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Jewels of the Virgin Isles: Profile on Yolanda Aguayo of Got Glam

Jewels of the Virgin Isles is a feature series profiling Virgin Islanders in the diaspora who are excelling in their respective fields and/or positively representing the USVI abroad.

Most people, if they are lucky, get to do one thing professionally that they find rewarding, but Yolanda Aguayo has double the pleasure and double the impact as a Spanish teacher and image consultant.

By day, the St. Thomas native and Atlanta resident has the privilege of sharing her love of the Spanish language with private school students, something she has done for 17 years. “I chose to teach Spanish because I love kids and I wanted them to learn and appreciate a different culture and be able to speak a different language,” Aguayo says.

Though born on St. Thomas, Aguayo admits her first language was Spanish. Born to a Puerto Rican father and St. Thomian mother, she was also raised by her grandmother who is Cuban, so in fact, Aguayo was raised in a Spanish-speaking household and did not learn English until she entered kindergarten.

Taking full advantage of her dual languages, she has also taught adult ESL to the Hispanic community in low-income Atlanta neighborhoods using conversational Spanish.

When school is out though, Aguayo begins an entirely different career that positively impacts lives in a different manner as the owner of Got Glam/Changing Faces by Yoli.

In a society where standards of beauty can be used to uplift or tear down an individual, Aguayo uses her passion for beauty to give women a new perspective on their lives. This Virgin Islands jewel is on a mission to change the way women see themselves, enhancing their external features to help uncover the real beauty that lies within.

Aguayo says she has loved makeup and cosmetology since she was young, participating in local fashion shows, TV commercials and, later, working with many cosmetic lines. “I wanted women to feel better about themselves. My goal is to make each person I’m working with feel that they’re discovering more of their own inner beauty as their outer beauty unfolds in the mirror in front of them,” she states.

Whether applying makeup for a wedding, fashion event or photo shoot, Aguayo’s primary goal is to make each woman feel comfortable and excited about looking her best, while also sharing makeup practices so that the looks will last.

Aguayo especially finds joy in her volunteer work with cancer patients at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. There she provides these special clients with a full Got Glam look, putting a smile on their faces and her own as well.

Growing up, Aguayo was inspired by her grandmother Ida Garcia Calderon who always let her know that she believed in her. Throughout her youth, Aguayo was encouraged to be the best she could be and to work hard to accomplish her goals. That type of encouragement is invaluable to a young child and she credits this support as an important part of her advancement today.

A 1987 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, Aguayo continued her education at Miami Dade College and Strayer University, and followed her passion by later completing cosmetology school.

Her path to establishing her Got Glam business stemmed from hosting a private workshop for friends on how to apply makeup. Because of the overwhelming response, she was encouraged to host another, this time for the general public, and demand grew.

To showcase her work, Aguayo began posting photos of her handiwork on her social media sites and on her web site http://www.gotglam.net. As word spread about her knack for “changing faces,” Aguayo’s clientele grew. She has had clients from the Virgin Islands seek her out to book appointments when they visit Atlanta for an event or special occasion, and she showcases her signature eye décor during the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival for troupes representing the Virgin Islands community.

Aguayo’s V.I. pride goes beyond Carnival to the rich history, natural beauty and diverse culture of the islands. It’s this fondness and appreciation for her own childhood that feeds her desire to conduct self-esteem and mentoring workshops in the territory, where young girls can learn all aspects of proper skin care, makeup application and, perhaps, a new career path.

It’s clear that Aguayo loves her work and this is her number one rule for success in life.

Little Known Fact: “What people will be most surprised about me is that I am shy, although I have a public profession,” Aguayo says, adding “I’m addicted to Spanish soap operas, which I watch daily as a stress reliever.”

A Nugget for V.I. Youth: Follow the advice of your parents; stay in school; follow your dreams; and don’t let the word “no,” or your current situation dictate your future. There is no limit on what you can do.
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Loán Sewer is a multicultural marketing and tourism consultant and proud Virgin Islander who resides in Washington, D.C. She is also a founding member of the USVI Alliance Inc., an organization focused on reconnecting the Virgin Islands diaspora with the local community and host of the USVI Economic Development Summit on the U.S. mainland. Follow her on Twitter @LoTalksTourism or e-mail her at info@LoTalksTourism.com.

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