Mally Roncal's Magic Touch

With a celebrity client list a mile long, Mally Roncal is one of the most sought-after makeup artists in the industry. She has perfected the faces of Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Alicia Keys, Angelina Jolie and countless others. In true entrepreneurial fashion, Roncal has launched her own line of cosmetics, Mally Beauty, found in such department stores as Henri Bendel. Roncal also sells her products through QVC, which proved to be a great distribution strategy, as her line sold out completely during its debut, and since she’s able to perform demonstrations and take calls from viewers, she uses her “BFF” type charm to connect with consumers.

Surprisingly, this talented beauty of Filipina heritage did not start out in the beauty business; she initially was a pre-med student following in the footsteps of her parents―both of whom were in the medical field. Roncal always knew she had an interest in skincare and contemplated becoming a dermatologist. She ultimately ended up pursuing her passion and is steadily becoming one of the biggest names in cosmetics. The Mally Beauty collection features all-in-one packaged products for easy application in addition to must-have tools.

Young Designer Courtney Crawford Makes Major Strides with Sexy Shoes

Young shoe designer, Courtney Crawford has been tapped to lend his irrefutable talent to design the Spring 2007 shoe collection for Missoni, which makes it hard to believe that less than two years ago he convinced investors to take a chance on a young novice with big ideas. Crawford always had dreams of owning his own company. While still a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Crawford began researching the ins and outs of high-end fashion and luxury goods. In the summer of 2004, he had his first meeting with future investors, Lyndon Campbell of Dynasty Global Holdings, a fashion and media investment company and Burnell Guyton, an automotive-dealership owner and sometimes venture capitalist. The two insisted that he acquire more experience in the business which turned into an apprenticeship and then a position as Head Footwear designer and Production Manager with shoe designer, Eugenia Kim. Less than a year later, at 26, Crawford’s tenacity and his investors’ cash resulted in his first collection.

According to Courtney Crawford, his shoes are for the “racy sophisticate,” a woman who is unapologetically sexy and undeniably intelligent. In his current collection which has him compared to the likes of Jimmy Choo, each shoe is named after a movie with an unforgettable leading lady. The Courtney Crawford collection is carried in select stores in over ten countries including the United States, Hong Kong, the U.K., Russia, and Italy.