FLAMBOYANT FASHIONISTAS, PAST & PRESENT – NONFICTION

RODNER FIGUEROA has been part of the fashion world for more than two decades as a journalist, covering countless runway shows in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. His love for fashion began at an early age in Caracas, Venezuela, where he grew up in a home full of elegant women who instilled in him his taste for style. With a television career spanning more than 25 years, Figueroa has been an entertainment news personality for NBC’s Telemundo network and has become a staple on the red carpets of Spanish-language broadcasts such as the Latin Billboard Awards, Latin American Music Awards, and Latin Grammy Awards, among others. In 2014, he made history by winning the first-ever National Emmy Award for Best Spanish-language Television Host. After devoted fans encouraged him to design his own line of clothing, Figueroa and his partner, Ernesto Mathies, launched Rodner Figueroa, made mostly from natural fabrics. The line is designed in Miami and manufactured in El Salvador, supporting the craftsmanship and talent of the region and aiming to draw attention to its fashion industry.

SIMON DOONAN is the author of many books, including Drag: The Complete Story (Laurence King Publishing). A long-standing member of the fashion community, Doonan was awarded the prestigious CFDA award for his work as the creative director for Barneys New York. Beautiful People, a BBC TV comedy series based on his autobiography, aired worldwide. Doonan is a regular guest at The Moth, the well-known storytelling series, and a season regular on the Emmy-nominated NBC competition series Making It, hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. Simon lives in the U.S. with his partner, the ceramicist and designer Jonathan Adler, and their rescue mutt, Foxylady.