Sophia Loren: The Little Pomeranian Who Overcame Her Fears to Become a Supermodel

Sophia Loren in Sophia Loren

Big brown eyes. Luxurious auburn hair. The model wave and walk. You might think I’m talking about the next big cat walker, but this fetching and furry beauty is a dog walker, on the runway, that is. And like her namesake, the stunning and strong icon, Sophia Loren, who rose above a childhood of extreme poverty and self-doubt, this little Pomeranian bravely overcame her fears to become a supermodel. She’s sought after by top dog fashion designers, walks the top runway shows, makes appearances at movie premieres and fundraisers, and meets celebrities on a regular basis in her hometown of Los Angeles. It wasn’t always this way. Mom Anne Maria Tafoya shared Sophia Loren’s story and her adventures with me, and this, you’re not going to want to miss.

A rough start to life

Sophia started life at an Albuquerque home breeder; an elderly couple who became too sick to care for their dogs. With over a dozen puppies and half a dozen adults languishing there (eventually to be released to the county), Sophia was lucky enough to be brought to the attention of Anne Maria, who piled into a car with some friends and went to rescue this girl. She was to be a gift for her parents, who’d recently lost their beloved Maltese. But, the universe works in mysterious ways, and her parents just weren’t ready to accept another dog into their lives. So, Anne Maria took the very frightened six and a half month old puppy home. “When I first got her, all she did was tremble,” Anne Maria shared. “She wouldn’t eat or drink and she threw up the whole way home. I thought she was sick, but our vet gave her a clean bill of health. She was just traumatized by life.”

Shortly after Anne Maria brought her home

Anne Maria’s three cats would look after Sophia, as if she was their baby. Her 20 lb kitty, Alvarado, would cuddle her at night. And, she did need a lot of cuddling. All Sophia wanted to do was hide under the sofa. There and then, Anne Maria made a vow to herself and to Sophia…there would be no way this beautiful little dog would spend the rest of her life hiding. So, she went out searching for a trainer.

After many false starts, Jonathan Klein of I Said Sit, came into their lives. Klein works from the point of view of the dog and what they value most. In Sophia’s case, it was her bed. And, I’m not talking about a Linda Evangelista moment; not getting up to model for less than $10,000 a day, I’m talking too scared to get up, the poor baby! So, Jonathan used her bed as a lure to get her to do things and it worked.

How Sophia became a fashion hound

Once she was able to walk on a leash and had gained some confidence, Anne Maria took Sophia on short excursions. Hearing about how comforting these could be, she also tried anxiety wraps. They definitely helped, but none were befitting the gorgeous girl Sophia was! Finding beautiful wrap-like clothing to assuage Sophia’s anxiety was the beginning of what turned into a fashion model career. And she blossomed! Around this time, the little Pom who’d never made a peep found her bark. I heard it while Anne Maria and I were on the phone, and it is cute!

The costume that started it all – Poison Ivy

Sophia was coming along, but it was at a Halloween fundraiser in Beverly Hills, where she really found her calling. Anne Maria wanted to make it something special; Sophia had worked so hard getting over her fears. Tafoya contacted new dog designer friend, Roni Penberthy of Hobo Cwab, and asked for her help in creating a costume for the event’s contest. The theme was super heroes, and Roni suggested Poison Ivy, an arch enemy of Batman. She’s fierce, sexy and confident, and her costume is super cool in violets and greens. Roni’s creation was intricate, outrageous and gorgeous and Sophia trotted off with first prize. Anne Maria remembers it as a breakthrough night. “If a dog could strut proudly in an outfit, Sophia was doing it. She was smiling, comfortable being held by strangers and was actually posing in the costume…workin’ it!” Tafoya described. “The next day we started getting calls and emails for her to come to New York for the New York Pet Fashion Show, and it grew from there.”  Like with any star on the rise, people want to be involved. Designers started calling, asking for Sophia to model their outfits. One of them was Jaimie Diaz, a young mom, who’d just started sewing less than two years before. “I fell in love with some of her designs, and it grew from there,” Anne Maria explained. “As Sophia’s popularity started growing, so did Jaimie’s  line. She’s become quite the fashion designer! At Celeb Catwalk [a recent NYC fashion show fundraiser], her design took first prize. It’s a beautiful bright red gown with a matching crown called “New York Valentine.” Sophia wore one of the stand-out creations at this year’s New York Pet Fashion Show, created by Roni Penberthy. It was a gown inspired by one owned by Marie Antoinette and it was to die for!

