Beauty in Progress: Recent Episodes

Dr. Behrooz Torkian

The goal of our podcast is to help our audience understand that there are internal and external factors which contribute to the perception of beauty. In each episode, our host, Dr. Behrooz Torkian, will connect with different personalities and influencers like yourself, from various backgrounds and fields. All of this will be tied together with our mission to make everything as simple as possible and make it your own.

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In this episode, I want to go over 5 of the big reasons people choose to have rhinoplasties and what makes them successful. I’ll go into detail about why people want these changes and what procedures are required to achieve them, as well as some of the pros and cons of some of these procedures and the long-term results you can expect.

Highlights:

Changing trends with dorsal hump reductions, and techniques for achieving the desired new look.
The different sections of the nose which can show width issues, how it can be fixed, and factors which can lead to collapse later in life.
How nose crookedness can develop and why it isn’t usually possible to get a perfectly straight nose.
The different options for fixing nostril width, which can be done in combination with or separately from a rhinoplasty.
The numerous nasal issues which can cause difficulty breathing, and why I generally address this even if the patient came in for appearance.
Disruptions of breathing in sleep, such as breathing through only one side of your nose, sleep apnea, or snoring, and what can and can’t be done with rhinoplasty.

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This week I want to go over some of the common issues that come up in my practice, specifically regarding airway obstruction. Many patients come in for rhinoplasties and think their breathing is fine, but I find there’s actually some issue that is obstructing their airway and needs to be addressed. So in this episode, I cover some common causes of airway obstruction, how they can be diagnosed, and what can be done to solve them.

Highlights:

How do you find out if you have a deviated septum?
What inferior turbinates are and why they’re important for breathing.
How a nasal valve collapse could be affecting your airways without you even realizing it.
Why it’s important to address the airway even during a cosmetic rhinoplasty.
Not all plastic surgeons are equal: why you should seek a specialized facial plastic surgeon for your rhinoplasty or septoplasty.
Why you shouldn’t actually breathe through your nose the whole time when you’re exercising.

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I’m back after a short hiatus due to a “zoom boom” in the industry, and for a few episodes, instead of chatting with a guest, I’m going to take some time to discuss cosmetic surgery and cosmetic medicine so that prospective patients can learn a little bit about it. In this episode, I’m dispelling the myths of facial fillers and answering some common questions that I receive about them.

Highlights:

How fillers can stack up over time, eventually looking like “too much work.”
Why patients sometimes ask for more filler even when it isn’t necessary.
Why I sometimes tell patients that surgery or fillers are not a great option at that time.
The areas of the face that typically decrease in volume and are great places for fillers.
What causes filler migration, and how common is this?
Can fillers or Botox prevent the aging process?

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If it's natural, it's better! Today's guest is Pekela Riley, hair care consultant, master stylist, and founder of Salon PK and Pure + True Texture. Pekela had a difficult childhood, but she never let that stop her from going on her way. Her mother inspired her to overcome obstacles and challenge her creativity, so while she was studying nursing she switched to cosmetology school. Six months after starting cosmetology, she went full-time to a salon to pursue her career as a professional stylist. Working with passion and determination paid off, because today she is recognized around the world as one of the pioneering stylists of the natural hair movement, and her Salon PK became a recognized styling house included in Elle magazine as one of the "100 best hair salons of the US." With a unique vision, she is truly an elite expert and one of the beauty industry's most innovative talents always staying on trend and looking for the next cutting edge.

Highlights

Pekela tells what Pure + Texture philosophy is and how it started.
She explains why we can have a bad hair day, but there is no bad hair.
Her inspiration to get in the beauty industry; a mother who inspired her to challenge her creativity.
Changes in the world of beauty with the pandemic; expanding the scope of beauty and even in service.
She says how she tracks the last trends to surprise her clients.
She believes that with the looks she achieves she can show a hidden part of a person.
The protective style that integrates extensions to allow the hair to rest.

To learn more about Pekela, you can follow her on Instagram, or visit her website.

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Should the plastic surgeon question the wishes of the patients? Today's guest is Dr. Jonathan Sykes. One of the most respected board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States, specializing in facelifts, rhinoplasty, and eyelid procedures, he will answer this question. Dr. Sykes has been in practice since 1986 and has performed more than 20,000 aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries. He is a truly dedicated and ethical physician, who has been a true educator and influencer in the field of surgery on the board of the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, and also as a past president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. His incredible academic track record includes national teaching positions, international conference presentations, as well as an extensive list of over 100 published articles specializing in all aesthetic and reconstructive facial plastic surgery.

Highlights

Dr. Sykes tells how he perceives the change in concepts of beauty in the last decades.
Patients expectations generated by social media how he deals with the way people learn on it.
The ethical dilemma of rejecting a procedure that a patient requests knowing that he or she is going to request it elsewhere and can fall into the wrong hands.
He talks about the importance of educating patients, explaining the procedures, and clarifying the why when he refuses to work with someone.
Communication as the key to great results; listening carefully to the patient and connecting with them to generate a bond of trust.
Why he doesn’t do cheek implants and lip implants anymore.

