Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiara Linda.
Hi Tiara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was going through a phase of healing in college and in an attempt to raise my spirits my Aunt Linda gifted me my first eyeshadow palette. If I had to guess, I would say it was a palette of 9-12 colors. All earth-tones, all beautiful. The only problem was I didn’t know how to use them. So, I did as any great Virgo would do and researched how to apply makeup. That Google search landed me on YouTube. Makeup tutorials were something I watched to learn how to do makeup on myself. I was clueless of the possibilities.
Eventually, friends would ask me to do their faces for different events and such around campus, I became heavily involved in the pageant world at that time which stretched my range. I was invited to be the keynote speaker at a function sanctioned around women and building self-esteem. In 2014 a dear friend of mine, more than forcefully, insisted I be the Makeup Artist for a group of 12 of her closest friends and family members for a major event and I have yet to put the brush down.
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?
Those of you from St. Louis will get this reference. My journey has been as smooth as a ride on the Ninja at SixFlags.
Honestly, I’ve experienced the standard struggles of someone attempting to build a brand and run a business for the first time. I knew nothing. I had no references and limited resources to pull knowledge from. But the biggest struggle has been stepping out of my own way. Convincing myself that my gift is more than a hobby and that it will make room for me.
I have reached a place of knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that this is what I am being called to do. To be honest, consciously choosing to step into that role has been worth every raggedy ride this journey has taken me on thus far.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a multicultural makeup artist specializing in melanin. My talents range from a natural everyday looks to SFX. I am known for my Signature Soft Glam.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I had a very unconventional upbringing. I was a foster child that had been rehoused 17 times prior to landing with the family who would later adopt me. I was that annoying little sister that pranced around in heels that didn’t belong to me and I was all up in the mirror watching my sisters do their makeup. I was the youngest so I was allowed gloss and that’s it. I upgraded to black eyeliner and mascara sometime in high school but eyeshadow? Oh no, no, no. Moma would have none of it.
In high school I was involved in NJROTC, Girls Basketball and Student Council to name a few. I even helped manage the PomPom squad and played the role of 2 different mascots.
Growing up was…interesting. I graduated from RGHS in 2008 and attended Missouri State University and received my Bachelor’s of Science in Administrative Management and Human Resources.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/itstiaralinda
Image Credits
Mike Bland
Elevated Eyes Photography
McAthur25
