Industry Intensive: Bridal Focus PRESENTER BIOS
Aga Rhodes | @agarhodes Aga Rhodes (formerly Kaskiewicz) has been doing makeup for 20 years and working in all fields of the industry gave her a great understanding that it’s not just about applying the perfect shade of foundation or lipstick, but it’s also about how she makes her clients feel. Having an art school background from her home country of Poland, and falling in love with color and texture, Aga, focused on Makeup Artistry. After working over for luxury salons and companies in Chicago over the years, Aga decided to freelance fulltime with Makeup by Aga, doing private services commercial, print, fashion and editorial, and Bridal by Aga. She brings effortless chic and red carpet glam to her clients. Through the help of her mentors such as Michael DeVellis and James Vincent of The Powder Group and The Makeup Show, Aga started to get involved more in the artists community, help create a support for young artists, and became a national educator, where she shares her knowledge and unique approach to the beauty industry and business. She is also one of the educators on the newly launch Medix Beuaty App. While working as an educator and with her local artist community, Aga also believes that an artist continues to learn themselves, she peruses continuing education classes and programs in the beauty industry throughout the year, which takes her to Los Angeles and New York. Aga also travels twice a year to work back stage during NYFW, but it’s also her work with private clients for consultations, beauty shopping and makeup lessons she finds rewarding. Some of Aga’s clients includes Lady Gaga, Joan Jett, Andrew Zimmern, Giuliana Rancic. Chicago celebrities, socialites and women power players. Aga’s work has also grazed the pages of Modern Luxury Weddings, CS, Michigan Ave magazines to name a few. Aga also finds rewarding working with brides to help them create their real life fairytale weddings, from magical stylized photoshoots, which many can be found in national wedding focused magazines such as Vera Wang Wdding Style, Inside Weddings and Grace Ormonde. She has also had the pleasure to explore her creative side of makeup while working with two national NAHA nominated teams. Through it all Aga stays her authentic, original self, doing everything with a purpose and even bigger dreams.
As the founder of Faces of Virtue Beauty Studio, Dee trains her team of beauty experts to deliver the Faces of Virtue "Signature Look." Dee also is instrumental in providing guidance for her team of artists in designing annual signature looks and teaching the art of application for the NFL New Orleans Saintsations Cheerleaders and the NBA New Orleans Pelicans Dance Team. Focusing on enhancements as oppose to transformations, Dee works with her clients to create a phenomenal experience. When not working with brides, Dee is constantly immersing herself in education for her industry. She serves on the Board of Directors as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the Weddings International Professionals Association (WIPA) New Orleans and Gulf South Region. Dee is also a member of the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) and The Powder Group. Dee's work has been featured in Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides UK, and Munaluchi Magazines, to name a few. www.facesofvirtue.com Instagram: @facesofvirtue Joanne McDonough | @joannemcdonough Joanne McDonough is the founder of Joya beauty and the seacoast’s premiere makeup artist and skin care therapist. Licensed in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. Her artistic talent, diverse background and professional experience create a unique and simply beautiful style. Joya beauty’s intimate studio, located in Dover, New Hampshire, offers Joya clientele the opportunity to learn, relax and be pampered. Whether it’s for a skin care treatment, makeup application or lesson or a bridal consultation, Joanne has the innate skills and ability to bring out the natural beauty of each of her clients. Joanne also works as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better program at Wentworth Douglas Hospital in Dover, New Hampshire, is a member of the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals Association and has achieved Professional certifications from many other related industry organizations. Joanne’s work has been seen on the cover of Grace Ormond’s Wedding Style and Marriage Magazine as well as in New Hampshire Wedding Magazine and she has provided makeup for wedding fashion events for such publications. www.joyabeauty.com
