DALLAS, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- With Valentine's Day approaching, Match.com and Jay Manuel, celebrity style director and star of America's Next Top Model, created the new Match.com Portrait Toolkit(TM) to bring out the best in people when it is time to shine. From hair and make-up to what to wear and how to act and talk about ourselves, Manuel shares all his celebrity tips and tricks so people can look and feel like a star on this special holiday.
"I encourage people to recognize how truly remarkable they are on the inside so that they can learn to present themselves to the world in a way that makes them feel excited and self-assured," said Manuel.
Match.com, an operating business of IAC , and Manuel have co-created a Match.com Portrait Toolkit(TM), that shows people how to bring out their distinctive personality and highlight their inner beauty in life -- including wardrobe, photographs, hair and make-up. All of this information is presented through exclusive video segments and interactive do's and don'ts hosted by Manuel.
Manuel's tips for bringing out your best for Valentine's Day include: * Be yourself. This is not a makeover - this is about focusing on the quirks, curiosities and complexities that make you unique! Do a quick inventory on your life. What's important to you? How you would like other people to see you? How do your friends see you? By identifying and reconnecting with the things that make you special, the inner you will shine. * Take a photo like a star. A few simple tips can help you take celebrity worthy photos! Lighting is key; try not to stand directly under harsh overheads. Instead, look for an open window and face it. Have a friend take a picture of you with the flash on and the combination of natural light with the camera flash will make you look flawless! Make sure you smile and try facing the camera at different angles -- a head-on shot isn't always best. * Work it. Valentine's Day is a special holiday, but don't go overboard. Wearing too much makeup or dressing in a ball gown or tuxedo when it isn't appropriate feels forced and appears awkward. The key is to dress in a way that makes you feel comfortable and self-assured. If you still don't know what to wear, try solid colors, and black always looks best. Knowing you are rocking what you are wearing always is a confidence booster, and confidence is sexy!
These tips and others found in the Match.com Portrait Toolkit(TM) were inspired by the new advertising campaign Match.com began earlier this year. "It's Okay to Look" features 26 real Match.com members from all over the country in a series of print, broadcast and online advertising designed by celebrity photographer Peggy Sirota.
Now, for Valentine's Day, Match.com is giving people an opportunity to celebrate their individuality by participating in "Star in our Next Ad," an open forum for people to show what makes them interesting and unique. Members can upload personal videos to ItsOkaytoLook.com and the submissions will be used as part of a casting call for potential new faces to appear in Match.com advertising, like the original 26 members featured in the "It's Okay to Look" campaign.
"I cannot begin to explain how surreal this all is; when I decided to broaden my hunt for someone to share my life with on Match.com, I never thought it would lead me here," said 38-year-old Match.com member and original "It's Okay to Look" star LaSirene7. "To date, almost 10,000 people have viewed my profile. I am unsure as to what the average is, but to say that I am flattered is an understatement!"
To take a peek at the Portrait Toolkit or to meet the current Match.com "stars" and submit your own video, go to http://www.match.com/ .
About Match.com
Match.com pioneered online personals when it launched on the Web in 1995 and continues to lead this exciting and evolving category after more than a decade. Throughout its 11-year history, Match.com has redefined the way people meet and fall in love and is credited with more marriages than any other site. Today, more than 15 million people around the world participate in the Match.com community, providing a rich tapestry of ethnicities, interests, goals, ambitions, quirks, looks and personalities from which to choose.
Match.com is the world's biggest online dating and personals property, according to the November 2005 global ranking of the Personals category by industry-leading independent measurement firm comScore Media Metrix. Number one across North America and Europe, Match.com operates leading subscription- based online dating sites in 35 countries, in 15 languages and spanning six continents. Match.com also powers online dating on MSN across Europe, Asia, the United States and Latin America and is the premier provider of personals for Love@AOL. Match.com is an operating business of IAC.
