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Editor-in-Chief, Annette Johnson Associate Editor, Grace Kelley Fashion Editor, Dr. Courtney A. Hammonds Creative Director, Michelle Lynch Design Director, Joey Shepherd Page Layout and Design, Shelton Jackson Editorial Assistant, Brooke Allen Style Consultant, Selena Hulett Social Media Marketing, Mariah Mullen Online Editor, Keith Johnson Marketing Coordinator, Veronique Thomas Staff Writer, Elizabeth Nouryeh Editorial Intern, Melissa Lawrence
Contributors: Holly Katz Merilee Kern Rudy Reed Cover Silvana Denker Fashion Editorial Shoot (pg. 22-27) Creative Director, Michelle Lynch Makeup: Gwynnis Mosby Makeup Academy Quanisha Michelle Moody Syvonne Richardson Customer Service For subscription service or change of address, including email, contact info@hersmagazine.net or write to: P.O. Box 1071, Atlanta, GA 30301 Hers (ISSN 2372-3785) is published six times per year by Allwrite Communications, 3300 Buckeye Road, Suite 264, Atlanta, GA 30341 770-284-8983
April
CONTENTS
F E AT U R E S 108 Kea Ho: Model Turned Producer
Ho's transition to working behind the scenes
112 Saving Women with the Garment Project Size-free fashion helping women with eating disorders
HER BEAUTY 120 Waxing Kara: Beeswax Inspired Skincare
Sustainable, natural beeswax skincare products
124 Alicia Grande's Quick Fix Cosmetics
Surgery-free solutions to thin lips and lashes
H E R FASH I O N 38 Best Looks from New York Fashion Show
Best Looks from New York Fashion Show
Holly Harding’s Hawaiian Skincare
Check out the top outfits straight from the runway
HER HAIR
22 Inspiring Spring
122 Celebrity Hairstylist
Fresh ideas to help you look amazing this Spring
‘Wig Out’ over Vmir’s new reality TV show
28 Curvy Fashion at the Beach
36 Roundup: Spring Hair Care Products
Fashion
38
116
The cutest plus-size bathing suits to wear on your next vacation
Cliff Vmir
Find the best products to hydrate your tresses
102 Liberating Women: Model Silvana Denker
Denker’s journey with binge eating, self-harm and body love
HER COSMETICS 114 PYT Beauty: Toxicfree Makeup
Are these chemical-free makeup products worth it?
16 Roundup: Spring and Summer Makeup
The best cosmetics to pair with your favorite summer looks
HER ACCESSORIES 12 Zia Couture Jewelry
The global designer creating eyecatching, unique jewelry
100 Roundup: Hottest
Handbags This Season
HER SHOES
Check out these handbags that’ll have you drooling
20 Roundup: Spring and
18 Accessories that Bloom
Discover the hottest shoes in style right now
Versatile accessories that’ll have jaws dropping
Summer Shoes
for Spring
HER SKINCARE 116 Holly Harding’s Hawaiian Skincare
Dewy, hydrated skin with O’o Hawaii products
10 Roundup: From
Winter to Spring Skincare Products Finally shed off dry winter skin with these nourishing products
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F E AT U R E S • H E A R T • F L AVO R • H E A LT H L E S S O N S • W O R K • P L AY W W W. H E R S - M A G A Z I N E . C O M 6 HERS Mag azine | D epar tment
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FASHIONEDITOR'S LETTER
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here are generally two kinds of fashion people — those who like the brisk weather of Fall, and those who like the warmth of Spring. For me, I prefer Spring because it is the time of year when life renews itself. Also, Spring is a wonderful time of year for fashionistas because it represents new beginnings and fresh wardrobe selections. As Spring tiptoes onto the scene this month, I could not be happier to embrace color, bold prints, and also pay homage to the ‘80s. This Spring 2019 special fashion edition will spark inspiration for more exciting additions to your wardrobe. This issue also features designer spotlights from the New York Fashion Show, plus Paris, Milan and London’s fashion weeks. Our cover represents all things beauty, and an unconventional sense of individualism, confidence that screams through the Hers pages. I also hand selected my favorite trends to compile the only trend report readers need to see this year. From biker shorts to acid wash denim and bold pastels, I discovered the top looks to flaunt this Spring and Summer. To all of the writers, photographers, illustrators, interns and other strategic partners, thank you for helping me make this issue happen. Without your hard work, dedication and passion, none of this would be possible. I hope everyone enjoys this special fashion edition. Remember, continue wearing your self-confidence like a badge of honor. Showcase yourself in ways that express who you truly are — beautifully you. But, for now, let’s focus on the approach of Spring. Here’s to warmer temperatures and to fashion with a lighter touch. Spring is in the air — let’s embrace it! All the best, Dr. Courtney A. Hammonds
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H O L LY K AT Z Holly Katz is one of the leading personal and wardrobe stylists in the Atlanta Metro areas educating and empowering women to put themselves first. She is currently certified as a wardrobe and personal stylist through the School of Style in NYC. Katz's expertise includes ad shoots, fashion show production, consultations, closet audits and organization, mood boards, personal shopping, wardrobe assessments, fittings, look books, virtual, corporate and group styling.
MERILEE KERN As the executive editor and producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern is an internationally-regarded consumer product trends expert and hospitality industry voice of authority. She is a travel, dining, leisure and lifestyle expert who spotlights noteworthy marketplace innovations, change makers, movers and shakers. She reports on exemplary travel destinations and experiences, extraordinary events and newsworthy products, and also services across all categories.
RU DY R E E D Rudy Reed is a New York-based wardrobe stylist, personal shopper and freelance fashion writer. Reed’s editorial and written works have been printed in numerous publications all around the world including, The Fashionisto, Caleo, Adon, Men’s Health (Croatia), Papercut, Bello and several others. He has also styled fashion shows for lines during New York Fashion Week.
SUBMISSIONS www.hers-magazine.com info@hersmagazine.net
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+ HER EDITORIAL
THE SPRING 2019 FASHION TREND REPORT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW SEASON BY D R . CO U RT N EY A . H A M M O N DS
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fter a seemingly incalculable winter, the new fashion season has finally arrived. Spring 2019 promises to bring with it a batch of fresh ideas, from spins on iconic looks, to yet another revival of Eighties style. There are updates on how to wear biker shorts (a trend I haven’t seen since my adolescent years listening to cyndi lauper) and new ways to wear acid wash (it looks great, honestly). The only question to ask yourself; Which trend should I try first? Between the runways of New York, London, Milan, and Paris, it was hard to spot one pervasive theme, but if you looked closely, some micro-themes emerged. Below, here are a few trends that brought me joy. Think bright, cheerful and free-spirited experimental vibes.
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BOILING HAUTE
Boiler suits were the stealth fashion favorite for autumn, and they’re set to hit big-time for Spring. This all-in-one wardrobe solution made springtime dressing even simpler.
To TIE or DYE
You Can Hang Your Hat on That
No longer exclusive to surf bums and aging hippies, tie dye was seen on the backs of the savviest street style stars at the end of 2018, and if the Spring and Summer 2019 catwalks have anything to do with it, the psychedelic swirls are here to stay.
The Spring 2019 runway had all kinds of hats and headgear for heads of all shapes and sizes, like veils, beekeeper masks, caps, visors, buckets, boaters, pillboxes and pin cushions. Don’t be shy now, get your head in the game.
We Wear Short Shorts
Nothing Comes Between Me and My Acid Wash
Bicycle shorts were one of the standout street style trends of last year and for Generation X. Those that loved them will be pleased to know the trend is set to pedal harder into 2019. For those that thought they were the worst thing ever, fear not, this summer, all sorts of shorts are coming back, like Bermudas and tailored knee-length duchess satin numbers.
