Art Basel Miami was ignited with bliss during an artful event hosted by TokenSociety.io.
Pop the champagne, Alexis Lauren is now open in the Coral Gables neighborhood of Miami. The Knockturnal was honored to be invited and get an exclusive first look at Alexis Lauren Collective.
Alexis Lauren Collective, a medically-backed luxurious beauty destination was founded by husband-and-wife duo, Dr. Michael and Alexis Renda, the Alexis Lauren Collective aims to redefine high-end aesthetic skincare in a modern beauty collective, marrying injectables with bespoke skincare treatments in a self-care sanctuary.
Alexis Lauren Collective’s approach is personalized to each client, with results-driven, medical-grade services. At the Collective, the team believes in offering what is best for you in the moment, satisfying varying skin desires, and generating transformational results. Clients can receive treatments through individual visits, or through a monthly membership in which clients receive monthly custom treatments, exclusive pricing, and members-only perks. Services that will be available at launch include injectables, custom facials, microneedling, and chemical peels using premium products with medical-grade devices and technology.
With regard to product, the “Collective Cabinet” comes complete with trusted, scientifically proven brands to complement on-site treatments, including cult-favorite Biologique Recherche, Skinbetter Science, iS Clinical, and more. Alexis Lauren Collective will also house devices that offer the finest methods of skin refinement, like Oxylight Ionix, in addition to an array of facial equipment from LED to microcurrent, and more. Guests at this event all received samples from Biologique Recherche to enjoy.
“My husband Michael and I came together to fill a void we saw in the skincare space: an ultra-luxe beauty collective that cares as much about its members as it does results,” said Alexis Renda, co-founder of Alexis Lauren Collective. “Our service menu is tailored to serve the client, not overwhelm them.”
Co-founded by trauma surgeon Dr. Michael Renda, his medical background strengthens the backbone of the business model along with the team of specialists presiding over the Collective.
“The ability to take care of patients with catastrophic traumatic injuries and burns has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of wound healing and our body’s resilience,” says Dr. Michael Renda. “This translates into the aesthetic realm as many of the skincare products and procedures are designed to remodel the skin, and at a cellular level elicit the body’s wound healing response.”
The evening was filled with good company, celebration, champagne, and pure bliss to celebrate the newest medically-backed luxurious beauty destination in Coral Gables.
Interviewing the dynamic duo and learning more about them and their endeavors was truly inspirational.
The Knockturnal: What inspired you to start your own beauty collective?
Alexis Lauren Collective Founders: “When we moved to Miami several years ago, I was looking for a place for injectables and facials and I couldn’t find an experience I loved. So, Michael and I started discussing what was missing in the space and what it would take to open a beauty collective that was luxurious and also offered bespoke treatments that really catered to the client and their needs. We wanted to marry the concept of injectables with high-end, highly curated skincare treatments.”
The Knockturnal: Have you always been passionate about beauty?
Alexis: “Yes, I have loved the beauty industry ever since I was a child! I was a ‘90s baby and read every copy of Seventeen and CosmoGirl magazine I could get my hands on—I even asked for retinol in middle school.”
The Knockturnal: What is your earliest beauty obsession?
Alexis: “I had so many obsessions and they were not good (ha)! Do you remember Sea Breeze and St. Ives Apricot Scrub?”
The Knockturnal: As a trauma surgeon, can you shed light on how it makes a difference to have true medical influence involved in aesthetic skincare? What can members expect as a result of having true medical expertise presiding over the collective?
Dr. Michael Renda: “The ability to take care of patients with catastrophic traumatic injuries and horrible burns has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of wound healing and our body’s resilience. This translates into the aesthetic realm as many of the skincare products and procedures are designed to remodel the skin and at a cellular level elicit the body’s wound healing response. For example, Sculptra, is designed to act as a catalyst to induce new collagen formation which helps redefine facial features for a more youthful look. Everything in medicine always boils down to the basic building blocks of biology, and that is no different for the aesthetic space; therefore my background only helps strengthen the medical backbone of our business model.”
The Knockturnal: What is it like running a business (so far) as a husband-and-wife duo?
