CLEA LIVING M N
PUBLICATION TEAM
Publisher: Gloria Fonseca
Designer: Hannah Argall
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Publisher Assistant: Daniela Banegas
Social Media Administrator: Andrea Simon
Photographer: Myrtle Roy
ADVERTISING
Contact: Gloria Fonseca
Email: gbruni@bestversionmedia.com
Phone: 703-868-8071
FEEDBACK/IDEAS/SUBMISSIONS
Have feedback, ideas or submissions?
We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are the 10th of each month. Go to bestversionmedia.com and click “Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas and photos to: gbruni@bestversionmedia.com.
(5 days prior to the Submission Deadline; remember Content Submission Deadline dates of the 20th or later refer to a magazine edition 2 months out.)
June
September 10
October 10
November 10
DEAR FRIENDS,
As summer begins to wind down, it's hard not to reflect on all the memories we've made over the past few months. From family vacations and backyard barbecues to long evenings spent outdoors, this season always seems to pass a little too quickly. Before we know it, backpacks are coming out of the closets, lunchboxes are back on the kitchen counter, and our morning routines begin all over again.
As parents, we know that each new school year brings a fresh start—not only for our children, but for our families as well. It's a season filled with new opportunities, new goals, and the excitement of turning the page to another chapter.
This month's cover story perfectly reflects something I have always loved about McLean: our incredible diversity. Heba Carter's journey is one of resilience, determination, and community. As someone whose own family also has roots outside the United States, her story resonates deeply with me.
But that's not the only story that reflects the spirit of McLean in this issue. An amazing young woman named Raina has come up with a wonderful idea that could become part of our community's history. She is the founder of McLean-Opoly—haha, yes, that classic board game, but made just for McLean! Imagine seeing your favorite co ee shop, local business, or even your own company on the board. What a fun way to celebrate the people and places that make our town so special.
I'm also excited to welcome a new addition to our pages—our Estate Planning Expert column. Planning for the future is one of the greatest gifts we can give our families, and I know you'll find the advice and insights shared each month both practical and valuable.
And let's not waste any time—let's keep meeting new people and supporting our community every day. Be sure to check out the McLean Community Center Calendar for upcoming events, and don't forget to RSVP for Food Truck Friday with our friends at Lafayette Federal Credit Union for a chance to enjoy a complimentary lunch!
See you around town!
FROM THE SOCIAL DESK
By ANDREA SIMON Social Media Administrator
Back to school—the kids are learning, the teachers are inspiring, and parents are pretending they don't miss summer.
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LUXURY JEWELRY
Alicia Villars | Helvetia 703-401-9679 | www.Helvetiajewelry.com
LANDSCAPING - RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL
Andre Passos | Residential & Commercial Landscaping 571.290.2219 | groundguys.com
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Gema Island | Island Children Dentistry & Orthodonticst 703-790-1320 | islandchildrensdentistry.com
COSMETIC & RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY
Dr. Geith Kallas, Founder & CEO | Smile Makers Dental Center 703-356-0250 | www.smilemakerscenter.com
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Stephanie Q. Lawrence | Vinson Hall 540-314-8745 | vinsonshall.org
LUXURY REAL ESTATE AGENT
Crystal Sheehan - Keller Williams Realty | Luxury Real Estate Agent (571) 446-1108 | www.mcleanluxuryhome.com
INFANT FEEDING DIFFICULTIES & LASER FRENECTOMY
Dr. Rishita Jaju | Smile Wonders 571-350-3663 | smilewonders.com
HOME COMFORT SOLUTIONS
Dan Bomar – Marketing & Customer Care Manager| Comfenergy 1.800.604.2252 | 45714 Oakbrook Ct., Suite #180 Sterling VA comfenergy.com | 3prosbasementsystems.com
BUSINESS BROKERAGE & COACHING
Erika Baez-Grimes | The BPH Group, LLC – Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional 804.750.3008 | www.NovaBusinessInquiry.com
LEGAL SERVICES
Amy Griggs | Tysons Trial Law, PLLC 703-643-4021 | www.tysonstriallaw.com
WOMEN’S WELLNESS
Dr. Anna Le—Chief Executive Officer, Anna Health
Annandale OBGYN PC (703) 642-7522 | www.annandaleobgyn.com
HOME DESIGN & INTERIORS
Anna Gibson - Founder & Principal Designer AKG Design Studio (571) 446-1108 | www.AKGdesignstudio.com
ESTATE PLANNING
Justine Sennott, Esq.