With eighties fashion enduring, it was only a matter of time before the era’s dominant denim hue crept back onto the catwalks. Acid wash is set to be the surprise jean genie for the ladies who dare to just be.
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ZIA COUTURE GLOBAL JEWELRY DESIGNER BY M I C H E L L E LY N C H
+ HER ACCESSORIES
When I came back, I would have jewelry parties of my own in hotels in Savannah, and before you know it, I had my own customer base. HM: What made you start traveling abroad to find these unique pieces in your collection?
Zia Sachedina, owner of Zia Couture Jewelry.
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hic boutique owner Zia Sachedina features exotic handmade jewelry, accessories and gifts from around the world in a quaint little store in Savannah, Georgia. Zia, also the name of the boutique, has an eye for beautiful, precious stones, liquid metals, and statement pieces. Although he has acquired national recognition for his special talents, he is warm and friendly, speaking as though he doesn’t realize he’s a total rock star. Visiting the store in Savannah will have your head turning in every direction. With something for every woman, the store is colorful, bright and full of interesting pieces that make it hard to walk away from. If you’re the strong, bold type who likes chunky, colorful, one-of-a-kind statement pieces, then he definitely has you covered. If you’re a simple, more understated classic person, then you’re still in luck — he has unique pieces that will also fit your personality. He could easily nickname his store: "Where did you get that?” Sachedina spent some time with Hers magazine to tell us about his business. Hers Magazine: How did you begin your journey in the world of jewelry? Zia Sachedina: My mom was in the jewelry business and I was actually going to school for interior design at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), and during the Christmas break, I would go home and help her sell jewelry.
ZS: Well, I was raised between Kenya and the U.S., and my mother is Japanese-American, and my father is East Indian, so I always had those influences around me. I started traveling at a young age, so I guess you could say I’m a bit of a global citizen. I search for unusual materials and bring them back to the U.S. to design, and I also import other artists and their unique collections at Zia Boutique. When I opened my store in August of 2005, I was only 24 years old, and as I traveled to Africa, Asia, Europe and Central, North and South America — it was these places that I continually became inspired by exotic and cultural experiences, which extend to this day. HM: Do you make the jewelry yourself or do you purchase from local artists from other countries? ZS: It’s both, actually. I have lines which are my own, like my signature Sticks & Stones Collection. And then I have pieces that are mine and also outsourced in the Kalahari Collection, which are African Tribal inspired. I research artists that I like and find them in different areas from small villages to overseas markets, and it’s a great fit because they want exposure and I can provide an income for them so it’s a win-win situation. HM: How often do you travel and what makes your jewelry different from other jewelry stores? ZS: I travel internationally four times a year and I don’t shop at the typical shows where most people shop. I have found a niche that works for me due solely to my upbringing. I was a traveler at a young age, and that gave me an advantage for something different, and I just, sort of, took it and ran with it. Believe me, I didn’t start off thinking I would be in the family business, it’s just something that happened being around my mom, which ultimately lead to me designing myself. HM: What do you want people to feel when they wear your jewelry? ZS: I want women to feel empowered and strong and sexy and confident. My jewelry is exotic, unique and globally infused, and I want them to feel special when wearing it. Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i ne 13
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Photography done by Luke Andrews Photography
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Spring and Summer Makeup Trends BY M E L I SSA L AW R E N C E
Too Faced Chocolate Gold Eye $49 at Sephora
In this eyeshadow palette, you can probably find a shade for every season. However, this is a particularly cute buy for the summer because of the metallic colors. Festivals are all the craze right now, and everyone is embracing bold colors on lips, eyes and face. You can’t go wrong with this palette — the swatches on every skin tone are incredible enough. The shadows apply smoothly, the pigmentation is rich and it smells incredible! For the cherry on top of the icing, this palette is completely cruelty-free.
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Fenty Beauty Foundation $34 at Sephora
One of our favorite “it” girls’ makeup line has been the hottest craze. Robin ‘Rihanna’ Fenty has become one of the most highly sought out makeup brands. With 50 foundation shades, it’s extremely all-inclusive. The coolest thing about this foundation and what the brand stands for is the fact that all women should be able to enjoy buying makeup, instead of being worried about not finding themselves the perfect shade. Rihanna thought of everyone in this branding process! hers-magazine.com
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Impressions Vanity Touch Pro LED Makeup Mirror $45 at Nordstrom
Sometimes our bathrooms don’t do our makeup justice, even after all the work we put into it. This popular LED makeup mirror is a must have this season. It almost mimics the lighting of the sun, preventing your from putting on too much or too little makeup. This mirror comes with a USB port and Bluetooth, so you can dance to your favorite playlist while putting on your makeup like a pro. It’s also very lightweight and easy to carry with you in your luggage during those fun summer vacations.
L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara $7.49 at Target
Sufficient mascaras are hard to find sometimes. Most of the time, they aren’t thick enough, or they just run out too quickly. This L’Oreal product has all the components that makes a good mascara. The jet-black color is true to its description, and the brush itself is shaped to fit your eye lashes perfectly. This prevents you from ever having to put on your mascara at awkward angles when you’re trying to reach the inner eye or outer lash. It also lasts for forever. The thickness is incredible, but it doesn’t weigh down your lashes. You can put on the perfect amount of layers that works for you, but be prepared to feel like it’s already enough on the first layer.
Black Radiance Contour Palette $7.99 at Target
This contour palette might be the secret ingredient you need to finish off that black girl magic look. One of the awesome things about this brand is that most of its products have a yellow undertone, specifically catering to women of color. Its application is smooth, and there are two options for contour color, so it covers all skin tones. There’s a nice golden highlighter that it even comes with, and the finished look is matte and beautiful. Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i ne 17
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Accessories that
Bloom Pink Graffiti Kimono $185.00 100% silk
for Spring BY H O L LY K AT Z
Cedric Brown Collections Fashion designer Cedric Brown began humbly, expressing himself through canvas paintings before discovering he could print his original works on fabric. Today, he boasts a strong collection of both men’s and women’s accessories. His broad collection ranges from abstract colors and designs to city skylines. Style one of Cedric’s signature capes or kimonos over your jeans and a tee. You can use them as a cover-up or belt it over a skirt or dress. Scarves are sold in a variety of sizes to be worn around the head, neck or tied to a handbag for that extra pop of color. Custom orders are also accepted for individuals or a group.
Wearbrim Millennial millinery designers Archie Clay III and Tajh Crutch have put their spin on an old classic — the fedora. These southern designers met originally in their college fraternity. With both having a vast interest in style and clothes, it was inevitable that the two of them became fast fashion friends. Each hat is made in a variety of unique colors with a contrasting fabric band and a signature feather pin that’s inspired by their grandparents. Their unique brand is for both men and women and creates an “unapologetic confidence” when completing an outfit. Try pairing with jeans or a suit and sneakers for an unforgettable, high-fashion look for any occasion. All made in the USA and start at $198.00. 18 HERS Mag azi n e | H ER Acces s ories
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WildJUNE With no design background whatsoever, Kimberly Ponniah combined her love for fashion and traveling to festivals and minimalist lifestyles to create Wild June. Her line boasts a large collection of belt bags, utility belts and holsters made from the finest leathers, recycled rubber tires and limited edition velvets. First sold only at festivals and flea markets, her product is now distributed to a much wider audience. Wild June’s customers now include people who want everyday pieces that don’t weigh them down, like a heavy shoulder bag or regular handbag. While this trend was inspired by the 1990’s fanny pack, Kimberly’s designs have a much higher “cool-factor.” As we have seen on the runway over the past few seasons, major designers like Off-White, Gucci and MCM have also jumped on board the “belt bag” movement.
