Billy Brasfield, is known as Billy B to Hollywood and celebrity-mad New Yorkers as the make-up artist of choice.  His client list includes, Beyonce', Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon and Sarah Jessica Parker to name a few. On a nationwide tour presented by The Powder Group with the W Hotel Group, Billy B has his own fan base that is growing; quickly giving him claim to the status of Kevyn Aucoin of the nineties. 

It is inspiring that Billy B has achieved so much since his humble beginnings in Aberdeen, Mississippi, a struggling town deep in the Bible Belt.  It was from Aberdeen, that the young Billy B plotted constantly his eventual escape.

Funny, that this teen runaway would wind up conquering Manhattan and LA only to return to Aberdeen and triumphantly save many historic homes.  Billy B devoted his design talents to the Renaissance of his hometown with his zeal in resurrecting Aberdeen, Mississippi, population, 7,000.

So far, he has purchased 17 faded beauties amongst Aberdeen's 250 National Register listed homes.  He is credited as being the nucleus in saving his forgotten hometown by renovating these once grand houses that have fallen on hard times.  "They were in such a sad state, I just knew I had to do something — and fast.  Many of these grande dames were in ruins."  With 17 purchased, Billy B is unstoppable as he has eyes on many more historic homes.

Partnered with Dwight Stevens of the Stevens Auction Company, Billy has purchased several desolate commercial properties that line Aberdeen's dusty Main Street, with the pledge to bring this 3 block town back to its usefulness and grace.  He and Stevens have formed a foundation to preserve their beloved ancient town, called Save Aberdeen Landmarks, or SAL. 

Though himself a modernist with a passion for mid-century designs, Billy B honors the traditional in the rehabilitation of his historic Mississippi homes.  Architectural details are faithfully restored; gardens and decorative moss-clad sculptures are being planted; and interiors are stripped to reveal glorious 18th century elements.

Architectural details are faithfully restored; gardens and decorative moss-clad sculptures are being planted; and interiors are stripped to reveal glorious 18th century elements.

Billy B's unwavering love for Aberdeen was not always the case, however.  Opting to be the only boy in school to major in fashion merchandising, he remembers standing out like a sore thumb.  Being unmercilessly picked on, he knew he had to make a get-away to the big city — in those days, that meant Memphis.  His first job was "visual merchandiser" at Federated's Tennessee stalwart, Goldsmith's Department Store.

It didn't take much time for his very forward window displays to earn Billy his walking papers, and walk he did, metaphorically speaking, all the way to New York where cash strapped Billy did not know a soul.

Still, he empowered his "sole" existance by chanting to himself, "I am the most fabulous person in the world!"  The friendliest comment he received was " You are an absolute nobody, redneck — why are you here?"

An interview at Macy's changed all that.  Billy B confesses, "I didn't even have an appointment, and I had on only jeans and a tee-shirt.  Here was with this older, very chic Macy's diehard from HR, who watched me have a nervous breakdown in her office.  She took me to her bosom and cradled me, cooing, 'There, there,....... We'll find you a job Sweetie."  Madame HR asked Billy if he did make-up, to which Billy answered, lying through his teeth, "Well.... er.... ...ABSOLUTELY!"

To the cosmetics counter he went, where one day, he spotted a fabulous looking woman whom he coaxed into coming to the counter so that he could re-do her make-up.  She just happened to be an editor at Vogue Magazine, just as she so happened to be thrilled with Billy's masterful make-up techniques.  She immediately sent him to Elite Models where life shifted dramatically for charming Billy.

After a photo shoot with fashion superstar Jean Paul Gaultier, Billy never looked back. Album covers, magazine covers, celebrity testimonials galore — but Billy B has never forgotten his past.  Aberdeen was always in his heart.  As soon as his fame took off, Billy's ambition to revitalize Aberdeen ignited.  Life has indeed come full circle, for as Billy B says, "The life I fled, I have now come back to save."

WHAT DIRECTION IS YOUR STYLE COMPASS POINTED TO?
FASHION: Ben Sherman. I like his clothes and it’s funny because I’ve come full circle from when I originally moved to New York.  I was once the anti-preppy and now I’m into a look that is preppy with style!

FABRIC: Cotton is king! And it’s also so Mississippi.
  GARDENING: I’m obsessed with gardening which is so odd, in that,  I grew up thinking I could never do anything.  If my makeup career ended, I would probably do landscaping or floral design. I have a weakness for flowers of the South — my garden in California is like a Mississippi old-school grandmother's garden.  I bought a fabulous Victorian house in Aberdeen that I am restoring, called the Steamboat, and the true reason I bought the house is for its ancient gardens with its100 year old box woods.

VACATION: Destin, Florida.  I have place on Pelican Beach. Sorry I am not a snob — I love it there.

COLOUR: I am fascinate by color — all color.

TRAVEL: I have a cottage in Provincetown; and on the west coast, I love San Francisco though it’s a bit sad, as it has changed so dramatically. A famous bar, the End Up which was a part of that whole Amistead Maupin Tales of the City scene, is now a straight bar.  I was devastated!
 BOOK: Anything Augusten Burroughs.

HOTEL: the W, natch!

RESTAURANT: Norms in California on La Cienega. It’s an historical mid-century interior diner.

MUSIC CD: Love the 80’s, but from a client? I love Pink — plus all my clients…they are all such stars. They could fill 4 ipods.

GIFTS: Flowers don’t forget I’m southern.

MUSEUM: MOCA.