To learn more about Dr. Sykes, you can follow him on Instagram, or visit his website.

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Did you know that diagnosing in dark skin can be very different compared to fair skin? Today's guest is Dr. DiAnne Davis, MD, a board certified cosmetic dermatologist who specializes in non-invasive facial rejuvenation, skin of color, hair loss, and cosmetic dermatologic surgery. During her residency, Dr. Davis was influential in coordinating the first Skin of Color Symposium, helping to promote awareness of the unique characteristics of colored skin from a medical and cosmetic dermatological point of view, due to the lack of medical training when it comes to dark skin. Suffering from acne in adulthood, she has a unique empathy with her patients, which is why she takes a collaborative approach, seeking to make them feel their best to improve their quality of life. She is the author of several magazine articles and textbook chapters, and has presented some of her work at local and regional dermatology meetings.

Highlights

Dr. Davis tells us about the lack of medical training regarding dark skin, and how diagnosing skin of color can be very different compared to fair skin.
Common problems that arise with patients with dark skin; excess hair growth, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and acne scars.
Dr. Davis says why Laser 1064 nanometer wavelength is the most reliable laser for her treatments.
Platelet-rich plasma as the best hair restoration technique for dark skin patients.
The difference between PRP and PRF.
Her experience with stem cells.
Dr. Davis says what treatment she uses for dark circles; blepharoplasty, a type of surgery that repairs droopy eyelids and may involve removing excess skin, muscle and fat.

To learn more about Dr. Davis, you can follow her on Instagram.

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Your skin says a lot about your overall health. Today's guest is Dr. Trevor Cates, a nationally-recognized naturopathic physician, author of the Amazon best-selling book Clean Skin From Within, and founder of The Spa Dr., a natural skin care line. She has been a physician for 20 years, but began to focus on the skin 10 years ago, when she realized that the skin is an external reflection of internal health. Her interest in natural medicine began in her childhood, when a holistic physician was the only one who could help her with allergies and eczema. At an early age she realized how connected the body is. Dr. Cates received her medical degree from the National University of Natural Medicine and was the first woman to be licensed as a naturopathic physician in the state of California.

Highlights

How Dr. Cates got started in skincare and hasn't always had glowing skin.
The skin as our magic mirror.
Determine your skin type; Amber, Olivia, Heath, Emmett, and Sage.
Trevor's favorite skin nourishing animal protein: Astaxanthin.
The benefits of honey for the skin.
Differences between Europe and the USA in regulation around personal care products and toxic ingredients.
Foods and elements that can make your skin worse.
Products that Dr. Cates recommends for reducing redness.

To learn more about Dr. Cates, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

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Let’s redefine beauty standards! Today's guest is Jessica DeFIno, a pro-skin and anti-product beauty reporter covering supportive and sustainable skincare based on science and spirituality. With a degree in songwriting from Berklee College of Music, she brings a unique perspective to her writing with the lyrical qualities of storytelling, fluency, and connection to the audience. Her work in the beauty industry started because she had a problem with it. Through her research on sustainable skin products, she seeks to find what is truly healthy to leave behind bad products that position themselves as empowering. Her work has been featured in the world's leading media outlets, including the NY Times, Vogue, Allure, The Cut, and more.

Highlights

Jessica explains why she gives the middle finger to the entire beauty industry.
Marketing lies in the beauty industry and why paying more doesn't mean having the best skincare product.
What is Manuka Honey and how did she get it after having dermatitis.
Jojoba as an exfoliator; helps with the inherent peeling process of the skin.
Oily and dry skin and how to take care of them.
Biggest tip for acne; take a break from treatments to identify the problem and resolve it.
Probiotics and maintenance of the microbiome; how we kill so much of our beneficial good bacteria by overdoing it with skin care often.
What's the deal with companies like Goop that positioned themselves as high-end luxury practices that could actually be done for free and that come from ancient indigenous cultures around the world?

To learn more about Jessica DeFino, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

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There are people who do not miss opportunities because they are go-getters! Today’s guest is Bianca Bee, a beauty blogger, entrepreneur, and author, best known for her own talk show "The Bianca Bee Show" and for her book "The 20's Chronicles." Originally from Detroit, she moved to Los Angeles at the age of 17 to attend film school. As she studied, her eager desire made her begin to blaze her own path, working for E! News, Oprah Winfrey Network, TMZ, and many others. With this experience gained, she began to present her own show as an executive producer and host. The following year she published her first book recounting her journey and how, at the age of 20, she found balance between her personal life, university, and work. At 28, she's already appeared on The Steve Harvey Show, and collaborated with brands like Galore, Rolling Out, and Ipsy—and she doesn't seem to want to slow down.

