It's one thing to compete for the coveted title of Mrs. DC America. The road to the title can be an amazing challenge within itself. Mrs. DuPont Circle, Marta Bota will be sharing her experience with you in her informative interview on life, fashion and beauty.
Marta's Mother
By Rodney Wayne Branche
Copa: How does a Brooklyn girl get to the Washington, DC Metro area?
Marta: I was a newly wed and my husband never took well to NYC. He was from LA and I was a native New Yorker, we had different outlooks and felt that Washington, DC would be a fantastic compromise. We both had great business contacts here and saw the DC, Metro area as an area of tremendous growth and potential with wonderful schools and very diverse. It was a great decision!
Marta: I was a newly wed and my husband never took well to NYC. He was from LA and I was a native New Yorker, we had different outlooks and felt that Washington, DC would be a fantastic compromise. We both had great business contacts here and saw the DC, Metro area as an area of tremendous growth and potential with wonderful schools and very diverse. It was a great decision!
Maimah Karmo of the "Tigerlily Foundation"
Copa: What started your passion for fashion?
Marta: My passion for fashion came from both my mother and grandmother. They had a custom bridal shop in Havana, Cuba. My mother grew up learning about design, sewing, handcrafting beautiful gowns and headpieces from her mother and from the time she was a very young child. I never saw anyone as talented with her hands as my mother. She sewed beautiful lace gowns and did embroidery and bead work all by hand! She was a whiz with a sewing machine, as well! I grew up with fashion magazines all over the house and my mother had incredible grace, elegance, and flair for style. She was always up on the latest fashion trends and, in my opinion, she was a fashion icon herself! My mother never left the house without her makeup, hair, and clothes looking impeccable!
Marta: My passion for fashion came from both my mother and grandmother. They had a custom bridal shop in Havana, Cuba. My mother grew up learning about design, sewing, handcrafting beautiful gowns and headpieces from her mother and from the time she was a very young child. I never saw anyone as talented with her hands as my mother. She sewed beautiful lace gowns and did embroidery and bead work all by hand! She was a whiz with a sewing machine, as well! I grew up with fashion magazines all over the house and my mother had incredible grace, elegance, and flair for style. She was always up on the latest fashion trends and, in my opinion, she was a fashion icon herself! My mother never left the house without her makeup, hair, and clothes looking impeccable!
Copa: What is your special philosophy where style is concerned?
Marta: My mother taught me a lot, regarding fashion and style. The best style advice I ever received from her was to ALWAYS look like a lady. She taught me that you should always leave something to the imagination. That you can look very sexy at the same time as looking elegant. I try to apply that to my own personal style. I also feel that, regardless of trends, a woman should always stay true to herself and what looks best on her body type. I love wearing classic pieces and adding updated accessories to keep up with changing fashion! I invest in one great timeless handbag per year. This has given me a beautiful collection of purses to choose from that always looks great with any outfit I choose! I feel great about the personal style that I have developed that accentuates my body type and keeps me looking timeless and still youthful, even at my age!
Marta: My mother taught me a lot, regarding fashion and style. The best style advice I ever received from her was to ALWAYS look like a lady. She taught me that you should always leave something to the imagination. That you can look very sexy at the same time as looking elegant. I try to apply that to my own personal style. I also feel that, regardless of trends, a woman should always stay true to herself and what looks best on her body type. I love wearing classic pieces and adding updated accessories to keep up with changing fashion! I invest in one great timeless handbag per year. This has given me a beautiful collection of purses to choose from that always looks great with any outfit I choose! I feel great about the personal style that I have developed that accentuates my body type and keeps me looking timeless and still youthful, even at my age!
Marta's Mother and Father
Copa: Makeup and styling... how do you make it work?
Marta: When it comes to makeup, I apply the same philosophy as I do my clothing. I keep it timeless and classic. Makeup trends change as often as fashion does, but I try to do what is right for my skin tone, features, and age. I keep my makeup simple and clean looking for work and pump it up a notch for a night out on the town, or red carpet events! I keep up with the trends by changing lip colors with the season and new runway looks, and may play around with my liner to pop my eyes!. I also believe that women should stay true to their own personal style and what compliments their features, skin tone, and age. I do always recommend keeping your clothing style and makeup style consistent and complimentary to one another.
Marta: When it comes to makeup, I apply the same philosophy as I do my clothing. I keep it timeless and classic. Makeup trends change as often as fashion does, but I try to do what is right for my skin tone, features, and age. I keep my makeup simple and clean looking for work and pump it up a notch for a night out on the town, or red carpet events! I keep up with the trends by changing lip colors with the season and new runway looks, and may play around with my liner to pop my eyes!. I also believe that women should stay true to their own personal style and what compliments their features, skin tone, and age. I do always recommend keeping your clothing style and makeup style consistent and complimentary to one another.