Alexis Lauren Collective Founders: “We like to describe starting this business like walking in the dark in the middle of the night from the bathroom to the bed. You have your hands out and are blindly walking trying not to trip or hit your shin. Having a business partner on the same page as you, with the same goals, work ethic and reliability though has been key. The hard part is the access to your business partner. It never ends. We wake up and the texts between each other start at 7am to discuss the business, troubleshoot, answer emails etc. We are working on this balancing act but we can’t imagine doing this with anyone else. Seeing a project take shape that was merely an idea is uniquely gratifying. It is all a steep learning curve.”
The Knockturnal: What inspired the interiors?
Alexis Lauren Collective Founders: “Alexis as much as she won’t admit it is truly an aesthete—she has unparalleled taste and style. She was able to put together a mood board that our architects took one look at and brought to life. One of our mottos is “let’s slow things down”. The client is on a journey the second they immerse themselves into ALEXIS LAUREN. Time stands still from the moment they walk in the front door to their treatment room. Every wall and door is curved and custom made, just like the experience.”
The Knockturnal: How do you spend your free time in Miami?
Alexis Lauren Collective Founders: “We are total creatures of habit. We have our favorite places and things to do and we repeat them over and over again. We love the water, which makes Miami so special to us. Fitness is also paramount to each of us. You can always find Michael at Anatomy and Alexis taking a Pilates class at Tremble. We are total homebodies!”
Follow Alexis Lauren Collective on Instagram @alexislaurencollective and check out their website www.alexislauren.com to follow their journey and book your services.
Alexis Lauren Collective:
4203 Ponce de Leon Blvd
Coral Gables, FL 33146
The Knockturnal was recently on the scene of an early exclusive fan screening of “Camilo: Camilo: El Primer Tour de mi Vida | El Documental.” These early premieres occurred at the Rooftop Cinema Club Miami and Rooftop Cinema Club Los Angeles.
Camilo Echeverry, commonly referred to as Camilo, is a Colombian singer, musician, and songwriter. Camilo was born in Medellín, Colombia in 1994 and married Evaluna Montaner in 2020. Camilo’s nominations include a Latin Grammy Award for Best Urban Fusion/Performance and more. The top singles he is known for are “Tutu”, alongside Pedro Capó and Shakira, and “Desconocidos”, with Mau y Ricky and Manuel Turizo. His music is generally categorized as Latin pop with a mix of urban music and is noted for his romantic lyrics and soprano voice. Camilo is currently signed to Sony Music Latin.
The Knockturnal was on the scene of the Miami screening. The night started off with cocktails, photo ops, and grabbing your favorite movie candy and freshly popped popcorn. The drinks were on theme with drink names such as “la tribu”, “mis manos” and “amar es nuestra revolucion.” My personal favorite was the “la tribu”, this cocktail was a tequila-based drink with passion fruit, lime, agave, and triple sec. La tribu was a refreshing and flavorful drink to have while enjoying the documentary. We also had to make sure we grabbed some of the sweet candy and fresh popcorn. After grabbing our goods we captured videos (reel on our IG) and pictures in front of the many great photo ops. There was a tent, car, and more places to capture content with the documentaries name on it.
Lastly, we all went into the rooftop movie theater and watched the documentary under the beautiful Miami stars. To keep up with the documentary make sure to follow the hashtag #CamiloHBOMax and follow @palantehbomax and @camilo.
Photo credit courtesy of HBO Max.
Club LIV, located at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, FL was the place to be last week for the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. The spectacular and extremely exclusive event was hosted by Mike O’Neill, BMI president and CEO, and Catherine Brewton, BMI vice president, creative.
The evening started with the artist, producers, family members, and other VIP guests walking the red carpet and showcasing their outfits, as well as being interviewed, and photographed before they get into the awards show. We got the pleasure to speak with a variety of artists such as; Christopher ‘YC’ Pearson, India Shawn, Lil Scrappy, Adiz “Bambi” Benson, Travis Porter, Morray, 808 Mafia, ATL Jacob, DJ Khaled, and the 2022 BMI Icon, Busta Rhymes. The interviews can be found on our Instagram.
