Studio Cara and Founder Leslie Christin Partner with ICONIC IMPACT to Empower Women Leaders and Expand Their Impact

7 hours ago

8 min read

The beauty entrepreneur and creator of Looks to Lead™ joins She Believed She Could™ to provide transformative image and personal branding experiences for grant recipients, while unveiling a special makeup collaboration that gives back.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORLANDO, FL | October 22, 2026 — She Believed She Could™ (SBSC) is thrilled to announce that Leslie Christin, founder of Studio Cara and CARA Cosmetics and creator of the signature Looks to Lead™ program, has joined the inaugural ICONIC IMPACT Summit and Grant Program as a generous sponsor, contributing her expertise and personalized image and beauty experience to support this year's grant recipients.

The partnership is especially meaningful to She Believed She Could™ founder Allison Walsh, whose relationship with Christin spans more than three decades.

Allison Walsh Founder and CEO of She Believed She Could

"Having Leslie be part of ICONIC IMPACT means the world to me," said Allison Walsh, founder of She Believed She Could™. "I've known, loved, and worked with Leslie for nearly 30 years. Her talent and generosity are extraordinary, and having her share her gifts with these incredible women is such a full-circle moment. I couldn't be more grateful to have her helping us prepare these women for their next incredible chapters."

The announcement comes ahead of the inaugural ICONIC IMPACT: She Believed She Could™ Summit, taking place November 5, 2026, at the Center for Health & Wellbeing in Winter Park, Florida. Co-produced by She Believed She Could™ and Hi Hello Labs, the Summit will bring together ambitious women, entrepreneurs, and changemakers for a transformative day of inspiration, actionable strategies, meaningful connections, and opportunities to amplify their impact.

For attendees looking to take their experience even further, an optional VIP upgrade includes an exclusive Content Creation Experience at Hi Hello Labs on November 6, designed to help participants elevate their personal brands, capture professional content, and increase their visibility.

Recipients of the Emerging Founder and Impact Leader Grants will be announced live at the Summit.

More Than a Grant: Preparing Women for What's Next

The ICONIC IMPACT Grants were created to do more than provide financial support. They were designed to invest in women building businesses, leading organizations, and creating meaningful change in their communities, equipping them with the resources, relationships, confidence, and visibility to accelerate their impact.

The inaugural program received an overwhelming 658 applications from 48 states + territories and 14 countries, demonstrating both the extraordinary ambition of women leaders and the tremendous need for opportunities that help their missions grow.

Through the generosity of partners like Studio Cara, the grant experience continues to expand beyond financial awards into a powerful ecosystem of personal and professional development.

Looks to Lead™: Elevate Your Image. Align Your Style. Lead with Confidence.

Created by Leslie Christin, Looks to Lead™ is a personalized image, beauty, and personal branding experience designed to help women align their outward presence with their authentic identities and professional aspirations.

Drawing on Christin's decades of experience working with celebrities, executives, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders, the program guides participants through six essential elements of personal transformation:

Discover Your Style Archetype: Identify signature colors, personal style, and a visual identity that reflects professional goals and authentic personality.
Beauty Inventory & Product Edit: Simplify daily beauty routines through expert guidance and personalized cosmetic recommendations.
Signature Makeup Lesson: Receive professional makeup instruction and a customized face chart designed to enhance natural features.
7-Day Capsule Wardrobe: Build a versatile, polished wardrobe aligned with lifestyle, body type, and professional presence.
Signature Hairstyle Guidance: Discover flattering hairstyles and techniques suited to individual needs and aspirations.
The Glam Recap: Learn to transition confidently from everyday professional settings to speaking engagements, media appearances, and special occasions.

The experience also includes lifetime access to the Looks to Lead™ Virtual Masterclass, featuring tutorials in skincare, makeup, hair, and wardrobe.

For women preparing to pitch investors, lead growing organizations, speak on stages, meet potential partners, or become more visible advocates for their missions, the program offers something invaluable: the opportunity to show up with greater confidence, authenticity, and intention.

