To prep like an expert for your next webcam appearance, Cynde Watson, a celebrity makeup artist and co-host of “BeautyShopTV,” which launches this fall, says to stay away from anything that distracts viewers from your message. Here’s how:

Clothing: Keep it simple with vibrant colors, but avoid neon. “Magenta, banana-yellow and pumpkin always look good,” says Watson. “No stark white, black or prints, including checkers and stripes.” Wear clothing that fits and tastefully displays your neck and décolleté.

Hair: Think smooth and classic. Wearing it up or down doesn’t matter as long as it’s not distracting your viewer. Tame big hair with a stylish band. Don’t go drastic, like dying or perming, before your appearance. Take your signature style and groom it to where your face is the focal point.

Makeup: Cameras magnify everything, from freckles to dark circles under the eyes. Look smooth and shine-free by evening out your skin -- neck and décolleté included -- with a foundation that matches your shade. Been in the sun? Use warmer tones. For lipstick, go up one or down two shades from your natural color. No-no’s include glitter, frost and false lashes on ojos, or gloss on labios.

Lighting: Emmy award–winning producer Crystal Whaley says natural sunlight is best. Sit at angles to either side of a window. “Sitting directly in front of the window will create darkness around you,” she says.

Background: “It shouldn’t be busy,” says Watson. “Coordinate your backdrop to compliment the colors you’re wearing.” Sit in your home office, living room or near a bookshelf for business calls.

Photo: @iStockphoto.com/claudiobaba

Stylistas will descend upon Miami Beach International Fashion Week, which kicks off on March 20. Founded in 1999, the runway extravaganza showcases emerging and established talent from across Latin America and around the world. Here are some of the diseñadoras whose stars are rising.

Paola Peres
Paola Peres, who designs leather accessories, is “nerviosa.” She’s making her debut of her latest collection, Complementos. The pieces include leather clutches, purses, belts and accessories. “Every piece captures all my soul, my feelings,” says Peres, who learned to work with leather while studying in Italy and Argentina. She generates ideas “from colors, textures, scents and even songs. I love to travel and comb the towns looking for inspiration.”

Maria Hamilton
Last year’s winner of the International Emerging Jewelry Designer of the Year award, Maria Hamilton, will also be in attendance, armed with new jewelry. “Winning the award gave me an incentive to do more; it pushed me to design high-end pieces.” With her new collection, she says, “I focused on big pieces and made earrings with precious stones.” Hamilton, who worked in finance for seven years, recalls how she made the switch. “Wherever I went, people stopped to ask where I got my jewelry, which I had made,” she says, laughing. “It was my hobby.” After a year of jewelry-making classes at a local museum, things became clear: “I wanted to do this full-time. I love this.”

Liliana Montoya
Before becoming a beachwear designer, Colombiana Liliana Montoya was a modelo and a television presenter. Growing up in Medellin, Montoya loved sports and staying in shape. It’s no wonder that by 2006, the 5-foot-11-inch stunner had launched High Swimwear, a line of upscale bathing suits. “The brand is based on the evolution of the bikini,” Montoya says of her reinterpretation of the bikini, which once was worn “for athletic purposes.” Today, she also makes one-piece swimsuits, and she infuses every ensemble with a fresh femininity, a lot of bright colors and bold prints.

When we first knew her, she was MTV’s first Latina VJ: tough, fun and trendsetting. Her chunky blond highlights became the beach-blown look of the ’90s, and New Jersey sounded cooler through her pink-frosted lips. As the blond strips gave way to subdued sun-kissed tresses, Fuentes became an international fashion icon. Here, her secret of how her bright, sassy style became an $800 million clothing, perfume and accessory line.

You started your business when celebrities shunned the idea of licensing their names to retailers because it was considered “selling out.” Why did you see it differently?
I don’t turn down an opportunity just because it’s not what everybody else is doing. I’m not an actress. I’ve hosted many shows about fashion, so it made sense to me. I just do what feels authentic.

What gives a brand staying power?
I started with sportswear and added categories one by one. You have to take the time to establish identity. In my line, the looks go from day to night and work to weekend. It’s classy and affordable, which is exactly what I would want!

What category would you love to develop next?
I love beauty, skin care and hair. I study the latest news, ingredients and formulas. I love new challenges. I would also love to develop my own wine!

Photo: Getty Images

Julia Alarcon quit her lucrative sales job at 39 and dove headfirst in the cutthroat world of fashion design. As the legend goes, Alarcon was pulled into her boss’s office and offered a promotion, a plum job that would’ve made her the envy of all her peers. Rather than jump for joy, Alarcon felt trepidations. “It came out of nowhere,” she says. “I realized I didn’t want the promotion and really wanted to be a fashion designer.”

Alarcon’s Spanish parents frowned upon her desire to study fashion in college, so she instead studied international business and Spanish, later earning her master’s degree in international affairs. But it was her love for the big fashion houses, like Yves Saint Laurent, that truly quenched her thirst. She quit her job, enrolled in Parsons the News School for Design and outlined a 6-month business plan with her sister Natalia (who has since left the business).

Lialia was born in 2005 and has turned into a down-to-earth but lovely women’s wear line for a lady who Alarcon says, “has a little more life experience.” You could easily picture Michelle Obama or Carla Bruni attending a high-profile luncheon in one of Alarcon’s smartly cut and sophisticated dresses, often in interesting prints or soft grays and whites. After a successful stint on Sundance’s “All On The Line,” Alarcon is in negotiations to sell her wares in Nordstrom. Fingers crossed.

This fall is all about the bold look -- from eye-catching geometric patterns to day-glow neons.

Celebrity stylist Anita Patrickson has helped celebs such as Jennifer Lopez, Katherine Heigl and Britney Spears sport the latest looks everywhere -- from glossy magazine covers to the red carpet. “My biggest tip is to own it,” says Patrickson. “Wear your fabulous new looks with confidence!” Here are her rules for rocking this season’s wildest trends:

Study your keywords. When you’re updating your personal style with the season’s trends, keep in mind Patrickson’s red-hot vocabulary: bright, colorful, vintage and ethereal.

Pair accordingly. Patrickson tells us this fall is all about pieces in Bordeaux-inspired shades, black lace, fur accents, gauzy fabrics and neon. But it’s a tad tricky throwing ensembles together. Match an over-the-top piece with something understated that’s simple and has clean lines, says Patrickson. Are you dying to don some bright Victorian ruffles at your next office meeting? Couple them with a structured blazer or a sleek pair of pants.

Focus the look. Bold geometric patterns are trending this fall, especially Native American styles. Select one item, such as a scarf, to be the focus of your look when you go for this. Pair a bold dress with one-tone tights and shearling booties, advises Patrickson, or dress up a basic crewneck sweater and pants with an attractive “glamazon” geometric necklace or earrings.

Fashion for weekends. “Weekend casual for me is all about great knits,” says Patrickson. “Graphic color-blocked retro prints will keep you on trend, even on your days away from the office.”

Style on a shoestring. If your wardrobe funds have shriveled up this season, don’t fret. “Accessorize,” says Patrickson. “Find a fabulously bold cocktail ring or a striking, colorful clutch to shake up your look.” Or spice up your wardrobe with fiery red: Try red jeans (yes, we’re full-on loving them too!) or a red mod coat that you’ll get to throw on nearly every day of the fall season. And don’t forget the new Missoni line for Target. If you’ve never before been able to afford that enviable zigzag print, now is your chance.”

Photo: Getty Images