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....July 11, 10:46 AM |
| Pretty Dreamer
When Latasha Mercer started modeling earlier this year, she very quickly discovered that the catwalk is far from a cakewalk.
The 22-year-old East Elmhurst resident always possessed a strong interest in the industry, but contented herself by working as an assistant in fashion and casting. Then, all of a sudden, she lost a lot of weight and made the leap to the spotlight. Although Latasha’s newfound size helped her, she still faces challenges. “You get much fewer chances than a Caucasian girl of the same stature,” she said. “Those are my only roadblocks.” According to Latasha, modeling agencies in the City seem to be making decisions based on quotas. “I was told by a booker that they already had two strong African-American models and they were satisfied. Two was their limit and their maximum,” Latasha said. Although Latasha enjoyed her other jobs – especially working on New York Fashion Week – she is determined to model herself. “I’m trying to give agents a harder time saying no,” she said. “That’s really my focus right now.” To that end, Latasha is expanding her portfolio and networking up a storm. In her downtime, she frequently dines with friends at Mojave, a Mexican restaurant near Ditmars Boulevard. “I’d like to make enough money to start my own business,” Latasha said, adding, “right now I’m dreaming.” Her dreams revolve around starting a modeling agency for models of color. “That just doesn’t mean black, but Indian, Asian, Latina – any race that feels they have a harder time fitting in with what the standards of high fashion seem to be today.” But Latasha has other, more easily-achievable goals too. “Queens has a lot of great Thai food and some Indian food that I’d really like to try,” she said. Latasha Mercer East Elmhurst Age: 22 Height: 5’8" Weight: 118 Stats: 32-25-24 |
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Main Street Speaks Out On Wall Street Council Members Mixed On Term Limits Hometown Hero Dies In Afghanistan Civilian Honored Miracle Dog Needs Home Rec Hall Named For WWI Heroes Redfern Community Center Saved Again Restaurant At Odds With Parks Department Park Renaming Does Weinstein Justice Trobiano’s No Longer A Kitchen Nightmare Young Voters Show Big Numbers In Queens Queens G.O.P. Gaga Over McCain Hospital Lives On, Continues to Fight Maltese Loses Key Ally In Seminerio Stadium Memorabilia Selling Fast Fugitive Convicted In 2001 Murder Rally Howls For Affordable Housing Sikhs and Arab Still Suffer Since 9/11 Queens’ Latin Jazz Coalition Finds Rhythm Going From Here to There — Got Ideas? Protest To Keep School Bus Routes Rival Term Limits Bills Approach Council Floor Stolen Torahs Returned | |||||||
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| Run By Queens
Highland Park may be a neighborhood in Brooklyn, but Highland Park — the park itself — straddles the two boroughs. Since 1912, the Parks Department has recognized the site as belonging to both Brooklyn and Queens.
Last week, the Highland Park Community Development Corporation presented its prestigious Meritorious Service Award to Park Administrator Debby Kuha. “The HPCDC presented Debby with the award in recognition of her outstanding achievements and dedication to improving the quality of life for the families of Brooklyn and the Highland Park community,” the press release read in part. But what the press release fails to mention is that Debby lives in Queens. The park may belong to both boroughs, but its best administrator chooses to side with us. |
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| Amazin’ Pudding?
Kozy Shack will become the official pudding of the New York Mets.
The pudding maker will begin offering chocolate and rice pudding at the stadium starting this week. “As a hometown New York company we’re especially proud to be the official pudding of everyone’s favorite Queens ball club – the New York Mets,” Bob Striano, Kozy Shack’s CEO, said. “And we’re excited to be able to offer fans a fabulous, wholesome, natural dessert – a welcomed choice for many parents from the sugary candy options, while they watch their favorite team. It’s a home run for everyone.” There’s nothing like a tepid-gelatinous-lump of heavy cream and sugar to beat those hot summer days at the ballpark – right? Hot dogs and custard – expect the lines for this combo to be “amazin’.” |
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| Al Roker's Survey Says
Does wacky weatherman and St. Albans-raised Al Roker foresee huge laughter with a chance of high ratings with his latest venture, Celebrity Family Feud?
Survey says … well, in its second week, the show slipped in ratings, bringing in a total of 6.96 million viewers and finishing third in the 8 p.m. Tuesday time slot. But don’t count the mighty meteorologist out just yet; for one thing, he was slowed in the most recent show by the deadweight of Cathy Lee Gifford. In the show, four celebrity families compete each week, trying to determine how survey-takers responded to specific questions, for example, “Name something that runs on batteries?” Roker is reportedly stoked to be hosting the show. “I can say, with all honesty, that this is the only game show I’ve ever wanted to host,” he recently told one publication. Viewers can check out Roker and his famous feuding families at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. |
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| Anna Karenina In Rego Park
A new novel by Rego Park native Irina Reyn will transport one of literature’s classic characters to the Queens author’s home town.
“What Happened to Anna K.” takes Leo Tolstoy’s title character from the late 19th century literary masterpiece that bears her name, Anna Karenina, and transports her into the Queens melting pot. In Reyn’s retelling of the moral parable of romance and deception in the Russian aristocracy, she recasts Anna as an isolated character grappling with issues of identity, isolation, gender and loyalty in modern day Queens. “I did not even look at the book again. I used memories of the scenes that resonated with me,” Reyn said of her approach to bringing the character into contemporary Queens during an interview with Publishers Weekly. Reyn was compelled to reimagine the classic character in her hometown by the similarities she saw between the two worlds despite being separated by a century and a continent. “I was very much interested in setting Anna K. in the place where I grew up, the Rego Park section of Queens. The Russian immigrants are more secular than the Bukharans, whose traditions are so strong. The book goes on sale in August. |
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