be an artist , but to pour love onto others ,” she says .“ Igrew upinthe inner city , and my family instilled in me the importance of helping others in need . It ’ sgreat to be able to use my gifts to give back .”
Anonprofit she favors , The Banquet of Dreams , isanannual celebration where homeless people are bused from shelters to receive meals and full makeovers — nails , eyebrows , massages , new clothes and haircare , including skin fade haircuts for men . “ It ’ sthe full luxury experience , sothey can feel beautiful and not have to worry about what they ’ re going through ,” she says . She hopes that this year , the event , which is usually held around Christmas at a Newark community center , will be held “ at an actual banquet hall ,” she says . “ We need asponsorship from ahall in New Jersey .”
She is also taking her talents directly to where they are needed . Recently , she visited St . Joseph ’ s University Medical Center in Paterson and offered amakeup class toyoung cancer and sickle cell anemia patients . Anastasia Beverly Hills and Jones Road Beauty —“ Ilove Bobbi !” Figueroa says of Jones Road founder and Montclair resident Bobbi Brown — provided the products for the event . “ By the end of the class , Isaw tears , smiles and confidence ,” says Figueroa . “ I will be going back soon .”
Figueroa is currently creating another nonprofit called Beauty for aSmile . Her goal istohold bi-monthly events to benefit communities inneed , such as Paterson elementary schools and drugaddicted parents . “ We collected prom dresses for 100 students from all over Paterson and Newark , and did hair and makeup at aspecial needs school in Livingston ,” she says .
And to get her vision out on yet another platform , Figueroa is writing abook with her father sharing how , as asmall child , she felt that applying red lipstick gave her mother and grandmother power .“ In my head , Ireally felt that once they put that color on , it made them into superheroes ,” she says . “ To make animpact through beauty is so amazing .” It is ametaphor for what she hopes to do every day .“ To make an impact through beauty is so amazing ,” she says . ■
@ montclairmagazine MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE MAY 2023
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