If Breegan Jane was a superhero, she would most likely be named, SuperMom!

Adopted at birth and now a successful entrepreneur and single mother to two young boys, Breegan knows how to handle every situation. Whether its taking care of her children, making sure everything is set for her popular ‘Mommy-themed/geared’ radio program “Mom Life Yo“, walking the Hollywood red carpets or working alongside some of her celebrity clients for their interior design needs (she’s one of the most in-demand Interior Designers in town), SuperMom Breegan continues to stay fabulous & glamorous!

It’s A Glam Thing sat down with SuperMom at her home to find out the secrets that allow her to not only look amazing (spoiler: sunglasses), but handle a busy schedule as both a single mother and respected professional in the workforce…

Nick Northstar: How would you describe your own personal fashion style – both while at home, while working, while on the radio and when you are on the Hollywood red carpets?

Breegan Jane: Simple is everything for me, because time is a precious commodity that I rarely have a lot of. Now that I’m a mom, putting on one piece of clothing that’s a full outfit really works for me. Pajama dresses are easy to throw on at home; they make hanging out with the kids or chasing them around at bath time really easy. On any given day you will most likely see me in a caftan. A night on the town will see me in a lovely cocktail dress that makes me feel (and look) like a million bucks. Whatever ensemble I choose to wear will be fabulous; the fabric must be luxurious, and it must have sparkling adornments. But for me, a one-piece outfit is so much easier than taking up time to consider the pants, the undershirt, the shirt and the blazer.

NN: The word “Glamorous” can mean many different things… what is its definition to you?

BJ: What’s glamour without gold? When I think of the word “glamorous”, I think of shiny, reflective elements. As an interior designer, many of those things come up in my design projects. I love placing a mirror here, a little gold there and a bit of sparkle wherever I can. When it comes to style, though, I think being glamorous in 2017 is less about being over-the-top ornate and more about intelligent and unique with your style, as well as being true to yourself and your personality. Who you are and how you feel on the inside should shine brighter than anything on the outside. That’s true glamour.

NN: How do you stay so Glamorous & Fabulous while running around as a busy entrepreneur and mother?

BJ: Sunglasses. Oversized, extremely large sunglasses. I don’t always have time to do my makeup and look glamorous. I find that a great “mom” bun, a confident attitude and sunglasses is all the glamour I need to be fabulous some days. On other days, it may mean taking the time to put on the makeup, embracing every ounce of my femininity, and being the sexiest diva at a cocktail party. But as a mom and business entrepreneur, I don’t always have those extra “girl” minutes. A hat, glasses and a big bag are sometimes all I need—and all I can get!

NN: Do you feel more Glamorous now as a mother than you did before you had kids?

BJ: I think I’ve embodied the word “sexy” in a different way since becoming a mom. I connect to it on another level that feels genuine and natural now. Growing up, words like “voluptuous” might have meant chubby or even fat. When I think of it now, “curvy”, “thickness” and “sexy” come to mind. I feel so womanly, and I believe becoming a mother helped me connect to my version of glamourous in ways I never had before. There’s something about being a woman and a sensual being that feels intrinsically true, and I’m enjoying it.

NN: What is your advice to anyone wanting to pursue their dreams and run their own business?

BJ: My advice is simple: Just. Do. It. Find what you are passionate about, get out there and try it. Fail. Dust yourself off, and do it again. Going after your heart and dreams isn’t always easy, but it is so important. I think it’s crucial to ask yourself daily, “What do I want out of life?” You find that answer, and you take steps toward it every single day. Achieving your goals is easier said than done, but the reward at the end is worth every single struggle.

NN: Interior Design is all about look/feel… do you dress differently for various projects depending on the look/feel of the project?

BJ: I don’t know if I’d say I modify my dress based on projects, but I have noticed that people seem to expect designers to have a more avant-garde style, and I enjoy the freedom that affords me. No matter what the project, I remain authentic to my own style. I’ve found that people hire me partly because they appreciate my taste in design, which probably filters over into my fashion sense. With designers, the philosophy is often “the bolder the better”, so nobody blinks when my sunglasses are huge or my pattern mixing is eccentric. It really is the perfect opportunity to let my artsy side flourish.