Whether you’re upgrading your home lighting, adding sparkle to your décor, or planning an energy-e cient refresh — DE Design Group has you covered this holiday season.
MEET HEBA CARTER
WHY RELATIONSHIPS, NOT COURTROOMS, DEFINE HEBA CARTER'S SUCCESS
By SOFIA ROMAN
Professional photos by MYRTLE ROY
Every time I have the privilege of writing a cover story for McLean Living, I find myself discovering another reason to admire this remarkable community.
There is something extraordinary about McLean. People arrive here from every corner of the world, bringing di erent cultures, traditions, and stories, yet they all become part of one closeknit community.
For many, McLean is simply where they live. For Heba Carter, it is where she became who she is.
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in McLean, Heba is a proud DMV native, a civil litigator at PJI Law, a wife, a mother, and someone whose life has been shaped by perseverance, compassion, and a desire to help others. Growing up in McLean, Heba remembers a place that felt safe and connected. She laughs about the nights her family accidentally left a door unlocked or the garage open without consequence.
Coming from a Middle Eastern family, she never felt like the odd one out. Instead, she grew up surrounded by classmates whose parents had also immigrated to the United States, exposing her to countless cultures, traditions, and languages.
"In McLean, you could experience so many di erent cultures while still enjoying that small-town feeling," she says. "That's something incredibly unique."
Some of her favorite memories are wonderfully simple, like walking with friends after school to Chesapeake Bagel Bakery or Chicken Out following soccer practice. Those simple routines gave her the sense that, even within a major metropolitan area, McLean retained the warmth of a small town.
Today, years later, she finds herself returning to many of those same places, this time with her own children.
LESSONS FROM AN EXTRAORDINARY MOTHER
If there is one person who shaped Heba more than anyone else, it is her mother.
When Heba was just a baby, her mother founded Heba's Health Foods, a Middle Eastern food company she built entirely from scratch Heba's Health Foods, a Middle Eastern food company she built entirely from the ground up after losing her job when the international bank where she worked closed.
Starting with nothing but determination and faith, she transformed a small idea into a thriving business whose
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products eventually reached stores throughout the East Coast and as far as California.
Watching that journey unfold taught Heba lessons no classroom ever could: perseverance, resilience, and perhaps most importantly, confidence.
"My mother always believed in herself," Heba says. "Watching her build something from nothing taught me to believe in myself too." Her mother's story continues to inspire every aspect of Heba's life.
"She has overcome so many di icult things. If I have half of her strength, I'll consider myself incredibly fortunate."
A CALLING TO SERVE
Heba didn't become an attorney because of a dramatic courtroom moment or a lifelong childhood dream. Her calling grew from listening.
Both of Heba's parents immigrated to the United States from countries where access to justice was often uncertain or unavailable. As she learned more about their experiences, she began to understand how profoundly legal systems shape people's lives.
"I wanted to help people like my parents navigate the judicial system," she explains.
She attended the University of Virginia, a choice that felt immediate once she was admitted. UVA o ered academic excellence, a beautiful setting, and the right distance from home. It also gave her something even more lasting: she met her future husband, Ryan Carter, there when she was 19.
One of her favorite memories is of a snowstorm that closed the roads. With no sleds available, she, Ryan, and a friend used storagebin lids to slide down a campus hill.
“We destroyed the lids,” she says, “but it was absolutely worth it.”
After UVA, Heba attended Syracuse University College of Law. Law school felt especially meaningful because the work connected directly to the purpose she had envisioned for herself. She made close friends and confirmed that she had chosen the right profession.
A clerkship with the Virginia Court of Appeals later gave her an invaluable perspective. By seeing cases through the eyes of a judge, she learned to identify which issues truly matter, how decisions made during a trial may a ect an appeal, and how to think several steps ahead.
CALM IN THE MIDDLE OF CONFLICT
Today, Heba practices civil litigation, handling business disputes, real estate matters, contract disputes, employment cases, and other general civil matters.
What she values most is the opportunity to help people through stressful and uncertain situations. She describes herself as naturally calm, a quality that allows clients to feel that someone has the matter under control.
