USA Network is campaigning hard to get an Emmy nomination for Spanish actress Sarah Shahi, the star of the network’s hit show, Fairly Legal.

The leading cable network has taken out full page ads in Variety lauding Shahi’s strong performance on the show and submitting her in the Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series category. If Sara gets nominated (and wins), she would become the first minority—not just the first Latina—to win a Best Actress Emmy in the Drama category ever!

Given Sarah’s strong campaign, we asked her good friend, actress JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Better With You, Privileged) if she thinks Sarah deserves an Emmy nomination this year. “I would like to see Sarah Shahi get EVERY award!” JoAnna told us. “She’s such a gorgeous, wonderful, talented woman and I love the show. The show as a whole is really exciting, so yes, I will be team Shahi—let me know!”

JoAnna says that what she loves most about Shahi’s bold and fierce performance in Fairly Legal is the authenticity. “She’s just real. Everything about Sarah is so real and beautiful,” gushed JoAnna.

Shahi told Variety this week that she appreciates that the pilot script for Fairly Legal made no reference to her character’s looks or ethnicity. “I like that Hollywood is becoming more color-blind, realizing that people are people no matter their ethnic backgrounds,” says the actress, who is of Persian and Spanish descent. We like that too, Sarah!

Source

Last night, JoAnna Garcia Swisher was in attendance at the “Bad Teacher” Premiere in New York City. I have just added 82 photos from the event into our photo gallery!

Gallery Links:
JoAnna Garcia Swisher Network > Public Appearances > Appearances From 2011 > “Bad Teacher” New York Premiere

Last night, JoAnna Garcia Swisher was in attendance at the amfAR Inspiration Gala in New York City. I have just added a total of 56 HQ and MQ images from the red carpet and inside into our photo gallery!

Gallery Links:
JoAnna Garcia Swisher Network > Public Appearances > Appearances From 2011 > 2nd Annual amfAR Inspiration Gala New York
JoAnna Garcia Swisher Network > Public Appearances > Appearances From 2011 > 2nd Annual amfAR Inspiration Gala New York – Inside

Beauty company Mary Kay and actress JoAnna Garcia Swisher have partnered to help aspiring filmmakers realize their dreams.

The Mary Kay Inspiring Stories collaborative film project is inviting women nationwide to share in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be flown to Hollywood to produce documentaries that inspire, educate and create a national conversation about the issue of domestic violence alongside celebrities who share a commitment to the cause.

Those selected will also work alongside celebrities like JoAnna Garcia Swisher (from television’s Better With You) who share a commitment to the cause. Mary Kay, a company dedicated to enriching women’s lives, is taking action with this compelling initiative to empower women to bring their collective voices together to fight back against the number one cause of injury to women.

Through June 30th, women ages 18 to 34 are invited and encouraged to apply online at: http://www.MaryKayInspiringStories.com for a chance to get involved in the fight against the number one cause of injury to women.

Each documentary will feature a female celebrity narrator who will add her voice to raise awareness and education about domestic violence. The celebrity narrators and the female participants will work together to bring their collective voice to raise awareness about domestic violence. The announcement of all three celebrities involved will be announced before August.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher will help one of the participants in their telling of an inspiring story. This unique and charitable contest not only allows women everywhere the chance to make film magic with celebrity insiders, but also benefits an empowering cause.

“Mary Kay has always been about enriching women’s lives, and being a champion for causes that affect women,” said Yvette Franco, Vice-President, Mary Kay Inc. “Over the years, we’ve been proud to raise awareness and take action on important issues like domestic violence and we’re proud to continue in that tradition through Mary Kay Inspiring Stories

JoAnna Garcia Swisher added, “As an actress, I think it’s important to use film and television as vehicles to help inspire, empower and educate others about issues like domestic violence that deserve our attention. I hope each documentary created through this project helps bring about positive change in the lives of women faced with the threat or reality of domestic abuse.”