Michelle Durpetti | @eugeniaweston Michelle Durpetti is a celebrated Wedding Planner and Restauranteur based in Chicago. Known for her exquisite events, Michelle is passionate about planning every detail of the wedding process with her esteemed clientele. Michelle launched her company, Michelle Durpetti Events in 2008 where she’s planned over 300 weddings and events. Recognized for her outstanding level of service and pristine taste, Michelle has been featured in distinguished publications such as Inside Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Grace Ormonde, Modern Luxury Weddings, Strictly Weddings, Today’s Chicago Woman Magazine, and more. She’s planned and designed some of Chicago’s most notable and celeb-studded events such as the Chicago Gateway Green’s Annual Green Tie Ball, the Fiera Italiana in conjunction with the annual Columbus Day Parade, for the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, and the Chicago Hunter Darby. With over 10 years with MDE, Michelle is also a managing partner with her family’s hospitality group in Chicago. Awarded one of Partyslate’s Top 50 Party Planners in America, Michelle’s success has placed her as one of the world’s most influential wedding professionals. www.durpettievents.com With more demand for on-site service, Joyce founded Joyce Luck Style in 2005 and hand selected a team
of talented stylists to join her. Joyce and her team love working with all skin types, ethnicities, cultures
and backgrounds! Together they have styled 1000s of weddings and special events in California and
have traveled to many parts of the US as well as overseas including Taiwan, Mexico, Costa Rica and
Dominican Republic. Joyce has worked with some of the most reputable event planners and
photographers in the wedding industry. Her work has been featured in many popular bridal magazines
and wedding blogs including The Knot, Grace Ormonde, Ceremony Magazine, Style Me Pretty, Wedding
Chicks, Inside Weddings, Glamour Weddings, and The Bride and Bloom. Her team has been
commissioned to work on large scale events including Guo Pei Couture Show, Thea Awards Gala, Golden
Globe Awards, Grammys, BET Awards, and the Oscars. Joyce loves working with everyday women and
men but has had the privilege to work with some well-known celebs including Joey Fatone, James Kyson
Lee, Ross Matthews, Ali Landry, Kari Byron, Aaron Carter, Curtis Stone, All-4-One, Skylar Diggins, Judge
Mathis, Rory McIlroy, Cameron Boyce, and Kobe Bryant. Her latest project was being Key Makeup
Artist for BET show American Gangster Trap Queens. Joyce credits her husband and 3 children in
supporting her work both at home and away!
James is also a frequent collaborator and key artist for collections and fashion week shows for every major fashion city across the world, working with such diverse designers as Ashton Michael, Charlotte Ronson, Chris Habana, and S by Serena Williams. His numerous editorial projects and campaigns with photographers, Alexander Thompson, Mike Ruiz, David Lachapelle, etc., have appeared in magazines that include ID, V, Paper, Wonderland, and Italian Vogue. His love of the arts and music has spanned genres with legendary artists that include Lady Gaga, Florence and the Machine, Courtney Love, Amy Winehouse, Joan Jett, and The Foo Fighters. James’s virtuosity has also garnered the adulation of leading ladies like Liv Tyler, Reese Witherspoon, and Jane Fonda, as well as several high-profile influential men and women, including President Barack Obama. As Director of Education and Artistry for The Makeup Show and The Powder Group, his unique and fresh approach to training, artistry cultivation, and product development has him working with makeup artists at all levels of the industry. In 2017, with the beauty industry embracing wholeness, wellness and community involvement, James, both makeup artist and REBEL, and activist and OUTLAW, Jeremy Meek, designed, developed, and launched Rebels & Outlaws Sacred Ceremony. Their candles and conjurings, products, and potions are imbued with color, scent, essential oils, hydrosols, crystals, herbs and flowers for their medicinal and magical properties, and prepared with love and good intentions to meet the needs of the person using it. Each piece in the brand is for professional artists, creatives, caregivers and cool kids to set up a sacred space and makeup station, find their muse, and create an unforgettable experience for anyone who needs to recharge, relax or reboot. Concurrently, he is the Beauty Editor for On Makeup Magazine and Galore Magazine, and a frequent contributor to countless blogs and publications including Refinery 29. James has grown his fan base exponentially through his podcast, The Makeup Show, with Danessa Myricks, and his recurring appearances as a beauty expert on television shows like NBC’s The Today Show, CBS This Morning and NY1. Through his fashion/beauty prowess, training/artist cultivation @jvincentmakeup @rebelsandoutlaws www.rebelsandoutlaws.com The Highly Sought-After Multi-Hyphenate Beauty Artist and Entrepreneur fondly known to her clients at The Glam Doctor, Rashida Lashawn is the woman behind the gorgeous faces you see on television and film, in the courtroom, at the doctor’s office, and walking down the aisle. Recently, Rashida was featured in a national commercial for At Thrive from Mastercard! See the commercial below: {link} or insert video here.
