I hate reality television. No, really. What an interesting statement to start an article about someone from a reality show, but hear me out. The problem with reality television is that it is not real. It was written, prepared, and at last rehearsed into existence. Of course we have survivor And Real worldbut since then, the most tangible content we have is the title of the film The Truman Show. I’ve been on a series of events, and have walked away with nothing but praise for the ‘creative content’ provided to the general public. Increasingly less rich content is watched by the average consumer, with millions tuning in each week to see what Kim Kardashian is up to this week, or the next. Not to say I have a problem with the Kardashians, or anything like that, because they’ve a successful business model that works. But how many come to the world of television, already on the rise? Rarely happening. Rarely are they Lilly Ghalichi.
Lilly explored her childhood openly with me, discussing her Persian roots, and how nobody in Texas knew what was Iranian or Persian. He was barely bullied, but slot in well with a number of minorities, which he formed well. His parents taught him great values, which whet his appetite for business (starting his successful swimming line a few years ago). I’m not going to lie, I had quite a lot of misunderstandings, until he put on a fantastic show at NYFW this year’s Spring. She could not be far from the usual Beverly Hills type. “I love big hair, big books, and big steaks! Everything Texas was instilled in me and I feel so lucky growing up there [Texas]”, Lilly began enthusiastically. Having spent quite a lot of time in the South (New Orleans), I completely agree. Growing up in the South had a certain vibe, typically featuring a more relaxed, family-based environment. It’s an interesting note that Lilly did not grow up in Hollywood, with infinity pools and Nobu dinners. You hear it right away in her voice, because she is so friendly to talk to. He gushed when he spoke of “growing up surrounded by fields, go-karts, dirt bikes, tee pees, campfires, and cow tipping”. It’s surprising to think that this woman we all find out about in The Shahs of Sunset, is not such a high-headed haughty head. Actually what’s interesting is that Lilly went to McCombs School of Business AND Loyola Law School. It’s not an online course, but a top business and law school. You do not walk into an establishment just by smiling and winking at the camera. Humble hard work and dedication are the foundation of such success.
“I see so many women who are too afraid to pursue their dreams because they don’t have enough self-confidence,” she told me, and she was right. As we move through 2015, we must admit that this is no longer a ‘human world’. Unfortunately, there’s still an absence of self-confidence that makes many ladies stagnate, particularly those of minority descent. As this problem slowly fades away, we see a growing gap leading to equality. As such, Lilly is leading the way, particularly with her brand revival. We currently have Ghalichi Glam, which covers all things fashion. Not really. She owns Lilly Lashes, Lilly Hair, Want My Look, Doggy Glam, Avitan, AND Glampagne. That’s just the tip of the iceberg of his empire. There are ongoing tutorials, editorials, and classes, with a low free monthly membership, and more to come. Hearing her discuss all this fully engulfed me in the ladies’s accessories market, which has only grown tenfold over the past 5 years. Now, this isn’t something that Valentino, Jimmy Choo, or even Givenchy has grown up with. Want My Look features some of the greatest ensembles and fashion-forward items that almost all people can purchase, and end up buying. Therein lies the genius in his business model; average consumer. He does not sell his wares to the elite, but to everybody, as a whole. This not only broadened his market, but made him a household name. This is important in a time when brands come and go (see Michael Kors or even Coach). Building relationships with consumers seasonally is key, and promoting affordable make-up options is even more instrumental for fulfillment. You will expect this sort of open-mindedness from someone of his pedigree.
The real question is, how did he fit into something like that Shah Sunset? The show highlights the rich of the rich in Beverly Hills, all of them of Persian descent. Bottom line, like most reality shows, it is a joke, generally disparaged by most Persians, or even Arabs (the “so did you watch the sho-” amount I get from people is frustrating). She oddly turned him down the first time he was approached.
“I was actually asked to be on season one but I politely declined because the thought of being on a reality show didn’t appeal to me. Especially being on a show where everyone is the same race because that to me is very “Jersey Shore”. They taunted me when they were about to start shooting the second season, so I watched the first season and I do not think it was that bad. It was absolutely a long way from the Jersey Shore so I made a decision from both a brand and a business perspective that it would be a really wise choice because you cannot buy that kind of advertising. Not only are you exposing your life, but you are also exposing your life in a way that catches people’s attention and that’s invaluable to an entrepreneur who has something to sell.”
The decision to include yourself in an event to actually get the word out for your brand is genius, because he’s 100% right, where else can you get that kind of advertising? There is no place. All that said, he still quit after the first day of sets, but came back and finished his season, calling it a “great experience”. This eventually helped Ghalichi Glam get the needed boost, become a makeup tutorial venue, and cement Lilly’s following by the millions.
But he has left time for relationships, come to Shah with her longtime boyfriend/fiancé Ali, and recently ended things with Dhar. It’s interesting to see the difference in his reactions to the two. Ali is someone he is been with since he was 19, and is still good friends with him. They are both con artists, and her drive drives her to be the best she can be. However, as we grow we change, and he does not. There’s nothing wrong there, because that is the nature of life and love. “I would have looked like a heartless bitch but I thought I was sad for an hour”, she spoke of Dhar. She understands the concept that life goes on, and crying about it’s not going to change that. It’s more than a sign of maturity, it is a sign of growing up. However, she does not rule out other men in the future, getting the right man to fit into her schedule might be a bit difficult. Lilly does see family and love as the treasures of life, not just accessories that can be taken for granted. This can be seen in his close relationship with his younger brother Yassi, and how even although he’s an entertainment expert, he remains near his family.
So perhaps we should ignore the misconceptions about individuals in the limelight, particularly those on television. Lilly’s right, this is more than simply scripted television; You are actually exposing yourself to the world. What you do with that fame is the most significant thing, and being a role model is the most resolute. Lilly Ghalichi has a long and successful career ahead of her – which I feel (that’s for Texas) would be more than encompassing Shah Sunset, and even Ghalichi Glam. Watch out world, Miss Texas is here to stay.
Photography: Marcelo Cantu
Makeup by: Ariel Tejada (using LillyLashes.com )
Wardrobe: Walter Mendez
Hair: Justin Arrellano (uses LillyHair.com clips in extensions)