Lincoln ChevronHardware Holster - $200.00
Sunset Chains Dual Pouch Belt Bag - $200.00
Freaker USA
Freaks don’t come out at night. They actually drive around the country in a truck designed to take the party anywhere and everywhere they go. Founder Zach Crain and two fellow freak friends have created bottle insulators of all shapes and sizes, ranging from beer to wine bottles. Kicking the old “koozie” to the curb, they feature hilarious off-the-wall graphics that express what you’re normally thinking but just can’t say. Because of the huge success from their Kickstarter campaign, they now have also expanded into unisex socks — Freaker Feet. These socks also feature snarky pictures and captions, highlighting work from independent artists and new emerging talent. As they cruise around collecting friends and fellow freaks, Freaker USA continues to break traditional marketing standards and adds fun to life with their nontraditional approach to the workplace. Made in the freakin’ USA.
Tropic Like it’s Hot Socks $15.99 Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i ne 19
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The Ultimate Shoes for Summer BY S E L E N A H U L E T T
Alexander Wang Nava PVC Slingback's $550
Balmain Jana Silver Leather Sandals $1,350
Different Summer Heels For Every Wallet
Schultz Joseanna Snakeskin $170 20 HERS Mag azi n e | H ER Sh oes
Alice + Olivia Talene Neon Heels $365
Steve Madden Amaya-A: Animal $109.95 hers-magazine.com
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Pretty in White: Heel Collection
Adidas' Dad Sneaker for the Summer: The Falcon
Sergio Rossi Godiva $650
Falcon: Shock Pink $125
Forever 21 Rhinestone Stiletto Mules $25
Falcon: Grey Two $120
Nine West Citykisses Mules $119
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DESIGNER SPRING FASHION SHOOT BY M I C H E L L E LY N C H
Hers went all out for this Spring designer photoshoot, shot in Buckhead, Georgia, with Atlanta’s top department stores, Macy’s and Bloomingdales. Also featured is the Bahmardi Collection and designer pieces from eKlozet, an upscale consignment boutique. We shot on location and in-studio to assemble these chic spring ensembles. Some of the looks you’ll see are variations of the runway from New York Spring Fashion Week 2019.
Model: Corinne Polo Ida John Photography Red body suit by Bahmardi Tweed red floral embroidered coat by Bahmardi Mustard thigh-high boots by Lambertson Truex courtesy of eKlozet
Model: Leiriliane Toribio
Model: Ria Ridley
Phaedra W. Photography
Phaedra W. Photography
Retro two-piece suit by Dolce & Gabbana
Peach jumpsuit by Bloomingdales
Pale blue boots by Colin Stewart
Vintage mink stole courtesy of eKlozet
Model: Kristen Coakley Phaedra W. Photography Bahmardi Collection Gold cape Gold embroidered shorts Gold buckle boots by Giuseppe courtesy of eKlozet
Model: Corinne Polo Ida John Photography White jacket by Aqua Tulle skirt by BCBG Black & gold boots by Giuseppe courtesy of eKlozet1
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Model: Leiriliane Toribio Phaedra W. Photography Blue velvet dress by WYAF Yellow shoes by Versace courtesy of eKlozet Red purse by Beijo courtesy of eKlozet
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Model: Ria Ridley Phaedra W. Photography Burgundy striped vest from Macys Sequined mini skirt from Macys
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hen Elizabeth Taylor, not the famous actress, the other Liz Taylor, the gorgeous plus-size model, created Curvy Beach, she did it because there were not enough bikinis out there for a girl her size. However, she didn't want to discriminate against anyone, so her swimwear collection fits everybody from a size 0 to 26! Created to showcase all the right curves, these lovely suits are made from luxurious fabrics that feel like a second skin, and they adjust so you can be as modest or as sun-drenched as you prefer. Already a fan favorite, the brand keeps expanding in styles and patterns.
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Spring and Summer Hair Care Round Up BY M E L I SSA L AW R E N C E
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It’ s a 10 Miracle Leave- in Product
It’ s A 10 Hair Mask If you’re looking to carry over your hairstyle from the spring into the fall, some of you will still rock that straightened look. You’ll dedicate yourself to flat ironing it, and you may even throw an ombre in there by July! This hair mask is perfect for processed, colored, and/ or damaged hair. Containing Vitamins A & E, not only does it accomplish hydrating your hair through whatever style it sees, but it also promotes hair growth and increases volume overall! It’s A 10 has created a hair mask that also doesn’t stop and the strands; your scalp is getting the TLC it needs as well. This is the travel-size miracle of hair refreshment. $7.00 - $23.00
Shea Moisture Shampoo
Sometimes when we don’t have much time to spend on our hair care routine, leave-in product is a lifesaver. This Miracle Leave-in Product is great protection against heat damage, it also nourishes dried, dehydrated hair. Ingredients include Vitamin C, sunflower seed extract, green tree extract, etc. You can put it on dry or wet hair at your convenience and aids all hair types! $9.00 - $45.00
This product is a must have in your hair care routine this season, especially for the girls rocking the curly hair. This Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo is rich in vitamins and some favorites in the beauty community like coco butter, shea butter, and silk protein- all organic components. This shampoo will leave your hair feeling not only hydrated but strong and bouncy. It also adds a nice shine to hair and has an incredible sweet scent! $17.00 - $15.00
Briogeo Sea Goddess Hair + Body Shim mer Mist Briogeo’s Shimmer Mist is perfect for all hair types, and it’s main objective is to add a cute shimmer to your hair. This is great for if you want to change things up for a concert/festival! The coolest thing about this product is that it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. This hair and body shimmer mist is a must have this summer and looks great on everyone. It’s also really lightweight, so you don’t have to worry about it being to heavy on your hair strands! $24.00
TANGLE TEEZER The Ulti mate Professional Fin ishing Hairbrush If you’ve been looking for a hair brush that supports all hair types, this is it! This popular Tangle Teezer is known for being able to softly detangle straight hair to coily hair. It also doesn’t leave out synthetic hair, so this applies to wig care too if that’s the look you’re rocking for this season! This product has been a rave in the community and is also a Allure Best of Beauty award winner. $14.00 - $35.00
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98 HERS Mag azi n e | H ER Fas h ion
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Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i ne 99
HOTSummer
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Handbags For
BY M E R I L E E K E R N
Looking for a new designer bag for the summer? These bags will give you endless inspiration to find the perfect bag that fits your personality. Check out these chic bags below:
Pop Bag USA Customizable Handbags Annie Handbags Annie Handbags are handcrafted in Chicago from the finest quality skins and are limited runs to ensure exclusivity and superior detailing. The collection is carried in luxury boutiques, galleries and museums nationwide, from a collection of exotic crocodile, python, ostrich and stingray in bright, bold colors. Inspired by her heritage, designer Annie Diamantidis gets her inspiration from Greek Goddesses. Annie Handbags have become celebrities red carpet go-to accessories for celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Jodie Sweetin and Kalsea Ballerini. 100 HERS Mag az in e | H ER Acces s ories
Pop Bag USA was born in Tuscany and produced in Florence, Italy by local craftsmen whose unique and unparalleled workmanship ensures the utmost standards with the highest quality pebbled and Saffiano leather options. This bag is custom-buildable with different components allowing you to mix, match and exchange each front and back panel to achieve your desired (and ever-evolving) look. Design the bags based on your destination, mood or the season. Change colors, materials and hardware. Or, if you want it done for you, there are ready-to-wear bags, from totes, mini-bags and backpacks, to phone bags and envelopes. With locations all around the world, from France and Germany, to Hong Kong and beyond, Pop Bag has now opened its first U.S. location. hers-magazine.com
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Dooney & Bourke ‘Caldwell’ Design Handbags The Caldwell Collection from Dooney & Bourke exemplifies understated elegance. These chic, structured bags created from python-embossed leather are refined with a touch of glam, courtesy of the gold-plated hardware embellishment. One option from the line is the Caldwell Flynn Handbag, which features rich textures of that python-embossed leather that elevates this fashion-forward bag. Inside there’s a light, twill lining — a bright pop of red. Aside for its aesthetics, what I adore about this handbag is that it’s extremely roomy, with the main compartment holding an abundant amount, while also keeping you organized, courtesy of deep-set pockets. For an effortless polish, day or night, Caldwell bags are a great choice for the season. Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i n e 101
Silvana Denker The Curvy Model Who Walked Away from Self-harm and Binge Eating BY B RO O K E A L L E N
