Category Archives: Interviews

Happy & Healthy Living: Exclusive Interview with Phoebe Dykstra

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Photo by Eric Veloso: ericveloso@streetdreamsmag.co.

By: Lucy Mazzucco

Many of you may remember Phoebe Dykstra as the host of several MTV and Much Music programs including New.Music.Live., Today’s Top 10 and After Degrassi. This week, I got to chat with her about her lifestyle, her passion for animals and her experience working on television.

Apart from being the tattooed goddess from TV who attracted fans to her social networks for the way she looked, her fan base began to grow when she created a second Instagram account by the name of @phoebesmindbodyspirit; which focused on her healthy lifestyle, vegan diet and her love and passion for meditation, yoga and animals. “While doing TV, I realized that there were a lot of people listening to me on my social media, so I began to think of ways that I could be even more to them,” said Phoebe. “Some days, I honestly don’t feel like going to yoga, but I push myself to go in hopes of making it look easy to others, so that they’ll want to try.”

Although Phoebe is no longer at MTV, she is focused on her own projects such as starting a clothing line, transitioning to a quieter lifestyle and living a happy and balanced life. “My favorite part of the experience was the excitement I got for the audience and fans,” said Phoebe. “Being able to tell a fan that they were chosen to ask their favorite celebrity a question; and then having to mentally prepare them for it was such an awesome feeling.”

After leaving MTV, Phoebe decided that she wanted to escape the city in hopes of living a quieter and simpler life, so she relocated to an island on the west coast of Canada. “I am still transitioning from the move. Toronto has so many positives, but it just wasn’t fulfilling my soul. The fast-paced lifestyle was making me forget who I was and who I want to be,” said Phoebe. “I encourage others who would like to live a quieter and simpler life to just do it. You don’t necessarily need to run away to an island; start by spending time in nature. Leap and the net will appear!”

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MMVA 2015 Red Carpet. Photo by Arthur Mola: mola.arthur@gmail.com.

Apart from being vegan, Phoebe’s healthy lifestyle also consists of meditation and yoga. Her lifestyle choices have been greatly influenced by her enormous passion for animals. “I stopped eating meat about eight years ago, and became vegan after I decided I loved animals too much to play any part in their mistreatment,” said Phoebe. “If I had a spirit animal, I always thought it would be a cat or maybe a raccoon; but the truth is, it would be a squirrel. They’re all over the place and they’re so playful,” said Phoebe.

Phoebe has an entire arm dedicated to her passion for animals, which contains tattoos of animals including a cow, rabbit and duck. “People notice me for my tattoos and I was definitely ‘the tattooed girl’ when I was on TV,” said Phoebe. “I’m happy to share if anyone ever asks me about them, since they are positive reminders to myself; but I don’t see them anymore. They are there, just like my skin is there.”

So, what’s next for Phoebe Dykstra? Besides adjusting to the transition away from city life, she hopes to continue inspiring others. “I’d like to start a clothing line. Creativity is something I’m still trying to convince myself that I have,” said Phoebe. “I had no idea that this little farm girl would end up with a career in television or move to an island. Who knows what’s next…life is beautiful.”

For updates from Phoebe, follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @phoebedykstra.
For lifestyle updates, follow her second Instagram account: @phoebesmindbodyspirit.

Hot for Food: Exclusive Interview with Lauren Toyota

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IMG_8043_new_SmallerBy: Lucy Mazzucco

Many of you may remember Lauren Toyota from Much Music and MTV, where she hosted programs such as New.Music.Live, MTV News and After Degrassi. This week, I got to sit down and chat with the television personality, host and producer about hot for food; her food blog developed alongside boyfriend John Diemer, which consists of exciting and innovative vegan recipes.

On January 1st, 2010, Lauren made the decision to become vegan after having been a vegetarian for most of her life. “Before I became full vegan, I used the blog to document my experience on the transition. It was fun talking about the struggle with food and not feeling well sometimes along the way,” said Lauren. “Back then, I just enjoyed taking pictures and talking about my experience, while getting feedback from others who were going through the same thing.”

