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| Sharrie Williams |
I am so very excited and honored to have my second guest blogger (the first was my daughter Krysten)! Sharrie Williams is the author of The Maybelline Story. She is the heir to the Maybelline legacy, is Tom Lyle William's great-niece and the granddaughter of Evelyn Boecher Williams. I am so excited to have the beautiful and wonderful Sharrie on my blog this week and I know you will enjoy every word below - I surely did!
As a blogger
yourself, what advice can you give others and myself about the blogging world?
I find it incredible how a blog grows organically just by showing up at
the computer everyday and posting good material. Three years ago I was
excited to receive 66 hits my first month. Now I can't believe I have
over 35,000 hits a month. Of course adding Twitter followers has
been a big boost and Facebook expanded my online presence as well.
Like Mabel in the
book that burnt off her eyelashes on a hot stove, can you share some of your
makeup secrets?
After I finish putting on my eye shadow I dab the tiniest bit of eye
cream on my lids. This is an old Hollywood Movie Star secret I learned from my
grandmother. Another favorite trick of mine is, once I have my face make
up and powder on, I buff it with a terrycloth washrag so it doesn't look thick
and dull. I also blot the oil during the day with rice paper or sometimes
even a piece of a toilet seat cover in a public restroom. Try it you'll
be amazed.
What is your must
have Maybelline product?
I still use Great Lash mascara. The number one mascara in the world and I
like Maybelline mineral Power make-up. (It looks great after being buffed.)
What inspired you to
write this book?
It's been a long process. My grandmother began telling me the
Maybelline story when I was a young girl and the seed was planted. After
her untimely death I was determined to finish it. I knew that if I didn’t
tell the story it would be lost forever and that would be a shame. The
Maybelline Story is a thread in the fabric of American history and a big part
of vintage Hollywood glamor. I also wanted my great uncle, Tom Lyle
Williams, the founder of the Maybelline Company to be remembered for his
tremendous contribution to the Cosmetic industry as well.
What is the best
benefit to you being the heir of the Maybelline dynasty?
Growing up with a great uncle who made my life so magical. It
wasn't about the money; the money only complicated matters and destroyed us in
the end. It was about being so close with my cousins and the fun of
sharing our excitement as the Maybelline grew into a global giant. Now as
an older woman I hope to give back some of the wisdom and strength I gained
ridding this roller coaster experience.
Growing up did you
understand your family dynamics and who your great uncle was and how he
contributed to the world of beauty?
My grandmother, Evelyn Williams was married to Tom Lyle's brother
Preston, my grandfather. After Preston's death, at only 37 years of age,
she and my 12-year-old father followed Tom Lyle from Chicago to
California. The three of them remained extremely close and loved to talk
about the good old days when Maybelline was a little mail order business sold
through the classifieds in Movie magazines. I was so fascinated by their
stories as a little girl that all I wanted to do was hear more, as often as
possible. Soon I became my grandmother’s little protégé and eventually
her little clone. So yes I was indoctrinated at an early age with the
rules of the game, the family dynamics and I did know and appreciate the
tremendous contribution Tom Lyle bestowed on women and the world of
beauty.
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| Original Maybelline 1916 |
What advice can you
give others who want to follow in your uncle’s shoes? For the underdogs.
Tom Lyle Williams was the biggest underdog of all, of course.
That's what the Maybelline Story is all about. He started out with
nothing more than a good idea, lots of determination and a $500 loan from his
brother and turned it into a worldwide brand. It's all about building
your brand and your reputation. Brands come and go if it's not built on
integrity. Like doing a blog...It takes about three years before you
really see results and during that time, you develop discipline and
determination, or you give up and never see the results of your labor. As
my great uncle would say... It's easy to be excited and happy when it's new and
easy... the true test of success, is keeping the momentum going during the down
cycles. If you believe in your project, you have to keep going even
though it might take years. It took me 20 years to get published and I
wanted to give up and burn my manuscript all the time. When I
least expected it, the miracle happened and now the energy I put forth
building that momentum is expanding the blog and my voice into the world - Because
I never gave up.