NN: What does the future hold for you from here?

BJ: I am very excited about a few home design projects I’m currently working on. I can’t wait to have those completed because I’m looking forward to sharing them with the public. I’ve also been super busy with my radio show, Mom Life Yo, and it’s been an awesome opportunity to harness the ability to be an influencer in such a positive and authentic way. I’m in the process of developing products that I think will tie in all the various parts of who I am and what I love in a really creative way. So overall, the future feels bright right now!

Ava Kaufman has been through a lot in her life. A former professional dancer working alongside iconic superstar Gloria Gaynor, to being a single mother while undergoing life-saving heart transplant surgery, Ava is beyond extraordinary.

Now fully recovered from her surgery, Ava has created and turned her non-profit charity organization Ava’s Heart into one of the top ones in the country for organ donors.

While still raising her daughter, working out daily, and running her charity, Ava continues to look and feel glamorous! We caught up with Ava at her Hollywood home to find out more…

Nick Northstar: How would you describe your own personal fashion style – both while at home and while working?

Ava Kaufman: My style at home is, for sure, very casual. I usually wear workout clothes, leggings, a t-shirt and sneakers. I am really into sneakers these days! I even love wearing them with a little dress or jeans. They come in so many styles and colors. I love the brand APL; so comfy. As for work, it depends on what the day holds. I might be in jeans and either high or low boots and an elegant top. If I have to dress it up, I usually go with an elegant, classy little dress and short boots, or fabulous slacks, or Elaine Kim leggings with a silky top and jacket. This past season I have been into coats as well.

NN: The word Glamorous can mean many different things… what is your definition of it?

AK: In the dictionary ‘glamorous’ means “an appearance of enchanted attractiveness”. I think that glamour first has to come from within. It’s the way you feel about you and how you carry yourself, how comfortable you are in your body, not really what you wear. I think it’s also knowing what looks good on your body and not overdoing it. ‘Glamorous’ to me is simple and sophisticated, elegant even in sneakers. Dress for yourself, no one else!

NN: How do you stay so glamorous & fabulous while running around as a busy mother and founder of a charity organization?

AK: It’s all about knowing what looks good on you, the way it hangs on your body, what colors work for you, and being comfortable. I must interject here that my daughter Jade is 19 and pretty much takes care of herself. However, there are days that I am on the go from am to pm. I like clothing where all I have to do is change my shoes and put on a different color lipstick and I can go all day knowing that I am wearing something that makes me feel good and that shows off my best parts. That’s why I love Elaine Kim. And then I breathe! You have to breathe.

NN: Do you feel more glamorous now after your transplant and finally healthy again, or more so before in your professional dancing days?

AK: This might shock you but I feel more glamorous now. That is because I have never been so confident and clear about my purpose. I don’t sweat the small stuff and I truly come from gratitude every day, no matter what is going on. I am not so caught up in what other people think and I’m not trying to be what I think people want me to be. ‘Easy does it’ and ‘one day at a time’ gives one a certain elegance that comes with knowing who you are.

NN: What is your advice to anyone wanting to pursue their dreams, whether early on in life or later in life?

AK: I say if you are fortunate to truly have a dream, go for it. Age doesn’t matter at all. Be aware that nothing is easy and it takes courage and patience. Don’t listen to anyone’s doubts, they have nothing to do with you. Have faith and don’t push too hard. Work hard, do your homework, and believe in miracles. Make a plan and follow it. Stay on track and have such confidence in yourself that all the no’s that may come your way are just small road blocks. I have made many of my dreams come true. None of them were easy. The one I am pursuing now is the most challenging of them all. This time around I have more faith and total determination. Sometimes pursuing a dream can lead to another dream. Go out and make your dreams come true!

NN: What advice would you give other transplant patients who are not feeling so great and fabulous as they await their name to be called upon on a transplant recipient waiting list?

AK: One of the things that most transplant patients deal with awaiting transplant is knowing that in order for them to live, someone else is going to die. I think that knowing that ‘souls go to heaven, organs don’t’ is a simple way to think about that. I thank my donor family many times during every day.

NN: What has been the biggest life lesson you have learned over the past several years?

