Today we’d like to introduce you to Ria Contour.
Hi Ria, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
At 19 years old, I moved to Chicago to chase my dream of becoming a makeup artist. I had no idea that one decision would open doors for me to become a model, content creator, influencer, entrepreneur, and brand ambassador for multiple businesses.
Content creation eventually became one of my favorite parts of my journey, especially when it comes to music and concerts. Over the past two years, I’ve been to so many concerts that my audience basically knows when I’m “going on tour” lol! They love following along, and I love being able to bring them into those experiences with me.
I’ve attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour and Cowboy Carter Tour, Chris Brown’s 11:11 Tour and Breezy Bowl, and Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2/Gag City Tour, which became one of the biggest breakout moments for my content. I’ve also had some amazing full-circle experiences, including meeting Nicki Minaj and JT, as well as meeting Nivea, one of my favorite R&B singers. Those moments made me even more excited about the people I’ll get to meet, work with, and connect with as my journey continues.
What I’ve learned is that makeup was the door, but it was never the only room I was supposed to be in. It led me into modeling, influencing, entertainment, brand partnerships, content creation, and eventually creating something of my own.
And that brings me to my next chapter: RC Beauty and Ria Friday. RC Beauty is something I’ve been working toward for three years, and I finally feel like the timing is right. Instead of simply participating in Black Friday, I’m putting my own spin on it and turning it into Ria Friday—the official debut of RC Beauty. 🎀
This launch means so much to me because it combines where I started with where I’m going. I’m taking my years of experience as a makeup artist, everything I’ve learned about marketing and business, my creativity, and the community I’ve built online and pouring it into my own beauty brand.
I moved to Chicago at 19 chasing one dream, and somehow that dream kept getting bigger. I’ve gone from wanting to become a makeup artist to building a name for myself, creating content my audience genuinely enjoys, meeting some of my favorite artists, and now preparing to debut a beauty brand that I’ve envisioned for years.
I’m excited for what’s next, who I’ll meet along the way, and where this journey takes me. I truly feel like Ria Friday and RC Beauty are the beginning of a whole new era for me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest adjustments in my journey happened during COVID from 2020–2022. As a makeup artist, my career was built around being face-to-face with clients, so when the world changed, my business and the way I worked had to change too.
Around that same time, I started college. Between school, motherhood, work, and adjusting to everything happening around me, I had to take a step back from being a full-time makeup artist. That was extremely difficult because clients build a genuine trust with you. They sit in your chair, share pieces of their lives with you, support your business, watch you grow, and become part of your journey.
I also experienced a pinched nerve that affected my ability to do makeup full-time. Makeup is very hands-on and requires you to stand, position your body, and use your hands and arms for long periods of time, so physically not being able to work at the capacity I was accustomed to was another major adjustment for me. It forced me to think about my career beyond only being behind the makeup chair.
In a way, those challenges pushed me toward my next chapter. I realized that everything I had learned throughout my years as a makeup artist could still have an impact even when I wasn’t taking clients full-time. That’s where RC University came in. I started RC University last year as another extension of my brand, where I could take my knowledge and experience and pour it into others.
College also helped me understand the business and marketing side of what I had already been building creatively. Instead of viewing those years as me falling behind, I eventually realized I was expanding. I could be a makeup artist while also becoming an educator, model, content creator, influencer, entrepreneur, and beauty brand owner.
Today, I can see how everything connects. RiaContour represents where I started, RC University represents what I can teach and give back, and RC Beauty represents where I’m going.
My journey has taught me that your path doesn’t always look the way you originally imagined. Sometimes life forces you to pivot, but a pivot doesn’t mean the dream is over. For me, it meant finding new ways to use my gifts and building something even bigger than what I originally envisioned.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would describe myself as a multifaceted creative and, in many ways, the creative director behind everything I do and put out. I started my career as a makeup artist after moving to Chicago at 19 to pursue that dream, but creativity has always gone far beyond makeup for me.
When I create something, I don’t just think about the final photo, video, event, or product—I think about the entire storyline. I develop the concept, mood, visual direction, beauty look, styling, content ideas, marketing, and how I want the audience to feel when they see it. Whether I’m planning a photoshoot, creating a campaign, developing an event, producing content, or building one of my brands, I love taking an idea that exists in my head and bringing the entire vision to life.
That’s also why my career has naturally expanded into modeling, influencing, brand partnerships, content creation, and entrepreneurship. I enjoy being in front of the camera, but I equally love being the person behind the vision. I’m very intentional about how I present myself and my projects. There is usually a bigger story behind what people see me post.
Through RC University, I’ve also been able to take what I’ve learned creatively and professionally and pour it into others. Now I’m preparing for another extension of that creativity with RC Beauty, a beauty brand I’ve been developing for three years. Its debut, Ria Friday, is another example of how my mind works creatively—taking something people already recognize, like Black Friday, and creating my own world, concept, and experience around it.
What I’m most proud of is my ability to continuously create, reinvent, and expand. I don’t want my work to simply look good—I want it to have a concept, tell a story, and make people remember how it made them feel.
I think what sets me apart is that I don’t believe I have to choose just one title. I can be the artist, the model, the content creator, the creative director, the educator, and the businesswoman. I’m not afraid to be the face of the vision while also being the mind behind it. Everything I’ve experienced has become another piece of the brand and legacy I’m building.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe luck plays a role in life, but I also believe that what we call “luck” is often a combination of timing, preparation, faith, and opportunity. There have been moments in my career when something happened unexpectedly or I was in the right place at the right time, and those moments have opened doors I couldn’t have planned for.
I’ve been fortunate to meet incredible people, experience opportunities I once only imagined, and have certain connections happen naturally. Some of my favorite moments—like meeting Nicki Minaj, JT, and Nivea—remind me that you truly never know who you may cross paths with or where one opportunity can lead.
I’ve also experienced what could be considered “bad luck,” but I try not to look at challenges that way anymore. Sometimes something not working out has redirected me toward something that was actually better for me. A closed door can force you to become more creative, change direction, or discover another part of yourself.
I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is that luck may get you into the room, but what you do once you’re there is up to you. You still have to be prepared, work hard, build relationships, and be willing to take advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself.
I feel extremely fortunate for the experiences I’ve had so far, but I also know I’m still at the beginning. The exciting part is not knowing what opportunity, connection, or unexpected moment could change everything next.
Pricing:
- Makeup Services — Starting at $110
- 1-on-1 Beginner Makeup Classes — Starting at $275
- * RC University — Inquire for current offerings & pricing
- Brand Partnerships & Creative Direction — Inquire for rates
- Modeling & Brand Ambassador Services — Inquire for rates
Contact Info:
- Instagram: RiaContour
- Twitter: RiaContour
- Youtube: RiaContour
