Nonprofit Founder Pageant B. Atterberry on Personal Style, Her Beauty Routine, & More

She guides the next generation at PBA Royal Performing Arts and Training School in Southfield — and looks great while doing it
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Pageant B. Atterberry
Pageant B. Atterberry poses inside her closet at her Detroit home, wearing a top from Neiman Marcus and Lapointe pants. “I call this my dollhouse,” she says of the space.

Pageant B. Atterberry’s life revolves around providing arts education for Detroit’s youth. The 31-year-old native Detroiter has worn many hats — she worked as a political journalist; was the director of communications for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office under the late Benny Napoleon; and was a producer for local TV and radio stations — but the performing arts have always been her calling. 

Atterberry founded the nonprofit PBA Royal Performing Arts and Training School in Southfield — this year’s second place Best Summer Day Camp in our annual Best of Detroit reader’s poll — in 2008, when performing arts programs were scarce in local schools, and later moved PBA Royal to its current home in Detroit. Kids ages 4 through young adulthood turn to PBA Royal for training in music, dance, theater, pageantry, competitive cheerleading, media production, and other fields. This summer, the nonprofit expected to teach about 7,000 students through its summer enrichment programs. Atterberry also co-owns her family’s daycare, New Beginnings Child Care and Academy. 

Here, she takes a break from her busy schedule to share what goes into her effortlessly chic style.

My personal style is … Comfort glam. Because I have to be comfortable, I have to be glamorous. I like couture pieces, some vintage, and my favorites are Alice + Olivia and Versace.

My on-the-go look: I’ll wear a dress every single day, and it will be with flats or heels. I make sure I keep a pair of heels with me in case I have to go somewhere. But my everyday look is probably my Harvard collegiate shirt with some easy pants or a cute dress to throw on.

Speaking of dresses, my favorite is … A hot-pink A-line by Balmain. It was created during a collaboration with H&M. It’s sleeveless and very, very heavy — maybe 10 pounds. This dress is composed of a quilted pattern with bright sequins, patent leather patches, and hot pink diamond-, triangle-, and circle-shaped stones. There are small Swarovski crystals sewn intricately between each quilted pattern of hot pink stones.

My beauty routine: I use a lot of these hyaluronic acid drops. I use a lot of serums — serums are my thing. Facial brush, of course, and then boatloads of collagen sprays and toners. And then of course, you know, when things get a little tricky, I have my acne washes. I use a lot of Valjean Labs and this brand Pearlessence — that’s like my main go-to. And right now, I love English Laundry’s Oxford Bleu Femme fragrance. It goes with my chemistry well. It just feels like gold to me.

I can’t leave the house without … A ring on my finger because I’ll just feel so naked and awkward. This one my mom gave me was the first diamond ring she got when she was 17.

When I have downtime … I’m a homebody. I go for walks, but otherwise I will not leave this house.

I’m always listening to … [English musician] Tom Misch. He’s amazing.

The advice I would give my younger self is … It’s OK to say no. 

Learn more about Atterberry at pbaroyal.com


This story is featured in the August 2021 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. Read more stories in our digital edition. And click here for more MI Style.