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Home to some of the country’s best beaches, a vibrant nightlife, landmarks like Westland Mall, Hialeah Park & Casino, and beautiful people of all walks of life, Miami is a dynamic and thriving city – and now it’s home to America’s best karting! K1 Speed Miami brings the thrill of indoor go-kart racing to South Florida. With our convenient Miami location, located 10 miles from Miami International Airport and five miles from Trump National Doral Miami, individuals from throughout the Miami area – including Miami Beach, Palm Beach, and South Beach – can experience the best there is in karting. Open to the public seven days a week, our indoor karting location is available for reservations and walk-ins; children and adults alike can race wheel-to-wheel in heated battles against other racers and the clock! Click below to launch slideshow > For more info call 786-578-0396 or visit www.k1speed.com

You might have seen Cassie Scerbo most recently on ABC’s Grand Hotel as Vanessa, but this wasn’t her first television appearance. In fact, the 29-year-old actress has been on television ever since she was an extra in a Burger King commercial at the age of 10. “It was probably one of the most exciting things I’ve booked, just because it was the first thing,” Cassie laughs. “It’s funny to see how far I’ve come, and what excited me in the beginning. I think it’s important to remember those moments, because they help you remember why you started.” Her passion for acting developed even before the age of 10; Cassie always loved performing and telling stories. For her, acting seemed like the logical choice. “I’ve always been outspoken—in a positive way—and always had a big personality,” she says. Cassie would gather her family and put on little shows for them. “At 4 years old, I was put into dance class, and from there it went to acting, and modeling, and singing. I just loved every form of performing and telling a story.” As most successful actors will tell you, it’s not easy making it in Hollywood. It takes a fighting spirit, and Cassie was not going to give up until she made her dreams come true. “I kind of just went for it. I feel like the older we get, we start to lose those innate feelings. People overthink too much, and I’m trying to learn at my older age, to be more like my younger self and to stop thinking and go for everything based on instinct,” says Cassie. Her family was a big help with her accomplishing her dreams. “My parents believed in me. My incredible mom would drive me to Miami, back and forth all the time for auditions.” Then Cassie got a manager, and started to get callbacks for bigger projects in Los Angeles. “My mom put me on a plane with her, she took me out here, and my dad would visit. They were able to financially support me until I made my own money,” says Cassie, who now lives in Los Angeles. As the youngest of three, Cassie still relies on her Italian family to keep her spirits lifted. “They know how homesick I get, so they try to come visit me as much as they can. This can be a little bit of a crazy town,” she says. Having a strong foundation and the support of her family has allowed her to navigate the ups and downs that come with living in Los Angeles. Over the last twenty years, Cassie has been busy working on several acting projects, especially with Freeform. Her first major role was on Bring It On: In It to Win It. Then, she worked on the movie Teen Spirit, playing Amber Pollock, a character who has remained close to her heart, especially now that she is involved with Boo2Bullying. Cassie made the network her home when she landed the role of gymnast Lauren Tanner in Make It or Break It. A couple of years later, Cassie returned to Freeform as Heather in Baby Daddy. Cassie’s journey has taken her places she never dreamed of. After Make It or Break It, Cassie landed the role of Nova Clarke on SyFy’s Sharknado. Cassie traveled to eight countries in one year for the film. When she first auditioned to play Nova, she thought it was simply going to be a chance for her to dive into a new character, someone very different than the gymnast she had been playing for years. She never thought Sharknado would become a part of pop culture. “No one is going to see it, this will just be fun to do on hiatus,” she recalls her thoughts back then. “I did not think this was going to become a hit. Hell no.” In the beginning, Cassie felt ashamed to be part of the franchise —she thought she wouldn’t be taken seriously after this role. But a year ago, she vowed never to talk about it in that way, since it was an opportunity many wish they had. “No one is ever going to put me in a box. I will never be stereotyped.” However, there were some people who didn’t think the same way. “In the industry, there have been reps of mine and people that have tried to tell me