If you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion, STK South Beach is the place to go. Whether it’s an anniversary, birthday, or a big promotion that brought you through the door, it’s the service, vibe, and perfectly cooked steaks that will keep you coming back. Located in the heart of Miami Beach, right on Collins Avenue, this modern steakhouse is an experience you cannot miss out on. If you’ve visited one of the 15 STKs around the U.S., you know that it’s more than just a steakhouse. This is one sexy restaurant, with sexy food. Ladies, bring on the heels, and gentlemen, grab your nicest shirt; here you come to impress—after all, this is Miami Beach. Inside the environment is vibrant—a little loungey, a little clubby, and food galore. You come here to have a good time. For a more intimate dining experience, get comfortable at one of the plush white booths located in the back of the restaurant, but if you’re looking to mingle, get cozy at the bustling bar near the entrance. This 10,000 square foot space is filled with beautiful celling art, tall white flower vases, and majestic lighting—and who can forget the iconic STK neon sign. STK has something for everyone, so even if you’re not craving steaks for the night, it’s also a great place to unwind with grab cocktails. For those with a sweet tooth, Strawberry Cobbler is something else. The rim of the glass is perfectly crusted with gram crackers, making every sip taste like warm pie. If you’re looking for something less sweet, but equally magnificent, the Spiced Watermelon features jalapeño and gives it that extra kick. Before indulging in one of the entrees, at STK you’ll find a variety of starters, salads, and even a raw bar and shellfish platters. The Tuna Tartare and the Ceviche are both exquisite, light options that will excite your palate, while still leaving room for the main course. Although the steak is the main attraction at STK, there is plenty on the menu for everyone’s taste. The main entrees feature a variety of dishes, from pastas, to chicken, lamb, and bass. The Maine Lobster Linguini and the Free Range Chicken are two classic dishes that won’t disappoint. And now for the carnivores at the table, there are small, medium, and large format steaks available—or how I like to call it, how hungry did you come? The Spinalis—weighing 8oz—is the most flavorful and tender part of the ribeye steak. This is a treat, and not very common cut offered at restaurants, which is why there is no question, this is a must-have at STK. Another fantastic steak is the Dry-Aged Delmonico, at 14oz, this cut is best served medium rare, and comes tender and juicy. Finally, the Dry-Aged Tomahawk, weighing 34oz, is a beauty and a beast. This buttery, rich steak is more than anyone could ask for. If you’re looking to bedazzle your steak, there are several “toppings” available, try the shrimp or lobster tail. And if you’d like to pamper your steak ever more, add one of the signature butters, or accompany each bite with a sauce—try the classic Chimichurri, or the STK Bold. And while a good steak can speak for itself, STK’s side dishes are delicious and cannot be missed, especially the Confit Mushrooms and the Crispy Brussels Sprouts, which feature cuts of bacon. These are both generous portions that feel like full meals themselves. Finally, before heading home, leave some room for the Bag O’Donuts—four perfectly fluffy doughnuts ready to be dipped in dulce de leche, raspberry, and chocolate sauce. Yum! STK South Beach is located 2305 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For more information, visit: www.stksteakhouse.com/venues/south-beach/ or call (305) 604-6988 By Claudia Paredes. Images provided by STK South Beach

Celebrate Mother's Day by treating your mother to MILA, a restaurant, rooftop lounge, and mixology bar that transports diners on a culinary journey through the shores of the Mediterranean and Japan, while creating a visionary expression of flavorful MediterrAsian cuisine. This Mother's Day embark on a flavorful and unique journey with a selection of dishes by Michelin Star Chef Michael Michaelidis: - 4oz center cut skirt steak, hearts of palm - Soba Noodle salad, artichoke, pesto, white goma - Egg in a jar, potato puree, feta foam, sourdough toast Finish your meal with a specialty dessert created in partnership with Miami-based Ben B Coco, a chocolate sphere filled with tasty treats meant to be shared. MILA’s philosophy is inspired by Mediterranean cultures, embracing the importance of slowing down and enjoying the moment. Its MediterrAsian menu, served izakaya-style, is born from a devotion to quality, simplicity, and purity. Mediterranean and Japanese dishes, cooking techniques, and methodologies and revisited and infused with a modern twist, while creating cohesion between the two cultures. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of MILA

The winners of Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards were announced today, honoring clean technology, innovative corporate initiatives, brave new designs for cities and buildings, and other creative works that are supporting the growth of positive social innovation, tackling social inequality, climate change, and the public health crises. OutFit – a new innovative mobile fitness service bringing convenient, affordable, expert-led private training and group fitness classes to parks and neighborhoods – was named honorable mention in the wellness category. Founder Randy Hetrick, a former Navy SEAL and Founder of TRX®, launched OutFit’s pilot program in Broward County, FL in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic when many of the fitness industry’s most seasoned trainers and innovators found themselves out of work and gyms closed everywhere. Hetrick brought together a team of veteran fitness industry executives to form OutFit. OutFit delivers large, circuit-style classes that are open workouts conveniently located in beautiful public spaces coined “training grounds.” The 50-minute class provides the perfect blend of strength, cardio, flexibility, and fun. Each class is led by an expertly trained fitness coach, named an “OutFitter in Charge,” who arrives in a customized fitness van equipped with TRX® training gear and a heart-pumping sound and timing system. Perfect for someone who is results-obsessed but time-challenged, OutFit also offers private training in personal spaces and homes or any place of choice with its premium-level, private concierge service. OutFit’s roster of diverse outdoor classes includes 16 different formats of its signature HIIT (high intensity interval training) classes, as well as OutFit’s Power Yoga Flow, and outdoor Zumba®. The World Changing Ideas Awards showcase winners, finalists, and honorable mentions—with climate, social justice, and AI and data among the most popular categories. A panel of eminent Fast Company editors and reporters select award winners from a pool of more than 2,997 entries across transportation, education, food, politics, technology, health, social justice, and more. In addition, several new categories have been added this year including climate, nature, water, and workplace. The 2022 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Switzerland to Hong Kong to Australia. Fast Company’s Summer 2022 issue (on newsstands May 10, 2022) will showcase some of the world’s most inventive entrepreneurs and companies tackling global challenges. The issue highlights probiotics for coral reefs, easy-to-assemble kit homes for refugees or disaster survivors, a 3D printed vaccine patch, an electric truck, a system to heat homes from the waste heat of a name-brand