AK: To enjoy each day and never take anything for granted, stop and appreciate the day, and love from the depth of your soul. Be grateful, as life is such a precious gift!

When life gives you lemons, you can ask for salt and tequila, can sell them on eBay, or you can become an entrepreneur and make some damn good lemonade to sell. In today’s society, it is never too late, no matter how old you are, to follow your dreams and continue to invent/create amazing products to change the world around us… or to serve up some good lemonade (as the saying goes)!

That is preciously what Linda Grant did. Even though she is in her 60’s, Linda came up with a fabulous idea: a foldable, portable toilet seat for kids and young adults to carry around with them so that they no longer have to sit on nasty public toilet seats while out and about.

The Potty Boss (http://www.pottyboss.com) has been making headlines globally and since Linda is a local Californian, we just had to interview her for It’s A Glam Thing and find out more behind her successful new seat and what 60-something-year-old “Potty Bosses” are into style wise…

Nick Northstar: How would you describe your own personal fashion style – both at home and while working?

Linda Grant: My personal fashion style at home is a casual and comfortable style, jeans and t-shirts, sundresses sweat suits comfortable tennis shoes and sandals. Business fashion is a dressier style that I wear like business suits, blazers with pants, dresses, hills, and boots with dressy jeans. I mix and match outfits to go with the occasion I am attending.

NN: The word “Glamorous” can mean many different things… what is its definition to you?

LG: I believe glamorous is a person that has a good heart, full of excitement, beautiful from the inside out full of compassion, love and truth, a person’s character that makes a difference being in their presents.

NN: How do you stay so Glamorous and Fabulous in your age?

LG: I stay glamorous and fabulous at my age by having a healthy living lifestyle, a balance spiritual life, enjoying and staying positive about the journey of life before me and surrounding myself with positive focus driven people.

NN: What is your advice to anyone wanting to pursue their dreams and invent products later in their lives?

LG: Don’t be afraid and don’t let fear stop you from believing in yourself that it is possible, age is not a priority it’s just a number. You need to finish strong with the dream on the inside by completing your destiny.

NN: How has the Potty Boss product/company changed your life since creating it?

LG: Potty Boss has changed my life by showing me anything is possible when you believe and has challenged me to educate myself while leaping into unfamiliar territory as an inventor and never give up.

NN: Why does everyone need a Potty Boss?

LG: The marketplace needs Potty Boss products to assist parents and caregivers to provide protection for the children from germs, bacteria, fluids and grime left on public toilets. It gives the parents the opportunity to continue potty training while on the go making public toilets more user-friendly for our children. This product focuses strictly on children which helps to minimize the stressful experiences for children as well as parents and caregivers on the go, with children who have to go.

NN: What does the future hold for you from here?

LG: I believe we have an incredible future for Potty Boss to revolutionize the potty industry for children around the world making Potty Boss Brand a household name.

Order your Potty Boss here: http://www.pottyboss.com

Tamara Duarte is one of Hollywood’s upcoming big names – not just for her on-screen abilities, but her fashion tastes while walking red carpets. With a starring role in the new film Badsville, while also starring on hit shows such as the Netflix series Longmire, Hard Rock Medical and Degrassi: The Next Generation, Tamara knows a thing or two about being in the spotlight and always looking her very best!

It’s A Glam Thing caught-up with Tamara at her new home in Las Vegas to dish about how she is keeping it fabulous now that 2017 is here, as well as what her favorite Instagram filter is…

NN: How would you describe your own personal style – both while at home and on the red carpet?

TD: At home my style depends on how I feel and what I’m doing that day. On a workout writing day I’m in yoga paints and sports bra ready to take on the world. If I’m running earns it depends on the weather! I have these really comfortable silk goddess attire created with love in Goa. They are sexy, colorful, flowly and comfortable! Made by Sun.Child. On the carpet I try to change it up but my Boho Chic style really does bleed into the spot light. I love prints on the carpet!

NN: What are some of your favorite beauty products that you use to get red-carpet ready?

TD: I love using the Carlene K shine Bronzer body glow bombshell bronze. I don’t like tanning and put SPF on even in the winter months. So the Body Glow give a nice sun kissed look on the carpet without the gross self tanner smell and stains. I’m really loving Becca right now. There bronzers are unreal!

