14 minute read
WOMEN WHO INSPIRE
YOU ARE ENOUGH. THE PPG’S
BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO BY KELLY BREUER I PHOTOS BY LAURA MARINO
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The PPGS. Started off quite literally as a joke. The creators, Laura Marino and Alexandra Axenfeld weren’t quite sure if the cartoon was “The Power Puff Girls”, or “The Powder Puff Girls”. When they realized it was indeed “Power”, they decided they would go with “powder. Now they are known in Central NY and beyond as the“PPGS”. Never in their wildest imagination did they think the name would stick the way that it has. In the latest edition of Central NY Woman Online magazine, we had a chance to talk with this dynamic duo about how they got started, where they are headed and so much more!
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your background.
Laura: My name is Laura Marino and as a child I always had a big imagination for fashion and beauty. My mind sees things through “fairytale glasses”. I was honored to be interviewed by Central NY Woman Online magazine.
I loved the quote by Douglas Everett; “There are some people who live in a dream world, and some who face reality; and then there are those, who turn one into the other”. I love creative and high fashion looks. I did hair and make-up for over 30 years and later added photography and wardrobe design to my list of talents and services. I am so blessed to be able to create different looks and many different characters through my subjects. When you come to me, together we create the perfect look for you through the combinations of hair, make-up, wardrobe design, lighting, posing assistance, theme changes, and photography with editing. I have recently added designing and constructing my own clothes to add to the drama of the photo and final image. I took these creations and ideas on the runway for “Syracuse Fashion Week” with“Team Laura”, and the reaction was riveting.
Most recently I took my designs to the big apple for New York Fashion Week and so my adventures continue. I also have a 6 page spread in an amazing national magazine, “Dark Beauty”, Issue 23 called Wildlings. Other credit’s include, “Beaux Couture Magazine”, and “Surreal Magazine”, Issue 330. I was also featured in “Syracuse Woman Magazine” in the Aug edition 2015 as well as CNY “The Good Life” this past year. I was honored to be able to elaborate on my passion for what I do.
I shoot modeling portfolios, fashion based work, pageant beauties and boudoir. Together, we create the perfect look for you! Beauty pageants throughout the state also look to me for unique characteristics of their winners including Miss Earth USA, Miss World of America Missouri, Miss Vermont Earth USA and Miss Multiverse to name a few!
After 32 years in the industry my dream show came to life in 2019 called “The Magical World of Laura Marino.” Every bit of creativity came together to create this once in a lifetime runway exhibition! I love art and beauty but what really sets my soul on fire is bringing joy, happiness and confidence to my clientele with my creations.
Alexandra: My Name is Alexandra Axenfeld. I am 31 years old who grew up in the small town of Cazenovia NY. I am wife to the man of my dreams and best friend, Ryan. We have been married now for five years, but have been together for 13. Together we are building a life we love. I am a new mom to the most precious and beautiful baby boy in the world, 11 month old Caiden. Family is everything to me, my parents and younger brother have always been my biggest support system.
I met Laura back in 2016, when she quite literally told me I needed to quite my job and become a makeup artist. Little did she know that had been my dream almost my entire life. It tok me four rounds of college and a career I was stuck in as a restaurant manager to finally follow my dreams. Boy am I glad I listened to her and Alexandra Axenfeld Beauty was born.
It has been one heck of a ride so far doing makeup for multiple pageant title holders, being the lead MUA for high tech modas New York Fashion week, as well as being the lead MUA for “The Magical World of Laura Marino”, and coproducing runway shows. I am honored to have my work on multiple covers and publications of books and magazines as well as working with hundreds of brides and prom beauties throughout my career so far. The list goes on. I am so humbled and thankful for my family, friends and clients throughout the years who have supported me. Without all of you, none of this would be possible.
How did you and Laura meet?
Alexandra: Laura and I met originally when my husband and I came to look at her rental property. Funny how everything happens for a reason!
What, in your opinion, is the most important quality in your business and the services you provide your clients?
When it comes to the quality in our services, we treat everyone as if they were our family and they quite literally do become family once we are done with them. We take pride in being “one stop shopping” where we provide hair, makeup, photography, wardrobe rental and design, as well as model coaching and assistance.
Why did you choose this profession ?
profession chose us. In this field your talents kind of come “natural” if you will. The nice thing is we love and embrace our raw talent.
As a female business owner, what are your top three priorities?
As female business owners it is so important to us to uplift and empower other woman in business and support them.
What is your ‘why? ‘” Why do you do what you do?
First our “Why’ is because we truly love what we do and as artists you must be passionate about your career. We both always say this is out of passion first and a paycheck second. Of course we both take pride in our businesses and do this to support ourselves and our families.
What do you find is the best form of promotion for your business?
Currently the best advertisement for our businesses is coming from our social media platforms.
What are your plans for your business for the future?
Right now, we are both are extremely happy with where are businesses are. Giving us the perfect balance between work and family life however you never know what we may be up to and what adventures we will be onto next!
Who has been your favorite client to work with and why?
We can’t answer this question. We have no favorite. We absolutely love each and every client that walks through our doors.
If you had the chance to start your career over again, would you do anything differently and why?