Although the blog generally targets the health and wellness community, it is beginning to attract viewers who use hot for food as a resource that inspires, educates and explores curiosity for those wanting to become vegan, but don’t know where to start. “John and I usually like to recreate the things we eat at restaurants. We think about how we’d be able to make the dishes ourselves, but ultimately, we think about what we could do to improve them,” said Lauren. “We like to think outside the box and challenge ourselves to transform regular food into vegan food.”

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As far as favorite foods go, Lauren was able to narrow her favorite hot for food recipes down to her mac and cheese along with her cauliflower buffalo wings. “I like a lot of the recipes we’ve made. John and I come up with new ideas all the time and constantly think of ways we can grow while having fun along the way,” said Lauren.

When asking Lauren if she had any advice for individuals aspiring to become vegan, she suggested to take it one step at a time and to listen to your body. “It’s something you can’t keep over-thinking. Take it one meal at a time. Find the animal products in that meal and think about what you can replace them with,” said Lauren. “There are tons of resources out there that are readily available. It’s important not to get overwhelmed because it’s an evolution and a step-by-step process. Start where your heart is.”

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So what’s next for hot for food?  “We want to continue developing recipes,” said Lauren. “We don’t exactly know what’s next for us, but it could be anything. We’re open-minded to any possibilities.”

For more info, visit hotforfoodblog.com or ‘like’ them on Facebook!
For updates from hot for food, follow them on Twitter and Instagram!
For updates from Lauren Toyota, follow her on Twitter and Instagram

Eleanor Shore: Exclusive Interview ft. Degrassi’s Eric Osborne

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eleanor shore 3By: Lucy Mazzucco

This week, I got to sit down and chat with Eleanor Shore, a band consisting of television show actors Eric Osborne and Ehren Kassam from Degrassi, along with Connor DuPont and Sean McAlister.
“We essentially all met in high school, except for Eric and Connor who grew up together,” said Ehren, who plays the role of Jonah Haak, Degrassi’s newest addition to the cast. “Through our shared interest in music we formed a band.”

The name of the band, Eleanor Shore, has left fans curious about whether or not she is a fictional character, or a real woman who inspired the name. Eric, who is best known for his character Miles Hollingsworth on Degrassi, answered this by explaining that the idea for the band name came to him in a dream. “We had a hard time choosing a name for our band, but it is loosely based on a dream I had which involved a woman named Eleanor. The rest remains a mystery,” said Eric.

The band describes themselves as “indie/folk,” and they are known for experimenting with a variety of sounds during live performances, along with frequently switching up the roles of who plays what instrument. Usually, the band’s formation includes Eric on guitar, Ehren on piano, Connor on trumpet and Sean on the bass or drums, but they like to rotate and give everyone the chance to play different instruments throughout the writing and performing process.

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“We cover every genre and we like the sound of brass instruments because it makes our acoustic songs unique,” said Connor. “The trumpet, which is my instrument, adds to the overall folk vibe of our band.” As far as experimentation goes, Sean believes they have found the sound which best suits them. However, they continue to incorporate different elements in hopes of standing out. “Our sound could be described as vintage,” said Sean.

In the new year, the boys hope to record and release an EP, along with playing more shows. “We hope to bring forth the indie/alternative genre and stand out to a younger generation,” said Ehren.

For more info on Eleanor Shore, follow them on Twitter, or visit their YouTube channel.

ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise: Exclusive Interview with Tasos Hernandez

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tasos4By: Lucy Mazzucco

Many of you may remember Tasos Hernandez as a contestant and eligible bachelor on ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise, along with the most recent season of ABC’s The Bachelorette, which featured Andi Dorfman as the leading lady. This week, I got to sit down and chat with him about his experience on the show as he competed for Andi’s love.

“I had heard of The Bachelorette, but had never really watched it until I found out that a friend of mine, Desiree Hartsock, had been chosen to be a contestant on Sean Lowe’s season of The Bachelor,” said Tasos. “After she left, she was chosen to be the next Bachelorette; and after talking to a few people I knew, we all decided that it would be fun if I was chosen to be on her season. Essentially, I would be fighting for the love of a girl who I already knew prior to being on the show.”