NN: Who are some of your favorite fashion designers?

TD: I really love Lidija Kolovrat. I love her bright colors and prints. What I also like about her is that she isn’t just a fashion designer she’s an artist that creates sculptures, and interior design. Giuseppe Zanotti is such an incredible shoe designer. I went to his opening and dinner in Berverly Hills when I first moved to LA. It was such a surreal experience and introduction into the Hollywood Fashion world. I sat and had dinner with the likes of Kayne West and talked fashion which I truly didn’t know much about at the time. Giuseppe was the most lovely man. He sketched me a shoe on a piece of paper and signed it as we chatted during dinner.

NN: Do you hate it when the paparazzi catch you in certain outfits?

TD: No. I don’t mind because I think clothing is a representation of you…all of you. And I’m not amazingly fantastic everyday. I don’t ever want to be. And I’m cool with people seeing the not so put together side of me. Like walking out of a hot yoga class. Perfect people who are always done up are boring. I like a little grift and un-doneness. I think there is beauty in that.

NN: What is your favorite Instagram filter? Or #NoFilter?

TD: I love all the insta filters! Depending on the lighting of the photo and my mood. If I HAD to choose it would be lo-fi!

NN: What Top 3 Fashion Trends in Hollywood do you LOVE right now?

TD: I’m loving the denim! Rocking a high wasted denim skirt with booties and a cute sweater is definitely a fall fav. Over the knee suede boots. They can make any outfit look sexy. The Stewart Weizmann’s fit like a glove! Plush Pink. I love that color in almost anything!

NN: What Top 3 Fashion Trends in Hollywood do you HATE right now?

TD: Clurb Dresses!! Even if you are doing a surprise trip to Vegas please stop yourself from wearing it! These dresses show too much skin and body and scream no style. But maybe they are still in?! I don’t think the round toe and tapered heel and hidden platform is in anymore but man do some girls still rock it. The modern take on the 70’s platform. But I’m starting to get used to them!

NN: What is your definition of Hollywood “Glam”?

TD: Confidence. That Glam thing that people talk about is only possible when an individual is poised, classy and simple. You can have two women wearing the SAME outfit but one will have the Hollywood Glam and the other wont. It’s this innate sparkle of life, love, happiness and self-assurance. Its magnetic and undeniable. Its not for sale.

A new year is upon us, and with it comes an inner desire for change. Whether its setting goals for a new job or simply just wanting to change-up a minor thing or two in your life / cut a bad habit, resolutions are happening all around us currently!

One change that has become a trending item in today’s society is the subject of being a better person. Now while some people change their hair color or try out a whole new look, hoping it gives them a new sense of confidence or change, those things may only work in the short term. That is why there is now something called The Emotional Makeover, which are sessions that help guide you on a spiritual healing cleanse and help you see your inner beauty, so that you can change your day-to-day attitude in the real world.

The founder and creator of The Emotional Makeover, Tony Uberoi, spoke exclusively to It’s A Glam Thing about his sessions and how Hollywood stars are coming to him to make 2017 the best year ever! Oh, and Tony is also psychic with over 30 years experience in predicting correct things, so we obviously asked him about what 2017 will be bringing our way!

Nick Northstar: The word “Glamorous” can mean many different things……What is it’s
definition to you?

Tony Uberoi: When I see the word “Glamorous” I drop the first two letters. Glamorous is “Amorous” to me. Something personal, snug and lovable.

NN: With your Emotional Makeover sessions people can learn to feel “Glamorous” internally correct? How do you help them see their inner beauty?

TU: Glamorous is Amorous. Lovable. A large percentage of the clients I serve are secretly suppressing something painful, shameful causing hurt and pain.Sadly this pain makes them wrongly doubt that they are deserving of receiving love. After an Emotional Makeover session has released their pain, my clients reconnect with their true inner power. This transforms their perception of themselves. Clients now feel lovable, amorous…Glamorous. Clients are able to see themselves with clear lenses. They see their own beauty again. Beauty lies in their own eyes.

NN: You have worked with a lot of Hollywood stars….What emotion do they usually feel prior to coming to see someone like you?