factory, and prosecutor-initiated resentencing for overly long prison sentences. "We are grateful and humbled to be among the honorable mentions in the wellness category of Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards,” said Hetrick. “We only launched OutFit a year ago, with the goal to deliver inspiring, expert-led boutique exercise experiences that are convenient, fun, and affordable to the community. Achieving recognition like this so early in our development means that we’re doing things the right way. And it inspires us in our mission to rule the outdoor fitness landscape and deliver inspiring, affordable exercise experiences that change lives.” “We are consistently inspired by the novelty and creativity that people are applying to solve some of our society’s most pressing problems, from shelter to the climate crisis. Fast Company relishes its role in amplifying important, innovative work to address big challenges,” says David Lidsky, interim editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “Our journalists have identified some of the most ingenious initiatives to launch since the start of 2021, which we hope will both have a meaningful impact and lead others to join in being part of the solution.” By ML Staff. Images courtesy of OutFit

Miami-based Limestone Asset Management purchased the 9,148-square-foot (0.21-acre) flagship property of restaurant PLANTA on April 29 for $12 million. Completed as a 2018 built-to-suit and the first PLANTA in the state of Florida, the 7,835-square-foot-building is located at 850 Commerce Street, Miami Beach, FL, 33139 in the affluent South of Fifth neighborhood. Limestone Asset Management invests in and acquires real estate properties over all asset classes throughout North America. Kevin Sanz of Orion Real Estate Group represented the buyer, Limestone Planta, LLC. Alex Sharrin of JLL represented the seller, Commerce Street Properties, LLC. First National Bank of South Miami is providing financing. PLANTA, a David Grutman project led by Founder and CEO Steven Salm and Co-founder and Executive Chef David Lee, is Miami’s premier location for innovative plant-based fine dining. Its goal is to expand the acceptability, enjoyment, and celebration of the power of plants. The restaurant’s owners are the lessees and will remain in the building until 2028. Champions of plant-based living for better health, community, and the planet, the restaurant has locations in New York, Toronto, and Maryland, in addition to Florida, with plans of expansion in Chicago and California. Additionally, PLANTA offers nationwide delivery of its plant-based signature dishes, desserts, condiments, and sauces. “PLANTA is a unique restaurant concept, and we are excited to purchase their flagship property located in the South of Fifth neighborhood,” said Ibrahim Al-Rashid, chairman of Limestone Asset Management. “Rarely do opportunities present themselves in this neighborhood. A block from Joe’s Stone Crab, one of America's most iconic restaurants, is a place every landlord would love to be.” Limestone Asset Management is an affiliate of Orion Real Estate Group, its joint venture partner in the deal. Limestone Asset Management uses Orion Real Estate Group's expertise to complete all of its North America-based transactions. About Limestone Asset Management: Miami-based Limestone Asset Management was founded in 2010 and invests in and acquires real estate properties over all asset classes throughout North America. For more information, visit https://orionmiami.com/our-affiliates/. About Orion Real Estate Group: Orion Real Estate Group provides commercial real estate services to investment clients around the world. Since its founding in 1978, the firm has been involved in more than $4 billion in transactions and holds a portfolio exceeding $800 million. Its headquarters are located at 200 S. Biscayne Blvd, 7th floor, Miami, FL 33131. For more information, visit https://orionmiami.com/ or call (305) 278-8400 or 1-888-255-4502. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Limestone Asset Management

Ecologically and culturally diverse, Miami extends a friendly ¡Bienvenidos! for responsible, green-minded visitors. From eco-friendly hotels and low-impact activities to give-back voluntourism opportunities that help the community, the greater Miami area offers many chances to support conservation efforts, observe wildlife and leave little or no trace of your time here. Here are some brilliant ways to be mindful and kind while helping the Magic City retain its natural magic. ECO-FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS Fairchild Garden Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, an 83-acre oasis with collections of rare tropical palms, cycads and flowering trees, plays an important role in the conservation of South Florida’s endangered plants through seed banking and reintroduction of rare plants. The garden is open daily, showcasing its bizarre, beautiful plants, petite waterfalls, edible garden and butterfly conservatory. The eco-friendly bookstore features fair trade products and books on tropical gardening and cuisine. Seabird Station Pelican Harbor Seabird Station cares for more than 1,000 injured brown pelicans and seabirds, raptors, songbirds and reptiles every year, most victims of fishing tackle. There are self-guided and custom tours, along with a two-hour sunset birding cruise. Shark Valley A 50-minute drive from downtown Miami, the Shark Valley Visitor Center walking and bike trail in Everglades National Park is an amazing, 150-mile loop through alligators, wading birds and Florida’s famed River of Grass, the largest subtropical wetland in North America. Rent a bike there or take the two-hour tram tour by a park-trained naturalist. Deering Estate The 1920s home of American businessman and philanthropist Charles Deering, the Deering Estate is best known as a backdrop for the 1980s TV series “Miami Vice” and the starting line for “The Amazing Race All-Stars” in 2007, but it also is the site of the largest virgin coastal tropical hardwood hammock in the continental United States. Along with a sustainability film series and lectures, there are Biscayne Bay cruises, tours of the property’s restricted natural areas and guided butterfly walks. Biscayne National Park Within sight of downtown Miami, the underwater Biscayne National Park is 172,971 acres of shallow bay waters, coral limestone, shoreline mangroves and one of the largest coral reefs in the world. The Biscayne National Park Institute provides eco-adventures that include snorkeling shipwrecks and coral reefs, cruising to islands, and paddling lagoons. The visitor center also rents paddle craft for self-guided tours. Zoo Miami With more than 40 endangered species among its 3,000 animals living in open-air spaces, the 750-acre Zoo Miami is involved in wildlife and environmental conservation initiatives around the world. Staff vets help track flamingos, Florida panthers, rare bonneted bats and other threatened species while also nursing sick or injured animals. Its “Zoo Doo” program recycles manure from elephants and rhinos with landscape debris to sell as high-quality natural fertilizer to the public. South Florida Breadbasket South of the city, the Redland-Homestead area is Miami’s rich agritourism region, where visitors can spend an entire day picking tomatoes or strawberries at Knauss Berry Farm, slurping mamey or mango shakes at Robert is Here produce stand, sampling tropical wine at Schnebly Winery and learning about exotic fruit at Fruit and Spice Park. By Jodi Mailander Farrell. Special thanks to Visitflorida.org for this story reprint.