Highlights

Bianca tells how she believes media and beauty go hand in hand.
The concept behind her cosmetic brand BFF (Beauty Friends Forever).
She says why she started her own talk show at age 19.
Her experience working on Oprah Winfrey Network, TMZ, and E! News.
The BFF Kit; a three-part online course to help you grow your Instagram and brand.
Bianca explains how she was encouraged to write, and how she feels after having written two books.
Her most important challenges; being a girly girl in media and typically being the only black girl on certain shows.

To learn more about Bianca Bee, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

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Don't miss this amazing conversation with two experts from the plastic surgery world! Today's guest is Dr. Joubin Gabbay, M.D., a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in the art of cosmetic plastic surgery. Dr. Gabbay graduated with honors from the University of California, San Diego, with a full education in molecular biology and theoretical and practical arts and received his medical education at the Medical College of Virginia. After medical school, he received training in general and plastic surgery in Los Angeles. He has done a study on stem cells derived from fat in plastic surgery that was successful and widely recognized in the field. His professionalism and dedication make him an ideal plastic surgeon, with exceptional results.

Highlights

Dr. Joubin Gabbay tells of his artistic training in architecture and his interest in structure, function and aesthetics, but in surgery direction.
He talks about the importance of connecting with patients and being transparent; learning what they want, letting them know what will be done in their body.
He tells how his studies on adipose derived stem cells began.
Dr. Gabbay says the key is to use creativity in the field to get great results, because not all patients want the same thing.
His opinion on global beauty trends that are happening right now.
He explains how social media benefited his work.

To learn more about Dr. Joubin Gabbay, you can visit his website or follow him on Instagram.

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Go back home.

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We invite you to know the story of someone who succeeded in the beauty industry and decided to change it for the better! Thatiana Diaz is a senior editor and beauty contributor for Refinery29. She leads the editorial strategy, ideation, and execution of Somos, Refinery29's first Latino multiplatform channel. Thatiana produces deeply informed beauty pieces and exclusive celebrity features. She joined Refinery29 from People en Español, where she launched Chica, Meredith's first brand targeting Latino millennials. As a teenager she got into the world of pageants, and she was successful as she was Miss New York USA 2015 and a finalist in Miss Dominican Republic Universe. Once she left that world behind, she studied Communication Studies at Pace University, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts. Her passion is covering beauty from different perspectives, and gaining visibility and proper representation for Latinos in the media.

Highlights:

Thatiana tells why she jumped from beauty pageants to journalism.
She says how she thinks and chooses the stories told in Somos.
She shares her opinion on current beauty trends.
Thatiana explains the fears and insecurities she had being part of beauty pageants.
Why she believes filters in social media are a problem.
Importance of achieving a more diverse and accurate representation of Latins.
She says how the pandemic changed our view of ourselves and what we consider beautiful.

To learn more about Thatiana Diaz, you can visit Somos website or follow her on Instagram.

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Get to know the behind the scenes of plastic surgery! Dr. Sheila Nazarian is a Beverly Hills board certified plastic surgeon, founder of Nazarian Plastic Surgery, and host of the Netflix show Skin Decision. Dr. Nazarian attended Columbia University in New York and graduated with a BA in economics with a pre-medical concentration. From there, she enrolled at Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein School of Medicine, and then went on to a combined residency in plastic surgery at the University of Southern California. She loves to improve a patient's appearance, as this often improves quality of life, but each patient is chosen if she agrees on what procedure they want, as she puts ethics above everything. Her meticulous eye for detail reflects the artistry that distinguishes her work and commitment to achieving a natural look. Her commitment and dedication in the field of plastic surgery with her patients have earned her an excellent reputation.

Highlights

Dr. Nazarian tells how the pandemic was a moment of awakening for her to enjoy things more than ever.
She says why selling things isn't gross if it helps people.
Dr. Nazarian thinks the lockdown has made people focus more on investing in themselves.
Her show Skin Decision on Netflix and how she turned down offers until she could do the show she wanted.
She explains why she rejects patients looking for trends.
The importance of the relationship with patients and her passion for educating the masses.
Dr. Nazarian emphasizes the importance of taking baby steps toward something that resembles what you envision.

To learn more about Dr. Sheila Nazarian, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

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It's never too late to start taking care of your skin! Today's guest is Doris Day, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in laser, cosmetic, surgical, and aesthetic dermatology. Dr. Day graduated from Columbia University with a BA in English, completed her MA in journalism and science writing at New York University before earning her MD from Downstate School of Medicine in New York. She completed her dermatology residency at Cornell University School of Medicine, earning the title of Chief of Residents. She owns a dermatology clinic and understands that medicine is constantly evolving, which is why she is committed to change in the field of cosmetic dermatology. Doris shares her unique insight as a clinical associate professor of dermatology. She is the author of several books, as Beyond Beauty and Forget the Facelift, where she shares all her knowledge and experience. We invite you to listen to this fantastic conversation about the importance of ethics when working with people's skin, and the new treatments and procedures that are improving year after year.