Her first responsibility, she believes, is to listen. “Clients often just want to be heard,” she says.
From there, she works with them as a team, identifying their goals and developing a legal strategy. Her approach is both practical and personal. Sometimes the best advice is not to pursue a case, even when the client may be legally right.
Litigation is expensive, and even a successful outcome in court may leave someone financially or emotionally dissatisfied. For Heba, success means helping clients make the best decision for their lives and families, not simply winning in court.
Info@mroyphoto.com www.mroyphoto.com
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That philosophy is one reason PJI Law felt like the right fit.
When she met CEO Paul Abraham, he told her that kindness was one of the essential qualities the firm sought in its attorneys. The statement resonated with Heba. Litigation is adversarial enough, she believes, without attorneys making it unnecessarily hostile.
At PJI Law, every client receives what Heba describes as a true whiteglove experience—thoughtful communication and genuine care. Whether the relationship begins with a consultation or develops over many years, the focus remains on the individual. Their mission isn't simply to resolve legal issues. It's to help people walk away with "a bigger smile and a brighter future."
The most rewarding part of Heba’s career has been the relationships she has built. Many clients have become friends, and those connections have lasted long after their legal matters ended.
“To become a trusted person in someone’s life and help carry some of their stress is very meaningful to me,” she says.
COMING HOME
Heba’s life changed profoundly in 2020. Both of her parents contracted COVID-19, and her father passed away. On the day he was hospitalized, Heba learned she was pregnant with her first son.
As an only child, she worried about her mother living alone. Heba and Ryan, who were living in Falls Church, decided to move back to McLean and raise their family with her.
Today, they have two sons, Theodore, 5, and Zachary, 2.
Returning to McLean brought Heba’s life full circle. It wasn't simply a return home—it was an opportunity to give her own children the same sense of community that had shaped her childhood. She now takes her children to the same parks and businesses she loved while growing up. McLean Central Park is especially meaningful because she once walked there with her father. Now she walks or bikes there with Ryan, their sons, and Lucy, their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Lucy has followed Heba like a shadow since puppyhood. When Lucy developed pneumonia, she slept on Heba’s chest until she recovered. The two have been inseparable ever since.
For Heba, McLean is defined by relationships: neighbors, teachers, baristas, church members, parents, and local business owners. She enjoys community traditions such as Breakfast with Santa, gingerbread house making, Pet Fest, and the Santa fire truck. McLean Family Restaurant, Greenberry’s Co ee, and Chesapeake Bagel Bakery remain family favorites.
As her children grow, Heba is becoming more involved through Cub Scouts and the PTA. She also attends McLean Presbyterian Church and hopes to continue serving there while expanding her local
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network to provide legal guidance to more members of the community.
STRENGTH THROUGH CHANGE
Outside of work, Heba recharges by reading, running road races, and, to her husband’s amusement, reorganizing parts of the house. She has completed the Cherry Blossom races and the Wine Country Half Marathon. Running gives her focus and reminds her that di icult goals can be reached one step at a time.
That lesson has become central to her life.
Since 2020, Heba and her family have faced loss, change, parenthood, and new responsibilities. Those experiences taught her that hardship does not have to break a person. It can build resilience, deepen empathy, and reveal strength.
She hopes her children and clients remember one thing above all: that she cared.
For Heba Carter, success has never been measured solely by cases won. It is measured by trust earned, relationships built, kindness shown, and lives made a little less overwhelming.
Perhaps that is why Heba Carter represents the very best of McLean, a community defined not simply by where people live, but by how deeply they care for one another.
McLean-Opoly!
COMING SOON… McLean-Opoly! A NEW NAME TO
By RAINA A. Founder & Managing Partner, McLean-Opoly McLeanOpoly@gmail.com
A one-of-a-kind community game celebrating the businesses, landmarks, and people that make McLean extraordinary.
This isn't just a game—it's a keepsake that families will gather around, a gift to share with friends, and a celebration of everything that makes our community so
My name is Raina, and I'm a student who lives in downtown McLean. I've always loved board games and have a deep appreciation for the community I call home. I'm thrilled to help bring this vision to life and create something that celebrates the people, places, and businesses that
We're inviting local businesses to become Community Partners and be featured in this exciting project. Showcase your business on a
game that will live in homes, bring people together, and celebrate the heart of McLean for years to come.