it’s hard to get you in certain roles because you did Sharknado,” she explains. “Then, I went on with booking Grand Hotel, a network show, so that’s so untrue. You are the one who controls your destiny.” Booking the role of Vanessa was a huge success for Cassie —especially because so many people doubted her. Cassie pours her heart and soul into every audition. “I’m going to study the hell out of the character I’m going to audition for. I’m going to research what that character has gone through,” she says. “I write to learn my lines, that visual helps me get it in my brain until I’m not thinking of the words anymore.” She likes to form a backstory and writes diary entries for each character she auditions for. Rejection is the hardest part of each audition, but that doesn’t stop her from going to the next one. “You have to have tough skin.” Cassie has learned that patience is key in Hollywood. “I get so excited when my phone rings, when an agent calls, because I think the hardest part is waiting—waiting sucks!” Her favorite roles are those that feel the most foreign to her. “I love psychology and acting is very much psychology —it’s understanding people and different walks of life. When I book a role that feels very displaced from who I am, that really excites me because it allows me to be an actress.” Thanks to acting, Cassie has been able to walk in other people’s shoes and understand their motives. “You just learn so many things about so many different people.” And it’s that closeness to her characters that made her want to join Boo2Bullying. While playing a bully in Make It or Break It, Cassie decided to join the cause. “My character was so broken and really just needed to be loved.” Cassie has always had a desire to give back, even at a young age. “I wanted to have some sort of platform to help people and send positive messages,” she explains. Boo2Bullying was the perfect platform for Cassie to help others. As their Vice President, Cassie is on a mission to spread kindness, empathy, and compassion. “It’s been an amazing escape—not to sound selfish because I love what I do. I love that in turn I get to step outside of the entertainment industry and speak at these schools and advocate for kindness. One of the main things we talk about is, You’re not alone —in the sense that everybody has dealt with some sort of bullying or knows somebody who has felt some sort of bullying or has felt isolated. Whatever it is, everybody has some kind of issue.” She is trying to break the silence of those who feel alone, teach acceptance, and show that everyone is dealing with their own problems. Cassie keeps herself busy. In between auditions and working with Boo2Bullying, she co-hosts a podcast with her two best friends, “Two and a Half Girls,” a fun comedy talk show, where Cassie and her friends, Brett Collins and Laura Samuels, have fun and chat with celebrity guests. Listen and get caught up on season one’s adventures and get ready for season two, where your favorite celebrities will continue doing dares in the name of charities. Follow Cassie on Instagram: @CassieScerbo @boo2bullying @twoandahalfgirls Words by Claudia Paredes · Photo Credit: Tommy Flanagan

An industry leader for over 40 years, Once Again Nut Butter started with two people, a single barrel roaster, and the idea to create simple, healthy nut butters. Now a team of 86, the 100% employee-owned company remains true to its roots and proudly offers a lineup of nut butters that seamlessly blend wholesomeness with sustainability and innovation. In addition to its support of farmers in underdeveloped countries, initiatives to protect the environment, and unsurpassed safety and quality standards, the company also actively supports its community with social projects and donates to over 150 non-profit organizations a year. Started by husband-and-wife-team, Jeremy Thaler and Constance Potter, the inspiration for Once Again Nut Butter came when a good friend asked Jeremy if he’d ever considered making old-fashioned peanut butter. Always up for a challenge, Jeremy took a pre-owned coffee roaster and started creating nut butter out of their 800-square-foot basement. The entrepreneurial pair had a history of starting employee-owned businesses, so with this new venture, people said “Jeremy and Connie are at it “once again,” hence the company name. In 1981, Once Again moved to a production facility in rural upstate New York, and on these original factory grounds, four baby raccoons grew up and were adopted by the family of employees. Jeremy named one Rocky, and he became the brand’s mascot and a symbol of the company’s wholesome nature and responsibility to the earth and its products. The company’s growing product lineup consists of new Amoré hazelnut and almond spreads available in milk and white chocolate, along with organic and natural peanut, almond, cashew and