What an amazing talent Ms. Vy Higginsen is.  Cincinnati was proud to host SmartTalk Connected Conversation‘s Vy Higginsen to share her story with us.  From the minute she took the stage, she was electrifying.  The energy was palpable and she immediately captivated the audience.  And if you are one who is inspired by other strong women, wait until you hear Vy’s accomplishments!  What gives her that extra bit of “special” is that she not only accomplished monumental career goals, but many times, she was the trail-blazer, the first to ever do what she has done.  For instance, she was the first black female radio personality in the prime time New York City market on WBLS.  She was the first woman to host a morning show on New York radio at WWRL.  She was the first woman in advertising sales at Ebony magazine.  She was the first black woman to produce a drama on Broadway with Joe Tuner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson.  She was the first black female writer, producer, director of the longest-running, Off-Broadway musical in the history of American theater with Mama, I Want to Sing.

To accomplish one one of those goals individually is something that dreams are made of.  To accomplish these goals in multiples, along with being the first many times, is almost unfathomable.  Yet, her determination and perseverance paved the way to the incredible life she now leads.  She’s all about positive energy, and she sees her accomplishments in her mind long before she achieves them.

Vy also created the Mama Foundation, an organization that keeps gospel relevant and exciting for teens.  Realizing that it was someone’s responsibility to keep gospel music alive, Ms. Vy didn’t sit around and wait for someone to figure it out.  She did it herself.  Watch a clip of this magical collaboration:

Ms. Higginsen is an inspiration to anyone who has ever wanted to bless others.  She’s an inspiration for women in business.  She’s an inspiration for those whom like to take chances.  She’s a big thinker, and she makes things happen.  She certainly gains a spot in my collection of female mentors.  Incredible!

An enormous thank you to SmartTalk Connected Conversations for bringing insightful and amazing talent to Cincinnati.  Make sure and catch SmartTalk’s May feature in Cincinnati, with Andie MacDowell!   Purchase tickets here and spend and amazing night with the legendary Andie MacDowell on May 24th at the Aronoff Center for Arts!

Keep that pouty pucker pretty by exfoliating your lips.  Just like your skin, your lips need exfoliating, too.  Keep them soft and flake-free with regular exfoliating.  Use simple table sugar mixed with a small amount of Vaseline, lip gloss, olive oil, or whatever you have on hand.  Lightly apply the sugar/oil mixture to the lips and rub in a circular motion, lightly buffing old skin away.  Use your fingers or a wash cloth.  Pat dry and apply a moisturizing lip balm.  Simple as that.  Keeps lips looking gorgeous and sexy!

There’s a secret to making your favorite scent last longer, and that secret it scent layering.  Scent layering is layering your favorite scent in multiple ways.  Start your smell-good process by scent layering in the shower with soap in your favorite scent.  Follow your shower with a body oil or body lotion in the same favorite scent.  Then spray on your favorite body spray in the same scent…spray it on your clothes, your hair, your skin, etc.   Layering the scent in multiple ways makes it last longer and provides all day long aromatherapy.  Try our scent of the month:  Beach.

I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with amazingly talented Kara DioGuardi to discuss her upcoming SmartTalk Connected Conversations appearance in Cincinnati on March 22nd.

Hi Kara!  We are elated to have you as part of SmartTalk Connected Conversations here in Cincinnati.  I have to admit…you are very easy to promote!  Everyone loves you and we are so excited to have you.  I’m assuming that you no longer have a fear of public speaking at this point?

Thank you!  I’m excited to be a part of SmartTalk.  Yes, I have, for the most part, gotten over the fear of public speaking, but it’s always there to some degree.  What makes me overcome the fear is connecting to the audience.  I still say to people…you are this excited to see me? It’s always great connecting to the fans.

Even in a smaller market, like Cincinnati, people in the “industry”, whether it be our local news, being cast for commercials, etc., I’ve learned it can be a very cut-throat industry.  I’m sure this must be 10 fold in larger markets like LA and NYC.  Have you witnessed extreme cut-throat behavior in Hollywood?  And are women worse than men?

Oh definitely!  I’ve definitely seen cut-throat behavior.  But I think that many times, it’s not cut-throat just for the sake of being cut-throat.  When someone is very driven, they don’t let anyone or anything stop them, and I think this can be misconstrued as being cut-throat.  But when you’ve pounded on your craft and you have drive, nothing can stop you or get in your way.  So that can be considered as cut-throat at times.

In addition to your drive for success, I can see you are very successful in keeping your body looking top-notch!  I was surprised to see you once used food as your crutch.  Can you tell me your workout routine?  It’s working for you!  You look sensational.

I really started to notice my body transform when I did Chicago on Broadway.  The constant dancing and moving really transformed my body, and I’m so thankful for that.  But I also workout and eat well, too.  I exercise about 3-4 days a week.  I rotate cardio (although I have a back issue, and that makes running for more than 2-3 miles difficult) and weights.  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve incorporated weights into my routine, and that’s helped so much.  And I eat healthy.  But I don’t go crazy with it.

One thing I adore about you is your “tell it like it is” attitude.  There is absolutely zero pretentious behavior with you and I love that!  We’ve heard the stories of diva-like behavior from celebs…anyone you want to call out for having bad behavior?

There are definitely those out there with their fair share of bad attitudes.  But honestly, I think that one’s drive can be misconstrued as diva-like behavior.  When you are driven, you don’t let anyone stand in your way.  If you have to be blunt and direct, than so be it.  When you have drive, which is key, nothing is going to stop you or get in your way.  So I think that can be perceived as bad behavior at times, but really, it’s just drive.

