By
Lisa M. Miree-Luke, Head of Axalta Corporate Affairs-North America
Ladies, when you wake up in the morning and put on a red
dress does your walk change to a sashay?
Gentlemen, correction…single gentlemen--when she, whoever she is, walks
into a room in a red dress is she the one you immediately notice? When you want to make a statement, do you go
for the red power tie? Would a bride
ever put her bridesmaids in red dresses when it’s her day? Silence.
We can change our clothing at a drop of a whim, but what
if you were born with this bold, vibrant color on your crown and glory that
only a bottle of dye could offer you a break from standing out? Would you?
Could you or should you simply roll with it like Lucille Ball, Julianne
Moore, Rita Hayworth, Prince Harry and “Pretty Woman” Julia Roberts? Afterall, there are so many things that are
radiant red like the beautiful Chevrolet RS Camaro with ground effects that I
had my first, second and third car accidents in. Sure, it was brand new off the lot, but at
16-years old my powers of persuasion had already peeked and my mother couldn’t
say “no” to my pressing need to drive her new red car. Oh yes, I was a frequent body shop customer
in my teen days. I totally helped build
the industry I work in now. And not to
mention, Axalta’s Automotive Color of the Year 2015 is “Radiant Red”. So if this vivid color looks so great on the
road, why wouldn’t it look great on someone’s head? Professional writer Kimberley Lovato, the
author of a recent American Way essay titled “Pretty Red on the Emerald Isle,” wasn’t always so sure.
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Kimberley Lovato, Author
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Chants of Pippi Longstocking, Carrot Top and Ginger rang
in her head, as she shared with me how she was teased growing up redhead in Los
Angeles. Sidebar, really, LA?! You needed one more blonde? So what’s a redhead girl like Kimberley to
do, but go to Ireland for some affirmation, appreciation and confirmation.
Kimberley wrote in her essay: “Redheads are found in more
concentration on the British Isles than anywhere else in the world, and I had
read before my arrival that an estimated 10 percent of the population of
Ireland has red hair. At social events
back home, my red hair made me feel like a zebra at the horse farm, but in
Ireland I could always count on three or more members of my homogeneous herd
roaming about.”
Even more uplifting, Kimberley fondly reminisces about
her beloved grandfather calling her “Pretty Red.” As the sole redhead in her
non-Irish family, and what seemed like in all of LA, his wisdom encouraged
her. “You’ll spend your school years
trying to fit in, and the rest of your life trying to stand out. Consider your hair a head start,” he would
always tell her.
Kimberley has since embraced the color red. She bought a red bikini, wears red dresses,
and shows off her red hair every chance she gets. Atta’ girl, “Pretty Red.”
To learn more about Kimberley Lovato visit kimberleylovato.com
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| Lisa Miree-Luke with No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS painted in Radiant Red. |
