'GIRLTALK #takeover' Program Hopes To Inspire Young Girls In Harlem

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A free program in Harlem is hoping to inspire young girls to accomplish their dreams with the power to transform their community.

More than 200 girls, ages 8 to 16, got pampered from blush to braids at the Children's Aid Society Boys and Girls Club in Harlem.

It was all part of a day-long event called "GIRLTALK #takeover," the brainchild of Angela Simmons, daughter of hip hop pioneer Joseph "Run" Simmons of Run-DMC.

Angela Simmons clearly remembers the little girl who inspired her to make this an annual event.

"She was crying and I said, 'what's wrong?' And she said, "I don't feel beautiful' and that just touched me and I thought this is my reason," Simmons told CBS2's Alex Denis.

Now three years later, local companies from New York and New Jersey are involved in sending volunteers to the teach girls how to take care of their appearance.

"I've never had makeup on before," one girl said. "I'm excited. "

But the day is not all about beauty and fashion. Inside classrooms, girls are taught about nutrition, sex education and even speak to professional counselors about the importance of mental health.

"It goes past today," said Simmons. "We give them a help hotline if they have anything going on."

And to top it all off, 14-year-old little league phenomenon Mo'ne Davis stopped by with some words of advice.

"Walk away from bullying and don't pay any attention to it because those people are just making it harder for you to achieve your dream," she said.

A lesson the young ladies say will last a lifetime to go along with their new-found self-confidence.