Switzerland is a haven for sustainable travel and multi-generational trips. With its diverse landscapes and vibrant cities boasting world-class museums and shops, the country has something for everyone—whether you’re interested in hiking the Alps, sailing on glassy lakes, or spending time in the workshop with the world’s top horologists and jewelers. Unlike other European countries, Switzerland  has largely remained insulated from overtourism; the country is not accessible to large cruise ships and trains are an increasingly popular mode of transport. A well-kept secret, much of Switzerland remains unspoiled and undiscovered yet it offers as much, if not more, culture and adventure as its European neighbors. If you aren’t already convinced, read on for more. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Report, Zurich and Geneva are among the top places to live in the world, coming in at #7 and #8, respectively. ZURICH Image by Henrique Ferreira The birthplace of the Dada movement continues to reign as one of Europe’s cultural capitals, thanks in part to a newly completed expansion to the Kunsthaus, now the largest museum in Europe. Led by David Chipperfield, the expansion is part of the city’s larger development plan to create a trail of cultural buildings, dubbed the “education mile,” through the city. The area around the museum is already generating buzz with a new art quarter and galleries like Eva Presenhuber and Galerie Brome vying for prime spots near the museum. Guests of La Réserve Eden au Lac, which opened just before the pandemic following a two-and-a-half-year restoration by Philippe Starck, receive city passes granting complimentary access to public transportation and discounts at the city’s world-class museums. What’s Going On In Zurich…. Guests of La Réserve can also hop on one of the hotel’s e-bikes and cruise over to Pavillon Le Corbusier, the Swiss-French architect’s last completed work, which will reopen for the season in May. They can also stroll across the street to the Badi Utoquai, where they receive complimentary access to the lakeside baths. GENEVA Image by Anokhi de Silva Home to the UN’s European Headquarters, Geneva  is home to the highest number of international organizations in the world. Over 190 nationalities live and work there and half of its residents are expats, making it a melting pot of culture. Just 10 minutes from the city center, La Réserve Geneva feels worlds away thanks to its location within a 10-acre park on the shores of Lac Léman. When the first hotel under the La Réserve brand (others are in Paris, Ramatuelle, and Zurich), opened its doors in 2003,  it was an unexpected newcomer to the city due to its tucked-away location and whimsical? design. Conceived by French designer by Jacques Garcia, its interiors are inspired by an African game reserve, with animal print carpets and copper elephant heads. The hotel is home to the Nescens Spa, the largest spa in Geneva at over 20,000 square-feet. Nescens was developed by Professor Jacques Proust, a pioneer in anti-aging medicine. Guests who participate in the signature Better Aging Programs receive a thorough medical evaluation on their first day,  which involves meeting with a team of doctors  and clinicians who specialize in physical fitness and nutrition. With the help of these professionals, guests will develop a better sense of their own bio-individuality, particularly as it relates to aging. Armed with information about their genetic, medical, dietary, and psychological profile, visitors will then receive a personalized 4- or 7-day itinerary. The program is tailored to the guests’ individual goals, incorporating three daily meals, exercise sessions with a personal trainer, and spa treatments. What’s Going On In Geneva…. Swiss wine is still a well-kept secret, perhaps because 98% of it stays in Switzerland.  Just fifteen minutes west of the city center is Lavaux, one of Geneva’s top wine appellations.  A  UNESCO World Heritage site, the steep, terraced vines of the  Lavaux  boast more than 200 winemakers. Chasselas, a white varietal, is the region's most popular. Visitors will be happy to find that a wine hiking trail connects several stately auberges and estates, most of which have shops that double as tasting rooms. Foodies will appreciate La Halle de Rive market with its artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, bakeries and chocolatiers, while aesthetes will want to browse the Plainpalais Market for antiques and various bric-a-brac (sometimes, vintage watch parts and tools can even be found). Switzerland is home to Europe’s largest glaciers and the highest concentration of peaks exceeding 13,000 feet. ZERMATT Image by Joshua Earle Switzerland is said to be the birthplace of ski tourism—and in Zermatt, home to over 200 miles of slopes and 54 lifts, visitors can ski 365 days a year. But there is plenty to do beyond skiing and snowboarding. When the temps rise, there are abundant trails for hiking and mountain biking. Fun fact: Zermatt features is home to the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. Less adventurous travelers might prefer to fly fish in the alpine lakes, stocked with abundant freshwater trout. It helps that Zermatt has over 300 days of sunshine. Since the town is car-free, horse-drawn carriages are available to take guests for a ride. Mont Cervin Palace has been welcoming guests since 1852. With its alpine-chalet style, this is the pick for the traditionalist. On Thursdays, guests of the hotel have access to ski the Matterhorn before anyone else. History buffs will want to stay at Hotel Monte Rosa. The Victorian jewel box of a hotel opened in 1854 when Zermatt was establishing itself as a destination for winter sports. The property is famous for being the unofficial headquarters of the Alpine Club, an association of English mountain climbers that made headlines in 1865, when four of them fell to their death while ascending the Matterhorn. To this today, the hotel is filled with climbing memorabilia. Meanwhile, Schweizerhof is the place for modernists—and families. Renovated just a few years ago, the hotel has fresh decorative touches like oak walls and marble bathrooms, while cowbells and quilts emblazoned with the Matterhorn lend a sense of place. The Kid’s Club has everything a child could dream of. Arcade games? Check. Climbing wall? Check. Movie nights? Check. What’s Going On In Zermatt… Zermatt will launch a new ski lift in 2022 that will complete an 'Alpine crossing' between the Klein Matterhorn to Testa Grigia, in Italy’s Aosta Valley. INTERLAKEN Image by Tucker Monticelli Interlaken has firmly established itself as a destination for thrill-seekers. Intrepid travelers can paraglide or skydive while the less daring can hike in the Bernese Alps, which are easily accessible from the town. From Interlaken, cable cars take visitors to Harder Kulm for hikes with mountain views, or the Schilthorn where movie buffs can spot sites featured in the James Bond film, "On Her Majesty’s Secret Service." It's just a 30-minute train ride to Lauterbrunnen, where the picturesque Staubbach Falls are worth the trek. Located opposite Höhematte Park, where paragliders twirl down from the skies, Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa has been around since 1865 and once hosted luminaries like Goethe and Byron. Oozing old-world glamour, the grand dame is situated at the foot of the Junfrau massif in the Bernese Oberland, at the crossroads of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz (Interlaken means ‘between the lakes’). The common spaces echo the building’s Belle Epoque roots with gilding, chandeliers and marble fountains. At nearly 60,000 square feet, the Nescens Spa has earned the hotel a reputation as a destination unto itself, and has an impressive indoor swimming pool, indoor/outdoor whirlpool, sauna, steam baths, and 16 treatment rooms. What’s Going On In Interlaken…. Beginning in December 2022, Switzerland’s new GoldenPass Express train will connect the Bernese Alps ski resorts, stopping in Montreux, Gstaad and Interlaken. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the sleek trains come from Ferrari-designer Pininfarina. By ML Staff/. Alice Marshall. Images courtesy of Unsplash

Camille Kostek attends her first Met Gala as an E! Correspondent wearing an SS22 Christian Siriano Black & White Corseted Gown with a diamond tennis choker, pear-drop earrings & pear-cut ring from Stephanie Gottlieb and a Judith Leiber silver diamond clutch. Look styled by Danielle and Alix Photos by: @madisonlanephoto. All photos and rights reserved by Danielle & Alix. Please reach out for additional photos and information. By ML Staff.