After the Red Carpet guest made their way inside the event where they could listen to jams played by DJ Nasty and guests were welcomed by DJ Khaled. Guests also were invited to indulge in an open bar and hors d’oeuvres. On the menu were; chicken and waffles, many types of empanadas, and a variety of flatbreads. My personal favorite was the carne asada empanadas they were filled with some much flavor and the meat was cooked to perfection.
The crowd got to enjoy performances from singer-songwriter Pheelz and Morray. Towards the end of the night Busta Rhymes preformed “Break Ya Neck,” “Scenario” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” with Spliff Star and DJ Scratchator. Closing the evening Busta Rhymes and Pharrell Williams preformed “Pass the Courvoisier.”
“As one of the pioneers of hip-hop, we are excited to honor Busta Rhymes as a BMI Icon,” said Brewton. “Through his award-winning solo work, countless collaborations and acting, Busta is a true innovator in every sense of the word and has made a dynamic impact on legions of fans and music creators worldwide.
Rhymes launched his musical career in the early 90s with the hip-hop crew Leaders of the New School. He moved on to become an in-demand collaborator, appearing on numerous tracks for other artists before he officially went solo in 1996 with his massive hit, “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check.” The single was quickly certified platinum, earning him his first GRAMMY nomination. Throughout the ’90s and 2000s, he was a creative force, topping the charts, including debuting at number one in 2006 with his seventh studio album, The Big Bang. Several of his hit songs, such as “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” “Break Ya Neck,” “Dangerous,” “Gimme Some More” and “What’s It’s Gonna Be?,” featuring Janet Jackson, became hip-hop anthems, solidifying his place as one of the most in-demand rappers in the industry. In 2020, he independently released the critically acclaimed ELE 2: The Wrath of God, with NME saying it was “arguably one of the best-produced hip-hop albums of the last five years.”
Beyond his work in music, Rhymes has appeared in several films and television series, including in Shaft, Finding Forrester, Master of None, The Rugrats Movie and he competed in The Masked Singer on FOX.
As the 2022 BMI Icon, Busta Rhymes joins an elite group of music creators who have received BMI’s highest honor. Past BMI Icons include: Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers, Snoop Dogg, The Jacksons, LA Reid, Babyface, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, James Brown and more.
Song of the year: Justin Bieber hit “Peaches,” featuring GIVĒON and Daniel Caesar.
Songwriter of the year: Megan Thee Stallion and Christopher “YC” Pearson tied. YC and Megan Thee Stallion co-wrote three of the most performed R&B/Hip-Hop songs.
Megan Thee Stallion: “Body,” “Cry Baby” and “Thot Shit.”
Christopher “YC” Pearson: “Time Today” and “Wockesha” and Pooh Shiesty’s “Back in Blood”
R&B/Hip-Hop publisher of the year: Sony Music Publishing
Producer of the year: D’Mile. His work included: Silk Sonic’s “Smokin Out the Window,” “Skate” and “Leave the Door Open,” and “Fair Trade” by Drake and Travis Scott.
Top producer citations: Isaac “Zac” De Boni, ATL Jacob, Michael “Finatik” Mulé, Kanye West, Charlie Handsome, and Rogét Chahayed.
Lastly, but definitely not least, Busta Rhymes was named a BMI Icon at the 2022 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
To learn more about the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, visit here and use the hashtag #BMIRnBHHAwards on social media.
The Knockturnal: Please tell us a little about yourself.
Sam Paige: “I am a content creator who blew up on TikTok during the COVID-19 quarantine. I have 3 million followers, I am 27 years old, and grew up in Connecticut but currently reside in South Florida.”
The Knockturnal: If your life was a theme song what would it be and why?
