We are Orlando!





It's hard to believe that exactly one week before the Orlando Massacre shooting On June 11, 2016, Pulse; a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, two dear friends and I were only 15 minutes away

at our first Diva Showcase (with a primarily LGBT crowd) enjoying a drag show at a nearby restaurant called

The Funky Monkey.

Just days before the hate crime that left 49 dead and more than 53 wounded;

 we left thinking of Orlando as a warm

(literally and figuratively speaking)

and welcoming place.

We were in Orlando as visitors on that day. 
My friend, a fantastic stylist and co-salon owner in the Charlotte area had booked her trip to the 2016

Premiere Orlando

International Beauty Show

an annual event that attracts crowds of  Over 57,000 visitors from 45+ countries. The website invites salon owners & managers, stylists, colorists, nail technicians, beauty students, instructors, distributors to the show.

The event is a recurrence in Orlando and my friend made plans to attend the hair show long before realizing that she would be carrying with her a special visitor.

A few months before the show she found out that she was pregnant and asked if her mom and I would be willing to come along and keep her company on the trip.

Sunny Skies

Great Shopping

International Food 

not to mention some of the

Best...People...Watching

on the planet made it easy to say

YES TO ORLANDO!

She also planned our itinerary

(which was a refreshing twist to the vacation)

including reservations for

Greek Cuisine at Taverna Opa,

Cuban Cuisine at Cuba Libre

and of course...

The Diva Showcase (which is a fan favorite of hair show goers)

at The Funky Monkey.

The room was filled with a variety of interesting people as the MC traveled around the room. There was a mother and daughter celebrating a daughter's 21st Birthday, several couples (where the men seemed a little shy about the show) and then there was us...

a slightly awkward-yet playing it cool- table of straight women (one visibly pregnant) awaiting a Vegas Style display of costumes, cosmetics and charisma worthy of a standing ovation.

  

One of the Divas from the showcase performing as Beyoncé

We left the city thinking of Orlando as a wonderful place filled with loving people- and still do. That's why it's so hard to believe that just a week later, one of the largest acts of terrorism would take place blocks away from where we celebrated such 

beauty, love & inclusion.  

I want to join others in lifting up the names and stories of the victims of the most recent violence. 

#prayersfororlando #weareorlando 

Today we remember the names and ages of the victims were confirmed by the City of Orlando after their next of kin were notified:

• Stanley Almodovar III, 23
• Amanda Alvear, 25
• Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26
• Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
• Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
• Martin Benitez Torres, 33
• Antonio D. Brown, 29
• Darryl R. Burt II, 29
• Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24
• Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
• Simon A. Carrillo Fernandez, 31
• Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
• Luis D. Conde, 39
• Cory J. Connell, 21
• Tevin E. Crosby, 25
• Franky J. Dejesus Velazquez, 50
• Deonka D. Drayton, 32
• Mercedez M. Flores, 26
• Juan R. Guerrero, 22
• Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
• Paul T. Henry, 41
• Frank Hernandez, 27
• Miguel A. Honorato, 30
• Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
• Jason B. Josaphat, 19
• Eddie J. Justice, 30
• Anthony L. Laureano Disla, 25
• Christopher A. Leinonen, 32
• Brenda L. Marquez McCool, 49
• Jean C. Mendez Perez, 35
• Akyra Monet Murray, 18
• Kimberly Morris, 37
• Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
• Luis O. Ocasio-Capo, 20
• Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
• Eric I. Ortiz-Rivera, 36
• Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
• Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25
• Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
• Christopher J. Sanfeliz, 24
• Xavier E. Serrano Rosado, 35
• Gilberto R. Silva Menendez, 25
• Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
• Shane E. Tomlinson, 33
• Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
• Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37
• Luis S. Vielma, 22
• Luis D. Wilson-Leon, 37
• Jerald A. Wright, 31