Beauty school D’Marie Institute, a force behind a host of top runway models and a reservoir for makeup artists in demand in the beauty industry and top ranked music videos, will roll out its latest international offerings in Makeup Artistry, Hairdressing, Massage Therapy, Nail Technology, Braiding and Barbering, when the new school year begins on September 11 this year.

D’Marie Institute is a skills training school, with highly trained and competent instructors offering courses accredited by City & Guilds of London and is registered by the Ministry of Education, and Youth.

According to a press release, since October 2009, the D’Marie Institute has trained over 1,300 students, and continues to make an indelible mark on the beauty industry, providing many Jamaicans and international students with the skill sets needed to take a different approach in conquering their dreams and aspirations.

The institute focuses on the empowerment of mostly women, helping them to find meaning and purpose in life, through holistic skills training and employment opportunities, the release stated, adding that the institution is among the leading lights in the arena of professional makeup artistry, corporate customer service and corporate grooming.

D’Marie has worked with Pulse’s Caribbean Fashion week, Caribbean Model Search, Miss Universe Jamaica, Zip103 FM Road show, Teen Vibes magazine, The Beyond Woman magazine and many more. This network has created countless opportunities for students to work backstage gaining professional experience, according to the press release.

D’Marie Institute is the vision of CEO, Dawn Marie Petgrave, a dependable, detail-oriented, and multi-talented individual with over 25 years of professional experience in North America, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world. She is also a licensed associate psychologist, certified trauma specialist, educator and motivational speaker.

Leaving Jamaica with little more than a dream to study in the USA, this year the D’Marie Institute marks its 14th anniversary. Formerly located at the Pulse Complex at Trafalgar Road, has moved to a new home at 14 to 16 West Avenue in Kingston, on the beautiful campus of the Jamaica Theological Seminary.

Studies have established that the beauty industry is heavily impacted by social problems like human trafficking and domestic violence. Being a licensed Associate Psychologist and Certified Complex Trauma Specialist, Petgrave decided to merge certifications in Human Trafficking; Domestic Violence and Client Wellbeing to the curriculums at D’Marie Institute.

“These certifications will teach beauty professionals how to protect their clients, give a voice to the most vulnerable, and give our students the mental acumen to handle the stresses of the fast-paced beauty field and make a positive impact on their community,” Petgrave said.

“For those who want to own their own beauty business, work with top entertainers, models and other major celebrities then D’Marie is a good place to start. The Institute trains and empowers its students and has the track record and the networks to get you front and centre of the high rollers,” Petgrave added.

After graduating from Bergen Community College in 1996 with guidance from her professor, Dr Paula Williams, Petgrave began a career in fashion and beauty, working for a virtual who’s who of global icons including Estee Lauder, Clinique, MAC cosmetics and Nordstrom, while also serving as an instructor of makeup artistry. Combining her passion for education, beauty and fashion, she leveraged her training and experience to create the D’Marie Institute,

“As the new term beckons, students can rest assured that they will be embarking on a life-changing adventure, one that will put them up in the highlights as indispensable architects of the beauty industry in Jamaica and worldwide,” Petgrave said.