GURUS MAGAZINE CELEBRATES GAY PRIDE

On June 1st, Gurus Magazine celebrated its first annual #30Voices30Days initiative. 30 covers, 1 cover to be released each day of June celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and their Allie’s. To kick off the month Gurus hosted a VIP daytime Pride Wellness Retreat followed by a star studded Pride Cover Launch Party previewing all 30 covers of the magazine – each celebrating a unique voice every day of Pride – all benefitting GLAAD.

Hosted by Gurus Magazine’s founder and publisher Derek Warburton, and produced by Rachel Wilson, the Pride Wellness Retreat invited the cover talent plus hand selected VIPs to enjoy the Element Lounge of the Godfrey Hotel Hollywood. Emmy Award Winner, Niecy Nash celebrated her wife’s, recording artist Jessica Betts’, cover star as the two entered into the beautiful retreat space. Drag Race star Laganja Estranja, enjoyed a hydrafacial and massage by South Bay Plastic Surgeons, while another cover star, Gleb Savchenko (Dancing With The Stars), got a B12 Shot from R3 Anti Aging Medspa Beverly Hills. Host of Drag Race Mexico, Valentina got her hair blown out to perfection by the Kevin Murphy Hair team and Cynthia Bailey, (RHOA), got her makeup touched up by Gensee Beauty – both in director’s chairs from FilmCraft LA. Freshy gifted a pair of shoes to each of the covers with custom velvet bags and gave out even more slides to our VIPS while True Notions handed out specialty gifts to all who attended. Other gifts included Lip Nourishment from Purlisse, skincare by Peter Thomas Roth, Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin, Anna Nicole Smith: Portrait of an Icon books, Equals Human Custom Tees and more. All the while, El Cristiano poured coconut margaritas for Joely Fisher (Ellen/ SAG-AFTRA Treasurer), alongside the Godfrey Hotel’s own restaurant ALK, About Last Knife, who served up a high tea service. VIPs were gifted their own El Cristiano bottles to take back to their rooms to enjoy later.

Above Photos By Saulo Padilla

After rainbow balloons rained down on the courtyard, the daytime retreat came to a close and everyone got glamorous for the Cover Launch Party that covered the entire I|O Rooftop at the Godfrey Hotel Hollywood. Notables on the Pink Carpet included Patricia Arquette (Actress), Aubrey O’Day (Media Personality), Niecy Nash (Actress) & her wife Jessica Betts (recording artist), Sutton Stracke (RHOBH), Cynthia Bailey (RHOA), Laganja Estranja (Drag Race), Matt Dallas (Kyle XY), Tara Reid (American Pie), Joely Fisher (Ellen/ SAG- AFTRA Treasurer), Gleb Savchenko (DWTS), Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary), Jonathon Schaech (Blue Ridge), Frankie Grande (Broadway), Valentina (Drag Race Mexico), James Charles (Influencer), Camille Meyer (RHOBH), Brian Justin Crum (Recording Artist), Ronen Rubinstein (Actor), Anthony Allen Ramos (GLAAD), and many more.

With all 30 covers lining the rooftop and being projected on the side of the Godfrey Hotel Hollywood, guests were invited to enjoy the Poolside Pride Party Lounge designed by Amber Walker Events. Beyond that there was a Pride Bazaar with luxury jewelry from Todd Sensoli Jewelry; Aumaro Gems showcased her signature colorful stacks; energy bracelets from Larson Arts LA; sneakers and slides from Freshy; recording artist  YellaCATT merchandise direct from her tour; underwear and loungewear sets from True Notions; psilocybin mushrooms from Muse; Kevin Murphy Hair gifted party goers with kits of their best-selling items; and, author Randy Scobey signed copies of his autobiography WHY: A Memoir. Additionally, The Blonde Italian, served up rainbow pasta with her superb sauces and spices.

Above Photos by Dimitri Halkidis

After the Pink Carpet, Gary Thomas Entertainment brought the house down with his cabaret show, WHISKEY. Not to be outdone, Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts hopped on the mic for an impromptu performance of their new single, “Pride”.

Following, Anthony Allen Ramos, Vice President of Communications & Talent at GLAAD, gave a speech about the importance of projecting voices and introduced the “legend” Derek Warburton to the stage. Yellacatt closed out the night with two songs and revealing the BTS of her latest video on the side of the Godfrey Hotel Hollywood.

Meanwhile, during the entire event, celebrity fashion photographer, Josh Fogel, shot over 5000 frames of the attendees in Gurus “Out Loud & In Color” Floating Garden Photo Studio.

Every guest left the event smiling with Peter Thomas Roth gift bags for all and bottles of Hpnotiq for our cover talent. #30Voices30Days set the standard for a wondrous Pride and has only just begun.