“Tags belong on clothing, not women,” says Sicka Than Average founder Celia San Miguel. “The notion that women’s style personalities can be neatly divided into monolithic groups with labels like “Bohemian,” “Preppy,” or “Rocker” is out-dated and narrow-minded: our aesthetic sensibilities tend to defy clear delineation, instead spanning across a wide range of categories.” San Miguel herself harbors an eclectic sense of style, citing influences ranging from Marianne Faithfull to Jane Birkin, Grace Jones and Gwen Stefani, and moving seamlessly from her studded platform sandals, little black dress, and motorcycle jacket to her limited-edition sneakers, skinny jeans, and two-finger rings or her embroidered floral blouses and gladiator sandals. “At Sicka Than Average, we believe in empowering women to find their own voices, to experiment freely with fashion and makeup,” adds San Miguel. “We hope they’ll approach this feat as a fun journey in which they’ll ultimately discover how to best express themselves via their makeup and style choices.”
A celebrated journalist, San Miguel holds a B.A. in Literature and Afro-American Studies from Harvard University. She made her foray into the publishing world in 2001, when she joined the editorial team at In Style, where she mainly covered celebrity homes and weddings. Editorial positions at urban lifestyle publications Complex, VIBE, and GIANT magazines followed.
Over the years, she has penned articles about fashion, music, film, relationships, fitness, beauty, books, and street art for publications like Latina, Women’s Wear Daily, DNR, Essence, Paper, CITY, Trace, Upscale, XXL, Mass Appeal, the New York Daily News, and the New York Post. She co-wrote 2006’s The Nasty Terrible T-Kid 170 (From Here To Fame/powerHouse Books), a memoir about the life and work of Bronx-bred graffiti writer Julius “T-Kid” Cavero, and contributed to the upcoming anthology Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey (Atria Books).
Since launching Sicka Than Average in 2008, local and national TV stations have invited San Miguel to appear as an on-air guest, among them Telemundo and NYC TV. She was a key speaker at Repechage’s 2009 Congress For Salon And Spa Professionals, where she shared her insights on how spa owners can navigate the changing media landscape. She has also been featured as a style and beauty expert in like Latina, 944, and VIBE.
For interview requests or to book Celia San Miguel for your show or event, e-mail celia@sickathanaverage.com
