Teaching more than just makeup

Leopard skin rugs abound while lavish furniture and pictures of fashion idols greet visitors to the Empire Academy of Makeup in Costa Mesa.

So it certainly appears to be the proper habitat for fabulousness, but the academy’s staff is gunning for something more than skin deep when they begin their Camp Beauty for teenagers Monday.

The camp will run for two weeks and is open to girls between 14 and 17. Though the program centers on educating girls about make-up, fashion and skin care, it will also take a more holistic and well-rounded approach.

“There are no role models for girls right now,” said Donna Mee, the academy’s founder. “Now you have Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. They’re not people you look up to. We’re excited about mentoring these girls and giving them a positive foundation for the future.”

Kimiko Kobayashi, who helped organize the camp, agreed.

“I truly believe that there is a huge need for girls to have someone else to look up to, ”she said.

“[Regardless of] whatever they want to do, they can still benefit from the camp,” she continued. “It will teach them life skills in general. We just want to give them that extra support to keep them going.”

The program intends to help girls deal with issues regarding peer pressure, eating disorders and dating.

Camp Beauty will be a modern charm school of sorts that focuses on etiquette and issues teenage girls deal with in today’s world like texting, MySpace pages and body image.

“Society has changed so much,” Mee said. “There’s a whole plethora of things we’re going to talk about and address.”

Dancing lessons taught by past finalists on the hit show “So You Think You Can Dance” will be offered, and the girls will have the chance to analyze and discuss life situations after viewing the MTV reality show, “The Real World.”

About a dozen girls will be enrolled, with the camp being split up into two groups for each two-week session — one group will be for 13- and 14-year-olds while the other is for 16- and 17-year-olds. The program will run until Aug. 28, though the academy will hold weekend classes throughout the year with hopes to expand.

“I’m excited to just get it going so we can put all the groundwork into fruition,” Kobayashi said. “It’s a passion-driven venture.”

“I’m looking forward to literally mentoring thousands of girls,” Mee said. “It’s about becoming a responsible, dependable teen. It’s about taking the right path.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Camp Beauty

WHERE: Empire Academy of Makeup, 801 Baker St., Suite D, Costa Mesa

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays from Monday to Aug. 28.

COST: $649 for the first week, $1,295 for two-week sessions and $800 for the final week.

CALL: (714) 438-2430