Crowns Magazine September Issue : simplebooklet.com

Marc Defang, a native New Yorker and head designer of Marc Defang New York, is an acclaimed fashion designer with extensive experience in the industry. He trained in Fashion Design and Merchandising at the Fashion Inst itute of Technology and Berkeley College in New York City. Marc is a talent ed and creative individual who previously worked at Issac Mizrahi, Ann Taylor, and Jockey.In 1992 while st udying in London, Marc?s dream was t o be an international fashion designer. He established Marc Defang New York in 1999. It is the leading prom, pageant, and bridal foot wear brand; a luxury line of quality, fine craft smanship of custom-m ade shoes and accessories. From stage-ready footwear to casual and evening clot hes, gowns, and essentials, Marc Defang New York appeals to women who appreciat e classic and glamorous fashion. Marc Defang serves a com munity of accomplished women in the fashion, pageant, and entert ainment industry.Marc Defang?s creat ivit y and passion in his designs, and a st rong vision for t he company have gained him a loyal following worldwide. Marc Defang New York is t he first choice for brides and pageant contest ants. He is also highly regarded for the magical ?Marc Defang Runway Experience? that he provides to his m odels. In true celebrity st yle, his NYFW models receive professional hair and m akeup services, custom runway out fits, foot wear, and accessories wit h Getty-image phot os from the show and an appearance on the Times Square Billboard in New York City. He is a beloved designer who has wat ched many litt le girls compet e and grow up on t he stage. Many of them have got ten married and purchased t heir wedding shoes and accessories from him. He has witnessed so many queens t hat have gone on t o become directors. Aft er working with so m any talented successful directors, he has been inspired to design a personally-named shoe in t heir honor. Such a creative and brilliant way to show his appreciation!Marc Defang New York recently served up high st yle in NYFW and PFW. With private shows on The Rooftop at Edison Ballroom in New York City, his fashions were nam ed as part of the ?BEST & BRIGHTEST of New York Fashion Week 2022.? He has kept dreaming and has worked continuously to achieve t hat dream. Now, 30 years lat er, his dream has come true. He is an internat ional and award-winning designer who wrapped a fant astic show in Paris Fashion Week in Septem ber 2022. In addit ion, his designs are carried in numerous retail stores throughout the United St ates, Europe, and Aust ralia. As posted on his Facebook page, ?When you are able to work a lit tle bit harder than ot hers, you will be a little bit more successful than them. Keep working, don't give up, believe in yourself!?Marc Defang New York has becom e a major sponsor of prest igious pageant s in the United St at es as well as internationally. Marc works wit h pageants and sponsors fashion week m odeling spot s for many major pageant s in the USA. During NYFW and PFW, nat ional queens from many of the different pageant syst ems were adorned in their crowns and sashes as they walked the runway in his designs as well as behind the scenes. In addition, his sponsorships and donations through numerous non-profit organizat ions have impact ed the lives of many less fort unat e girls.Fun facts:He is known as the King of Bling! He and his t eam make unique, breathtaking crystalized products wit h their bare hands! His team used millions of pieces of crystals for his NYFW shows. His custom products are covet ed by many who desire his glittery show-stopping designs and accessories. Marc is proud t o call himself the King of Sparkle!Marc travels t he world but now lives in Charlot te, NC. On Facebook, Marc shared what he likes t o do in his downtim e. Besides spending t ime with his daught er and fam ily, he grows apples in his own backyard. According to a recent post , ?Years of labor, my Apple tree harvest!! Humm they don?t look ?pret ty?, but these are t he sweetest juiciest hom e grown apples I?ve ever tasted in my life!?Upcoming event sMarc Defang New York is the official opening dress designer for the upcoming Miss Eart h USA and Teen Miss Eart h USA national pageants in January 2023.He will continue his t radition of showcasing newly-crowned queens from the various pageant organizat ions in NYFW 2023 Gotham Hall.

