I have exciting news....Miss Jessie's Originals has become the official title sponsor for our first Naturally Pretty event in Atlanta! I'm so uber excited about this and they are providing some great goodies for the event!
2 years ago, when Carol's Daughter opened their store in Atlanta, I went to meet and interview owner Lisa Price for my blog. While interviewing Lisa I met this girl named Mae with a cute tiny afro and pretty skin who was interviewing her too. Fast forward to 2011, I ran into Mae again, whose hair is now huge and gorgeous, at a Curly Nikki meetup. Once I got home, I went back to her blog, and saw that her audience has quadrupled! I said to myself, "I've got to do something with her!" Then the light bulb came on. I contacted her about collaborating on an event, and the rest is history....
Maeling Tapp, of Naturalchica.com, and myself are pleased to present Naturally Pretty: The Fusion of Natural Hair and Beauty this Fall in Atlanta, GA. Naturally Pretty will platform various Atlanta beauty professionals and celebrate the fusion of skincare, makeup, natural hair, art, and music while benefiting the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children.
Naturally Prettywill be held in a beautiful art gallery forum located in the Defoor Centre on October, 27, 2011 at 7pm. The event will evoke energy and artistry while igniting each of the five senses with each step invited guests take. Industry leaders in cosmetics, skincare, and natural hair care will convene collaboratively to educate and inform event goers of how to bring out their natural beauty through complimentary consultations and live beauty demonstrations. Aside from the wall-to-wall beauty installations, invited guests will enjoy live musical performances, celebrity guest appearances, prize giveaways, and light fare. In efforts to give back to women who need to rebuild their self-esteem and assist them in finding their inner/outer beauty, a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children in downtown Atlanta.
Confirmed participates are Robin Groover of Too Groovy and Sutera Hair Spa, Yolanda Owens of Iwi Fresh and Pampered Nail and Spa, Nails by Jayh, P3 Lab, and celebrity makeup artists Jeremy Dell and Alexandra Butler.
Be one of the first 100 to register and you'll get a giftbag full of goodies!! Hope to see you there!
Photographer Celeste Canino and Makeup Artist MiMi J
I recently took a trip to the west coast and I wanted to make sure that I got with some awesome folks whose work inspires me. While I was preparing for my visit, I was browsing through some photos online from LA photographers. Of course when you find an awesome photo, you have to find out who shot it right?!
Well my first photographer feature of "I'm Inspired" is of celebrity photographer Celeste Canino. Celeste hails from sunny Los Angeles, CA and her amazing group shots have been seen on various ads such as Planet Hollywood, American Apparel, and Windsor. She even got to be the featured photographer on this season's premiere of America's Next Top Model and shot all of the collateral for the show! How awesome is that?!
I caught up with Celeste during my trip to LA at Universal City Walk. Check out the interview I had with Celeste and check out http://www.celestegallery.com/! PS. you may see us collaborate in the near future! (*wink*)
When working with celebrities and music artists, sometimes you never know what to expect! Will it be a demanding diva who wants the world of you? Or will it be someone inspirational who turns you into a fan in 2.5 nanoseconds? Thankfully, singer/songwriter Algebra Blessett was the latter. As I arrived on set of her photoshoot in Atlanta, I was welcomed by this lovely southern songbird's beautiful smile and matching personality. You may have heard her angelic voice on Anthony David's latest single Forever More, but Algebra is no stranger to the music scene. She's worked with artists such as Monica, Bilal, India Arie, and released her debut album "Purpose" in 2008 which stayed on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for 14 weeks. I got the chance to sit down and talk to her about her latest project and music career. Check out my interview with Algebra and behind the scenes footage of her photoshoot with Laretta Houston.
As I mature in my career as a makeup artist, I love to find inspiration in other successful entrepreneurs and artists. It's very motivating and encouraging to see that someone has paved a way and is living out their dreams.
Well my first feature of "I'm Inspired" is of celebrity makeup artist Stephen Moleski. Stephen hails from Atlanta, GA and his brushes have touched the faces of celebs like Kim Kardashian, Mel B., and Nicole Scherzinger. He's had television appearances on "Keeping up with the Kardashians”, “E! News,” “Girls Next Door,” “Extra” and “The Insider”. His work has also been published in Vanity Fair, People, Details, FHM, Radar, Maxim, Playboy, and Women's Health.
I caught up with Stephen in Atlanta at a beauty mixer event to promote his new eyelash line called Smoke and Mirrors Beauty. Check out the interview I had with Stephen and check out www.smokeandmirrorsbeauty.com!
