FULL PITCH: 

Around the World Beauty

LOGLINE:

Around the World Beauty (working title) is a global celebration of women’s beauty rituals. In this 5-part series, the show’s host, a celebrity makeup artist, will bring viewers on a multi-continent exploration of beauty treatments and adornments, showing that beauty is always more than skin deep.

SUMMARY:

Adornment is an irresistible human impulse; we use makeup to tell a story about who we are, and perhaps who we want to become. Our eyes, lips, hair and skin broadcast vital details about ourselves and our cultures. What can our beauty rituals teach us? What can we learn about beauty from each other?

Celebrity makeup artist and travel host Stephanie Flor is well versed in the language of beauty. Her aesthetic eye is drawn by color and texture, but she is also endlessly curious about what lies beneath the surface. Flor will guide the audience on a vivid and inspirational journey to discover the deeper meaning behind beauty rituals around the world.

In each episode, Flor will travel to a unique setting to meet local experts and engage with their beauty practices. These fascinating and knowledgeable women introduce the audience to ancient rituals, connecting them to history, culture and sensory pleasure. Flor’s journey in each location will connect past and present, exploring how the birthplaces of specific beauty cultures are flourishing today.  

In Mexico, Morocco, Japan, Tanzania, and India, audiences will travel and learn along with Flor. Through experiencing the subversive power of lipstick, the spiritual use of henna, or a family history told in braids, the audience gains an indelible awareness of beauty’s many layers. Exploring these beauty rituals reconnects us to our roots and stimulates wanderlust at the same time. Each episode will end with Flor in her makeup studio, demonstrating an application of newfound beauty elements. This will act as a bridge between past and present, travel and home, allowing the audience to bring meaningful beauty into their everyday lives. 

The show will be both joyful and meaningful, interweaving playful and serious elements in an engaging, thought-provoking exploration. The series aims to broaden ideas of beauty, and to deepen the audience’s appreciation for their own. In the model of “Salt Fat Acid Heat,” this show is a story of culture told through a beauty lens. Beauty lends itself particularly well to the camera, and the series will feature vivid and colorful imagery to bring the audience along on a sensory journey. 

EPISODE BREAKDOWN:

Morocco: Eyes

Flor arrives in Marrakesh and heads straight for the bazaar, where she meets a local beauty expert who helps her trace the ancient travel routes of argan oil, kohl, and fragrances. She then travels to a female-owned spa in the Atlas Mountains for a traditional hammam treatment, and meets with Berber women to better understand the traditional hijab covering and the stories behind the evil eye that has become a trend in fashion, and nail art. Back in the studio, Flor applies kohl eyeliner and discusses the role this cosmetic plays in environmental and spiritual protection--and in a flawless cat-eye that is a signature in middle-eastern beauty.  

Mexico: Lips

Flor travels to Oaxaca for the Guelaguetza festival, held every July, which celebrates indigenous culture. She speaks with local women as they prepare their colorful traje for the festival, visits a Zapotec textile dye master, and learns the secrets of the vivid cochineal insect. She meets with the owners of a botanical shop, who take her through Mayan spiritual cleansing rituals that incorporate local herbs and cacao. The episode ends with Flor in the studio, demonstrating how a perfect red lip can be the ultimate power move that dates back to Incas using red as a rite of passage for the gods. 

Tanzania: Hair

Flor flies to Tanzania to meet members of the nomadic Maasai tribe and learn how rites of passage are expressed in hairstyles. Her explorations take her to Zanzibar’s famous Stone City, where she shops for seaweed, oud and moringa oil with local beauty experts. She witnesses wedding preparation rituals like singo and sugaring, which seamlessly combine folk religion and Muslim beliefs. Back in the studio, Flor speaks with Tanzanian Model Flaviana Matata about African and African-American hair care and styling. 

 Japan: Skin

Flor arrives in Japan curious about the interplay between its traditional practices and its current place at the forefront of beauty trends. She observes a geisha’s preparation ritual in Kyoto, takes part in onsen and sake baths in Hakone, and speaks with Tokyo women about face masks, skincare and Harajuko fashion trends. Upon her return to the studio, Flor shares the art of touch in a flawless skincare demonstration. 

