Darin Wright, 46, a professional makeup artist who grew up in New Jersey and moved to Chattanooga in 1995, designs her own line of mineral-based makeup. Her passion for such products dates to her childhood.
Wright said her mother sold Vanda Cosmetics, a product similar to Avon or Mary Kay. Now, Wright owns Elea Blake Cosmetics by Darin, a cosmetic/skin care boutique on Frazier Avenue.
"I grew up with a basement filled with shelves lined with cosmetics," she said. "It was like we had a cosmetic store in our house."
Wright followed her mother's example in direct sales when she was 17.
"I'd ride my bike to a senior citizens complex and go from apartment to apartment selling Avon to the little old ladies," she said. "I loved them. We'd sit for hours trying out samples, drinking tea and laughing. It was a great learning experience."
Today, Wright's line of cosmetics is tailored for each of her clients, and her products are about to be sold nationwide. "Other consultants throughout the country will start using my products with their clients," she said. "It's very exciting."
Q: Did you always plan to work with cosmetics?
A: Being a makeup artist was not a career many people I knew were pursuing. I worked as a bank teller, a real-estate agent, a loan processor and at a law office. I was miserable. Finally, my sister encouraged me to go back to school and do something with fashion. I liked all aspects of fashion, including cosmetics, so I went back to college at 25 years old. I eventually got a degree in fashion merchandising from Brookdale Community College in New Jersey.
Q: Where did you launch your career?
A: At Bloomingdale's in New York City. Then we moved to Atlanta, and I worked for Prescriptives. When we moved to Chattanooga, I started volunteering with burn patients, teaching them to care for their skin. I got licensed as an aesthetician so that I could better understand what they were going through. After that, I developed an interest in starting my own line of natural, skin-care products and custom-blend mineral makeup.
Q: In addition to your dedication to your family and career, you're also very active in your community.
A: I love Red Bank. I moved there in 1995 and have been there since. I haven't always been happy with the way things were going in Red Bank, so instead of complaining, I did something about it. I joined the Red Bank Neighborhood Pride Association (she's now president). I started going to council meetings and got myself involved.
Q: What are some of the projects you've tackled in Red Bank?
A: I headed the Red Bank Open Air Market, which we've done three times, but I've found that October is the best time of year to have it. The one we recently had was a huge success and will become an annual event. I was also in charge of last year's annual Christmas parade. The theme was "Mister Rogers." I had a guy teach us, five couples, how to swing dance to Mr. Rogers' theme song, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" so that we could dance in the parade.
Q: What would you like to see happen in Red Bank?
A: I'd love for my town to push forward. I will continue to volunteer and do anything I can do. I want to get more citizens involved. The people of Red Bank are generous and talented. If we could tap into those resources, there would be no stopping us. We can become a community like North Chattanooga has become. We have low crime; we have low taxes; we have great neighborhoods, and it's a great place to raise children.
Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karennazorhill.
FAMILY
Husband Doug Wright; twin 18-year-old daughters, Elea and Blake.
HOBBIES
Flower and vegetable gardening. "I love making landscape gardens with flowers and herbs. I usually kill vegetables, though I did have some success with tomatoes this year."
FAVORITE MUSIC
"I love '80s music, especially the B-52s."
FAVORITE FILM
"The first 'Legally Blonde.' It's about a woman that everyone thought was a dumb girl but was a powerful woman. I liked the message."
FAVORITE BOOK
"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," by John Berendt. "It is a good read. Very suspenseful and mysterious."
SOMETHING SURPRISING
"When I'm home I'm quiet -- I really am."