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ith a knife in hand, Silvana Denker pushed the blade into her wrist, leaving cuts and scars against her pale skin. High school was filled with backstabbing friends, rumors and violence that left her hating herself. “My former best friend, I don’t know what happened, one day she decided to hate me, and she got some other girls around [to hate me],” Denker said. “One of them wanted to beat me up at school, actually, it was violence.” Denker, 34, is a curvy model, photographer and body positive activist from Germany. She founded the #BodyLove campaign, where she photographs women and men of all shapes and sizes in populated areas around the world in their underwear. The models all form a line that spells out “BODY LOVE” painted on their stomachs. In high school, Denker went through depression, bullying, self-inflicted violence and binge eating. She even debated leaving school because of the bullying she encountered. Even when she reached out to a teacher, he responded, “Well, what should I do?” After pleading for help and receiving no support, her depression spiraled. “I was depressed,” she said. “I cut myself because I hated myself so much. I always thought something is wrong with me because I have no friends at school and I always thought it’s my fault.” After she stopped selfharming, she then replaced that act with eating. She said, “That’s how the eating disorder started. I just stopped [cutting] and found something else to hurt myself or harm myself in some kind of way.” She gained more than 100 pounds within a few months because of the “eating attacks.” After she graduated high school, she never wanted to leave the house because she feared people witnessing her new size. “I wished I was someone else,” she said. “It was a hard time, but I decided to get some help and I decided to work [on] myself. I said, ‘All right, well, you can decide now whether to go on like this, and I think your life won't be very long. Or you decide to get help and you work to get out of this and try to get your life back.’” Once she decided to work on herself, she learned coping
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mechanisms for her disorder and became a plus size model. Denker said, “Becoming a plus size model helped me a lot. It helped me to accept my body.” She added, “I always thought about eating all day and I don't do that anymore. That helps a lot, too. I don't count calories anymore. I don’t go crazy about food — when I'm hungry, I eat…I just stopped hating myself for [the disorder]. I think that was the first step in the right direction.” Her weight continued to fluctuate, so it was hard for her to accept that she was no longer a size 6. However, the plus size modeling world held a supportive community. “I was so impressed by how amazing and beautiful these [plus size models] are. They showed me that I don't need to be a size 6 anymore — it's not the size that defines you,” she said. Learning to love herself “was a process of years.” In 2015, when she “got bigger again,” she formed the #BodyLove campaign and decided to not only be the photographer, but also the model. She could not “hide anymore.” She said, “Well, I can’t expect everyone to take off their clothes and I never do it myself.” As she stripped her clothes off in the middle of the busy streets of Copenhagen, Denmark, she experienced “one of the best feelings” of her life. “Now I take pictures in the middle of Times Square and I don’t care anymore,” Denker said. “It’s so great, I love it. It’s such a freeing feeling to just stand there and take pictures with my rolls, my scars and dimples, and I [now] have loose skin because I lost a lot of weight.” She started the campaign to “encourage” men and women to love their bodies. She noticed a lot of women who modeled in the campaign actively showed fear when it was time to undress. However, once their initial shock wore off, they had an “amazing” time. “Everyone was like, ‘Oh my God, it was so great, I would do it again immediately,’” she said. “Everyone who took part — without exception — not a single one regretted it. And I'm really glad because, for me, it's very, very important the participants feel really good.” One of Denker’s modeling “trademarks” is the large scar going down her stomach. In 2017, she had part of her liver removed because doctors found two tumors. “I needed some time to accept [the surgery] because it was a big change — all of a sudden there was a huge scar on my belly that hadn’t been there before,” she said. Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i n e 103
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Accepting the scar as part of her body was “hard” because the scar was preventing her from obtaining modeling jobs. She was also sick from the surgery “for months” and almost declared bankruptcy from the lack of work. “It was a very, very hard time, but, in the meantime, I made [the scar] my trademark,” Denker said. In 2018, Denker had a lingerie photoshoot in Montreal, Canada. When she saw the pictures, she looked “so proud and self-confident” with her new trademark. She decided to showcase a before and after picture from her surgery on her Instagram. The before photo showed her in the hospital after surgery, and the after photo showed her a year later in the lingerie shoot. She posted the before and after pictures to prove that everyone has good and bad days. “I don’t want to show [my followers] a fairytale world,” she said. “It’s absolutely normal to not absolutely love yourself every day.” Although she’s learned to love her scars and imperfections, she still struggles with loving her health. She is currently having issues with her gallbladder and experiencing “pain attacks.” She said, “I lost more than 20 pounds within a few weeks… because my gallbladder has to come out and maybe a piece of my colon because I have a chronic colon disease.” She’s “a bit tired” of all the pain she has already dealt with. While visiting New York last year, she had intense pain caused by her gallbladder. “I thought I’d die,” Denker exclaimed. “I was on my hands and knees and crawled into the bathroom because I could not walk anymore. It was so horrible.” She has been dealing with this pain for over a year because, when she first visited the doctor when the gallbladder pain initially started, she was, once again, not taken seriously and given no support. She visited a new gastroenterologist this year who told her, “Wow, why did they let you walk around like that for more than a year?” Denker said, “[The gastroenterologist] could not understand why my doctor did not send me sooner. [It was] because he did not take it seriously.” With the pain she’s gone through this past year, she said, “I hope my body gets better because it doesn’t feel like Photo by Mike Koslinck
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Silvana Denker's Body Love Campaign. Denker is pictured with her models in Hamburg, Germany.
Photo by Yvonne Sophie Thone
my body at the moment because I’m usually very strong and have a lot of energy — but this took a lot of my energy and strength.” With her body slowing down, she reminds herself of the importance of mental health. For Denker, showcasing her mental health online is “so important” to her. “So, maybe [my followers] can see that [my mental health] was so bad when I was 17, 18 that I cut my arms really badly because I hated myself so much. It was a long way and I'm glad I made it and I'm proud to be here now. And, for me, it's the mental health aspect that is very, very important.” Photography also helps boost her mental health. In 2017, Denker created another photo series titled “Metallic Curves.” This series showcases women sizes 12 and up covered headto-toe in metallic body paint. When she first though of the metallic color scheme, she spent hours researching other photos to draw inspiration, but “could not find a single picture of a curvy woman with silver or gold body painting.” After only finding slimmer photos of women in body paint, she started the series. Her mother was the first model for the series. “So, actually, my mom was the first with whom I tried it to see how the paint looked and how the pictures looked… There were, I think, 16 women and we had such a great time together. We became friends and we did so many other projects. We went Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i n e 105
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together to London for photoshoots because we were able to exhibit ‘Metallic Curves’ in London in a gallery,” Denker said. Denker “did not expect” the series to go viral. “I just thought we created some cool pictures,” she said. “Also, the media recognized [the series]. I gave interviews for a lot of magazines all over the world.” She added, “You don’t have to be a size 6 to get awesome pictures.” Denker sometimes gets setbacks with people claiming she’s “flaunting” obesity. She said, “I never said, ‘Well, don't lose weight.’ I never said, ‘Eat without stopping,’ or whatever, but I do say, ‘It's your thing. You just need to try to love yourself the way you are.’ If you feel the need to lose weight, well do it, but don't waste your life with just thinking about losing weight. I didn't like counting calories and [I went] crazy and forgot to live. And, I always say, ‘You don't have to like everything and everyone, but you can treat everyone with respect.’” According to Denker, the key to learning to love one’s imperfections is by not comparing bodies. “I think the biggest mistake is that we always compare each other,” she said. “Because, you are individual, you are you, and you are not the other person. One of the girls who took part in #BodyLove once said, ‘Be the best version of yourself,’ and I think that's a good saying.” Helping everyone find happiness within themselves is her biggest goal. “I just let everyone be the way he or she wants to be. So, I just try to help people, no matter what size, shape, skin color, age, gender, to accept themselves, or even love themselves…I just want to make people happy.”