I ran across this product in a salon and tested it out on myself and fell in love! They are brow gels, manufactured by a private label manufacturer called Colorlab, that can match just about any brow tint. It tints the brow and keeps the hairs in place! I apply it with a small angled brush and the results are so great! I personally have beein using the "Halle" gel. Check out a new eye brow tutorial video I made where I'm using this product.
This event turned out to be so nice and I truly enjoyed the panel discussion! We talked about the following things: 1) Your image -business etiquette and professionalism 2) TV/Film industry impacts from the economy shift 3) Personal tips and stories on being a beauty professional 4) SEO tips and ways to brand yourself through marketing collateral and social media 5) Definition of beauty - inside and out
A Special thanks to my wonderful panelists and attendees who made this event so wonderful! Be sure to check out the Fall Beauty Brunch coming in late September/early October.
Also check out the footage from one of our panelists Alexandra Bond:
MUA Alexandra Bond, TV Producer Evelyn Mims, Fashion Director Courtney Hammonds, MUA MiMi J, Graphic/Web Designer Karin Lang, MUA Synthe
Being a makeup artist can be such a fun, rewarding career! It's so exciting to see your work posted in a major magazine, or to have someone so elated that you made them look so beautiful! There's also the excitement of doing a celebrity or behind the scenes of a runway show! So how do you become a makeup artist? Here are a few tips to help you with your journey:
1) Decide what type of makeup artist you want to become. There's so many directions for a makeup artist to go and the techniques and types of makeup required are very different. Sometimes it takes experience and time to really narrow this down but it's great to start with an idea. Here are some of the types: bridal, celebrity, television, film, theatre, fashion, body and face painting.
2) Build your artistry skills. This is extremely important because this is what is going to have people trust you and call you back for jobs. There are several ways to become a very skilled makeup artist. You can teach yourself through makeup books from famous makeup artists like Kevin Aucoin or Scott Barnes. You can also find your favorite artists on youtube and practice techniques on yourself and friends. There are some good makeup schools like the Makeup Designatory in New York and Los Angeles or less lessons from established makeup artists. You could start at a cosmetic counter and gain experience and product knowledge. Lastly you could assist a makeup artist that does great work.
3) Build your portfolio. Offer your services for trade with photographer who produce good work. In the beginning you may have to pay for the quality that you want if you are not getting to work with quality photographers. Seek every opportunity to build a great portfolio.
4) Market yourself. Be consistent with your marketing materials. The design of how your marketing material looks is very key as well. Make sure to make business cards, set up a site an/or a blog, and use social media networks such as facebook and twitter. You can have awesome work but if no one ever sees it, they will never know your talent.
5) Be professional. Always present yourself in a professional manner. The moment you walk out of the door you are promoting yourself starting with your appearance. Always be punctual and considerate of other's times. Be courteous and tactful with the people that you encounter as well. Remember that you are trying to build a good name for yourself.
6) Network, Network, Network. I can't begin to stress how important this is. Opportunities usually don't fall into your lap so so you have to seek them and reach out to the right people. Building healthy relationships with photographers, fellow makeup artists, hair stylists, model agencies, magazine editors and so far are very beneficial to advancing your career.
Check out this video and here a little bit of my story in becoming a makeup artist!
I often ponder on my direction that I want to take as a makeup artist and the steps I take to get there. Though I love doing photo shoots, occasional celebrities, and teaching classes....I really love doing bridal! I will say that it takes a lot of patience and a calming, easy-going type of personality to be a successful bridal artist (aside from doing a great makeup job of course!). A lot of times brides are highly stressed, there's a lot going on before the wedding, and their makeup application should be their zen moment. I'm blessed to say that I haven't had a real "bridezilla" moment, but I think a lot of that is because of how I approach the brides and their party and the makeup that I do for them.
For those thinking of becoming a bridal makeup artist, here are somethings to think about:
1) Can you work in a stressful environment? Sometimes you can become the stress reliever during these special moments
2) Always do a bridal trial first. This eliminates the uncertainty and anxiety of knowing what the bride is wanting.
3) Have a clear and concise bridal contract and enforce it. Be clear about prices, when deposits and balances are due, time and location.....etc
4) Stay up on the bridal trends and how to achieve long lasting makeup looks. A bride's number 1 concern is having her makeup last throughout the day and touching it up.
5) How will you market yourself? Will you do advertising in bridal magazines or bridal shows? Or are you networking with wedding vendors?
6) Make sure your pricing is comparable to your level of service as well as the market that you work in. Every bride has different needs, so try to make sure you are getting what you are worth yet it works for your bride.
Check out some of the beautiful brides I've had the pleasure of working with!