Gucci dressed select attendees for the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Awkwafina wore a custom Gucci salmon pink and multicolor tulle puff sleeve gown with all-over graphic satin intarsia detail embellished with crystals, black velvet belt with bow detail and voluminous coral silk ruffled hem with red platform leather high heel sandals. Jessica Chastain wore a custom Gucci ruby duchesse silk all-over sequin embroidered gown with central opening and winding crystal snake embroidery with a ruby duchesse silk all-over sequin embroidered stole and hair accessory. She completed her look with Gucci High Jewelry earrings in 18kt white gold, pink spinels and diamonds and a tiger head ring in 18kt white gold, rubies and diamonds. Billie Eilish wore a custom upcycled Gucci ivory and duchesse satin corseted gown with green lace underlay and ivory skirt in gathered duchesse satin with padded bustle, cascading floral arrangement on the train and a tonal duchesse corsage with lilac accents. She completed her look with a black choker with jet black scalloped embroidery and beige platform shoes made from vegan materials. FINNEAS wore a Gucci black tailcoat with pleated skirt and embroidered patch detail on the back from the Gucci Spring Summer 2017 runway show. He completed his look with a lilac purple GG motif crêpe shirt with self-fabric bow, dove grey wool gabardine vest, black pants and black leather loafers with gold buckle detail. Dakota Johnson wore a custom Gucci black sheer lace bodysuit embellished with all-over metal beaded fringes layered with rose velvet draped robe with crystal fringe detail on the belt and black patent leather high heel pumps with ankle-strap closure. Jared Leto – in the same look as Creative Director Alessandro Michele—wore a custom Gucci ivory silk burette double breasted jacket with black velvet contrast peak lapel and all-over floral bouquet embroideries with gold beads and pearls, white evening shirt with bib and wing tip collar and silk burette pants with all-over floral bouquet embroideries with gold beads and pearls. He completed his look with black suede boots, a magenta pink satin bowtie, rust suede Gucci Blondie bag, black vinyl coated opera-length gloves and metal hair accessory with crystals. Anderson .Paak wore a custom Gucci blue and multicolor floral jacquard collarless jacket with all-over sequins, multicolor strass, black velvet and silk trimmed edges with a blue dress shirt, black leather flared pants, black leather tie and white leather boots. He completed his look with a black leather hat. Jodie Turner-Smith wore a custom Gucci crystal strass chain bra and fringed miniskirt with almond pink pleated chiffon open skirt. She completed her look with Gucci High Jewelry earrings in 18kt white gold, pink sapphires and diamonds, bee multifinger ring in 18kt white gold and diamonds, solitaire ring in 18kt white gold, purple tourmaline and diamonds, tiger head ring in 18kt white gold, rubies and diamonds, tiger head bracelet in 18kt white gold, rubies and diamonds and tiger head bracelet in 18kt white gold, rubies and diamonds. Joshua Jackson wore a custom Gucci black wool mohair tailcoat with black grosgrain lapel with a white evening shirt with wingtip collar, grey double breasted vest, grey pants with tonal pinstripe, white satin bowtie and black patent leather lace-ups. He completed his look with a snake motif ring in metal with aged gold finish and crystals. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Gucci for Met Gala 2022

The 2022 “Around the World Culinary Tour and Auction”, sponsored by Marriott Worldwide Business Councils, South Florida will be held at the Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel on May 19, 2022. Our sponsors include the Marriott Biscayne Bay the Presenting Sponsor of the event, Show Technology, a South Florida based audio visual production company, is supporting the event as a Signature Sponsor. REEF, the largest operator of mobility, logistics hubs, and delivery kitchens in North America is a one of our Silver Sponsors of the event. Additional sponsors include FRLA- Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, FIU, Bacardi , Pepsi and Sunny Isles Beach Miami. The dinner and auction will benefit the students in the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, as well as the Academy of Education. These programs currently are in over 16 Miami-Dade County senior high schools for students interested in pursuing college and careers in the tourism, arts and entertainment and education industries. The event will showcase our students and their great accomplishments to include performances by the Hialeah Gardens Latin Dance Team and the Miami Beach High Rock Band. The “Around the World Culinary Tour and Auction,” will feature gourmet cuisine celebrating A Taste of Miami. Guest will have the opportunity to interact with Chefs and Academy of Hospitality & Tourism Culinary students as they balance creative artistry and gourmet food production. Featured chefs include the culinary team from Marriott Biscayne Bay; Chef Allen Susser; Chef James Pastor – Corporate Chef for Specialty Restaurants Group (Rusty Pelican); Jacqueline Torres VP of Operations and In-House Counsel of Valls Group Inc. and Chef Steven Byrne – Areas USA. In addition, guest will enjoy craft beers from Cerveceria La Tropical and a taste of sweets from Pastry Is Art. Chef Allen Chef Steve Byrne This year’s auction items will be posted for bidding online the first week of May until the day of the event at www.biddingforgood.com/aoht. The bidding will resume in a live-action format at the event May 19h. Special auction items will be featured only at the dinner in a live auction. The event attracts leaders from the local hospitality and tourism industry as well as from the post-secondary institutions and local high school programs preparing tomorrow’s workforce. The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is a member of the non-profit, NAF. For over thirty years, NAF has refined a proven model that provides young people access to industry-specific curricular, work-based learning experiences and prepares them for college and industry careers. Academies are in 16 Miami public high schools. Proceeds of the luncheon benefit work-based learning activities and scholarships for AOHT students and professional development for teachers. Many of our Alumni are successful leaders and work with Expedia, Miami Seaquarium, Marriott Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels, Media companies, Law Firms, and many other domestic and international organizations. Tickets for the Around the World Dinner, A Taste of Miami are $175 per person or $1500 for a table of ten for the gala culinary tour. To purchase tickets for the event, contact Julie Kennedy@ juliekennedy@dadeschools.net By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Marriott

