Photo Shoot of Divas Part II Slideshow

Hi Ladies! Happy Wednesday!


I was finally able to upload a couple of photos from our photo shoot. Please check these out. The theme was minimalist, natural-looking makeup because the shoot was centered around the hairstyles and coloring.

The photography was by Markeith Horace of http://www.horacephotography.com/, the hair styling was done by Ray Torregano and Hosea Hicks of Rhythm Salon, voted number 1 hair salon here in Columbus, Georgia. Kim, is the model with the very fierce asymmetrical 'do, who also happens to be my hair stylist, and Falana is the vixen with the long hair. You would never know that neither of these two ladies have ever modeled or, done any photoshoots. It goes to show how beautiful some women really are, and don't know it.


Kim's makeup was applied by myself and Falana's makeup was applied by Leonna.

I have some great posts planned in the next week or so, including:

• How a Diva Assesses Her Body Type for Jean Shopping



• How a Diva Adopts a Healthy Lifestyle



• How a Diva Creates a Fantasy Lip Look



• How a Diva Accessorizes for the Spring/Summer '09

Stay Tuned for more Diva Talk!

Photo Shoot of Divas!

Hi Ladies! I dropped off the blogging scene for the last week just due to a long holiday weekend, and Valentine's Day. Also, this Monday past, Leonna (Creative Director of aSASSYries) and myself completed a photo shoot for the cover of http://www.salonsunlimitedmagazine.com/ . This is a publication based in Atlanta, Georgia that is distributed to over 145,000 readers per month. We have begun building our portfolio of make up artistry. We have been doing make up artistry on a private client basis solely for our Image Consulting clients for a few months, and now we are ready to put it all out there to really begin growing the make-up artistry part of our business.

I am currently waiting for the copyright release, as well as, the retouched pictures from our photographer, http://www.horacephotography.com/ based here in Columbus, Georgia. As soon as I get those from him, I will definitely post pictures.

I wanted to offer you ladies and guys a few tips for making sure your shoot goes smoothly:

1. I know sometimes it is tempting to want to use friends or family members as models, but, you have to have an eye for how a face can photograph from many different angles. So, your sister or, best friend may not necessarily be the best model for the look you are trying to accomplish.

2. In our case, we were calling the shots on the set of this shoot. So, definitely be adamant, while remaining courteous to the hairstylists and photographers about your vision for the shoot. They aren't mind readers; if you don't communicate it to them, they won't know.

3. If you are fortunate enough to be conducting a shoot where you have had a chance to assess the models' features and undertones beforehand, I would recommend planning your look by either writing it down, or coloring in face charts. That way, you aren't looking through your entire kit for shadows, glosses, or whatever. You could even go so far as to place everything you need for your look in a zip loc baggie. It keeps me organized. Leonna will disagree with me; she prefers to "freestyle" her look on the model as if it were the first time she has seen her. No matter how you bring your vision to fruition, make sure it reflects the overall theme of the shoot and make sure it meshes well with the hair and the set the photographer has.

4. Make sure your models are comfortable. It seems like they are just sitting there being pampered, but, it really is exhausting to be shuffled from hair to makeup and then to a photographer asking you to pose continuously until he or she captures that "money shot." Carry extra water and cereal bars, or something similar, with you just in case your models don't have anything to snack on. Our shoot started at 9:00 and ended at about 3:00 pm.

5. Have a damn good time!! When I tell you I loved every minute of that shoot....!!! It was exhausting for us as well, but, we felt accomplished, proud, and powerful after that shoot was over and we were looking at the images. This is something I very rarely feel after my 9 to 5.

The freedom of creativity you have as a make-up artist will send you into a whirlwind of ideas and visions that will keep you up at night. You know you are a true make-up artist when......

You can look at the supermarket clerk and imagine her with a smokey eye, nude lip, and contoured cheeks and think how gorgeous she REALLY is when everyone else just sees a supermarket clerk.

Stay tuned for more diva talk!

How to Be a Beautiful Diva From the Inside Out

Hi Ladies,

Today's blog posting is coming from http://www.asassyries.com/ 's Creative Director, Leonna Hart, pictured below looking fabulous at one of our make-up gigs. You will be seeing posts from the both of us as we build and nurture this blog. Please enjoy!


Being a diva isn’t just about looking great; actually, I think looking great is only a result of the qualities you must have in order to call yourself a true diva. The looking great part only happens when everything else falls into place. I’m talking about who you are inside, and how you present yourself to everyone. So, let’s start from the inside, out. After all, beauty is only skin-deep, right?

I’m sure all of us have known women, and perhaps we’ve been that woman, that was absolutely gorgeous…great hair, beautiful skin, a face to die for, and a smile that could blow you away; but when you really looked at her for who she was, she was lacking so many things; you could even have said she was ugly; I mean just plain dreadful!

True beauty is something that radiates from within and can’t be compensated for. I call it your “divahood.” This is something that can never be taken away (makes me think of Whitney Houston’s song, “no matter what they take from me, they can’t take away my dignity”). Foreheads will wrinkle, eyes will droop, breasts will sag, but, poise, confidence, self-worth, self-respect, humility, compassion…these are all things that won’t tarnish with time. Besides, people aren’t going to remember you for how beautiful you were, or how nice your hair always was, or how you always dressed to impress; they are going to remember you for how you treated yourself, and those around you…how beautiful you were on the outside, is just a bonus.

Blush Like a Diva

Happy Hump Day!


I wanted to do a post on my favorite pick for the absolutely best blush I have ever used. There are many opinions out there about which blush brands and consistencies (cream, powder....) are the best, so, being the diva I am, I wanted to put in my two cents! Avon's Be Blushed Cheek Color is absolutely awesome!



