A Day That Changed Me: Volunteering with Beauty Holiday to Uplift Women Facing Hardship
Guest Blog: Written By Beauty Holiday Volunteer, Brielle Attanasio
A Family United for a Beautiful Mission
Hi! My name is Brielle Attanasio, and I’m incredibly grateful to my cousin, Gianna DeMedio Simon—who proudly serves on the board of Beauty Holiday—for inviting our family to take part in this powerful nonprofit mission. Together, we hosted a Beauty Holiday Packing Party in the dining room of our family home, surrounded by the women who have shaped my life: my mom, my Nani, my aunts, cousins, and close friends. A room full of women
who understand what it means to love, lift up, and give back to other women.
Before we began packing, Gianna shared the heart and history behind Beauty Holiday. The bags we assembled were going to the Laurel House, a domestic violence shelter in our family’s hometown, Norristown, Pennsylvania . Gianna gave no scripted speech, just heartfelt words reminding us of the true essence of what we were doing: offering love, support, and encouragement through the simple act of giving. It was about more than products- it was about helping women feel alive and seen again, delivering a moment of light to those facing their hardest days.
Gianna DeMedio Simon dropping off Beauty Holiday self-care gifts to surprise the women escaping domestic abuse at Laurel House.
Small Acts with a Big Heart
Together, we packed 41 gift bags filled with beauty products generously donated by MAC and other brands. Every bag was carefully packed with tissue paper and ribbon to remind each woman they are not just receiving a donation but a personal gift they deserve. We also included handwritten notes, and I remember writing one that said, “Your strength and courage are what truly make you radiant.” I meant every word, but I also felt humbled writing them because even the strongest women need reminders of their worth.
In this moment, I understood how the small act of applying lip gloss can become an affirmation of self-worth. This experience helped me understand that self-care isn’t about vanity- it’s about healing. It’s about recognizing that you deserve love, care, and compassion for yourself in all aspects of your life, and the how the simple act of using a new product can be transformative when it comes with the message: you matter.
More Than Beauty—A Message of Worth
I imagine one of the women at Laurel House looking in the mirror and beginning to reconnect with herself—maybe for the first time in a long while. That moment is what this is all about. To give something that might restore a bit of light in her reflection is a privilege I don’t take for granted. This opportunity reminded me how a simple act of kindness can help another woman truly see herself again.
To me, self-care represents healing and respect. In a world that emphasizes comparison, caring for yourself becomes a powerful act of reclaiming your identity. Beauty is not about the perfection of appearance- it’s the authentic light that shines through a resilient woman, in these moments of healing and reclaiming herself.
Gianna and I were raised with the belief that helping others with open arms is part of who we are, and I feel honored to carry that forward through Beauty Holiday.
This was not about the products we gave, but the message they sent:
You are seen. You are loved. You deserve to feel beautiful in every step of your healing.