The films will premiere in late September, on the cusp of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Following the premiere and throughout the month of October, millions of people across America will have the chance to view, vote and support the documentaries online at http://www.MaryKayInspiringStories.com. The film crew that captures America’s vote will have a $20,000 grant given to a domestic violence shelter in their name from the Mary Kay Foundation.

To further efforts to combat domestic violence, consumers can join Mary Kay in its worldwide efforts to change the lives of women and children through the purchase of Limited-Edition Beauty that Counts® Mary Kay® Creme Lipstick.

In the U.S., from Sept. 16 through Dec. 15, 2011, $1 will be donated from the sale of each shade – Give Dreams, Give Hope and Give Joy – to the Mary Kay Foundation in its efforts to end domestic violence. Yvette Franco, Vice-President for Mary Kay and Mary Kay Foundation board member added, “Mary Kay’s Inspiring Stories is a powerful project because it unites a community of diverse women all looking to bring their voice to millions nationwide to support the often-unheard women impacted by domestic violence.”

For the third straight year, the “Mary Kay Truth About Abuse” national survey conducted earlier this year, shows domestic violence shelters reporting increased demand for their services while the economy struggles. In fact, 80 percent of domestic violence shelters nationwide (more than three out of four) reported an increase in women seeking assistance from abuse.

Source

This week, JoAnna Garcia Swisher attended two new events. I have just added photos from both events – a total of 28 photos – into our gallery!

Gallery Links:
JoAnna Garcia Swisher Network > Public Appearances > Appearances From 2011 > Laura And Jorge Posada Launch Cinco Anillos Sangria
JoAnna Garcia Swisher Network > Public Appearances > Appearances From 2011 > Tracy Reese Flagship Store Five Year Anniversary

JoAnna Garcia-Swisher is ready for a busy Summer with her husband, Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher, and prepping for what appears to be a return to TV! She was mum on what exactly the project will be, but JoAnna is eager to get back to filming after her most recent series, Better With You, was cancelled. She’s in the midst of a new campaign with Merck called “Let’s Go There,” designed to encourage women to talk to their docs about birth control options. The topic matters quite a bit to JoAnna, who grew up with an OB-GYN for a dad. In addition to the press work, JoAnna’s in the middle of her husband’s baseball season. It keeps them plenty busy, but she has time to catch up with other players’ wives and girlfriends, like Cameron Diaz. JoAnna spoke to us about life on the road, the joys of being seven months married, and how she loves to scope Nick out as he exercises.

On how things are different now that she and Nick are married: “There is something so special about it’s not just me anymore, it’s a real we. Any job that I take, he’s very much someone that I consider, he’s my family, he’s everything to me. It is special, it’s really special. And I always say, don’t do it unless you’re ready for it, and don’t do it unless it’s with the right person. There’s ups and downs to marriage, and I’ve seen it. My parents have been married for over 40 years. It’s not always going to be a honeymoon. But the respect, and that sort of sense of respect and obligation to being with each other and being respectful to each other, is a really special place to be.”

On working out with her professional athlete husband: “I love working out with him — he looks good when he works out. He’s really supportive, he’s really like, ‘Come on! You can do it!’ And I’m just half the time like, ‘No! I don’t want to!” But most the time when Nick and I work out I tend to just stare at him a lot.”

On her Summer plans and, hopefully, the Fall’s too: “Summer plans right now — [I'm] very excited to be part of the “Lets Go There” campaign right here in New York, [and] also spending time with my husband. Better with You ended, we found out a couple of weeks ago, which is sad, but I’m very excited about what’s to come. Thinking that I’ll probably come back to television sooner or later — I think there’s always something in the works in that regard! I’m very excited, I can’t wait to share all the news. It’ll be exciting and I’m excited to do something a little bit different. I can’t wait to share with you guys!”

On her dream project: “I love doing comedy. I feel really comfortable there and I love to laugh and I love to be goofy. But I am probably most well known for my comedic work, which is something that I’m humbled by, but I love doing drama too. So I think it’s all about the role for me. And I think I would love to try something edgier and darker and maybe a little sexy — so that’s sort of where my head’s at right now.”

