The Blue Crew’s Game Day Face

Pür Minerals makeup Blue Crew
By Rachel Tobin Ramos
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, July 1, 2010
[Photos]

“The dark eye shadow has to stay low and outside,” instructed Tamara Compton, the Southeast marketing coordinator for Pür Minerals makeup. “And the bronzer goes where the sun naturally hits your face. But bronzer does not equate blush.”

So went several hours of instruction on their “game day look” for the Blue Crew, the women who clean the ice, dance on the sidelines and help promote the Thrashers hockey team.

Fans may not realize the behind-the-scenes sponsorships that go into the look of the Thrashers’ Blue Crew or the Hawks’ A-Town Dancers.

Donni Frazier, the teams’ talent coordinator, said basically she is looking for any sponsors that “help them look pretty.”

Last season’s sponsors included Palm Beach Tan, Turner Athletic Club, Jamison Shaw Hairdressers and the Green Room Agency.

Kadijah Johnson, 26, who dances for the Hawks and Thrashers, said she gets her hair done about every two weeks and a spray tan because she likes the “healthy glow.”

Pür, the Atlanta-based brand of mineral makeup and skin care products, is a new sponsor for the coming season.

Julie Campbell, company spokeswoman, said Pür cold-called the dance teams about becoming the makeup sponsor, which previously was national makeup brand MAC Cosmetics.

Though Frazier wanted to use the local company, she and her dancers first tested Pür to see whether it would stand up to bright lights and heavy activity.

“I was making sure it wouldn’t irritate the skin, it could be worn everyday and was thick enough for games and practice,” Frazier said.

The biggest concerns of the dancers on a recent Monday night? Were their lips red enough?

“It’s part of their contract to wear red lipstick on game day,” Frazier said.

That’s a fact that doesn’t sit well with the team members who don’t normally wear a crimson red lip.

“Do you think Donni will say this is red enough?” 23-year-old Shea Allen asked.

“Probably not,” said Christina Zangas, 22, as she grinned with a deep red smile after applying Pür’s Red Ruby lipstick. “It feels clownish.”

Frazier just smiled.