Flynn Walks the Catwalk at AHA Benefit

By Amy Fernandez

I’ve long said that this sport neglects a golden opportunity when NYC Fashion Week and Westminster converge in midtown Manhattan every February. Thursday night’s American Heart Association Go Red for Women initiative may signal a tentative, long overdue step to harness this vast stockpile of energy, beauty, and star power.

For that we can thank last year’s Best In Show winner, Flynn aka GCHP Belle Creeks All I Care About Is Love, who was looking fine strutting down the runway alongside another iconic “10” – the ever fabulous Bo Derek. Both were headliners for an event that has been a centerpiece of Fashion Week since 2004.

Last night’s gala at the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom featured all the usual glitz, glamour and celebrity gridlock. Among the big names on hand showcasing the 2019 Red Dress Collection were Amy Robach, Elisabeth Rohm, Padma Lakshmi, Rosanna Arquette, Brooke Burke, Dorit Kemsley, Danica McKellar, and Laurie Hernandez. Susan Lucci undoubtedly pulled off the ultimate runway nightmare, skidding off her pins, taking a tumble on the catwalk and somehow making a full recovery without skipping a beat.

Derek’s alliance with the event traces to a personal health scare with endocarditis a decade earlier. That close call prompted her involvement in this cause to raise awareness about women’s heart disease and the well-documented health benefits of dog ownership. She was also there promoting her Bo Derek Pet Care brand of grooming products.

The best part was that a purebred dog ruled the evening. There was no question that Flynn owned that crowd. There was a time when purebred dogs were virtually inseparable from the flamboyance of high fashion and Hollywood glamour. AKC built on that cachet for decades and it became a major conduit for the sport’s mainstream popularity.

Honestly, I was surprised that animal rights groups have not already co-opted this ideally positioned PR opportunity. Last night was an encouraging move in the right direction. Let’s hope that someone will have the sense to leverage the Westminster/purebred tie-in to this high profile cause and get a few more beautiful dogs out on that runway next year.

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Posted by admin on Feb 9 2019. Filed under Breaking News, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.