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Monica English is a realtor, perform ing artist, and the reigning Miss California Regency International. She is a published model, actress, and m usician. As a m ulti-instrumentalist , she performs the violin, piano, and guitar. She has been featured on NBC American Song Contest, CBS Let's Make a Deal, and played violin alongside Katy Perry in a GAP commercial.She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a specialization in Medicine and Well-Being from the University of California, Irvine. She also st udied at Fudan University and lived abroad in Shanghai, China for 9 months.A nat ural wat er baby, she is a cert ified American Red Cross Lifeguard, Padi Advanced Open Wat er Scuba Diver and Freediver. As a former foster youth and FYRE (Foster Yout h Resilience in Education) Scholar at UCI, Monica cont inues t o volunteer her time fighting for fost er yout h rights as an active member of California Youth Connection's Policy and Legislat ive Committee.PlatformI am proud to account for just 3% of the nearly 500,000 fost er kids in the US who graduat e from college. It is now m y mission to foster hope and change by spreading awareness of the st ruggles our foster youth face, from a lack of resources t o mental illness, and oftentimes homelessness. As a m ember of California Yout h Connect ion?s Policy & Legislative Committ ee, I am working towards reforming the foster care system by rewriting the laws through new bills in legislationPHOTOS BY BOBBY CHIMISS CALIFORNIA REGENCY INTERNATIONAL

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Juanita Brown Ingram, Esq. is an award-winning at t orney, author, actress, filmm aker, and fashion philanthropist. She is the newly crowned Mrs. Universe 2022/2023 and the first African-American woman to win the title. She is also the first African-American woman to win the titles of Ms. World Internat ional 2012, Mrs. Great Brit ain World 2011, Mrs. UK Universe 2013, and Mrs. UK Internat ional 2014 (placing Top 3 at Nat ionals). Madam e Noir acknowledged her as one of the Top 7 Black Women in Pageantry to t urn Beauty into Business, along wit h Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey, and Vanessa William s.She, her husband, and two children live in Singapore, having previously resided in London and Taiwan. She is an American raised in Tennessee and received her Bachelor?s degree in Accounting from Tennessee St ate Universit y and her MBA and Jurist Doct orate from the University of Memphis. Juanita is a licensed att orney wit h 20 years of experience. She received t he Attorney for Justice Award from the Suprem e Court of Tennessee in 2018 and 2019; was awarded t he Up-and-Coming Leadership in Law Award in 2007, and was named Top 40 under 40 in 2004.Juanita uses her legal skills, philanthropic passion, business tenacity, and impeccable style as t he Founder and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Dress for Success Great er London and Dress for Success Chat t anooga, organizat ions t hat help disadvantaged women becom e econom ically independent by styling them and giving them int erview att ire, career training, and on-going support . As a recognized Fashion Philanthropist , she skilfully uses fashion to empower women t o succeed and thrive.She is also the creat or of t he Power of Wom en Celebration with Dress for Success Greater London, which takes place annually during Internat ional Women?s Day in London and consists of an awards ceremony highlighting the achievements of inspirational women leaders; as well as a panel discussion of issues addressing women in the workplace. Juanita is also t he Founder and CEO of Purpose Product ions Inc., a 501(c)3 women-led production company with a mission of creat ing content t hat celebrates authentic BIPOC narratives while empowering women and youth through film worldwide. She is the creat or and Executive Producer of t he mult iple award-winning unscripted show, The Expat s Internat ional Ingrams, currently stream ing on Am azon Prim e and Roku. She is a vot ing member of the Television Academy and a 9x Telly Award Winner, Webby Award Honoree, and a 5x Best Act ress winner from the Act or 's Awards LA and other global film festivals.Juanita has published two Christian inspirat ional books for women,Winning with Christ - Finding the Victory in Every ExperienceandBeauty for Ashes - Transforming Testimonies for Every Woman. Her third inspirat ional book for women, Fabulous, Faithful, & Free, has been released and has been received ext remely well! She has also released an associat ed workbook, t he Fabulous, Fait hful & Free: The Workbook, an 8-week guide t o a journey of self-discovery and reflect ion. She has finished the first leg of her 8-cit y book tour wit h Barnes and Noble and is currently working on her next book,Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crowndue out in spring 2023. She has creat ed a multicultural Christian children?s series ?The Wonderfully Made Pals Presentswhich is a series of books with a mission of introducing the word of God to kids.As an advocat e for women and young girls, Juanita t ravels int ernat ionally, speaking on various topics regarding t he law, diversity, equity, expat issues, confidence building, women's wellness, sust ainable fashion, female empowerment, and self-worth, delivering mot ivational m essages to wom en and children throughout the US, Asia, Europe, and the UK.JUANITA BROWN INGRAMPhotos David Wei Kuan

