Name: Mariah Hanson
Location: Mountain Center, CA
Age: 52
Profession: Event Producer
Website: thedinah.com
In a few words, how would you describe yourself?
Trail rider, horse camper, wine aficionado, and bon vivant.
Your favorite hangout spots?
Any national forest.
Favorite guilty pleasure?
I cannot resist Häagan-Dazs® vanilla ice cream.
Favorite quote?
“It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”— Ursula K. Le Guin.
Who is your biggest influence and why?
My grandfather. He was an old-world Greek immigrant, who—against all odds—became a successful oil wildcatter. I loved his spirit, his sense of place in the world, and the way he just adored me. He always made me feel very special. I attribute my entrepreneurial spirit to him.
Favorite event (past or present)?
The Dinah, of course! I love the feeling of thousands of women coming together and metaphorically igniting in the joy of living out loud. The Dinah energy is actually palpable. Our performers love playing it and always comment on how cool it is to play for thousands of women. They love the estrogen. LOL! The weather is always amazing, and the women show up with the fiercest sense of adventure and celebration.
My second favorite event is anything to do with horse camping. For me, they’re kind of the same. Trail riding way up in the mountains, surrounded by wilderness, has a way of duplicating the positive energy found at The Dinah, sans the bikinis.
Do you have any regrets in life?
Oh, many; but I try to forgive myself for the ways I have fallen short and remind myself that every once in a while, I get it right and do some good in this world.
Favorite lesbian celebrity?
Leisha Hailey comes to mind. I think she’s captivating and gorgeous. I have personally witnessed a provocative streak of pure mischievousness that I found sexy. But she always says, “Mariah is such a nice lady,” and calling me a nice lady does not evoke my racier self-image. Oh well, one can dream.
Who is your favorite musician and why?
Al Jarreau. I just love him. He’s talented, and his songs are always catchy and full of that jazzy kind of get-up-and-go.
What’s next for Mariah Hanson?
The Dinah 2013!
Any fun facts or anything else you want our readers to know?
After The Dinah, I am loading two of my horses into my trailer and spending 10 days horse camping in Bryce Canyon National Park, with a lot of red wine and some great food!
Photos by CherylMazak