Highlights

Dr. Day tells about the growing loss of individuality in aesthetic processes according to trends and why it is a problem.
She explains why it is essential for skin professionals to work ethically and be responsible.
She talks about hair loss, types of treatments, and what stressors can stimulate telogen effluvium.
Dr. Day tells her opinion on stem cells used in conjunction with PRP as injections.
She gives the four-step program for healthy skin.
Dr. Day talks about Micro-Needling and Sculptra.

To learn more about Dr. Doris Day, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

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Have you ever thought about what place has plastic surgery in feminism? Today's guest is Suzannah Weiss—a writer and editor, whose work consistently focuses on discussing gender, sex, and feminism, and has been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, and Vice. Weiss grew up on Long Island, New York, and attended Brown University, where she studied Cognitive Neuroscience, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Modern Culture and Media. She had several jobs but finally found her place as a freelance writer and editor, where she can share her ideas and do her research without being tied to any media. As a lover of knowledge and spiritual seeker, Suzannah works as a sex and love coach, teaching people to love themselves in order to love others. She is currently working on several books, writing articles of scientific and cultural interest, and appearing regularly on television shows and podcasts to discuss gender, body image, and social justice.

Highlights

Suzannah shares her perspective, as a feminist, on plastic surgery.
She talks about her ethical responsibility as a sex and love coach.
She explains whether THC can enhance pleasure in sexual intercourse.
G Shot, The Mona Lisa Touch, and other modern procedures
Suzannah says what feminism is for her.
Orgasms and what can prevent people from having them

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A picture is worth a thousand words! Kiyana Tehrani is a Los Angeles-born photographer and creative director who specializes in fashion portraits and highlights the utter beauty in anyone. She is a true artist and portraitist who feels free and brave when she works. Capturing real beauty is one of her constant goals, so she uses little editing on her models to achieve a true and unique expression in each image. For the past 8 years, she has been honing her ability to lead creatively and produce her own sessions. At this moment, she is in constant exploration to tell a story behind each picture, looking for models that do not fall under the classic term of beauty, but rather with edgier characteristics that stand out, representing real characteristics. As she says, “The perfect imperfect.”

Highlights

Kiyana explains why she looks forward to shooting people that don't fall under the classic term of beauty.
She tells how influencers edit their photographs and how a certain camera lens can change the way someone looks.
Kiyana talks about the competition in the photography world and the struggles of being a freelancer.
She says how hard model agencies are and why she still doesn’t portrait herself.
Kiyana explains she would like to work with Gucci, because they do edgy stuff.

To learn more about Kiyana Tehrani, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

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Some artistic disciplines are socially relegated but are just as creative as other popular doctrines. Bethany is an artist and works as a makeup artist in LA. Her journey began as a painter, and she has been creating art since she could hold a pin. While being a body piercer, she fell in love with bodies and faces and decided to get into makeup. She was already amazing on paper, so starting on skin wasn’t much of a challenge––but becoming a licensed esthetician was essential to understanding more about the subject. Bethany uses her skills to produce creative and engaging visual marketing material for beauty, making fabulous looks that appear natural. During COVID, she found the time to focus more on painting again and went to digital illustration, encapsulating all her styles and learning new tools for future projects.

Highlights

Bethany talks about her goal: reaching the most beautiful and natural version of each client.
She discusses the concept of Pinpoint Concealing: covering pimples, redness, or freckles without having to put on a full face of foundation.
She explains how she tries to find a middle ground with the client before starting work.
Bethany says she doesn’t wear makeup and talks about why she sees it as another extension of art.
She believes makeup is a buffer when it comes to faces that appear on TV cameras.

To learn more about Bethany Garita, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

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The fashion industry as we know it needs to change. And what better time than now? Rebecca Dennett is a stylist and art director that uses fashion as a medium to create boundary-pushing visual narratives. She studied textile design at Brighton University, fell in love with vogue art, and started working for a stylist in London. Since moving to New York in 2012, she has contributed to prestigious clients such as Elle, Allure, and Style Magazine. Rebecca acknowledges fashion is a constantly changing industry, and that’s why she combines trends with stories to create a concept in each work. Her current project is to seek out and collaborate with more people that don’t fall for the conventional term of beauty.

Highlights:

Rebecca explains how the styles she creates on productions depend on the concept the client is looking for.
She says keeping up with trends is very important in her job because she seeks ideas around them.
She talks about the aspirational fantasy that fashion tries to achieve, body-positive models, and why brands are not used to calling them.
Her relationship with social media and how she tries to avoid it to stay creative.
The importance of thoughtful shopping and recycling clothes.

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Treat your hair and skin better using chemical-free products! Rochelle Graham-Campbell is an accomplished entrepreneur, CEO, and Co-Founder of Alikay Naturals, a luxury organic line of hair and skincare products. Her journey started in 2008 as one of the first vloggers on YouTube, where she did hair-care tutorials. Everything blew up when her subscribers started asking for the natural hair oils she was doing for herself. That’s how Alikay Naturals was born! A visionary pioneer in the natural hair movement, Rochelle now leads a multi-million dollar company that continues growing at a rapid pace. She is a powerful woman that everybody should listen to.

