Cranford High Grad Leaving Her Mark on National Magazine

It's a running joke for anyone who knows Alexis Collado of Cranford: When other kids were playing outside, Collado was playing in her mother's makeup bag.

Now Collado is tapping into that inherent love of beauty products by writing a new online column for Parade Magazine -- a publication that reaches 32.4 million people and is distributed in more than 540 newspapers. It has the largest circulation of any magazine in the country. 

Collado joined Parade in 2004 as a public relations manager. A few months ago she started to write an online blog for Parade called, The Beauty Mark.

In The Beauty Mark, Collado reviews beauty products, interviews beauty industry experts and discusses seasonal topics and new health and wellness trends.

In Collado's biography on Parade.com it says: "From lotions and potions to self-tanners and teeth whiteners, she has since tested nearly every beauty product on the market. She keeps up with all the latest cosmetic trends and procedures, and while Alexis doesn't claim to be a beauty "expert," you can definitely say she is a tried and true aficionado."

"It's been nothing short of awesome," Collado said about her new gig.

Collado still serves as a PR manager and enjoys juggling the two jobs.

"It's been keeping me late at work and I don't even mind," she said.

Collado said she's always had an interest in journalism, which really developed during her time at Cranford High. Collado graduated in 1996.

"I knew I was never going to be a mathmetician and the teachers at Cranford High would back me up on that," Collado said laughing.

Collado wrote for the Cranford High newspaper and worked on the yearbook.

She credits Cranford High English teacher and moderator of the yearbook, Jen Hilborn, for influencing her decision to pursue a career in communications.

"She [Hilborn]  pushed and challenged me to be a better writer, which ultimately set me up to succeed when I went on to take writing and journalism classes at Boston University," Collado said. "She really helped me recognize my strengths and paved the way for my future career."

Collado's advice to young people trying to figure out what to do with their lives: Figure out what you're good at and what you like and hone your skills around those things.

"Doing what you love and what you're good at is so important," Collado said.

Keep an eye out for Collado's upcoming column in which she and a style blogger at Parade are making over one of their coworkers. They'll document the before and after in Collado's column.