Although Tasos had hoped to be on Desiree’s season, he did not hear back from ABC until casting for the following season began, which featured Andi Dorfman. “I was a little hesitant, but only in regards to what the attitudes of the other men were going to be like. I figured there’d be a lot of competition and alpha male personalities, but surprisingly, the moment I walked in, there was no sense of superiority and there were even friendships being built,” said Tasos.

Beyond the living arrangements, the show’s purpose was to fight for Andi’s attention, which is something Tasos struggled with. “It was a different experience, that’s for sure. When it comes to my significant other, I’m very territorial. It was hard to allow other men to spend time with the person I was interested in while I was around,” he said. “Although it was uncomfortable watching Andi date other men, I ultimately didn’t get a lot of time with her, so my feelings at that point weren’t strong enough for me to experience jealousy.”

Tasos was on The Bachelorette for a total period of four weeks, which he felt was long enough to establish a connection. Although he wishes he had been given more time, he says he would not have done anything differently and is happy that he was able to remain true to himself. “The whole point of the show is to meet someone and fall in love with them. Even though I wish I’d been given more time to spend with Andi, I wouldn’t have done anything differently,” said Tasos. “What viewers saw, was only a snapshot of what truly happened. I usually only had two to five minutes with her and it’s disappointing because even then, the episode only showed about 30 seconds.”

tasos7Despite the fact that only fragments of the conversations between Andi and Tasos were aired, he genuinely believes that his personality was accurately portrayed on the show. “I wanted to stay true to myself even though I knew it’d be hard to show her who I was in such a short time span. I’m proud to say that I never said anything on the show that was out of character for me, nor did I act in a manner that wasn’t natural,” said Tasos. “If I was ever given the opportunity to be on another season, I would continue to keep in mind that the things you say or don’t say can have an effect on people’s lives. I would always make sure that I had something positive to say and I’d always take everyone’s emotions into consideration.”

So what’s next for Tasos Hernandez? As someone who has a passion for the stage, he hopes to continue establishing himself as a performer. Along with acting and being in a band, he is also an MC at weddings. “As far as my future goes, I want to buy a home and start a business. I’d like to set up a trip to France or Australia and eventually settle down, build my own home, get married and have kids,” said Tasos.

“Ideally, I’d also like to try and do more TV and film. Even though I still don’t feel like viewers were too inclined towards me, I’m flattered because if they were, they liked me for me and not for how I was portrayed on a television show.”

For updates from Tasos, follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Fashion Fix: A Chat with Renowned Makeup Artist, Rosanna Villani

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By: Lucy Mazzucco

unnamed-1Rosanna Villani’s passion for makeup began at a young age through her admiration of fashion and beauty editorials. As a teenager, she remembers flipping through issues of magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair and desiring a life where she could be involved in the world that created those images. As she would flip through magazines, what struck her the most were the photographs; which she would cut out and collect for inspiration.

“Although many people confuse the idea of makeup being a tool to hide one’s identity, I think it’s actually the opposite. It’s a tool for self expression, transformation and it enhances natural beauty. If anything, I feel that it brings forth one’s own individuality,” says Rosanna. It was through the collection of these photos that Rosanna realized she belonged in and wanted to be part of the beauty and fashion world. “The way I see it, is that through the art of photography, you can combine all of these worlds.”

“The art of fashion, makeup or hair can be combined to tell a story,” says Rosanna.  “Eventually when I got into makeup, I realized that much like in theater, I was fascinated with the idea of creating a character and the world of transformation in general. Just like a painter, I looked at makeup as a tool to create, transform and enhance.”

