Facing Forward : Makeup Maven Promotes a New Look in the Lockup

Face it, teaching the tricks of the trade isn’t easy.

Not even if you are the queen of TV cosmetics commercials and you are surrounded by a captive audience.

That is where mail-order makeup maven Victoria Jackson found herself Thursday when she visited a Los Angeles County women’s jail to teach eyeliner and cheek blush techniques to inmates.

The idea for the visit was to build self-esteem among prisoners. For the past year, Jackson, 36, of Sherman Oaks has made monthly trips to the Sybil Brand Institute for Women to dispense free mascara and beauty advice.

Prisoners will feel better if they look better, reasons Jackson. And women who change their makeup habits while in jail could end up changing other habits when they get out.

A softer look can do things like hide past gang affiliations, Jackson said. Skillfully applied makeup can likewise help a woman land a job after her release from jail.

“In one hour, everybody’s going to be made up,” Jackson told 50 blue-uniformed prisoners who were loaned cosmetics kits when they marched into a jail meeting room.

“It’s not about looking like a hooker, either. You don’t need three layers of makeup on your face. . . . That’s putting out a message that can land you back in here.”

That was a message that Tiffany Vasquez was not interested in hearing.

“I do all right with my makeup,” said Vasquez, 30, of Hollywood. “I like the look that I have.”

Vasquez, who said she is also known as Patricia Groothof and numerous other names, is serving a 14-month sentence for prostitution.

“I’m not going to lie to you. I’m going to continue my profession. I’ve been doing it for 15 years,” she said.

Following Jackson’s directions, Vasquez joined the other inmates in dabbing on face powder and eyeliner, however. She applied a faint-colored lip outliner and a dab of mascara and studied the results in a small compact mirror. Jailers would take the mirrors away before leading the women back to their cells.

“She does the conservative look,” Vasquez decided. “It’s not mine. If I went out on Sunset, I’d want a more bold look. Darker eye shadow. Bolder lips.”

A few feet away, inmate Brenda Lockett, 34, was also looking into her compact mirror and smiling. The makeup she had applied was equally sedate.

“I already wear makeup every day,” said Lockett, who said she is serving a 90-day prostitution sentence. “I think my look is good.”

Others in the crowd--chosen for the session because of good jail behavior--said they picked up some good ideas, however.

“I learned I can be more subtle with makeup,” said Rhonda Coulton, 24, of Sacramento, who is doing a year’s term for a drug-abuse probation violation. “When you look better, I think you start acting better.”

Jailers agree, said Sheriff’s Deputy Jill Terry, who works at the county lockup. She said the jail is equipped with wall mirrors and inmates are given time each day to apply their rouge, lipstick and moisturizing cream.

Jackson said she worked as a makeup artist for 13 years in front of Hollywood stars before going behind bars. She said her sister, Sheriff’s Department psychologist Dr. Audrey Honig, helped snip through red tape to get her into jail.

“We were very cautious about letting a commercial-type thing in here,” said Lt. Dale Ruis, who helps run the Sybil Brand Institute.

“But she teaches techniques that can be used with any product.”

And Jackson’s techniques are professional, Vasquez said.

“She basically does the same things I do,” Vasquez said after the session. “But she basically does the day look.”