TU: Stars are special. They work hard, travel and are constantly in the public eye. It has been stated….A favourite most time has no friends they can trust with their feelings. Once these sensitive stars feel they can trust me, they are simple, friendly and very humane. Usually feelings of loneliness and a feeling that they are not understood hurts the stars emotionally when they arrive to see me.

NN: What is your advice to anyone wanting to make a change in their lifestyle.

TU: Change is inevitable. Why not make a change in lifestyle fashionable, yet fun. My advice is: Be guided by your true inner self to bring yourself more harmony and balance. Mantra…Flow with your feelings.

NN: With the holidays here, do you find a lot of people come to you after feeling down over holiday shopping money issues?

TU: The obvious money issues are with people who go overboard and over spend. Strangely the reverse is also true. People who had the money but were unable to shop due to various reasons. Lack of time, nursing a sick family member or travel are to mention a few. Yes, the holiday blues bring all sorts of people for the Emotional Makeover. The important thing to learn is that happiness should come from a feeling of enjoyment and festivity, not the feeling that a good deal or exchange of gifts are the key to happiness.

NN: As you are also a psychic….What do you see coming up, prediction wise for the New Year?

TU: 2017 begins a new 6 year beautiful astrological cycle of growth and change. We will have to begin and be the change! The more mature will have to learn the lesson of readjusting to the even more fast pace of changes. The younger folks will have to be creative with change and also help the older folk to readjust. The magic word will have to be BLEND!

For more on Tony and to book a session visit: http://www.tonyuberoi.com & http://www.emotionalmakeover.me

When we think of seeing a psychic or medium, we think of either a person who is dressed like death is on their front door-step, or of an individual who has an elaborate style, funky hair-do and exaggerating an old-fashioned hippy outfit (think Miss Cleo). However, that is not the case at all for Medium Fleur, who is one of the world’s most recognized female mediums that is based here in Hollywood.

From Emma Roberts to Lana Del Rey, Medium Fleur has a high profile client list that seek her out to connect with those who have passed on. She also does live audience shows around the country, helping people to find closure with those who have died.

I just had to interview her about her abilities, what dead people wear when she sees them, and sense of her own personal fashion & style in her line of work…

NN: How would you describe your own personal style- both while at home and while you are doing readings and live shows?

MF: I’ve always had an affinity for dresses and heels, and I love getting dressed up. I feel most confident in a pair of high heels, so I rarely go on stage without them!

NN: What do you have to say to those who think Mediums have no style?

MF: Mediums are as unique from each other as people in any profession. Some will be stylish, others may not be. One thing is for sure- I have yet to meet a Medium who only wears long flowing dresses, bangles, and a gypsy turban.

NN: When you see and speak to dead people. what type of outfits are they wearing?

MF: The spirit world doesn’t have a need for clothing in the same way we do. However, they may show or describe what they are wearing to provide evidence about who they are. Fashion style can be a very important in someones life, so when they have passed they may show a Medium a specific outfit, hairstyle, or certain jewelry to help communicate that it is truly them.

NN: What is something about Mediums that people may not know or understand?

MF: Mediumship is a gift, but it needs to be developed. I was born with a natural gift for mediumship, yet I have spent a great deal of time sharpening and enhancing my connection. My training has centered around meditation, mindfulness, and cultivating mental stillness to maintain a clear connection to the spirit world.

NN: What is your advice to anyone wanting to channel their own abilities/talents?

MF: I absolutely believe that everyone is intuitive. If you have a soul, and everyone does, then you have access to psychic information. When you learn to trust these moments of intuition, you are connecting to your own psychic ability. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes. For this reason, I encourage my students to keep a journal of these moments so they can see for themselves how their seemingly coincidental hunches occur often, and can be trusted and acted upon.

NN: What is the best advice you were ever given?

MF: “Fear is the worst advisor”

NN: Where can people go get a reading done by you?

MF: If it’s your first time experiencing mediumship, an audience show is a great place to start! During the show, I give messages from the other side to members of the audience. Upcoming shows are listed on my website at www.mediumfleur.com. I also offer private phone readings and in-person readings in Los Angeles.

