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Leisel “Q” Quamie: Celebrity Fashion Stylist

"Create & Inspire" is her charge.

Wardrobe stylist, costume designer, and personal shopper Leisel "Q" Quamie sets the standard for styling authenticity.  Single-handedly infusing personal styles with the latest fashion trends, her eye-catching wardrobe selections have created style solutions for everyday people and the world's most recognized celebrities.  Affectionately known as "Q" by the fashion elite, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native is notorious for her originality and flair.  As a teen model, Q's goal was simple: walk the runway then attend college with the hopes of becoming a lawyer.

After a successful twelve-year career in the legal field, Q re-emerged in the fashion world.  On a whim, Q enrolled in a styling class, which eventually provided Q with jetsetter status as she studied trend forecasting and fashion styling in London, Paris, Milan, and Florence.  With a well-developed sense of design, color, textile, and fabric expertise, Q graduated from New York City's Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) with a degree in Fashion Business Management.  In a recent interview, Q noted "after accomplishing my goals in the legal field, I realized I had unfinished business in the fashion world."
From New York to Los Angeles

Equipped with ambition, practical knowledge, and solid relationships among industry giants, for six consecutive seasons Q styled shows for Oscar de la Renta, Nicole Miller, Betsey Johnson, and Anne Bowen during the exclusive Mercedes-Benz 7th on Sixth fashion shows. 

Receiving weekly international exposure as a stylist on four seasons of UPN's television hit, "America's Next Top Model" and season one of "The Tyra Banks Show," Q eventually became Tyra's personal stylist. Q's work with the supermodel, including styling her for Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball, garnered praise from Vogue's legendary Editor-at-Large, Andre Leon Talley, who declared, "Tyra finally has good people around her."

In Winter 2006, Q was asked to style Forest Whitaker for the Spring 2006 edition of Public magazine.  That summer, Q styled Forest for the October 2006 publication of Essence.  The Public and Essence photo shoots were a success.  In September 2006, Q began styling Forest for the appearances surrounding his role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in Fox Searchlight Pictures' riveting biopic, "The Last King of Scotland."  These appearances include the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards, 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, The 2007 Orange British Academy Film Awards, The View, Saturday Night Live, and the 79th Annual Academy Awards where Forest Whitaker won the award for Best Actor.  Forest's Red Carpet appearances, wearing Domenico Vacca, Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, and Arnold Brant, among others as selected by Q, have sealed his place as a new fashion-forward favorite.

In addition to her extensive work with actor and director Forest Whitaker, singer Kirk Franklin and Josh Childress of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, Q has styled photo shoots featuring actor Jesse L. Martin of NBC's "Law & Order," actress Angela Bassett, supermodel Christie Brinkley, racer Dale Earnhardt, Jr., actress Hilary Duff and Warner Bros. Records' breakout artist Leela James, among others.  Q's editorial and advertising work include Entertainment Weekly, People, Boston Common, Women's Wear Daily, EBONY, O, TV Guide Canada, DELL computers, Fuji, and Coca-Cola.

While new stories have emerged from every styling opportunity, the project undoubtedly closest to Q's heart is "Beauty & Love" a workshop and non-profit organization she designed and produced for teen girls to embrace self-empowerment.  With the assistance of fellow celebrity stylist Nole' Marin, Q's workshops present insight on teen body image, fashion, respect, diet, and fitness.
Get info and make donations at:  www.BeautyandLoveFoundation.com
Whether outfitting today's top executives and brands, or styling America's Next Top Model, Q lends her keen insight and fashion sense to match each client's need. For more information about Leisel "Q" Quamie and www.StylingYourImage.com  and www.lqstyles.com

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