Sophia in the New York Valentine gown
by Jaime Diaz

Today, Sophia Loren has over 1000 outfits. Anne Maria rents a storage unit to house them all.  While top designers are creating for her all the time, the early collaborators – Roni Penberthy, Jaimie Diaz and Christine Kennedy of Chica’s Closet – are still Sophia’s go to gals. The girl remembers her roots.

The accident that revealed a serious condition

Lest you think Sophia Loren another Hollywood pup living life large while getting mani-pedis by the pool, this little girl has some down home courage. Just before her second birthday, an unsuspecting Sophia was attacked by another dog in her apartment complex. A trip to the vet to examine the limping that ensued, revealed a previously undiagnosed condition that was pretty serious. Sophia has such severe dysplasia in her rear legs that she required immediate surgery, resulting in screws in both legs. There was some fear she would have permanent weakness or other problems. But just one short year later, Sophia became the littlest dog taught to surf in Del Mar, California. And, she loves it! You can tell from her face in the picture. I love how this little girl isn’t too prissy to get down on a board.

Hangin’ 18

Her fabulous life…

Getting soaked surfing aside, Sophia does lead a pretty fabu life. She’s met and hung with a bevy of celebrities, including Betty White, Robert Redford, RJ Mitte of Breaking Bad, Anderson Cooper, race car driver Jimmy Johnson and a Beverly Hills and Miami Housewife or two. She’s even gotten cozy with Uggie, the uber-famous canine star in The Artist.

A budding romance? Sophia Loren meets Uggie

The littlest Breaking Bad fan

With Breaking Bad’s RJ Mitte

Anne Maria is a huge Breaking Bad fan, and she got to escort Sophia to Tony Award-winner, Bryan Cranston’s Broadway show, All the Way. During that trip to New York City, they took the Turner Classics bus tour, and saw where Breakfast at Tiffany’s was filmed. Of course, that inspired a trip to the iconic Fifth Avenue store the next day, where Sophia was pampered by the staff and tried on various baubles, fabulous enough to befit a princess.

A girl’s best friend…

Oftentimes, the saying goes, it’s the woman behind the man who helps make him a success. In this case, it’s the woman behind the dog.  Anne Maria has an interesting background of her own. A longtime broadcast journalist and radio reporter, she covered the entertainment business for the Los Angeles NBC affiliate for years. She’s worked in media and pr for the American Red Cross and for the County of Los Angeles. She’s guided Sophia with lots of patience and love. It was clear to tell how devoted she is to this little dog each time I’ve seen them together.

Anne Maria and Sophia

Sophia and Anne Marie do a lot of charity work together from American Red Cross fundraisers to a favorite rescue of theirs, NM Dog, which stands for New Mexico Dog. NM Dog drives across the state of New Mexico to rescue dogs that need help the most: the chained, the abandoned, the victims of the most horrific cases of cruelty, literally, the forgotten ones. They rehabilitate and find them loving homes.

So, what’s up next for Sophia? “We’re doing a fundraiser for her birthday on August 24th for The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at our favorite doggy store, Pussy and Pooch, in  Beverly Hills,” Anne Maria enthuses. “Then, it’s the Barkworld convention this fall and the New York Pet Fashion Show next winter.” But, in between, Sophia is exploring her acting career, after being featured in Nokia’s A-List and Canine Christmas campaign and being named a spokes doggie for Mauro Pet Care Products in Beverly Hills.  And, of course, there’s lots of fundraisers and movie events. For a blossoming star like Sophia Loren, life in the fabulous lane is doggone good!

RHOBH Lisa Vanderpump and daughter, Pandora, with Sophia

You can keep up with Sophia Loren’s adventures at http://www.littledoginthebigcity.com.

Do you know a fabulous dog? Tell me about them in the  Comments below.