Highlights:

Rochelle tells how her journey started on Youtube as a hair vlogger, and how Alikay Naturals was born.
She shares how she managed to work, study in college, and make products during Alikay’s first months.
The importance of keeping quality while your business grows--starting small and growing strategically.
Rochelle says she cares about hair discrimination and that it’s still legal in the USA.
She explains the origins of locks and why the word ‘dread’ has a negative connotation.

To learn more about Rochelle Graham-Campbell, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram.

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Have you ever wondered how Hollywood actors get chosen? Today’s guest, Danielle Eskinazi, is an award-winning casting director with an ability to spot potential where others can’t. She started working in the entertainment industry more than twenty years ago and has cast incredible actors, such as Milla Jovovich, Hank Azaria, Woody Harrelson and David Bowie. Producers and directors trust her creativity to find actors that suit their needs. Authenticity and personality are what she prioritizes in castings. And in her workshops, she teaches how to give a truthful performance.

Highlights:

Danielle shares how she started working as a casting director without experience and developed a unique eye spotting talent.
The importance of confidence and authenticity in castings.
Listening to what directors are looking for and giving them direction.
Transitioning actors into different roles that correspond more to their age.
She thinks commercials are more challenging for her job than movies.
Danielle insists that actors need to keep on working and studying to get better.

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The perfect brow-look exists and today’s guest, Sania Vucetaj, will explain how to achieve it. Sania is an eyebrow stylist and founder of Sania’s BrowBar in New York City. Due to her unique and incredible style she has become an icon in the beauty industry working with celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna, Angela Simmons and Eliza Dushku. Her passion began when she was a kid and got a scar in her brow, and in order to fix it, she camouflaged the wound and started playing with beauty tools. Nowadays, Sania uses social media to give advice on how to keep brows healthy and has launched a line of beauty products that has amazing feedback.

Highlights:

Sania shares her determination when she started her business 20 years ago even though no one thought it would work.
The 3 keys in brows; Sania believes they are symmetry, fullness, and shape.
Sania explains what you shouldn’t do if you want to keep your brows healthy.
The difference between threading and waxing and why tweezing is better.
Why eyebrows are not a Do It Yourself field.
Sania says that there is not enough training in brows and that’s why she educates and helps through tutorials in social media.
Reveals how to succeed with clients: making them feel comfortable, listening and trying to give them brows the way they desire.

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Do you struggle with your everyday style? Today’s guest, Olga Ferrara, is a fashion influencer that will inspire you to find your look. Her passion turned into a job when she started using social media and people followed her for being organic and truthful. She gives advice to her Instagram community about trends, beauty and how to get real engagement. Olga supports sustainable brands because she believes today’s fashion industry is no longer working for the planet.

Highlights:

Olga explains how bored she was from social media but later discovered how helpful her daily outfits were for her followers. Her looks are an inspiration for them.
Olga describes the importance of gracing what you have to empower your own beauty without listening to others. Work with what you have in order to get better; upgrade yourself.
Be honest with your followers. Promote what you like, work to be original, and find your own style.
Work with a good PR agency so they can promote you and find brands that work with your personality. You have to spend time and money to monetize what you do.
Olga admits that she’s working towards healthier habits: transitioning to a vegan lifestyle and starting using natural products.
Sustainable fashion is the way to go. Olga emphasizes on how our productive system is not working for the planet. That’s why she is working with Ears of Buddha: a women's clothing designer brand that produces sustainable high-end blouses.

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There is a difference between being an open book and just putting everything on the table. What is the right thing to do? Yanina Oyarzo, content creator and producer, explains how it comes to finding the right time and the right way. Competitive, intrepid, and always true to herself, Yanina decided to take one day at a time for the past few months, because "you plan and God laughs." Also, as a marketing enthusiast, she will tell you the ABC's of being successful while branding yourself and others.

Highlights:

Yanina's inspiring career told from the beginning. She talks about her very first job at just 14 years old and the story of how she explored the concept of "beauty in the mess" to become the professional she is today.
The first thing you need to feel like a million dollars, and how always moving your body will keep your inner beauty in alignment with yourself.
Understanding your own message as your personal asset. Yanina tells how being real through the media and not focusing on trends made her more trustworthy for her audience.
Why you should think outside the box to build your brand. Yanina shares her personal tips for understanding each market and its specific audience, in order to help your creativity grow as you create content.
Life happens: It's good to be a planner, but you plan and God laughs. The importance of not being critical of ourselves and taking one day at a time. What are Yanina’s next projects? Let’s hear them out!

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Beauty does truly come in all shapes and sizes. Luckily, the fashion industry realized this a while ago and started catering clothes to plus-sized people, who often struggled when finding garments that fitted them correctly. However, it was not easy finding brands and businesses that offered this. This is why Marie Denee, today’s guest, started her own blog called “The Curvy Fashionista,” in order to show brands and designers that offered plus-sized clothes. Marie is a respected voice in the plus-size fashion arena and has made it her mission to continuously empower women to feel Curvy, Confident, and Chic.