Over 1,000 walkers and runners pledged to create a future of No More Victims® during Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)’s 11th Annual UKG Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K brought to you by the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County on Sunday, April 24. The event raised more than $250,000 to benefit MADD Broward & Palm Beach’s community education, victim support services and youth programs, provided at no cost. Participants gathered for the in-person race at Huizenga Plaza in Fort Lauderdale. A virtual participation option was also available. At the race, which was emceed by Kristi Krueger from WPLG-TV Local 10 News, attendees enjoyed children’s activities, an awards ceremony, live musical performances and vendor/educational booths. Awards were presented for top fundraiser, top team (private and corporate), as well as overall and age-group awards for 5K finishers. In attendance were Walk Like MADD Fort Lauderdale Founder and Honorary Chairperson Heather Geronemus; Volunteer Chairperson Colonel Nichole Anderson, Undersheriff of Broward Sheriff’s Office; Major Robert Chandler of Florida Highway Patrol; Broward County Mayor Michael Udine; Broward County Fire Chief Gregory Holness; and other local dignitaries. Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale is a community-driven 5K that raises awareness about drunk driving and underage drinking and unites community members around MADD’s mission. Since it was established in 2011, this event has raised more than $3 million that stays in the South Florida community to save lives and support victims of drunk driving, making it the most successful grassroots fundraiser in the history of MADD. “We are extremely proud that over 1,000 members of the community came out to makes strides toward a future of no more victims,” said Broward Sheriff’s Office Colonel Nichole Anderson, Undersheriff. “We are extremely grateful to our sponsors, participants and donors for making this a successful event yet again.” “According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2020 annual traffic crash data, 38,824 lives were lost in traffic crashes nationwide,” said Geronemus, who is also the immediate past chairwoman of the MADD National Board of Directors. “Even considering the decrease in miles traveled during the COVID-19 pandemic, drunk driving is the deadliest killer on our nation’s roadways.” Geronemus’ late father, Dr. Robert Perry Geronemus, was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2009. Event sponsors were Signature Sponsors: The Salah Foundation and UKG; Presenting Sponsors: Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County, UBS and Weinstein Legal; State Safety Champion Sponsor: Alert Today Florida; Road Guardian Sponsors: Broward Sheriff’s Advisory Council, DxWeb and Aetna; and Corporate Champion Sponsors: Brandsmart USA, Broward Health, The Florida Panthers, JM Family Enterprises, The Miami Heat and Craig Zinn Automotive Group. Runners/walkers can still virtually participate in Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K through Tuesday, May 24. Donations will continue being accepted at www.walklikemadd.org/fortlauderdale through Tuesday, May 24. For the most up-to-date event information, visit www.facebook.com/MADDDashFortLaud. Contact rachel.stephens@madd.org for any additional questions. ABOUT MADD Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every nine minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP. In South Florida, the chapter’s annual Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K has raised more than $3 million since 2011. MADD’s Broward and Palm Beach chapters facilitate hundreds of free events each year to educate youth and parents on the dangers and consequences of impaired driving. Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of MADD

In this very candid interview, five-time Emmy nominated television host, journalist, and lifestyle expert, Debbie Matenopoulos, opens up about her much publicized and decades-long television career, her journey to motherhood, and how her Greek heritage inspired her skincare line, Ikaria Beauty. Matenopoulos pulls back the curtain on her relationship with former boss and mentor, Barbara Walters, her experience being one of the original co-hosts of ABC television juggernaut, The View, serving celebrity tea as co-host of E!’s Daily 10, and her latest stint as a co-host on The Hallmark Channel’s morning show, Home & Family (after a decade-long run, the show was canceled in 2021). Paying homage to her Greek heritage, Debbie Matenopoulos launched the skincare line, Ikaria Beauty, with pure ingredients sourced directly from Greece’s Ikaria Island. Allison Kugel: What are some significant life events that have made you the human being you are today? Debbie Matenopoulos: I feel like every single day there are significant life events and it’s your choice to see them, hear them, take them in, and do something with them or not. Listen, growing up in America I looked like your typical white girl, but I’m 100% Greek through and through. My parents didn’t speak English when they came to this country. I’m as immigrant as they come. My sister and brother were born in Greece. My parents had two suitcases, two kids, and $50 in their pocket. They managed to put themselves through night school to learn English to then have successful careers and be able to help their kids go to school and help pay for college. One moment that I always think about is when I was six years old and at the grocery store with my mom. My mother obviously has a very thick accent and could hardly speak English properly, but she was trying and doing her best. She was asking something of the saleswoman at the store, and the saleswoman kept saying, “What?!,” and being really dismissive and rude. She said to my mom, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand you.” And she kept talking louder and louder as if speaking louder and with an aggressive tone was going to make my mother understand her. I remember seeing my mom look so deflated and so ashamed. And I remember looking up and saying to the saleswoman, “My mother is not stupid. She just speaks a different language. Please stop talking to my mom like that.” That moment, for me, I think helped me empathize with immigrants so much in this country. Allison: We are a nation of immigrants, but in recent times there is an animosity towards immigrants, like a hostility towards you if you don’t speak English well, and if you are trying to get your foot in the door but you don’t fit in. Debbie: Exactly. This country is a melting pot. The country was born out of immigrants. It’s interesting, I’ve never said that to anybody before. That was big for me. Allison: Wow! That is a big deal then. Debbie: Another big life moment would be getting hired for The View (Matenopoulos was an original co-host on The View from 1997 – 1999). That was life altering, and nothing I expected at that time. I was at a party uptown with some guys that said, “Come audition for this show.” I was working at MTV, I had pink hair, and I was going to NYU Journalism school. Barbara Walters was doing the show and I said, “Are you out of your mind? Barbara Walters is going to want me to go work for her?! You must be crazy!” I didn’t think about it twice. I was at school in the morning at NYU, and I went to MTV after school because that was my job. My roommate told me that the same guy from the party called to continue to persuade me to go for this interview for this new show. He was a casting director for Barbara’s production company, and she had hired him to cast her new show. I go up there and maybe I thought I didn’t have anything to lose. Perhaps that was one of the reasons that I was not anxious about it. I figured it didn’t matter if I got hired for this. That is probably why, looking back now, they actually hired me, because I was so…. not in my head about it. Allison: I pictured that part of your story so much differently. I pictured that you are working at MTV and somehow you met Barbara Walters somewhere, and she was like, “You.” (Laughs) I guess that’s not how it happened. Debbie: Completely different. I mean I showed up thinking this is nuts. And there is a big difference between MTV and ABC. ABC was very corporate. MTV was like working at Romper Room. They asked me about my life and to come back and audition. I go back to audition two weeks later at one of the hotels near Central Park in New York. They had rented the whole suite and all of these people show up. All of these women who were famous, except for me. Allison: They were all seasoned journalists, correspondents, known personalities. Debbie: All of them. I’m thinking, “Okay I’ve had enough.” So, I turn around to leave and as I’m walking out of the room Barbara Walters is walking in. I open the door and she is standing there at the hotel room door, and she says, “Oh baby, I’m so happy you came.” She guides me back in and addresses the room with her hand on my shoulder. Allison: Oh wow. I love those moments. So, you’re 22 years old, you’re a college student and you worked at MTV for a little bit. What did Barbara Walters expect from you? he puts this 22-year-old on the panel of