Smart Women meet Smart Technology: Actress Gabrielle Union's Verizon Store DC Event | Arts & Culture

Thursday, November 17, 2011—Washington, DC.  The Metro Center Verizon Wireless store had an unusual buzz on Thursday night.  It was full of beautiful women taking part in delicious hors d'oeuvres and drinks all while getting introduced to the latest smart technology that Verizon had to offer from phones to tablets and everything in between.  This event is a part of Verizon’s campaign to connect “smart women” with “smart technology” at their trendy “Confessions of a SMARTaholic” events.  The D.C. event opened up with an introduction by the Verizon’s Director of Sales Victoria Boston and then featured an intimate conversation between MTV’s Alesha Renee and Actress/Activist Gabrielle Union on Union’s success.  Guest also got a special treat with a surprise visit from the Real Housewives of DC’s Paul Wharton who joined the audience.

On acting and how she got her start:

“In the beginning I did it for money.  I was supposed to go to law school!”

Gabrielle’s views on what makes a person successful:

“You can only fail upwards when your stepping stone is an education.”

Gabrielle’s Philanthropic Causes:

Women Causes:  Susan Komen for the Cure and organizations that support sexual assault victims.  She recently was chosen by President Obama to sit on the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women.

How Does Gabrielle Use Technology?:

Gabrielle loves Twitter!  She mostly uses it for fun but also to promote her causes.  Most of all she uses it to connect with her fans.  “Sometimes [as a celebrity] you can be in a room with hundreds of people and still feel very alone.”

Crackberry or iPhone?:

Gabrielle loves her blackberry!  Although she admits technology is a slow process for her so the iPhone is little beyond her reach now.

Favorite Male Co-star?:

She loves them all!  From Jamie to Will to Morris Chestnut and of course Idris Elba.

Best Beauty Product?:

“Water! It’s free and the best for your body.  I drink a gallon a day.”

Star Struck?:

Janet Jackson!  The first time I met her she said ‘I’m so proud of you’.”

On Hollywood and Black Actresses:

“They [Hollywood] follow our lead.  So whatever type of black woman we are celebrating is what they jump on.  They give us what we dictate.”

On Kim Kardashian:

“Although she is not an actress, she’s harmless and I believe everyone takes their own path.  I don’t knock anyone’s hustle.”

The role she wished she received more credit for:

Cadillac Records

Future Goals:

“I want to produce, really retire my parents and become a mom.”

Best Line of the Evening:

Regarding giving her a shot:  “Give me a chance to fail and I may surprise you.”

If meeting the beautiful Gabrielle Union was not enough, the night concluded with two lucky guests winning brand new tablet’s from the Verizon store.  Gabrielle definitely showed the audience what being smart and beautiful means inside and out as the guests embraced her for red carpet photos ending another magical night in what I call “Pollywood.”