Photo by Aaron Cornwell. Denker modeling in lingerie on the streets of New York City.
106 HERS Mag az in e | Cover S tor y
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Talking with KEA HO The Model, Actress Who Turned Producer BY RU DY R E E D
108 HERS Mag az in e | Feature S tor y
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eauty, brains and boat loads of talent — when it comes to ambition, Kea Ho can’t be measured. She is an actress, writer, producer and model from Hawaii. Ho is the daughter of the late Don Ho, who was a wellknown singer, muscian and entertainer in Hawaii. Coming from a musical family, she got her first taste of being in the spotlight by the age of 4. Her father enjoyed having his children on stage with him when he performed. Don also landed his own television series on ABC titled “The Don Ho Show.” As Ho helped her father produce his show, her love for film grew. This highly esteemed family has been enriched in the show business the majority of their loves, so when Ho decided to pursue a career in acting, her parents stood by her with encouragement. Ho has nine other siblings, including Hoku Ho, a nationally known recording artist, best known for her 2000 hit single “Another Dumb Blonde.” This musical family has been establishing themselves in the film and music industries for decades. Known for her exotic features, Ho’s genetic makeup is from a variance of cultures. Her father is of Hawaiian and Chinese descent, while her mother is of Spanish and Czech descent. The camera obviously loves her — her presence on screen demands attention. Her character Xiomara in the film “Urge” was hailed an “iconic” role. She also appears in “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For” and “Flock of Dudes.” There will soon be other titles added to this list, but Ho couldn’t reveal too many secrets. Ho was actually handpicked by Robert Rodriquez, one of the directors of “Sin City,” for the sequel. With an all-star cast featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Jessica Alba, this film was a huge acting boost for Ho. According to IMDB, Ho is a “lifelong connoisseur” of classic films. Ever since she was a child, she loved seeing films featuring Sophia Loren, Rita Hayworth, Anita Ekberg and Angelina Jolie. Deciding that she needed to shake things up a bit, Ho made the decision to move from California to New York. Loving the fast-paced mentality of the city, she embraced her new city with open arms. The transition was fairly easy for her, though. For years, she has been flying from coast to coast because of her projects. In true New Yorker form, Ho, like many of its residents, has her hands in multiple fields of work. However, there is one field she hopes to put all her energy towards. “I love them all equally,” she explains. “It is a labor of love in all
areas, and I am passionate about all of them. In 2019, I would love to focus on producing a bit more.” Now a resident of Soho, she shares that she enjoys running along the West Side Highway. Health and fitness are essential to her for both work and personal reasons. She says that exercise brings “mental clarity” into her life, and she is quite serious about it. When weather in New York is too extreme, she also divides her time between two fitness trainers, with one of them specializing in kickboxing. People choose to express their individuality in a multitude of ways, especially with style. Ho describes her personal style as “function meets fashion.” She says, “I like to look good, but I also like to be comfortable. Some of my favorite brands are Versace, Alexander Wang and Yves Saint Laurent.” Her favorite article of clothing in her closet is a vintage leather jacket made by YSL that she found at a vintage store in Brooklyn. With all of the top-secret projects she is working on, there is no doubt that she will look amazing doing each one of them.
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Transitioning from Spring to Summer Skincare Round Up BY M E L I SSA L AW R E N C E
Clinique Moisturizing Lotion $28 at Sephora
E.L.F. Cosmetics Eye Refresh $3 at Ulta With the seasons changing, there’s a lot more down time to go outside for the summer. If you want to dive into the pool or swim in the ocean, then you probably won’t put on makeup beforehand. Elf is a beauty world favorite, with all of the company’s products being 100% cruelty-free and super affordable. Their eye refresh roll-on is a compact, quick fix to under-eye puffiness throughout the day. It can also come in handy when you just need to brighten up the area around your eyes to maintain your fresh look. This is definitely a pocket-friendly product! 110 HERS Mag az in e | H ER Sk in Care
Whether you have dry, oily or combination skin, changing up your skincare routine from season to season is a necessity. Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is the perfect solution for hydrating your skin. Fragrance-free and allergy tested, you can carry this little tube with you from the spring into the summer because it’s also light in consistency. It’s not too heavy on the face but it also hydrates the pores, so it’s definitely okay to wear, even in the humidity. This product even comes in different sizes, and the mini one (1.7oz) is perfect to carry in a cute purse or fanny pack if you’re out with friends.
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Shiseido Oil Blotting Papers $20 at Sephora
Most people can agree that having a full face of makeup, only to be messed up by getting oily throughout the day is the worst! However, one of the oldest cosmetic brands in the world, Shiseido, provides these handy oil blotting papers. The cool thing is one package comes with about 100 papers. Again, a perfectly packaged product to carry in a bag if you’re at that summer festival you’ve been waiting for all year long. There’s even a thin finishing powder that comes on one side to give you the same matted look you had from four hours ago. This product is also dermatologist tested and great for combination skin.
PACIFICA Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Face Wash
$8.99 at Target
An essential part of anyone’s skincare routine is a face wash that works for your skin type. The awesome thing about Pacifica’s Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Face Wash is that it’s completely vegan and all natural. This upcoming summer heat will naturally make your pores open up, leaving a lot of room for makeup to create breakouts and blemishes. However, with this face wash, you can wash all your pores out and have a refreshed feeling afterward.
Little Barn Coolin Mineral Mist $27 at Ulta If you’re interested in trying something new, this cool product does the job of a lotion, but it comes in the form of a mist. Little Barn Apothecary Travel Size Coconut + Mint Cooling Mineral Mist is great for the summer. While most products are created for pre-sun exposure skincare, this cooling mist is perfect for hydrating the skin post-sun exposure. The ingredients in this product are really the best thing. Two of the hottest natural ingredients in the beauty world right now are included, virgin coconut oil and organic aloe water. These provide the perfect combination for hydrating skin. You can even use this for going to dinner right after having fun at the beach all day. This is also an on-the-go product that you can carry in your bag! Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i n e 111
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Garment Project Empowering Women in their Eating Disorder Recovery BY E L I Z A B E T H N O U RY E H 112 HERS Mag az in e | Feature S tor y Erin Drischler, founder of The Garment Project.
