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Art & Life with LaTavia Dawson

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Today we’d like to introduce you to LaTavia Dawson.

LaTavia, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
People often ask, “What made you become a makeup artist?” I used to think I needed to share some elaborate story, until one day I received my “aha moment” I didn’t choose to become a makeup artist, makeup artistry chose me. I began my makeup career 14 years ago in Jacksonville, FL, after I had my daughter and went into the MAC store to get some new makeup. An artist there not only shared with me some products but also took the time to show me how to apply them on myself. Her kindness, knowledge, and expertise intrigued me, and I went home that day played in my new purchase and realized one of many seeds had been planted.

The next seed would come in the form of a television show, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” they were briefly talking about celebrity glam squads, hair and makeup, and how much they were not only paid but how much their celebrity clients cared for them. I’d never known that makeup artistry could be a career because I didn’t know any in my city that worked with celebrities, let alone any who looked like me. At the time I was a single mother, with other entrepreneurial pursuits, working a corporate job to help take care of my family. I just had my baby in January of 2005, in August of 2005 the closest man to me, my Grandfather, passed away. That same year my mother lost her job and was also diagnosed with kidney failure, so being the oldest I had to step and become the provider for my entire family. It was at that moment in my life when God started to reveal to me that my gift would start making room for me.

It was a very challenging time for me and my family financially and emotionally. I watched the strongest woman I know start to decline rapidly with her health, and it was me, the oldest of three, at 21 who had to take on the role of caretaker and breadwinner for our family. I’m so thankful that God sent me help in many forms, but it was still a heavy burden to carry. Many didn’t know that I was in some parts living a double life, my home life and my professional life were two different things. I started doing makeup for my friends and family for different events. Having an entrepreneurial spirit, I wanted to look at me doing makeup as a business, so I ordered business cards, came up with a name and started to really put myself out there.

Fabulous Faces Makeup was born, and I realize now I was creating what we now call a brand. I reached out to a makeup artist in the city who one of my friends worked closely with at the time. Being naïve I thought this person would help me figure this thing out and give me a blueprint or be a mentor; I was sadly mistaken. That was one of my first experiences of rejection within the industry, but it wasn’t my last. At the time the biggest social media platform was Myspace, so I made sure to take pictures and post on my page. I would make sure I was at all the local events in town, my makeup always done, pass out my business cards and genuinely support others. That’s how I started getting clients with the use of social media, word of mouth, and using my own face as an advertisement by always wearing different makeup looks.

I was doing all this while being a single mother, a caretaker for my mother, working corporate America, and a provider for my family. It wasn’t easy, and it was many times I wanted to give up, but I never did. This time of my life was filled with so much uncertainty, but so much persistence and perseverance. I continued to grow with the different social media platforms and grow my relationships with other business owners in the community. I collaborated with photographers, hairstylists, fashion stylists, makeup artists, and other business owners. It was an amazing time for me creatively being around other creatives who had the same work ethic and passion inspired and encouraged me to keep going. Most of those I met early in my career have become great friends and even family.

For eight years my mom was on the kidney transplant list, and throughout the ups and downs that brought my family, my career and influence was growing. I met artists and bloggers from other areas of the world via twitter who allowed me to view my opportunities from a global perspective. I started to dream even bigger and would often make vision boards for the different things I’d like to do with my business. On my vision boards, I would include makeup artists that inspired me and who I’d like to meet. I would put magazines that I wanted my work to be in or events I’d like to work at. Habakkuk 2:2 says “Write the vision and make it plain…” that’s exactly what I did, and those visions came true in ways I couldn’t have ever imagined.

My first national campaign came out of a collaboration with a hairstylist in Jacksonville. I did make up for a photo shoot on her, and she worked with a national hair care line based in the city. When they saw her images, they asked about the team that she worked with and from there they reached out to me and booked me for their photoshoot. That was my first time working on a major campaign and product which was with Crème of Nature for their Perfect Edges product. That campaign was in Essence Magazine, in major stores, and you can still find it on shelves today. That opportunity brought so much confidence to me and exposed me to new levels in my career. I continued to grow in my artistry, and God started to open so many doors for me.

I worked at Bronner Bros and The Makeup Show for Danessa Myricks. I traveled to Miami, Charlotte, and Atlanta doing makeup on different news segments with a fashion stylist and worked on many photo shoots. It was a struggle at times juggling so many different things both personally and professionally, but it was so amazing to watch myself grow from young lady to businesswoman. I had many other challenges in relationships and friendships, with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. We lost our home which was devastating for us, but we figured out how to pick ourselves up and push through.

The more my business grew, the more I wanted to quit my corporate job, but that wasn’t an option. I still needed health benefits and a steady paycheck in order to continue to take care of my family, but it was starting to stress me out. I would get physically ill from the stress, and eventually, my doctors would find a hole in my heart that needed to be closed. During my time of recovery, my disability from my job was delayed in coming through, and it was at that time my makeup was funding all my bills. In my illness, God showed me the next chapter for my life, but it wouldn’t happen as quickly as I wanted it to. When I returned to work from my illness, my supervisor at the time sent me an email. In the email, he was explaining to me how some of his friends had dreams of interior design, and they eventually quit their jobs to pursue their passion, and it led them to be on HGTV. He was highlighting some of my accomplishments in my short time in my business and encouraging me to look into putting my all into my gift. He was one of the many angels sent to me to help me on my journey. Fear was still holding me back from quitting because I couldn’t see how I would be able to keep us in the lifestyle we were accustomed to. I didn’t know that this was all a set up for what God had in store.

