‘Pretty Powerful’: What it takes to feel and look good

Video: Bobbi Brown, Alexa Ray Joel celebrate inner beauty

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2. Closed captioning of: Bobbi Brown, Alexa Ray Joel celebrate inner beauty

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   >> when we sat down to choose women for the book, alexa popped up immediately. i have watched her grow up. i used to do her mother's make-up when she was a little girl . she has a light in her eye, a sparkle, and when she arrives, you feel her presence.

   >> she's had her own struggles as most of us women have. and she has decided to take them and make them positive. and i really believe if more women talk about who they are and where they've been, it's a lot easier for women to relate and feel good about where they're going.

   >> how long?

   >> good morning again to you.

   >> good morning.

   >> good morning.

   >> bobbi, the last time i saw you, you were telling me katie holmes was the new face of bobbi brown .

   >> well, i wrote the book first.

   >> tell us about this concept of pretty powerful. it's more than make-up.

   >> pretty powerful to me is women look pretty without make-up, but powerful with make-up because it makes you confident and comfortable so you can do anything in the world you want to do.

   >> you have lots of stories of real women who aren't famous. we do have some gorgeous, famous women , alexa joel is one of them, blithe danner, how did you choose the women that would be portrayed in this book?

   >> i wanted to have women that have a story and have a sparkle and, of course, look good in a photograph. and the amazing thing is to hear these women 's stories about themselves about what they're going through and it's important to share it with other women .

   >> and this is somebody you grew up with.

   >> oh, we go way back.

   >> you used to do your mom's make-up back in the day?

   >> yes, yes.

   >> how did you feel when she asked you to be part of the book?

   >> i was so honored, i was so surprised. because i have been honestly a huge fan of bobbi, i use her foundation, love her cream blush. and she's a wonderful person with a great inspirational message. it's not just about the make-up. it's about empowering women and finding beauty from within and from the inside out.

   >> and you talked a lot about that. about struggles when you were younger. you wrote as my teenage years were rough, i was painfully shy, terrified of boys, really a late bloomer .

   >> oh, terrified. i had a lot of anxiety and, you know, growing up with such, you know, unbelievably charismatic, you know, famous parents, it takes a minute to find your way. and so, yeah. it takes a moment. and performing and doing things like that when you're in the public spotlight it kind of forces you out of your shell and you have to just embrace who you are. and there's this whole new body movement happening and everybody just embracing their true selves, true identity .

   >> you have to be the best you and be comfortable. our job as women is to inspire other women to feel good. and i've realized it's not how you look, it's how you feel that you look.

   >> and one of the things i like about the book and alexa ray how honest you've been about struggles in the past. we remember a couple of years ago you had an overdose of pills. you talked about that you had some plastic surgery on your nose. how has -- just being so transparent about that is something you've talked about a lot. how has that helped you? how is that part of your message?

   >> it's helped me enormously. i think it's empowering to be able to say, yes, i've been through this struggle, and yes, i had something i wanted to fix and i did that. i think it's important for women to own it and send a message to other women , it's okay to come out and say i'm not perfect. i have something i want to do that makes me feel better for me and go for it. and --

   >> and press the reset button any time.

   >> i love that. press the reset button .

   >> any time you need to start over. be your best self. be who you are.

   >> yeah, people go through heartbreak and go through these issues. and it's okay to own up to it and talk about it. and makes other people feel like, okay, it's okay to be emotional. it's okay to go through that.

   >> and that honesty makes you all the more beautiful. that's for sure. thank you so much. the book is powerful. we're back after your local news.

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