Smiles Per Hour
by David Perloff
Photography by Brevin Blach | Styled by Francine Miley | Fashion director : Simone Perloff
Hair by Maegan Cooper for A Robert Cromeans Salon | Makeup by Sarah Stewart
Stylist’s Assistant: Eunice Aguilar | Fashion assistant: Julieanne Aquino
To say that Karina Smirnoff has a full dance card is an understatement.
Always at full-throttle, the recent winner (alongside daytime soap actor J.R. Martinez) of ABC’s hit show “Dancing With the Stars” is starring in an upcoming film written and directed by Ralph Macchio, helping to develop an all-natural energy drink, designing boots for the Karina Collection of Bearpaw Shoes, preparing to produce a DVD series on the heels of her successful Shape Up video and taking her DanceFIT-KS experience to venues nationwide.
“I’d also like to develop my own fashion line,” she says. “My style is sexy, comfortable, but it changes depending on the day of the week and where I’m going.”
As for where she’s going next, on Monday, September 24, Smirnoff will partner with winter Olympic gold medalist Apolo Ohno in the season premiere of “Dancing with the Stars: All Stars.”
With no time to smell the roses, it’s been pedal to the metal for this rising star - a van ride (bad weather back East grounded air traffic) from New York to Indianapolis for a fundraiser, and then a last-minute flight from Indianapolis to San Diego for this Finest City fashion shoot.
Quick rest stop while in town? No way! There’s no parking, baby. No parking on the dance floor.
“I just like to keep things moving.”
Howdy Partners
Karina Smirnoff’s “Dancing With the Stars” celebrity pairings
Season 3: Mario Lopez,
actor whom Smirnoff later dated
Season 4: Bill Ray Cyrus,
country singer and Miley’s pa
Season 5: Floyd Mayweather, Jr., professional boxer
Season 6: Mario,
R&B singer/songwriter
Season 7: Rocco DiSpirito,
celebrity chef
Season 8: Steve Wozniak,
cofounder of Apple, Inc.
Season 9: Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino, from MTV’s “Jersey Shore”
Season 11: Aaron Carter,
pop and hip hop singer
Season 12: Ralph Macchio,
the “Karate Kid”
Season 13: J.R. Martinez,
actor from “All My Children”
Season 14: Gavin McGraw,
singer/songwriter
Season 15: (upcoming) Apolo Ohno, winter Olympics multi-gold medalist
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 convertible
Year: 1970 (one of only 194 vehicles of this model produced in 1969; re-titled and then sold by the manufacturer in 1970)
Original list price: ~$6,500
Current value: appraised at $175,000
Engine specs: 351 Ford Windsor V8 engine, 380 horsepower, automatic Ford FMX transmission
Glove compartment door: autographed by Carroll Shelby.
History: In 1972, the vehicle’s current owner, the handsome and charming Brooks Deegan, purchased the car for $2,300 from its original owner, his sister’s college roommate. “I saw the car and fell in love with the driver and the car,” Deegan says. “My sister and I are still very close friends of the original owner to this day.”
Karina Smirnoff says: “She’s a beauty, a one of a kind.”
AirStream 32’ Excella 1000
Year: 1988
Estimated value: $95,000
Engine specs: nope, it’s a trailer
Cool features: doorbell, oak floorings and cabinets, custom pink flamingo stained glass windows and decor
Association: from the San Diego Unit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (wbcci.org)
Courtesy of: Marcy and Daniel Smith; their motto: “Smile and brighten someone’s day.”
Info: airstreamsandiego.com
Karina Smirnoff says: “The little wagon at the end - how cute was that? It’s all pink flamingo inside!”