Woman Behind the Gown - Chirin
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RIA MACKENZIE
We’re back with another feature for our Woman Behind the Gown series that shows real women of our community wearing Lyra Vega Bridal gowns! Today we have Chirin, an amazing TV show host and producer - talk about a badass woman! Keep reading to get to know her a little better.
LVB: We know you as the show host and producer of The New You Show on TV9, but I know you are a woman who wears many hats. Tell us a little about yourself for those who don’t know you. Who are you and what’s your story?
C: Yes, I do have many titles! On the media front, I am a film associate producer, TV floor director, executive producer, set manager/ designer, wardrobe coordinator/designer, and host. I also am quite involved in the fashion world as a designer, buyer, model, and stylist. As a natural extension of these two streams of my careers, I’ve also produced fashion shows, planned events, MC/hosted events, and been the brand ambassador to various brands. It is a lot but they are all interconnected and I enjoy each uniquely.
LVB: Being a TV show host can seem like such a mystery to many, how did you get into it and how has your journey been so far?
C: I moved to the US in my late teens and went to college for computer science. After years of working in that field, I realized that it was not what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I had the vision of becoming a TV host in Dubai so I went back to school for a communications/mass media degree. I did make it out to Dubai but ultimately came back to the U.S. for my family. After I returned to Massachusetts, I interned with consumer reporter Susan Hogan at WPRI and learned that I was not into reporting. Through interning and collaborating on assignments with different stations, I became acquainted with Jeff Fountain, station director of TV9, who encouraged me to produce and host my own TV show. I mulled over the idea for 5 months and decided to go for it!
LVB: Wow, that is quite the journey! Can you tell us more about The New You Show? What is it all about?
C: I started The New You Show in 2015. It was around new years and I kept hearing fitness ads on the radio about “losing weight to look better”. It made me question why new year resolutions always have to be about losing weight to look good. I believe other than being thin, there are so many other ways one can take care of themselves to look and feel better. So the show really started out as a platform to present different options, avenues, and resources to help women and men to feel better about themselves.
LVB: We love that story! Here at LVB we are all about encouraging women to make their own path and be true to themselves.
C. Yes. It gives me great pleasure to see young women who have interned with me come back to tell me that they really enjoyed working or being on the show, and have gone on to pursue a career in the field. Inspiring others to go on their journey, be creative, and build their career makes me so happy. I love connecting with people and I really want to build others up in what I do.
LVB: What was it like wearing a wedding gown?
C: This was the first time I’ve worn a wedding dress since my own wedding. It reminded me of my wedding day and my wedding dress (a custom made, off the shoulders gown). It did feel weird that there was no groom, ha, but I had fun!
LVB: What does marriage mean to you?
C: I feel that it is a lifetime commitment. It is not about the dress, the ring, the honeymoon, or even the house. It is about love and respect, and sticking through the hard times. I think a lot of people these days subscribe to the idea that if things didn’t work out in a marriage, they can walk away and there’s no harm done, I believe it doesn’t work out that way.
LVB: Our “Woman Behind the Gown” series is all about highlighting the hardworking, independent, and beautiful women who wear our dresses. What does being a modern woman mean to you?
C: Successful and independent, to be true to who you are, content with what you have - focusing less on what you don’t have because what you have is more important.
LVB: Wonderful advice, especially for the times that we are in. Thank you for your time and for sharing your story with us, Chirin! How can we follow along on your journey?
C: Our viewers all over RI and Southeastern Massachusetts can turn on the tv and watch the show, or they can click on our episode links listed on Facebook and IG! The New You Show is a great platform for fashion designers, beauticians, beauty queens, chefs, doctors, nutritionists, and nonprofits to get television exposure. I am always looking for local guests that can help me deliver good content to my viewers, so if you’re interested in being on the show, send me an email at contactus@tv9seekonk.com and let’s chat!