With an unmatched and tireless work ethic alongside 20 years experience as a makeup artist and beauty professional, Rashida LaShawn treats every client like her favorite client. Client list includes; Vivica A. Fox, Lynn Whitfield, Alfre Woodard, Holly Robinson Peete, Omari Hardwick, and Laz Alonzo. ABC Primetime, Detroit Fashion Week, Ford Motor Company, Iman Cosmetics, L’Oreal Paris, Seventeen Magazine, Sony Music, TV One “When they go low, we GLAM high” As a beauty educator, Rashida teaches at Wayne County Community College, hosts virtual classes for everyday women to unlock their inner beauty, and teaches and consults professional makeup artists on their businesses, best practices, and providing extraordinary customer service to their clients.
Tami has been trained in Los Angeles, New York, and New Orleans, and continues her education taking workshops and classes regularly, with some of the most respected and talented artists in the industry. Tami continues to keep up to date on all the newest techniques and trends in the Makeup Industry. In addition to working on all of her weddings, in the wedding offseason Tami loves working runway shows and here are a few she has added to her resume. NY Men’s Fashion Week 2018 Spring, 2017 Lead Artist Jersey House Reality TV Pilot; Women’s Couture Fashion week 2018 Spring, lead artist NY Couture Fashion week 2019 Fall, Lead Artist NY Couture 2019 Spring, Lead Artist Social Fashion week Los Angeles 2019 Fall, Lead Artist for 2019 Spring Paris Fashion week, Lead Artist for LA Walk Fashion week 2019, Lead Artist LA Fashion week 2019 Nancy Vuu Designs. Tami recently became published in Harpers Bazaar Magazine for designer Nancy Vuu; California Wedding Day Real Weddings Magazine 2018 December issue; California Wedding Day Magazine, January 2019 issue; Jolie En Style Magazine 2017 & 2018; I Fashion Magazine, 2018. Tami has had the pleasure of recently working with famous children’s photographer, Karolina Henke, with editorial shoots with celebrity children the Clements Twins, Ava & Leah and the Jellen sisters Sofia & Olivia. Tami was honored to be selected as a finalist in 2017 for California Wedding Day for two different counties in California and has also be selected on the California Wedding Day Haute List now every issue since December 2017. https://tamibernardmakeup.com @tamibernardmakeup 
Dee Rouzan
Dee is an accomplished licensed professional in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her specialty and passion is ingrained in providing luxury bridal beauty experiences for all ethnicities. Dee's passion for the beauty industry began long before her career. At the tender age of 12, Dee fell in love with the "simple" beauty of hair and makeup. Dee is an expert in the bridal industry, from lipstick's intoxicating aroma to the final placement of a hairpin.
Colin Pearson
Collin is an international-award winning wedding bridal fashion & editorial photographer and educator based in Chicago, Illinois. Combining his unique past in photojournalism, sports, and fashion photography, he created a style that is both candid and dramatic. Collin is dedicated to a personalized approach with all of his clients; reflected in the images he captures of their life-defining moments. When he is not shooting, he is an educator to other photographers at workshops, conventions and conferences around the world.
Joyce Luck
Joyce Luck is a LA based professional makeup artist and hair stylist, specializing in the bridal and special events industry. Joyce began her makeup career in cosmetic sales where she learned about customer service, product knowledge and professionalism. Although demonstrating products were part of the job, she quickly found more joy and satisfaction in applying makeup over sales especially observing how ecstatic her clients felt before, during and after servicing them. Mostly self-taught, Joyce developed
valuable makeup experience through professional makeup workshops, working with a makeup and hair team and private training. Joyce’s philosophy of offering the best client experience is by treating each
person like they have a sign on them saying make me feel special! She challenges herself at every single event to focus and achieve each person’s vision and best versions of themselves while taking stress
away from any drama that can surround a wedding or special event. Her strong reputation and years of experience has made her a well sought after makeup artist.
James Vincent
James Vincent’s passion and expertise through his work in fashion, editorial, runway, film, theater, television, music, and celebrity has been lauded as modern, exciting and inspirational. As such, Nylon Magazine, The New York Times and WWD have named James as a “Makeup Artist to Watch.” As a true visionary in fashion and editorial, he is an in-demand premier guest artist, working with makeup brands that include MAC, YSL, Sephora, Tom Ford Beauty, Ardency Inn, Make Up For Ever, Rihanna's Fenty Beauty with Kendo Brands, and was recently named Creative Director for TwinMedix Skincare.
