Art Basel is one of the craziest times to be in Miami so you can only imagine my excitement when I found out the Nobu Hotel was down to collaborate and have me stay at their property in Miami Beach for the duration of 2019’s Miami Art Basel. Not only did they hook me up with an amazing time but the room was absolutely iconic! From wrap around views from Bayside to Ocean, to the suite sized room fit for a #QUEEN! It was one of my most unforgettable stays in Miami when I am not with family or at a family apartment so moving forward The Nobu is the new spot. I highly recommend you check it out for yourself! https://miamibeach.nobuhotels.com
A WEEKEND IN VEGAS WITH CIRQUE DU SOLEIL & MASTERCARD
I’ve always wondered what my ideal weekend getaway to Vegas would be like and now I definitely have to wonder no more! This past weekend I was asked by Mastercard to join them in Las Vegas at a truly Priceless Experience. In case you didn’t know, Priceless Cities are incredible experiences that only Mastercard cardholders have access to! Little did I know that this one was going to blow my expectations out of the water and be one of the most memorable getaway trips ever!
As you guys may remember, last November, I had the chance to attend the Cirque du Soleil headquarters in Montreal, where I got a detailed look into the inner workings of almost every detail that happens behind the scenes of a Cirque Du Soleil show!
Now over 2, 500 miles from where the story started, I am getting to see how it all comes together when the show is on the road, or in this case, in residency! For this Priceless Experience in VIVA LAS VEGAS not only did I get to catch the ultimate #OVIP experience getting to watch the ‘O’ show from our VIP suite, but I was able to head behind the scenes to see how all the talent and team gets ready before a huge sold out show creating the ultimate VIP experience that only Mastercard cardholders have access to!
21 years later since its first show, Cirque du Soleil has now hosted over 17, 000, 000 guests (including Jennifer Lopez and Brad Pitt) at over 10, 000 shows worldwide. Having had the opportunity to check out the celebrity wall, it’s safe to say that the ‘O’ show is a celebrity favourite in Vegas! Getting to walk around the famous ‘O’ theatre with the space all to ourselves really took a few minutes to hit me! I even had to say “wow” out loud when I realized that this experience was all for me! It was something so priceless to take in!
As a Mastercard cardholder, you too can have amazing experiences. There are always new ones – big and small – popping up all over the world! All you have to do is visit www.Priceless.com to get more info and sign-up!
A Weekend of Pride in New York City with Mastercard, Getting my True Name Card!




What a weekend! I just finished an epic couple of days in New York with my Mastercard family for World Pride festivities! Not only did I get to catch 3,000,000 people participate in an epic parade but I was wowed by iconic performances at Pride Island by Pabllo Vittar, Teyana Taylor & GRACE JONES, (I mean GRACE JONES), which I enjoyed from the Mastercard suite!! I was in awe as she is someone we all know as being a legend so getting to see her perform, especially after how long she has conquered the industry, was such a treat! It was so nice getting to enjoy Pride, eat well and spend some time with friends I haven’t seen in a while!!!




The undisputed highlight of this World Pride weekend was getting to join Mastercard at Pride Fest and getting my very own True Name card made in real time at Mastercard’s booth! If you follow me on Instagram, then you got to catch this moment as it happened on Sunday afternoon!

Mastercard recently introduced the True Name card, which is the brand’s commitment to give transgender & non-binary people the ability to have their chosen name on the front of their card. This is an amazing initiative in an effort to avoid those awkward moments I know all too well. As someone who identifies as transgender, I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked for a credit card or ID and because it doesn’t reflect how I look or identify myself, have had to deal with a strange double-take. There is nothing worse than having to explain my story in a moment when all I want is acceptance and privacy.

