‘Made’ in Canonsburg
A Canonsburg hairstylist and a makeup artist from Meadow Lands were part of a team that helped transform a softball-playing tomboy into a beauty pageant contestant as part of MTV’s “Made” program.Bobbi Mark, who owns Salon Eleven in Canonsburg, and her friend and makeup artist, Ashle-a Powell, helped turn Maeve Gallagher of Pittsburgh’s South Hills into a stylish contestant in a pageant. Mark and Powell were part of a team that included Elena LaQuatra, a former Miss Teen Pennsylvania, and Gina Cerilli, a former Miss Pennsylvania USA. The two pageant winners were Gallagher’s coaches. McMurray dentist Dr. Ted Stelliotes whitened her teeth.Powell had done LaQuatra’s makeup and introduced her to Mark, who is now her hair stylist. LaQuatra recommended the pair for the show.The preview for the show, in which young adults are “made” into something they want to be, touts helping the beer-guzzling tomboy find her feminine side.”Her friends put her name in as a joke,” Mark said. Some filming for the show was done in July at Mark’s shop on West Pike Street.”I did extensions and put some highlights in her hair,” Mark said. “A week after that, we went to Wexford for a photo shoot. They took pictures until 1 a.m.”Powell, who has been doing freelance makeup for several years, said she has done work for everything from magazine covers to bridal parties.”But this is the first time I ever have done a television show,” Powell said. “I am so excited. This is such a big deal. It was such a huge opportunity.”LaQuatra and Cerilli taught Gallagher, who is a student at Point Park University, how to be a pageant contestant, including how to walk and talk. As part of the pageant platform, Gallagher had to speak about a cause. She chose to talk about domestic violence and Karissa’s Army, Mark said. Gallagher was a friend of Karissa Kunco, the 21-year-old Baldwin woman who was murdered in January, allegedly at the hands of her former boyfriend. Her body was found in a wooded area of Mt. Pleasant Township. Former Canonsburg and Mt. Pleasant resident Jordan Clemons, 23, is awaiting trial in her death.Powell plans to watch the show, which will air at 11 a.m. Saturday on MTV, with a few friends. Mark said she thought her part could end up on the cutting room floor.”But from what I understand, we will definitely be on the show,” Mark said. “It was just exciting.”