4AAB.  Denise Downer was born in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, USA, on Monday, August 7, 1961. She is the daughter of Charles Arthur and Jacqueline Frances (Gilbert) Downer.


Denise, 1996
Denise was an excellent student throughout school and graduated with a degree in graphics design from Western Michigan University. However, finding it difficult breaking into the profession without experience, she took a job as a salesperson in the ladies department of Steketee's _____ for a while then moved on to the cosmetics department at Hudson's Department Store. She liked that very much.

She seized an opportunity to drive to Los Angeles in 1986. She took a job at a large department store as well as doing the make-up on models who were being photographed for pictures for their portfolios. Denise added the pictures to her own portfolio. She returned to Kalamazoo after about 1½ years when her father became terminally ill.

After her father's death, Denise moved to Chicago to continue working with photographer's models and had the opportunity to learn catalog make-up instead of the glamor style of California. She was not earning much money in Chicago and was often homesick and depressed. She would take the train to Kalamazoo several weekends a month and dreaded the return trip. She happened to read A Return To Love by Marianne Williamson, about living with love instead of fear, so she decided to return to Kalamazoo.

In the meantime, a friend had showed her portfolio to a local esthetician (beautician) who wanted Denise to work with her as soon as she was licensed. After about nine months of beauty school, Denise started work a few blocks from where she was living with her mother.

The business was successful and in 1999 was purchased by a local group of plastic surgeons.


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