Marta's Husband and Son
Copa: Would you like to share your wonderful experience competing for the coveted title of Mrs. DC America?
Marta: Yes! I'd love to! It was an incredible experience! I was asked to run by owner/director Raquel Riley Thomas back in October. I was never interested in beauty pageants prior to the experience and, after careful consideration, thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for me both personally and professionally. What I love about it most is that it is a celebration of women who are successful in their family life, business, and community! I have always focused on these areas of my life and now I felt that I could be celebrated for it! Never having done this before I put my all into competing. I worked out hard with a fitness trainer and nutritionist. I hired a pageant coach to help me with interview skills and presenting the poise you need on stage. I put together beautiful outfits for each portion of the competition. I worked hard on getting sponsorships and worked tirelessly on my ADHD awareness, Diagnosis, and Treatment platform. As a result I started an online ADHD support network and am an ambassador for CHADD, a national non profit organization that advocates, educates, and supports individuals with ADHD! I worked hard in the community, attending all kinds of fundraisers for other important charities and organizations and tried my best to support the other contestants with their platforms! I was proud of my efforts and challenged myself like never before and was very proud the night of the pageant, as I knew I came prepared! I looked and felt like a Queen on stage and it was an awesome experience! The best part of my journey was all the love and support that I received from my friends and family and their belief in me that I am a Queen in my everyday life!
Marta: Yes! I'd love to! It was an incredible experience! I was asked to run by owner/director Raquel Riley Thomas back in October. I was never interested in beauty pageants prior to the experience and, after careful consideration, thought it would be a wonderful opportunity for me both personally and professionally. What I love about it most is that it is a celebration of women who are successful in their family life, business, and community! I have always focused on these areas of my life and now I felt that I could be celebrated for it! Never having done this before I put my all into competing. I worked out hard with a fitness trainer and nutritionist. I hired a pageant coach to help me with interview skills and presenting the poise you need on stage. I put together beautiful outfits for each portion of the competition. I worked hard on getting sponsorships and worked tirelessly on my ADHD awareness, Diagnosis, and Treatment platform. As a result I started an online ADHD support network and am an ambassador for CHADD, a national non profit organization that advocates, educates, and supports individuals with ADHD! I worked hard in the community, attending all kinds of fundraisers for other important charities and organizations and tried my best to support the other contestants with their platforms! I was proud of my efforts and challenged myself like never before and was very proud the night of the pageant, as I knew I came prepared! I looked and felt like a Queen on stage and it was an awesome experience! The best part of my journey was all the love and support that I received from my friends and family and their belief in me that I am a Queen in my everyday life!
Copa: What was the biggest lesson or discovery you have made during your competition for Mrs. DC America?
Marta: One of the discoveries I made during the process was that anything is possible, even for someone my age ( 51 years old)! The biggest discovery, however, was when I was onstage after realizing that after all my efforts I did not win the crown and title of Mrs. DC America 2014. That discovery was how fulfilled I felt, even after not winning, when I looked into the audience and saw all my beloved friends and family cheering me on with banners and smiles and saw my son's smiling face. I did place runner up and feel that my efforts have been recognized. As a woman, a mother and a wife, I have worked so hard behind the scenes for everyone else in my life. I took care of my ailing parents, who both passed away from cancer. I raised a child who struggled with ADHD and now he is grown and thriving. When I saw the faces of my husband and my son smiling and proud of me...that was my crown and glory!
Marta: One of the discoveries I made during the process was that anything is possible, even for someone my age ( 51 years old)! The biggest discovery, however, was when I was onstage after realizing that after all my efforts I did not win the crown and title of Mrs. DC America 2014. That discovery was how fulfilled I felt, even after not winning, when I looked into the audience and saw all my beloved friends and family cheering me on with banners and smiles and saw my son's smiling face. I did place runner up and feel that my efforts have been recognized. As a woman, a mother and a wife, I have worked so hard behind the scenes for everyone else in my life. I took care of my ailing parents, who both passed away from cancer. I raised a child who struggled with ADHD and now he is grown and thriving. When I saw the faces of my husband and my son smiling and proud of me...that was my crown and glory!
Copa: Tell us all about MB FaceDesign.
Marta: MB FaceDesign is the name of my company. It is the representation of all of my years of experience in the beauty/makeup industry and is my freelance company name. I started as a model in NYC and discovered that I was drawn to the creative behind the scenes side of the fashion industry. I spent years working as a makeup artist in the fashion industry in N.Y. from runway to editorial work. I apprenticed with an Emmy award winning makeup artist who taught me special effects makeup artistry techniques. I began working in the television industry as a makeup artist for CNN in NYC. All the while doing other freelance work such as makeup lessons, bridal, red carpet events, to name a few. I continue to keep up with industry changes and am always working on the advancement of my skills with workshops, classes, and working with other artists. As technology changes it is vital to do this. Products change, cameras change and you need to keep up with the industry to keep yourself marketable! I have plans to expand my business with my own cosmetic line as well as other projects that I am working on!
