Drop-Dead Gorgeous Actor and Hunky Houston Firefighters Make the Always Lively Latin Women’s Initiative Even Spicier

More Than 850 Fabulous Femmes Bring the Energy

BY Shelby Hodge // 05.05.25

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Lisset Garza, Jovanny Orellana, Julián Gil, Naimeh Salem, Julie Garza at the Latin Women's Initiative annual lucheon. (Photo by Jacob Power)

Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon chairs April Fabre and Julie Garza. (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Jessica Perez, Vicky Nehme, Raquel Thomas, Alejandra Elizondo at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Xochitl Ljuboja, Helene Zadok, and Lisa Flores at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Dorit Aaron, Conchita Reyes at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Becky Reyes, Marilu Garza at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

The fabulous Ceron at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Chree Boydston, Mauricio Serrano, Rosi Hernandez at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Conchita Reyes, Trini Mendenhall-Royalty, Alma Gonzalez at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Cyndy Garza Roberts, Edward Sanchez at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Daisy Mendoza, Maritza Gonzales, Vicky Dominguez at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Saks Fifth Avenue vice president and GM Heidi Turney at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Arcy Munoz Marshall, Jonathan Marshall at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Jackie Garcie at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Xitlalic Adcock, Xochitl Ljuboja, Matty Relstivo, Vicky Dominguez at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Jorge & Rosi Hernandez at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Josie Doubet, Cathryn Martinez and Alex de Aguilar Reuter at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Jovanny Orellana, Julián Gil at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Jovanny Orellana, Rosi Hernandez at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Lisset Garza, Julián Gil, Naimeh Salem, Jovanny Orellana at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Lucia & Michael Cordua at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Daisy Mendoza, Vicki Luna, Alba Huerta at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Mariachis perform at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Michelle Garcia, Jennifer Fernandez at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Naimeh Salem, Lisset Garza at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Oly Garza, Aly Garza at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Raquel Thomas, Lisett Garza, Lorena Gomez at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Shopping the marketplace at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Vicki Luna, Horacio Lerma at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Saks Fifth Avenue best of show fashions on the runway at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

Julián Gil on the runway at the Latin Women's Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

Lisset Garza, Jovanny Orellana, Julián Gil, Naimeh Salem, Julie Garza at the Latin Women's Initiative annual lucheon. (Photo by Jacob Power)

The Latin Women’s Initiative annual luncheon hardly needs anything out of the ordinary to light a feminine frenzy as this midday annual fiesta is well known for its high energy and soaring spirits. The latter enhanced with a tequila toast finale. Nevertheless, the drop-dead good looks of Argentine actor Julián Gil and the six pack abs of the Houston Firefighters calendar men strutting the runway caused a universal swoon.

Jessica Perez, Vicky Nehme, Raquel Thomas and Alejandra Elizondo — Jessica Perez, Vicky Nehme, Raquel Thomas, Alejandra Elizondo at the Latin Women’s Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

More than 850 women, dressed to the hilt in vibrant Latin-inspired frocks, filled the Hilton Americas-Houston ballroom. Before entering the luncheon scene, there was much shopping throughout the annual marketplace that featured scores of independent merchants.

Once this animated throng settled into their seats, luncheon chairs April Ramirez Fabre and Julie Garza addressed the crowd along with Latin Women’s Intiative board president Jovanny Orellana. Taking bows as honorees were Lisset Garza and Naimeh Salem, the latter of whom sponsored Gil‘s appearance, which included a turn on the runway dressed by Saks Fifth Avenue.

Daisy Mendoza, Maritza Gonzales and Vicky Dominguez — Daisy Mendoza, Maritza Gonzales, Vicky Dominguez at the Latin Women’s Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Dave Rossman)

It was The Galleria store, under guidance of SFA vice president and GM Heidi Turney and SFA Houston area marketing director Houston Hasina Starks, that presented the lineup of spring fashions. With special thanks to Ceron for donating time and talent for stying the models’ coiffs and makeup.

We can’t be certain, but we would guess that it was the fashion show producers Lenny Matuszewski and Tamara Bonar that were responsible for the firefighters swaggering down the runway. And, oh, the delightful bedlam when the guys shed their Latin Women’s Intiative tank T-shirts and tossed them into the cheering crowd.

Xitlalic Adcock, Xochitl Ljuboja, Matty Relstivo, Vicky Dominguez photo by Jacob Power — Xitlalic Adcock, Xochitl Ljuboja, Matty Relstivo, Vicky Dominguez at the Latin Women’s Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

There was more excitement when the winner of the raffle for the diamond tennis necklace, provided by Zadok Jewelers, was revealed. Helene Zadok, matriarch of the Zadok family fine jewelry empire, presented the piece to the lucky winner.

Elizabeth Anthony

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The event raised $500,000 for Justice Forward, Rebuilding Together Houston, Segundo Barrio, El Centro de Corazon and Naba Shoes for Kids.

Jovanny Orellana and Julian Gil walking down runway photo by Jacob Power — Jovanny Orellana, Julián Gil at the Latin Women’s Initiative annual luncheon (Photo by Jacob Power)

PC Seen: Lucia and Michael Cordua, Patricia Herrera, Leticia Fallick, Rosi Hernandez, Gloria Luna Bounds, Trini Mendenhall-Royalty, Vicky Dominguez, Becky Reyes, Maritza Gonzales, Vicki Luna, Chree Boydstun, David Cordua, Frances Castañeda Dyess, Patricia Garcia, Alba Huerta, and Daisy Mendoza.