Elizabeth “Liz” Elias said she was featured as a bad character when she starred on the Nickelodeon’s youth-based comedy television series, “Every Witch Way.”
“There was love, love triangles and magic,” Elias said, bubbling with the excitement Thursday of being in Hawaii for the first time. “I was a bad character, a witch stealing boyfriends, and doing all those kinds of things. But it was a fun show and it was all good. There was a lot of magic — after all, it was a ‘witch’ show.”
Elias is one of the featured guests when the Kauai Fashion Weekend opens this evening at the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club.
“I’ll be singing,” the energetic young performer said, gushing over the gift of a hand-painted handbag presented by international designer Sha Ali Ahmad on her arrival.
“I’ll also be walking the runway — in Sha designs. I love his designs, I love his style.”
Elias brings her multi-faceted talent to the show on Saturday, where the vendor areas will be open from 4 p.m., and doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show in the resort’s ballroom.
“Coming to Hawaii is something I always wanted to do,” Elias said. “Everything is so beautiful…the ocean, and the mountains — we don’t have mountains in Florida. The weather is like this, but this is so different. Being asked to be a part of the Kauai Fashion Weekend by Sha is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The possibility of meeting up with Kauai violinist Kimberly Hope, a featured participant of last year’s KFW, stoked her enthusiasm.
“I love the violin,” said Elias, who has several musical credits to her name. “It gives me goosebumps. And, she’s about my age? This is wonderful.”
Accompanied by her mother, Mary Elias, Liz said she met Sha Ali Ahmad when she was 13 years old during one of his shows in Florida. She fell in love with his designs and has been following him since.
“This was three years before I got my role with Nickelodeon,” Elias said. “It was all about auditioning. You have to get out there and audition. I came in third when the Nikelodeon did a search for my character, Mia in the ‘Every Witch Way’ series. I was the only one from Florida that they flew out to Los Angeles for the finals. I remember there were three people from California — Los Angeles, two from New York, and myself, the only one from Florida.”
Elias starred in the final two seasons of “Every Witch Way.”
“When I came out of the room, I knew I had it — I could feel it,” she said. “But you have to go out and audition.”
Elias also brings stage performances to the Kauai Fashion Weekend, having being featured the video for Flo Rida’s “At Night” with Akon, and being part of the Miami Heat Jr. Jam dance team, as well as the Miami Marlins dance team.
“This was a long trip to get here,” Elias said. “When I left home, it was 9 a.m., and we didn’t leave until noon. We had stops in Dallas, Texas, and Los Angeles before getting here. Last night, I was totally exhausted and I slept really good. Now, I’m back to my old self — re-energized, and ready to go!”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