Highlights:

Marie Denee explains how “The Curvy Fashionista” started out as a simple blog and then evolved into a media platform for plus-sized women, plus-size fashion, and lifestyle.
The importance of understanding that the growth of social media correlates directly with the growth of the plus-sized fashion industry: it gives the community a strong voice and visibility which brands cannot ignore.
Marie Denee briefly describes what the “Health At Every Size” movement is and addresses one of the most common issues that is found in medicine and health practices.
How the pandemic has influenced the beauty and fashion world by slowing its pace and aiming it to a more natural and soft look.
When creating “The Curvy Fashionista,” Marie Denee explains that she wanted to educate, empower, and help people when finding clothes in the retail world that could truly make them feel confident.
Marie Denee shares what’s coming up next for her: a new website, a new program to support the community, and much more!

To learn more about Marie Denee, you can visit The Curvy Fashionista website, and you can check her out on Instagram.

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When thinking about America’s most successful and worldwide-known sitcoms, “Friends” is probably one of the first ones that come up to our minds. Because of each character's uniqueness and their iconic friendship, we’re probably going to remember this show forever. What you probably did not know is all of the hard work that dressing each one of them meant! Today’s guest, Debra McGuire, was the Costume Designer on the show for its ten-year run and is here to tell you all about it! Debra is also a fine artist and fashion designer who has even been nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Costume Design because of her work in the movie “Phil Spector”

Highlights:

Because of Debra’s fine art background, when designing the look for the “Friends” characters, she thought of them as a tableau: their look together was way more important than what they looked like individually.
Debra explains how this special time of COVID-19 has helped her connect with her artistic side: she has delved into painting and sculpting.
The importance of being careful when dressing the actors, because the clothes have to support the script, not the visual: you don’t want to ever detract from the joke or the point of each scene.
Debra’s freshness and uniqueness led her to design the most iconic looks on the show, which made her different from other designers.
The difference between working as a costume designer for TV shows and for movies: they are two industries that move at different paces.
Debra gives her own definition of beauty which consists of getting at the deep essence of self, and finding a way to project that externally.
There’s a difference between what a stylist and a costume designer does: one consists of dressing the external aspects of self, and the other is more about finding the essence of self
Debra tells an inspirational story about the importance of allowing our essence to come out and how life changing this could be.

To learn more about Debra, you can visit her webpage or follow her on Instagram

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Thinking that a pretty face cannot also mean being an intelligent and inspiring person is an archaic thought. Galina Antonova, today’s guest, is living proof of that. Galina is an angel investor, model, fashion editor and the creator of the “Brains and Beauty” podcast which defines herself: her breathtaking beauty is perfectly combined with her keen investing abilities. Also, Galina is originally from Russia but at 19 years old she decided to pursue her dreams and move to the US in order to start her own path...now that’s inspiring!

Highlights:

Galina describes how her relationship with beauty changed over the years: as a young girl, she felt really insecure about her body, but as she grew older she realized the importance of loving yourself and nowadays she feels more confident than ever before.
How beauty standards that are portrayed in magazines, TV and social media can have a huge negative impact in young girls.
Galina explains how beauty standards in Russia are different from the American ones, and how that helped her gain confidence when she arrived in the US.
After working in accounting for some time, Galina realized that she was really interested in investing and entrepreneurship which led her to become an angel investor.
In the future, Galina wants to keep angel investing and hopes to launch her own merchandise soon.

To learn more about Galina, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram

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**Being a celebrity makeup artist takes a lot of commitment and expertise, especially when you are traveling all around the world. This is the reality of today’s guest, Mylah Morales, a well-recognized makeup artist who has been known by the beauty press as a celebrity “Glaminator” because of her quick and detailed work. Mylah’s impressive client list includes Rihanna, Jordin Sparks, Leona Lewis, Willow Smith, and many more women who feel empowered and beautiful thanks to her skills.

Highlights:**

Mylah describes how she became known as the celebrity “Glaminator” and what her secret approach is when doing makeup.
The importance of understanding your client’s personality and own personal timing is key to build a strong and lasting relationship with them.
Mylah explains that most of her clients started working with her when really young, so she has managed to accompany them in their journey of success and growth which has developed a motherly instinct towards them.
Throughout the years, Mylah has developed a certain makeup “style” that almost resembles a “brand” which is instantly recognizable.
Some of the most challenging aspects of being a celebrity makeup artist is the pressure that you feel when working for live events and how chaotic it can sometimes be.
Mylah’s speciality is achieving a clean and classy look, where beautiful skin is her first and foremost feature.
Being a makeup artist is a lot of fun because Mylah gets the chance to be really creative and create looks for any type of occasion, whether it’s for a red carpet event or a musical video, for example.
In the near future, Mylah hopes to delve into her own master class and teach how to do makeup professionally.

To learn more about Mylah and check out her makeup looks, you can follow her on Instagram and follow the #glaminator hashtag!

