  | ANN LAUREN: FOUNDER and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dynamite truly does come in a petite package, and Bella Petite’s founder and Editor-in-Chief, Ann Lauren, is a testament to that. Ann has been actively involved in all aspects of the fashion industry beginning with working as a petite model, actress and host since the age of 16. Ann has appeared in dozens of beauty and fashion campaigns throughout her career, and having experienced the industry standards at a young age, she knew something bigger would have to done for the standards to change. Great faces don't change the world GREAT innovators do! Ann founded and organized the national organization USA Petites, with over a 100,000 women competing in petite pageants, modeling shows and events for women 5'5" tall and under! She created and produced the only nationally televised show in world for petite models. Bella Petite has become the vanguard brand creating the most recognized women's fashion movement and platform in the country for petite women! Having been featured in over 500 newspapers, radio, and television interviews nationwide, Ann is considered the foremost expert in petite fashion and modeling. Currently, her network spans the globe with connections in fashion, beauty and entertainment. She has relationships with brand recognized designers and professionals to help establish petite consumer market identity. She is recognized for her innovative vision and years of working tirelessly to create a collective positive image for petite women. Through Ann’s efforts many globally recognized companies have sponsored the petite fashion movement including, Cartier, Kenar Petite Clothing, Jantzen Swimwear, Nordstrom, Petite Sophisticate Outlets, Bullock’s, Victoria Jackson Cosmetics, I. Magnum, Susan Lucci Hair Care, Saks Fifth Avenue, Decleor Skincare, Macy’s, Avon Cosmetics, Baker and Leeds Shoe Stores, Leon Cliyne Couture, Carlson Travel Network, American Airlines, Disneyland, The Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas, Knott’s Berry Farm, Marriott Hotels, United Airlines, Queen Mary, Crystal Court Mall and La Trattoria Spiga in Costa Mesa, CA, Universal Studios. Ann Lauren’s experience in Internet marketing began in the ‘90’s establishing strategic partnerships and developing integrated marketing campaigns and promotional programs as Vice President of Development for Netcity.com, the first online electronic metropolis. During this period Ann developed relationships with companies such as Trizec-Hahn, Disney, ESPN, Viking Components, Sportsline USA, Brooks Brothers, PrepCo Food Distributors, and many others. Ann was also founder and President of an Internet Portal called WildNetwork.com, whose start-up flagship was WildEmail.com, where she successfully raised over a million dollars in venture capital funding. Today Ann has created Bella Petite a women's centric global communications group with the singular focus of establishing the only globally significant source for petite fashion, entertainment and lifestyle. |
PARTNERS
Bella Petite's partners are excellent businesses and professionals who share a common interest in promoting the interests and needs of petite women around the world. Our partners are working together with Bella Petite to affect positive change for petite women everywhere. | ONE MODEL PLACE One Model Place is pleased to announce its partnership with Bella Petite. This new alliance between One Model Place and Bella Petite has been established to create a united promotional force which will benefit members of both international organizations. One Model Place is an online community for models, photographers, and creative talents, now in its 15th year. OMP’s mission is to serve the modeling and photography industries, by offering the opportunity to create and maintain a powerful online presence -- regardless of a user's experience level, technical skills, or geographic location. The site empowers its members with networking tools that enable them to quickly locate, evaluate, negotiate and book assignments in the U.S. and around the world. One Model Place gives professional and aspiring artists alike the chance to promote themselves, get discovered, and live the dream. |
 | THE NETWORK TALENT Change the Industry, Change the World! It’s not every day that you hear about a modeling or fashion company whose mission is nothing short of global transformation. Spend some time with The Network Talent or with Bella Petite, however, and you will suddenly find yourself in the company of not one, but TWO such companies. The Network Talent connects modeling agencies around the world and Bella Petite offers a petite modeling and fashion alternative to the mainstream fashion industry, but both share a passion for changing the image-based industry around which each evolves. |
