I’m so excited to share with you my interview with an Olympic Ice Dancer Tanith Belbin! I love watching figure skating and ice dancing therefore interviewing Tanith is a dream come true.

Tanith Belbin is a Canadian-American ice dancer. Though she holds dual citizenship, she competes for the United States and has competed for the U.S. since she began skating with Benjamin Agosto in 1998. With Agosto, Belbin is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, four time World medalist, three time Four Continents champion (2004–2006), and five-time U. S. champion (2004–2008). 

Photo credit: NBC Sports / USOC

Tanith Belbin was born in Kingston, Ontario and raised in Kirkland, Quebec. She lived and trained in Canton, Michigan for many years, before moving to Aston, Pennsylvania to train at Ice Works. Belbin’s mother, Michelle (McKinlay) Belbin, is a costume designer and she makes some of Belbin’s costumes. She trained as a figure skater in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

In this interview Tanith Belbin talks to Marta Walsh about when and how she has discovered the love for ice dancing. How does she find the right balance between a busy career and normal life. Gives advice on what does it really take to become a successful ice dancer. Reveals what’s in her makeup bag, favorite city, and future plans.

Marta Walsh: How did you discover your love for ice dancing and what were some of your greatest achievements in your career?
Tanith Belbin: I began skating with the intention of becoming a singles skater but because of my body proportion (thin, long legs), I was placed with a dance partner when I was 8 years old and fell in love with the element of interacting with another person on the ice. I am a performer and dance offered the greatest outlet for my creativity and desire to portray different characters in a program. Since finding my perfect partner in Ben, I would say the most satisfying moment in our career for me personally was when we won our first National title. To be able to say that you are the best in the country at something you’ve dedicated your life to is incredible. Now, on to the world!

Designer Rachel Roy has built a following for not only her beautiful designer and diffusion collections (Rachel | Rachel Roy is available in Macy’s stores across the U.S. and on RachelRoy.com) but also her amazing personal style and beauty. Talking Makeup has the scoop on how Rachel expresses her Indian ancestry through her makeup, and as well as her personal tricks to looking bright, fresh and flawless.

BTW- I loved watching Rachel Roy in one of the episodes of MTV’s The City. Are you also a fan?

Q. Have you picked up any great beauty tips or tricks that you can share?
RR: I feel a great mascara can open the eye and instantly make you look as though you’ve have a good night’s sleep, even when that is not the case. I use 2-3 coats of Lancome’s Fatale on the top, bottom, and also on the back of the top lashes.

I’m excited to share with you my interview with actress, singer, musician, and artist Persia White.

A little bit about Persia White (via wikipedia.org): she was born in Miami, Florida and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, and Miami. At the age of three, she earned a scholarship to the Nassau Civic Ballet Company. At age eight, she joined the Miami Coconut Grove Children’s Theater. As a teen, White studied dance, acting, singing, and painting. Her films roles include: various independent films, including Red Letters (opposite Peter Coyote) and the cult horror Blood Dolls.

Persia White’s TV movies roles includes: Operation Sandman (opposite Ron Perlman), and Suddenly, opposite Kirstie Alley. Her television work includes guest starring roles on Angel, NYPD Blue, The Steve Harvey Show, Brooklyn South, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as a series regular role on Breaker High with co-star Ryan Gosling. In 2008, White appeared in The Fall of Night, as the character Dawn. She can also be seen in Chrisette Michele’s video, “Be OK”. White recently completed the drama Spoken Word, set for release in 2010. Persia is a vegan and an animal welfare and environmental activist.

I spoke to Persia White on the phone this past summer. I had the most amazing conversation with her about her beginnings as an actress. Her role on the long-running sitcom “Girlfriends”. The award-winning documentary Earthlings which she co-produced and was narrated by Joaquin Phoenix. What does fame really mean to her. What’s in her makeup bag. And future plans. Persia to me came across as absolutely beautiful inside out. I want to thank Persia for taking the time to chat with me!!

Marta Walsh: How did you decide on a career in acting, and what were some of your first breaks as an actress?
Persia White: I loved acting since I was 8 years old. I started to do theatre in Miami on the Coconut Grove Children’s Playhouse. That was my big introduction to acting. Then a talent scout founded me suggested I should find an agent. I was also a dancer and kept dancing but eventually I got into acting, which is a bit easier. Dancing is such a hard career. I still love dancing. I used to be one of these artistic kids and always loved make people laugh. I would do stand-up comedy skits when I was young. I moved to LA when I was a teenager and booked my first TV Series: “Breaker High” with co-star Ryan Gosling. I did several TV guest star appearances like in NYPD Blue and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I then booked a soap opera in New York which so happened to get cancelled. I moved back to LA, which was good because I booked the role of Lynn Ann Searcy in the sitcom “Girlfriends”.

ARTIST’S NAME: Luc B., MAC Senior Artist
LOCATION: New York City
STARTED 1984
ODD HABITS: Humming while doing makeup.
FUN FACTS: If there is a dog in the room, I ignore people in favour of the dog!

Q: What’s so special about Halloween?
A: Halloween is exhilarating makeup time! It’s the time of year when you can let all your alter egos come out! Whether your thing is drag, scary monsters or celebrity impersonations, just have fun!

Q: What are you planning to be for Halloween?
A: I don’t dress up! I just love watching all the action in the streets. I live in the East Village in New York, and the fun part is just watching everybody come out and play. Even if sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s a Halloween look or just a colourful neighbour.

From villainous vamps to dolled-up demons, M∙A∙C Senior Artists Bianca Alexander, Luc Bouchard, Keri Blair, Sandy Joseph and Chantel Miller revel in the ghouls – and glamour – of Halloween

Q: What are the products you most often use during Halloween?
A: I would say I love MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer as a base. That way, you basically have a blank canvas and you can create anything you want. Also, all the MAC Pro Lipmix colours are great if you want very rich, creamy colours that will make a statement. Prep + Prime finishing powder can set anything into place and make it last all night.

Last year, thanks to Neutrogena, I was given a chance to interview actress Malin Akerman for Talking Makeup’s Celebrity Beauty section Beauty Interviews.

Malin Akerman starred in the 2007 Farrelly Brothers movie The Heartbreak Kid and in the 2008 film 27 Dresses opposite Katherine Heigl. Malin also played Laurie Juspeczyk in the film adaptation of Watchmen, and The Proposal. And recently, Malin Akerman plays opposite Vince Vaughn in a the film Couples Retreat which was released ctober 9th, 2009. Other actors in the film include: Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, and Kali Hawk.

In this interview Malin Akerman talks about her partnership last year with Neutrogena in an effort to educate people about skin cancer prevention. Reveals her top 3 beauty secrets. What aspects in acting she loves the most. Her reaction to Marta Walsh’s conviction of her becoming Hollywood’s next it starlet, and her films in 2009: The Watchmen and The Proposal.

Marta Walsh: What compelled you to partner with Neutrogena in the effort to educate people about skin cancer prevention?
Malin Akerman: This video and message is something I have a passion for because I understand the importance of checking your skin for suspicious moles. I recently had a suspicious mole removed on my face; I noticed it was changing shape and asked my dermatologist to examine it. I was one of the luckier ones.