The True Name card gives me the ability to choose a True Name that reflects ME and let it proudly be seen on my card. This is my choice and my story, and I am joining Mastercard on calling to the industry to apply these standards for everyone, ensuring a way for people’s financial products to reflect their true identity, and to be able to do what they need to do with piece of mind!!!
A PRICELESS Day With Cirque Du Soleil | @MastercardCa #StartSomethingPriceless
TO be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve been this inspired and mesmerized by the BTS workings of a company or brand.. The last time I was this starry eyed is without a doubt the time I got to go to Chanel’s Lesage & Lemarié couturiers in Paris following their epic Chanel Shopping Centre show. I got to see the intricate workings and the master craftsmanship that went into creating couture! That being said.. IN an over 30,000+ square foot facility that took nearly an entire work day (10:00AM – 4:00PM) to cover I was managed to be blown away over and over again. It’s experiences like this that really set the tone for me and stay cemented in my mind!
How did I manage to get an exclusive look inside one of the most lucrative acts in the entertainment world you ask? NO I didn’t just show up!!! I was one of the few people fortunate enough to be tapped by Mastercard Canada to get to access to this Priceless experience with them in celebration of their new official partnership with Cirque Du Soleil. This was such a great experience and honestly it’s so great to know how much Mastercard is continually innovating to bring people closer to their passions in new and exciting ways through their Priceless_platform. This exciting partnership with Cirque du Soleil gives Mastercard holders unparalleled access to creativity, unique entertainment experiences, and the inspiration to Start Something Priceless… Cardholders of any kind of Mastercard get Priceless access to a bunch of offers and benefits allowing them to experience the Cirque Du Soleil like never before. Experiences such as:
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- A “Walk In Cirque Shoes” experience where you get to shadow a performer backstage, share dinner with the crew and enjoy a live show from preferred Mastercard seats.
- Cirque Camp, where cardholders get to learn Cirque performance and artistic skills, experience a guided tour, and receive a parting gift
- 15% off at Canadian touring shows & 20% off at Las Vegas resident shows
- Access to presale windows
- Access to premiere night tickets
- Access to Mastercard VIP experience
- Mastercard preferred seating at shows across Canada
and many many more!
Cirque du Soleil, apart from the show really is an extreme form of art.. It REALLY is a couture experience!! Getting to not only learn about BUT get to see first hand all the steps, details, processes, time and sweat that goes into not only a production but a single costume was insane! If you think their Montreal based headquarters was just a facility to train and edit looks (kind of like I did) YOU HAVE GOT IT ALL WRONG!!
For our tour of the facility we started with the basics, fabrics and materials for costumes as well as some of the modern techniques that are used to create details, props, etc. With production literally never ending, it’s easy to understand why there are thousands upon thousands of fabric swatches readily available for design teams to get inspired and pull from to get inspired for new looks, details, etc. Not only for costumes but for set design and more. The thought process that goes not only into the aesthetic but also the design I.e. what fabrics will give the circus artists the most support, the most breathability, the most flexibility throughout a show. I can not stress how many steps there are in the design process and how many different techniques are utilized to CREATE! It was exciting to see that Cirque Du Soleil uses state of the art 3D printing machines to go above and beyond to create props that take outfits and accessories to the next level and create the most precise of details for wardrobe additions to stage design enhancements.
AS you can imagine the Cirque du Soleil artists put their outfits through the works, from the natural sweat to diving into waters for acts to the natural friction and wear that comes with performing the stunts and techniques they do while on stage. To maintain and create unique prints, patterns and vibrant colours for months if not years of running shows, Cirque Du Soleil creates their own designs from a base of white fabric in various materials. They dye their own fabrics and use techniques such as sublimation and in some cases hand painting to keep specific prints and patterns vivid for shows around the world all with an about 35 person team here in Montreal. Not only do they create custom colours and patterns but I WAS LITERALLY FLOORED when I found out that they create custom hair pieces.. YES you are reading correct THERE WERE SOME CUTE AND TALENTED little ol’ Montreal women laying down lace fronts, hairlines and baby hairs to the GAWDS!!! TO THE GODS!!!!!!!! I was yet again mesmerized by how many skills and talents were under one roof! I couldn’t believe my eyes. Not only the skill of creating the wigs but also the ideas and talent that went into designing the styles like this blue feather hair piece I could NOT get over.
… Another favourite part of this Priceless experience… I mean it’s one thing to see them do it but to actually DO IT is another! Getting to experience Cirque artists train (not to mention get a peak of the super fit bodies #ENVIOUS) and practice their intricate and daring moves up close was intense and exciting. The strength, focus and dexterity of these performers are without a doubt un matched. When it was my turn to go I surprisingly wasn’t even nervous at all! There’s a calmness about being around a bunch of people but being 30+ feet in the air in your literally OWN space. I loved it and in hindsight kinda wish I went higher lol!!!
I mean, well obviously it OBVIOUSLY wouldn’t be a trip anywhere with me unless I was ALL up in the makeup, wherever, whenever, however! Cirque Du Soleil is known for their beautiful makeup that matches their equally beautiful costumes and set designs!! Knowing this what a better way to get acquainted then with the makeup team and products knowing that MAC Cosmetics is the official makeup sponsor for Cirque Du Soleil! It was not only a treat to watch the makeup get down but to learn that Cirque Makeup artists apply one side of the makeup to the performers face and then it’s up to them to mimic the make-up artists work on the other side so that they can be capable of doing their makeup on the road and on the go! SO NEXT TIME I COMPLAIN ABOUT MY CAT EYE AND JUST GIVE UP!? I’VE TAKEN NOTE! It was also great to see how the artists apply makeup so that it can retain itself throughout a performance, needless to say #SETTINGPOWDER! I love the technique of starting with a cream base in all the colours/contours/etc. and then setting it with a translucent powder but THEN going over with shadow, highlight and contour in matching powder colours to DOUBLE SET the face really making sure that there is no movement throughout a production.. Also.. big thanks to my muse for taking the chair for me to allow me to watch the makeup process be done and be our canvas xoxoxo
Overall words can barely describe the feeling you get when being at Cirque Du Soleil’s International Head Quarters in Montreal and really getting to see the couture art that goes into not only creating a performance but creating each and every detail (down to the buttons!) BUT YEAH! This was such a great experience and if you’re a Mastercard cardholder you can experience Cirque Du Soleil like never before too!
Visit mastercard.ca/cirquedusoleil for more information and to find your own way to #StartSomethingPriceless
#HMOSCHINO BAD BARBIE
IT IS t-minus 24 hours until the next collaboration with H&M, #HMOSCHINO hit’s stores and I have to say! I am thoroughly impressed with this collection and you can only imagine my excitement when I got some goodies to wear just in time for H&M… I dubbed myself an HMOSCHINO BAD BARBIE for f sakes LOL!! I loved it! And I have to say my pieces de resistance had to be each and everything I was wearing! From the lock bag which is actually super convenient and super cute, the iconic classic leather dress to the equally iconic logo chain belt and then of course had to top it off with the sleeping mask which I wore over one of my hats to create it’s own personal twist!
Remember the collection is out tomorrow November 8th in select stores and online! GET YOUR HMOSCHINO FREAK ON PEOPLE!!
View the collection here and start making your pics!!
XOJAY