EDUCATION

Terry began her higher education getting her degree in Ad Design at the Art Institute of Houston. One month before she graduated Terry was struck ill and had to leave school. Terry returned to school later in life and pursued a BA in Pre-Med Biology. She received her degree from St Thomas University in 1998.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Terry began her career in the fashion industry early in life. Her first job was as assistant manager in the couture department of Frost Bros. (a Texas institution) after only one year she was promoted to sales associate in Men's Suits. Terry stayed with Frost Brothers for seven more years until the bottom fell out of the oil market and the company filed for bankruptcy.

At this time Terry went to work for her sister's fledgling restaurant business. After learning all the ins and outs of the day to day operations, Terry became the catering director. As such, she was able to have the flexibility and income to travel the world. Finding Houston VOID of any real adventurous style shops, she traveled to the fashion Meccas of Paris, Milan, London and New York to shop.

It was always a dream of Terry's to open a salon in the city of Houston that brought the fashion forward, cutting edge styles she so often craved. In the summer of 1995 this dream was realized when she finally opened the door to be-jewel.

FAMILY PERSONAL

One of Terry's "style mentors" was her grandmother on her mother's side. Terry fondly recalls "Mimi" always being dressed to the nines even when she had a quiet day at home planned. Terry's warmest memories involve listening to "Mimi" recount her stories of world travel. In fact, Mimi would always commission some local to design traditional garments for her to wear back in the social scene at home. Considered a trendsetter herself, one of Mimi's signature accessories were blue-hued eyewear that she wore every day even after she went blind. Mimi was a courageous and adventurous woman that always endeavored to set herself apart in a time and place that most women were content to just follow the pack.

Although Mimi was a trendsetter, style and fashion were incredibly important to the women and men throughout Terry's family. Whatever the event or occasion it was expected that you would be impeccably dressed and perfectly groomed. As young as six years old, Terry remembers the desire to set herself apart, as her grandmother did. Even at that young age she remembers having this "secret desire" to be the most talked about girl at the event and she NEVER disappointed.

When Terry reached her late teens and on into young adulthood, she was branded a "wild-child" Given that this was the seventies, this moniker was quite the statement of her posture. She was one of the first women amongst her peers to take the styles of the seventies and move them one step further. A prime example of this is when she attended the Greatful Dead Concert in a silk Chinese embroidered robe with purple orchids all through her signature "cher-length" hair which she then dispersed to interested onlookers. Long before Annie Lennox had the look Terry was sporting platinum blond spiked hair with a long tail in the back.

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

Terry has two philosophies she subscribes to in life. One that speaks to her courage as a trendsetter and adventurer and another that she has learned along her journey thru life.

There is an old Asian adage that states "In order to get the fruit from a tree, you have to go out on a limb"

And an old Hebrew adage that says "Those who seek out more than they need are doomed to never appreciate what they have"


MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW

Terry has always been a trendsetter. It is in her blood. She is never afraid to take a risk. Terry always speaks her mind. She is not afraid to point out when something isn't right or just doesn't work. She is a risk-taker who believes in her decisions, even when they are unpopular. Terry is who she is and makes no apologies for any of it. After all, she would not be who she is today without every single event in her life happening EXACTLY as it has... Guilt is a dangerous emotion that steadily drains your essence...

WHY IS YOUR WORK EXCITING

Terry is finally able to travel and shop as never before exploring with wild abandon the latest in fashion and style then bring it home to share with the women of Houston. Nothing makes her beam more than the satisfaction she feels when taking notice of the "oohs" and "ah's" of her clientele as they happen upon an item on the floor of be-jewel that Terry discovered.

WHO IS YOUR STRONGEST INFLUENCE

Her grandmother not only inspired her sense of style she also taught her that women were more than capable of taking care of themselves in business as well as in everyday life. Her father taught her the value of a good work ethic, the importance of family and the significance of a strong of character. And her nanny, Ella, who basically raised Terry in her formative years, taught her how to love unconditionally, and encouraged her values of loyalty, integrity and honor.