I caught up with him at the Celebrity Go Kart Races in Gardena, CA last Saturday. I’m working on that article now for Look To The Stars, but in the meantime …

VGH:   Sid, what advice would you give commercial actors hoping to land a commercial like your Metro PCS spots?

Sid:  Honestly, I’m the last person to ask because I wholeheartedy believe it is complete luck !  I saw so many people when this thing was being casted that I thought were more talented than me.  I guess the casting directors just liked my personal brand of idiocy.

VGH:   How competitive was it?

Sid:  Extremely – there were 300 people in the first round, I didn’t even know there were 300 Indian actors in LA!   No, but seriously, it’s about perserverance.  And improv classes.  I think taking Improv is huge for commercial actors.

VGH:  Where did you go?

Sid:  I went to the Upright Citizen’s Brigade in NYC and I started here but then I got cast in something (LA) so I had to stop.  The Groundlings on Melrose (Los Angeles, CA) has an amazing reputation.  I say, just get on stage as much as you can.

We also chatted about visiting India.  A few years back, I had the amazing opportunity during my fundraising days with American Cancer Society International to visit India.  Click here to read about his advice (and a bit of mine too!) on a first visit to this exotic, South Asian country.

Vanity Girl Hollywood's Maxine Tatlonghari on Elephanta Island in Mumbay Harbor, India

These “firsts” shape us, expand our world and change us in little ways.  They make us stronger, help us to step into new things.  Yes, sometimes I’ve fallen on my face, literally.  Sometimes, my legs were just wobbly.  Like the first time I tried a Segway, I did it on camera.  Talk about walking and chewing gum at the same time.  But I did it … here it is on camera.

And speaking of which, this whole “on-camera thing” is new for me I knew that I wanted to do it for Vanity Girl — to start Vanity Girl TV — but I had to learn a lot of new things and get over some serious fears! I’ve only been at this hosting thing since October, but who knew that I’d actually enjoy it! And I have to say, I’m so blessed to have met the whole JetsetExtra team who have become like a family to me. They took a chance on me and believed in my ideas … here was my first ever video…

And now, over the last couple of weeks … there have been a few more firsts. I had the extreme pleasure and honor to shoot Pinup style for Pinup Girl Clothing – a line I’ve loved for quite a while now. They make these classy yet cheeky, Old Hollywood glamour doll clothes that really work on curves and all I can say is how empowering that whole shoot was. It made me view myself in a whole different way, to really, really embrace my body type and curves. Not everyone is a size 2 – and that’s OK. In some worlds, it’s even preferable. Wow, what a concept… something for everyone. To get my hair and makeup done by the gorgeous and talented Micheline Pitt, (designer behind the Deadly Dames line) to have looks pulled by Burlesque diva and Pinup PR gal LA Cholita (and curve celebrator extraordinaire) and then to be shot by Pinup Visionary Laura Byrnes? Well, it was a Vanity Girl’s dream. I know I’m gushing, but I had such a great time. Those pics are being edited now, but here’s a sneek peek on my iPhone.

Vanity Girl Hollywood and Pinup Girl Clothing is a glamour match made in heaven!

And then later that week, we had our first ever Pop Up Vanity Bar at the Hollywood Branded/Extreme Makeover: Home Edition wrap party to benefit Habitat for Humanity. You can read about it here on Yahoo News. We collaborated with NYX Cosmetics (we jokingly called it our 2nd date) and makeup artists Crystal Strayer and Lisa Nunez made everyone who sat in our chairs beautiful and glam. Saman Assefi captured the event and is editing it now, but here’s a screenshot in the meantime.

Culver City, CA: Pop Up Vanity Bar Squad L to R: Vanity Girl Hollywood's Maxine Tatlonghari, MUA Crystal Strayer, NYX Miriam Rodriguez, MUA Lisa Nunez, NYX Evegail Andaz Photo Credit: Saman Assefi

And finally, we started a couple of papers. The first is The Vanity Diaries: A daily digest of things we find interesting from the Twittersphere featuring things I love: beauty, celebrity, business, travel, etc. And The Vanity Week In Review – just a way to keep up with our latest news for the week.

So that’s it. We’d love to hear about your firsts! Your first day on a Hollywood set, your first day in your new chair at the salon a la Jerseylicious, your baby’s first steps, your first day of college. These are the moments that shape our lives, and make us the Vanity Girls we are.

Be Glamorous,
Me