seed butters, and honey. In 2016, Once Again expanded operations to include an SQF Level 3 Certified, 37,000 square-foot facility just down the street where it produces its peanut butters. The company’s tree nut and seed butters are produced in a separate facility nearby. A true nut butter pioneer, Once Again introduced the first certified-organic, no-stir peanut butter in 2007 as a way to help bridge the gap between mainstream peanut butter and simpler, organic options. The company was also the first to introduce organic Valencia peanut butter, which they did by subsidizing farmers’ crops for five years to ensure their stability and fair pricing. In addition, Once Again works with the Jubilee House, a charity located outside Managua, Nicaragua that helps communities become self-sufficient, sustainable, and democratic. About 25 years ago with Jubilee’s help, Once Again planted a few acres of sesame as a test plot in Nicaragua. In just 12 years, these few acres successfully turned into the development of 13 cooperatives representing 2,000 farmers. Once Again buys these sesame seeds at world market prices, which has greatly enhanced the living conditions of the farmers and their families. To define the team’s efforts since the beginning and take them to the next level, Once Again Nut Butter founded its Honest in Trade program, which looks at three aspects of sustainability: • People: Everyone in Once Again’s supply chain is treated fairly, from its employees who are considered family, to the community who sees the brand as a big brother, to its farm workers who receive above fair-trade market prices and are negotiated with directly. • Products: In addition to undergoing constant external audits, Once Again has a robust quality assurance program and state-of-the-art laboratories to monitor internal practices, food safety and food quality. The plant protocols they have in place for cleanliness are unprecedented, and the team has built a database to track commodities back to the supply chain, and eventually the farmer. • Planet: Winners of the How Good Award in 2016 and 2017 for being one of the most sustainable companies in the world, Once Again uses solar electricity, has an internal recycling program, makes its containers from recycled materials, and donates its food waste. Once Again has come a long way since the days when Jeremy was making nut butter using a coffee roaster. The company’s products can now be found in stores throughout Miami, including Whole Foods Market, Publix and Winn-Dixie, and can be purchased online at OnceAgainNutButter.com.

Perched at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, Sutro’s at The Cliff House is considered by many the restaurant with the most spectacular ocean views in San Francisco, California. The world-famous Cliff House sits in historic Sutro Heights –a historic public park in the Outer Richmond District of western San Francisco. Click below to launch slideshow > The Cliff House was originally a hotel, then a resort, and now, a restaurant. It is a legacy as it has survived numerous catastrophes. In 1887, a large section of the property was destroyed by a dynamite explosion. In 1906, it survived a major earthquake. A fire just a year later destroyed the entire property. Sutro’s daughter commissioned the reconstruction of the property with a neo-classical style, which remains what we see today. The elegant restaurant features American cuisine, showcasing local seafood offerings and fresh produce. For starters, try the Ahi Tuna Tartare with pine nut, pear, and quail egg yolk infused with sesame oil. The Dungeness Crab Cakes served with chipotle aioli, orange, apple, fennel, and arugula is also an appetizing choice. For mains, enjoy the roasted Alaskan Halibut cooked with champagne beurre blanc, and served with braised winter greens, glazed caramelized onions, and mushrooms. For meat lovers, the 14 oz. Center Cut Prime NY Steak is a perfect choice. Sutro’s features an extensive beverage and wine list that includes a list of wines from local vineyards. Wine pairing for your dinner is a special way to experience the culinary excellence of Sutro. To finish your dining experience, enjoy the Chocolate Lava Cake with Raspberry gel served with white chocolate crunchies and vanilla ice cream or the classic Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée For casual dining, stop by The Cliff House’s Bistro Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Sunday’s Champagne Buffet Brunch in the Terrace Room is highly popular, offering a wide range of freshly-made dishes, fruits, pastries, and not to be forgotten, free-flowing champagne. Note: A phone call reservation must be made for Sunday brunch. For sunset enjoyment, stop by Zinc Bar or Sutro’s Bar & Lounge; both venues offer appetizers and drinks with live jazz entertainment on Friday nights. Whether you want a memorable dining experience, lunch with family, or an elegant evening, The Cliff House can accommodate you. The Cliff House is located at 1090 Point Lobos Ave., San Francisco, CA 94121 | Phone: 415- 386-3330 | www.cliffhouse.com By ML Staff. Images courtesy of The Cliff House

