Magic in Maverly

Tania DaCosta, the final contestant in this season’s TVJ Makeover Magic, will tell you that she has become an overnight sensation. Fact is, Tania became an instant hit the evening the limousine returned home to Marverly, where family, friends and well-wishers marvelled at her Mary J Blige/Macka Diamond sleek look.

“I’m going to try to keep it up,” said DaCosta.

But let’s be realistic and reflect on just how much of a challenge it’s going to be. all woman suggests that the worst is now behind. DaCosta really got into the make-over (okay, perhaps she wasn’t too keen on us waxing her underarms), but being the great sport she is, she quickly wiped away the tears and focused on the finishing line.

Lessons learnt

Prior to the make-over, Tania wore ‘barely there’ underwear and skimpy clothes. She now understands the importance of good foundation garments. “It holds everything in,” she exclaimed as her new clothes slid elegantly and effortlessly over her body. With her new wardrobe, DaCosta was able to look curvy and a lot more appealing.

Dress the best

Buy or have dresses made with corset-style, figure-hugging panels at the waist. These pull you in and create a shapely middle.

DaCosta’s arms are a tad on the large size so we opted to cover them up. In this case, one should choose dresses with floaty sleeves to hide imperfections. Boned, fitted waists will hide and flatter muffin tops.

Avoid Empire-line dresses. Why? They don’t give you a waist, so you’re in danger of looking like you’re wearing a tent. In addition, Tania was much too short and round for us to even contemplate the look.

It’s a wrap: You’ll notice that we went for dark colours, lots of accessories and a ‘wrap top’ inspired look. Why? Wrap styles are best for large chests as they divide and lift the cleavage. Wear a scoop-neck top underneath to cover cleavage. Pretty details like lace flatter bigger busts by adding a feminine touch and diverting the eye. The wrap look pulls you in neatly at the waist and diverts attention from the bust.

Dark colours create an illusion of height as well as long, lean lines.

Tania loves skirts but, as she herself will now readily admit, finding the right skirt created several challenges.

Skirting the issue: Choose skirts that flare from mid-thigh. These will look fitted around the hips/bottom then skim out. A-line and flutes styles disguise hips and won’t cling to thighs. Knee-length or longer styles are the most flattering (are you still listening, Tania?), as they make legs seem longer and slimmer.

(More Magic on Page 12)

Get glowing skin

Many viewers of TVJ’s Makeover Magic expressed surprise that Tania was only 24. We suspect that this had a lot to do with Tania’s obsession with late-night parties and perhaps a little too much booze. Cigarette smoke doesn’t help either. So let’s all focus on how to get glowing skin.

. Wear natural not synthetic fibres – they won’t irritate.

. Use a loofah to slough off dead skin from your body.

. Eat regular and ample portions of fresh fruit and vegetables daily.

. Moisture from the inside out by drinking lots of water.

. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun (it ages skin).

. Keep cool – overheating can cause skin to lose moisture.

. Exercise three times a week.

. Stop smoking as it ages skin.

Moisturise every day and use cleansing products that contain moisturisers or natural oil to help rebalance the skin.

Tania DaCosta’s make-over revealed great teeth, a truly gorgeous smile and beautiful eyes.

Discover your own

high-impact eyes

Eye cream is a must. Why? The skin around your eyes contains fewer oil glands than the rest of your face, making it more prone to dryness. Apply the cream beneath your lower lashes, around your eye sockets and up to your browbone. Blend it in by tapping, not rubbing, so you don’t pull the skin.

Tired eyes

Reduce puffy eyes by cutting back on your salt intake and by drinking a glass of water before going to bed. This will help to flush out toxins in your body. Finally, removing make-up before falling asleep means eye make-up too.

Concealer

The skin beneath your eyes is the first place swollen blood vessels, excess fluid or fine lines appear when you’re tired.

But a flawless look is easy to achieve with expert camouflage. Always choose a concealer that’s one shade lighter than your skin tone – this will brighten up your

eye area.

Mascara is most women’s desert island must-have and with good reason – it’s the one product that makes a major difference to the way eyes look.

For a dramatic look, make sure you really get the brush into the roots of your lashes before sweeping it through to the tips. To frame your eyes, use the tip of your mascara brush to coat your lower lashes.

Tania DaCosta’s transformation was made possible by: Avedon Hair and Beauty Salon and Day Spa, Maxie Department Store Ltd and The Hilton Kingston Hotel.

Styling and wardrobe by

Novia McDonald-Whyte