Despina Scandalis
Despina Scandalis is as a Licensed Esthetician and Makeup Artist based in the Los Angeles area, who is known for her personal connection and for working with her clients to ensure all their beauty wellness needs are met through rejuvenating spa facials, makeup sessions and educational programs. Her career in the Beauty Industry specializing in Bridal and Red Carpet Beauty going on 15 years. Her strong back round in product knowledge and client relations having been an Educator, Executive and Artist for various luxury cosmetic brands including Christian Dior, Bobbi Brown, Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics, Yves Saint Laurent in high end department stores and cosmetics boutiques while continuing to work in the industry in many different capacities including TV/Film, Print, Editorial, Runway, Celebrity and Private Clientele. www.despinascandalis.com @despinascandalis
Holly Gray
Holly Gray is the CEO of Anything But Gray Events and a second-generation wedding planner in Los Angeles. Her focus is on colorful wedding planning and design for the joyously creative. With a mindset of 'community over competition' and drive to create a more inclusive and welcoming wedding industry, Holly leads the Tuesdays Together Los Angeles chapter as well as sits as the Director of PR & Marketing for WIPA SoCal. After almost 10 years in business, Holly encourages other wedding pros to understand their value and think outside the box in order to create a life and business they love every single day!
Melanie Voros
Melanie Voros is the founder of Blissful Beginnings Wedding and Event Design, offering creative and comprehensive wedding planning services throughout New England. Melanie started Blissful Beginnings in 1997, driven by a passion for art and design, a love of festivity, and a desire to assist couples throughout New England to create special events with Soul. With more than 20 years of experience in planning New England weddings, Melanie has forged close relationships with the region's most reputable vendors. Her attention to detail, creativity, and exuberance for her craft ensures that every event is a success!
Onorina Jomir
Onorina started her makeup journey at 15 years old, when she took her first makeup class in her home country, Moldova. During her fine art studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art, she immersed herself in the world of theater, cinema, fashion, and bridal, becoming the go-to makeup artist on campus. Upon graduating, Onorina was awarded a prestigious scholarship by The Powder Group, to study at the Make Up For Ever TV and Cinema Academy in Paris, France. Without hesitation, she moved across the Atlantic for this incredible opportunity. Six years later, Onorina is the owner of her reputable bridal business, featuring a team of artists and offering luxury makeup and hair styling services to an international clientele. She's travelled to places like Switzerland, Morocco, and London, worked NY Bridal Fashion Week, and been featured on Vogue Weddings, The French Wedding Podcast, and countless online and print bridal publications.
Pamela Lesch
Pamela Lesch, a Charleston-based makeup artist and esthetician, began her love of all things beauty-related at age 3, in the lap of her lovely mother, swiping the red lipstick off her lips to apply to her own. Pamela has a Master of Arts in Teaching and delights
in educating her clients about their skin care and cosmetics needs. She works extensively in the Charleston bridal industry. Pamela is also a freelance makeup artist for Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, working with politicians and pundits from around the country
when they make appearances from the Charleston area. Male grooming for television has become a sub-specialty of hers
Rashida LaShawn
Rashida LaShawn is the consummate professional. An utter visionary. A true artist and collaborator whose passion is GLAM:
God first, Grace, & Goodness,
Light, Love, & Luxury, Honey!
Abundance, Achievement, & Altruism
Mindfulness, Magic, & A Mission-Driven Purpose
Be Beautiful. Be Well. Be Whole.
Not neglecting her love for her community and her desire to see women empowered, Rashida created I AM SUPERB – a community outreach program designed to bolster confidence and self-esteem in young women. She also started the GLAM Empowerment Camp for teen girls during the Pandemic that helps girls with self-esteem and self-confidence.
Tami Bernard Nicolas
Tami Bernard Nicholas is a San Luis Obispo based professional makeup artist specializing in bridal makeup. She is known for her HD ~ 10K camera-ready looks for photo shoots, engagement photos, and headshots, as well as, runway and editorial shoots. She is a versatile artist using both airbrush makeup and traditional makeup to achieve a fresh and radiant look. Her style has been described as “natural glamour” – bringing out the natural beauty of her brides while adding a touch of glamour for that special occasion.