or recovering patients dealing with eating disorders, one of the most daunting mental aspects of retuning to everyday life is accepting different clothing sizes. Since weight often fluctuates during treatment, many people find that their old clothes no longer fit. “When you are returning home to a closet full of clothes that don't fit your body or soul, it can be difficult to get back into the swing of your everyday life,” recovered eating disorder patient Erin Drischler says. Drischler faced this problem head on after she returned from recovery, so she created The Garment Project in February 2017. The Garment Project provides women in recovery with new, sizeless clothing donated form major retailers like Forever21 and American Eagle. Employers of the Pittsburgh-based company hand remove size tags form clothing, then sort and log every piece of inventory that comes in. Now, in 2018, The Garment Project has raised $25,000 for their brand and grew its inventory to around 5,000 pieces of clothing and accessories. “I would return home from treatment to a closet full of clothes that at one point filled me with so much confidence that I was unconsciously striving to fit back into them,” Drischler said. “I was still giving my clothing too much power over my ability to recover.” The first boxes of clothing were hand delivered to the Eating Disorder Center of Portland, Oregon. According to The Garment Project, only 1 in 10 women with an eating disorder receive treatment, largely due to the cost. An eating disorder treatment center can cost up to $30,000 a month, along with fluctuating insurance coverage. Often times, health insurance companies will see that a patient has reached his or her goal weight and end their coverage of treatment. However, eating disorders are as mental as they are physical. “Individuals with eating disorders often find themselves stuck in a pattern of negative thoughts and dangerous behaviors that can perpetuate the disorder and lead to depression, social isolation and interpersonal conflicts,” the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt states. For many, just knowing their clothing size can trigger dangerous thoughts and a mental block. Drischler says, “I only was able to see success for myself when I let go of that hold and found self-confidence in other areas.” At least 30 million people of all genders, ages and ethnicities suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S., according
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to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Eating disorders also have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, with someone dying as a direct result of an eating disorder every 62 minutes. “When I didn’t want to go on with recovery for myself, I would repeat to myself, ‘For those who think they can’t’ over and over again,” Drischler says. “I’d think about friends I lost who didn’t have the opportunity to eat the last bite that was causing such a battle in my head, and so I’d do the harder thing and eat the last bite on my plate.” Drischler says she never thought she would fully recover, instead she would maintain her life and just survive. However, through correct treatment, recovery was possible for her, and Drischler hopes to strengthen other women after their recovery. To choose the clothes for the candidates, Drischler and The Garment Project contact the candidate’s recovery team to learn more about her past. While Drischler says they attempt to maintain minimal communication with the candidate, she does conduct a style questionnaire to discover what the candidate likes and wants. On top of this, Drischler and many members of her team have worked in retail for years, so they are familiar with sizing and fits.
The Garment Project removing tags to ship clothes out to women in recovery.
“Sometimes brands come to us, but we’re constantly working to collaborate with new designers,” Drischler explains. “We like to work with philanthropic retailers that align with our mission.” Retailers like American Eagle and its lingerie brand, Aerie, have made efforts to be more body positive. Aerie has also stopped retouching their models and often features body positive advocates and an array of “ordinary” women in its advertisements. Even with companies like The Garment Project and Aerie working to raise awareness on eating disorders, there is still a debilitating stigma that lingers. Drischler says that when she was diagnosed, no one was talking about eating disorders. “It quickly felt like I was doing something shameful,” Drischler recalls. “We need to talk about our experiences because everyone knows somebody with an eating disorder.” Drischler urges women to reach out for help and trust their treatment team. “Listen to your treatment team and put into practice every resource and tool they make available to you. What have you got to lose? You know what your life looks like with an eating disorder, but I bet it is hard to remember what a healthy one looks like,” she said. “Recovery has made me stronger. I’m grateful for the opportunity to turn something that once brought me so much shame into something that can help others find their confidence and realize their own worth.” Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i n e 113
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PYT Beauty
The Makeup Bosses Zapping Away Chemicals BY B RO O K E A L L E N
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Mary Schulman and Amy Carr, founders of PYT Beauty.
YT (Pretty Young Thing) Beauty is a hypoallergenic, non-toxic and cruelty-free makeup brand that claims to have no “BS” (Bad Stuff). PYT is founded by Amy Carr and Mary Schulman, best friends who met in college. Stepping into business as best friends was “a lot of fun” for these makeup lovers. When Schulman’s teenage daughter started showing an interest in makeup, she noticed a lack of chemical-free makeup options. “We started to realize that there was a real 114 HERS Mag az in e | H ER Cos metics
consumer need for cleaner, better for you products in the makeup scene,” Carr said. As a “self-taught” wellness expert, Schulman was “really affected” by the amount of chemicals in numerous makeup brands. She looked at ingredients labels and asked herself if she would feel comfortable giving these products to her daughter. According to Carr and Schulman, the lack of government regulation is to blame for toxic ingredients. “[Marketing] is not regulated,” Carr said. “There’s so many small brands out there and it’s easy to see how people could just use phrases and not mean them or hope they don’t get caught.” Schulman added, “There is a lot of confusion and the consumer is not necessarily clear on what natural means, and there are not necessarily standards around what natural means. I think it’s hard for the consumer to understand this concept of clean and what exactly clean means.” Their makeup line took two years to fine-tune because of their “high performance” tests. “The stance that we took was first and foremost high performance,” Schulman said. “No product could go past step one if it didn't pass high performance — it didn't even go to the next step.” Schulman said, “We are hypoallergenic, we're formulated without gluten and formaldehyde or preservatives, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, paraffin, petroleum, as well as the 1,400 ingredients that are banned in Europe. Not to mention, we do add positive ingredients to our products. So, our lip products, for example, are very nourishing because everybody needs to nourish their lips while rocking a great look.”
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Their non-toxic makeup line features many products in varying shades. Here is a review of some of their products:
No BS Eyeshadow Palette
This palette features two base shades and six “day-to-night shades.” The base shades are very light and aren’t super pigmented. You really have to pack it on with a flat brush to make your eyes pop, but I will say, the darker shades are a lot more pigmented. There are three shimmer shades that are easily blended and attractive for many skin stones — however, the shimmer is also super subtle. Overall, this palette has nice shades that will compliment many skin tones, but it takes a lot of work to build up the pigment. If you prefer more subtle eyeshadow, then this is perfect. Although, with this palette priced at $32, I think that’s a fair price for the amount of product you receive.
Heart Beat/ Cheek Color: Exhale
The blush comes in three different shades, with the option of matte or shimmer. I tried Exhale in matte, the lightest shade, and this product was also a little too subtle for me. It’s a very light pink that compliments my pale skin tone, but at $22, I don’t see myself purchasing this. However, I’d be more than happy to try the darker shades to see if there’s better pigmentation. The formula is nice and blends easily, but I couldn’t get over the very subtle pigment.
Upgrade/ Highlighter: Front Row
This highlighter comes in three different shades. I tried out Front Row, the darkest shade, and I thought this had great pigmentation. The pigmentation is natural looking and made my cheekbones look bomb. It has a dewy formula that glides on the skin nicely. At $22, I thought this highlighter was well priced, and I would gladly purchase this.
Strike Twice Lip Duo: After Party
This is a really cool double-sided lip product. On one end, there’s lipstick, and on the other, there’s lip gloss so you can have the best of both worlds. The lip duo has five different shades, and I tried After Party, which has a dark berry tone. The lipstick has a nice matte finish, so I was able to get long wear out of it. Personally, I’ve always hated lip gloss, but I didn’t mind the gloss end. I wouldn’t wear it every day, but the gloss wasn’t sticky and felt really nice on my lips. With moisturizing ingredients like Manuka Honey, this lip product felt great and didn’t leave my lips feeling tight and dehydrated. The lip duo is priced at $18. Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i n e 115
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O'o Hawaii
The Holistic Approach to Skincare BY B RO O K E A L L E N
Holly Harding, founder of O'o Hawaii.
116 HERS Mag az in e | H ER Sk in Care
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O'o Hawaii's skincare line.
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s an entrepreneur, Holly Harding worked “insane” hours every day to keep her finances afloat. Without any days off for herself, she put nutrition and exercise on the backburner to focus on her business. “I really kind of let my body go and I just drove myself into the ground and found myself eating on the run and not exercising,” she said. “I caught a reflection of myself in a window of a store and I was like, ‘Oh my God, that's me,’ and I just couldn't believe it. So, it kind of put me on this quest in that moment to really learn how to eat again and get myself back in shape.” With a new determination to get her body back in shape, she became a nutritionist to also “help others get healthy, whether it was weight loss or working with people that have autoimmune conditions or cancer or want to get their blood pressure and diabetes under control.” Harding became a holistic health expert, and she found this new quest for helping others get in shape “really fulfilled” her. However, she noticed another market that could use her help: skincare. “Since I had all this new knowledge in health and wellness and holistic ingredients, I just felt like it was the perfect time to create more of an integrative concept in skincare that merged health and nutrients in with skincare because it really does start from within first,” she said.