 | PETER BARATTI: BELLA PETITE LEAD FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER Peter Baratti was born and raised in Europe, schooled in the United States, and now resides in Hollywood. Peter originally started out as a student of architecture in New York, but soon transitioned to fashion photography and moved to California. It wasn't long before Peter was photographing famous celebrity faces, including Jenny McCarthy, Drew Carrey, Penelope Cruz, Ian Ziering and Jay Leno to name a few. His list of photographed supermodels is quite impressive as well, including major names: Christie Brinkley, Cheryl Tiegs, Cindy Crawford, Carre Ottis, Kate Moss, Giselle and Adrianna Lima. Peter also discovered 5'2" Colleen Shannon, the "50th Anniversary Edition" playmate, and has been a regular contributor to Playboy magazine. Baratti has been instrumental in discovering some of the world's most beautiful talents in fashion and show-business. Peter's expertise and style has graced magazine covers, fashion editorials, product campaigns and commercials. He is an ardent believer in Bella Petite’s vision and feels it’s time the industry pay attention to the petite fashion market! PeterBaratti.com |
 | RUNWAY ICON The Runway Icon group President Raphael Maglonzo and directors are rising kings of the LA Fashion scene. Their elite crew of photographers, videographers and makeup artist are nationally recognized for their work on Project Ethos, Miss California, Teen USA, as well as recent editorial shoots for designers Dena Burton, Merlin Castell, Lauren Elaine Black Label, Organic Planet, along with many high profile clients. They have been pivotel in building the careers for many aspiring models. Runway Icon has partnered with Bella Petite Magazine to bring petite women to fashion's forefront! We will be creating fashion-forward trendsetting campaigns, editorial layouts and cutting edge content to rock the fashion world. This is where it all starts, you can expect this fashionable partnership to be one that changes the old industry standards and makes fashion history! |
 | STARNOW Starnow connects talent with casting professionals. Check out our Opportunities for models of all shapes and sizes, and strut the catwalk, strike a pose for a fashion magazine, appear on TV, or star in a music video! Sign up to create your profile, be scouted in our Talent Directory,and apply online to auditions and jobs. This is your chance to work with some of the biggest names in the industry. |
| AMERICA'S WEB RADIOInternet Entertainment Radio Partner |
EXPERTS
Bella Petite's Experts are well-respected industry leading professionals with unique insight into subjects ranging from fashion trends to business strategy. These highly educated women are qualified to share their experience and advice on a variety of subjects, and they are also passionate about supporting the interests of petite women! Together with Bella Petite, these Experts are here to offer valuable advice and promote the interests of petite women in their respective industries. | GINGER PUGLIA: TREND EXPERT Ginger Puglia President of GingerFinds: Fashion, entertainment, LifeStyle Trend Expert and Board Member of Bella Petite Publishing, Inc. NY, New York: Ginger is a Fox News Trend Host and owner of trend intensive company that is focused strictly on clients and corporations with a strong aesthetic mission. Ginger consults on merchandising, styling, strategic planning and talent acquisition all with companies on the forefront cutting edge thinking. Ginger will be contributing trend reports and articles for Bella Petite on fashion, entertainment and lifestyle. Bella Petite Hour Fashion Edition with Ginger. |
 | MARIA GAMB: BUSINESS EXPERT Maria Gamb is the CEO and Founder of NMS Communications, LLC. She’s an advocate of ”no more stress,” hence her company is aptly named “NMS" Known as "The Change Agent" she has over twenty years in corporate management at Fortune 500 companies. Ms. Gamb has worked in various capacities as Designer, Product Manager and Director for; Macy's, Geoffrey Been, Liz Claiborne and Ralph Lauren. |
