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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 15 > Entry
Atlanta ‘Runway’ finalist gets the star treatment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Not one, but two red carpets greeted “Project Runway” finalist Michael Knight as the Atlantan lent his rapidly growing star power to help the Art Institute of Atlanta on Thursday night.
Knight was there to help generate buzz for AIA’s new fashion and retail management degree program. Under a tent in the AIA parking lot, strategically placed models posed in Knight’s creations as hundreds of aspiring fashion students, industry insiders and stargazers showed up to greet Knight. “Y’all are here for me!” he said in a moment of Sally Field-like delirium. “It’s bananas.”
Dressed in a yellow Izod polo shirt, with jeans and gym shoes, Knight regaled the crowd with tales from fashion’s edge. Around age 8, he picked up a jumbo pencil after seeing a dress on “Soul Train” and thinking, “Man, I could do something like that.” He went on to study fashion design at Georgia Southern University, but after an industry internship, he ended up with a job at a collections agency. Three months later, he quit.
Good thing.
Knight’s best friend had a gig with R&B group Jagged Edge and hooked him up with styling duties. That led to a high-wattage roster of clients before his debut on “Runway.”
While Knight dodged questions about the show’s finale, which airs Wednesday, he did drop a few tidbits. Yes, he is designing a collection. Yes, he will stay in Atlanta. And yes, he has a little slip of paper in his wallet with a pledge for the future: “I will be in Bryant Park [in New York] next year.”
Atlanta’s cocktail party “It” guy also turned up at the fall/winter Versace collection preview Wednesday night at the Buckhead home of David Tufts. Among the 150 socialite types spotted scooping up this season’s must-haves: Kimmy Umphenour, Nicole Jones and Kirsten Braden. Proceeds benefit the Georgia Aquarium. The charitable effort has proved so popular that the Buckhead Versace shop will continue to kick in to help the downtown attraction with each purchase through Sunday.
We’re told, incidentally, that a $25,000 coat is still available (where did we put that Buzz Central black Am Ex card?).
New name for anchor
The Monica Kaufman era at WSB-TV Action News officially ended Thursday. On the evening’s telecasts, viewers were introduced to Monica Pearson, the veteran anchor’s new professional name. More than a year ago, the newswoman married DeKalb County policeman John E. Pearson Sr. And while she’s gone by her married name on WSB’s Web site for over a year, changing Miss Monica’s moniker on-air required alterations to station promos and graphics. When meteorologist Glenn Burns reintroduced Pearson to viewers during the 11 o’clock report, Pearson cracked, “New name, new hair, new everything!”
A real-estate marriage
Real estate office openings don’t normally rank very high on our mandatory R.S.V.P. list. However, as we ventured through the adorable house at 1031 Juniper St. on Thursday night that is the new headquarters of Sanctuary Real Estate in Midtown, we were, well, really impressed. Owner Ryan Cooper’s vision is to unite buyers with sellers, and builders with agents, all under one roof. And anyone who has sweated through I-285 gridlock trying to get from a Realtor’s office to a lawyer’s office for a closing will appreciate the approach.
“Through this new concept of a boutique agency, we’re hoping to eliminate some of that stress,” Cooper told us out on the back deck of the house. “This way, our clients can just walk from one room of the house to another to complete another part of the process.” Sanctuary’s opening party also served as a benefit for the Warrick Dunn Foundation. Attendees included Dave FM’s Holly Firfer and CNN’s Thomas Roberts. For more info: www.yourownsanctuary.com.
Country star files for divorce
Country singer Sara Evans alleges in divorce papers that her husband committed adultery, was verbally and emotionally abusive, drank excessively and frequently watched pornography in their home.
Evans, 35, filed for divorce on Thursday from Craig Schelske and announced through a spokesman that she was quitting ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” “to give her family full attention at this difficult time.”
The couple married in 1993 and have three children ages 7, 3 and 2.
Schelske, 43, and unemployed, ran for Congress as a Republican from Oregon’s 5th District in 2002. The Salem, Ore., native could not be reached for comment.
In the filing in state court in Franklin, Tenn., where the couple has a home, Evans alleges that Schelske watched pornography on the couple’s computers and has at least 100 nude photographs of himself in a state of arousal. She also alleges that several photos show Schelske having sex with other women.
Celebrity birthdays
Today: Actor Roger Moore is 79. Singer Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues is 60. Country singer Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks is 32. Alpharetta-based singer Usher is 28.
Sunday: Actress Linda Lavin (“Alice”) is 69. Actress-director Penny Marshall is 64. Musician Richard Carpenter of the Carpenters is 60. TV chef and Atlanta restaurant owner Emeril Lagasse is 47.
Contributing: Nedra Rhone and news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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