Katy Perry’s L.A. lifestyle getaway

By Marissa Mooney |A&E Editor|

Ever since hitting the scene with her breakthrough hit “I Kissed A Girl,” Katy Perry has shown the world her flame is not even on the road to being extinguished.

Although I acknowledged her music as soon as her very first song hit the airwaves, she didn’t grow on me until I realized that she does a lot more than just write and sing catchy songs.

Perry is inspiring young women, like myself , to believe that anything can happen if you just believe in yourself. “If you can believe in something great, then you can achieve something great,” expresses Perry from her summer film “Part of Me.”

Katy chimed in at the perfect time in my life. I was notified by the up and coming chip brand, Pop Chips, that I won a weekend getaway contest to meet the one and only, my idol, Katy Perry!

Completely surprised and forgetful that I even entered in the contest because I enter in every contest to meet her, it didn’t feel real to me. I was allowed to take one person. My best friend and fellow CSUSB student Natalie Esparza popped in my mind.

Natalie took me to a Katy Perry concert for my birthday over a year ago when Katy bought out the Staples Center to hold a free concert for all of her fans.

Communication over the past month with Pop Chips about my prizes and when I would meet Katy left me anxious and excited. I am sure all of my friends were tired of hearing me mention the pop star every second of every hour!

The day had arrived on Jan. 24. A driver in a Lincoln town car picked Natalie and me up to drive us to our humble abode for the weekend, the Beverly Hills Hotel! That evening we were to attend a Pop Chips casino night at the London Hotel on Sunset.

Arriving at the event and heading up to the roof with last minute touches to our hair and lipstick, Natalie and I stepped into the guest list required event. Black Jack tables and poker chips all around and a mix of people dressed up laughing and gambling, we knew for a fact Katy had yet to arrive.

Many people from the Pop Chips company greeted us with warm welcoming, but as soon as Katy stepped into the room a different vibe hit the air.

I wasn’t eager to run up to her or take a picture, but instead she walked up to Natalie and I and introduced herself to us!

Katy conversed with us about nails, purses, Coachella music festival, and food. The vibe I received from her was nothing but positive.

“She was so polite, down to earth, and very friendly. I consider her my friend now! She was so humble,” expressed Esparza upon meeting her.

Upon meeting her, she never made me feel like she was a world famous pop artist, she made me feel like I was her friend that I haven’t seen in so long.

Meeting my idol, and inspiration really changed me. It made me want to be an inspiration to my fellow CSUSB peers and friends.

If you believe in yourself, you can strive and achieve something great. People really do win contests and I am a real life example that anyone can make their wildest dreams come true!