With her new knowledge, she founded O’o Hawaii, her skincare business located in Hawaii. Her website states, “O’o Hawaii uses only the most beautiful, high functioning superfood level ingredients from nature that are from nonGMO sources, and when available, are grown organically in Hawaii. Filler ingredients with virtually no benefit are never used.” Her skincare line took “about a year” to finish because she made a promise to herself to create skin products without any toxic ingredients that could damage her customers. “I just wanted to use ingredients that I felt really, really good about and that I could put on anyone and recommend to anyone and just personally stand behind,” Harding said. With her company based in Hawaii, she made sure O’o Hawaii “wasn’t this cheesy, Hawaiian, touristy kind of brand.” She said, “We're from Hawaii and there's a certain mystique and uniqueness to Hawaii. So, for us, using locally grown superfood ingredients from Hawaii was something that that was a differentiator that we felt was really important in creating the brand.” O’o Hawaii has scrubs, masks, moisturizers, serums and even a nutritional supplement. Here is a review of some of their products:
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Bird Seed: Detoxifying Face Scrub This scrub has an amazing scent — it’s not too strong and has a sweet, fruity smell. The scrub has volcanic rock, sapphire crystals, sustainable pearl powder, Hawaiian red alaea clay and more. This scrub is really thick and creamy, which I loved. The only downside was it was hard to massage around my face. I would prefer it being a bit thinner, so it would be easier to massage into my skin. However, my face felt so soft after I washed this off. Most scrubs leave my face very dry, flaky and tight, but this scrub left me feeling refreshed and moisturized. I can’t wait to use this scrub again. This scrub is $78.
Soar: Age Delay Moisturizer & Finishing Polish This has a very slight, inoffensive scent. The moisturizer features pure rose extract, fermented sea silt, babassu oil and more. This is a light moisturizer that has the power of a heavy moisturizer. It glided across my face easily and soaked in immediately — my face didn’t feel even slightly heavy or suffocated. After one use, I noticed a huge difference in my face after I applied foundation. My beauty blender usually causes flaking when I apply foundation, but with this moisturizer, my face was visibly smoother and, the best part, no flakes. I’m in love. This moisturizer is $75.
Birdbath: Antioxidant Cleansing Balm This has a refreshing minty scent that I really loved. This balm has sea buckthorn oil, coffeeberry extract, red algae, pineapple enzymes and more. I was really nervous to try this because I’ve never used a cleansing balm before. I was worried this would be difficult to wash off and wouldn’t truly remove all my makeup, but, boy, was I wrong. This did an amazing job of removing makeup and my face also felt super clean after I washed it off. The balm easily washed away and didn’t leave my face feeling greasy. My only issue with this is I wish it came in a 100 oz. option. This balm is $65. 118 HERS Mag az in e | H ER Sk in Care
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Waxing Kara
Beeswax Inspired Skincare BY K E I T H J O H N SO N
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axing Kara, a beeswax-centered beauty shop, is founded by Kara Brook Brown, an artist with a fascination for beeswax. She paints and sculpts with encaustic, which is paint made from beeswax, tree resin and pigment. She even became a beekeeper in 2010 to create a sustainable art form. Throughout this process, she learned about the importance of bees and their role in supporting our planet and improving overall sustainability. Wanting to create more than just art, she then started creating natural skincare products. Her hand-crafted products are made with a genuine passion for nourishing the mind, body and spirit. At her 102-acre buzzing farm in Maryland, Brown has created a little slice of honey heaven where bees can thrive. With Spring finally here, Waxing Kara is releasing some new products. “At Waxing Kara, we believe that nature holds the key to well-being, and what we put into our bodies directly affects how we feel and interact with our surroundings,” said Brown. “For Spring, we wanted to share products that not only made us feel good from the inside out, but also utilize natural, restorative elements that come directly from the earth.”
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Bee Inspired Lip Kit ($30) Combining Waxing Kara’s popular lip scrub with a new, plant-derived lip gloss, this kit is designed to promote soft, smooth lips. This kit is free of harmful ingredients like petroleum, parabens, silicones and artificial colors and fragrances.
Vegan Detox Mask ($40) This mask supposedly draws out impurities from the pores, leaving a brighter complexion over time. It is designed to refresh the skin without over-drying or stripping away natural oils and moisture. Made with a blend of clays and fruit powders, this mask is ideal for those with sensitive skin, redness and irritation.
Here are some of their newest additions:
Rose + Lavender Facial Oil ($42) This oil is made with jojoba, rosehip and camellia oils that provide moisture and balances out dry or mature skin. It has a light floral fragrance of rose absolute and lavender oils. This Rose + Lavender Facial Oil could brighten, soften and leave your complexion radiant and glowing.
Sea+Tea Line (From $18) *LAUNCHING MARCH 12*
Waxing Kara’s popular Sea + Tea line is expanding after the popularity of the original Sea + Tea Mask. The new line will now include a face and body scrub, body oil and bath salt. Each product is designed to cleanse and exfoliate with a blend of salts, plant oils and botanical extracts. Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i n e 121
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‘Wig Out ’s’ Cliff Vmir Snatches the Wigs of the Music Industry BY G R AC E K E L L EY
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hen you’re at the top of your game at only age 21, what comes next? Do you retire and rest on your laurels? Or do you break into another notoriously difficult industry? For hairstylist Cliff Vmir, the answer is the latter. He’s well on his way to mastering two industries: beauty and rap, and he’s not even old enough to rent a car yet. Vmir, who has made wigs for celebrities such as Joseline and Cardi B and stars in BET’s “Wig Out,” is, above all, an artist. “I’ve always been into the hair industry,” he says. “What I did before I did hair was draw. I used to look at magazines. I used to go in magazines and ask my mom what hairstyles I should draw. I would really try to draw it the exact same way it was in the pictures. From then on I kind of just knew that hair was going to be a thing for me because hair was what I loved to draw.” What initially drew Vmir to hair in particular was, “I thought hair was so creative,” he says. “It was crazy how you could take hair and pearl it, cut it, crimple it and do so many different things to it. “I was amazed by the different styles of hair. I was always attracted to hair. I thought it was amazing how you could straighten your hair, then when it gets under water, the hair goes back to its natural state, which could be curly, wavy,
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[etc.].” As a pre-teen, Vmir saved up his allowance to order practice mannequins on Amazon and at Kmart. By the time he graduated high school, he was running a salon out of his mother’s basement. However, Vmir’s parents had different visions for his future. His mother wanted him to be a nurse technician and his father wanted him to participate in traditionally masculine ventures, such as sports. With negativity aside, “I didn’t really have anything holding me back” when it came to starting his cosmetology career, Vmir said. “I was always a hard worker. Anything that was thrown at other people that made them say, oh my gosh, I kind of worked through it all. “I’m also numb to a lot of things, and I handle things very differently, not like your typical 21, or at the time, 16 or 18-year-old. When different obstacles come my way, God levels anything in your way that you can’t overcome.” Vmir also plays a lot with gender presentation and norms. He opens the first episode of “Wig Out” by saying, “I want people to know: I am not a woman, I am not a drag queen, I am just a gay African American male who likes to wear wigs, wear nails, wear makeup — I just like to look pretty, okay?” When he first started doing hair, Vmir said, “[My critics] said, ‘Oh, why are you wearing makeup? Makeup is for girls. hers-magazine.com
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Cliff Vmir, celebrity hairstylist.
