I haven’t always been the confident woman I am today. Part of my job is making the world’s most beautiful people and biggest celebrities look their best for photo shoots, red carpet events, and fashion shows. If I didn’t believe in me, they wouldn’t believe in me. I’m also a bit naive and never think that I can’t do something. I’m a business-woman running a big company that sells beauty products all over the world. I’ve written best-selling books and made countless television appearances. And I have to deal with plenty of powerful people, including movie stars, top photographers, and even a few American presidents. Oh, and did I mention I live in a house filled with men (my husband and three sons)? If I weren’t strong and self-assured, I’d never make it through my day.
But I haven’t always been that way. Far from it. I was a bit insecure growing up. All I ever wanted to be when I was a teen was tall, blond, blue-eyed, flat-chested, and long-legged. And I am totally the opposite of all those things. But that style was really in when I was a teen. So even though I was the shortest girl in class, with dark brown hair and eyes, and a big chest, that unattainable blond chick in my head was my ideal. Whenever I looked in the mirror, I felt disappointment at what I saw. For a long time, I just didn’t think I was pretty.
Because I wasn’t satisfied with my image, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out my look. I went from parting my waist-length hair down the middle and wearing chunky turquoise jewelry to dressing the part of an ’80s Madonna-wannabe—and many unmentionable looks in between. I’m a creative person, and trying out different things turned out to be a lot of fun. Throughout the evolution of my style, I always loved playing with makeup. Experimenting with bronzers, eyeliners, shadow, and lipstick meant transforming myself, and, of course, being prettier.
Makeup ended up being the way I found myself. It took me from a normal high school kid to a household name. Not that it happened overnight. The same determination I applied to figuring out my style I applied to launching my career—from designing my own “makeup” major in college to dealing with rejection as a beginning professional.
I love sharing what I’ve learned in my transformation—both personal and professional—with the countless young women I meet. A lot of them are confused about what to do with their own appearances. They want to feel and look better, but they don’t know where to begin. I’m here to tell you that there’s so much you can do to improve your looks. A great haircut, the right clothes, a kick-your-butt workout, a beautiful blush—small steps make a big difference. I now know which clothes work with my body and make me feel comfortable. I have my trusty black stretchy dress that looks great with sneakers during the day or with heels and big earrings at night. And I have denim down to a science. I also have a simple skin-care routine, quick makeup application, and a cut that’s right for my hair. The important part is that I have figured out what works for me.
