While most little girls topped their wish lists with sparkles, jewels and princess gowns, a young Kara Lynn Curcio carefully printed “doll heads” at the top of her list.
“I always thought they were much more fun than regular dolls,” laughs Curcio. “You could do so many ‘real’ things to them.” How would she know? “My family has been involved in the professional beauty business for four generations. My mother, Karen, is not only a stylist, she also owns a salon. Because I was raised in a business where true magic happened everyday, it was only natural that I wanted mannequin heads instead of a Flying Fairy or Li’l Miss Magic Hair, which paled in comparison.”
Now 23 years-old and working at E'lan Hair Studio in Sea Girt, New Jersey, Curcio is fulfilling her dream of becoming a successful stylist and makeup artist after years of study, which have already paved the way for one very important milestone: her first magazine cover.
“When I graduated from high school, I was awarded a full art scholarship,” Curcio reveals. “I ultimately turned it down to attend the Makeup Designory in New York City for makeup and cosmetics. After 10 months of intense yet fabulous classes, I returned home and enrolled in college. Three semesters into my studies, I had an epiphany: ‘I want to do hair. Why am I studying art?’ Soon afterward, I went to beauty school, became an assistant and am now a junior stylist and makeup artist. Our salon does covers for In Jersey magazine, so of course I volunteered to be part of the photo team. When I found out that my work would be featured on the cover the day before the shoot, I didn’t have time to be nervous; I jumped for joy!”
Not one to rest on her laurels, Curcio is looking forward to more photographic work while she continues to hone and apply her hair skills and perform makeup applications in the adjacent cosmetics store, also owned by E'lan Hair Studio. “It’s a great place to work with so many opportunities,” Curcio smiles. “New York City, the capital of high-fashion, runway work and incredible education, is also just a hop, skip and a jump away. I want to work hard, take advantage of all opportunities and never stop growing my career.”
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| Photographer: Peter Ackerman; Hairstylist: Kara Curcio; Makeup Artist: Ceylone Boothe; Model: Nicole Hibbard; Gown by Moet by Matthew Christopher; Birdcage headpiece by Edward Berger, Castle Couture; Jewelry by Diamond Castle Jewelers |
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