Page 95 - Demo

www.MOSTmag.com // CELEBRITY MAGAZINE // 95special, in my heart, just something about him, and he would not let me leave without that blue gown. That was the first time I won Mrs. New Jersey. The reason it was so good was because I had only done one other pageant when I was just a teen and now I was older and married, etc. So that was why I had my reservations; I was like, %u201cI don%u2019t know, there%u2019s competition, I%u2019m not that good, I%u2019ve only done one pageant.%u201d It turned out that the competition was brutal, but I won by a mile. I knew I had the most beautiful blue gown, and I just felt great; and it%u2019s all thanks to Jacob for insisting I buy that gown and follow my heart. I won Mrs. American Queen in their gown as well. And then I went on to do a lot of other pageants, and I had so much fun dressing myself and was always helping everyone else. It was just fun for me to dress everybody and go to the pageants not expecting to win, but then I would and it was funny because I was always older than everyone because I started late. My whole court was like 21 years old and I was almost 50, but Jacob%u2019s gowns always made me feel like I could do it. Jovani Fashions is just such a wonderful company; they are incredible. He did so much for me; was such a wonderful guy, and the sons are raving geniuses with hearts of gold.by Norieta Stephanos of My Crowning Closet ormer Mrs. New Jersey and Mrs. American Queen, Norieta Stephanos, started off dressing her friends and fellow pageant contestants and is now the owner of My Crowning Closet in Jupiter, Florida, providing high quality gorgeous evening wear for prom queens and pageant winners. She sat down with MOST Fashion Magazineto tell us how it was all because of one designer who changed her life and inspired her to follow her dreams. Jacob was like a father to me. Iactually wound up in his showroom by accident when I was looking for another gown designer in a building with my friend. We got off the elevator, and I looked in the window of a showroomand was like, %u201cOh my god , you have to be kidding me!%u201d And it turned out it was Jovani. He kind of took me under his wing, and he just would not let me leave without this blue dress. I had said to him, %u201cSo what do you think? Should I do this pageant?%u201d He told me, %u201cRemember how big your heart is, keep it with you, and with my gown you%u2019re going to win.%u201d And I did! (Mrs. New Jersey) And he had my picture on his desk until he died. He had two young sons, a little younger than me, and I used to go up there once a week and bring other girls. I was lucky in my life to crown two of my friends and both of whom I dressed by bringing them up to Jovani, helping them pick their dresses. Over the years I%u2019d go up there to visit, and they were truly like family to me, and Saul and Abraham used to hold my boys and play with them. I loved them all. But then we moved to Florida, and I hadn%u2019t seen them in about 20 years, until just recently. It was at the market in Atlanta where we go every year and look at all the designers and put your orders in. I happened to be coming up these long winding stairs on the last day, and my purse was falling off and I was laughing at myself, when I saw Abraham, one of Jacob%u2019s sons laughing at me! I ran over to him and I was like, %u201c You don%u2019t remember me do you! I%u2019m Norieta!%u201dHe was so excited and it was so nice; I got to meet his family and nephews. It was perfect timing because everyone had heard about the two boys who had gone missing in Florida, and one was my 14 year old nephew who had gone fishing on a boat with a friend and was lost at sea and we haven%u2019t been able to find him. Hugging Abraham, I felt like I was home with family, and I was telling him how much his dad meant to me. His dad was the reason I started my business and started my store. He always gave me that inspiration. He was always an entrepreneur. They are a great family run company and all their wives and nephews and everyone works there. He was like my second father, my dad, so special. From the moment I walked into the showroom, I had that funny connection with him, you know you don%u2019t get that a lot in your lifetime. I felt something F