Standing at 5 feet and 1o inches (6’2 in heels, which she insists on wearing), with white hair and a vibrant laugh, Skyler McCurine is a force to be reckoned with. Her business started with a fascination with an inanimate object, a red balloon. Le Red Balloon is this San Diego native’s vision and bold attempt to redefine America’s standard of beauty; one client and workshop at a time.
Her business grew from the ample time spent as a department store sales associate, selecting the “perfect” item for her clients. She empathized with the proverbial "dressing room defeat", hearing all of the negative self talk that happened within the confines of the fitting room. She realized that the fitting room was an amazing opportunity and place to remind her customers why they were beautiful, fabulous, and needed. Struggling with the pressure to push unwanted items to meet a sales quota, Skyler recognized that her integrity could not be sacrificed for a commission check. So she created a shopping experience she didn't see: something honest, fun, and encouraging. Recognizing that her client’s self worth, negative body image, and self esteem was in need of serious repair. She wanted to know the root of her client’s insecurities and poor self image and realized their damaging self talk started young. This was the inspiration behind her extensive work in the community, leading workshops for teenage girls, schools, non-profits, and women’s organizations about body image, conscious media consumption, leadership, and of course, style.
One might wonder, why this model-minded maven wouldn’t be in LA but Skyler argues that “San Diego has chosen me. I couldn’t do the LA hustle because I had college loans to pay and a fridge to stock, but San Diego has welcomed me and I see a great need here. I have spent time in different cities rich with culture, art, and style and it’s my vision for San Diego to follow suit and tie. My goals is to revolutionize this city from flip flops and holey jeans, to chic (even casual can be chic) . Le Red Balloon is all about style and self-acceptance and Skyler McCurine. Skyler removes the fog from her client’s mirrors, helping them to see what is truly there: beauty.
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Watch this stylist's TEDxTalk on Selflessness by clicking here.
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Skyler McCurine's Feature is Part of the collaborative photography project, 7 Badass Business Women In San Diego. This feature was styled and written by Skyler McCurine of Le Red Balloon and hair/makeup/portraits done by Jennie J Sullins of Beauty Hive Studios. San Diego is home to some truly incredible female entrepreneurs. Each woman in our series is a change agent in their specific industry, breaking down barriers and changing the perception of what it means to be a female entrepreneur.