In June 2012 my Mom received the call that would drastically change our lives, the transplant team called and advised that there was a kidney for her. As her primary caretaker, I had to take time from work to care for her during and after the surgery. Everything went well with her surgery, but my job wasn’t approving my absence. I thought that eventually they would just fire me and that would be that, but it never happened. I had to call in every day and finally while sitting at my home computer God said clear as day “It’s time!” I knew exactly what that meant; it was time to leap out on FAITH! I sat at my computer on July 2012, typed out my letter of resignation, and sent it to my manager. Whoa, wait, what did I just do?! Can I retract that email? How am I going to live? All thoughts that flooded my mind and God spoke again “Trust in me to fulfill ALL of your needs” then a peace came to me, and I knew I made the right decision. Not only did my mom receive a kidney, she’s doing amazing, and she was able to get her house back that she lost in foreclosure. July of this year I will be celebrating seven years of full-time entrepreneurship. In that time, I have grown tremendously in my business and as a person. So many things I placed on my vision boards came true.

Makeup was a vehicle to change the trajectory of my life. While helping others enhance their beauty, I was able to help them also realize their beauty from the inside out. The more I stepped out on faith and worked through my challenges, the more confidence I started to have for myself. God tested me, prepared me, blessed, me, and allowed me to experience His goodness every step of the way.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a self-taught freelance makeup artist of 14 years, a beauty educator, esthetician, and entrepreneur. I’ve worked national campaigns with Crème of Nature, Rembrandt, and LottaBody. I’ve worked Essence Festival appeared on OWN networks, ‘Where are they now’ while doing makeup for the legendary EnVogue. I’ve been blessed to do male grooming for the Trayvon Martin documentary, “Rest in Power” as well as travel the world doing something that I never had formal training on. I’ve had clients such as Angela Yee, of the Breakfast Club, Marc Morial, of the National Urban League, and Governor Ron DeSantis. My work has been published in Essence Magazine, Sophisticate’s Black Hair Magazine, Hype Hair, and Kontrol Magazine. I have my own makeup segment on NBC First Coast Living for the past three years. I have remarkably diverse clients who most often turn into friends. Being able to be a part of their special life moments such as weddings, graduations, and baby showers have positively impacted my life more than they could ever know. I’ve been blessed to meet and learn from one of my biggest inspirations in the makeup industry, Sam Fine, and call other exceptional artists my peers. My artistry is for every woman no matter what their socioeconomic status is. I serve the woman who has dreams and aspirations and who is interested in uplifting her fellow sister and community.

Most importantly I’ve been able to be an inspiration to my daughter. She has had a front-row seat to the highs and lows, but she realizes that no matter what life throws at you, never give up on your dreams. She’s able to witness what walking in your passion looks like. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to share my talents with younger ladies who have a desire to be in the industry. To give them what was never given to me, a blueprint and mentorship. I look back over my journey, and I’m filled with so much gratitude and appreciation for what God has done for me and my family.

Through all the trials God was with us every step of the way. In addition to makeup, I have started the Diva’s Den Podcast, which gives me the opportunity to step from behind the makeup chair to share my journey and my thoughts on life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. I realized that we all have a story and the things that we go through must be shared with others, in the hopes that they are encouraged to push through as well. I completed an esthetician course and am currently back in college getting my degree in business with a minor in mass communication at Wiley College. Finishing my degree has been a personal goal of mine and has already allowed my mind to be opened for even greater possibilities with my current business and future entrepreneurial efforts.

I look forward to the many doors that God is going to open for myself and those attached to me. I know God will continue to bless me exceedingly, abundantly, more than I can think, dream, or pray for. In return, I will continue to serve God’s people and pour into them love and fabulousness. It is my prayer that others can see my journey and be inspired. My life reflects hope, service, persistence, perseverance, and overall faith. I hope that others can be encouraged to look within themselves to find their gifts and to share them with the world unapologetically. To find joy in pursuing their passion and leaving a legacy for many generations to come.

I was given a creative gift, a gift that has awarded me the opportunity to realize my purpose and my ministry. I started out as a young girl into sneakers and music. I then grew into a young lady who loved heels and makeup. Now I am an evolved woman, whose life mission is to make other women realize their beauty from the inside out.

What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
I found community in going to tradeshows specifically for makeup artists, such as The Makeup Show, IMATS, or Premiere. I believe it is also important to connect with the other artists in your local community. Support is very important and has to be reciprocated within the artist community. Being an artist is only as lonely as you make it, being able to connect with other artists can help to encourage and uplift you, which is needed being a creative.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work can be seen via my website FabulousFacesMakeup.com, there they can book me for makeup services. I am also available on Instagram and Twitter as @FabulousFaces. On Facebook as Fabulous Faces Makeup.

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