Los Angeles’ top-grossing real estate power couple, Branden and Rayni Williams behind Williams & Williams Estates of Hilton & Hyland, are the new West Coast reps for the iconic Zaha Hadid-designed luxury condominium, One Thousand Museum. With over $4 billion in total gross sales, along with ultra-luxury listings throughout Southern California, Williams & Williams is expanding into new territory by introducing Hadid’s first residential skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The exquisite 62-story tower’s unprecedented fusion of art, architecture, design, location and luxury will make it Miami’s most coveted address. “We’ve long admired Zaha Hadid and her brimming portfolio of iconic architecture found across the globe,” said Branden Williams, Co-Founder of Williams & Williams Estates. “One Thousand Museum pushes architectural boundaries and is poised to become the most prestigious new residential property in Miami. We are honored to represent the building and one of Zaha Hadid’s last projects.” Click below to launch slideshow > Internationally renowned for her revolutionary designs of buildings in premier cities worldwide including Beijing, Abu Dhabi, Rome and London, One Thousand Museum is comprised of 83 residences consisting of a two-story duplex penthouse, four townhouses, eight full-floor residences and 70 half-floor units, the residential condominium tower is expected to be complete in Fall 2018. Pricing ranges from $5M to more than $20M. Developed by Louis Birdman, Gregg Covin and Kevin Venger, One Thousand Museum boasts a curvaceous exterior comprised of glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) and will be the first building in the country to utilize this revolutionary exoskeleton. “We’ve noticed many of our LA-based clients expressing interest in Miami and are excited to introduce our network to the most exciting project in town,” added Williams. “Buyers want to escape the high California state taxes while adding to their property portfolios, and with the booming condominium market, South Florida has become the ultimate destination for these luxury buyers.” With over 30,000 square feet of extraordinary amenity space, One Thousand Museum offers residents access to a two-story Aquatic Center with an infinity edge pool and sunbathing terrace, wellness center and spa, a Sky Lounge, fitness center, and private rooftop helipad. The residences’ interiors boast open floorplans that are nearly column-free, with oversized terraces that capture mesmerizing panoramic views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Located at 1000 Biscayne Boulevard, One Thousand Museum is in the cultural epicenter of Miami, overlooking prominent landmarks such as the future home of the Perez Art Museum, the Frost Museum of Science, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the American Airlines Arena. Branden and Rayni Williams joined forces in 2006 and have completed several billion dollars in transactions together. As a team, they have been on The Wall Street Journal’s list of top producers in the nation for the past three consecutive years. Born and raised in Beverly Hills, Branden’s comprehensive knowledge of the neighborhoods, school districts, and homes brings a “hometown advantage” to the Williams & Williams brand. Rayni brings a keen artistic and stylish lens to the real estate process, an East Coast native born to a real estate family, her perspective effortlessly blends art, architecture and design to seamlessly provide top-tier insights to all of their clients. For more information, visit 1000museum.com/. For inquiries or private showings, please contact Branden Williams at BrandenWilliams@mac.com or Rayni Williams at Rayni@TheWilliamsEstates.com, or 310.691.5935.

FIBO, the world’s largest fitness/wellness festival took place October 17-20, 2019 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Backed by 34 years of iconic global events across Germany, China, and South Africa, FIBO’s second annual US event invited fitness, health and wellness lovers to get up close and personal with the game-changing people, ideas, and products transforming bodies and minds all over the world. The three-day festival featured meet and greets and exclusive trainings with celebrity fitness personalities; 100+ heart-pumping group workouts from Beachbody, POUND, Zumba, Les Mills, Soulbody, Alignment Essentials and more; inspiring health and wellness talks and workshops; futuristic technology demos; and restorative recovery and mind-body balance experiences. Photo credit: James Woodley Photography.