The View. What were her expectations of you, exactly? Debbie: I don’t know that she even knew. Nothing like The View ever existed before, but now you see so many imitations have come after. It was an experiment and something she had wanted to do for years, and she finally was at a place in her life and had enough respect at ABC that they would allow her to do this. She wanted to just have a bunch of women sitting around, from different generations, different backgrounds, and different views, that would talk about topics of the day. The show has become super political now, but it wasn’t supposed to be political. It was just meant to be, “Here’s your mom, your grandmother, your aunt, your cousin, your younger sister, all sitting there chatting about the same topic. And they are all going to have different ideas, because they are coming from different generations and different backgrounds. It was about having a fun conversation and seeing where it comes out, and for all of us to learn from one another. Allison: You were basically hired just to be yourself? Debbie: That’s it. In the initial interview with Barbara and with [showrunner] Bill Geddie, that is what they loved. They loved that I was just myself. Media has changed immensely since then. You can only be yourself right now, and so can I, because we don’t have Tide, Downey and Coca Cola breathing down our necks to say. “Oh my gosh, what are you saying on that show?” Yes, they liked it, but then when you get in front of the world and the network is selling advertising dollars, they’re saying, “Who is this wild child saying these things?” that perhaps don’t align with corporate sponsors. The sponsors were still [Barbara’s] boss, and the network was still her boss. Now it is different. Now people say the craziest stuff, and the crazier the better, and people like that because it garners publicity and people love that. Allison: It goes viral. Debbie: It goes viral. Back then, they wanted to sweep everything under the rug. They were like “Yes, we like you, just be you… with a little less you.” (Laughs). There is so much you, and we’re not sure if daytime TV is ready for all of that. Then the Kardashians came, and all this craziness, and I was thinking, “I wasn’t nearly as wild as they were.” It’s just that at the time I was 22 years old, on national television, and going out to concerts, going out to clubs, being a 22-year-old. Allison: We’re the same age, and I remember watching you on The View back then. I thought you were funny, irreverent, interesting, and they had you doing some really cool and fun things. Then things took a left turn. I started hearing in the media, “Would you believe what Debbie said on The View?” Then people are parodying you on SNL and late-night TV and picking you apart as if you were supposed to be this seasoned politico and journalist. It was very weird, what happened to you. Debbie: It was very hard to deal with, because suddenly I get all of this fame and notoriety very quickly. It’s all fine and great and then like you said it turned on a dime and everyone started attacking me. I said, “Wait a second. You hired me to be this. You hired me to be the kid from MTV. That is all I ever told you I was.” It was hard to understand why it was all happening. It was also hard to read that stuff and hear that stuff. I really retreated and I didn’t want to work in this business anymore. I have a very strong family unit, thank God, because if I did not have such a strong family and wasn’t so supported by them… it was a safe haven. I really leaned on them a lot during that time, and I went back to Virginia and just moved back into my parents’ house and said, “I don’t want to do this.” The press was calling, and the paparazzi was trying to find me. I am not a person who likes to fight. I’m not a person that likes to make other people feel uncomfortable, and I’m not a person that likes to debate just for the sake of debating. That is kind of what that show had become. You were debating, but it wasn’t like that in the beginning, I’m telling you. Allison: How was your firing from The View presented to you, exactly? Debbie: I was told the network was going in a different direction and yada yada yada. They did try to point things out to me like, I was young, I was going out to clubs, and at that time it was really intriguing to the paparazzi. They didn’t have anybody young in New York that was on a daytime show. I was the youngest person in history to be on a daytime show, so for them they were thinking, “Oh, she’s a loose cannon. At any moment we are going to get something good for the press.” And they were not wrong. I was a kid. Thank God there was no social media. Oh My God! Ooooh boy! I would have lasted two weeks, because the paparazzi would follow me around and Page Six… it made Barbara embarrassed as opposed to her saying, “Oh, we should talk about this on the show. We should say, “Well Debbie, it appears you are in the paper today for dancing on the bar at Hogs and Heifers. Allison: Laughs. Debbie: My friends came into town, and I wanted to show them a good time. We go to Hogs and Heifers. I’m dancing on the bar. The paparazzi are there. And Page Six, who by the way, how did they know I was going to be there? Somebody tipped them off. It’s not like they just show up. And then it’s in the paper the next day. I go to the show the next morning and I’m saying “Hey” to everybody, and literally no one is talking to me, because they know I’m about to get in big trouble. Allison: That would have been a perfect conversation starter though. That would have been like this is what is going on and gotten your perspective on it. From dancing on the bar at Hogs and Heifers to sex tapes launching careers a few short year later (laugh)… Debbie: I was dancing on a bar. I’m not Kim Kardashian. Allison: Did you ever watch Lisa Ling, who replaced you, or Elizabeth Hasselbeck, or were you not interested? Debbie: Lisa is still my friend. I love Lisa and I love Elizabeth. I’m not as close to Elizabeth as I am to Lisa, but I love both of them. It wasn’t their fault they got a job. They got the job because there was a spot. They wanted to hire someone different than me, so they hired Lisa, and it didn’t work out for her after two years. Then they hired Elizabeth and it didn’t work out for her. I would say I was just the first to be voted off the island. I was the original Survivor. Something about that was really healing for me. It was sort of validation and vindication that wait, it wasn’t me. It wasn’t me at all. For a minute you think it’s you and your like, “Gosh what have I done? I messed this whole thing up.” I always say was almost like a public beheading. It was like they called everyone down to time square and let’s put Debbie’s head into the guillotine and oh my gosh cheer. It was almost like gosh you guys are aggressive. I’m just a kid. Having had that done so early in my career prepared me for anything. I’m like Teflon now. The truth is it wasn’t me. I did everything they asked me to do and it just… the show was trying to find its footing. Allison: You eventually moved to LA and went over to E! and hosted The Daily 10, which was very different. Were you personally heavy into celebrity gossip culture, or was it just a job? Debbie: I worked at MTV before, so initially the only reason I started working for MTV is because I’m such a music head. I love music. I’m tone deaf and I don’t play an instrument. I’m just a fan and I really love music. I told E!, “I was at MTV for the music, not for TV. When I got to E! a lot of the stuff we had to report on, I was thinking, “C’mon, this is so not right and not nice. I said to the producers, “So, I’m supposed to now deliver this to people at home about somebody. Who’s going out with who? Who’s having sex with who? God y’all, this is hard.” When I would do the interviews, I knew a lot of these [celebrities] already because I was already on The View, and they would come on The View. So, when I would go do the interviews with them, before I would get mic’d up, I would say to them, “Look, I