Persianesque: Iranian Magazine

Bravo’s latest fashion-centric reality show, The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection, is housing an Iranian designer this season!

And her name is Golnessa Farmanara.

“My ultimate dream is to have a show in Iran.” Says the 28 year-old, who was born and raised in Iran until the age of 12

“I first realized I needed to be in fashion from a very very early age, my dad is in textiles, so I’ve always had fabrics around me to play with.”

Golnessa who now lives in Los Angeles, California has a “passion for art, photography, painting and sketching” and that led to her to pursue her Bachelors in Fashion Design at Woodbury University in Burbank, California. Read the full story

L to R: Roxie "Persia" Ramedani, Melissa Karimzadeh

Jersey Shore who?

Real World what?

It’s all aboot Toronto’s Lake Shore…Eh?

“Initially the show was going to focus on a group of hipsters, of Middle-Eastern descent, but after a lot of thought, [we] thought it would be much more riveting to explore how eight extremely diverse twenty-something Torontonians co-habitate,” says producer Maryam Rahimi of her Toronto-based co-venture.

The show’s premise?

“Eight cast-members from different backgrounds and sexual orientations move into a house together, and learn how to not step on each other’s toes! It’s not a competition; it’s all about their differences!”

And with former Miss Universe Canada crown-holder, Iranian model, Samantha Tajik, as co-host and judge of the show, Lake Shore promises to provide lots of “drama”.

Twenty-five finalists–two of which are also Persian–have been already chosen so auditions are now closed, but the show still needs your help in choosing the final eight cast-members.

Of course we encourage you to vote for the Persian girls: Melissa Karmizadeh and Roxie “Persia” Ramedani.

Dubbed “The Persian”, Karimzadeh is a 20-year-old model, and believes she’s had “more life experience under [her] belt than most people will ever have.”

“I’m completely and utterly happy with the person I’ve become.” She says. “I’ve done it all, and now, I know exactly what I want: Freedom, boys, whiskey, and rock and roll. I have a very old soul and a compassionate nature, but I’ll always be a wild-child at heart!”

The other Persian dokhtar (Persian: girl) in the mix trying to win-over the judges is also nicknamed The Persian in her audition video, and is known as Persia.

“I hold it down for my thick girls.” She says. “Last thing I’ll be is Snooki. Where all others fail, Persia succeeds. I’m a satisfaction guaranteed.”

Filming on Lake Shore begins sometime late 2010 or winter/spring of 2011.

Click here to cast your vote!

Warning: You may need a few shots of Saki to get over this Saki situation.

“I’m withdrawing from the competition.” Ida Saki told the judges last night during her last appearance on So You Think You Can Dance. Read the full story

Ida Saki on So You Think You Can Dance

If you’ve seen Ida Saki’s mesmerizing and ultra-graceful dance moves on “So You Think You Can Dance” (SYTYCD), then like us, you must already be in love with this sweet Persian girl from Texas.

Saki’s strength and emotion, vividly seen and felt through her movements on stage, didn’t just impress the pants off the ji-jiz (judges)–a la KatDeeley–we were just as blown away by the 18-year-old Iranian-American’s rhythmic ability–goosebumps and all. Read the full story