What's The 411TV's List of 25 Most Interesting People of 2012 was developed from interviews conducted by What's The 411TV correspondents during 2012

BROOKLYN, NY; December 20, 2012 - What's The 411, an entertainment and lifestyle television show, released today its list of 25 Most Interesting People of 2012.

What's The 411's 25 Most Interesting People of 2012 was developed from interviews conducted by What's The 411 reporters from January 1, 2012 through November 30, 2012. The list consists of celebrated personalities to ordinary people doing extraordinary things to the American people rallying for justice in the case of Trayvon Martin. Many people are local to the New York City metro area, while others are global figures.

"Throughout the years, What's The 411 has interviewed so many interesting people," said Ruth J. Morrison, CEO and Founder, Whats The 411 Networks. "This year, we decided to create our list of 25 Most Interesting People. It wasn't easy, but the reporters and producers narrowed What's The 411's Most Interesting People of 2012 to a list of 25. Some are known to almost everyone and some will be names heard for the first time."

"After developing and releasing our list of 25 Most interesting People of 2012, we learned that the Brooklyn Nets fired head coach Avery Johnson. Coach Johnson's firing was shocking and What's The 411 still stands by its decision to include Coach Johnson on its list. In our interview, we saw excitement, conviction, a warrior's attitude, and a commitment to bringing a competitive basketball team to Brooklyn," Ms. Morrison added.

The people making up What's The 411's 25 Most Interesting People of 2012 fall into the categories of entrepreneurs; kids doing great things; sports; fashion and beauty; health; non-profits; media and public relations; and even a former mob wife. The list also includes the winners of What's The 411's Jay Z Concert Ticket Giveaway, a couple so engaging they should have their own reality TV show.

Below is a list of What's The 411's 25 Most Interesting People of 2012 with hotlinks to their respective video interviews:

1. Marlena Ortiz - a 28-year-old breast cancer survivor who created the non-profit Beating Cancer in Heels to help women keep their self-esteem while undergoing cancer treatment
2. Trayvon Martin Vigil in Union Square, New York City - representing Americans standing up against racism
3. Hal Jackson (Posthumously) - legendary radio pioneer who broke many color barriers in radio broadcasting. Hal Jackson died on May 23, 2012 at age 96.
4. Danny Jacobs - a boxer who survived cancer and is now back in the boxing ring with two wins in two months
5. Magic Johnson - because he's Magic
6. David Stern - NBA Commissioner who bucked the prevailing sentiment at the time and developed a salary system which created many young black millionaires, a rising tide floats all boats
7. Sue Simmons - An iconic newswoman; anchor of WNBC-TV News for 32 years
8. Avery Johnson - the goody two-shoes head coach of the Brooklyn Nets; who knew he had so much fight
9. Billie Jean King - an iconic tennis champion and advocate for gender equality
10. Helen Shelton - an African-American woman who rose to executive ranks within a global public relations agency by providing value to her clients
11. Allan Houston - Assistant General Manager, New York Knicks and a former NBA player now leading the way advocating and demonstrating the importance of fathers through hisFather Knows Best initiative
12. Beauty/Fashion Trifecta: Vera Moore, Sofia Davis and Thomas Lavone: - Vera Moore is a beauty entrepreneur of 34 years in the competitive cosmetic business and now making a huge breakthrough with national distribution through Walgreen's; Sofia Davis, Editor, Fashion Avenue News Magazine; and Thomas Lavonne, an award winning New Jersey based fashion designer and entrepreneur with a celebrity following; known for his exceptional talent in Ready To Wear gowns, suits and fine apparel
13. Leslie Allen - a retired professional tennis player and keeper of the legacy of tennis champion Arthur Ashe through the Arthur Ashe Foundation
14. Alia Jones-Harvey - a Broadway theatre producer putting a new spin on classic Broadway theatre productions, thus creating diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity on Broadway
15. Dr. Devra Davis - an environmental health scientist ringing the cell phone environmental alarm bell16. Cheryl Wills - author and 20 years of making a difference in TV news in New York City
17. Constance CR White - a multi-dimensional fashionista running a magazine for Black women (no disrespect to Susan Taylor)
18. Dionne Williams - a fashion entrepreneur providing a professional platform for emerging fashion designers during New York Fashion Week
19. Alfred Edmond Jr. and Windsor Neckwear - creators of the Alfred Edmond Jr. Bow Tie Collection and other men's accessories; helping men everywhere to stand out while fitting in
20. Terrie Williams - CEO and Founder, The Terrie Williams Agency; author; mental health advocate; and mentor; for her honesty about depression and for mentoring young men
21. Leslie Chang, Scholarship Winner of Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health's Health Science Academy and Winners of Arthur Ashe Kids Day Essay and Art Contest - these kids are definitely going places
22. Pamela Quinzi - a fabulously sensational shoe designer with savvy marketing skills
23. Saffiyah Rodgers and Valerie Morrison - owners of My Girlfriend's Closet - making a business out of a childhood passion
24. Kim Benson and Qadir Muhammad - winners of What's The 411's Jay-Z Concert Ticket Contest - a comedic, smart and sassy couple; they should have their own reality TV show
25. Toni Marie Ricci - survived being married to the mob and now an author and mentor to other women

About What's The 411TV

Based in Brooklyn, New York, What's The 411TV is a division of What's The 411 Networks, a media/news and information company connecting sophisticated multi-cultural audiences through its distribution platforms of television, online, mobile, and social media.

