16 weeklypress.com · ucreview.com · october 17• 2012


A behind the scenes look at the Annual Hispanic Choice Awards from the Mimada Beauty Bazaar


By Nicole Contosta Staff Reporter


translates to “pampered” in Spanish, that they drift to sleep. “It’s not easy to set a woman’s hair in rollers if she’s asleep,” joked Markely Aguiar, the co- owner of the Mimada Beauty Bazaar, 1632 South Street. But escaping the stresses and pres- sures of everyday life remains key to the pampering that the Mimada Beauty Bazaar pro- vides when it comes to hair, make-up, nails or waxing, Aguiar explained. That’s where this reporter met Cecilia Ramirez, the Se- nior Producer of the Hispanic Choice Awards (HCA), which honors Latino professionals, organizations and businesses across all sectors in the Dela- ware Valley. Unfortunately, Ramirez did not have the time to completely drift away during my visit to the salon on Tuesday, October 16th


M . It


was the morning of the HCA after all. And Ramirez, roll- ers in hair as she received a pedicure, doubled-checked the event’s final details from the computer perched on her lap while simultaneously answering questions for this story.


If Ramirez felt stressed by the approaching HCA cer- emony, she certainly didn’t show it. In fact, she discussed the HCA’s history and signifi- cance in the Latino commu- nity with relaxed enthusiasm. It all began in 2004 when Javier Suarez, a lifelong Philly resident and founder of the “Hispanic Yellow Pages,” wanted to honor the business owners listed in that direc- tory. Suarez “wanted to do something to celebrate the businesses in that publica- tion,” Ramirez explained. But unlike the formal gala of fifteen hundred guests hosted from the Kimmel Center’s Verizon hall for this year’s ceremony, the first year was very small. “About twenty people gathered together over beers to celebrate one anoth- er,” Ramirez explained. But Suarez, Ramirez relayed, “re- alized that there was some- thing there. He wanted to try it again.” From there, the event grew to 100 guests its second year and 500 guests in


ost women become so relaxed when they visit Mimada, which


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Red Carpet shot from the 2011 Hispanic People’s Choice Awards. Since 2004, the HPC has honored and celebrated Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware’s Latino professionals, organizations and businesses across all sectors. Nominations are made via an online campaign and is open to the public.


its third, Ramirez said. “It’s amazing to watch the event grow from its humble roots,” Ramirez remarked in refer- ence its current sophistica- tion—it’s red carpet portion televised. Premier Latino Iron Chef, Jose Garces will cater the event. CBS Lead Reporter Todd Quiones and Salsa Sen- sation Frankie Negron will act as hosts. Performers such as N’Klabe will offer enter- tainment.


“Nothing else had acknowl- edged Latinos over so many different spectrums,” Ramirez noted. And the categories in which Latino leaders receive recognition run the gamut from Community Advocate of the Year - “Impact Award” to Education Champion of the Year - “El Futuro Award” to Creative Artist of the Year - “Vision Award” to Business Person of the Year - “Trailblazer Award” to Corporate Partner of the Year - “Alianza Award” to the Lifetime Achievement Award. With the exception of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the recipients hail from the Delaware Valley.


The finalists, Ramirez explained are nominated by members of their community. Three quarters of a million Latinos live in the Delaware Valley. From there, a commit- tee of Latino leaders selects the winners by using a rubric to measure the final contes- tants’ accomplishments. And the finalists also vary from re- cent immigrants to those who have lived in the US for gen-


erations, Ramirez explained. The finalists don’t even have to speak Spanish, Ramirez explained. The significance of their accomplishments lies in what they, as Latinos, give back to both the Hispanic and general community, Ramirez explained as she selected a shade of red nail polish to match her cherry dress. Like everything other detail Ramirez and Suarez planned for the event, the shade of her dress reflects something vital. With regard to the color, it illustrates one of the HCA’s philanthropic sponsors, the American Red Cross. Accord- ing to Ramirez, this sponsor- ship acts as a health reminder to those in attendance given the fact that “heart disease is a major killer in the Latino community.”


Ramirez might not have had the time to fall asleep at Mimada on Tuesday morn- ing. But she did note that she, nonetheless, felt pampered and cared for as the salon’s beauticians prepared her for the event.


And feeling pampered is what Mimada strives to ac- complish, Aguiar emphasized, adding that the salon caters to a diverse group of cultures and ethnicities. “Part of being Latino is about blending,” Aguiar said.


For more information on the Hispanic Choice Awards: www.hcaphilly.com. For more information the Mimada Beauty Bazaar: www.mimadabeautybazaar. com.


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Snakes do not have eyelids, so even when they’re asleep, they cannot close their eyes. They do have a protective layer of clear scales, called brille, over their eyes.


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