Sam Paige: “Juice” by Lizzo would be my theme song. “I resonate with so many aspects of Juice. Lizzo sings, “If I’m shining, everybody gonna shine.” If I am shining I want all my friends and family to shine. Also, on the internet, I want everyone to feel like they are so beautiful and the best version of themselves… literally shining. A Lizzo “Juice” line states, “I was born like this, don’t even gotta try.” I was born like this, I was born thick and fat. It is what it is and I am rockin’ with it. Another line I resonate with is, “I’m like Chardonnay, get better over time.” I, like many others, was not one of those girls that peeked in High School. I am out here growing and becoming my better self each and every day. Lizzo: “Heard you say I’m not the baddest bitch, you lie.” I have faced hate comments online and IRL. Despite the negativity, I don’t care what you say, I am the baddest bitch.”
The Knockturnal: Tell us about your TikTok journey. What made you want to start a TikTok?
Sam Paige: “I got into TikTok, like most of us, during quarantine. My friend wanted to learn a dance and realized how great of a dancer and how quickly I could catch on to the moves. After this, I rediscovered my love for dance after not being in the studio for about 6 years. It started with dancing in bikinis (what I continue to do) and sharing my love for body positivity. I genuinely didn’t think anyone would care to see a plus-sized girl dancing in swimwear but is happy the internet proved her differently because it is now my career.” 
The Knockturnal: Tell us more about Dance.
Sam Paige: “I started dancing when I was five, I told my mom that I wanted to be on Broadway. She believed in me and my dream and placed me in dance, choir, and theater. I really love dancing, I stuck with it for 15 years! I even danced for one year on my college’s pom team. Honestly, the experience was shitty… I couldn’t jump as high due to me being a big girl and was told to sit out of dances multiple times because of that… But now the jokes are on them because I am the only one dancing for a living. I think dance is a great way to express myself and I find these TikTok dances extremely fun and enjoyable to learn.”
Fun fact: Sam learns TikTok dances in about 10-15 minutes depending on the difficulty and only needs to do them 3-4 times to get the perfect one.
The Knockturnal: Has TikTok led you into any other creative passions?
Sam Paige: “Since joining TikTok I have discovered a love for modeling. I feel when people model via Instagram they are always considered “Instagram models.” All because of TikTok and my followers I have been able to walk in the past two Miami Swim Weeks. Last year (2021) I walked for boohoo – this is when I really discovered my passion for modeling in a more serious light. The boohoo show was at the Versace Mansion in Miami which was a magical experience.. After, I made my way to NYC for New York Fashion Week (2021) where I walked for two different clothing designers. Just recently I walked in Miami’s 2022 Swim Week, where I walked in three different shows and represented four different designers. I have also done some modeling gigs for e-commerce brands in South Florida. I really enjoys the modeling experience and being a part of the evolution in body positivity within the modeling community.”
Email Sam to inquire about her modeling services.
The Knockturnal: What are some struggles you face as a plus-sized content creator?
Sam Paige: “Some struggles that are faced are; people are really shocked that a fat girl could have a following. I see this struggle when collaborating with different brands. I feel that many brands and businesses are shocked and are in disbelief that a curvy girl can help represent them. I also have noticed that the bots on social media are always flagging my posts for nudity or inappropriate content because I have physically more skin on my body, even though I am showing the same or even less skin than others on the same social channels.”
The Knockturnal: What does diversity and inclusion in the modeling and content-creating world mean to you?
Sam Paige: “Diversity and inclusion mean the world to me… I wouldn’t be where I am if I was just a stick figure little girl dancing on TikTok… There are a million billion girls of that nature.” What has really gotten me far in my career is the fact that I am different. I am curvy and plus-sized. My goal is to include more plus-sized people as content creators or models. I really want people to see that just because they are bigger they should not be limited from being a content creator or model as a career. I am so pleased that significantly more companies are giving curvy girls these opportunities. I have gotten to work with brands that I thought would never give a plus-sized creator or model the time of day. Some brands I have worked with are Lucky Brand, Aeropostale, and boohoo. Even some plus-sized companies, like Torrid, see the value in a plus-sized girl representing them online and modeling. I owe everything to people who want to have inclusion. I can’t wait to have more diversity!”
The Knockturnal: Although the fashion industry has progressed a lot in the past few years, what are some challenges that you believe still need to be addressed or faced?