Be part of McLean history. Let's put McLean on the board—together.
Become a Community Partner today. Reserve your spot on the board before space runs out!
McLean Real Estate FAQ
What Buyers and Sellers Want to Know
By CRYSTAL SHEEHAN REALTOR® Keller Williams Realty McLean
Whether you’re dreaming of your next home in McLean, preparing to sell after years in the community, or hoping to buy here for the first time, one question is likely top of mind: What does today’s market mean for you?
IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO BUY IN MCLEAN?
The answer depends less on the market and more on you. McLean remains competitive, with limited inventory, but homes are taking slightly longer to sell than they did in recent years. That shift is creating more opportunities for homeowners hoping to make a move within the community. Ultimately, the right time to move is less about timing the market and more about finding the right home, in the right location, for the next chapter of your life.
IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO SELL MY MCLEAN HOME?
Your goals, not the headlines, should drive the decision. Outgrowing your current home, relocating, or simply wanting a di erent lifestyle are all compelling reasons to sell.
In a market like McLean, where buyers evaluate homes carefully, the right pricing, thoughtful presentation, and a tailored marketing strategy can matter just as much as broader market conditions.
DO I NEED A REALTOR® TO BUY OR SELL IN MCLEAN?
No, but McLean’s market moves quickly and inventory remains limited. A knowledgeable local REALTOR® can help you:
• Understand neighborhood-level pricing, which can vary from one block to the next
• Position, price, and market your home to support your specific goals
• Negotiate favorable terms beyond the purchase price
• Navigate inspections, appraisals, and potential obstacles
• Anticipate potential issues to avoid costly mistakes
Given the size and complexity of the investment, having a knowledgeable local advocate is almost always worthwhile.
HOW MUCH IS MY MCLEAN HOME WORTH?
Online estimators can provide a starting point, but they rarely tell the full story. Your home’s true market value depends on:
• Recent comparable sales within your specific neighborhood
• Location, lot size, and unique property characteristics
• Condition, renovations, and overall presentation
• Current inventory and buyer demand across McLean
Rather than relying solely on an automated estimate, choose an in-person evaluation from a local expert who understands McLean’s distinct micro-markets.
WHAT SHOULD I FIX BEFORE SELLING MY MCLEAN HOME?
Most sellers do not need to undertake major renovations before listing. In many cases, simple, strategic updates deliver the strongest return:
• Fresh, neutral paint
• Updated light fixtures
• Improved curb appeal
• Strategic staging
• Professional cleaning and thoughtful decluttering
• Repairs to visible deferred maintenance
The goal is not to create a perfect home. It is to present a well-caredfor space where buyers can easily picture themselves living.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you are considering buying or selling in McLean, let’s start a conversation, even if you are still in the early planning stages. The right strategy, tailored to your goals and informed by McLean’s unique market, can make all the di erence.
Crystal Sheehan - Keller Williams Realty McLean 703-822-3217
Sources: National Association of Realtors; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Personal knowledge of McLean.
The Warm Turn
Why Washington's Most Beautiful Homes Are Letting Go of Gray
By ANNA GIBSON - Founder, AKG Design Studio
For a decade, gray was the answer to every design question. Gray cabinets, white counters, pale bleached floors. It photographed beautifully — and in home after home across McLean, it began to feel exactly the same.
That era is ending. Warmth is back: terracotta and umber, olive and burgundy, richer honeyed woods in place of washed-out finishes. What I find most encouraging is why. Homeowners are choosing color for how a room should feel, not how it looks in a photograph. After years of designing for the camera, we're designing for the person again.
Clients often ask: will it look dated in five years? Here's the distinction that matters — gray wasn't timeless; it was a trend that lasted long enough to feel permanent. Warmth is a return, not an invention. Natural wood, honed stone, plaster, aged brass: these materials have anchored beautiful homes for centuries. Terracotta is quite literally the color of earth. It doesn't date.
The way to embrace this moment without chasing it: keep the permanent elements quiet and rich — a walnut island, a limestone counter — and bring bolder color in through what can evolve, like a burgundy powder room or an olive-lacquered bar. And design for Washington light: warm tones glow through our low winter months, where cool grays turn flat.