I would never start my career over. Is it perfect? no was it smooth? No. however we both love where we are at this very moment so if we changed it we wouldn’t be here.
What are the next plans for the PPG’s?
Not sure what the next plan is for the PPGS. Recently we have been super into working with the pageantry world and we absolutely love it. What we can tell you is that whatever is up next is going to be exciting!
What is one thing you have done that not many people know about you?
many people know about is we just started starring on a reality television show “The PPGS” VIPPagentry. Check it out!
What is your ‘why? ‘ Why do you do what you do?
I think we both can agree our first “why” is our children and our families be creative and no dream is too big.
What gets you truly excited?
What gets us truly excited is simply just doing what we do. Being creative, fueling our passion and starting new projects.
What do you love most about yourself? What we love most about ourselves?
The genuine human beings we are. We love with our entire hearts and would give anyone anything we can.
Where will we see you next?
We aren’t sure where we will be in a year but it’ll be amazing we can tell you that!!
and second is the love we have for our industry.
What advice would you give to the next generation of makeup artists?
The best ADVICE we can give to future generations is follow your passion, work hard, never give up,
BEATRIZ LEBRON
BY TERRY DANIELE
This month we bring you Beatriz Lebron. If her name sounds familiar, it should! Where there is a need for equality, transparency and honesty, you can usually find Beatriz, calling the loudest for a correction in the system. RWO called her and asked if we could meet with her. She was willing, so long as we told her story the way she wanted it told. “I have had nine lives” she said. Those lives she has lived, the experiences she has had, formed who she is today. She asked us to tell her past to explain where she is today.
In case you don’t know, let us tell you who she is first. Beatriz has an Associate’s Degree from MCC and Bachelor’s Degree from St. John Fisher. She attended Georgetown to earn a certificate in finance and has started the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. She has a fellowship to study for a Master’s in law and economics. She is a graduate of LLDP (formerly known as the Hispanic Leadership Program through the United Way) as well as the Latino Alliance Political Academy. Beatriz considers herself a lifelong learner and tries never to turn down an opportunity to expand her knowledge. City School Board and is the Chair of the Finance Committee. In February 2018, she discovered a significant disparity in the RCS budget. When she first asked about it, she met with reluctance to acknowledge the problem. Beatriz knew she had to release this information to the public even if it meant an investigation. “Yes, I was the whistle blower, and I would make
the same decision given a chance to do it again. It was the right thing, it was the only thing, to do” she told us.
She was a long-term sub in the RCSD for many years, which gave her the perspective of being a parent and being an employee in the district. This allowed Beatriz a view from two sides of the district’s challenges and prompted her to become involved with the school board. She felt her experience would help her to explain and appreciate the perspective of parents and employees.
Among her other activities, she is the Project Coordinator for PlayRocs at Common Ground Health and the Treasurer for the Monroe County Democratic Committee. As if all these things were not enough, she volunteers her time tirelessly on other committees and offers endless support for her community.
Beatriz was born in New York City, The Bronx specifically. Her Dad was a superintendent for 4 of the buildings on their block and her Mom worked at the Bronx Zoo. She told us her Mom and Dad were the textbook version of parents that should not have stayed together for the children, but they did it anyway, often causing anxiety for the entire family. Beatriz is the 13th of 14 siblings. From 14 brothers and sisters, today only 5 siblings are living. “There was nothing normal about my childhood,” said Beatriz. As she reflected, one of her favorite memories was going to Puerto Rico to her family farm during the summer months. She did that as a child yearly. She compared the experience to going to a summer camp of a different kind.
Her Mom and Dad fought often, and she referred to her dad as a functioning alcoholic who never missed a day of work. Beatriz said “functioning alcoholism is not talked about in Black and Brown families and that is something that should be addressed”. She lost her Dad in 1993 to a heart attack, positive his death was hastened by the years of abusing alcohol. She overcame her childhood anger with him and grew to understand and love him as an adult. Beatriz came to realize that her Dad “did the best he could with what he had”.
Beatriz shared that there was a point in her young life when she became a bit out of control. She was drinking a lot, some drugs as well. She quit school in 9th grade. Her Mom moved the family to New Jersey thinking that might help her children. It did not work for Beatriz; she ran away and went back to The Bronx. Finally, Beatriz came to Rochester at the request of her sister who was attending SUNY Brockport. alcoholism, teenage pregnancy, postpartum depression and a short stint at a mental health facility after trying to end her life at 19. While not all fun and not recommended, her life struggles made her the strong woman Beatriz feels that sharing her story is honest and real.
When we asked her to leave us with a thought, she said this.
“Be authentic, be yourself, trust yourself and be real”
It takes a lot of courage to be willing to put yourself, your whole self, out there. Beatriz was so honest and open about her life. It was refreshing to sit and chat with someone willing to talk about her life without reservation. Beatriz hopes that anyone who reads this and may be struggling, recognizes that they can change their life.
It was a pleasure to be able to spend time with her and talk to her. We would like to say thank you to Ms. Lebron!
she is today. Reflecting on the past keeps her grounded. Beatriz has 3 daughter’s and a grandson, her face lite-up as she talked about her children and her grandson.
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH I 10AM-2PM THE CRAFTSMAN INN & SUITES I FAYETTEVILLE, NY
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