Grandes Ecuries of the Domaine de Chantilly, Maria Grazia Chiuri showed her cruise 2019 ready-to-wear collection. “Each of the women presented is one and multiple, both herself and many others, some illustrious and some less well known to us, but all of whom resemble her in some way.” Nicole Loraux, La Grèce au féminin The escaramuzas are traditional Mexican women riders who have claimed the right to participate in the charreada – an equestrian practice of performing several challenging routines before a crowd - just as the male riders do. With their strong, sculpted bodies clad in costumes that emphasize their femininity (full skirts, embroideries, bright colors, large hats and owers), these women proved an inspiration to Maria Grazia Chiuri, the Artistic Director of the Dior women’s collections. For the 2019 cruise collection, she interpreted these elements combining tradition and freedom in a contemporary way. Ample and extravagant skirts are worn with tted jackets that accentuate the narrowness of the waist, emphasized with a high belt. The collection is punctuated with different materials, such as that great French classic that is toile de Jouy, which has been revisited and modernized, its picturesque scenes featuring the introduction of a series of wild animals, including tigers and serpents. Lace, whether light or opulent, layered in pleated ounces or perfectly rounded, is set off by black rubber boots that contrast with the more contemporary elements: transformed tulle skirts and Bar jackets possess an assertive air. The tulle blooms a powerful red as well as in superimposed powdery shades. Click to view larger image > The power of these united and supportive women, evoking the female crafting groups devoted to the transmission of artisanal savoir- faire in a form of shared creative freedom, prompted Maria Grazia Chiuri to reinterpret a series of typical materials and techniques through a contemporary prism. The image of the Amazon, a mythological beauty from antiquity, also pushed her to explore a wardrobe whose sporting dimension overcomes gender barriers. As a result, jackets in Japanese cotton are paired with pants in various shapes, culotte skirts, or skirts whose pleating recalls the design Drags, an haute couture afternoon dress designed by Christian Dior for the spring-summer 1948 collection. The look is nished with the iconic Saddle bag, as rethought by Maria Grazia Chiuri, as well as white or striped men’s shirts, and a slim black tie. The collection also references The House of the Spirits, the rst novel by the Chilean writer Isabel Allende, with its portrayal of independent female characters. Wide-brimmed straw hats, created by Stephen Jones, are worn with white dresses, embroidered according to traditional dressmaking methods, with lace inlays given graphic impact through the use of black. Chantilly, a town linked to the tradition of lace, but also to the great French equestrian tradition, provides a symbolic setting for this collection. STARS IN DIOR Click to view larger image > ML Staff, Courtesy of Dior. Group shot image by Estelle Hanania for Dior

The Orianne and Phil Collins’ Little Dreams Foundation celebrated their 5th Annual Gala in Miami’s Design District. Under the modern arches of the historic Moore Building, honored guests participated in an LDF casino experience, sipped on flowing champagne during the VIP cocktail hour, dined on a delectable four-course, sit-down meal, and enjoyed an unplugged musical styling by music icon Richard Marx, Phantom of the Opera’s Tim Howar, and the talented Alex Di Leo, along with foundation beneficiaries, Little Dreamers. Hosted by Phil Collins, Orianne Collins, more than 300 of South Florida’s prominent figures, business leaders and celebrities gathered at the annual event, which raised funds to support the nonprofit organization that helps children between the ages of 6–17 without financial means to pursue their musical, artistic or athletic dreams. Orianne Collins, Eddie Leal, & Phill Collins Moore Building Romero Britto Daisy Fuentes & Rosana Brijbag Evander Holyfield Richard Marx& Daisy Fuentes Katerina Sagardia, Mariela Encarnacion, Gilda Torres, & Ingrid Luquetes Tim Howar and Little Dreamers Performing DJ Irie Images by World Red Eye and Mitchell Saks

Leading luxury jewelry and timepiece retailer MAYORS celebrated the grand opening of their flagship at The Shops at Merrick Park with an elegant cocktail reception alongside a slew of notable attendees. In celebration of the grand opening, MAYORS collaborated with Karen Martinez, Lola Ponce, Martha Graeff and Shea Marie as brand ambassadors to reveal and wear pieces from MAYORS High Jewelry, Messika, Pamela Love and Roberto Coin to the event. Attendees enjoyed a variety of engaging activations throughout the evening including a ‘finger photo-op’ red carpet moment, a photobooth encouraging guests to document the night, a Flash Tattoo station in celebration of the collaboration with Pamela Love and a custom design experience with MAYORS’ in-house jewelry designer, Bruno Dunlop. Karen Martinez, Lola Ponce, Shea Marie, & Martha Graeff Notables who joined David Hurley (Executive Vice President of The Watches