"I've always believed that when a woman feels confident in who she is and how she shows up, there's no limit to what she can accomplish," said Leslie Christin, founder of Studio Cara and creator of Looks to Lead™. "These women are doing extraordinary things, and I'm honored to be part of helping them step into their next chapters with confidence and purpose. Partnering with Allison and She Believed She Could™ makes this especially meaningful. We're not just helping women look their best. We're helping them feel ready to lead, inspire, and make an even greater impact."

A Beautiful Makeup Collaboration with a Mission to Make an Impact

In addition to contributing Looks to Lead™ to the grant recipient experience, Studio Cara and She Believed She Could™ are thrilled to unveil a special makeup collaboration that brings together beauty, confidence, and purpose, with a shared commitment to making a meaningful impact in the lives of women.

As part of the collaboration, 10% of proceeds from the makeup collaboration will benefit the She Believed She Could™ Foundation, supporting its mission to expand opportunities, resources, and support for women pursuing their goals and creating positive change.

Rooted in the belief that when women feel confident, empowered, and supported, they are better positioned to lead, inspire, and create change, this collaboration is about more than makeup. It is about using beauty as a vehicle for empowerment and creating a meaningful opportunity to give back.

For Christin and Walsh, the collaboration represents a natural extension of their shared commitment to lifting women up and using their respective platforms to create a positive ripple effect.

Additional details about the collaboration will be unveiled in connection with the ICONIC IMPACT Summit on November 5.

An Extraordinary Package to Prepare Women for What's Next

The Studio Cara partnership adds another powerful dimension to the ICONIC IMPACT Grant experience, which was intentionally created to go far beyond financial support.

Together, the grant awards, personalized strategy and mentorship, the professional content creation experience with Hi Hello Labs, and Leslie's Looks to Lead™ program provide recipients with a comprehensive foundation for growth.

The financial awards provide resources to advance their missions. Strategic guidance helps recipients clarify their next steps and identify new opportunities. The Hi Hello Labs experience provides professional content to help tell their stories, elevate their brands, and amplify their visibility. And Leslie's expertise helps them step into those opportunities with confidence, intention, and a personal presence aligned with their aspirations.

"Everything we're building around these grants is intentional," Walsh added. "We want these women to have the resources to grow, the visibility to reach more people, and the confidence to pursue opportunities they may not have thought possible. Together, we're not just celebrating what they've accomplished. We're investing in the incredible impact they'll make next."

Join Us in Creating More ICONIC IMPACT: Sponsorships, Partnerships, and Tickets Available

She Believed She Could Iconic Impact Summit by Allison Walsh

The overwhelming response to the inaugural ICONIC IMPACT Grants has reinforced just how many extraordinary women are ready to make a difference, and how much more is possible when a community comes together to support them.

With 658 applicants from 48 states + territories and 14 countries, She Believed She Could™ and the She Believed She Could™ Foundation are actively seeking additional corporate and community partners to help expand the reach and impact of the program.

Opportunities include financial contributions to help fund additional grant recipients, in-kind donations of professional services and resources, event sponsorships, and underwriting opportunities that help direct more resources toward the women and missions the program was created to support.

Businesses and organizations are also invited to participate in the ICONIC IMPACT Summit on November 5, with individual tickets, VIP experiences, and corporate tables available. Corporate participation offers an opportunity to invest in the professional growth of employees and emerging leaders while connecting with an inspiring community of entrepreneurs, nonprofit founders, business leaders, and changemakers.

"Our hope is that Leslie's generosity inspires others to think about how they, too, can make an impact," said Walsh. "Whether it's funding a grant, contributing services, sponsoring the event, or bringing a table of incredible women to experience the Summit, there are so many meaningful ways to be part of what we're building. Every partnership helps us create more opportunities, open more doors, and invest in women who are doing extraordinary things."

To explore financial or in-kind sponsorship opportunities, corporate tables, or strategic partnerships, visit https://www.shebelievedshecould.co/iconic-impact-sponsors or contact Allison Walsh at allison@allisonwalshconsulting.com.

