Last week I got an opportunity to participate in the NYC Against HIV fashion show, featuring designer Emma Bell. It was held at Midwood Highschool in Brooklyn (just 15 minutes away from my house) and I got to do makeup, of course.
Backstage Report
Photography: Grenouille
The look: big lashes, glitter, natural lips
We had key makeup artist show us the look. For a moment there I was worried I won’t be able to follow (I much prefer to lead ;)), but it turned out to be a piece of cake. All these years of glitter & lash experience didn’t go in vane!
Me doing makeup on Atim. Clothing: Emma Bell
When I saw Atim walk through the door, I pounced – I love a black model with a strong face! We went for bright mossy green glitter with a hot pink lip (I deviated from the key look in favor of a brighter lip because it went better with her outfit).
She looks like Diana Ross… after an L.C. makeover.
Love the high school theme – totally unintentional, that’s just where we were!
That dress is wicked. Go Emma!
High school, you were great but I’m SO happy to be out!
Doing makeup on the designer. She told me to put as much glitter on her as possible. :D
Ahh, tough life of a designer…
A glimpse of backstage area. I think yellow is my favorite color… for food.
The event’s focus was HIV awareness, so we had several HIV-positive high school students walking the runway alongside real models. I got to do makeup on a girl called Raven Lopez, who was born and lived with the virus all her life. She was great; so strong. Apparently, she’s been on Oprah, Ricki Lake and a bunch of other shows talking about her life as a positive. You can read an interview with her here. During the event, students were given the opportunity to get tested for free.
The show was a huge success – so many people cheering at once! I went home feeling like I accomplished something big & important, something that will hopefully make a difference. Little-known fact: I used to work for a non-profit organization supporting research and development of AIDS vaccine called AVAC. I’ve been supportive of the cause since.
That gorgeous black model with the bright pink lips you did up is named Atim. She was really fabulous and one of my personal favorites when I was organizing the model sheets. :) Let me know if you need names of any of the other people pictured.
And lol, I see me being lazy in the background in one of those pictures!
GREAT WORK, DOE! You did a fabulous job and it was a great success!!! <3
I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but it makes you seem kind of insecure and fishing for compliments the way you always brag about the charity and volunteer work you do. You should do it from the heart, not because you want praise and approval from your fans.
I understand if you choose not to post this comment. Great job with everything though!
This is awesome. Yay for benifit shows! :D You did an amazing job on the black model… do you think you could bring in some tutorials for using your make-up on darker/medium-toned skin?
And just to clarify before I receive a hailstorm of hate comments, I am only referring to the last 2 sentences of this entry, not the fact that she did the fashion show. =)
Honestly?! Midwood is my alma mater. ^_^
I love your blue nailpolish Doe. Where’d you get it?
There are never enough volunteers in the world. Yes, some people do it to brag, but volunteering is hard work and if you’re only in it for the limelight, you won’t last long. Simply telling people about a worthy cause that you support in the hopes that they will too is kind of the whole point of believing in something, no?
Also, super cute makeup jobs.
That’s such as good cause. It’s great that your job allows you to help others in a good cause. Also, I’m so jealous of your nail polish.
Great work, very cool thing to be a part of.
Beautiful work!
I agree that while volunteering is gratifying no matter what you do, and sometimes it comes in unexpected forms. There a lot of people working as dancers, hairstylists, fashion designers, and various other art forms who do volunteer work that is consistent with their profession. I think it is great to spread the news, it shows people that anyone can help, we all have a nitch, and that there are causes that need different kinds of attention.
♣ Jen Dollface
I am proud of the charity work that I do. Fishing for complements isn’t my goal; awareness is.
I definitely don’t think it sounds like you’re bragging and fishing for compliments.
You write about a lot of different aspects of your life, and your readers are supportive. Being proud of charity work is just like being proud of a new look you tried. It’s part of your life, and you’re proud of it. No harm there.
The makeup looks great, Doe. <3
I also super love the blue nail polish – where DID you get it??? =)
You are amazing! Great makeup for a great cause.
I don’t think you were fishing for compliments at all. I think it’s great to hear about things that you care about.
omg, those skeletton-boots are AWWWWWSOME!!! can you tell me anything more about them?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Bragging? I don’t think so really. It’s normal that you’re proud of an achievement. And if that achievement is in the live of what you love to do it’s normal you want to express that.
The make-up you did on Emma looks great! I need some glitter asap!
Good for you! You rock! And I love the blue nail polish. :)
♣ Tina, Ruth, Liz, Tina
That blue nailpolish is the Sephora brand. It can be a little hard to find – I had to go to several stores to find it but it was so worth it!
♣ Chriss
Yep, Midwood. :) Mark goes to Brooklyn College which is just across the street from the school. He studied in the library while I was doing makeup, then came in to take some pictures – with a bag of goldfish! Everybody was so hungry, we tore it right up haha!
Agnes – Those fantastic skeleton boots you are referring to are Doc Martens! Yes, believe it. Doc Martens provided all the footwear for the show – we had every size, color, shape, and style imaginable!
Thanks a lot, Chloe!!!
No matter what others say – I am glad you were a part of this event. Good going!
Must have been a great time!
Ooh I just noticed the Docs. I love Doc Martens!
Sounds like a good time and a great cause. Its too bad that some people have to turn something so positive into something so negative. You’re blog is an inspiration and there are many girls out there who read this and hey, if it pushes one more person in this world to get involved in something that helps others, than its serviing its purpose.
I may be wrong but wasn’t that designer featured on MTV once? She looks really familiar!
I just read this article and I thought it was awesome! I really want to do a benfit fashion show or something like this but I have no clue where to start. Can you give me some pointers? And I LOVE your makeup. Its so vibrant!!!!!
Yayyy!! you did such an AWESOME job… it was sooo amazing to both meet and work with you as well as have you on board for this amazing project!!! it was a huggge success dont you think…the kids realllly loved it all and the enegry in that room was AMAZING!
And of course I would want you to be apart of that experience too!
[...] may remember Atim from my Emma Bell show post. Amongst many other models, she stood out with her dark skin, incredible features and friendly [...]
It is quite scary that there is still no cure for HIV/AIDS and the only way we can fight it is by prevention. How long would it take our scientists to develop a cure or vaccine for this disease?
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