of Switzerland Group), David Kellie (Head of US Marketing at The Watches of Switzerland Group), and Frank Cimilluca (Vice President of Retail Operations at MAYORS) included a variety of socials and influencers including, but not limited to, Aaron Diaz, Ana Milton, Andres Fanjul, Elysze Held, Eva Hughes, Irma Martinez, Karen Martinez, Kelly Saks, Lola Ponce, Manny Machado, Martha Graeff, Melody and Christiaan De La Fe, Shea Marie and Soledad Picon. To shop and learn more about MAYORS, please visit www.MAYORS.com. Karen Martinez, Eva Hughes, & Irma Martinez Nicolas Pic, David Hurley, & Benjamin Beaufils Elysze Held, David Kellie, & Lesley Decanio Karen Martinez, Carolina Melo, Kim Caceres, Elysze Held, Lola Ponce, & Martha Graeff Christiaan de la Fe, Melody de la Fe, Shea Marie, & Andres Fanjul David Kellie, Melissa Fichman, David Hurley, & Frank Cimilluca Soledad Picon, Malena Assing, Eva Picon, & Yulien Brenlla By ML staff. Images courtesy of Mayors

freebird is the debut poetry collection by emerging poet, Laura Muensterer. The book features one hundred original poems that elegantly express a multi-faceted interpretation of the human condition and feed the soul with validation. Laura’s depth of perspective reflected in her poems far outweighs her 22 years on earth. freebird dances through topics from relationships, the passing of time, self-love, self-judgment, the image myth, trust, betrayal, liberation, and ultimately freedom. The poetry book culminates with the poem titled freebird. The “freebird” is one who sees through the human illusion and casts off the delusions of ego, societal expectation, and self-criticism, to finally be able to fly. Laura was born in Munich, Germany and raised in Dallas, Texas by her German father, and midwestern, Oklahoma-bred mother. She now resides in San Diego, CA. She began writing poetry in elementary school with the hope of giving a voice to a full range of human emotions. “When I write, I try to interpret what I believe many people around the world are experiencing but may not have the words to express.” Through poetry and illustration, Laura explores various aspects of the human experience while shedding light on the many ways our past shapes our present and future self. Your poems reflect such amazing insight and you’re only 22 years old. Where do the ideas come from? Laura Muensterer: I began writing poetry as far back as grade school and middle school started, when I would practice writing poems in English class. It is something that has been inside me for as long as I can remember. I think being born in Munich, Germany to a German dad and a mom from America, as well as moving around a bit growing up set the stage for my sense of wanderlust, in terms of wanting to know about the world, the human experience, and why we experience the things we do. Writing poetry has always been my way of exploring and expressing all facets of the human condition and all ranges of emotion, including my own. What other poets have inspired you and your work? LM: I have been following Rupi Kaur’s work for years and I gain great inspiration from her poetry. Her work certainly informs and inspires me, but in terms of my poetry, I have my own individual style and voice. How would you describe the collection of one hundred poems in your new book, freebird? LM: Although the poems in my book cover a wide range of topics, from love and relationships to self-doubt, confidence, growth, betrayal, forgiveness, and freedom, the overarching theme throughout all of my poetry is that it is rooted in humanity; the simplicity and complexity of feeling like both child and adult throughout our lives here on earth. I try to interpret all of the phases of life we go through, and I also try to include things that could be relatable to most everyone. When I write, I try to interpret what I believe many people around the world are experiencing, but may not have the words to express. freebird is available on Amazon. For more on Laura, visit lauramuensterer.com Words by Allison Kugel

There is no question about it, Brooke Lyons knows how to make the best out of whatever comes her way. Actually, it’s the 39-year-old’s fighting spirit that brought her where she is today in Hollywood. You might recognize her from Two Broke Girls, Life Sentence, The Affair or most recently, Magnum P.I. She has been in the entertainment industry since 2004, and has mostly focused on television throughout her career. Currently, Brooke is filming the NBC drama, Lincoln, scheduled for release in 2020, and her previous project, Paradise City, is in post-production. Brooke is busy -- after all, there is no shortage of shows being created. “We’re in the Golden Age of TV,” says Brooke. Early on, Brooke didn’t know that her passion for the arts and storytelling would lead her to acting. “Growing up in Connecticut, I’m not even sure being an actress or being an artist was possible,” says Brooke. “It was probably because I didn’t know a grown-up making a living from the arts.” It was not until after college that she thought, Maybe I can do this as a job. “I have always been infatuated with storytelling. As a child, I liked to watch and rewatch movies.” She