March's Mina Maven

Annie Vazquez 

Who said a girl can’t do it all? Annie Vazquez is a Cuban American journalist that currently reports on all the hottest boutiques, trends and sales for NBC Miami. She’s always on the hunt for the best places to shop and letting us know exactly what designers and boutiques we should be keeping our eyes on, but that’s not the only reason we love her.

This fashionista is also the fearless babe, who was hired by The Miami Herald, to actually take on some of their readers biggest fears. From wrestling an alligator and flying a Cessna, to being the first woman to ride as a passenger in an Indy car, it’s safe to say that she is a no nonsense reporter who’s willing to push the limit and get the story.

In addition, Annie has always dreamed of writing a novel. So when she’s not busy teaching grammar to her sixth grade students at West Miami Middle School or volunteering at Miami Dade Animal Services , you can bet that she is hard at work on finishing her debut novel. 

On her inspiration for her upcoming novel:

I've always dreamed of writing a novel that could empower people and at the same time make them laugh, cry and learn. I decided to write this book, which tackles domestic abuse, after the whole Chris Brown and Rihanna incident occurred. When I saw how many celebrities came forward in support of victims of domestic abuse, I decided that I wanted to do something too. 

I believe a lot of people don't understand why women stay in these types of relationships and sometimes feel trapped, so I'm hoping this book will open their eyes. I want to reach out to men and woman alike who have found themselves in an abusive situation and give them a story of hope.

On how she got involved in fashion and her favorite boutiques and designers: 

Since I was in elementary school I've always had a penchant for fashion which I inherited from my mom, who has very eclectic taste. I would watch her admiringly (and I still do to this day) as she transformed herself in a classic dress or into the latest Chanel style. She would experiment with her clothes and mix trendy garbs and out-of-the ordinary baubles. She taught me to have fun with fashion and always be myself. To this day, it is the best advice I've ever heard. 

Becoming a fashion writer later in my life came naturally to me. Of course, it took years for me to get my break in The Miami Herald covering designers and boutiques, but today I get to write both for The Herald and daily for NBC MIAMI. 

I know of so many great boutiques to shop at that its practically impossible to pick a favorite, but I can say that MINA is on the top of my list. I love the variety of styles, good quality garbs and affordable prices. 

Locally, right now I'm also loving designers like Lorie Lester's dresses and Jimi Vee's tees and my ultimate favorites are Chanel, BCBG, Betsey Johnson, Diane von Furstenberg and Elizabeth and James.

On her volunteer work at Miami Dade Animal Services and her rescue pug, ELMO:

I adopted my pug, Elmo, from Miami-Dade Animal Services. He has changed my life and opened my eyes to how serious the situation in South Florida really is. Last year alone 30,000 dogs were euthanized because people don't take the time to spay, neuter or micro chip their pets.

I have volunteered at the shelter and have written several stories about it. In fact, the Pug T shirt by Jimi Vee that you are currently selling at MINA was inspired by Elmo. You see, the designer and I adopted him together and I always asked him to create something special for us.

I encourage anyone who is considering getting a pet to visit the Miami Dade Animal Services web site at http://www.miamidade.gov/ANIMALS/ .

Below is a picture of Annie and her lucky pup, Elmo...