to have deep conversations and get to know each other in a way that we wouldn’t have if we were just, you know, hitting it.” We all laugh. They are a classic example of how opposites attract. “He has a Ph.D. in education and I have a Ph.D. in pop culture,” says Ross. “It’s very, very different. But there’s just such value in what we both do. Our worlds are so completely different that I’m in awe of him every day.” Ross has risen to pop culture fame in the last two decades, from The Tonight Show to stints on Chelsea Lately and RuPaul’s Drag Race. It was actress Drew Barrymore who played an unlikely role in their relationship. “Drew has been instrumental in our love story,” says Ross. “I came to New York to visit Wellinthon, and she asked me to come on her show for a day.” The production team then requested he return a week later, then again to stay on for the season. “We were like, ‘I guess this means I’m supposed to be here.’ So we got an apartment. I don’t know that we would have been on such a fast trajectory if Drew hadn’t given me work in New York.” She’s also been a confidante in the planning process. “I have immense guilt that people are flying to our wedding. Drew said, ‘Just do it where you want to do it, and the people who are supposed to be there will come,’” says Ross. “I just want to make sure people have a party when they’re there.” This includes Barrymore, who is also a founder of Flower Beauty and will be a flower girl at the wedding. “It just came up as we were talking about the wedding [on the show]. And she was like, ‘Well, who’s the flower girl?’ I was like, ‘You want to do it?’ And she was like, ‘Wait, are you being serious?’” recalls Ross. “And I was like, ‘Wait, are you being serious?’” She was serious. “Drew and I talk about everything on the show, whatever the hot-button issues are, including relationships. We really go deep into them,” says Ross. “We challenge each other on our thoughts, feelings and who we want to be now. Drew’s had public relationships, and she holds nothing back. What I love about her is she’s the kind of friend who will give you the real truth. She’s the friend you would call if you did something bad and needed help covering it up. She would just be there, no questions asked: ‘I brought a shovel. What are we doing?’” The couple also signed on Michael Russo as their event planner. Russo—known for planning Shark Tank judge Robert Herjavec’s wedding in 2016—heard about their engagement and reached out over Instagram. Their mutual friend Carson Kressley, who emceed the Herjavec wedding, attested to Russo’s talents. “He just sang his praises,” says Ross. “I never thought I’d be the type of person who had a wedding planner. That always seemed like something a Kardashian would have.” The wedding events will be an extension of their West Coast lifestyle. “When we’re not in New York, we live in Palm Springs, which is a happy hour lifestyle. We are a caftan people. We are a poolside people. We live like active senior citizens,” Ross laughs. “So, I want to infuse part of our life in Palm Springs into the wedding.” He pauses and adds, “I wouldn’t be shocked if the night before there was some sort of karaoke party. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the day after the wedding, there was a drag bingo brunch. We love a really gay activity like that. And we want to bring that sense of fun into our wedding.” ››
22SUM_FEAT_CoverStory.L [P]_321093.indd 31
ST R A I G H T TAC O S “I have my Ross-ipes because I lost 60 pounds over the pandemic. I make my ground chicken black bean taco salad practically every day. Beans are a great healthy choice.” INGREDIENTS
1 lb. ground chicken ¼ tsp. paprika ¼ tsp. cumin ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper 2 Tbl. chili powder 1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained 1 (7-oz) can diced green chilis
1 head iceberg lettuce 2 tomatoes, diced ½ red onion, diced 1 jalapeño, chopped 1 lemon 1 lime Salt and pepper Light sour cream Hot sauce
DIRECTIONS
1 In a skillet, brown ground chicken; add spices and the juice of 1 lime. 2 In a saucepan, heat beans with diced green chilis. 3 Cut lettuce in half to make little lettuce cups. 4 Assemble: top lettuce with beans, then chicken and toppings (tomato, red onion, jalapeño). Add a squeeze of lemon and salt and pepper to taste. 5 Add a dollop of sour cream and a dash of hot sauce. 6 Enjoy with Marianela’s guacamole! 31
FLORAL INSTALLATION: EAST OLIVIA; FASHION STYLING: TRACI FRANKLIN; GROOMING: MIGUEL LLEDO USING R+CO AT BA-REPS; FLOWERS: HAUS OF STEMS; ICONS: J RAY RIVERA F/NOUN PROJECT (2)
TM
M A R I A N E L A’ S G U A C A M O L E “I told her I’d like guacamole, and she made me 15 avocados worth of it.” INGREDIENTS
1 tomato, chopped ½ red onion, chopped Palm full of cilantro, chopped
2 avocados 1 Tbl. olive oil 1 lime Salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS
1 Mix tomato, onion and cilantro in a bowl. Mash together with the avocado and olive oil. The olive oil makes it extra-silky and smooth. 2 Add the juice of the lime and salt and pepper to taste. (The trick is more lime than you think.)
3/22/22 4:06 PM