Snooki at Allen Premium Outlets

By Conner Hammett, chammett@acnpapers.com Published: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 5:45 PM CST - Star Local News.com

Between 600 and 800 fans of the show lined up outside Perfumania for a chance to meet Nicole Polizzi, better known as "Snooki" to fans, who was there to promote her new, self-titled fragrance and "Confessions of a Guidette," her autobiography.

The Allen stop was the last of a five-city tour of Perfumania stores undertaken by Polizzi. Buzz was high for the event, which was promoted on the pop radio station 106.1 KISS FM and through social media outlets such as the Perfumania and Snooki Twitter pages.

The first two fans in line, Katherine Barnes and Jordan Blackman, both 18, drove from Mansfield to meet Polizzi. The pair arrived at the store at noon and waited five hours to have their photo taken with the reality star.

"I love Snooki" Barnes said. "I called [Jordon] and said 'I hope you know we're driving to Allen'"

Samantha McCarver of Kemp was also waiting in line before Polizzi's arrival. She said she drove an hour and a half to meet the celebrity.

"I fell in love with her on the first season of Jersey Shore and I'm still in love with her, and I always will be," she said.

Carol Whittington, district manager for the Allen Perfumania store, said the crowds, bright lights and DJ-powered music almost gave the store a club vibe when the doors finally opened for Polizzi's appearance.

"There were really good responses," Whittington said. "We had people crying, people getting their cell phones signed, their tummies signed. It was kind of crazy, but very, very positive."

Whittington said the Allen store was chosen as the location for the event because of its high level of customer traffic.

"Allen's an up and coming area. I love it," she said. "Out of 150 stores in our region, it's the highest volume. We have a great mall management. We really wanted to put Allen on the top out there for everyone to see."

Whittington said the biggest impression Polizzi made on her was the level of dedication she had to her fans, making sure to meet as many of them as possible.

"I know that's one thing she was passionate about walking into the door, was meeting every one of her fans," Whittington said. "Although she does have that public persona, it's not really encompassing of all that she is."