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When being a director in the movie industry, beauty plays a huge role in delivering the most stunning and breathtaking scenes on the big screen. Today on Beauty in Progress, Gabriela Tagliavini tells us everything about her view on beauty as an award winning filmmaker. Moreover, Gabriela has directed seven feature films and the three most viewed movies in Mexico and Spain: she is one of the most well recognized Latino filmmakers in the Hollywood industry!

Highlights:

Gabriela describes what she looks for when selecting talents for her movies, and how important it is to have the “IT” factor in order to be chosen for the role.
How the standards of beauty in the Hollywood industry evolved and the importance of understanding that each one of us has a different perspective of what’s beautiful
Gabriela describes a reality that can be found in Hollywood: your appearance does determine the kind of roles you are most likely to get, so it’s really important to keep in mind that a more natural look is what is often searched for so that it can mold into diverse roles.
There also is another reality that Gabriela recognizes: the perfect picture of an actress or actor in a movie is achieved with a lot of hard work and a big team behind the scenes. Nobody is THAT perfect all of the time!
Gabriela believes that her movies are so successful because they empower women and help them realize that each one of them is different and beautiful in their own way.
In this particular context that we are living in, Gabriela has allowed herself to spend some more time in reading and preparing new projects for the future.

To learn more about Gabriela, you can follow her on Instagram or check out her LinkedIn!

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Hair is a personal trait that people take very seriously, as it’s part of their essence, beauty and personality. Today’s guest, Sarah Potempa, is a celebrity hair stylist who knows everything about maintaining that essence and making her clients glow from the inside to the outside by doing a simple haircut or a radical transformation on them. Also, Sarah is the inventor of the patented Beachwaver® curling iron, which helps people do their curls at home professionally! Moreover, Sarah is the CEO of the 45x award-winning Beachwaver Co.®, located in the greater Chicago area, which provides innovative hair tools and products to customers worldwide.

Highlights:

Sarah explains how she combined her passion for styling hair with her business studies and then created her own company called the Beachwaver.
The importance of understanding that beauty is about expressing who you are and how you choose to style your hair can also empower you and give you more confidence.
Everything that Sarah does is rooted in a very strong foundation of balance and proportion, so she knows exactly how to advise and help her clients when they need a change in their hairstyle.
Sarah describes how she and her sister came up with the idea of inventing the Beachwaver® curling iron to help women who wanted to do their curls at home professionally.
Most recently, Sarah has launched a hair care line which helps people take care of their aging hair and make it stronger by using her products.
Sarah has her own community called The Wave, where more than 400 people help each other in finding the best solutions for their damaged hair and virtual consultations are being held everyday.

If you want to know more about Sarah, you can visit her Beachwaver website or follow her on Instagram

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When being an actor, finding something that stands out about yourself in order to differentiate from others is key in the entertainment industry. This is what Hayley Littman, today’s guest, helps her clients with everyday. Hayley is President of the Littman Talent Group, a talent agency with headquarters in Los Angeles and a branch office in Atlanta which represents both adults and young actors. Her special love is helping the client build their casting image so that there is no doubt when they walk into a CDs office that that is the guy or girl they are looking for.

Highlights:

The importance of reaching success by being yourself and bringing out that “certain something” that is unique about you, and how Hayley helps her clients find that.
Hayley explains that having a role model to look up to or a mentor is great in the acting business, but not losing yourself to become that person is crucial.
How influencers are seen as raw talent and are slowly getting into the TV and movie industry by just being themselves and being followed by a huge audience.
Hayley sees the process of an actor connecting with its character, as a full circle: finding common characteristics between the actor and the character is key.
Hayley believes she is different from her competitors because she takes the time to talk and connect with her clients on a deeper level, instead of rushing the meetings and acting like a talent factory.
Due to the digital transformation that we are living and the growth of streaming platforms, Hayley thinks it's important for actors to be open minded and accept this possible change in the acting industry.

To lean more about Hayley and her work, follow the Littman Talent Group’s Instagram

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Art is definitely a form of expression which tends to express beauty in many different ways. Today’s guest, Farnaz Harouni, is a multi-discipline artist who expresses her creative energy and passion through many channels such as sculpting, fashion designing, and interior designing. Her love of life, artistic vision, and meticulous discipline breed an authentic creativity that defies labels and boundaries.

Highlights:

How Farnaz chose to follow her passion of being an artist from a very young age, although her parents wanted a different future for her
Farnaz describes how she started designing custom couture gowns and how much joy it brings to her because of her belief that it requires the most level of creative freedom
The importance of knowing human anatomy inside out when teaching about fashion design and illustration
How Farnaz’s interest in sculpting developed and her fascination with seeing human anatomy three-dimensionally
Farnaz explains the difference between fashion design and sculpting and how both artistic expressions make her feel
It’s crucial to Farnaz to stay true to who you are and only make changes to yourself if that’s what you genuinely want
How each of the six bronze sculptures Farnaz has created has a different meaning and a hidden and deep message behind them
Farnaz’s concern about young kids being exposed to social media and the importance of not comparing ourselves to others: living our lives just like we want to should be our main goal

Get to know more about Farnaz’s work and art by visiting her website and follow her on Instagram!

