"Do you know who Luke Perry is?" and so it began......

My uncle is an accountant. He did the taxes for a big agency on South Beach in the 80's and 90's known as Runway Models. My first booker, Ann Blau, saw a picture of me on my uncle's desk, and asked, "Who is that? And how tall is she?" It was just that simple.

I started modeling when I was 15. Booked the first casting I ever went on, a runway show at The Fashion Mall in Plantation, Fla. We were to model for Express, The Limited, and Wet Seal. (very hip and trendy clothing at the time) My dad drove me to the casting, I did various "poses" and walked back and forth the length of the conference room. And when I was done, I was told to take a seat, and my dad and I were asked,

"Do you know who Luke Perry is?"

My dad and I looked at each other, and I said, "A new local designer??"

The client laughed, as "Beverly Hills, 90210" was the new hit show on TV and Luke Perry, "Dylan McKay," was all the rage with girls from 9- 90!!! He was part of a big mall tour across the US promoting the show for the WB network. He would be doing an appearance at the mall, and coming out on stage after our runway segment. Needless to say security was expecting between 400-500 people, and when over 10,000 screaming fans stomping the 3 level mall, showed up, maddening, hectic chaos was an understatement, to say the least.

Each model had their own security guard escort them upstairs to a safe haven, after the runway stage came crumbling down, trampled by adoring fans, in a failed attempt to reach the TV star. Luke Perry was literally walked in through the back door, and walked out in less than 4 minutes. 2 girls were caught under the debris and rushed to the hospital.

After trying to do "Mannequin" and "Window" modeling amongst a still boisterous crowd, the models were sent home, and the incident was on the 5 o'clock news, and in all the papers the next morning.

Despite the chaos and insanity, I was hooked!!!! "Cool," I thought to myself, sitting in the back of the car on the way home, "celebrities, clothes, press, fans.......wow!!!"

My friends didn't believe me until I showed them pictures, and they saw for themselves the write-ups and the news stories.

90210 became my new favorite show. :-)