 | DASHAMA KONAH: LIFESTYLE EXPERT Dashama is a petite model, celebrity yoga teacher and lifestyle expert, who travels the world teaching yoga retreats and yoga teacher certification programs in exotic locations globally. She is the best selling author of Journey to Joyful, creator of Perfect 10 Lifestyle online community, Pranashama Yoga Institute and the Global 30 Day Yoga Challenge. Her philanthropic outreach includes Yoga for Foster Children & Orphans, Rainforest Alliance and Clinton Global Initiative. Her DVDs, books, lifestyle transformation programs and eco fashion line can be found in Dashama's online Boutique. Her articles on Bella Petite are written to educate, illuminate and inspire you to be the best you can be and to live your life to the fullest. |
 | ELIZABETH LIONS: JOBS EXPERT Elizabeth has an education in psychology from the University of Maine. She started her career as a headhunter a decade ago, calling on some of the most powerful male leaders at companies such as Intel, Mentor Graphics and Microsoft. While recovering from cancer in 2009, Elizabeth launched her first book, "Recession Proof Yourself!", which gained national recognition. She is a professional speaker, writer and counselor, which clearly separates herself from other career coaches. Her column for Bella Petite focuses on women's unique work related issues and leadership. Elizabeth's intention is to arm women with powerful information to assist grooming their careers and ultimately building powerful female leadership within business. Elizabeth knows why you are hired, fired and promoted - before you do! For more about Elizabeth's philosophies, click! |
 | JACQUELINE PEROS: CORPORATE IMAGE & STYLE EXPERT Jacqueline is a certified Image Consultant from the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City specializing in image and wardrobe management for individuals and corporations. Additionally, she is the President of the New York Tri-State Chapter for the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI). AICI is the leading and largest professional association of personal and corporate image consultants worldwide. My extensive corporate background that includes working as a marketing executive in the technology sector, as well as developing branding strategies, the latter of which has served as a natural springboard, enables me to help individuals develop their own personal brand to further their careers and enhance their lifestyles. JMPstyle |
 | MAGGIE F. KEENAN Ed.D: BRAND PHILANTHROPY STRATEGIST Giving Advice is a cause marketing and brand philanthropy boutique consultancy that works with fashion, beauty, fitness and health brands who want to make a difference. This is the place where brands and causes connect for the greater good. Maggie Keenan is working with Bella Petite to connect our sponsors with causes important to women. Dedicated to providing cause marketing and philanthropy services to brands, her focus and determination means her clients make stronger and more synergistic connections with causes and customers. Companies are attracted by her passion and vision for what she sees possible for their contribution to the world. With an uncanny ability to connect ideas, people and causes, Maggie sees opportunities all around for anyone that desires to be a force for change. An avid runner and former runway model, you can find Maggie on the road or runway when she isn't in her office. |
 | VANESSA DELEON: INTERIOR DESIGN EXPERT Vanessa DeLeon always knew she had a place in the arts. However, she never expected the fast rise to success she has fortunately enjoyed. She can be seen in such shows as HGTV's Generation Renovation, Designer's Challenge, Bang For Your Buck, and Design Star, as well as numerous publications including New York Spaces, Design NJ, (201) home, Latina Magazine, Time, Entertainment, and Cosmopolitan. She is currently also a featured designer on the Food Network's Restaurant Impossible. |
 | LYNETTE MCNEILL: ENTERTAINMENT EXPERT Lynette has been billed as “LA’s hottest acting coach.” Lynette has been in the entertainment business for over 30 years. She is responsible for developing many of Hollywood’s most talented artist; Ellen Degeneres, Janeane Garofalo, Anne Archer, Adam Sandler, Jane Leeves (“Frasier,”) Faith Ford (“Hope and Faith,”) Jason Lee, Giovanni Ribisi and Adam Goldberg to name a few! Lynette’s workshops are by invitation only. |