have to ask you this. You don’t have to answer me.” I would say, “I can’t go back to my boss without asking you this, but I really don’t want to. This is an awful question, but you see it here [on the card].” Allison: That is hilarious. Debbie: You know what’s interesting about that? Because I took the heat off of them and the heat off myself, and I let them know that I wasn’t there to make them feel bad or make them feel uncomfortable about what was happening in their personal life, because I did that, 90% of the time they would answer it. You’re not being mean. You’re not a threat. You’re not trying to make them look bad. Then, I would go back to [editing] and I would say, “Guys take care of them. Don’t make them look bad. Don’t make it ugly when you cut this piece together.” All of those moments were defining moments in my life. The third one would be my dad passing away from ALS. That brought me to my knees. Allison: Oh my gosh! I am so sorry. When was that? Debbie: We are going on 9 years now. It seems like yesterday. Allison: ALS is a brutal disease. Debbie: So hateful. With ALS, the person knows what is happening to them, and they are a prisoner in their own body. They do understand what’s going on, and there is nothing they can do about it. They feel guilty, because everyone else has to take care of them. He couldn’t move at the end. I fed him. I bathed him. I would have to pick him up. I left Hollywood and I went home. I quit [my career] for three years. I quit E! and they would say, “Are you crazy? You are ruining your career. No one is going to hire you when you come back.” I said, “I don’t really care. If you don’t hire me when I come back because I went to take care of my dad, I don’t want to work for you. That is just disgusting. What kind of human are you?” I don’t want to work for a company like that. I have one dad. There will be a gazillion shows, and you know what, I don’t want to grieve thinking I worked at E!, but I didn’t go home to take care of my dad. Allison: You did the right thing. It goes without saying. Debbie: I was taking care of him one day, and it would take him a long time to speak and to get the words out. I had just heard about Fiji on the radio, and I said, “Gosh, I would really love to go there someday.” My dad was trying to say something, and I said, “What?” Struggling to speak the words, he manages to say to me, “Not someday. Today!” I said, “Dad today I’m taking you to physical therapy. How am I going to go to Fiji today?” He adamantly repeated, “Today. Look what happened to me. Not someday. Today!” He said, “Tomorrow is not a promised.” Allison: What a life lesson. Right? Debbie: I’ve never forgotten. I was always so strong. I was looking out the window like, “Do not cry. Do not cry in front of him. Be strong.” I said “You know what? You’re exactly right.” I stayed as strong as I possibly could in front of him, but I would walk out of rooms sometimes and just lose it. Allison: Let me ask you this. Do you pray? And if so, who or what do you pray to? Debbie: Growing up I was brought up in a Greek Orthodox family, and we went to church every Sunday. We did the Greek Easter and Christmas. We Fasted for 40 days which is why Greek people are so healthy. When they talk about the Mediterranean diet, I laugh because what most people don’t know about the Mediterranean diet is that Greek people fast for the holidays, which is like 180 days a year that they’re fasting. Fasting to them means no animal products at all. So, at different times of the year, they become vegan. No wonder they are so healthy. People don’t get it (laugh). Allison: Damn, I didn’t know that. Debbie: What they don’t get about the Mediterranean diet is that they reset their bodies. But yes, we were very spiritual and religious growing up, and I was brought up in the church and I prayed a lot. I still do, but I pray to God and to the universe. I talk to my dad and my relatives that have passed. I think when you’re praying, you’re putting something out in the universe that is a desire, that you want to have fulfilled, whether it’s healing, happiness, or whatever it is. No matter what you believe in, you can put it out in the universe whether verbally, through meditation or with a manifestation board. It is all the same thing. You’re just calling it different things. Allison: I was going to ask you what was the best is advice you’ve ever been given? But I really think that what your dad said is the best advice. That one word: “Today.” That is great advice. Tell me about the nine years you most recently spent, hosting the morning show, Home & Family on the Hallmark Channel. Debbie: What a great show. I had the most amazing nine years of my career. People would ask me, “But what about The View? What about E!? What about Entertainment Tonight?” And I would say, no. With Home & Family, our job was to spread joy. Legitimately, my job every day for nine years was to go to work and make people smile. Not discuss politics, not discuss religion, but to just say, “Hey, how are you doing today? Spend the next two hours with me. We are going to bake a cake. We are going to talk about celebrities and their pet projects.” There wasn’t digging into anything personal, ever. What are you doing to better your life and better the lives of the people around you? It was how to grow some herbs, garden, fix something in your house, make yourself look better for $20. It was a huge love bomb every day. We would laugh so hard to the point where we would cry. Allison: Let’s talk your skincare line, Ikaria Beauty. I’ve been using your serum; the ageless beauty balm and exfoliating mask and I am in love. My skin feels like I’ve just had a facial, every day. Debbie: I am so proud of this, Allison. I’m so happy that you are saying that. This was such a labor of love. I have worked so hard on this thing and the world does not need another celebrity backed skincare line. I didn’t even put my name on it, because I don’t want people to think of it as just another backed line. I want people to see it and to experience it for what it really is. In my opinion it is phenomenal, and I did this because I have really awful, awful sensitive skin, to the point where I would get massive hives and crazy pimples. I went to so many dermatologists and spent so much money trying to fix my skin. No one was telling me what is happening and how I can make it better. I started to talk to my mom and my aunts, and they said, “The same stuff we’ve always been using. We tell you all the time. Look at our beautiful skin. Honey, olive oil, and goat’s milk.” I said, “I’m not putting goat’s milk on my skin.” (Laughs) But they were right. I started to look at my cookbook (It’s All Greek to Me/ BenBella Books) and I saw a lot of the same things that they were putting inside of our bodies are going on our bodies. If you live in Greece, it all makes sense. I told my chemists, “The main thing I want you to put in there is olive oil and honey.” We messed around with it. We went back and forth, and I said, “This is incredible.” So, I started giving it to everyone in the make-up room and that is how the Ageless Beauty Balm was born. There is honey, olive oil, royal jelly, and holy basil. It was very important to me that all of these things came from Greece because this is the basis of why I’m doing this. It is as good in my opinion or better than “La Mer” and so many of those other things because all of those things have chemicals in them. So that means you can wear it during the day and not worry about having light sensitivity. Allison: And the serum has a retinol? Debbie: It’s plant retinol, which is another thing these companies don’t tell you. Why don’t they use plant retinol? Because they can make it in a lab for less money. If we use the plant retinol it will take a little bit longer, but it is not going to be so irritating to your skin as a chemical retinol would. Also, the collagen powder by the way that is a marine based collagen powder vs a bovine based collagen powder. Bovine based collagen powders don’t absorb into your body as quickly