Kimura, Margaret 1965-

PERSONAL:

Born March 13, 1965, in Los Angeles, CA; daughter of Tadao (a music producer) and Kyoko (an entrepreneur) Kimura; married Michael John Heymann (an entrepreneur), September 23, 2003. Ethnicity: "Japanese American." Politics: Democrat.

ADDRESSES:

Home—2552 Verbena Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90068. Office—3603 Seneca Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039. Agent—Ellen Geiger, Curtis Brown, 10 Astor Pl., New York, NY 10003. E-mail—mk@asianbeautybook.com.

CAREER:

Writer; makeup artist in Hollywood, CA, 1980—. Margaret Kimura Cosmetics, owner and chief executive officer; MKC Beauty Academy, founder and head teacher; motivational speaker and consultant.

WRITINGS:

Asian Beauty, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2001.

SIDELIGHTS:

Margaret Kimura told CA: "Asian Beauty was born out of a desire to fill a gap in the world of women's health and beauty. As an Asian-American woman myself, I am all too aware of the silence in mainstream magazines and books when it comes to beauty for Asian women. Take the glossies: they run pictures of the latest (usually Caucasian) starlet and print instructions on how to duplicate her look at home. It's hard enough for anyone to try to look like a movie star, but when you are a woman of color, it is nearly impossible. For example, these magazines don't show how to translate a technique intended for creased eyelids into one that flatters single eyelids. Of course, women of Asian descent do not share all the same features, but in this case what they do share is a lack of media representation.

"Before I set out to write the book, I did not realize just how many other women felt this way. While filming a magazine show for a national television network, I suggested we do a segment on beauty specifically for Asian women. After that episode aired, I was bombarded with over 5,000 letters from women who saw themselves in that short segment. Inquiries about when a book would be published poured in. Each subsequent airing of the episode brought more of the same. These women had finally found some useful information and were desperate for more. It was then that I fully realized how much we need a book addressing the specific beauty needs and demands of Asian-American women and that I was in a position to write it. I set out to write a conversational yet instructional book that combines tips gleaned from my experience as an entertainment-industry insider and insights based on my personal experiences as an Asian-American woman and consumer.

"Asian Beauty shows Asian-American women the possibilities of makeup. Since all the photographs feature full-or part-Asians, the Asian-American woman is much more likely to feel that she is the intended recipient of this beauty knowledge. She can now relate to what is being shown, because she sees it on someone who looks more like her. For this reason, I wanted to show a wide range of Asian ethnicities as well as Asian and non-Asian mixes.

"This book is dedicated to the Asian-American woman, but it is intended for anyone interested in beauty. Because of the diversity even among Asians, it is impossible for one book to encompass application techniques for every possible Asian feature. With this in mind, I wrote Asian Beauty to motivate the reader to be creative and try something new, rather than to follow a strict set of paint-by-number rules. It is for this reason also that non-Asian readers will find this book inspiring. Many tips are offered with Asian-American women first in mind, but most work just as well regardless of race and ethnicity.

"Perhaps even more important than physical beauty is the mind-spirit-body connection. Makeup can create the illusion of glowing skin, but that is no substitute for exercise and a balanced diet. Red lipstick alone is not enough to make you feel sexy. I believe in beauty both inside and out, and this applies to women of any race. Part of my motivation for this emphasis in my book is my desire to break down stereotypes about the different-ness of Asian Americans. An unhealthy diet, environmental pollution, or stress will have a similar effect whether you are an American of Asian, European, or any other descent. While an Asian-American woman typically has a different canvas for makeup application, in other ways she is just like any other American woman.

"My ultimate goal with Asian Beauty is to give the Asian-American woman a voice in a society where beauty ideals are based on a non-Asian standard. I want to give them beauty tips and inspirations they can use while showing all American women that we are not so different after all."