History

When I opened a nail salon on Bustleton Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I already had years of experience working at the Sandy Richards salon in that city. There I learned about acrylic and sculptured nails and became an air-brush nail artist, the first in Philadelphia. After Sandy Richards I worked at two other nail salons before I opened my nail concession at ‘TnT Beauty Salon’, then opened the Katie Wannabe Salon and Boutique.

Since 1987, I have been teaching classes for various beauty services such as air-brush nail art, manicures, pedicures, acrylic nails, various styles of nail wraps, waxing, massage (Swedish, reflexology, and shiatsu), make up, wig care, color/image consulting, clientele management, and product up-selling.

Katie Wannabe Salon started out with just nails and waxing in 1991 but blossomed into a full service salon and boutique with its own clothing line and web site. What started out with just little ol' me turned into a salon family of twenty-two people. I had the privilege to work with many talented people and would like to say there were many proud moments when I got to say they worked for me. In 1997 I started volunteering for Women Against Abuse. It produced very fun fundraisers! One of the favorites was a pretend Baby Shower (pictured to the right) where I collected many baby and children items, clothing donations for mom's and children in safe houses along with raffle money for any medical needs and educational purposes for the safe houses. Each Christmas I also ran a toy drive which helped out a local church in Sea Side Heights, New Jersey.

Most of the donations I received came through the good folks of the local Renaissance chapters. I got involved with that organization to have a better understanding of my new clientele and I could see that I could help out when they were in financial need and needed to be reorganized. For four years I was the Chair of The Renaissance Education Association, Inc. and was vice chair and director at large previous to that. Since I

Katie Wannabe, Rebecca Lohr (also pictured below) and Angela Gardner. Renaissance girls. helped bring Renaissance out of debt, we are now able to bring in our own business, it’s self sufficient and is starting new support groups in new locations. Our Outreach Director position has now become an Outreach Team. I am very proud of the National Board and admire how well everyone works together. I had written and produced a documentary of Trans gendered people that will be available on this site soon. Everyone on this DVD is a volunteer from Renaissance.

Through my work at the Salon and the Renaissance organization I have met and worked with so many important people from all over. I especially liked being a part of the New York International Expos where I started with my fashion shows, was on TV for the first time and did radio interviews. The Congress on Cross dressing and Gender and IFGE conventions (in Philadelphia) put me in touch with a lot of doctors, one of whom helped me write my documentary on transgender issues, Dr. Michele Angello. Besides being blessed with a high IQ, she is one of the most patient and considerate women I have ever met. She has taken so much of her time to volunteer her expertise for other people, she will always be one of my favorite ladies.

Rebecca Lohr, Transgender Community News cover girl . JoAnn Roberts is another special lady who's patience brought me a long way in the transgender community. She was nice enough to do a story on me and my salon in her magazine (Lady Like) and I thank her for the many nice things said and for the numerous times she has featured my clients in her magazine. JoAnn Roberts is also one of the founders of Renaissance. There have been many volunteers in my life with the organization, fund raisers and show events. Many thanks to you all and I hope everyone had fun. Angela Gardner, thank you for using my talents on the cover of the Transgender Community News magazine. Rebecca Lohr was a cover girl I had made up for the November issue.

Thanks to all my models for the magazine, web site, catalogs, fashion shows in Philadelphia and New York. You girls ROCK! And most especially, my right hand girls, Elise and Tina who trucked from state to state for shows and conventions and managed the salon while I was away. Thanks also to Miranda Wright and Aaron Bolot whose photography made my make-up talents look even better.

I hope I passed on some fun ideas for other people to get involved helping others. I do plan to stay active in the community and will be in touch with many of the same people even though I have moved to Florida and closed my Salon in Philadelphia. Feel free to drop me a line anytime and let me know how you have helped another organization or ask me how .

Thank You