Superstar MUA Olivia Song On Illustration In The Elegance Biz

Celeb make-up artist Olivia Song is just one of the most sought following makeup artists of her technology. With very well about With more than 11 several years of experienced knowledge, Song has secured clientele from The Serious Housewives of Atlanta reality star Porsha Williams to rappers Kash Doll and Asian Da Brat. Although Track had to unfortunately pivot for the duration of the pandemic and was not capable to company her clientele in individual, she designed 7-figured beauty manufacturer Tremendous Natural Cosmetics to give her consumers the electrical power of sensation wonderful safely quarantining absent.

“I had noticed makeup excursions ahead of but by no means with distinct celebrity products. This was important for my students simply because they could selected what product they preferred to see me show on, as considerably as specific pores and skin tones they preferred to improve on. It gave them alternatives,” Track instructed For(bes) The Tradition about her tour, showcasing platinum-advertising rapper Latto. As a half African-American and Korean makeup artist, Tune wished to use her 6-quit tour to demonstrate the nuances of representation in the beauty field while instruction her students as professional artists. “They ended up ready to talk to my types right how they find glam, what they glance for in someone’s perform, and their anticipations. A great deal of my students aspire to be movie star make-up artists so putting them in the place with my types was a pleasant addition to the overall practical experience.”

Following her tour cease in Atlanta, For(bes) The Tradition caught up with Music about variety in the beauty industry, how natural beauty shifted in the course of the pandemic and the significance of emotion noticed as a lady of coloration makeup artist.

For(bes) The Tradition: As a 50 % Black, fifty percent Korean woman in the magnificence marketplace, why was it so vital for you to use your skills as an MUA to represent other girls in the business who could not come to feel found?

Olivia Music: I was a woman who didn’t sense found. It is overwhelming striving to navigate an sector exactly where you never see a ton of females, especially ladies of colour, at the top rated. Some of the most celebrated make-up artists and hairstylists materialize to be adult males. For this explanation, I’m tremendous transparent about my journey as a single mother. I want to confirm that you can be tremendous profitable in this industry – no make a difference your instances or what you search like. 

For(bes) The Culture: What is the significance of variety and inclusion in the attractiveness marketplace, and what ought to that glimpse like?

Music: Minority buyers have substantial investing electrical power and it is a no brainer that brands should hold this in mind, make diversity and inclusion a priority, and a reflection of their business values. I would like to see extra assorted merchandise giving, brand name partnerships with make-up artists and influencers of every single track record, styles of just about every qualifications, and additional range of workforce in each firm.

For(bes) The Culture: What do you feel are the most tricky areas of currently being a make-up artist of coloration?

Track: The biggest worries are a lack of representation in major box makeup suppliers this kind of as Ulta and Sephora, and a deficiency of illustration in manufacturer partnerships. I’d love to see more Black-owned manufacturers on the shelves and much more diversity when it arrives to make-up artists as the faces of these large brand names.

For(bes) The Culture: How do you consider the beauty business shifted throughout the pandemic?

Tune: I noticed a large amount of virtual courses and a good deal of folks who wanted to master how to do make-up by themselves. This was significant for beauty retail because that generates much more prospects. It was a enormous scare for freelance artists like myself, imagining there may perhaps never ever be significant events once again. Salons had been compelled to near and it remaining me striving to occur up with techniques to create revenue with out becoming powering the brush. As a result, I produced a virtual class and started a product or service line. I believe that it pressured all artists to believe outdoors of the box. 

For(bes) The Lifestyle: When did you initially know that the natural beauty industry was a little something that you needed to go after, and when did you discover that the business was not specifically forefronting for minorities?

Song: Make-up was my facet gig even though finding out vogue style and design. In the course of my third yr of college or university, I realized how fantastic I was at make-up and I chosen it more than fashion layout. This was eight years back before the 40 shade basis assortment was common. You could basically notify by hunting at the shelf that the marketplace wasn’t fore-fronting for minorities.

It also appeared like the greatest make-up artists did not search like myself. I didn’t have to several artists to glance up to who I could personally relate to. I wasn’t formally properly trained and I was not dwelling in a key metropolis at the time. It seemed significantly etched that I could reach the stage of achievements that I have. I did not desire as big in the starting of my vocation for the reason that of the absence of representation. 

For(bes) The Culture: When it will come to actions these as #PullUpOrShutUp, how did that rock that beauty business as it known as out the diverse industries for their lack of representation in the boardrooms?

Music: This was large for the natural beauty marketplace. Individuals identified that the more substantial cosmetics providers have been not numerous when it came to their staff on the corporate amount. This named for these companies to begin using the services of people today of coloration due to the fact as prospects, we would like to know that we are currently being represented in these rooms wherever selections are being manufactured.