It’s hot out there! Jersey City, you are on FIRE so it’s time for our next batch of local babes. We will honestly never run out of people to feature! July is actually my birthday month, and I would like to give myself a shout out for also being a local babe LOL. Happy Birthday to me.

Now let’s meet our July Babes.

Olivia Halpin – @oliviahalpin

Olivia has lived in Jersey City with her husband for 8 years. Originally from Upstate NY, she moved to Manhattan to pursue her career dreams, and after a couple years made the move to Jersey City. She lives in the Hamilton Park area and when she’s not working you can find her on a roof, by a pool, or on the beach. In the winter she stays inside hunting for cheap flights to warm places. 😂

1. What do you currently do for a living?

I’m a hairstylist and I fill my days with weddings, red carpet and fashion events, photo shoots and private clients. I work with amazing, successful, inspirational women who keep me on my grind!

2. What is your dream job?

I’m doing it now! I’m so lucky to have found my passion and turned it into a career at a young age. However, once I’m done living the city life, I could also see myself having a bed and breakfast or a coffee shop with my husband in a sleepy beach town.

3. What is your favorite place to hang out or eat in Jersey City?

So many places for different reasons! I love the pizza and ricotta at Porta, rooftop drinks at The Ashford, the backyard at Hamilton Pork, the staff at South House, and the frozen drinks at Surf City. I’m also obsessed with @laurahipfit‘s work out class. It’s the best dance club in Jersey City 🤣

4. How does it feel to be nominated as a JC babe?

I feel like Kelly Clarkson when she won American Idol. #blessed

5. What are 3 random facts about yourself?

I eloped with my high school sweetheart in Italy.
I have the worst singing voice you’ve ever heard.
I could survive on potato chips and chocolate.

6. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done or wanted to do?

I went parasailing last summer and it was absolutely terrifying. I’m not much of a thrill seeker in that sense, although last month I faced my fear of rollercoasters and loved it so I might be a changed woman.

7. What do you love most about Jersey City?

I love that Jersey City has a warm small town vibe in a big city. It’s so great to always be running into people I know and getting to know other local business owners. It’s also been amazing to watch Jersey City change and grow in the years I’ve been here. Sure, my rent is almost double what it was in 2011 🤣😭 but seeing all of the new businesses emerge and the improvements in the city makes me so happy!

Eric Cano – @iamericcano

Eric Cano is a life-long resident of Jersey City. He loves red wine, clothes & shoes, his wife Sonia, and their new-born daughter, Alaïa.

1. What do you currently do for a living?

I am a casting director and talent manager. I started my own casting company (Cano Castings) in late 2015 and in January of 2019, I started working at Soul Artist Management, one of the top modeling agencies in the world. I help manage our special talent board which is comprised of professional athletes, actors, and musicians.

2. What is your dream job?

To be honest, I think I have my dream jobs. I absolutely love working for myself on the casting side; fashion has always been one of my passions. I was that kid reading fashion magazines and ripping my favorite ads out and taping them on my doors so being able to cast ad campaigns, runway shows, and work with some of the coolest brands and brightest creative talent has been amazing.

I also love working with professional athletes. A lot of our talent are professional Mixed Martial Artists signed in the UFC and I’ve been a fan of UFC and MMA since the first tournament. It’s really cool to be able to work in not one but two industries that you’ve always had a strong personal interest in.

3. What is your favorite place to hang out or eat in Jersey City?

I don’t get out nearly as much as I used to, but LITM will always be near and dear to me. It was the first bar I went to in Jersey City when I moved back here after graduating in 2003. I have so many great memories there: my wife and I re-connected there, I’ve celebrated pretty much every birthday in the last 10 years there, and we had our baby shower there a few months ago.

I also love old-school Italian places like GP’s in Hamilton Park and Laico’s in Greenville.

4. How does it feel to be nominated as a JC babe?

Super flattering!

5. What are 3 random facts about yourself?

6. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done or wanted to do?