as marine based. Allison: I want to go to Ikaria, and I want to use it while I’m there, (laugh) and have the full experience. Debbie: What an amazing place. One of the only five Blues Zones on the planet. Allison: You have a seven-year-old daughter, right? Debbie: That was another defining moment in my life. When she was born. I mean God that will change you, won’t it? Having a child deeply changes everything. Allison: Everything. You had your daughter at close to 40 if I’m doing the math right. Did you feel like when you were in your 30’s did you ever have a time where you felt like maybe that wasn’t going to happen in your life or because it did happen a little bit later or you just weren’t there yet? Debbie: I just wasn’t there yet. Looking back now I think geez had I known I was going to like being a mother so much I would have started much earlier. I would have been a teen pregnancy. If I knew I would love being a mom like this, I would have had 20 kids if I could. Who is going to pay for these people obviously? But I just think my life from the time I started at MTV until I kind of slowed down with my dad and when my dad passed away was so work focused. Everything was about work. Everything. It wasn’t until my dad got sick and I slowed down that I realized, “Gosh there is so much more to life than me just focusing on this career. Why am I doing this? What is the point of doing it if I’m not going to have anyone to share it with?” I have so many nieces and nephews and that is when I started thinking, “I want a family.” I guess maybe I was naïve although growing up in a Greek household my mom would say, “My god. You’re 28 years old you’re never going to have a baby. It’s too late.” (laugh) I was fortunate enough to be able to have Alexandra and after unfortunately which I have not talked about, but after Alexandra I had such a hard time staying pregnant. I had 9 miscarriages. I was pregnant for like five years straight. Like pregnant and no one knew except the stylist I was pregnant. I would lose them. Always. The first three were super hard. The first three were really hard than after that I got to like “Is this a joke?” I’m thinking, “Really?!” Allison: It gets surreal. Debbie: I just didn’t believe it. It didn’t matter. I would get pregnant like quick. Doesn’t matter. It turned out my blood type is such that after the first baby and the bloods kind of mix your blood kind of mixes so after the first baby because I have O- blood I needed to get a shot every time I was pregnant immediately the minute I knew because your body will try to attack a foreign object. Try to attack it thinking it was poisoning you or something. Allison: So now that you solved the mystery are you going to try again? Debbie: I don’t know. My heart was broken so many times that I got to a point where I said, “Okay this is what the universe and what God wants, and this is just how it is supposed to be.” So, I just stopped trying. I stopped trying because I just felt so defeated and God, I love babies. When I look at little babies my ovaries hurt. I say, “Oh my God a little baby I just want to smoosh you.” The smell of them I love everything about them. I’d love to be able to give her a sister. I would have loved to have had… even adoption. You know what I mean? That is not out of the question either. But going through that like that I have a soft spot for anyone who’s ever had a miscarriage. Probably the worst one for me I was probably about 4 months at that point, and I had to host the “Golden Globes Red Carpet” for The Insider. Allison: Like right after it happened? Debbie: I had the DNC on Saturday and had to host the Golden Globes on Sunday. Allison: Oh God. Debbie: I still had anesthesia in my body because they put you under, so I was still breaking out. My make-up artist knew, my hair stylist knew, and the producers knew and I’m standing there trying to do these interviews thinking, “Who cares. What am I even saying right now?” I really have a lot of empathy for people who are trying to have children and can’t. I thank my lucky stars every day. Instead of turning it into why me I said thank you God. Thank you, universe, for giving me Alexandra. Allison: Your daughter. Debbie: One healthy beautiful child because once you have a child you realize why people call it the miracle of childbirth. For the love of God, the fact that we are all walking around with ten fingers and ten toes and something tragic didn’t happen during the pregnancy or during the delivery is mind boggling. Your thinking, “Yeah of course. People have babies every day.” Once you’re in it your thinking, “Oh my. This is a situation.” (laugh) Allison: What do you think you came into this life to learn, and what do you think you came here to teach? Debbie: Oh wow. I think we all come here to learn how to love and how to be loved. I really believe that. I know it sounds so simple, but no. Life is hard, man. Life is really hard. I don’t care if you are a billionaire or a pauper. Life is hard. I think we are all meant to learn how best to love one another and how best to love ourselves. How to give love. How to be loved and how to appreciate what we have been given. Because every single one of us is so fortunate that we woke up today because a lot of people didn’t. That is not lost on me, and I really hope that after this pandemic that it’s not lost on a lot of other people. Allison: What do you think you’ve taught those around you, or those who have watched you, so far, in this life? Debbie: Maybe acceptance. I hope. I hope I can teach some people about acceptance of themselves. Resilience and being a good person. I just don’t think enough emphasis is put on that. What happened to just being a good person? That is enough. You are enough. You are enough as you are waking up today right now in this moment. You’re enough. Allison: That is beautiful. I love that. Debbie: There is no such thing as perfection. If there was, perfection is boring. Who wants to be perfect? The world loves you as you are, and everyone has different circumstances, and everyone comes from different places. Everyone believes the stories in their head because of what somebody told them at some moment in their life, and for whatever reason that moment rang true, and it plays like a broken record. I would like to say scratch all of that. If I could teach anything, it is that you are your thoughts. Think good things. Learn more about skincare line Ikaria Beauty at ikariabeauty.com. Follow on Instagram @iamdebbiem and @ikariabeauty. Watch and listen to the extended interview with Debbie on the Allison Interviews podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and on YouTube. Words by Allison Kugel . Images provided by Ikaria Beauty

Miami Living celebrates the enduring world of sports with these memorable images from talented photographers around the world. A special thanks to Red Bull, the main sponsor of the following events. Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 19, 2022 in Bahrain, Bahrain. Image by Mark Thompson Tomomi Nishikubo performs for the Tomomi Nishikubo on Ice at the Chitose, Japan on February 24, 2021 Image by Kentaro Matsuda Jorge Prado of Spain and Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing competed during the FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship in Villa La Angostura, Argentina on March 19, 2022. Image by Samo Vidic B-Boy Indio performs at Red Bull BC One NYC Celebration in New York, USA on March 3, 2022. Image by Kien Quan Kjeld Nuis performs during Red Bull Quest for hundred at Savalen, Norway, March 17, 2022. Image by Daniel Tengs Pedro Pichardo of Portugal seen during the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia on March 18, 2022. Image by Predrag Vuckovic Wout van Aert (BEL) raced the 113th Milano-Sanremo 2022 in Milan, Italy. Image by Kristof Ramon Jett Lawrence races at Round 11 of the 2022 AMA Supercross Series at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA on 19 March, 2022 By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Red Bull/Image by Garth Milan