The fabulous daughter of a U.S. serviceman, Kennedy Summers was born in Berlin, Germany but raised in Virginia. She started modeling at a young age, and hasn’t turned back since. These days, Kennedy holds many titles: She is a Playboy Playmate of the Year, social media queen (with millions of followers), 3rd year Med. student, and recognized around the globe as a top model & fitness expert.

It’s A Glam Thing sat down with Kennedy at her home in Hollywood to find out more about her style, favorite designers and life in the public eye…

NN: How would you describe your own personal style – both while at home and on the red carpet?

KS: I would say that my style is classic, with a little bit of rock and roll. I like to wear solid colors, but I like to spice things up with fun jewelry. I like to make sure to wear things that my future kids won’t see in photos and laugh!

NN: What are some of your favorite beauty products that you use to get red-carpet ready?

KS: I swear by jojoba oil. I always put it on under my foundation because it keeps it from looking cake-y! I also love MAC lipliners because they stay for hours.

NN: Who are some of your favorite fashion designers to wear?

KS: Chanel has always been my favorite. The pieces are iconic and you can’t beat a properly tailored fit. I really, really love YSL for their shoes.

NN: Do you hate it when the paparazzi catch you in certain outfits?

KS: Oh my gosh, yes! They caught me walking my dog after a lunch meeting in a dress that wasn’t wind-approved! One big gust and he (and TMZ!) saw everything!!

NN: What is your favorite Instagram filter? Or #NoFilter?

KS: I’m all about #NoFilter! I feel like it makes my skin color look weird if I use them.

NN: What Top 3 Fashion Trends in Hollywood do you LOVE right now?

KS: I love the statement chokers, tall boots, and the extra-long sleeves that hit the runways for Fall.

NN: What is your advice to anyone wanting to get into modeling?

KS: If you want to get into modeling, just go for it! Start by building up your social media, especially because agencies always ask how many followers you have! Most importantly, stay healthy. I eat vegan and I work out six days a week, even if it’s just for twenty-five minutes.

NN: What is something about models that some people may not know?

KS: Models do have substance, too. Many of us are entrepreneurs, college graduates, mothers, and intellectuals. I want people to consider that maybe we are using our looks to get by, not because we are stupid, but because we are smart. We may not value looks over everything else, but a lot of people do. We just capitalize on that.

NN: Now that you have conquered Playboy, what’s next?

KS: I just started a fitness company called PlayOne Fitness. We make customized fitness videos for you to do at home, just like if you had a trainer!

She’s has been the veterinarian of choice to stars such as Paris Hilton, and now she is front and center on the red carpets in Hollywood after switching careers and becoming an actress! Hillary Hickam has starred in such films as The Lockett and In My Mother’s Arms, and next plays one of the leads in the horror flick, TiF.

With so much going on in her life, Hillary always knows how to glam it up, and so we had to find out more about her style, favorite products & more!

NN: How would you describe your own personal style – both while at home and on the red carpet?

HH: I believe clothes should be carefully chosen, but carelessly worn… I love to be glamorous, but not at the expense of comfort. It it’s itchy or constricting, no matter how sexy the outfit, I won’t wear it. I love the 80s so any chance I have to pay an homage to that decade, I will jump at it. I love hats and heels and textures. Gauzy fabrics and soft flowy silhouettes always attract me first, but I have plenty of slim-fitting, skin-revealing outfits too. (At home I will inevitably be wearing soft pajamas or jean shorts and an over-sized sweatshirt!)

NN: What are some of your favorite beauty products that you use to get red-carpet ready?

HH: I use a wide variety of brands, but the products I can’t live without include Benefit eye concealer and blush, Maybelline mascara, Stila eyeliner, Laura Mercier lipstick, and Trish McEvoy lip gloss. For my hair, I never go out without Kerastasse thickening spray and I still adore Potion #9 as style finish.

NN: Who are some of your favorite fashion designers?

HH: Helmut Lang, Zadig & Voltaire, Anna Sui, Magda Butrym, Alice and Olivia, Vince Camuto, Pedro Garcia.

NN: How has the change been from being in doctors clothes as a veterinarian, to now being a in-the-spotlight actress?