 | JEANENE CANNON: FITNESS EXPERT Jeanene is a Certified Personal Trainer & Corrective Exercise Specialist via the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and is a former top NPC Figure Competitor. She also holds a Masters Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Health/Mental Health. Jeanene owns and operates Physique Complete, LLC in N.CA a full service Personal Training company and is a contributing health/fitness writer for Bella Petite. Teaching hundreds over the past 6 years in her various boot camp, cycling, and sports conditioning classes. Jeanene has helped many women to lose weight and become healthier via her perinatal fitness classes, personal training and nutritional counseling. Jeanene has been a speaker and health/fitness writer for various local organizations. She is a petite model who appeared on TV Land Network's “She’s Got The Look, Season 3”. |
 | KELLY GITTER: FASHION STYLIST, DESIGNER & RETAIL EXPERT Kelly comes to us with a stellar retail and wholesale background in both designer and contemporary sportswear. Notably she was the director of Visual Merchandising for Scoop NYC during their prime. Kelly was key in the launch of Scoop’s famous flagship Soho store and over the course of her eight years with Scoop she helped grow their chain into eleven stores! Over the last several years she has been working on various consulting jobs including the Director of Buying and Visual Merchandising for GC William New York, a Madison Avenue Boutique where she handled all product-related trend intensive matters. As an added benefit, Kelly is an accessory designer and has owned her own line and designed for a company who created private label designs for numerous brands including J.Crew, Belk, Gap, Banana Republic, Macy's Talbots, to name just a few. In addition, Kelly has consulted with noted fashion designers Vivienne Tam and Elie Tahari. She has been hired to organize people's closets and is hired regularly as a personal stylist for many of her past clients. She is Currently consulting for a trend, fashion recruiting firm called Ginger Finds, where she is passionately placing people in positions similar to the jobs she has carried herself, over the course of her career. Fashion is Kelly's true passion! |
 | SHONDA CHASE, R.N.: BEAUTY EXPERT Palm Springs, California Shonda Chase is a noted Beauty and Skincare Expert. She holds an advanced Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and is owner of the Revive Salon and Spa in beautiful Palm Springs, California. Shonda’s been trained by expert leading physicians like Dr. Mark Bailey. Shonda provides skincare advice and services to many of the world’s most beautiful and noted faces in Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Newport Beach. We’ll get the facts on the latest skincare treatments to the stars that you want to know about! We look forward to Chase's articles on beauty secrets and skincare techniques to help you have beautiful ageless skin. Plus, many petite model makeovers will be provided by Salon Revive! |
 | STEFANIE SACKS, M.S., C.N.S: CULINARY NUTRITION EXPERT Stefanie Sacks, M.S., CNS is a Culinary Nutritionist who works hands-on with individuals and groups in transition to a healthier way of eating as a food counselor, nutrition educator and chef instructor. She has been studying food and healing for twenty-five years, has her Masters of Science in nutrition from Columbia University, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and is a graduate of The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts. Some contributions include: Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr, a 21-day meal plan and 70 recipes to Power Up, Unleash your Natural Energy, Revitalize your Health and Feel 10 Years Younger by Dr. Woodson Merrell and Kathy Merrell. She also offered her culinary nutrition expertise to Discovery Health’s National Body Challenge, ABC, Runner’s World, Fitness, O Magazine, Body and Soul, Teen Vogue, Oxygen and Self. Stefanie's column will feature the latest nutrition news, innovative culinary nutrition education and personalized nutrition therapy and culinary guidance. Sacks will empowers you with her insights and innate ability to connect you through food! |
CONTRIBUTORS
