Today we’d like to introduce you to Janea Martin.
Hi Janea, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I never saw myself as a Makeup Artist, let alone a Makeup Artist who services some of the biggest movie stars and entertainers. My original life goal since the age of seven was to become the First African American Female Police Chief of Oakland, CA. In 2010, fresh out of college, I began my career with at Oakland Police Department, which was a dream come true. In 2013, While on Maternity Leave, as my son slept I’d watch makeup videos on youtube just to pass the time. Being a visual learner, I quickly picked up skills to do a full face application on myself which resulted in me falling in love with makeup.
In 2014, a celebrity makeup artist who attended my church asked me to join her makeup team for a 1-day fashion show in San Francisco, CA. I initially declined because at the time, I hadn’t serviced anyone aside from myself. She asked me to reconsider and I did. The day of the show, I serviced my first celebrity client, Jazlene Gonzalez (America’s Next Top Model Cycle 8 Winner). That entire experience ignited a fire in me I can’t explain and had I not reconsidered joining her team, the initial push I needed to become the makeup artist I am today would not exist.
After practicing on family and building my kit, I started taking clients part-time. In 2017, I unfortunately lost my position with Oakland Police Department which forced me to become a makeup artist of full-time and at the time, I did not know it but that was the BEST thing that ever happened to me.
I begin servicing clients in Tv/Film, Corporate, Award Shows, News/Sports Broadcasts, Political Ads/Campaigns, Fitness/Runway Models, Bridal, Maternity, Beauty Pageants, Editorial, Deceased/ Mortuary, Children and Teens. In 2018, I opened my brick-and-mortar, Faced By Janea Makeup Studio in Oakland, CA to give my everyday client an intimate and glamorous experience.
Presently, I fly back and forth from the San Francisco/Bay Area to Los Angeles for work with Celebrities, Tv/Film, Award Shows, Movie Premieres, Sports Broadcasts and Bridal Services.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
To be honest, losing my job from the Oakland Police Department in 2017 resulted in me being denied unemployment, my car being repossessed, getting evicted and becoming homeless with a three years old all at the same time. This is when I decided to be a makeup artist full-time with only part-time bookings. Wheew, Talk about a setback and your faith being tested.
Daily, I feel like a public success but a private failure. Although a scary process, it quickly taught be to rely 100% on God. Once I put it all in God’s hands, he stored everything I lost and doubled. Every opportunity, every door that has been open and the lane that I am in, no one can take credit for it but God.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am Janea known as Faced By Janea who is an Award Winning Professional Makeup Artist and Male Groomer servicing Celebrities, Tv/Film, Corporate, Award Shows, News/Sports Broadcasts, Political Ads/Campaigns, Runway/Fitness Modeling, Bridal, Maternity, Pageants, Editorial, Children and Teens.
I have been the Key Makeup Artist and Male Groomer for Movies, TV Shows and Commercials for BET, BET Her, HBO, HBO Max, NBA, ESPN, TNT, Netflix, Rocket Mortgage, Essence, Apple, Apple Care, Apple TV, Google, Meta, Youtube, Amazon, Amazon Care, Amazon Prime Sports, People, The Recording Academy (The Grammy Awards), MLB Network, ABC, CNBC, Samsung, REI, The CW, The Golden State Warriors, HP, Universal Music, Lexus, Intel, CNN, ATTN, USA Today and Zeus Network just to name a few.
In 2019, I opened my brick-and-mortar Faced By Janea Makeup Studio in Oakland, CA to give my everyday client a more intimate and glamorous experience.
For the past four years (2023- 2020), I have won both the Editors Choice Award for the #1 Bridal Makeup Artist and Hair stylist in Oakland, CA. https://www.weddingrule.com/wedding-hair-makeup/california/oakland/ and The Editors Choice Award for being the 22nd Best Bridal Makeup Artist and Hair stylist in the entire State of California. https://www.weddingrule.com/wedding-hair-makeup/california/
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the San Francisco/ Bay Area, they’re not many Makeup Artists working in Tv/Film who look like me. I’d love to eventually own a booking agency to get more African American artists in those spaces.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.FacedByJanea.Com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/FacedByJanea
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/FacedByJanea
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/FacedByJanea
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/FacedByJanea
- Other: https://staffmeup.com/profile/FacedByJanea?ne=1