To purchase tickets or learn more about ICONIC IMPACT, visit https://www.shebelievedshecould.co/iconic-impact.

About ICONIC IMPACT

ICONIC IMPACT stands for Intentionally Creating Our Next Incredible Chapters and is an initiative of She Believed She Could™, co-produced with Hi Hello Labs, bringing together ambitious women, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and changemakers for meaningful connection, transformation, and impact.

The ICONIC IMPACT Summit will take place November 5, 2026, at the Center for Health & Wellbeing in Winter Park, Florida, followed by a VIP Content Creation Experience on November 6 at Hi Hello Labs for those with upgraded tickets.

The ICONIC IMPACT Grants, presented through the She Believed She Could™ Foundation and its partners, recognize women in two categories: Emerging Founder and Impact Leader.

Through inspiring conversations, actionable strategies, meaningful connections, and transformative experiences, ICONIC IMPACT is designed to help women gain clarity on what's next and take intentional steps toward making it happen.

Learn more at https://www.shebelievedshecould.co/iconic-impact.

About Studio CARA

Founded by Leslie Christin in 1997, Studio CARA is a premier Central Florida beauty studio specializing in professional makeup artistry, skincare, beauty education, and image development. Christin, who founded CARA Cosmetics in 1995, brings more than 30 years of experience in film, television, and professional makeup artistry.

Throughout her career, Christin has worked with celebrities, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and internationally recognized brands, including Universal, Netflix, and Walt Disney World. Her expertise combines professional artistry with a passion for helping women embrace their individuality, build confidence, and elevate their personal and professional presence.

Through her signature Looks to Lead™ program, Christin brings together beauty, personal style, image development, and professional presence to empower women to show up with confidence, authenticity, and purpose.

More than a one-time transformation, Looks to Lead™ equips women with their own Personal Image Toolkit—practical beauty, styling, and presentation skills they can confidently recreate every day. The experience helps women develop a polished, authentic image that reflects who they are and where they aspire to go.

Looks to Lead™ — Discover Your Look. Master Your Skills. Lead with Confidence.

Located in Maitland, Florida, Studio CARA embraces the philosophy of Live Life Beautifully™, inspiring women to look their best, feel empowered, and lead with confidence at every stage of life.

Learn more at www.studiocara.com and www.studiocara.com/lookstolead.

About She Believed She Could™

She Believed She Could Founded by Allison Walsh

Founded by Allison Walsh, She Believed She Could™ (SBSC) is a personal brand, media, and visibility company dedicated to helping ambitious, impact-driven women become recognized authorities, build influential brands, and turn their expertise and ideas into meaningful opportunities.

What began as a mission to inspire women to believe in what's possible has evolved into a growing ecosystem of media, education, strategic consulting, live experiences, and community. Through the globally recognized She Believed She Could™ podcast, bestselling book, SBSC Collective, private consultancy, and signature events, the company equips women with the clarity, confidence, connections, and strategies to grow their influence and create lasting impact.

Walsh, an author, speaker, brand strategist, and entrepreneur, has advised more than 350 private clients and supported thousands of women worldwide in building their brands, advancing their careers, and pursuing their next chapters.

Extending that mission beyond business growth, the She Believed She Could™ Foundation serves as the organization's philanthropic arm, creating opportunities for women through grants, education, mentorship, and community-driven initiatives. The inaugural ICONIC IMPACT Grants reflect SBSC's commitment to not only helping women succeed, but also investing in the ideas, organizations, and leaders creating meaningful change in the world.

Learn more at https://www.shebelievedshecould.co.

About Hi Hello Labs

Hi Hello Labs is a creative content production studio that helps entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders tell their stories, build their brands, and increase their visibility through professional media and content creation.

As co-producer of ICONIC IMPACT, Hi Hello Labs is helping bring the Summit experience to life while also contributing professional content creation opportunities designed to amplify the stories and missions of the grant recipients.

Through this partnership, Hi Hello Labs and She Believed She Could™ are combining strategic brand development, professional storytelling, and transformational experiences to help women expand their reach and create greater impact.

Learn more at https://www.hihellolabs.com.