I'm soooooo super excited to be able to buy a copy of my first major beauty editorial in Runway Magazine (yes the mag was featured in the best-selling novel The Devil Wears Prada). This shoot was so much fun and I worked with an awesome team! Check out the editorial and behind the scenes video footage. Also pick up your copy at any Target, Walgreens, or Barnes and Noble!
Ladies and gents I'm going to start highlighting some men in the entertainment and fashion industry and getting their perspective on what they define as beauty!
I'd like to kick this off with a talented singer/songwriter/producer that hails from the New Orleans, LA. Roi Anthony is no rookie to the mic as he has been singing/producing for such projects as Teen Nick/Sony artists, opening up for acts such as Mary J. Blige, Anthony Hamilton, Lyfe Jennings and more! I got the chance to chat with him while he was on the road leaving Atlanta. Check out our interview as well as what he defines as true beauty.
MiMi J.: Tell me a lil about your style? Describe who you are and what your sound is? Roi: My style is pretty much really eclectic and soulful. My new single, "Why Don't People Slow Dance" is reminiscent of the late 80s/early 90s when I was a youngster listening to groups like Troup and all of that good stuff. Trying to do something different from what's out there right now.
MiMi J.: So what's on your ipod right now? Roi: Besides my music..lol...I respect Drake even before he signed with Young Money. I respect his hustle and his style. R&B side I'm really digging Jazmine Sullivan. They are some relevant influences right now.
MiMi J.: So tell me your perspective on a woman's beauty, what do you find attractive? Roi: To me a beautiful woman if from inside then out. Personality and a beautiful heart. How she interacts with her friends and makes others around her feel good. Someone to bring to best out of me.
MiMi J.: What's your take on women wearing makeup? Roi: Anything that makes a woman feel comfortable is fine with me. If she wants to enhance herself, I don't have a problem with it. Anyone who takes pride in themselves is the kind of woman I like. I'm from Louisiana so, there's a lot of beautiful woman down there! Real pretty girls! (laughs) Of course, I do want to wake up next to my woman and recognize her! A woman that doesn't have to put a lot of makeup on. I think I've found more beauty when she really natural.
MiMi J.: So you don't want a metamorphosis? Roi: Na, not at all!
MiMi J.: Very well put. So back to your music, you have an album out? Roi: Yes, my album is out. It's called "Who Am I?" So go check it out, if you want to hear some real R&B, soulful music!
MiMi J.: Will definitely check it out and I love the single. Can't wait to see you perform live and thanks so much! Roi: No problem. In my NO voice "Baaaby"!
Check out Roi's video for "Why Don't People Slow Dance":
Hey Everyone, I created a really cool beauty chat on Twitter for makeup artist, hairstylists, and beauty enthusiasts! It occurs every Tuesday at 8pm est. Log on tonight!
Here are some of the looks that I loved from scanning the Fall 2011 Fashion Week photos! Love to see that orange is still in the mix as well as bold colored lipstick! Also I notice the down-winged eyeliner which is pretty neat! Check out my top picks:
I recently did the makeup for a new client for her birthday celebration here in Atlanta and she wrote me a letter that would make any beauty professional appreciate their job! I'm so humbled to have received this and I definitely will read this anytime I need encouragement!
Hi MiMi,
Thank you so very much for making me look "POSH, PRETTY" for my 40th birthday! I have never looked more beautiful, not even on my wedding day. Where were you then? ;) I guess my husband and I will have to remarry just to take pictures again. You are the epitome of professionalism and I am so happy that Tracee recommended you to me. I received so many compliments on how beautiful I looked and I have you to thank. There's a new standard in make-up and I would venture to say that not many if any can compare to your craft. You have an amazing gift coupled with a beautiful spirit. Thank you again for leaving an imprint on my heart and making lasting memories.
This past Friday, I was on my way to a really cool Natural hair meetup in Atlanta hosted by Curly Nikki and I decided to do a fun smokey eye look on myself. First of all, the event was awesome! So fun to meet some of my fellow natural hair bloggers and Nikki's baby girl is soo cute! :) Check out my video tutorial on how to achieve a smokey green eye as well as checking out some of the photos from the event. Have a POSH, PRETTY day!
Again I really dig the Indian cultural beauty and style! This was a shoot with a recent bride, showcasing Mia BelleZZa Cosmetics! Shot by Laretta Houston and styled by owner of Mia BelleZZa Rita Patel. Check it out! And Congrats Zohra!
I have exciting news....Miss Jessie's Originals has become the official title sponsor for our first Naturally Pretty event in Atlanta! I'm so uber excited about this and they are providing some great goodies for the event! 