I have often wondered if ultra-successful are born with a mental edge.  Did they always know they had a little extra “something”?  Did you always know you’d be a star or this ultra successful?

I think that develops over time.  When you become very good at your craft, there is a confidence that develops and confirms those thoughts in your head.  Again, though, I think it’s the constant hammering at your skills, your craft, that you develop that “knowing” that you are a star.  I always knew I was very good at what I do.  I don’t think I went into it thinking I’d have this amount of fame, but I am very driven.

SmartTalk audiences are filled with success-seeking women, all wanting to know what it takes to get that edge in life?  What separates the every day people from the people who are making things happen in their careers.  Can you identify what you think that edge is?

Simply put, it’s all about drive.  It’s about how much time you are willing to spend on your craft or to develop your talent that gives you that extra edge.  We’ve all watched people who have had loads of talent, yet don’t have the gumption to apply themselves.  That’s the difference between people who are accomplishing their goals and those who are not.  You have to develop a discipline of drive, or you’ll go nowhere.

Just last week, we witnessed the horrific passing of the great Whitney Houston.  Were you a fan?

Such a huge loss to music and the world.  I was a huge Whitney fan.  I remember sitting in my bedroom as a teenager listening to her records over and over.  She had a beautiful and unique voice, and she will sorely be missed by all.  Her passing was a tragedy.

I see you married someone who is not in your industry.  Do you find that it’s easier to be married to someone who is not in your line of work?

It’s a perfect fit!  My husband is a teacher/contractor/artist, so he’s a very creative type.  We relate on that aspect very well.  But I love coming home from work and sitting at the dinner table and talking about something that isn’t music related.  When you are with someone in the same industry, your life becomes about “did you see that new artist”, “did you hear that new song”, etc.  So it’s been really great to have someone that I can relate to creatively, yet someone who isn’t in the same industry as I am.   He gives me the space that I need to conduct such a busy life, and I give him his space.  Plus, we married a little older, and you really know yourself so much better.  I’m in such a good place!

To hear more from Kara DioGuardi, join us on March 22nd with SmartTalk Connected Conversations at the Aronoff in Cincinnati!

It’s mid February and your skin hasn’t seen the sun in months.  In fact, your skin probably hasn’t seen the light of day since August  if you live in an area that experiences seasonal changes.  Pretty skin is still under all those layers of clothing and dry skin, you just need to know how to perfect gorgeous skin year-round.  The major culprit of ugly winter skin is lack of moisture.  One of the easiest ways to add moisture to your skin in seconds is by applying a great body oil to your skin directly after your shower.  If you are a bath-person, simply add the oil to your bath water.  It’s quicker than applying lotion to every square inch of your skin, and it instantly gives your skin a moisturized, sexy look.   It also makes your shower smell like a spa!  The benefits of aromatherapy are monumental.  How do you keep your skin looking sensational in the winter months?  It’s a question I get all the time.  This is it…this is the secret.  Simply smooth your favorite body oil (mine’s Beach and Grapefruit) all over your skin directly out of the shower or bath, then pat dry with a towel.  Of note, use a product that doesn’t leave your skin dripping in oil; rather, use a great skin-absorbing oil.  Higher quality oils will be absorbed by the skin better and more quickly than a mineral oil, for instance, will.  And it’s nice to know that you are sporting sexy skin under those layers!

So I was hanging out with Tim Gunn the other night…yes, that Tim Gunn, and yes, I was really hanging out with him!  Tim Gunn was in Cincinnati to kick off the SmartTalk Connected Conversation Series at the Aronoff.  Tim packed the house with the VIP reception party prior to the event.  Gracious as ever, he really took the time to meet people, ask them questions, sign portfolios, and even encourage some design students that were hanging on his every word (understandably).  I envision those young fashion design students to be dedicating their early influencers to Mr. Gunn.  Tim was everything a star should be…kind, gracious to his fans, and engaging.

Tim’s speech was equally engaging, as he shared his experiences at Parsons, Fashion Runway, Tim Gunn’s Guide To Style, and Hollywood.  Tim’s style is to “make it work” for your particular body style.  He isn’t trying to push a near-skeletal frame to women, insisting that it’s the only way fashion will work on a woman’s body.  Instead, he personalizes style more to the individual.  And he delivers it all with his unmistakable “Tim Gunn” charm.   He has a confidence that just oozes from him.  Classy, yet not stuffy.  Kind to the core.  Kudos to SmartTalk on thinking out of the box with January’s speaker (first male celebrity ever!)  Join us in February as SmartTalk welcomes Arianna Huffington to the Aronoff in Cincinnati.  Click here for tickets and information.

Great skincare products can be found right in the pantry of your kitchen.  Not only are they healthier for you, they are also on the cheap.  Baking soda is a great way to exfoliate your skin.  Because baking soda contains tiny granules of sodium bicarbonate, it makes for the perfect substance to lightly exfoliate your skin.  It also has antiseptic properties that will ward off breakouts.  Simply make a paste with a palm-full of baking soda combined with a small amount of water.  Apply to face, working in a circular motion, and allow to dry for three minutes.  Rinse away with warm water, followed with a splash of cold to close pores.  Keeps your skin looking refreshed and blemish-free.

If you paint your nails often, you know that one of the big draw backs is the slight discoloring it gives to your natural nail.  Not to worry, there’s a cure for that.  You probably have some left over Ginger Ale from your holiday parties.  Put it to good use by creating a nail soak.  Ginger Ale contains soluble salts that act as preservatives or emulsifiers.  These naturally bleach your nails.  Simply pour some Ginger Ale in a small bowl, and submerge your nails for 10 minutes twice a week.  Watch your nails naturally bleach right before your eyes.