Sep 18, 2018 5 min read

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Jacqui Phillips, a Chartiers-Houston graduate, will discuss her book, “Reset” at 7 p.m. Thursday at the South Hills Village Barnes & Noble.

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Jacqui Phillips and singer Lionel Richie

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Jacqui Phillips is a celebrity makeup artist, radio and TV host, author and entrepreneur. She works with musicians, models, athletes and actors.

But success hasn’t made her immune to life’s misfortunes.

When an 11-year relationship ended and her business went bankrupt, Jacqui was devastated.

“On the outside, it looked like everything sparkled with glitter, but on the inside, I was miserable,” she said. “Life was a mess. I realized I had to reset my life.”

by Isaac Fenter

That reset led to a children’s series and a book of the same name. “Reset” addresses six problem areas that most of us deal with in our lives.

“The girl who never thought she would write one book has all of these books,” she said.

Jacqui, 44, grew up surrounded by an extended family of customers and employees. Her family owned Beechie’s Place, a popular bar and restaurant in Meadow Lands.

Though she was the only child of JoAnne and Charles, Jacqui was never lonely.

“I always had a great sense of community,” said Jacqui. “There were always, like, a million people around me, a wonderful group of people who worked for us and with us. They were family.”

After graduating from Chartiers-Houston High School in 1992, Jacqui played volleyball at the University of Tampa. Upon graduation, she “had a million jobs.” She modeled, tended bar and worked as a substitute teacher.

“I was trying to figure out what the heck I wanted to do with my life. All I knew is that I wanted to travel,” she said.

Acting on the advice of her modeling agent, Jacqui moved to New York City. When a makeup artist didn’t show for a magazine shoot, Jacqui did her own hair and makeup. The photographer that day was impressed and offered her a job on the spot. Within a month, she was traveling the world as a makeup artist.

That one opportunity led to numerous jobs in television – VH1, NBC, CBS, MTV, Food Network – and touring with singer Judy Collins for seven years.

“Makeup has been my passport to travel and meeting amazing people,” said Jacqui. “My travel bug was fulfilled.”

Though Jacqui always enjoyed writing, it was while touring with Collins – who worked on several books in the backs of limos – that she started to consider writing as a profession.

So, when she was forced to bankrupt her business and an 11-year relationship with her boyfriend was coming to a close, Jacqui put pen to paper.

She and publishing expert Wendy Walters spent a weekend together in Dallas, Texas, where they crafted a solid outline that Jacqui turned into a memoir and inspirational tome.

“Reset” looks at six key areas – health and fitness, relationships, emotions, finances, appearance and faith.

“I think that anybody identifies with those six things,” Jacqui said. “I want people to reset their lives, to figure out what is blocking them and share their unique gifts with the world. I talk a lot about shackles and the things that burden us and keep us from being free…it can be gambling, drinking, overeating, bad relationships. We create shackles in our lives. In order to find the truth, we need to live our purpose, and discover and share our gifts.”

While she was working on “Reset,” Jacqui created a children’s series, “The Adventures of Stushy and Bello,” whose lead characters celebrate being unique.

“I want it to be really cool to be different,” she said. “I want to share love, kindness and literacy.”

Jacqui works with the nonprofit, Change for Kids, to bring her books to New York City Schools. She also started a Reset nonprofit in which she goes into prisons to speak to incarcerated women.

Jacqui continues to work as a makeup artist. She also co-hosts a radio show with kung fu world champion Sifu Carl Romain.

She is a certified professional life coach with Fowler International Association, master business coach, a President’s Club Member of the Christian Women in Media Association, an alumni member of the Association of Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs and an active member of The National Academy Of Television Arts and Sciences.

While her life in New York is full, Jacqui is returning to her hometown Thursday for an author event at 7 p.m. at South Hills Village Barnes & Noble.

“I’m so excited to come home. My dream was to do a Barnes & Boble book signing, and there’s no where I would want to do it more than at home with family and friends.”

During the Pittsburgh Hometown launch, Jacqui will give every person who buys “Reset” a free audio book.

By Debbie Reed Curnarski

“I just think it is important to start a conversation, especially for women, to tap into what you want to be, and find what you love to do. There are a million things you can do in the world. That’s what reset is about. You getting to know you again,” Jacqui said. “When life is a mess, you forget what you’re here for. I feel like we all have so many gifts, and sometimes, you have to give up everything to get everything.”

For information, visit www.jacquiphillips.tv/.

• WHAT – Jacqui Phillips, a graduate of Chartiers-Houston, will discuss her book, “Reset”
• WHERE – South Hills Village Barnes & Noble, 301 S. Hills Village, Pittsburgh
• WHEN – 7 p.m. Thursday