Destin Magazine Autumn 2008

TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT: Where in the World is Destin’s Mark Pollaski?
A Day in the

^had ^the ^distinct ^pleasure ^of ^{spend- ing} ^a ^few ^days ^with ^the ^fabulous ^{Billy B.,} ^celebrity ^makeup ^artist, ^during ^his^BY ^M^ARK ^P^OLLASKI ^recent ^visit ^to ^the ^Emerald ^Coast. ^{While preparing} ^for ^my ^time ^with ^Billy, ^I ^was_not _sure _what _to _expect _of _this _{icon of} _the _beauty _world. _I _was _aware _thatBilly was on his way to our area via the

Cannes Film Festival where he was a guest of Roberto Cavalli. As Sharon Stone’s personal makeup artist, Billy spent time on the fashion mogul’s 133-foot iridescent purple yacht, aptly named RC, while attending events at the esteemed festival.

As the unassuming man dressed in a black V-neck t-shirt and jeans walked into the room, I immediately recognized him as Billy B. and introduced myself. The next few hours were spent laughing and discussing his unlikely role as celebrity makeup artist, entrepreneur, instructor, real estate mogul, reality star and down-to-earth Southern gentleman. Refreshing and enlightening are words that come to mind when describing this A-list artist with a heart of gold.

Billy Brasfield grew up in Aberdeen, Mississippi—a small-town boy with big-city dreams. Billy said that all he wanted to do was get out of town. And, get out he did—from slow-paced Aberdeen, he was thrust into the heart of a frenzied New York City. A brief stint at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts gave him the opportunity to get to the city. After numerous jobs, he landed a role working behind a cosmetics counter at Macy’s Herald Square. It was during this time he fine-tuned his skills and started freelancing.

While working at Macy’s (the largest department store in the U.S.), he continued to freelance as he learned of other opportunities and auditioned constantly. He makes it sound so easy, but it was sheer determination and a never-give-up attitude that he attributes his success.

It so happens that one of his freelance jobs was to do the makeup for an up-and-coming young singer. The appointment went well and Billy B. was hired, thus beginning a long relationship that included the singer’s wedding day makeup. The young artist was Mariah Carey and, as they say, the rest is history.