. I am proud of myself for how I handled the title of New York Belleza Latina 2011. I worked very hard and am grateful for the doors that title has opened for me and for my future. To say it has been an incredible year would be the understatement of the year. Oh I have to tell you all about the pageant!! The girls, the glitz, the good and not so good. Like I said in the beginning, that’s another post on it’s own. To be continued…

Oh yeahhh WEPA 😉

Designers
SISA Designs * 974 Stuyvesant Avenue Union, NJ 07083 * (908) 349-8721
Sandra Baquero * (646) 522-5724 * (646) 734-2663
Sachika * http://www.sachika.com/
NFP Studio * http://www.nfpstudio.com/
Angie’s Boutique * http://www.angiesboutique.net/ *304 Chestnut Street *Roselle Park, NJ 07204-1935
Javier Munoz * [email protected] * (917) 586-3435

Jewelry
Jewels by D. LaPaix * http://www.jewelsbydlapaix.com/ * [email protected]

Hair
Illusions Hair Spa *www.illusionshairspa.com * (908) 687-8785
Platinum Salon * The Hotel on Rivington * 105 Rivington St New York, NY 10002 * (212) 674-1010
Josephine Kroprivko [email protected]

Makeup/Eyelashes
JJ Eyelashes * http://www.jjeyelashes.com/ * 56 W 56th St Fl 2 New York, NY 10019 * (212) 244-2921
StylEast Group * www.styleastgroup.com * [email protected] * (201) 600-6783
Nicole Jay MUA * http://www.nicolejay.com/ * [email protected]

Public Relations
TLH Communication * 33 Stratford Road White Plains, NY 10603 * (914) 282-5317

Personal Training
Shaun Spencer * http://www.crazycoreconcepts.blogspot.com/ * [email protected]

Personal Coaching
Rossmery Gomez * http://creatingworldleaders.com/aboutbio.html * (347) 541-8594

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