BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – The stars were shining bright at the Beverly Hills Hotel Thursday night at the be a STAR SummerSlam VIP Kickoff Party. Celebrity guests, such as DJ Pauly D, Terry Crews, Maria Menounos, and Olympic Gold Medalist swimmers Ryan Lochte and Tyler Clary mingled with WWE Superstars and Divas. ( PHOTOS | VIDEO)

“The fact that you guys have taken this cause on and championed it when you know these kids look up to the Superstars and Divas — it means a lot,” Menounos said about be a STAR. “I know those are the things that help make change.”

After walking a media-studded red carpet, the Superstars, Divas and celebrities socialized around the iconic pool at the century-old luxury hotel on Sunset Boulevard. DJ Pauly D of “Jersey Shore” fame lit up the turntables at the happening soiree.

“It’s such an amazing event, especially the anti-bullying campaign – don’t be a bully, be a STAR – I love that slogan. So I’m running with it, I tweeted it today, I like it!” said DJ Pauly D.

The party kicks off SummerSlam weekend as WWE takes over the greater Los Angeles area for a four-day long celebration. This includes events such as SummerSlam Axxess, be a STAR Alliance rallies, a screening of WWE Studios’ “The Day” and Superstar and Diva visits to local children’s hospitals, not to mention the biggest event of the summer – SummerSlam!

“I think this is great!” World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus said. “It’s the 25th Anniversary of SummerSlam. We’re going to kick off the STAPLES Center on Sunday the 19th, and of course, we have Axxess going on. So there’s no bigger place to be than LA this weekend. “

The be a STAR Party also celebrates a successful year of WWE and The Creative Coalition’s be a STAR Alliance. WWE has held more than 40 anti-bullying rallies, speaking to more than 25,000 children.

“I think for our Superstars to be able to go to kids today and say, ‘embrace those things that make you different, embrace those things that kids maybe pick on you for now, because those are the things that make you unique, they make you who you are and be proud of who you are,’” said WWE COO Triple H.

A child is bullied every seven minutes, whether it’s cyber, physical or verbal bullying. Through WWE and The Creative Coalition’s campaign, children around the globe are encouraged to “be a STAR: Show Tolerance And Respect.”

“If you are being bullied, there is a way out of it – go to an adult, go to a parent, go to a guardian, go to a teacher, go to somebody,” Triple H said. “Don’t let it just it just happen. Don’t just put up with it. Don’t think there’s no way to stop it. You can stop it. And if you know somebody who is being bullied, help them stop it.”

Olympic Gold Medalist Lochte told WWE.com he’s been watching WWE since he was a kid, and was thrilled to support be a STAR.

“Growing up, I saw some of my friends, some of my close friends, being bullied,” Lochte said. “I know how that felt to me, and I know how crushed they were. So I am definitely more than happy to be here to help.”

Be a STAR is made up of more than 50 alliance partners including Scholastic Inc., YMCA of America, Girl Scouts of America, GLAAD, RAINN and STOMP Out Bullying. For more information, visit beastaralliance.org, the be a STAR Facebook page and on Twitter @beastaralliance. Also, log on to beastaralliance.org to take the official be a STAR pledge and to download a free be a STAR teacher’s aide and be a STAR toolkit to start your own local chapter.