Maggy Pawlesh was in high demand this week.

Girlfriends from all over the West Jefferson Hills School District wanted the 17-year-old to do their makeup for tonight's prom.

It was one time Maggy wasn't willing to blush a friend's cheekbones for some ''pop'' or use a lip liner to expertly mimic Angelina Jolie's sexy pout.

"I really have to do my own makeup. I'm sorry," she had to say over and over.

Maggy will attend tonight's "Heaven on Earth" prom at the Omni William Penn, Downtown, followed by a post-prom at Dave and Buster's at The Waterfront, Homestead.

The Thomas Jefferson High School junior is sought after for her cosmetics skills because of her flair and experience with the artistry. It's been nurtured by her nearly decade-long enrollment in the Center for Theater Arts in Castle Shannon, where she sings, acts and works with theatrical makeup.

That expertise paid off, scholastically speaking, when it came time to fashion a senior project.

Maggy chose to "shadow" makeup artists at Dior cosmetics at Macy's in South Hills Village to prepare for a potential career in makeup artistry in the theater and fashion industry.

Although she is a junior, the high school graduation requirement of a project related to career goals can be fulfilled a year early.

Last fall, for two days after school, Maggy observed salesperson and makeup artist Kay Bell as she advised customers on cosmetics, offered beauty tips and performed on-the-spot free makeovers.

Maggy also attended a two-hour class on skin care conducted by two of Dior's national makeup artists.

As part of the project, she worked on the makeup for her school's production of "Cafe Cabaret" and tried out makeup techniques on family and friends.

For her presentation before teachers and administrators, she displayed before and after photographs of the made-up volunteers in a presentation.

She also assembled a makeup artist's kit with brushes and cosmetics that professionals use.

While many of the cosmetics were hers, she estimated the cost of those she purchased for the project at $100 to $150, which was paid by her parents.

Maggy is the daughter of Tom Pawlesh, a pilot for US Airways, and Marina Pawlesh, a speech pathologist for Manor Care. The family lives in Jefferson Hills.

A pass or fail grade is awarded for the mandatory graduation project, and Maggy passed.

She said the shadowing experience not only taught her how to do wonders with cosmetics but made her realize how well-suited she is to working with the public.

"I'm such a people person, and I got to talk to lots of people," she said.

She plans a career in theatrical or fashion makeup and plans to begin visiting institutions that specialize in that field.

Her ideal job? "Working on Broadway putting makeup on actors or on a runway working with the models," she said.

If you would like South to consider publicizing a graduation project, please e-mail -- only -- the student's name, phone, biography and a brief synopsis of the project to vkjoe@post-gazette.com.