{{Erica's Ivette Encounter}}
Erica got to meet Ivette at Confessions of A Former Popstars
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Meeting Ivette Sosa
December 20, 2003
Don’t Tell Mama’s, NYC

Wow!!! What a day. I’m not even sure I can put all that I’m feeling down in words!!! We started on the road 5:30 Saturday morning!!! After two hours of being on the road I realized I left the gift I had put together for Ivette. It made me really sad at first because one gift was a doll I had made two years ago that looks like Ivette in concert, when I had made it I planned on keeping it until I got to meet Ivette. The second gift was a painting I did of Ivette February 2002, and the third part of the gift was a really cute teddy bear. We couldn’t go back to get it because we had a long ways to go to get to NYC. So, I decided to write Ivette a note telling her what happened and see if there was anywhere I could send them to her. I felt better after thinking that.

The trip to NYC was BEAUTIFUL!!! The mountains, the snow, God’s work was amazing!!! Looking at it all made the time go by so fast. But them we got to the New Jersey/new York border!! Yikes!! The traffic was crazy. And tolls were expensive. We also almost didn’t make it to the show on time because of all of it. We pulled up to Don’t Tell Mama’s at 3:50PM and the show started at 4:00. It was a close one but we made it!!!

When we got seated I noticed that we were sitting right across from Ivette’s family. It was so cool. Then the show started. The first note out of Ivette’s mouth I started to cry. I couldn’t believe I was here, I was seeing Ivette. Someone who I’ve wanted to meet for so long (2 and a half years). She started out her show by talking and singing about where she came from and her family. She did a part on the influence her grandpa had in her life. It was so sweet and I think everyone was tearing up. Then she moved on to her childhood and how she listened to Broadway music and musicals, and how she dreamed of being on Broadway someday. Even at a young ago she knew when she wanted to go, it was cool to hear about that. She then talked about Rent and Popstars and the conflicts she had between the two. The battle that she had inside of what she should do. She was accepted into Rent but she was also given this amazing opportunity to be in a girl group. She them went on and talked about her adventure on Popstars and being in Eden’s Crush. This is where she got really deep into her feeling and didn’t hold back. Being in Eden’s Crush wasn’t what it all cracked up to be. The girls were working hard but they weren’t getting paid. When they asked where the money was going the Company said that they should just be grateful for the opportunity, and they were but they couldn’t even pay their bills. Ivette decided to leave the group September 11, 2001. I found it interesting that she auditioned September 11, 2000; one year later her life had changed so much. Although the Popstars experience wasn’t the best of times it helped her realize where she belongs, on Broadway and with her family. She then sang a song with her sister Jess, they sound so amazing together!! And then Ivette sang with a guy she started out with a few years ago at Don’t tell Mama’s. It was neat to see her going back to her roots and the place she loves.

The show was so amazing. I’m not even sure I can begin to tell you. Everyone who knows Ivette must see it. First Ivette’s voice is WOW!!! She can sing like nothing I’ve heard before. It’s amazing!!! And throughout the show she showed us that her heart and talent lies on Broadway!! Then the fact that Ivette opened up to us so much was amazing. She got personal and even shared some hard things that have happened in her life. And the love you could she for her family. Seeing that made me cry because I miss and love my family. And her dad stood in the back and the look of pride on his face was priceless. He truly loves his family.

After the show Ivette stay after to meet with her fans. I first introduced myself to her dad because I talk to him online sometimes and knew that he’d remember me. I said, “Hi, I’m Erica. I post on the message boards under bassgiraffe.” He was like “Oh my goodness, you’re from Canada, I’m glad to meet you.” And them he pulls out a headshot for Ivette to sign for me. Stands up and gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He then says, “Ivette this is Erica, she drove form Canada to meet you.” She was then like, “OMG really?” Then I told her how we drove 10 hours to be there and that it’s been my dream for 2 and a half years to meet her. The whole time I’m crying like crazy because I just couldn’t believe this was happening. Ivette was like “you’re so sweet”. And then I told her about the gifts I had for her but that I accidentally left them at home. She said, “You had a gift for me? You shouldn’t have, you’re so sweet”. Her dad said that he would email me an address I could send them too and that made me feel happy. I then told Ivette that this was my Christmas present from my Husband Chris and she said, “You’re not suppose to make me cry.” And we hugged and I cried and Chris took tons of pictures. Ivette, looked at me and then said, “alright lets stop the crying and get a happy picture.” That made me laugh. This whole time her family was inline behind me and they all were touched by the story. Ivette then told me to sit down while so we could talk afterward. She also signed the headshot for me. It said, “Dearest Erica, You have no idea what this means to me! Always believe in yourself! All my love, I will never forget!!!! Ivette Sosa”.

While waiting I saw AnnMarie, an Internet friend. She looks so much like Ivette and she and her mom are such sweethearts. We talked a lot about Ivette and I showed her my Ivette notebook and she showed me pictures of her and Ivette together. She was also excited because Ivette mentioned her in her show. Then AnnMarie got to talk with Ivette. They took some pictures together and them all three of us got out picture taken. Then Ivette gave AnnMarie so encouraging words. It was so sweet it made me cry. Ivette truly loves all her fans soooo much.

After most everyone was gone, Ivette sat down and we talked. She asked me what I thought of the show and it I understood it. She was also worried that people would look at her in a bad way after the show. I told her I loved it and that it was sweet to get to know her better on a more personal level. And that what she shared was truth and you can’t change truth. I hope she knows that I love her even more now after the show, the events around Eden’s Crush makes more sense now and I can understand why things happened the way they did.

I then showed her my Ivette notebook, she saw some of her headshot and wondered where I had gotten them and I told her Ebay. She said you don’t need to spend any more money you just email my dad and he’ll get you what you want. She then looked at Chris and told him, don’t let her buy these have her email us. She then saw some stickers I had made of her and she was like, awww these are so cute. I said she could have them if she wanted, she said that she’d just take one so I could have the rest. She even called her boyfriend over to show him. Flipping through the book she saw a magazine clipping she’d never seen before, she was like, where was this from? I told her how in was in J-14 a year after Eden’s Crush broke up. She laughed; she could believe they put her in there a year later. She then looked at her boyfriend and said, “Sorry you’re having to wait.” He was so sweet and said, “It’s totally alright, you guys keep talking.”

She then asked me where I’m going from here, like what do I do in Canada. I told her nothing yet, I’m still waiting for my visa, but that I do work with the youth at my church. Later after I left I realized I should of told her what I wanted to be dong. I want to be a professional photographer.

We talked some more about the show and then a guy with a camera who was making a DVD for Ivette asked if her could interview me. I said I guess. He asked me when I became a fan and what I thought of Popstars and Ivette’s show tonight. He liked my description of what Popstars only showed us, I said, “they showed the good, the bad, but not the ugly, that Ivette’s show showed us the ugly side.” He laughed at that one and said that is going to go on the DVD.

It was getting late and Ivette had already been so kind to spend some extra time with me so we decided to leave. Before leaving I said, “Bye Ivette” and she came over and gave me a huge hug and thanked me for coming all this way. And then gave Chris a hug and thanked him for driving me here. I then got another hug from Ivette’s dad and we left.

I left on a huge high!!! I still can’t believe that this happened. We didn’t get back home here until 5 Sunday morning. We were so tied but so happy. During the trip home I kept talking about Ivette and her show.

I’ll never forget this day. It’s one of the best Christmas presents I’ve gotten. Thank you Chris, Thank you Ivette, thank you AnnMarie, and thank you Ivette’s family.

Love,
Erica K.

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