Being a professional make-up artist, I have tried many blushes. As a general rule, cream blush has been recommended for more mature skin, or skin prone to drying. However, I have learned that powder blush can show up ashy in person, and definitely in photos. This blush goes on smooth and blends beautifully into skin, giving a natural, bee-stung look. Top off with a nice bronzer, contour and highlight, and some nice peachy, glossy lips, and you are ready to go! There are millions of articles and videos out there about highlighting and contouring, so I won't bore you with another, so, one of the best I have seen is Professional Make-Up Artist Ren Ren's YouTube video on this topic. Check it out here. Tune in for more Diva Talk tomorrow!

5 Things A Diva Must Live By

Hi Ladies, Happy Tuesday!! So...I was thinking of about 5 things I absolutely live by as a diva; things that I think a diva must do and absolutely NOT do. Check it out. If we need to add anything to this Diva List, please post your comments and suggestions.

1. A Diva must not ever wear chipped nail polish!**Hello!!! If you are watching your dollars, as we all are, that is totally ok. Just soak and moisturize your cuticles and carefully trim any skin growth, then, shape and file your nails and apply a nice color and a top coat for that 'wet' look. If possible, treat yourself to a manicure and hand massage every two weeks, but when you can't make it, try http://www.sallyhansen.com/ for nail nutrition products and they even have an interactive Nail Selector tool you can play with to see how different shades will look on your hand.

2. A Diva must not ever leave her home with rollers or, a headscarf on!** Ladies, please don't do this. If you are caught, you risk having your Diva Licenses revoked! If you are in that in -between stages with your hair length, or, you are just simply having a bad hair day, try some really cute hair accessories like headbands. On my site http://www.asassyries.com/ we will be adding hair accessories this week. Pair a chic headband with some rhinestone hoops ,or, some nice long linear earrings to elongate your face, and you will look effortlessly stylish. Check out this headband. How cute is this?! These will be featured on http://www.asassyries.com/ this week. The colors are among those that will be hot this Spring/Summer 2009.

3. A Diva must always have a sexy pair of heels in her arsenal** You don't always have to have on a sexy pair of shoes, BUT, you must have at least one pair of shoes in your closet that make you feel absolutely stunning and maybe even a little naughty! Since I am a huge shoe fanatic, this is another accessory that we will begin carrying in the next month or so at http://www.asassyries.com/.

No matter if you are wearing 5" stilletos, a kitten heel, or, even tennis shoes, please make sure they are in good shape. When I say good shape, I mean no talking soles, all taps in place if you are wearing heels, and if your shoes look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa from behind, it is time to trash them! Invest in a pair of Dr. Scholl's step-ins and they will make your experience trying and buying new shoes a more comfortable one.

4. A Diva must always have a fierce handbag in her closet** What good would an awesome pair of heels be without a totally, undeniably fierce handbag, or clutch? Yes, you guessed it, we will also be adding handbags and clutches to our website soon. I am a firm believer that a handbag speaks volumes about a woman. What would your handbag say about you?...... If you decide to purchase high-end bags, opt for classic shapes and colors to be able to enjoy it for years to come. Or, if you have a severe case of "price -tag -itis" cure it by checking out http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/. This is a site where you can actually rent luxury handbags!

and finally,

5. A Diva must always have.......a smile!!** I can not express enough how important attitude, and demeanor is to being a diva. You can have the fiercest shoes, or, the most expensive handbags, if you don't radiate and exude kindess, you are just someone that happens to have on a pair of Christian Louboutins with a Louis Vuitton Alma bag. Would you rather be remembered for the shoes on your feet, or, the smile on your face?

Exactly What is a Diva??!!

According to Merriam-Webster's definition, a diva is "a usually glamorous and successful female performer or personality." The origin of the word comes from an Italian derivation meaning "goddess." So, what does it take to be glamorous, successful, or diva-like?.... Confidence.

I have always been a voloputuous girl and I have always been what people called "cute and pretty". But, at times, I still would feel like I was unworthy of the attention I received from men and women, alike because I was more "amazonian", or, "thicker" than many other females. As I progressed in life and received my degree and landing a very respectable job as a Banker/Loan Officer at a large bank, I began to look around me and saw that what I was being blessed with in my life, was not the norm; it was special. So, therefore, I began to develop confidence that no matter where I was or how much I weighed, I had it going on!

I am happily married to a NCO in the U.S. Army and I have a very cute, and mischevious 2 year old little boy named Caleb. Two years ago I drove a Saturn, today I drive a BMW 745Li. This is not to say that these things in my life are required to be a "Diva", but these are things that I set out to accomplish and put my mind to obtaining. When you have confidence, success follows usually. So it's kind of one of those questions like, does the chicken or the egg come first? Does the diva-mode set in and then we are determined to be successful, or, do we obtain success first and then set into diva-mode?

Another huge tip to being a diva, treat people right. I promise not to make this a religious blog, but, what I have learned in my 26 years on this earth is that no matter what your religion, or what symbol is on the hood of your car, diva or not, treat everyone with kindness and you will receive blessings beyond your wildest imagination.

This is the first post of many on How to be a Diva and I am excited about this journey as I continue to figure myself out. There is more to being a diva than being pretty, or having sex appeal, ladies. It is the sway of your hips, your smile lighting up a room, and your kindness and courtesy extending to those you meet.

Another huge part of my life at this time is http://www.asassyries.com/, this is my company that I developed to offer chic, sassy and totally affordable accessories to all the divas out there! I am planning some collaborations with a very special YouTube makeup guru to offer our audiences a one-stop-shop for tips and advice on beauty, fashion and all things diva! Stay tuned.