 India: Adornment

Flor travels to Kerala, the birthplace of Ayurveda, to understand the role adornments play as conduits and expressions of spiritual awakening. She witnesses intricate bridal rituals that link religion and aesthetics, such as the mehndi and hadli ceremonies (which use henna and turmeric), culminating in the 16-part solah shringar jewelry ceremony that starts a Hindu wedding. At dawn the next day, Flor takes part in a puja ceremony on the banks of the Periyar River. Returning to her studio, she integrates what’s she’s learned in India. Using adornment as a symbol of wisdom, and expression of inner beauty.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Stephanie Flor is an experienced travel beauty host, travel company founder, and celebrity makeup artist. 

 Her passion for beauty as a means of self-discovery began with her makeup artist career. She felt both disconnected from her Latina heritage and cut out of the mainstream beauty conversation, and found herself searching for deeper meaning in the work she loved. Flor’s Ecuadorian and Costa Rican roots inspired her to travel to Central and South America, where she explored local beauty rituals and found significance in the traditions. 

Flor hosted the 10-episode video series “Journey to Beauty” on Vivala, where she was the founding digital creator. She is a regular public speaker at The Makeup Show, Women’s Travel Festival, and Blogher and has been featured in Marie Claire (“Trailblazer”), Latina Magazine (“One to Watch”), Glamour, Vogue.com, and Byrdie.com. 

Flor currently serves as the Beauty Director of Unearth Women, the first travel magazine dedicated to female travelers. She also runs “Around the World Beauty,” a boutique travel company that guides women on beauty field trips and cultural adventures across the globe.

Flor’s quest to understand other traditions (while remaining steeped in her own) brings a unique layer to the typical beauty travel show. She’s traveled to over 35 countries in her quest to diversify and expand the conversation about beauty. 

DISTRIBUTION AND AUDIENCE:

More now than ever, there is clear public desire for wider representation in beauty. People no longer want to be told what beauty is or should be; they want to define it for themselves. From the launch of Fenty Beauty’s unheard-of 50 skin tone shades, to the popularity of curve model Ashley Graham and hijabi Halima Aden, beauty diversity is here to stay. This series will highlight the vital need for diversity in beauty, focusing on areas of the world that are often overlooked by the West.

There is growing demand for meaningful and experiential travel experiences, particularly for women. Two out of three global travelers are women, and the women’s travel market exceeds $19 trillion, according to the latest Nielsen analysis. In a post-COVID-19 world, with travelers understandably cautious, a travel series like this one provides the satisfying feeling of a novel adventure, and empowers people to see the world for themselves.

The target audience for this series is travel- and beauty-curious women from all backgrounds. The show will appeal to seasoned or novice travelers, those curious about folklore and other cultural traditions, and those involved in the beauty and fashion industries. It is designed to create wanderlust as well as provide a deeper perspective on travel and everyday beauty.

This is the beauty show inspired by the dozen of food shows like “Street Food” or “ No Reservations” with Anthony Bourdain.

As a theme, beauty travel has been explored in other shows, but none have piqued deep investment from the audience. Delving into the lives and experiences of real women around the globe adds an essential element to the story; it’s not about finding the latest trend, but connecting with the communities at the root of beauty rituals. This impactful connection with their global counterparts engages an audience and makes them curious about the next stop on this journey-- and the next episode in the series. 

The target distributor for this series has a large audience: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, OWN, Oxygen and CNN Style. Potential funding sources would include makeup brands like Unilever and Clinique with product placement within each episode. Partnerships with Refinery29, PopSugar, Unearth Women, a travel magazine, would provide a cross-platform promotional and audience base. 

PRODUCTION:

Once a production company has signed on to produce the show, pre-production would commence. A small production team will travel with Flor, ideally consisting of an all-female team of camera, sound, producer, and talent, to be met with local fixers in each location. Logistical planning will be aided by Flor’s contacts and existing knowledge of each location. A short studio shoot will take place over 3 days, involving different models for each episode. 

BUDGET

Each episode will require a budget of $70,000 including travel and production. A sample line budget can be seen here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yr6vYlQV0gKeiVYdAs8WDoemgPBr84tQAuXmJX9gss8/edit?usp=sharing