Sam Paige: I believe although the fashion industry still has a long road of progression ahead of them they have been trending in the right direction. It has really helped my confidence to wear outfits that make me feel good in my own skin… I have seen a lot of changes in fast fashion. I find fast fashion is a lot easier to shop while being plus-sized whereas luxury brands still have a long way to go. It’s great that Gucci offers a 3XL now but it’s still not enough for the masses. I love shopping at Shien but think they could be more size-inclusive as well, their biggest size is only one size bigger than mine. I would really love to see extending in size so all people could experience the clothing they want to wear to express themselves. I am extremely sick of oversized clothing being available to straight-sized girls and making the clothing fit plus-sized girls but not offering it their size… It makes no sense.”
The Knockturnal: What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into content creating or modeling?
Sam Paige: “I have only experienced the modeling world as an influencer and it has definitely helped in my case. I want to say I am not trained as a model so everything I have learned has been from my own experience, photographers, and fashion designers that have guided me. I suggest that you sign up with an agency that you trust and go from there. Content creation comes down to consistency. It is also very important to find your niche and work your niche to its full capacity. Even now it’s hard for me to post things that don’t consist of me dancing due to my following. Post three times a day on TikTok if you have to. Whatever you decide your niche is stick with it!!!!”
The Knockturnal: Give us all the Miami Swim Week 2022 tea!
Sam Paige: “This past Swim Week I participated in three different walks. I walked in “Splashing Lights” for FLKD, the next show was for “The Society” created by designer Krissy King, and the last show was for “Miami Swim Week – The Shows” which was hosted at the SLS. In the next show the designer, Diva Kurves, had only curvy girls which were really inspiring to walk with plus-sized girls. I also walked for another brand called “Porshia” where I walked in a swimsuit cover-up. I enjoyed all the walks and found each one to be very different. I also got invited to an influencer event and got to go to the “Good American” event at the 1 Hotel South Beach Miami.”
The Knockturnal: What has been the best vacation you have been on?
Sam Paige: “I graduated from Johnson and Wales with a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Traveling Tourism with a concentration in cruise line management. I always had an interest in traveling but decided I didn’t want to work on a cruise ship after working on one for a little. Travel has now become something I am even more passionate about because I have experienced some crazy things. Last year, my best friend Morgan, AKA @bald_baddie on IG, and I went on a 20-day Europe trip. It was probably the best trip of my life.
The Knockturnal: Any new and exciting news you can share with us?
Sam Paige: “I will be walking in New York Fashion Week in September of 2022, I will also be going to Playlist Live in Orlando (The Ultimate Creator Event) in September (right after my birthday).” Playlist Live will be my first content creator event, and I am super excited! I also am slowly working on a swimsuit line with a company hopefully coming out in April.”
Keep up with Sam on TikTok and Instagram to follow her journey.
In what is undoubtedly the largest Hip-Hop festival in the world, the ground shivers for miles, roads are blocked and barricaded, and the nearby air brushes you to the stroke of seemingly familiar beats. Rolling Loud returned this year to Miami with none other than the loudest industry-leading names that require no introduction.
Day 1 (Highlights)
Day 1 hosted artists such as Kid Cudi, Playboi Carti, Don Toliver, and Lil Durk with surprise guest Kanye West. While Kanye was set to headline the Ciroc stage on Day 1, he announced he would not make an appearance and Kid Cudi would take his place on the Ciroc stage. This unquestionably ensued a very unhealthy dose of hydration during Cudi’s performance, as some attendees were not pleased with Kanye being replaced, and resorted to throwing numerous water bottles to express their unamusement. While Cudi decided to cut his performance short, Kanye made a very unexpectedly expected Kanye-like appearance with Lil Durk on the GoPuff stage. Many speculated he would certainly show while others feared their most anticipated artist would not walk the stage. While the controversy of spectacular performances and notably undeserved crowd’s judgment left many wondering what is to come of Day 2 and 3, Rolling Loud brought the heat without hesitation.
Day 2
In the midst of misused vodka-filled hydration packs and insta-worthy outfits ready to lose their glow in a spontaneous mosh pit, Day 2 applied pressure with the heaviest line-up of the weekend.