Ultimately, this shift isn't about color at all. It's about rooms designed around how you actually live — thoughtful, enveloping, and made to be loved for decades. So don't ask what's in style. Ask a better question: what would it feel like to walk into a room designed entirely around you?
Anna Gibson is the founder of AKG Design Studio, a boutique interior design firm serving the DC Metro area. Tailored. Enduring. E ortless.
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Food Truck Friday
Lafayette Federal Credit Union Brings the Community together
By STELLA FARMAKIDES
There is something special about sharing a great meal with neighbors, and that's exactly what Lafayette Federal Credit Union has planned for McLean.
On Friday, September 25, at 12 p.m., the McLean Financial Service Center will host Summer Food Truck Friday, a community gathering designed to bring local residents together over delicious food, friendly conversations, and a little fun.
The featured food truck is still a surprise, making the event even more exciting. One thing is certain, though: the first 75 guests who RSVP through Eventbrite will enjoy a complimentary meal. Visitors can also enter to win sports tickets and other exciting prizes while getting to know the Lafayette Federal team.
Whether you're looking for a quick lunch break, a chance to meet new neighbors, or simply an excuse to enjoy great local food, Food Truck Friday o ers the perfect opportunity. Bring your family, invite your friends, and experience the welcoming spirit that makes McLean such a vibrant community.
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY
Friday, September 25 | 12:00 p.m.
Lafayette Federal Credit Union – McLean Financial Service Center 6890 Elm Street, McLean, VA 22101
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Educate Fairfax Garden Party 2026
By EDUCATE FAIRFAX FOUNDATION | Photos by EKREN BASKAN
On June 13, 2026, Porsche Tysons Corner hosted a sophisticated, garden-inspired evening in support of Educate Fairfax, bringing together community leaders, educators, advocates, and supporters who share a commitment to the success of Fairfax County
The Garden Party celebrated the power of community investment in public education and highlighted the impact Educate Fairfax is making across FCPS. Guests enjoyed delicious food and drinks, meaningful conversations, and the opportunity to learn more about how Educate Fairfax works to expand opportunities, remove barriers to learning, and strengthen student success.
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ESTATE PLANNING EXPERT
Beyond a Will
7 Reasons to Have a Trust in Virginia
By JUSTINE SENOTT, JUSTINE Senior Attorney, Estate Planning Senior Department Lead, PJI Law Law
As an estate planning attorney, I've seen firsthand the peace of mind a thoughtfully crafted trust can provide. A trust isn't just for the wealthy—it's one of the most e ective ways to protect your loved ones, preserve your privacy, and ensure your wishes are carried out. Here are seven reasons to consider creating a trust in Virginia.
1. Minimize Probate and Simplify Estate Administration
A revocable living trust allows assets titled in the trust to bypass probate, enabling your trustee to distribute property directly to beneficiaries. While you'll still need a will to nominate guardians for minor children, a properly funded trust can significantly reduce court involvement, delays, costs, and family disputes.
2. Protect Your Privacy
Unlike a will, which becomes part of the public probate record, a trust remains private. Your assets, beneficiaries, and financial a airs stay confidential, giving your family greater privacy during a di icult time.
3. Plan for Incapacity
If illness or injury leaves you unable to manage your finances, your successor trustee can immediately step in to handle your a airs. This helps your loved ones avoid the time, expense, and stress of seeking a court-appointed conservator.
4.Protect Children and Other Loved Ones
A trust lets you decide when and how beneficiaries receive an inheritance. You can provide for education, healthcare, or other needs over time, protect beneficiaries with disabilities, support aging parents, or even provide for beloved pets through a Virginia pet trust.
5. Preserve Wealth
Virginia has no state estate or inheritance tax, but larger estates may still be subject to federal estate tax. Trusts can help preserve family wealth, support business succession, and ensure assets are managed according to your long-term goals.
6. Simplify Multi-State Property Ownership
If you own real estate outside Virginia, your family may face probate in each state where property is located. Placing out-of-state property in a trust can avoid these additional proceedings, reducing costs and delays.
7. Gain Peace of Mind
The greatest benefit of a trust may be the confidence that your family will have clear guidance when they need it most. A thoughtfully designed trust provides continuity, reduces uncertainty, and helps ensure your legacy is carried out according to your wishes.
