'Glamour Girls' Help Elderly Women Feel Beautiful
By: Lane Stone
Updated: December 21, 2011
This group of teenage girls is painting nails, applying make-up and most importantly connecting with many who will never be able to see the transformation.
One volunteer said, "I think you don't really need to see to feel beautiful, if you have others complimenting you, telling you, 'oh, you look wonderful, you look great,' your self-esteem will just go skyrocketing."
The teens are all part of "Glamour Gals", an organization that brings generations together though beauty, but hopes to deliver so much more.
Rachel Doyle founded 'Glamour Gals' while still in high school to honor her late grandmother, a former beautician on Fifth Avenue at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon, and a woman she never got to know.
Rachel Doyle said "So my father was sharing these stories that I wasn't able to hear from my own grandmother with me. And I thought, imagine if I start meeting other people's grandmothers and hearing their stories and they share those with me."
"You know, I think "Glamour Gals" really builds life skills. You know, they have to introduce themselves to someone they've never met before. They have to touch that person and say, you know, 'can I put my fingers on your cheek to apply the rouge?' Eleven years since the first makeover, Glamour Gals is a success, with 1,200 volunteers and 60 chapters across the country," said Doyle.
A volunteer said, "Actually this was a perfect chance for me to actually improve my communication skills with older people. This is a wonderful and beautiful way for me to connect with someone and also gain a lot from the community and give back.
"For the teen girls it's an opportunity for them to discover their potential as leaders in the community. And for the women I think it's an opportunity to have a renewed sense of dignity and beauty," said Doyle.
A teen vounteer said,"I love it because you can, like, learn something new about someone. Like, no matter what the age, I love meeting new people. I'm really happy."