What's The 411TV's celebrity portfolio consists of interviews with Magic Johnson, Beyonce, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson and many, many more.

What's The 411 Networks has the largest video celebrity interview portfolio of any Brooklyn-based independent media company.

Thomas Lavone's couture gowns on display at Fashion Avenue News Magazine's New York Fashion Week finale

What's The 411 TV got an up close and personal view at Sofia Davis' Fashion Avenue News Magazine's Fashion Week Finale at Tian restaurant. The event, attended by media and fashionistas alike, was held at Riverbank State Park in upper west Harlem in New York City.

The show featured Thomas Lavone's free flowing gowns, cocktail dresses, and suits; all types of fur outerwear by Will The Fur Man, and Pamela Quinzi's uniquely embroidered shoe designs. Also attending the show were: Vera Moore, CEO, Vera Moore Cosmetics; Deborah Williams, CEO, Her Game 2; and Fashion Police filmmaker, Bruce Penn.

Watch Video: Sofia Davis, Vera Moore, & Thomas Lavone Team Up for Fashion Week Fall 2012

Sofia Davis, Editor, Fashion Avenue News Magazine, produced a fashion show featuring Thomas Lavone's Designs during New York Fashion Week Fall 2012.

"He's a fantastic designer. He's very strong with very nice and couture light gowns, long flowing pieces," said Ms. Davis. "He does great evening wear and he surprises people because he does men's wear too."

Ms. Davis has a degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) and has worked at the Apollo Theatre for nine years as director of models.
There is no doubt that fashion is in her blood.

"If I could not do fashion, I could not live because it's that serious with me," Ms. Davis stated emphatically.

Ms. Davis covers all of the Fashion Weeks: New York, Paris, Milano, London, etc.

Unlike some fashion publications, Fashion Avenue News Magazine puts emerging and established designers together in its publication. Designers could be working in their kitchen. There is no need to have a store and designers don't have to be famous to grace the pages of Fashion Avenue News Magazine.

Fashion Avenue News Magazine has many supporters, namely Vera Moore, President and CEO, Vera Moore Cosmetics, a 35 year-old family-owned cosmetics company with national distribution through Walgreen's.

Ms. Vera, a sponsor of Fashion Avenue News Magazine's runway fashion show, was on hand doing what she does better than anyone, being supportive of other entrepreneurs' efforts.

Thomas Lavone's runway show took us on a journey of his designs from evening gowns to cocktail dresses to suits and new things inspired by Olivia from Jerseylicious.

Mr. Lavone thanked Vera Moore for giving him an opportunity to do dress the models for a campaign ad she conducted.

"She is giving, she's caring, she is always trying to help young designers and people go up the ladder as she is climbing, and continues to climb" he stated.

"This is the type of leader we need to have in our community because she is always looking out for people who are coming up," Thomas Lavone added.

Watch VIDEO: Shoe Designer Pamela Quinzi

Ruth J. Morrison, CEO and Founder, What's The 411 Networks, caught up with shoe designer Pamela Quinzi at a New York Fashion Week fashion show produced by Sofia Davis' Fashion Avenue News Magazine.

Pamela Quinzi, who started her design career in her native Italy, had her Kilame Collection of shoes in the show.

In the interview, Pamela Quinzi expressed her love for embroidery. One day, while in Milan, she took two shoes and added embroidery, pearls, and Swarovski crystals.

When Pamela Quinzi moved to New York, she started a shoe art project. She customized shoes using her embroidery technique. The additional thing that makes her shoes unique is that no two shoes are the same; the left is different from the right. The difference is hardly noticeable because the design is based on a theme.

The beauty of her shoes has increased demand for shoes in the Kilame Collection.

Shoes from Pamela Quinzi's Kilame Collection can be purchased by private appointment and at a boutique in the Limelight or at her website Pamelaquinzidesign.com.

Pamela Quinzi is also on Facebook and she is a Facebook marketing maven. There are few small businesses that know how to market on Facebook, as well as, Pamela Quinzi. So, if you friend her on Facebook, you will always know where her shoes will be on display and her posts will add beauty to your Facebook newsfeed.