Marta: MB FaceDesign is the name of my company. It is the representation of all of my years of experience in the beauty/makeup industry and is my freelance company name. I started as a model in NYC and discovered that I was drawn to the creative behind the scenes side of the fashion industry. I spent years working as a makeup artist in the fashion industry in N.Y. from runway to editorial work. I apprenticed with an Emmy award winning makeup artist who taught me special effects makeup artistry techniques. I began working in the television industry as a makeup artist for CNN in NYC. All the while doing other freelance work such as makeup lessons, bridal, red carpet events, to name a few. I continue to keep up with industry changes and am always working on the advancement of my skills with workshops, classes, and working with other artists. As technology changes it is vital to do this. Products change, cameras change and you need to keep up with the industry to keep yourself marketable! I have plans to expand my business with my own cosmetic line as well as other projects that I am working on!
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Copa: What are the do's and don'ts of make-up styling?
Marta: When it comes to makeup styling it is always about listening to your client. If I am doing a fashion shoot I must collaborate with the designer, the photographer, and come up with creative ideas as well to have an end result that satisfies everyone. If I am working with a bridal client I must make her feel pampered and happy with the end result of having her makeup look flawless and beautiful in her photos. If I am teaching a makeup lesson I must be sure that I give clear instructions that allow her to be able to replicate it on her own. It really is about teamwork!
As far as makeup tips, specifically, I always believe in making the makeup enhance a woman's beauty, not cover it up. Makeup should look well blended, flawless, and let her own natural beauty shine through!
Marta: When it comes to makeup styling it is always about listening to your client. If I am doing a fashion shoot I must collaborate with the designer, the photographer, and come up with creative ideas as well to have an end result that satisfies everyone. If I am working with a bridal client I must make her feel pampered and happy with the end result of having her makeup look flawless and beautiful in her photos. If I am teaching a makeup lesson I must be sure that I give clear instructions that allow her to be able to replicate it on her own. It really is about teamwork!
As far as makeup tips, specifically, I always believe in making the makeup enhance a woman's beauty, not cover it up. Makeup should look well blended, flawless, and let her own natural beauty shine through!
Copa: We have noticed lately that some women are wearing 'daring' colors to their makeup routines. What are your thoughts?
Marta: The trend right now is bold and daring colors. It is hot off the runway. Bold lips, eyes, cheeks. I think, when it comes to runway trends, that a woman still needs to consider her age, skin tone, and personal style. For young women in their teens and twenties they can get away with just about anything and it can look cute and trendy! As women start to get into their later twenties, thirties and onward they need to use caution and be a bit more on the conservative side. This doesn't mean that they can't be stylish, it just means that less is always best. Just use one trend at a time..perhaps just a bold lip, or play up the eyes, but don't overload your face with too much color. It can detract from your beauty and look too harsh. I also advise that you consider the event you are attending. Having a little more fun when you are making up for a night out dancing, or a red carpet event will be different than if you are heading to the office!
Marta: The trend right now is bold and daring colors. It is hot off the runway. Bold lips, eyes, cheeks. I think, when it comes to runway trends, that a woman still needs to consider her age, skin tone, and personal style. For young women in their teens and twenties they can get away with just about anything and it can look cute and trendy! As women start to get into their later twenties, thirties and onward they need to use caution and be a bit more on the conservative side. This doesn't mean that they can't be stylish, it just means that less is always best. Just use one trend at a time..perhaps just a bold lip, or play up the eyes, but don't overload your face with too much color. It can detract from your beauty and look too harsh. I also advise that you consider the event you are attending. Having a little more fun when you are making up for a night out dancing, or a red carpet event will be different than if you are heading to the office!
Marta with the former First Lady Mrs. Bush
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Marta with Mrs. Northwest DC., Alita Taylor Gregg aka "Pinky Lee Taylor"
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Copa: What does the future hold for Marta Bota?
Marta: The future holds infinite possibilities! My son is now grown and I have more time and energy to explore many options as far as my career and personal life! I love my work, my family, and serving my community! I love to travel and have a long list of destinations I would love to explore! I am hoping that my exposure from the pageant will open doors to many future opportunities! I have a great life and look forward to my future!
~Copa
Marta: The future holds infinite possibilities! My son is now grown and I have more time and energy to explore many options as far as my career and personal life! I love my work, my family, and serving my community! I love to travel and have a long list of destinations I would love to explore! I am hoping that my exposure from the pageant will open doors to many future opportunities! I have a great life and look forward to my future!
~Copa