On meeting her husband Nick: “With my husband it was sort of a lightning in a bottle sort of thing. We knew pretty instantly that we were meant for each other which is pretty exciting. Everyone always says when you know you know, and I knew, I really did.”

On what it’s like watching games with Cameron and other baseball wives and girlfriends: “There’s not much sports talk! Obviously we love our men and we’re there to support them. But we’re certainly not players and we’re certainly not coaches. Some of the wives are more knowledgeable about baseball than others so I usually pick their brains. It’s a nice time to hang out with girls . . . in the box it’s fun! We usually have a couple of glasses of wine and enjoy our day.”

On a vacation: “We have no vacation days! Nick has no vacation days. I can have a vacation — I could do a girls’ trip! I’m very much looking forward to taking a honeymoon with my husband. We got married during the middle of my season of Better with You. Our lives are pretty demanding. The great part about it is when one’s not working, we’re with each other. I spend a lot of time on the road with my husband, which I love because I love being with him, but it’s a different sort of Summer plan. But it’s going to be my life, so I’m very excited about it.”

On her and Nick’s Winter honeymoon plans: “It’s definitely going to happen in the Winter. I’m like where is it warm in the Winter? We won’t be in New York. We will be somewhere in the other hemisphere.”

On how important being a strong woman has been for her: “I grew up with a dream — I wanted to be an actress from a very early age. I was very blessed to be able to move to LA and be able to do that. . . the idea of being an empowered woman means that I’m not going to settle for anything. It means that I’m not going to be in a relationship that’s not working for me, I’m not going to be in a job I’m unhappy at.”

Source

It is widely known that Cuban actress JoAnna Garcia Swisher is happily married to New York Yankees outfielder, Nick Swisher. However, these days, JoAnna, 31, is lending her celebrity to talk about another important relationship in her life — her relationship with her doctor.

Garcia-Swisher, the daughter of a Florida obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN), has teamed up with Merck to kick off “Let’s Go There,” a campaign that challenges women — married and single — to get real about what they want and need out of life. A big part of the campaign, JoAnna says, is empowering women to take control of their health by teaching them the importance of cultivating a close relationship with their doctor. Garcia-Swisher spoke to Latina about her new campaign and explained why women should take the opportunity to get educated about their health.

Tell us about the “Lets Go There” Campaign!
I’m very excited to be teaming up with Merck for the ‘Lets Go There’ Campaign. It’s a really important campaign to me because it’s something that celebrates women. The findings in this national survey among women in their 20s and 30s showed that this is a group of empowered women who aren’t willing to settle. But in contrast to how empowered women are in one aspect of their lives, the survey found they don’t necessarily take that same approach when it comes to their health decisions. And obviously that’s been such a huge priority in my life, being the daughter of an OB/GYN, so it’s something that I’m so excited to help raise awareness about.

Do you think Latinas in particular don’t feel empowered when it comes to their health?
I think it’s a woman’s issue as a whole, whether you’re Latina or not. We are excited to celebrate the fact that women aren’t settling for anything in their careers or their relationships, but as important as all of that is, your health is paramount. We’re giving women tips and tools via our Facebook page to help empower them in that part of their lives. We’re getting women to talk to their health-care providers about what birth control methods work best for them. We want women to think about what best suits them and talk to their health care provider. It’s so important to have a great relationship with your physician. It’s one of those essential relationships that I find to be as important to nurture as any other relationship in your life. Without your health, you have nothing. We can’t be empowered women in our career and strong women in our relationships, if it weren’t for the fact that we’re healthy.

Why is the campaign called ‘Let’s Go There?’
We want women to ‘go there!’ Let’s talk about these things, lt’s empower ourselves and let’s really be as strong as we can be in our daily life with our health. Being the daughter of an OB/GYN, I talk about these things all the time. This is a part of my life. We talked about different birth control options, we talked about our connections to our body and how things make us feel and where we are in life and what basic needs we have.

Are you and Nick keen on starting a family?
Family is a huge priority for Nick and I. I certainly don’t know when that’s going to happen, but we’re very excited about becoming parents one day and continuing the Swisher clan!

Source