You should burn in hell.’ I used to look in the mirror and believe those things. Now I have such an attitude. I’m just like, ‘Girl, bye.’ And I’ll clap back. Nowadays, I don’t let things bother me. They used to bother me, but now, no.” “Wig Out” follows Vmir and his mostly-female, allAfrican American team as they navigate the hair industry and Vmir plots his entrance into the rap industry. The show is filled with Vmir witticisms such as, “Tired is for the rich, coming soon to a #BossBabe Instagram feed near you.” “Wig Out” doesn’t just capture the glamour, sunshine and rainbows of the business, though. Over the course of the show, Vmir deals with the awkwardness of hosting a nearly-empty class, helping a friend come out to his parents and the various and sundry dramas that come with being 20-somethings learning who they are and who they’re going to become. But Vmir wouldn’t have it any other way. “Honestly, it’s great to see myself on the show,” he says. “I feel like when I saw myself on ‘Wig Out,’ I got inspired all over again and super motivated. Of course, you get to see a lot of new things, and TV makes things 10x bigger than what it is. “I definitely thought it was crazy, it was definitely a dream come true to see myself have a show based off of myself and what I do, and the problems around me, it’s very inspiring.”
To some detractors, Vmir’s interest in rap is a passing interest. In Episode 6 of “Wig Out,” TV personality Marlo Hampton tells Vmir, “You need to let the rapping go, and just stick to hair. I love the hair!” But Vmir has always loved music and doesn’t want to be defined by just one thing. “Music was something that I had an interest in when I was younger,” says Vmir. “Me and my god brothers had a group, I used to sing. Back in the day, we were making music for the heck of it. We were 9 and 10 years old. We didn’t really have anything to talk about. I always said I wanted to be famous, so after a while I started to execute it. “I went to the studio and I did a little freestyle for a diss record,” he says. “I was just like, ‘No, this isn’t for me.’ After that, I came back two years later, I was just like, ‘I can do this,’ and I fully invested in it. Just like with my hair career, things take a minute, they don’t happen overnight. “I’m not going to lie, yes, it’s very hard trying to do them both,” says Vmir. “I’m off Instagram moving my hair and then go straight to the studio. It’s a lot trying to do both, but I’m still maintaining this the best way that I can. I’m just thankful that I get to do both.” Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i n e 123
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Grande Ambitions
How One Beauty Mogul Went from Flea Markets to Sephora BY G R AC E K E L L EY
ew Yorkers are infamous for making major life decisions based on how long their commute would be, and cosmetics mogul Alicia Grande is no different. Alicia Grande (no relation to pop singer Ariana Grande) started her own company in 2000 because she wanted to avoid a 90-minute one-way commute on the Long Island Railroad, which, relatable. “I was working for this marketing company in 1997, and I worked there for at least two years,” says Grande. “When I got pregnant, I realized that I didn’t want to commute from Westchester to Dix Hills in Nassau County. So, I said, I’m not going to raise my children, if I can help it, and go on the Long Island Railroad and commute for 90 minutes each way. No dollar amount was worth the sacrifice.” She added, “So, I started my own commercial business and that was Grande Media. I raised my son and worked parttime from home at the media buying agency. That slowed down a little bit and I wanted to start to get new clients, so I started a radio show in New Rochelle, New York, in 2004 called the Health Buzz. I interviewed doctors and scientists and entrepreneurs on their latest and greatest innovations in anti-aging.” In 2006, she went to a conference at Javits Center in search of doctors and scientists to interview for her show. At that conference, she met a doctor and a chemist who had “a product that really transformed my lashes from wimpy to wow,” Grande says. “People thought I had extensions, they were noticing, and lo and behold, I had that aha moment, my last name is Grande, so, Grande Lashes!”
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Grande Cosmetics' eyelsash serum.
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Alicia Grande, founder of Grande Cosmetics.
While the world debates over whether Kylie Jenner is a “self-made” cosmetics billionaire, Grande makes it clear that she wasn’t born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but she was born with hustle in her heart. “[Business and marketing] is what drives me,” Grande says. “It’s who am and what I do. We could be talking about cheese and crackers and I would be thinking about marketing. It runs through my blood. I just love it.” Grande’s work with cosmetics started when she was in high school. “It started way back when, when I was 16,” she says. “I worked at a cosmetics booth in a flea market, it was off-brand, off label. I wound up making my own cosmetic booth in another flea market at age 18. I wound up going into the city and purchasing fragrances, cosmetics and skincare items. I really started hustling with that at age 18.” In college, Grande studied marketing and business, and after hers-magazine.com
Grande Cosmetics' mascara.
Grande Cosmetics' brow gel.
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college, she worked for an infomercial company. But when she got pregnant, she had to reevaluate her work situation and commute. So, she took on freelance assignments and started Grande Media, which led to her fateful meeting with the developers of one of her best-selling products, Grande Lash-MD Lash Enhancing Serum. But with the highs came the lows, and Grande took them in stride. “I went out to Javits Center for the IECSC, a spa show. It speaks to spa owners and estheticians. I had a booth, I invested $1,500 into it and made $8,000. I sold out my Grande Lash. I told my husband, ‘I’m so excited, I sold out my Grande Lashes,’” she says. “He literally had gotten laid off from his company — he worked in finance for 15 years. So, I knew clearly then that I had the magic recipe here to support my family.” She said, “I was on the road with a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old going to 35, 40 trade shows per year, on a seriously bootstrapped budget. Say a show cost me, $2,000. I made sure to leave that show at least doubling it. I had the passion and the drive, for many reasons — because I love the product, because I support my family.” After a year and a half of boosting her brand, her business started taking off. She said, “With no investors, just my initial investment of $25,000 [from Grande Media] and going to trade
Grande Cosmetics' hair care line.
See how you can incorporate building relationships with people, and network.” In talking to Grande, her passion surrounding her products is apparent. “Everything I make is tested through a clinical process and has the before and after support to make my claims. I’m really seriously trying to slow down the clock for women.” She says she couldn’t live without Grande Lash. “If I were on a stranded desert island, I would not live without my Grande Lash,” she says. “I recently started using Grande Brow again because my brows thinned out as I’m turning 50. I took it for granted that my brows were okay, so I had to restore my own brows. I’ve been using it for the past six months.” As for advice she has for fellow female beauty entrepreneurs, Grande emphasizes that one has to have a product and a vision that one really believes in. “If you want to be an entrepreneur, you have to check a couple of boxes. You have to check that you know you have the passion to really go all the way. You need to check that spirit and create it. I cannot express how much passion is needed. If you don’t have passion, you don’t have success. Period. “Secondly, if you’re looking to get into the beauty industry shows all across the United States, talking to hair salons and spa and you want to make something, you have to look into how owners, I sold directly to spas and hair salons.” to manufacture a product. You could do it a couple of ways: She stresses the importance of taking risks when starting a you could get a contract manufacturer for products that are new business. “When you see that product or idea, and it really already made, and you can make them your own, or you could resonates, and you believe in it, and it works, you need to take a work with a chemist who’s creating a product for you.” risk in it, and give 110% of your passion to make it successful,” Finally, she says, “I would also say, like I did for the first says Grande. “That’s what I’ve done and still do to this day.” three years with Grande Lash, pick one product that has Grande Cosmetics is now currently distributed in Sephora, a unique difference that you really believe in and makes a Ulta, Macy’s, Amazon Luxury Beauty, through professional difference. If you find that, that’s the product that you really beauty channels, such as SalonCentric and Loreal, and directly want to get behind. More is not better. Sometimes it just to spas and salons. Grande is a big believer in forming human dilutes the message. So, know what you want to market and relationships with clients. “People think everything is digital,” make the message very clear that it’s a unique product.” she says. “It’s not true, you still need to have that human touch. Ap ril 2 0 1 9 | H ERS M ag az i n e 125
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