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TRACY CROUSHORN PHOTOSCROWNS MAGAZINE COLLEGE QUEEN 20 22VALERIANNE HINKLEYMISS WORLD AMBASSADORValerianne Hinkley, 20, is a junior at the Universit y of Maine at Farm ingt on majoring in Elementary Education and the reigning Miss World Ambassador 2022. She is a member of the Honors program and Alpha Phi Omega.She has volunt eered for many events and organizat ions both in her com m unity and around t he stat e of Maine. She was awarded the Gold President ?s Volunteer Service Award for 2020, 2021, and 2022. In addit ion t o college and volunteering, Valerianne is employed part-time with Dollar General and work-study with the UMF Campus Police.Valerianne has walked the New York Fashion Week runway several times for designers such as Marc Defang, the Parachute Goddess Project, and House of La? Rue, among others as well as t he Beauty It?s Everywhere Fashion Show in Orlando, FL. In February 2023, she will t ravel to Mississippi to model in the Couture La Rouge, LLC 1stAnniversary Fashion Show. She has also appeared in several m odeling magazines and is a studio model for Gondek Photography. In addit ion, she has been an ambassador for Sunny Co. Clot hing in California and had eyelashes and lipstick nam ed aft er her as part of I.N. Beaut y out of Massachuset ts.

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Dr. Brandy Janell Palacios, a native of Wyandotte County Kansas, obtained her Bachelor?s degree in Biology in 2003 from Tuskegee Universit y. Due t o her profound love for medicine and all t hings science, she always knew t hat the medical field was her pat h in life. Aft er graduation, she returned to Kansas Cit y and was admitted t o the Kansas City Kansas Communit y College Physical Therapy Assist ant program . She also earned a Master ?s degree in Exercise Physiology from California Universit y at Pennsylvania in 2012 and a Doctorat e in Physical Therapy in 2015.Dr. Palacios t akes pride in working in her com m unity. She volunteers and t reats pat ients within t he Wyandot te County area. She also volunteers for various organizat ions throughout the Greater Kansas City area and with her sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Sororit y Incorporated.Even as a physical therapist , instruct or, and wife, one of the most import ant roles she now plays is being a mom . It ?s one of those things that lit erally happened overnight. Like 1 in 4 couples who struggle with infert ility, she and her husband were open to creat ing t heir family through foster care and adoption. This is the reason why Dr. Palacios loves being able to connect wit h people through pageantry and com m unity service. It allows her to share her story and be an advocat e for foster care and adoptionPHOTOS BY THURSTON LONGDr. America

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Not gonna lie - if you?re mourning the transition from warm summer days to chilly fall nights, we don?t blame you.That harsh cold air can wreak havoc on our glowing, sun-kissed skin.Luckily,Roddy Medspahas the intel on how to enjoy all the perks of fall without any of the scary skin issues.Here are their top 4 must-dos for healthy skin this season:1. Daily SPF.Don?t put this summer staple away - it should be a year-round habit. Not only does it reduce your risk of skin cancer (those blasted UV rays); it also protects against sunburn (which can also cause wrinkles, fine lines, inflammation, blotchy skin, and hyperpigmentation).2. Plenty of H20.Your skin is your body?s biggest organ, which means that your outside is usually a pretty good indicator of the state of things going on inside of your body? * gulp* Drinking water will ensure that your body flushes out all of the toxins easily, thereby ensuring skin that is glowing and has plenty of elasticity (byyyyyeee sagging, acne, and inflammation).3. Exfoliat e 3x weekly.It?s like giving your skin a restart button every time you do it! It gets all of the gross environmental junk, dirt, and debris off of your skin, which leaves a sparking clean canvas. That way, when you apply your skincare products, they?re actually able to do their job and sink deeply into your skin (vs. fighting with a barrier). Bonus perks include increased circulation, skin cell turnover, and collagen stimulation.4. Invest in Medical Grade Skincare.No offense to the over the counter crowd, but they?re just not in the same league as Medical Grade Skincare. Medical Grade products are prescription strength, heavily studied, and clinically proven to provide results. It?s kinda like comparing candy corn to homemade pumpkin pie - sure, you could take the first one, but why on earth would you? (And we get that it?s an investment, but consider what you?re investing in. Your long-term confidence and health are totally worth it.)

Crowns Magazine September Issue

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