starlets

BY BOBBY COMMAND

WEST HAWAII TODAY

bcommand@westhawaiitoday.com

So your daughter wants to be a star? Then Melissa Chamberlain has a store for you.

Starlets, which opened recently at Kuakini Centre on the corner of Kuakini Highway and Kaiwi Street allows young ladies 3 to 13 to play dress up with costume jewelry, feather boas, glittery makeup and high heels and act like entertainers while they perform karaoke.

“All little girls love to dress up and play make-believe, as any parent with a daughter knows,” said Chamberlain, owner of Starlets. “Give them a mic and a stage and they’re natural performers.”

Chamberlain said the concept is that the girls are all stars and they get made up and perform. “There’s also a stage where they can perform karaoke,” she said.

Parties are blocked for two hours and can consist of anywhere from six to 12 girls. Along with the props, girls are served pizza, cupcakes and drinks. Chamberlain said she also will accommodate individuals who want to use the facility.

“My parties are also great for parents,” she said, “because I handle everything from setup to cleanup.”

Chamberlain said she has had one test-run party with her daughter, Sabrina, inviting a bunch of her friends.

“I’ve also gotten a number of walk-in inquiries from people who were eating next door,” she said. “I’ll be able to handle those on Fridays and Saturdays.”

Chamberlain said Sabrina is the inspiration for her new shop. “They had a similar place in Texas,” she said. “I just took the idea and twisted it, but since then some of my friends have said they’ve seen similar things in California.”

While she opened the store recently, Chamberlain said she’s been working on the concept since August, and has had the space since September.

“This is my first attempt at small business,” said Chamberlain. “I have a part-time job at the airport, but I consider myself a stay-at-home mom. But this has been nuts, the amount of things that need to be done to start a business.”

Chamberlain, who has another daughter, Annelise, 1, said she’s also been asked about boys. “If you come in and look around, it’s all hot pink and chandeliers,” she said. “But if I keep getting asked, I may have to accommodate them.”

“I’ve created a fun, fantasy place where girls can express their imagination and feel special just being girls,” she said.

For more information, or to schedule a party, call Chamberlain at 331-2303.