“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will. – George Bernard Shaw“

When the show lights come on in Boston, Massachusetts, D’borah Blenman’s make-up initiative will be at the centre. A bold and generous mixture of boundless creativity, experience and business savvy perhaps best sums up one of the most innovative make-up artists to come out of the Caribbean, who now owns the West Coast’s first Kryolan Make-Up Retail store; the 43rd Kryolan store in the world.

Since establishing a presence in North America, D’borah’s penchant for the highest standards in the industry has been creating a continuous buzz that has seen a steady stream of repeat clients and new clients jostling for appointments.

Prior to the opening of the store in the USA, D’borah was doing work for television, including major advertising campaigns, major cultural and entertainment shows. She is also the Makeup Tutor at the Barbados Vocational Training Board, through the Barbados leg of the business, ZOTBELLE – eye on beauty. She has also conducted extensive workshops for the Kryolan Professional Make Up brands, and her experience in the business has been chronicled in several stories and features in both the print and electronic media. As an instructor, she has conducted workshops in Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Antigua, Grenada, Jamaica and her native Barbados, working with professional makeup artists and consumers who have keen interest in personal make up application.

While she initially thought it was a pretty crazy idea, she pressed ahead in obedience (and a bit of curiosity and opportunity to wear a new dress), with a nagging thought to the fore front of her mind that it might not be possible. Despite her own doubts and with “Sliding Door Faith”, she eventually persevered.

The door opened after she spoke to the CEO of Kryolan in Berlin and what started out as a divine instruction led to confirmation in May 2013 that she would get the opportunity to open and own the KRYOLAN store in Boston. The store was eventually opened on December 7th 2013 on 31 Saint Avenue, Boston. The occasion was nothing short of unbelievable for D’borah.

Even with a constantly growing client base, D’borah has no intention to rest on her laurels. She plans to take the line even further throughout Boston and New England, making it available to both artists and consumers. Her goal as store owner is to prepare the staff to equip consumers with techniques in application that would ensure confidence whenever they wear the product. To this end, more forums are planned for makeup artists to receive training in makeup application and the use of the line.

Moving forward, D’borah sees only one main challenge ahead to ensure that the Barbados leg of the business remains intact. She says it is her dream for ZOTBELLE to continue at the standard that has been painstakingly built over the years. She says “while systems have been put in place to make this a reality, none of it will be possible without the cooperation of the staff and the customers.”

“God has moved me from not knowing Him, to crying out to Him in desperation. When I was about to open the salon, I ran out of money and prayed that He would give me the business in exchange for serving Him for the rest of my life. God honored my request and today I serve Him not because of the business but because of who He is and all He has done. Whilst education, good financial support, friends and family are all good resources needed in business, my accomplishments are not attributed them alone or at all, but to my Creator, Heavenly Father and God. With all these resources and no God, I would have failed to accomplish my purpose.”