A trust is one of the most practical estate planning tools available. Whether your estate is simple or complex, it can help protect your family, preserve your legacy, and make the future easier for those you love.
If you're ready to explore whether a trust is right for you, I invite you to call PJI Law at (703) 865-6100 or visit www.pjilaw.com to schedule a complimentary, confidential estate planning consultation.
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There's always something happening at the McLean Community Center! From live performances and films to family-friendly community events, MCC's monthly calendar is filled with opportunities to experience arts, culture and entertainment close to home. Browse the listings below and visit mcleancenter.org for the most up-to-date information. Unless otherwise noted, events take place at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. Residents of the MCC tax district are eligible for discounted admission and program fees.
OPEN GAME NIGHTS AT OFC
Wednesdays, 6:30-9 p.m.
The Old Firehouse Center, 1440 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA 22101
Come enjoy table tennis, bridge, mah-jongg, arcade games, a sensory lab and more at the Old Firehouse. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
OFC IGNITE
Back to School Kicko & Tailgate Party August 29 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m
Start the school year right with games, food, music and tailgate-style fun with friends at OFC Ignite, the monthly themed family play experience at OFC! Drop in to enjoy ping pong, board games, arcade games, refreshments, the Sensory Room, food and more. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
MCLEAN COMMUNITY PLAYERS AT ALDEN THEATRE
Weekends July 17-August 2
Fri-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Matinees Sun., 2 p.m. $25/$20 Seniors/$18 McLean district residents.
All Ages
Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with McLean Community Players’ Tony Award-winning musical “1776,” a witty, inspiring and surprisingly human portrait of the passionate debates, rivalries and courage behind the founding of a nation.
Get your tickets now!
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MAKEUP BY YELENA
The Con dence Artist
By CASEY WHITMORE
Success in the beauty industry is often measured by celebrity clients, magazine covers, or television credits.
Yelena Scheidler has earned them all.
As the founder of Makeup By Yelena, she has spent more than two decades building one of Northern Virginia's most respected luxury beauty brands. Her work has appeared behind the scenes of major television productions, Fashion Week runways, editorial campaigns, weddings, pageants, and countless milestone celebrations. She has worked with brides, professional athletes, television personalities, entertainers, executives, models, and public figures whose careers often place them in front of the camera.
Yet ask Yelena what she truly creates, and her answer has surprisingly little to do with makeup. "I create confidence."
That philosophy has become the foundation of Makeup By Yelena, a business built not on following beauty trends, but on helping every client become the most confident version of themselves. It is a philosophy shaped by experience.
Born in Moscow, Russia, Yelena immigrated to the United States with her parents and grandparents when she was just ten years old. Starting over in a new country required resilience, adaptability, and determination; qualities that would later become the cornerstones of both her life and her business.
While many artists discover their calling through formal training, Yelena's began with a simple moment at thirteen years old.
She convinced a friend to let her experiment with makeup and hair. When her friend looked into the mirror, Yelena noticed something that had nothing to do with lipstick or eyeshadow.
Her confidence had changed.
"I realized I had what I jokingly call my beauty powers," Yelena recalls. "It wasn't really about the makeup. It was about seeing
someone feel more confident because of something I created."
That realization never left her.
Today, Makeup By Yelena has evolved far beyond a beauty studio. It has become a creative brand where luxury beauty services, fashion, television, education, and mentorship naturally intersect.
Yelena serves as a celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist, Beauty Director and talent agent for Dash Talents and Flash Models Management, State Director for Miss Grand Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and Beauty Manager for Richmond Fashion Week. Each role reflects a di erent side of the same mission: helping people discover confidence while creating opportunities for others to grow.
That perspective has opened doors to some of the industry's most recognizable productions. Her portfolio includes work on Dance Moms: A New Era, The Real Housewives of Potomac, 90 Day Fiancé, and productions for Hulu, Disney+, and Lifetime. Working behind the scenes in television has sharpened not only her artistry but also the professionalism, e iciency, and precision required when every minute, and every detail, matters.
Despite those high-profile projects, Yelena approaches every client with the same philosophy.
Whether preparing a bride for her wedding day, an executive for a branding session, a contestant for the Miss USA stage, or a television personality for national broadcast, every appointment begins with listening.
"Every face tells a di erent story," she says. "People don't want to look like someone else. They want to feel like the best version of themselves."