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Our need to fit into society and our deep desire to be loved and accepted, is what led Cris Saur, today’s guest, to start filming the movie that later on saved her life: Quest for Beauty. This documentary is about Cris searching for the real meaning of beauty across 12 countries, after leaving an abusive relationship and being a model for over a decade. In addition, Cris has won several prizes for the movies she has filmed, and she is an active and engaged member of IDA (International Documentary Association)

Highlights:

Cris explains how being a model and aging in the fashion world caused her to feel very pressured, insecure about herself and eventually losing the true meaning of beauty.
Cris describes how after leaving a psychologically, emotionally and physically abusive relationship, she got the idea of filming the documentary Quest for Beauty and how she started searching for that lost meaning.
How Quest for Beauty actually helped Cris heal from within, and grow into a more self-loving person.
Cris talks about the pressure and negativity that teenage girls experience everyday on social media and how this must be stopped.
Cris gives some advice for anyone who is struggling with sadness and insists on the importance of embracing yourself for whom you really are.

Outbound Links: Follow Cris on Instagram and get to know more about Quest for Beauty by visiting its website

Inbound links:

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Today on Beauty in Progress, our guests are identical twins who’ve chosen the entertainment life. When they were younger, Cristina and Celestina Lucero lived for gymnastics, but later they decided they wanted to take a different path that demanded confidence and determination: Hollywood. Now they both excel in their professions, and only success awaits them.

Highlights:

Cristina and Celestina describe their professional evolution and why they decided to move to LA
Cristina and Celestina explain the importance of first impressions and aesthetics in the entertainment industry
Procedures they chose to undergo in order to feel more confident
The importance of looking and feeling good
Confidence as the “It” factor that makes someone attractive
Differences between Cristina’s and Celestina’s professions
Experiences that have marked their careers today

Go follow Cristina and Celestina to learn more about them!

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Wardrobe stylist, makeup artist and creative director, it seems there is not much that Kristine Urzua isn’t ready to tackle. Today on the Beauty In Progress podcast we are excited to chat with this new mom and founder of Ritual Behavior Styling. Urzua has made a name for herself in Los Angeles by specializing in self-image branding and product innovation.

Highlights:

Kristine’s journey to becoming a wardrobe stylist, makeup artist and creative director
The key to success is branding each client to become their best version
How Kristine started working with the rising singing star Sabrina Claudio
The importance of identifying an idea and executing it

Follow Kristine on her Instagram.

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A unique fashion icon, Valerie Von Sobel has done it all – actress, model, philanthropist, you name it. She escaped from Hungary during the Communist era to Toronto. In 1995 her son passed away of a brain tumor. Within that time her mother also passed away and her husband took his own life. In 2000, she responded by opening the Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting single parents with terminally ill children. In today’s episode we jump into the mind of one of the most curious and strongest souls in the fashion world.

Highlights:

Embellishing oneself and how makeup doesn’t equal beauty

Valerie’s concerns about the lack of scientific progress on medulloblastoma
How technology has been incorporated into beauty and Valerie’s thoughts on technology being “anti thinking”
Valerie’s point of view on the COVID-19 pandemic
The pros and cons of genetic modification
Valerie’s concerns regarding not policing the internet
The boundaries of plastic surgery

You can learn more about her charity work on Compassioncantwait.org and consider donating while you’re there. You can also follow Valerie on Instagram.

Website: https://compassioncantwait.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerie_von_sobel/?hl=en

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On today’s episode our guest is elite fitness trainer and model Shannon Decker. She grew up in California and started her modeling career at the age of 22, but then discovered her passion for helping others achieve their health and fitness goals. Now she has become one of the top fitness influencers in LA and is on a mission to inspire people to go out there and fight for their dreams.

Highlights:

Shannon’s journey turning her passion for fitness into a successful business.
Shannon’s relationship with beauty.
How Shannon learned to navigate the challenges that come with being an influencer.
The importance of taking care of yourself from the inside out.

If you want to know more about Shannon you can follow her on Instagram.
Download Shannon's fitness app: http://shred.app/shannon

Join Dr. Adrienne Youdim & Dr. Behrooz Torkian Digital Beauty Event of the Summer: https://www.drtorkian.com/blog/digital-beauty-event-of-the-summer/

There are many based makeup artists in Los Angeles, but only a few truly understand beauty trends. On today’s podcast our special guest is one of them, Beau Nelson, makeup artist and photographer of top LA celebrity. He has become a success in beauty and fashion because of his deep understanding of color and makeup techniques.

Highlights:

Beau’s journey to becoming a celebrity and Editorial makeup artist.
The difference between creating desire rather than beauty when taking photos.
Beau's views on how social media has created a new platform for new makeup artist
Different makeup applications technique.

You can follow Beau on his website or Instagram.

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