New York, January 17, 2007 – Tim Gunn thinks Raquel Welch is phenomenal. “What’s so phenomenal about Raquel Welch is that she’s been a phenomenon since she first appeared in films”, he gushed at the MAC Cosmetics dinner honoring the screen legend on Wednesday. “She’s simply a phenomenon. She’s a cultural phenomenon, she’s an entertainment phenomenon, and she’s embedded in popular culture”, he added. Welch herself was a bit more humble, saying that she was happy to be named a MAC beauty icon, and that she actually uses their products. “And of course, I was very flattered to be invited, because last year, it was Catherine Deneuve, so this is not exactly bad company”, she said.

As delightful as guests like Petra Nemcova, Eve and Diane von Furstenburg were, Tim Gunn was most amused by his unidentified female date that photographers kept referring to as “Mrs. Gunn”.