The Rookie
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Home: Maspeth
Age: 18
Height: 5’5”
Weight: 100 lbs
Photo by John Scandalios
Unlike many models, Evelyn Rueda, of Maspeth, did not know she wanted to go into the industry. Instead, the Ecuadorian native kept an open mind allowing fate to do the rest.
Rueda came to America when she was 11 years old, but it wasn’t until she participated in the 2012 Miss Ecuador beauty pageant that she became intrigued with modeling.
“Everything started with the beauty pageant and from there, it opened doors for me,” she said. “I had new opportunities to meet people in the business.”
Only in the first year of her modeling career, Rueda has already been on multiple photo shoots and even done a runway show for the fashion label Dear John.
“I would love for this to be a full-time job,” she said. “I love the camera, I love the way the camera flashes.”
When she is not modeling, Rueda enjoys hanging out in her hometown in Queens. Her favorite places to go are Astoria and Jamaica. She also enjoys going to Forest Hills to catch a movie with a friend.
When asked if she had any advice for girls who were looking to get into modeling, the rookie said it was important to be flexible and keep an open mind.
“I would say that try to your best and do everything you can to get in there. Try every direction,” she said.
Getting A 'Taste'
 Astoria's Diana DiMeo is a featured contestant on ABC's "The Taste." |
Leave it to Astoria to produce a self-taught cook worthy of garnering attention from celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.
As of last week, one of the neighborhood’s most aspiring restaurateurs, Diane DiMeo, 46, earned a spot on ABC’s new show “The Taste” by joining the Bourdain team with her savory dish of cumin lamb with fig and scallions.
Though she was one of the more blunt contestants on the show, DiMeo said that her no-nonsense approach to operating in a male-dominated profession is the only way to be respected and “more like a man.”
“You have to be able to walk in and basically say ‘It’s my way or the highway,’” she said.
While we can’t wait to check out the seafood restaurant she plans to open in Astoria once the show is over, we just hope she can make it far enough in the season to really represent.
Astoria's Diana DiMeo is a featured contestant on ABC's "The taste."
Auction Bop
A legendary Queens-born rocker is about to have many of his personal possessions up for sale.
An auction featuring the belongings of Joey Ramone, the lead vocalist/guitarist for The Ramones who died in 2001, will take place this month in Manhattan.
According to reports, among the items that people can bid on is a nearly 100 album vinyl collection from bands such as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Lou Reed.
Other items collectors can try to get include a leather jacket that Ramone owned and wore, two guitars that he used and even his passport.
All of the possessions in the auction came from Joey’s family and comes with a certificate of authenticity if you win one of the items.
Ramone, who’s real name was Jeffry Hyman, was born in Forest Hills and attended Forest Hills High School along with three original members of the band. Together, they wrote and performed famous songs such as “Blitzkreig Bop,” “I Wanna Be Sedated” and “Rockaway Beach.”
The sale will start on Feb. 14 and run for seven days on the auction website, www.rrauction.com.
What's That Smell?
An assistant principal has found himself in a stinky situation after intentionally setting off a stink bomb at his school.
Paul Goldberg, the assistant principal at William H. Car junior high school in Whitestone, is reportedly getting the boot after a safety agent told officials he saw him in the act.
The 25-year teaching veteran denied the malodorous allegations and claimed that the prank accusation was made by one of his “enemies.”
Perhaps Mr. Goldberg was confused and thought he was a junior high school prankster for the day.
Peanut Butter Explosive Time!
A former New Yorker got into a sticky situation at LaGuardia Airport after making a bomb joke about his jar of peanut butter to a TSA agent. Now, he’s suing the worker for $5 million.
 That must have been some good peanut butter. |
Frank Hannibal was going through security when TSA screener Edwin Sanchez noticed a layer of oil on top of his jar of Crazy Richard’s gourmet peanut butter. Hannibal sarcastically mentioned that the airport was going to confiscate his explosives. The TSA agent didn’t appreciate the joke.
Instead of getting on a plane, Hannibal spent the next 25 hours in the slammer. One of the worst parts of his experience, he said, was the poor quality of his prison food: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. For a self-styled peanut butter snob like Hannibal, those sandwiches are no laughing matter.
So what happened to this all-natural peanut butter that got Hannibal into trouble?
“I ate it,” he said.
That might not have been a great idea. It could be considered tampering with evidence!
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