13 min read
Christine’s professional story, however, does not begin in Utah, but in a small Concord, California home converted to a skin care clinic over 25 years ago. Her career, like many aestheticians, began as a result of her own skin condition. In her words “…I had severe grade-four acne for over a decade and out of desperation for clear skin, I sought out remedies from over-the-counter products, facialists, salons, and dermatologists without any success. Then, I began to eagerly study the skin, especially about acne, because I was so desperate to have healthy and clear skin. Once I had mastered clearing up my acne, I was motivated to treat others with similar problems and acquired my license to practice aesthetics in the state of California. My skin elective of choice was to help individuals with severe skin challenges of all ethnic backgrounds. Soon, patients from all over the San Francisco Bay area sought out my skin treatments and to this day I still maintain contact with many of these individuals.” Read More
- Published in AIA Legend
10 min read
Annette’s story is one of family values and support – of an ongoing commitment to professionalism and recognition of the importance of standards. She has spent her entire career upholding the accountability of government to consumer safety and remains a relentless figure in the world of legislation on behalf of the aesthetic industry. While down-to-earth, she has a sophisticated intelligence and possesses a high standard of conduct, honesty, and integrity in her work and life. With a tireless determination to enlighten her students, Annette developed Atelier Esthétique Institute to provide the best in skin care education. After almost 25 years in the aesthetic industry, Annette stays true to her mission that she established from day one: "Excellence in Education, One Student at a Time." Annette lies on the treatment table waiting for the flashes of beaming light to permanently zap away a few fine hairs on her brow. It is the first day of Atelier Esthétique’s 75-Hour Certificate Course in Laser Hair Removal and Skin Rejuvenation, and in Annette’s signature style, it is strictly hands-on. She volunteers not out of aspirations of cosmetic improvement, but rather out of a heartfelt desire to give her students an authentic perspective of the Read More
- Published in AIA Legend
11 min read
When Murad opened his dermatology practice in 1972, few doctors considered aesthetics an allied profession and most didn’t consider it a profession at all. But even as a young doctor, Murad saw things differently. And over the last three decades, that different view of aesthetics has helped him become one of the greatest champions of the aesthetics profession. Becoming “Doctor” Murad Like most pioneers, Murad’s path was in many ways unconventional. His story literally begins in the cradle of civilization. Born in Bagdad, Iraq, he was just seven years old when his family left the quiet of the ancient world for the modern madness of New York. The Murad family struggled to make a start in America. The first home for their multi-generational family of eight was a 600 square foot apartment. As a child Murad took odd jobs to contribute to the family’s survival and despite hardships and serious obligations, he remained a dedicated student. When the time came, he followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Henry, and put himself through college, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy from the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy in 1962. Eager for even more knowledge, he went to medical Read More
- Published in AIA Legend
11 min read
AN EARLY START As the only child of a single parent, Rebecca started contributing to the family household at an early age. In 1964, Rebecca’s mother, Jean, realized her job wasn’t going to provide them with the lifestyle she envisioned after her second marriage ended in divorce. A small party planning company selling cosmetics from Dallas had just started looking for women in California to join their team. Seeing an opportunity to merge her background as a fashion model with her core belief that when people looked their best their self-confidence became stronger and their lives went better, Jean became one of the first Mary Kay women on the West Coast. Within a few months, her business grew to need another hand. So Jean recruited her 10-year-old daughter, teaching her the company’s skin care methods and philosophy, how to do a facial, apply makeup, and how to sell. Sometimes the two were so busy they’d work Thursday and Friday nights as well as Saturday and Sunday. By 14, Rebecca was contributing half the rent and utilities, had her own phone and was putting a little money away for college. Then the tax man came calling. “I don’t know if she Read More
- Published in AIA Legend
6 min read
equipment. She lived a very nonconventional existence during that period, and her stay in that country had a very profound bearing on her personality, strengthening her restless and adventuresome spirit and her natural inclination to explore new cultures. This later brought about world travels, with her acquiring through these a gamut of experiences and a most impressive culture. The educational development of Mari Paz has led to a great scientific and technical knowledge without diminishing her humanistic capacity. Her basic education was through religious schools. She later completed her studies in Business Administration and worked for major Spanish companies. At the age of 21, Mari Paz received her Cosmetology license just to discover her real vocation was aesthetics. Her attraction to this new world was so great that it went on to fill her entire life through today. Read More
- Published in AIA Legend
9 min read
Those who know Jan Marini refer to her as a visionary. While Jan might agree in principle, she sees this characterization as both a strength and a weakness. She envies those who are able to savor the moment. Where others view life in snapshots that capture real time, Jan sees broad borderless landscapes and endless possibilities. She does not see a product, she sees a business and in that same instance her mind is flooded with the business plan and all the accompanying details. Even when she is not envisioning empires, she is never satisfied with the status quo. Given her background, perhaps this is an understandable if not necessary survival tool. Jan’s mother, Florence, was a single mom of three boys in an era when divorce carried a major stigma. Florence remarried and unexpectedly gave birth to Jan late in life. The family struggled to live a very meager existence. Her father died when she was eight years old and the family was thrust into poverty. Florence worked only menial jobs and food was often scarce. It was no wonder that Jan viewed her world not as it was, but as it might be, and that she softened Read More
- Published in AIA Legend
11 min read
The life and achievements of skin treatment pioneer Danné Montague-King, are not easy to summarize. Where to start, after more than 40 years of research and travel, pioneering a skin revision methodology that for the most part was decades ahead of its time, and then to only now have his achievements recognized in his native U.S.? From Russia to Tibet, Europe to Australia and beyond, Danné Montague-King has sought out knowledge in pursuit of his dream to bring aesthetic medicine and beauty therapy together. Long before cosmeceutical and para-medical became marketing buzz words, and long before Heads of State and members of royalty became believers, Danné was committed to hands-on research and hard work – wherever it took him. When asked how he managed to sustain such an incredible journey, this enigmatic man with the Peter Pan grin simply shrugs. “I just got on with it – and I had a lot of help!” Read More
- Published in AIA Legend
11 min read
The life and achievements of skin treatment pioneer Danné Montague-King, are not easy to summarize. Where to start, after more than 40 years of research and travel, pioneering a skin revision methodology that for the most part was decades ahead of its time, and then to only now have his achievements recognized in his native U.S.? From Russia to Tibet, Europe to Australia and beyond, Danné Montague-King has sought out knowledge in pursuit of his dream to bring aesthetic medicine and beauty therapy together. Long before cosmeceutical and para-medical became marketing buzz words, and long before Heads of State and members of royalty became believers, Danné was committed to hands-on research and hard work – wherever it took him. When asked how he managed to sustain such an incredible journey, this enigmatic man with the Peter Pan grin simply shrugs. “I just got on with it – and I had a lot of help!” Read More
- Published in AIA Legend