liked how movies, through storytelling, could transport her to another time, another realm. “I started ballet at a very young age --even those stories called to me, like The Nutcracker.” Brooke wanted to be a dancer, and studied ballet at the Joffrey Ballet School, The New England Ballet School, and Boston Ballet. However, when she was diagnosed with scoliosis, she was forced to reconsider her aspirations of becoming a professional ballerina. “At the time, it was a huge disappointment,” she shares. “It was really what I wanted to do.” No teen ever anticipates having to deal with a setback like this, however, Brooke, then 14 years old, made the most of it and discovered that the best medicine sometimes is laughter. “It’s the peak of when my sense of humor developed —out of pure necessity,” she chuckles. “I’m diagnosed with scoliosis, I had a back brace and when you are in the 9th grade, and the boy you like is sitting next to you in math class, and you drop a pencil, but you physically can’t pick it up because you are wearing a back brace straight out of Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion; it’s funny. There is no way to be cool or suave, you just have to laugh,” she says with a laugh. “Those experiences shape you. It’s part of what makes me who I am, and I’m grateful for that.” After high school, Brooke enrolled at Yale, where she studied English literature. There, she fell in love with the power of theater and television and learned the anatomy of storytelling. “It gave me the whole foundation for what I do,” says Brooke. While Brooke was a sophomore at Yale, she had to have surgery to correct her spine. “I couldn’t do anything, but I missed performing. Post-surgery, I was crawling out of my skin with creative energy and I didn’t know what to do with it, so I decided to audition for a play. I got it and I fell madly in love.” It was after this play that she thought, Maybe I could make a living out of this. “I bought a one-way ticket to L.A. [California] --where I had never been,” she laughs. “I showed up after graduation. Honestly, it was terrifying. I didn’t know anyone; I didn’t know anything. You look back at your life, and if I would have known then, what I know now, I would have never done it. There is something nice about being naïve enough just to take that leap, take that chance.” Although it was hard in the beginning, Brooke stuck with it, and stayed in Los Angeles, and now has a thriving acting career to show for it. “I stayed. A lot of people leave. Some may call that perseverance or resilience, I think I’m just incredibly stubborn.” Currently, Brooke is playing Abby Miller on Magnum P.I. Abby is Magnum’s girlfriend and a criminal defense attorney. “It’s fun, because when you meet a character in television, you get one episode at a time, so you only have that one episode to piece together this idea of her. At the time, I did a little research into criminal defense attorneys, and I used a lot of my imagination to know what elements of her personality bring her to life. If the script says she is outdoorsy and down-to-earth, I’m thinking, Let’s trace it back. What was her childhood like? What drives her to be one way versus the other?” she explains. In Showtime’s The Affair, she plays Eden Ellery. “What I love about these characters in The Affair is that these are complex women who are written to be smart, independent, and morally ambiguous. They are not just there to prop up the man. Eden, she is my favorite of all time. I really relished the opportunity to embody Eden through different character’s perspectives —the lead characters, they see Eden through different lenses.” Brooke explains that the show is done through two different perspectives, and because of this, she found herself adapting her performance each time, so it could be channeled through different people’s eyes. “That has been so much fun,” says Brooke. “In life, too, we say, ‘I have an identity.’ We think of us being a certain way, but often we don’t consider that every person perceives us differently.” Over the last fifteen years, Brooke has taken on many different roles and has learned so much from playing all these characters. There is one thing that she wishes she knew when she first started out in Hollywood: to be herself. “There is only one you —do you and do it well. That took me a long time to come to. I think in Hollywood, as in life, it’s uncomfortable to try to fit in a box. If you give yourself permission to be authentically you, everything becomes clear.” Follow Brooke on Instagram: @BrookieLyons and Twitter: @BrookeLyons. Words by Claudia Paredes | Photo Credit: Hudson Taylor

You may have heard of the term “wardrobing” -- the act of buying an outfit, wearing it out, and then returning it. We know people do it. It’s a rising trend, and most fashion brands struggle with how to handle it, except for DIESEL. The new campaign, “Enjoy Before Returning,” for their Autumn-Winter 2019 collection is a playful, nonconformist stance on this controversial topic. Rather than condemning wardrobing, DIESEL embraces it. Click below to launch slideshow > Images by Angelo Pennetta | Production by Art Partner | Stylist Julia Sarr-Jamois