Meet Tamara Mckay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Mckay.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
To start off , i was always the girly girl cheerleader in high school and it’s funny because i never wore makeup so it’s kinda ironic that I’m a professional makeup artist. So, I started getting into learning the history of makeup around 2006 which was some years after high school because my mom was that mom who didn’t allow me to wear makeup in high school , which was because of her church upbringing,  so i didn’t know anything about makeup. When I became of age to wear makeup i started to notice how much negative backlash wearing makeup as a black woman got from other women of color who didn’t wear it or no much about it so  that’s what got my mind  dry intrigued about why so much negativity was put on being a black woman who chooses to  wear makeup. So, of course me being me i had to look further into the art of makeup as a whole and not just applying it because it had to be a reason why women of color had such a strong dislike for makeup. 

As I begin to research this art and why women of color talked so badly about the cosmetics industry, I started to see that most makeup lines didn’t offer women of color friendly makeup products .That was only the start of women of color staying away from makeup as surly not learning how to apply it . It was all starting to make sense on why it was so much negativity about makeup. At that time the buzz of social media didn’t  exist so the insight on makeup just wasn’t there like it is in the present time. Back during that time,  it’s sad to say but majority of the makeup artist were not women of color and the very few we did have didn’t receive much or any  recognition so we didn’t know of them.  Once i noticed those few things I said “let me start to learn how to apply  this makeup” so black women can see that makeup  is for all women of any race and that’s exactly what I did!  I feel if you are aware of a problem you should  look for solutions to help fix the problem. I begin to teach myself  how to apply makeup the basics on myself because youtube wasn’t a thing i was aware of so i didn’t have the step by step guide as girls do now a days! 

It took me a few months to feel comfortable to apply it and actually wear it in public and not look like a clown lol People started seeing me in the makeup and would always compliment me and would ask if I was a makeup artist which I wasn’t then BOOM my mind gets to wondering ways to do others makeup and get paid to do it . I then begin to practice on those who would let me which weren’t many because those i knew didn’t believe in my new found venture because i was self-taught. I soon  started to take classes at the makeup designory school of makeup in Burbank, CA so I could go in-depth with makeup application for all skin tones and hopefully then those who knew me would see my skill and passion for makeup and be apart of my new journey. 

During this time of branching into this newfound gift of mine, I was blessed to become a mother to a baby girl i named Kennedy who is now 15, in the 10th grade and she doesn’t wear makeup but being a mommy that meant I had to work full time,  be in school, and be a mom but I’m  blessed to say I was able to do it all. We can fast forward over a few years. Being a makeup artist was a side job because I didn’t know how to make it a full-time career.   Now we’re at 2009 I gave birth to my son Dj who’s now 10, so now I have two kids to support which to me it meant it was time to put being a makeup artist on hold which broke my heart in a million pieces. That  whole time I didn’t know how to make it a full time paying career. When I stop doing makeup it was the toughest and depressing thing for me to do because I knew It was my passion that God wanted me to do so i can fully use the gifts  he blessed me with. I knew my purpose was  not just make women appear pretty on the outside with makeup on but help show them the inner beauty. During this makeup break I worked at amazing paying corporate jobs but being there was just beyond depressing because I felt so outta place because i didn’t belong there and it was just temporary.  I truly knew that I needed to find my way back to the makeup artistry world  but this time I needed to make it a purpose paying career job. Now its back to researching how to start a business with not much start-up money, no clientele, and no one to mentor or guide me but i knew i had no other choice but make it happen .  God said “Faith without works Is dead”….  Well with a whole lot of Prayer, nights of tears , nights of no sleep,  lots of hard work, days of wanting to give up but kept pressing forward , lots encouraging words from those I would share my story with and a ton of researching by alone, and doing a lot And i mean a whole lot of working for free for makeup events and even clients. Ok now it was starting to pay off and finally On June 21, 2016 just 3 years ago, I took that leap of faith & fully believed & trusted in GOD , myself , of course for my gift and for my new makeup business to be successful  in Jesus name and i clocked out of my corporate job , never looked back and became a true self-made entrepreneur who  became a full time professional makeup artist! I set a goal bigger than i could ever imagine to accomplish but i knew God was in full control and as long as i have God in me i could never fail. 

Has it been a smooth road?
Chiiillleee….  let me tell you the road has not been smooth at all , but it’s always worth it and to be honest it’s still not fully smooth because i know  there is so much more in me that I have to put into my full purpose and vision for my business. The beginning is hard and very scary but, I let my gift & my faith be bigger than my fear. I knew that my purpose had to come before pay even though i was still going to work hard to get my all coins sis BUT the money was not my top motivation . I knew believing in that alone will make my business unbelievably successful. Its an honor to say for the last, almost 4yrs my purpose journey in professional makeup artistry has been successful thus far. I planted the seed, I water it day in and day out. So much more work  is still needed to put my business being that I’m going to be a millionaire.  Somethings i had to truly learn, live , and accept very quickly was that strangers will probably support you more than people you know but not worry, it’s OK!because once they see you’re booked & busy they will soon come to follow . Just in case they don’t you have to know that their lack of support does not stop the purpose or kill your dream!  Once that was learned & fully accepted things started to look brighter for me and my feelings stopped being hurt. My drive was even more powerful now. I didn’t start off with a full clientele so it was a little scary because if I don’t work I don’t get paid so hustle mode was on over time. I had to learn how to promote myself to all demographics not just women of color and doing that open my business up tremendously. Word of mouth is a powerful tool that’s very cost-effective so you have to be sure to set that positive tone for your business reputation. I established a name for myself and my thriving business because no matter what happens your service will get the last word. No one said it would be easy but i knew i was capable to do it  because i can do all things through the strength God provides me then , now and forever more! 

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a traveling professional makeup artist for women and male grooming for all events. I specialize in bringing out the natural features in women but still making sure they are still glammed with what they call a “face beat hunty” lol I’m proud that my artisty has been apart of tons of things such as photoshoots, commercials, proms, music videos , baby showers, and my favorite weddings. Your wedding day is very special and to choose my makeup artistry to make you not only look like the queen that you are but make you look absolutely flawless. Pictures last a lifetime and my work will be featured in their lifetime memories. Being a makeup artist has opened my life up to amazing business opportunities , working different production sets , billboard features for major businesses, meeting key people in the beauty industry and being featured in a magazines. I’ve been blessed with the pleasure of not only meeting but working with this wonderful person at many of his private events and beautycon, He’s the famous celebrity makeup artist & makeup line creator the amazing Mr. Aj Crimson himself .He is my absolute favorite makeup artist and my favorite makeup line to use to on myself as well as clients of color. It was a dream come true and now we’re friends! I’m also  blessed & proud to finally announce my mink eyelash line will be launching 10/01/2019 for my 35th birthday gift to myself and the world to share. I love what i do and you will forever see my name attached to more than just the “slay”.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I truly feel your business can be started in any city & be successful but it all depends on how much sweat and tears you want to put into your business because it’s your passion and it only works if you do. The one thing I can tell others who are starting any business, not just the makeup business, it doesn’t matter how oversaturated the market is with a business like yours in the same city, remember the world is full of people that one person cannot service alone. You will have something to offer that someone else might not have so never sell yourself short or feel unqualified because the world has food for everyone to eat. You have to be confident &. believe in what you bring to the table . Live in your true purpose! Be You! Be Great!  Never give up! And slay girl slay!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tamarathemua.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @tamarathemua
• Facebook: Makeup Artistry by Tamara

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