A Touch of Glamour in the City of Angels

In the spring of 2009, Shapero and Fox launched Glamour Project in Los Angeles, with the dream of bringing the gift of beauty to women who were at the lowest point in their lives. Like many metropolitan areas, the City of Angels has its share of homeless shelters, but it also has two earth-bound angels in Shapero and Fox.

Shapero bubbles with praise for her friend of more than 20 years. "When Kara came to me and said she wanted to take glamour shots of homeless women, I was hesitant, but I agreed to accompany her one time," she remembered. Once was all it took to convince Shapero that bringing joy to these women, through the power of beauty and glamour, was one of the most important things she'd ever done.

Starting on a shoestring, Fox and Shapero scoured second-hand clothing stores for fashionable finds, buying up vintage hats, velvet wraps and flirty-girl garb in every size. Then, the two women raided their own closets.

While neither Fox nor Shapero possesses a background in the fashion and beauty industry, both women hold degrees in clinical psychology. They know the importance of the little things many take for granted, like the feeling of empowerment that comes with looking great.

Like the smiles that radiate from the faces of the homeless women, the excitement and enthusiasm to share in the spirit of Glamour Project is infectious. The desire to be a part of the creative chaos of multiple makeovers and glamour shoots spills over to everyone it touches.


Fox's trusted friend and Boston milliner, Marilyn Feldman, offered her professional services to restore Glamour Project's secondhand hats to their retro-chic allure, and in the process, she was hooked. Coached by Fox and Shapero, Feldman launched her own Boston branch of Glamour Project, in association with the Nurturing Center of Boston.

While every makeover is distinctive, and every model brings her own personality to her glamour shoot, one woman stands out in Shapero's mind.

During her makeover, the thin woman was unusually quiet. Shapero couldn't get a feel for what the woman was thinking. Near the end of their session, Shapero asked her if she was enjoying her makeover.

"It just feels so good to be touched by another human being," the woman confided.

"You have to understand the world these women live in," Shapero said. "They've learned how to survive on the streets by making themselves as unattractive as possible -- to ward off attacks. They go out of their way to avoid touching because it puts them in danger."

"So, that's what Kara and I do," Shapero emphasized, her voice catching. "We touch hearts through the power of beauty and fashion. We want these homeless women to remember just how beautiful they really are."

"We don't prompt the women to tell us their stories," Shapero continued, "but we're there to listen if they do." And, they frequently do.

"You might think you have nothing in common with these women, but like all of us, they have families, they have hopes and they have dreams." One woman recently told Shapero about her daughter in college, her son in Iraq and her hopes for a future -- a future that includes a place to call home.

As Glamour Project grew, Shapero and Fox launched an official website, GlamourProject.org, to detail their mission, connect with homeless shelters and schedule makeover events.

"Now that we've been through the trial-and-error phase, we want to expand Glamour Project to other communities," Shapero said. "We'll even fly to different cities to share our knowledge and help others set up branches of Glamour Project."

In a world where basic survival is in question, beauty takes a back seat. After a glamour shoot ends, after Shapero gathers her army of lip liners, powders and glosses, and Fox packs away her tripods and reflectors, something small, but significant, remains. Each homeless woman receives a glossy glamour portrait, a memory not only of her day in the spotlight, but also undeniable evidence that she is a beautiful human being, worthy of love.

What makes Glamour Project successful? Think back to a moment when you knew you looked great, a moment when your favorite jeans cradled your curves, when your complexion was clear and your outfit rocked. With every step you took -- heads turned. Remember the exuberance, the energy.

Far from the glitter and glam of the runway, Shapero and Fox prove what every woman instinctively knows: When you look good, you feel good. And, when you feel good, you can take on the world.