Last Saturday evening, Ivan returned to Boston for last-minute preparations before
leaving for Taiwan for the Mister International 2008 pageant. CB stylist Erwin Dimagiba and myself went to pick up
Ivan at Boston's Logan Airport. He had flown in from Pittsburgh via JetBlue, his favorite airline. His plane landed
around 8:20 p.m. 
He was carrying a bulky backpack, a duffel bag, and a suitcase. He looked thinner than when he won
Mister USA back in August. He exclaimed he couldn't wait to go to Taiwan!
From the airport, we took him to his hotel which is a few blocks away from Club Café on
Columbus Avenue. As soon as he checked in, we walked to Club Café for a light dinner. Ivan ordered a small plate of
salad and salmon, whereas Erwin and I just had drinks. We asked Ivan about his experience in Puerto Rico and the fashion
shows that he had attended; he enjoyed all of them immensely! After finishing his dinner, we showed Ivan the gym
where he could work out. The gym's name is Revolution Fitness and is located right below the café! Since the gym was
already closed, we accompanied Ivan back to his hotel. He looked tired and he could certainly use some good night sleep.
The following day, Sunday, Erwin picked me up and we returned to Club Café for
Ivan's send-off brunch party. We got there just before 11 A.M. A few minutes later, Ivan arrived looking cool in his red cap
and sporty sunglasses. Then arrived Monique Jones, her mother Terie Barba, and Dana Rosengard,
the journalism professor who judged Mister USA. Monique presented Ivan with an Ed Hardy cologne while Dana gave
Ivan three designer neckties! Ivan was very touched by Monique and Dana's kindness. Then all of a sudden,
Markus Ricci, Ivan's first runner-up, popped up wearing a white tank top and mesh sports shorts. Markus had been
working out at Revolution Fitness, so when he heard about the brunch he dropped by to say hello and to wish Ivan good luck
in Mister International.
After the party, Erwin, Ivan and I went downstairs to Revolution Fitness to meet with one of
the owners, Kevin McGaunn. Kevin led us to his office and we explained to him the purpose of Ivan's visit to Boston. Kevin
agreed to allow Ivan full use of the facilities, and he also advised me that he would be open to becoming a sponsor in next year's
Mister USA! Yeah!
After our meeting with Kevin, we met with Jean Nagy on Newbury Street. Jean is a ground reporter
for CURRENT TV which is documenting Ivan's preparations in Boston. Jean followed us to every shop that we visited. Some of the shops,
especially the big-name stores, did not allow any filming, whereas the local stores did (they could certainly use all the
publicity they need!) Our shopping escapade lasted for about a couple of hours. Erwin and I gave Ivan a ride back to his hotel.
That very same evening, Jean filmed Ivan working out at Revolution Fitness and she also interviewed him.
The next day, Monday (Nov. 10), would be a very hectic day. Erwin and I picked up Ivan at his hotel
and we headed towards Salon Euphoria for Ivan's 11 o'clock appointment with the salon owner Andrea Dion Jacobs. Andrea's
salon is located right behind Border's Bookstore in downtown Boston, in an historic building.
The salon itself screams casual elegance with its neoclassical molded plaster ceilings, walnut-paneled walls and Greek columns.
Jean and her assistant also came to shoot Andrea trimming Ivan's hair. Andrea told me how gorgeous Ivan looks! Of course! After
all, he is Mister USA! LOL!
L-R: Erwin, Rafa, Monique, Tshidi and Ivan
With a newly trimmed hair, a lighter body full of energy, and perpetual cheerful disposition, Ivan
is now ready for his photoshoot with Becca Bousquet which started at 1 P.M. Becca's new studio is located in the Boston
district of Charlestown, on the third floor of a big, historic warehouse building that had been converted to offices and artists'
studios. Becca was already nine-months pregnant and she was expected to give birth anytime soon, so I was a bit concerned whether
or not she would be comfortable shooting Ivan. The worst-case scenario would be Becca having labor pains and Ivan delivering the baby
right at the studio! That would certainly make the news: "Mister USA helps deliver baby. News at 11." LOL! Actually, Ivan - who is
a fourth-year medical student - did deliver a baby in an emergency room, so Becca and her baby would be in good hands!
The photoshoot lasted a little over four hours and everything went very smoothly, thanks to
a great photographer Becca, make-up artist Tshidi Moore, Erwin, and of course Ivan who was professional to the core.
Monique Jones was also fabulous in her swimsuit poses with Ivan. The two had a great chemistry working together! Monique
is a favorite contender in this year's Miss Massachusetts USA pageant and it will be her sixth try! I really hope she wins! Becca took so
many great pictures of Ivan in his national costume, his evening wear, his swimwear, and his casual wear. I posted the best ones
in the galleries. Becca also took a photo
of Ivan with the group, and a favorite of mine shows me crowning Ivan!
Rafa crowns Ivan with the unofficial Mister USA crown (E-bay special, $39.99... LOL!)
After the photoshoot, Jean interviewed Ivan and me at Becca's studio; this interview will be
incorporated in the Mister USA documentary that CURRENT TV will be showing hopefully by January 2009. The whole day has indeed been
very hectic, but since everyone was having such a great time, it was all worth it! Ivan said goodbye to Becca, to Jean, to Tshidi
and to Monique, and they all wished him well in Taiwan. Feeling tired and hungry, Erwin and I took Ivan to his first vegan restaurant
located in Chinatown. His appetite was so big that he fully cleaned his plate. He was amazed how delicious and nutritious the dishes were,
and to think that there was no animal product whatsoever. He commented, "I could actually go vegan, but the only problem is that much
of this stuff is not available in my hometown!" :)
After dinner, we gave Ivan a ride back to his hotel. Then early the next morning (Nov. 11), we picked him up
and drove him to the airport for his 9 A.M. flight to Detroit, from where he would take his connecting flight to Tokyo, and then to Taiwan - all
via Northwest Airlines. He arrived in Taipei on the night of November 12th. Two days later, I spoke briefly with him on the phone and he said that
he is enjoying his Taiwan experience so far and that he's been eating a lot of tofu! He also said that the weather was warm and that his
roommate is Mister China who speaks little English.
I am very glad that Ivan made it in Taiwan safely. I have visited the updated Miss International website
and I have seen the pictures of most of the candidates, and I have to say that Ivan will face a strong competition with the delegates from
Brazil, Lebanon, Indonesia, Vietnam, Angola, Belgium, Latvia and China. To all of Ivan's fans, I would like to thank each
one of you for all the support that you have given him! Now let's all pray that he brings the first Mister International title for the U.S.A.!
Posted on 11.17.2008
