I'm always pleased to see Las Vegans do well -- tennis great Andre Agassi, Atlanta Braves star pitcher, Greg Maddux, to name a few. Gives us even more pride in our city. Now there's a new kid on the block and if she doesn't become a star, something's wrong in the universe.
She has beauty, talent, personality, ambition, drive, and more chutzpah than Donald Trump. Her name is Mikalah Gordon and I caught up with her last week getting her hair and nails done at Cavaricci's Salon at the corner of Oakey and Rainbow. Oh, did I mention she was one of the contestants in last season's American Idol, making it to 11th place before getting knocked out, or that she is just 17?
Born in Las Vegas, she attended several high schools, ending up at Cimarron, which she says, "I absolutely loved. The staff and students were great and I think a lot had to do with the fact that I was starting to find out who I was and where I wanted to go."
She admits to "having a big mouth and I'm very funny." Mikalah says that she had thought of becoming a lawyer until "I got my report card. Not so good. But if they rated me on my social life, I'd be going to Harvard and being valedictorian."
Without the grades, her thoughts turned to entertainment and she tells of how American Idol happened. "My mom is a single mom, and I totaled the car in an accident and we had no money to replace it. I told my mom, not to worry, I'd take care of it. So I auditioned for American Idol here last August and was able to make the final group.
"It's weird, because when I was 13, I went to the first American Idol as a spectator and met Ryan Seacrest and said to him, 'Let me sing for you. I'm going to be on your show when I'm 16.'And he says, 'Yeah, okay.' So I busted out singing at the top of the staircase where we were talking. So three years later, there I was."
Just to put things in perspective, 9,000 potential contestants auditioned in Las Vegas and only five were selected. Once in Hollywood, the five joined a group of 300 for more auditions and out of them the final 24 were chosen.
She admits its hard to handle the critiques of million of people who are watching the show. "I remember after my first performance, I was so excited, screaming and carrying on, and then I went home and went online to read the comments from viewers. 'Mikalah, you suck.' and 'Mikalah, you're lousy.' It really hurt me and I began crying. It's not easy when you're suddenly the target, publicly, of all these people.
"I try to make everything I do fun, but the stress does get to you and there were times when I didn't want to go on, but once I stepped on stage, I was fine." Mikalah was understandably disappointed when she was eliminated. "I was heartbroken, but then I got a call from the Tony Danza show and appeared there.
"A week later I was picked up by Warner Brothers to have my own sitcom which I am now working on the pilot. And this was all from my exposure on American Idol. I'll also be appearing on the Fran Drescher show Sept. 16 at 9:30. This is her second season. The role is going to be a recurring one, so I'm very excited and it's a lot of fun. Make sure you tell your readers to watch it."
Although her career for now is taking her down the acting path, Mikalah still wants to do more. "In five years I'd like to see myself in a successful sitcom with maybe a couple of movies behind me and have several hit albums and maybe even a perfume line. I just want to do it all, and I will."
This may be a 17-year-old talking, but I believe her. I have interviewed hundreds of celebrities over the years and they all have the same two traits. The desire to make it to the top, and the self-confidence that they will. Add Mikalah to that list.
JUST A REMINDER
Just a reminder: Swim-up blackjack at the Tropicana pool will be closing on Monday, Sept. 5.
WE HAVE A WINNER!
Another big winner here, this time at the Las Vegas Hilton. Mary Wilson from Vancouver, British Columbia, hit for $1,242,484 on the quarter Wheel of Fortune® slot machine. She was vacationing with her sister at the resort and was "hoping to go home with a few dollars." The 70-year-old retiree said, "I was stunned and my heart was pounding." Wilson plans to use her winnings to help her three daughters and take more vacations. I don't have a problem with that, Mary, as long as you remember to send a sizable check to the Lenny's Retirement Fund. Please make it out to Len Butcher. God bless!
SCHOOL'S IN
Before I forget, for you visitors who are driving in our town. Kids are back to school and the speed limit through school areas is only 15 mph. Please observe, as tickets for speeding through these zones are as high as $600.
Good luck and I'll see you on the Strip. And don't forget to check out www.valleyblogs.com
If you have a question or a Las Vegas experience you would like to share with my readers, please e-mail me at lennylv@cox.net. Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.
