Lifelong Phoenix Suns fan Alicia-Monique Blanco entertains crowds as the team’s in-arena host / by Gabby Leighton / photos by Barry Gossage/Michael Gonzales for the Phoenix Suns 44 <strong>Scottsdale</strong><strong>Health</strong> 02/20
From cheering on the Phoenix Suns from the nosebleeds at the then-America West Arena with her dad as a young girl to becoming the team’s in-arena host at the now- Talking Stick Resort Arena, Arizona native Alicia-Monique Blanco has come a long way. Here we talked to Blanco about the road to her current role, her connection to the team, and her close-knit relationship with her family. as I interned with ABC15 Sports and once my sister started working for Fox Sports Arizona, and eventually the Arizona Cardinals. It’s pretty cool to see how our childhood dreams and interests have grown into what they are today. Tell us about your role with the Phoenix Suns. As the in-arena host, it’s my job to keep the fans entertained during breaks in the game. Whether it’s a timeout, quarter break or halftime, you can see me all over the arena alongside other members of the Suns Entertainment team interacting with the fans and keeping them engaged. They are my number one priority! It’s very important to me that they feel seen, heard and almost like they are on the court with me. What is the energy like in the arena during games this season? WOW this season has been electric! The last time I saw and “felt” it like this about the Suns, was back in the ‘90s. People are energetic, tuned in and have a lot of hope. The games are just so exciting and our fans have a lot to cheer for this season. What is your favorite part of your role with the Suns? The fans and the people I get to work with! I love meeting the die-hard Suns fans and seeing them at all the games. The people I work with have honestly felt like family to me since day one. I always look forward to going to work because of both! Any fun pre-game rituals you can share with us? I love picking out a good outfit for the game. From the clothes to the shoes, the NBA has changed my style and it’s been so much fun embracing the culture! Before the games I always try on various outfits and try out different looks and styles. Then, I text my little cousin who is way cooler than me, to make sure my outfit is “good to go.” She has to approve or else I keep trying. This has become a fun part of the job. I love including my family! How did you get your start in hosting? In college I interned at ABC15 KNXV-TV News and Sports. That was when I got my first taste of being up close to the action at the Suns games during the unforgettable Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, Amar’e Stoudemire era. Soon after college, I moved out to LA and got as much red carpet and oncamera entertainment hosting experience as I could, and the rest is history. Tell us about your life growing up in Arizona. It was simply the best. Even when I moved to California in my early 20s, I always knew I’d end up back here. The majority of my family is here and every year keeps getting better and better. My family is a lot like My Big Fat Greek Wedding except we are Latinos. Loud, fun, never a dull day, and there’s always food. Lots and lots of food! My parents were really good about documenting every stage of childhood on my dad’s huge camera back in the day, and as a result we have an endless supply of VHS tapes of playtime, holidays, vacations and just hanging out around the house. I get emotional every time I re-watch any of them (which is often) because it’s just so clear how much love has always been in my life. And hilarious chaos. We have it on good authority you’ve been a Suns fan since you were young. Can you elaborate on that? This is a fact! I was born and raised a Suns fan. My parents would take my little sister and I to the games back when it was the America West Arena and when Charles Barkley and KJ were on the team (KJ was my first crush ever!). We would sit way up in the nosebleeds and just watch in amazement at all the action and dreamt of being up close one day. Even now, I actually borrow some of my mom’s shirts from the ‘90s and wear them to games! Were you interested in sports as a child? If not, how has that changed since you’ve gotten older? Sports was always on TV in our household. My dad and little sister especially bonded over that passion. My sister was dubbed as my dad’s “son,” because she actually understood the logistics of the game whereas I just watched for the entertainment and glamour of it all. It became a running joke in the family about all the silly questions I’d ask during the games because I didn’t always understand exactly what was happening, but still loved to watch. Even when I lived on my own, I’d often turn sports on my TV while I was working from home, just to have it on because it made me feel at home. The sound of a game was comforting. As I got older, sports continued to be present in our family Is this your full-time or part-time job? This is my part-time job as I only work the home games. I’m also a singer in The Hamptons Band where I get to sing for weddings and events across Arizona which is a lot of fun! I have my own business called The Lettering Latina (@theletteringlatina) that I’ve owned and operated since 2016 where I do hand-written lettering and calligraphy for weddings, baby showers, events, etc. Everything from place cards, welcome signs, seating charts, mirrors, acrylic...you name it! You were crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2009 and then competed at the 2009 Miss USA pageant. Tell us about your experience and if it has prepared you for your current role. It has been 11 years and it still gives me butterflies to think about! It’s an experience that gave me a lot of insight into the entertainment industry and gave me some pretty thick skin too. Long story short, I was dared into doing the pageant with no experience whatsoever. The stereotype that you have to be born and raised in it to do well is simply not true. Giving it a shot, putting yourself out there, having fun and working hard can always take you far! (I ended up placing second runner up at Miss USA!) I absolutely feel like it prepared me for this role with the Suns. I’ve hosted many things before but nothing quite like this. Again, I just needed to believe in myself, give it a shot, put myself out there, have fun, work hard and hope that it would lead me to a dream position- and it has. Also, for the pageant, it was a huge production on a stage, live on NBC in front of a lot of people watching. With the Suns, it’s also a live production, on the court with a lot of people watching. I just remind myself that if I could do it back then in my heels, then I can most certainly do it now, in my Jordans. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? What’s that? Just kidding… however, basketball season and wedding season are ironically during the same exact time, so there is little to no free time. I do enjoy working out and being with my family though, especially my baby nephew. He is the best little guy and whenever I have a chance to take a pause, it’s likely with him in my arms watching Mickey Mouse or Coco. 02/20 <strong>Scottsdale</strong><strong>Health</strong> 45
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