Mariah Hanson Sells The Dinah After 35 Historic Years.
Event Changes Hands with Longtime Dinah Team Members Bella Barkow and Rose Garcia
Iconic Queer Women Party & Music Festival Remains in LGBTQ+ Family as Duo’s Newly Founded BellaRose Productions Charts the Next Chapter
PALM SPRINGS, CA – After 35 legendary years, The Dinah, the world’s most iconic and longest-running music festival and party for queer women, has been sold by founder and producer Mariah Hanson to queer event producer and longtime Dinah Operations Manager Bella Barkow and seasoned Dinah emcee, reality TV star and real estate entrepreneur Rose Garcia.
The acquisition ensures The Dinah remains independently owned, community-led, and deeply rooted in LGBTQ+ culture, now operating under the marquee of the duo’s newly founded company, BellaRose Productions. The transition signals not only continuity, but a powerful evolution of an institution that has shaped queer women’s space for more than three decades. Few LGBTQ+ events, particularly those centered on queer women, have ever achieved this level of cultural impact, longevity, and commercial success. This sale stands as a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history and culture.
With this historic transition, The Dinah remains firmly in the LGBTQ+ community and Dinah family’s hands. Garcia and Barkow bring complementary strengths to the role, along with an insider’s understanding of what has made The Dinah a trusted and transformative platform for queer women and allies.
Rose Garcia, the real-life inspiration for the iconic “Papi” on The L Word, combines star power with authenticity and a steadfast commitment to LGBTQ+ visibility. A fan favorite on The Real L Word, she has expertly balanced leading Garcia Real Estate Group with devotion to her family and advocacy within the LGBTQ+ community. As a prominent Latina lesbian entrepreneur, her real estate success has brought her features in Newsweek, BuzzFeed, Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, and HGTV’s House Hunters. Garcia has also emceed The Dinah and other major queer events, further amplifying her influence. A Stage 3 ovarian cancer survivor now in remission, she steps into this chapter with renewed purpose as co-owner of The Dinah alongside Bella Barkow under their new venture, BellaRose Productions.
With a career spanning Toronto raves to major festivals in Los Angeles, Bella Barkow brings extensive experience in large-scale LGBTQ+ event production. From her early days in West Hollywood nightlife to producing speed-dating events for queer women and managing major festivals including LA Pride and the Outloud Festival, she has established herself as a key figure in California’s queer event scene. Bella joined The Dinah team in 2018, quickly rising from Pool Party Stage Manager to Operations Manager, and now brings deep operational expertise and an intimate knowledge of the festival’s inner workings.
"I’ve been to over 20 Dinah events, and each one has been unforgettable, a place to meet incredible women, build lifelong friendships, and feel fully accepted,” says Garcia. “Keeping The Dinah in the family ensures Mariah’s legacy lives on. Bella and I share the same deep love and unwavering dedication for this festival, and I know her vision is safe with us."
"The Dinah has been a cornerstone of queer culture for decades, and being part of its future is an honor. Coming out at 13 in the late ’90s wasn’t easy, but seeing The Dinah on The L Word made it feel a little less scary,” adds Barkow. “Working alongside Rose to carry forward Mariah’s legacy is deeply personal for me. This festival was my safe space, and it’s my hope that we keep it alive for the next generation of young sapphics searching for the same sense of belonging."
Together, their leadership promises a thoughtful blend of tradition and innovation, preserving what has made The Dinah mythic for over three decades while infusing it with fresh energy and bold new ideas. That energy is already taking shape. The excitement begins this year with the 35th edition of The Dinah.
It’s official: The Dinah 2026 will take place September 30 through October 4th, returning to the Hilton Hotel and The Zoso. The full program and entertainment lineup will be announced in June, with more details rolling out in the months ahead.
This landmark transition powerfully solidifies the extraordinary legacy built by Mariah Hanson thirty-five years ago. Under her stewardship, The Dinah has stood in a league of its own, earning national and international headlines in both mainstream and queer media, appearing in television shows and documentaries, and becoming a globally recognized cultural phenomenon. What began as a bold idea in Palm Springs, CA, evolved into a rite of passage for queer women around the world, a destination event that helped define visibility, freedom, and celebration on a scale rarely achieved in LGBTQ+ entertainment.