Admirably so, with all the adored chaos that was showcased, Rolling Loud actionably expressed hydration as a priority for their guests with strategically located water stations, concession stands, and water packs thrown (lightly) from the stages to the crowd. Seemingly quite the opposite that occurred the previous night with our ill-fated headliner.
Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Dababy, Polo G, Kevin Gates, and many others appeared on the festival stages on this day with undoubtedly the most attendees of the weekend. Becoming an absolute rager as Future brought out both Travis Scott and Lil Durk as surprise guests. Durk who had previously headlined on the GoPuff stage the day before, entertained no sleep. The festival was a cinematically electric wildfire with fireworks piercing as far as the stratosphere. If all this wasn’t enough, the infamous Rolling Loud Ferris wheel also made its return if the view from the front row didn’t suffice. Travis, who many believed would not continue to perform after previous concert fatalities, stole the show with Future and delivered a truly elevated experience to remember.
On July 14th, 2022, Foster Grant hosted the Paraiso Miami Beach influencer and media welcome dinner at Tropezon, located in the Esme Miami Beach Hotel. Foster Grant Sun Luv collection is the Official Sponsor of Miami Swim week’s “Paraiso Miami Beach.” The leading global eyewear brand was featured at the shows all weekend and at the fashion tent daily with display, gifting, and photo booth activations.
The Foster Grant® SUN LUV collection was created to celebrate uniqueness while at the same time embracing important connections to others. Every pair of SUN LUV sunglasses comes with a coordinating A4114A® pouch (“All for One, One for All”) and bracelet to complete the look. And all of that comes in a reusable and recyclable paper tube.
The fun-filled Miami evening started with mingling, music, photos, a deliciously unique Rosé spritzer welcome cocktail, and charcuterie. The Rosé spritzer cocktail was light and refreshing but still had bold flavors of mint which gave this cocktail its unique twist. Once everyone was seated Natalija Dedic Stojanovic and John James Muller welcomed all the guests with a brief welcome introduction before the family-style dinner plates started coming out.
Tropezon, an Andalusian-style gin and tapas bar hidden in the corridors of historic Española Way was responsible for providing all the delicious eats, wines, and cocktails that were severed throughout the night. For our 1st course we indulged in: Para Picar, jamón ibérico de bellota, lomo de bellota, chorizo, mojama, manchego, hummus, gigante bean, finca la torre, sullivan street bread, pan con tomate, plum tomato, heirloom tomato, and garlic. The 2nd course featured carrots, chimichurri, yogurt, idiazabal, Patatas Bravas, aioli, pimentón, Tuna, ajo blanco, and salted cucumber. In our 3rd course, we enjoyed: local fish, clams, tio pepe, salsa verde, chicken, mojo picón, papas canaria, and swiss chard. Finally, it was dessert time. Our sweet tooths were satisfied with: churros, gianduja, salt peaches, oloroso, almond, and vanilla ice cream.
Everyone in attendance received a goodie bag filled with Foster Grant Sun Luv glasses, beauty products from Elaluz by Camila Coelho, and jewelry from Simplicité.
Talent and Influencers including: Jessie James Decker, Sydney Rae Bass, Jessica Payne, Cindy Prado, Alexa Collins, Madi Webb, and more were in attendance at the welcome dinner.
The evening continued at the Official Swim Week Kick-Off Party at the W Hotel on South Beach hosted by Paraiso Miami Beach and Select Model Management.
Special thanks to the Getty Images, A-list Communications, and everyone who made this epic night possible. Photo Credit: Aaron Davidson.
Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump and Director Nadia Hallgren graced us with their presence at the 26th annual American Black Film Festival.
I had the pleasure to sit down and have brunch with the lovely Shake Chatterjee and Emily Wilson at Osteria Morini in South Beach, Miami to learn more about this innovative, entrepreneurial and lively power couple. Shake is well-known for being on a popular Netflix show, Love Is Blind Season 2, while Emily is a Miami-based entrepreneur and businesswoman.
I had the pleasure to interview Jahfari Harvey, Harvey is a defensive end for the University Of Miami football team. Harvey is a rising senior who is majoring in Sociology.