TeenCHiC ~ Educating Young Adults on Beauty, Wellness and Confidence

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TeenCHiC participants

Professional Image Consultant Tammy Adams prompts TeenChiC participants for their input on appropriate dress.

Makeup Artist Vanessa Evelyn applies a complimentary yet not flashy shade of LuvNoir Cosmetics eyeshadow for a natural lifestyle look on a volunteer.

Brittany Garrett, TeenCHiC Top Model Winner shares why the success of plus-size women Mo’Nique and Queen Latifah have been her inspiration.

TeenCHiC participant receives a gift bag with grace, poise and says "thank you".

COCOACHiC put beauty into the community in mid-May presenting its TeenCHiC program at Belmont Academy, a Brooklyn, New York, offsite suspension center where young adults suspended from school obtain counseling. The daylong event had workshops in Professional Image, Hygiene, Makeup Application and Posture. Shanty Baptiste, Belmont educator and program liaison shared, "Ten girls volunteered to attend the program. It was remarkable that they wanted to be there, on a weekend, but they really loved the whole day." The energy of the day built around the theme that beauty is being your personal best.

Tammy Adams, a professional image consultant with her own firm Luxe Image, LLC, guided the girls in presenting a polished appearance and building self-confidence through an interactive approach. "I had images in PowerPoint for them to give feedback on different looks for different occasions," explained Adams. "They were quite vocal about the outfits they didn’t like or think were appropriate." Since some of the young women would soon be looking for summer jobs or going on to college, interview skills, how to dress appropriately and how to introduce one self properly were discussed.

The workshop the young women were most awed with was taught by industry-respected Makeup Artist Vanessa Evelyn, CEO of her own makeup artistry school Petra Alexandra Inc., who demonstrated proper makeup application techniques. They were impressionable and willing to learn about shade matching foundation (a major reason why they were intimidated to wear makeup), the benefits of powder and color selection for eyes and lips. They received gifts of cosmetics to take home generously donated by LuvNoir Cosmetics.

The teens opened up to one another and the TeenCHiC program presenters showing enthusiasm for the activities and eagerness to learn. The exciting and educating day culminated in a contest, "TeenCHiC Top Model Student". The TeenCHiC Top Model Student recognized the participant with the best grasp of knowledge, manners, attentiveness, and confidence level — attributes of true beauty. Winner Brittany Garrett impressed the program participants and workshop presenters with her exuberance and positive attitude. "I was in shock when I was named the winner! I am always being told that I am too big or too short. Winning made me realize that maybe somebody for once actually believed I could be a model." Brittany particularly enjoyed the portion of the day focusing on work place professionalism as it taught her to reach for her dreams. "I dream of a better future out of the hood. I want to make something of myself and prove to all those who have put me down that I am the greatest," says a confident Brittany.

Baptiste notes that once the day was over the girls begged for more. "There was such excitement for the instruction and the goodies. They willingly learned the tools needed to succeed in the world. We fully intend on joining forces with COCOACHiC and Bernie [founder of COCOACHiC] for another TeenCHiC event." Confidence-building exercises and beauty education experiences such as this event serve to boost self-esteem and encourage young women to boldly go out into the world and make a difference – the mission of COCOACHiC Beauty.

By Ellen Rosner Feig

About COCOACHiC Beauty
COCOACHiC^TM is a collective online exchange of resources that personify the legacy and future of black beauty. Cosmetics. Comment. Community. COCOACHiC blends comprehensive and relevant cosmetics, beauty and wellness information, with strokes of confidence and encouragement, to enhance radiant chocolate faces for the world to admire.
www.COCOACHiC.com

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