The business of creating beauty has been my passion from a very young age. I am grateful to get to do what I love in life and do well. The testimonials from my clients and customers who rely on me to keep them up-to-date in skincare and makeup mean so much to me.
Here's my story: My love of makeup came early in life. My mother tells me that she used to wheel me around in the supermarket cart when I was 3 years old and be embarrassed when I'd point at the ladies on the checkout line and tell them they need “yipstick. I guess I had the eye for beauty and makeup even then.
But first I had to hone my skills on myself. I grew up on Long Island, New York. At eleven years old, I developed a terrible case of acne. It made me horribly self conscious and introverted. Luckily my parents were sensitive to my problem and took me to the best doctors they could afford to try the latest treatments for acne but nothing seemed to work. I was a very sensitive young soul, and I was devastated that I was seemingly the only kid in school that suffered severe breakouts. Some days I was so withdrawn and embarrassed that I refused to go to school to face the inevitable teasing from the boys and being shunned by the popular girls. During that time I started to research on my own and find out why my skin was breaking out. I read every book and magazine I could find. I wanted to find out was causing my problem. I also started to experiment to try to hide the breakouts enough to go to school. In the 1970’s, the makeup wasn’t as sophisticated as now and I was stuck with what little offerings I could find at the local drugstore or if someone gave me something that didn't work for them. I poured over the ingredients list to find a cure or magic ingredient to no avail. So I started making my own home remedies and concoctions to beautify my skin. My interest was so keen on getting beautiful skin that I became quite an expert in making my face look clear. I studied and duplicated the looks I saw in the glamourous movie magazines and on television on myself. I started to really observe what made people look good and saw that EVERYONE had good features that can be played up. I started to see that makeup could transform me from looking in my mind then, hideous, to rather attractive. On some days, I actually looked and felt pretty. What a change it was for me. It changed me more in the inside than it did on the outside. It gave me empathy for people who are self conscious about themselves.
Then I started practicing my technique. Later on in junior high, I volunteered to do makeup for the school plays. Pretty soon I had everyone lining up to get their makeup done with the little fishing tackle box I had assembled with the few spare cosmetics and powder puffs I had. I knew then that I didn’t want to do the whole cast in a hurry, I only wanted to do the main stars of the show and do their makeup to elaborate perfection. The teacher always scolded me for taking so long on each person, so I quit.
At 13, I went to Barbizon Modeling school that further developed my self confidence and taught me a real technique in how to do make up for the camera. I modeled and learned more about how lighting, and great photography combined with great makeup can hide the features I hated (my blemished skin) and play up my good features, my cheekbones and eyes and lips.
Right after high school I went on an unbelievable life journey that led me to become an International Pageant Director of the American Dream Calendar Girl Pageant. For over eighteen years, I was an important part of changing thousands of young women's lives through modeling competitions throughout the United States and Internationally. I produced shows that were televised and were full blown productions with lavish stage numbers. Besides coordinating the events and directing and working with the contestants, I also co-hosted many of the shows. I worked at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angels, The Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, the Bahamas, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Turks & Caicos, and Atlantic City working with Donald Trump at the Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Castle resort casinos. . Working with gorgeous young women and pageant producers from around the globe, its given me a very unique perspective and ease thats transferred beautifully into owning my beauty & events company, Beauty & Grace, Inc. I have been a judge and model scout for the Miss USA Pageant, Miss Georgia USA, the HawaiianTropic Pageant, and countless model searches. I've apprenticed as a Makeup Artist and worked with famed photographers Dick Zimmerman and Pompeo Posar. So you see, I have quite a history in many sides of the "Beauty Business." I enjoy sharing my artistry, my experience and expertise with others.
In retrospect, those years were crucial in developing my eye as a makeup artist. I still remember how it felt to feel unattractive and invisible.
I've developed and fine tuned the makeup skills I have now through experience, other makeup artists and photographers and keeping up with all the latest advancements in the makeup and skincare. It's exciting for me to create and transform someone's new look or introduce them to the power of great makeup. My life is devoted to share my knowledge, my talent and vision to others who seek to change their look or simply look like their most attractive self. I still want each and everyone who sits in my makeup chair for an application or a lesson to look and feel beautiful, not just the one time but all the time. I assembled a line of skincare of cosmetics that I am proud to use and sell that are effective, affordable and a pleasure to use. Using any one of the products will make a positive change in your life. I'll show you how. Trust me ~ Jill Harth