What is this book
about? Is there anything in this book that you did not publish? Care to share?
The Maybelline story is about a young 19-year-old entrepreneur who rides
the ups and downs of life while building a little company called
Maybelline. It’s also about his incredible sister-in-law, Evelyn Williams,
(my grandmother) who is so deeply affected by vanity it leads to ultimate
destruction. In the midst of all the drama I grow up trying to sort out
what's real and what has real value. The book is a rags to riches story
with an interesting morale in the end you won't forget.
Will there be a
second part to your story?
There definitely should be, because everyone is asking me what happened
to all the people they either loved or hated. I do have a 350-page
manuscript that is ready to go when the time comes. But for now a movie
or HBO series would be my next goal.
Who are your greatest
influences and why?
My father Bill Williams was Tom Lyle's nephew and godson. He grew
up at the Villa Valentino in Hollywood where he learned the secrets to his
uncle’s great success. My father was an extremely talented interior
designer and builder. When my home burned down in the 1993 Laguna Beach,
California Firestorm I lost everything because I wasn't home. I wanted to
give up and die, but it was my father who held me together and helped me get
back on my feet. I thrived because of his determination to see me
overcome my doubts and succeed. He designed and helped me rebuild my
home, than helped me research and write my book. I learned so much from
him and now carry that spirit of “Yes I can!” with me to pass onto the next
generation.
What will readers
take from this great read?
They will be inspired to make their dreams come true and believe anything
is possible if they just keep going and never give up.
What was the best
advice your uncle or mother gave you about beauty?
My mother believed that beauty was an inside job. That who you are
n the inside is reflected on your face. You see beautiful young girls
turn into nasty middle-aged women and bitter old ladies. All the
Maybelline in the world can't cover up the truth of who you are inside.
If a woman doesn't grow, change and accept life she will remain a spoiled
unattractive child in an aging body. All women must work on their
attitude and mature within, to keep their youthful effervescent beauty into old
age. Like the saying goes, Maybe
She's born with it... Maybe it's Maybelline.
Describe your best
achievement with your family name and without?
My best achievement with the Maybelline name so far, is writing my book
and becoming a positive role model for women who want to achieve their
goals. It's not about make-up for me anymore; it's way beyond make-up.
Without the Maybelline name, my biggest achievement is being Mom and
Nana and a positive role model for my family I grow into old age.
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Evelyn Williams (Nana), Bill Williams (my dad), Sharrie Williams (me)
& Tom Lyle Williams (my great uncle) 1965 |
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What was your
favorite childhood memory?
Going up to my great uncle's home in Bel Air California with my family
and playing with him in the pool. I remember he was such an unassuming
man that he'd actually wear swim trunks pinned at the waist because the elastic
had stretched out. Here was a man who could afford the best and yet was
so comfortable with himself around his family; he didn't need to show
off. On the other hand he was so generous hat he gave millions to them
after the sale of the Maybelline Company in December of 1967.
How old were you when you learned about
Permanent Makeup? Did your grandmother or anyone in the Maybelline family know
about Permanent Makeup or have any?
I know
permanent makeup has been around since the 1930's if not before, but I don't
remember anyone in my family ever talking about it. Probably because Maybelline was designed for
women with light brows and lashes, so it never seemed necessary to have it done
until now.
What are your current thoughts on
cosmetic tattooing & permanent makeup?
I became aware
of the process about 10 years ago, after a friend of mine had her brows, lips
and eyeliner permanently applied. She
looked years younger and only needed Maybelline Mascara to complete her
glamorous look. My brows have faded to
the point of being invisible and I'm seriously considering having permanent makeup
done this year. However, I would only
trust the process to an artistic genius with years of experience and a talent
for perfection. Athena Karsant is the
best in the business and would be my choice for sure. Be sure to check out Athena Karsant's post on
my Maybelline Book Blog…Click here to read Athena's guest blog!