HH: It is actually a refreshing change to go from comfy, sometimes wrinkled, scrubs and tennis shoes to fancy, sexy clothes and heels! I have to spend a lot more time getting ready than I ever did to be a veterinarian! I’m pretty comfortable in my own skin though, so the clothes are just an extra accessory for the day. The most important part of your presentation to the world is Your attitude not your clothes. If you don’t have a positive, pleasant attitude you can’t hide that under even the most beautiful fabrics! I start the day with prayer and exercise regardless of what the plan for the day is or what my job will be.

NN: You have a few pets… Do you ever dress your dogs up?

HH: Oh yes! In fact my 4 pound maltese was a finalist in the Santa Monica Halloween costume contest this week! She was “LA Glam” and wore a sexy little black dress, a pink scarf, and of course her aviator sunglasses. Unfortunately my sassy year and a half old shih tzu likes to rip off and chew anything I dress her in so you are unlikely to see her in an outfit.

NN: What is your advice to anyone wanting to switch their own careers and try their hand at acting in Hollywood

HH: First, surround yourself with other talented, generous actors and learn everything you can from them! Then remember to return the favor as soon as you can. Secondly, BE BRAVE AND TAKE RISKS! Don’t bother learning “the rules,” because the successful actors are the ones that don’t follow them anyway!

Folklaur Chevrier could easily be cast as the fictional sleuth Nancy Drew. After all, the actress spent the last ten years pursuing a cold case in her native Ontario, Canada. What began as a curiosity soon became an obsession and ultimately a screenplay called “Innocence,” which is starting to garner buzz as a hot property, most recently whispered about at the Toronto International Film Festival. Inspired by Chevrier’s painstaking research, “Innocence” tells the story of a woman determined to find out who killed her childhood friend, a mystery that has lingered for two decades. In an ItsAGlamThing.com exclusive, Folklaur shares her thoughts on “Innocence” for the first time!

NN: We hear you’re a real-life Nancy Drew! Please tell us how you first became interested in the cold case that would eventually inspire your screenplay “Innocence.”

FC: I was searching for a real-life story to explore and develop. One day, there it was on the front page of our local newspaper, the 20th Anniversary of an unimaginable small-town tragedy. A 9-year-old girl had been murdered and her killer had never been caught. The article had a gut-wrenching photo of the mother standing at her daughter’s grave. The image and story was just the beginning. What struck me was that there were still so many unanswered questions.

NN: As you researched the cold case, at what point did you realize it could be adapted for the screen?

FC: I immediately so the potential of adapting this story for the screen. It was so different from anything I had ever heard of. What I discovered in my research was, to me, both disturbing and inconceivable. It led me to an obsession to unearth the truth and honor this innocent child and her family.

NN: We understand that “Innocence” is a fictionalized version of the cold case. How do the two stories differ?

FC: I realized certain dramatic elements could be used to explore what might have happened while maintaining the integrity of the story. And there is a lot of story and sharing every detail wasn’t feasible. Fictionalizing the basic true narrative allowed me more flexibility to tell the story I thought was most compelling.

NN: What are the challenges of fictionalizing a story like this?

FC: There were almost too many challenges to count! One thing I new was extremely important was to tell a great story. I think that’s one reason the script is being talked about now. As an actress, I think of myself as a storyteller, but I’m not a screenwriter. I was fortunate to be able to collaborate with two outstanding writers (Douglas Nyback and Michael Goodin) who saw both the big picture as well as the nuances of telling this kind of story.

NN: Did you have a role in mind for yourself in “Innocence?” If so, which character and why?

FC: Yes, and you won’t believe which part I saw myself playing! Believe it or not, it was the role of the murdered child’s mother who I renamed “Pat.” The real “Pat” is a lot older than I am. She’s 71-years-old now. I had the privilege of interviewing her during my investigation. Although I’m not physically a match for her, I was moved by her steadfast resolve to find the truth. Thankfully, I’ve never endured anything close to what she’s faced losing a child in such a horrific way, but at some level, I understood her. As actors, we seek to illuminate the human condition in all of its situations, and always, always seeking the truth. I hope that’s what we accomplished with “Innocence.”

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