My First Red Carpet

“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I remember my first time at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) like it was yesterday. TIFF is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world and every year it attracts some of the biggest stars. I experienced TIFF at full force for the first time in 2012. Covering red-carpet premieres is a blast but also quite stressful. Sometimes the carpets can be very hectic, even breathing is a stretch. That’s why I was so happy when I got to talk to Eva Mendes. I was pretty nervous. Here I was, face to face with Eva M – e – n – d – e – s!!! But she is so beautiful, sweet and funny that I had probably the best first red carpet experience I could have possibly imagined.

Eva looked stunning in Dolce & Gabbana dress, satin headscarf and vintage earrings that she inherited them from her grandmother: “These earrings, they’re my grandmother’s. I’m not joking – it’s the first time I’ve ever worn them. My mother gave them to me about two years ago. My grandmother died in the 50’s and I never got to meet my grandmother so I’m nervous about losing them, so I keep touching them,” she said. When she began talking about her grandmother I realized something. It’s easy to idealize celebrities to the point of more-than-human. However, it’s nice to remember that they are people just like us. Okay. Maybe not EXACTLY like us.

Photos: Barbora Sosková Dudinská

By Barbora

Slovakia-born, Toronto-dwelling fashion lover. A fashion consultant, freelance writer, red carpet reporter and the creator behind ChiChi.