“Rose and Bella are the perfect duo to take over The Dinah. Through their big hearts, business acumen and commitment to preserving what is most beloved about The Dinah, I am genuinely excited to watch them take The Dinah to new heights,” says Mariah Hanson. “The Dinah is my life's work. I can't begin to explain how important this event has been to me, and the powerful way I have seen it change hearts and minds, year after year. That The Dinah will continue to be a game changer in our community and a beacon of hope for all of us, especially in these trying times, leaves my heart full. The Dinah is in good hands.”
In an era when few queer women-centered events survive, let alone thrive, this milestone moment ensures The Dinah’s story is far from over, it’s only beginning to be written.
Stay tuned and visit www.TheDinah.com and follow The Dinah on its social media platforms for ongoing updates, announcements, and exclusive news.
Instagram @TheDinahshore | Tiktok @thedinahmusicfestival | Facebook: @TheDinah
For media inquiries including interview requests with Bella Barkow and Rose Garcia please contact:
Mona Elyafi | CEO ILDK Media
Email: Mona@ILDKMedia.com | Phone: (323) 363-5333
About Arabella (Bella) Barkow
Arabella (Bella) Barkow is an experienced event producer with a longstanding focus on fostering inclusive, welcoming spaces and experiences for the LGBTQ+ community.
Her career began in Toronto’s late-1990s rave scene, where she discovered a deep appreciation for music, nightlife, and live event production. She went on to refine her skills with a range of Canadian event companies before relocating to Los Angeles, California, in 2012. There, she gained hands-on experience in high-volume venues and pop-up events, developing a practical understanding of audience engagement and large-scale logistics.
Barkow spearheaded speed-dating events for queer womxn across Los Angeles while also playing a central role in producing large-scale festivals for gay men. Over her career, she has produced and managed a diverse portfolio of events throughout Southern California including LA Pride, The Dinah Shore Weekend, and the Outloud Festival. Barkow has also served on the Boards of Directors for DTLA Proud and the Off Sunset Festival.
In addition to festival production, Barkow has served as a stage manager for Variety Magazine’s award events twice annually. Her calm, decisive presence backstage has become a hallmark of her work, most memorably when artist Mark Ronson accidentally dropped and shattered his award mid-show. Barkow swiftly ran onstage to collect the pieces and restore the moment, after which presenter Ryan Gosling requested the fragments as a keepsake, an anecdote that has since become emblematic of her professionalism under pressure.
Now, under her newly established BellaRose Productions, co-owned with Rose Garcia, Barkow is guiding the next era of The Dinah after its acquisition, elevating the iconic event as a premier cultural force and community platform within the LGBTQ+ festival landscape.
About Rose Garcia
Rose Garcia is the real-life inspiration behind the iconic character “Papi” on the original scripted series The L Word. When creator Ilene Chaiken expanded the franchise with the docuseries The Real L Word, she invited Garcia to join as a lead cast member, bringing the energy, authenticity, and charisma that made her a fan favorite. Her debut season offered an unfiltered look into her world, highlighting her powerhouse real estate career, close-knit traditional Puerto Rican Catholic family, and unwavering presence within the LGBTQ+ community.
Beyond her television presence, she is a dedicated businesswoman, entrepreneur, and advocate. As the lead of Garcia Real Estate Group, she balances professional success with a commitment to family and LGBTQI+ awareness. Utilizing her platform as a prominent Latina lesbian, she actively engages with her community to offer advice and support. She has also spent the past several years emceeing The Dinah and other large-scale lesbian events, further amplifying her presence and influence within the community.
Garcia has been a featured speaker and host at various LGBTQI+ events worldwide. Her real estate success and entrepreneurial story have been spotlighted in Newsweek and BuzzFeed, as well as on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles and HGTV’s House Hunters.
Garcia’s impact extends far beyond business and entertainment. A Stage 3 ovarian cancer survivor, she powered through surgery and treatment without slowing down, while simultaneously supporting and advocating for fellow cancer patients and survivors. Now cancer-free and in remission, Garcia is entering her most powerful era yet. With renewed purpose and unstoppable drive, she steps into a new exciting chapter as co-owner of The Dinah, alongside Bella Barkow, under their newly formed BellaRose Productions.