Bella Petite is truly a nationwide (and worldwide) movement. Today our featured contributors stretch from Los Angeles to Miami and cover important fashion centers around North America including Toronto, Portland, Chicago, Denver and numerous locations in between. Bella Petite’s featured contributors are successful writers, producers, directors, entertainers, models, professionals and motivators who have gathered together to promote the Bella Petite movement in their repective home regions. The Bella Petite brand is growing in every corner of America! | CANDACE CHAMBERS-BELIDA: Dating and Relationships Contributing Writer Los Angeles, California An Author/Television-Radio Host/International Speaker providing inspirational and motivational messages to audiences worldwide. Candace's books are "The Secret Codes of Conduct for Marriage," "Dare to Stand," and "Never Good Enough To Marry."' Her radio show Love Bites For Lover's Only® talks on marriage and relationship issues that touch the heart. Her spin-off Radio Talk Show is "Love-a-licious!™" A Producer and Writer for networks ABC and CBS. Worked on television shows, in casting and production for General Hospital, Chicago Hope, Wind Beneath my Wings, Into the Night with Rick Dees, Hollywood Closeup, Eye on LA. In addition to Host and Executive Producer of her show "Puttin On the Ritz," with celebrity guest such as Emmanuel Lewis of Webster, Tina Yothers of Family Ties, Jenny Agutter of Logans Run, and many more. |
 | SWAN BOWDEN: Regional Editorial Director and Pop Culture and Events Writer Honolulu, HA Swan is the owner of Focus International Hawaii. She’s been in the model and talent industry for twenty-eight years. Swan isn’t exactly fashion model height at 5′8″ (an inch below the industry standards). Swan successfully transitioned from model to business and in 1990 she launched Focus International, an award winning international agency booking talent for commercials, print work, high fashion, editorial and catalogue. Swan was responsible for booking models and talent for Tyra Banks America’s Next Top Model cycle 13 produced in Hawaii. |
 | TAMY LUGO: Bella Petite Personal Style Contributing Writer Tampa Bay, Florida Over the years, I learned that I could make a difference in the lives of others - encouraging, raising self-confidence, and helping people rid themselves of a negative self-image, that’s when I discovered that styling fashion would be my platform. I was credited for styling in 2007 in Tampa, FL and began personal wardrobe & fashion styling in 2008. Because fashion & style is my passion, one thing I will always guarantee my clients is honest feedback. Experiences have taught me that it's never too late to find your true self and your true beauty, regardless of size or shape. This is why I developed Visit VStylist.com |
 | TANA CORPORON: Pop Culture Contributing Writer Denver, Colorado Tana has delivered time and again a power packed punch. Her articles on fashion, entertainment and lifestyle are sharply written with a quit witted edge. Bella Petite's readers already demand more from Tana! She intends to keep our readers entertained, enthralled and asking for more. Simply stated with every stroke of the key pad she's a petite woman's best friend! |
 | JENNIFER BOLLINGER: Regional Editorial Director and Contributing Writer Chicago, Illinois Jennifer has been on stage for thirty years singing and dancing. Recently, Bollinger was a winner in the “2009 Paulo Coehlo Film Competition” independent film festival held in Rome, Italy. For a film she co-wrote, produced and starred in. Jennifer will be scouting new models and directing Regional Editorial campaigns in Chicago for Bella Petite. She will also be writing exciting interesting professional petite women profiles, lifetstyle and event features. |
 | SUNDAI LOVE: Petite Model and Contributing Writer Los Angeles, California Tyra Banks America's Next Top Model finalist Sundai Love. Bella Petite snapped her up as a Cover Girl contender and her career is taking off! Sundai will write about her experience getting into reality television, petite modeling and issues important to young women. Currently, Sundai is continuing her education in Veterinary Medicine. Sundai is a contributing writer and will be sharing her experiences and [petite modeling tips]. |
 | ANGELA PHILLIPS: Petite Model Representative and Contributing Writer Atlanta, GA Angela is a contributing writer and a petite model advocate. Her talent will bring positive recognition to the petite female market place. The mentor and God Mother of Angela Phillips is Nobel Peace Prize nominated Wilda Spalding who has dedicated her entire life humanity projects. Her service based endeavors create positive role models that move the world forward. |
 | STEVEN RODDY: Marketing and Motivational Contributing Writer Atlanta, GA Steven is a marketing and motivational expert. His company Steven Roddy Marketing is about "Success strategies for successful people." Steven is also the founder of The Pageant Pageant. "The Pageant Planet is your free online pageant coach that teaches you the best practices in pageantry." |