That personalized approach has become one of the defining characteristics of Makeup By Yelena.
Rather than applying the latest trend to every client, Yelena creates
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looks that feel timeless, elegant, and unmistakably personal. Her signature style emphasizes luminous skin, balanced features, beautifully defined eyes, and sophisticated glamour that enhances natural beauty instead of masking it.
The result is makeup that photographs beautifully, withstands long production days, and, most importantly, allows clients to feel authentically themselves.
While her artistry has earned industry recognition, Yelena believes her greatest responsibility extends beyond the clients who sit in her chair.
It belongs to the artists who will someday take chairs of their own.
Education has become one of the defining pillars of her business.
Through Makeup By Yelena, Richmond Fashion Week, Dash Talents and Flash Models Management, and professional masterclasses, she has mentored hundreds of aspiring beauty professionals, giving them opportunities to work backstage at fashion shows, luxury weddings, television productions, editorial shoots, and pageants.
When the pandemic brought in-person education to a halt, Yelena refused to stop teaching. Instead, she transitioned her courses online, ensuring artists could continue learning and developing their craft during one of the industry's most challenging seasons.
her for the event. As they talked through interview questions and finalized every detail of her look, trust quickly replaced nerves. Later that evening, when the contestant was crowned the winner, Yelena celebrated as though she had won herself.
She would continue working with the titleholder throughout her journey to Miss USA.
Watching former students become successful professionals; and eventually trusted members of her own beauty team, remains one of her proudest accomplishments.
Her passion for mentorship extends equally to the young women she guides through the Miss Grand organization, where leadership, service, confidence, and personal growth are valued just as highly as outward beauty.
For Yelena, success has never been about standing in the spotlight alone… It is about helping others find theirs.
That philosophy is perhaps best illustrated by one unforgettable pageant experience.
While leading the beauty team for a state competition, one contestant specifically requested Yelena to personally prepare
Moments like these remind her why she chose this profession.
Beauty, she believes, is ultimately about trust.
It is about helping someone walk into one of life's defining moments believing completely in themselves.
Looking ahead, Yelena continues to expand Makeup By Yelena through television, fashion, editorial productions, beauty education, creative direction, and the future development of her own beauty products. Just as importantly, she remains committed to growing a team of artists who share her passion for excellence, professionalism, and mentorship.
Her vision has always extended beyond makeup brushes and cosmetics. She is building careers. She is building leaders. She is building confidence.
Because after more than twenty years in the beauty industry, Yelena Scheidler has learned that beauty is never the final product. Confidence is.
Perimenopause Bleeding
Common Changes Still Deserve the Right Evaluation
BY DR. ANNA LE, MD, FACOG, OWNER & CEO, ANNA HEALTH — FORMERLY ANNANDALE OB/GYN
Anna Health, formerly Annandale OB/ GYN, serves patients across 8 Northern Virginia locations. AnnaHealthMD.com
Irregular bleeding is among the most common complaints reported during perimenopause, and in most cases, the change itself is expected. Cycle length may shorten or lengthen, periods may be skipped, and flow can become lighter or heavier as hormone levels fluctuate. This reflects a normal physiologic transition.
However, "normal for your age" is not a complete clinical answer. Certain bleeding patterns warrant evaluation: Evaluation is recommended for: very heavy bleeding (saturating a pad or tampon hourly for several consecutive hours), bleeding lasting more than seven days, cycles occurring less than 21 days apart, intermenstrual or postcoital bleeding, or symptoms of anemia such as fatigue or lightheadedness.
Any bleeding after menopause requires prompt evaluation. Once 12 or more months have passed without a period, subsequent bleeding, including a single spotting episode, is considered abnormal by definition, regardless of severity.
Most postmenopausal bleeding is attributable to benign causes. However, because it is also the most common early symptom of endometrial cancer, timely evaluation is clinically significant. As of April 2026, updated ACOG guidance recommends that most patients undergo both a transvaginal ultrasound and an endometrial biopsy at initial evaluation, rather than ultrasound alone, to improve early detection.
Evaluation typically involves a clinical history, a transvaginal ultrasound, and, in most cases, an in-o ice endometrial biopsy, which together provide a definitive diagnosis in the majority of cases.
Anna Health, formerly Annandale OB/GYN, is accepting new patients across Northern Virginia.
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