Rosanna worked at MAC Cosmetics for several years and got hands on experience when it came to discovering new strategies and incorporating new techniques. She learned how to express herself along the way and found a way to use her individuality in order to move ahead, which later landed her a position working at Fashion Week in Milan. “My years at MAC were truly amazing. They were definitely my formative years where I grew and developed as an artist,” she says.

unnamed“Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work on countless shows and events. Notably, the Viva Glam Fashion Cares Fashion Show and most recently, doing makeup for the fashion shows at Milan Fashion Week for Fall/Winter of 2014/2015. The experience was magical and definitely a dream come true.”

In the near future, Rosanna hopes to continue to grow, see more of her work in publications, have opportunities to work on more shows and expand internationally. “I would love to do more travelling and work on fashion editorials for major magazines that I’ve always dreamed of working for. I’ve always told myself to dream big…the sky is the limit.”

For bookings or more information, visit Rosanna’s website at www.rosannavillani.com or email her directly at villani.rose@gmail.com.

For updates and photos of Rosanna’s work, follow her on instagram: @rosannavillani_

Real vs. Real World: Exclusive Interview with Brandon Brutality

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photo 1 (9)By: Lucy Mazzucco

This weekend, I had a chance to chat with Brandon Brutality about upcoming projects, along with the struggle to escape his MTV image and the title of being a reality TV star.

In 2012, Brandon was cast in MTV’s 27th season of The Real World in St. Thomas and got to experience the ups and downs of being in the limelight along with having cameras follow his every move. Currently, he is facing the struggle of escaping from Brandon Kane, the housemate portrayed on the series and is focusing on his identity as Brandon Brutality; a writer, model and musician.

Naturally, my first question to Brandon was whether he was pursuing further opportunities with MTV and if he still held onto and cherished his title as a Real World cast member. “It’s hard when you start out with reality television, because after that, it feels like you’re trying to salvage your 15 minutes of fame,” said Brandon. “I spent my whole life being bullied, spent a few years being homeless and I was in a dark place. MTV has always portrayed beautiful people and I never truly felt that I was one.”

Upon speaking to him about his modeling career, he went on to explain that it happened unexpectedly. “It started out when my friend bought a camera. It began accidentally. My modeling means everything to me because I’m not attractive. I always felt like the ugly duckling growing up and to me modeling was a form of redemption. It made me feel good because it allowed me to accept my flaws,” said Brandon. “I don’t want a perfect body. My tattoos represent an art form that I’m covered with just as a canvas would be. I’m a beautiful nightmare and I’ve got a big heart. The world paints such an unfair picture of what beauty is. I speak for the underdog.”

Brandon then discussed his views on hate vs. love and talked about how he has kept a journal throughout his entire life. For those of you who watched his season, you may remember the infamous journal that he brought with him which he used to document his experiences in the house. This wasn’t new for him, though. Growing up, Brandon used writing as an escape; a way to pour out his emotions and opinions in a poetic manner. Upon being asked who inspired him, he said, “To me, someone who is inspirational isn’t a superhero. It’s the everyday kid; the one who goes to school every day and works hard to eventually provide for a family. Good moms and dads are inspirational.”

For a published model covered in tattoos, I had to inquire about how his love for tattoos began. “To me, people like Tommy Lee and Marilyn Manson were people I looked up to growing up. Travis Barker is another one. He changed my life. I just wanted to be beautiful and I saw men like these who were lanky and tattooed. They were weird, but they were talented and educated. Everybody loved them for who they were. They made me understand that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

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I then proceeded to inquire about his palm tattoos, which have gotten a lot of buzz on his Instagram page. “I have the Alpha symbol on one hand and the Omega symbol on the other. No matter what culture or religion a person is, the bottom line is that they search for a God. Everyone seeks their creator, but I believe that each person is the creator and destroyer of their own world. Everything I build, I destroy and everything I destroy, I rebuild.”

Although Brandon has been working hard on his upcoming projects and focusing on his modeling career, he had one last comment about how he was portrayed on television. “At the end of the day, the way they portrayed me in my last episode on The Real World was honest. Some people looked up to me on television for strength and then they saw me slip up. People struggling with addictions need to understand that they will forever be an addict and they will forever have their slip ups. You just have to take it day by day and try to get through it.”

For updates from Brandon Brutality, follow him on Twitter.