By Ethlie Ann Vare
Photos by Ethlie Ann Vare
Cameo Hotel Beverly Hills (The Hollywood Times) 03/14/2026
Okay, it’s not the $350,000 haul that’s in the gift basket of Oscar presenters and nominees. (I hear that one includes legal fees for a prenuptial agreement!) But the swag at the Heather Marianna’s “A Toast to Hollywood” Luxury Gifting Lounge nonetheless drew a large and festive crowd to the Cameo Hotel Beverly Hills on Friday, as it always does, attracting new vendors and old, as well as celebrities new and…we’re not going to say it.
“This is our first year coming, and we’re super excited about it,” says Erica Bazirkanian of Bold & Zeal athletic apparel. “We’re a new company, and so far it’s going great. We’re meeting terrific people.”
“I appreciate how so many of the businesses represented are female owned,” says actress/environmentalist Rachelle Carson Begley, “and so many focus on natural health and wellness products.”
I watched Rachelle do an advanced genetics test with Radiant Heart by Christine Morgenstern Shin, as well as a non-invasive hormone test by Dr. Betty Murray’s Menrva for Women. There was the Shark Tank discovery, the Essence Ring. But, honestly, more people were here to check out Caviar Gold’s cannabis, Phylo Beauty’s plant-powered skincare, Libra Lash & Lip Co insane eyelashes and, for some lucky celebs, Botox injections from Soul & Beauty MEDx.
I fell in love with Wise Girl Cosmetics’ super moist lip gloss (yes, they specialize in women of color but I wasn’t trying on foundation) as well as Beaut. Beauty Co’s strawberry tooth whitening foam. Beaut. hails from Nashville, and this is their third time at the Toast to Hollywood Lounge. “We love to just network with people and make lots of connections,” says Beaut’s Mallory. “You never know who you’re going to meet that could totally change your brand for you.”
“I came all the way from Pennsylvania,” says perfume designer Tiffany Burrell, here for the first time with her line of Fairytale Fragrances. I just met Nicole Alyse Nelson, who was definitely on my want-to-meet list. She is a doll, and I am so glad.”
“We’re super stoked to be here!” says young Josh (or maybe it was young Chris) of the family-run Griz Fit out of Salt Lake City. They do vitamin supplement gummies and beef jerky, because why not?
“I just love everything about these gifting suites,” says podcaster Julie Smith. “They’re, like, women empowered, and they’re all here to support one another. The owners are just good people. They have our community’s best interests at heart.” Bold & Zeal, for instance, are donating a portion of their sales to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Kiss My Paws brought their rescue puppies to give kisses and get donations, and I’m sure they each got a Snuggle Puppy, the stuffed toy with a heart. My boy Brando loves his.
I didn’t run into hunky Dolph Lundgren or hilarious Luenell, but I did say hey to sexy Gilles Marini (Sex and the City) and the elegant Obba Babatunde (S.W.A.T.) Other stars expected on the red carpet included veteran actors Dee Wallace, John Savage and Chris Mulkey as well as record producer Paul Oakenfold and NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary.
Now on to the Oscars themselves and, then, Emmy gifting suites.