I think it would be cool to go skydiving one day, but the craziest thing I’ve ever done would definitely be having a kid! It’s been life-changing for sure but in the best kind of way :).

7. What do you love most about Jersey City?

I’ve always loved the diversity of the city. There are so many different kinds of people from all different backgrounds here. It’s such a melting pot! I also love that it’s a stone’s throw away from NYC.

 

Fatou Keita – @beautybyfk

Meet Fatou (pronounced fA-too) Keita. Jersey City resident since the age of 3! Many describe Fatou as a straightforward yet open minded individual. She’s a woman of many hats and talent such as photography, cooking, party decor, and home DIYS. She likes to think of herself as the “Black Martha Stewart.” When Fatou isn’t working on her crafts, she’s busy being a “DOPE MOM,” as she’d like to call it, to her busy two year old daughter Lau’ren!

1. What do you currently do for a living?

I am a FREELANCER! I am a freelance photographer and I design custom party favors and decor.

2. What is your dream job?

My dream job is for me to expand on what I’m already doing now! I love to work for myself and create my own schedule. Soon I’ll have to hire someone because being a freelancer is NO JOKE!

3. What is your favorite place to hang out or eat in Jersey City?

Well I’m sort of a “cook a delicious meal at home” kinda gal but when I’m being lazy, I do love to eat at Carolyn’s Soul Food restaurant, the food is delicious and comforting and hospitality is nice! When I want to get a nice drink, I like to go to Halftime Bar & Grill…the drinks & food are really good!

4. How does it feel to be nominated as a JC babe?

It’s feels great! I do a little bit of everything, so I hope I can come in handy to ChicpeaJC readers!

5. What are 3 random facts about yourself?

I don’t own a laptop so I do ALL my work from my phone! You’d be surprised how much you can do with an iPhone!
French is my first language, my mother only spoke French with me because she figured I’d learn English when I started school!
I have 11 siblings from my father’s side.

6. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done or wanted to do?

Hmm, I haven’t done anything crazy but the craziest thing I’ve wanted to do is travel much of the world in 30 days with no phone, just my daughter, my boyfriend, and my camera!

7. What do you love most about Jersey City?

I love the artistic value and diversity Jersey City has. I can take my daughter out for a walk just to sight see and people watch. Whether it’s large wall painting or a family speaking a foreign language you’ve never heard, You’re bound to see something interesting for sure!

 

Igor Fernandes – @ibarelyworkout

Igor Daniel Fernandes sometimes known as Iggy. 35 years young, born in Portugal, migrated to the US at the age of 2. Single dad to two little beautiful girls. Fitness enthusiast who breathes eats and sleeps anything daughter or fitness related. In the little free time he has, he spends it hanging with friends and finding new foods to eat.

1. What do you currently do for a living?

I’m a personal trainer or coach, if you’d like to get fancy.

2. What is your dream job?

I love what I do now. Even though I work like a mad man, am constantly tired and complain about my job, I love it. I know it sounds cliche but it doesn’t feel like work if you love what you do.

3. What is your favorite place to hang out or eat in Jersey City?

Besides the billion hours I spend at Base working and crushing my own workouts, I spend a lot of time at Hamilton Pork. Friendly staff, very chill environment and the food, awesome.

4. How does it feel to be nominated as a JC babe?

It feels so cool. I no longer feel like the old man my daughters tell me I am. No honestly I’m very caught of guard and very honored by this, this city has been nothing but good to me and I’m more than thankful for this.

5. What are 3 random facts about yourself?

1. I don’t like pickles I know crazyyyyy… everyone likes pickles. Well not me!
2. In 5th grade my nickname was “chicken legs.” How ironic.
3. I can’t swim. I know so lame.

6. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done or wanted to do?

I’ve jumped out of a plane. Not so crazy to most, but I’m scared of heights. I’m also an adrenaline junkie and love the rush.

7. What do you love most about Jersey City?

The people! I love the diversity. I love the friendliness (from most). Not to mention all the amazing foods the wonderful people have brought here.