Today we’d like to introduce you to Kent Christian.
Kent, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I lost the most important person in my life, October 13th 2011. My beautiful mother, Rosemary Christian gained eternal rest on that day. One of my fondest memories of her was the day she got her first make over. My good friend Matty Townsend (an amazing ATL base makeup artist) was working at MAC Cosmetics at the time. Mom had been feeling a tad down because of the after effects radiation had on her hair and skin. My sister and I went shopping for new hair and all. She came back from her makeup appointment smiling as I had never seen her smile before. She kept saying how beautiful she felt. It was so evident that our appearance plays a major part in how we feel about our lives. For a few hours, she forgot that she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She felt like her real self again for the first time in a long time. I still have a picture on my phone from that day. It wasn’t until years later that I realized how that day changed me…
Now, it’s 2013, around November and I have nothing to complain about. I had a great job, a family and amazing friends. I was making more money than I had up until that point. I was living a life that I was proud to talk about. So, why was I so unfulfilled? What was I missing? I needed a purpose.
I laid down for my daily “lunch nap” (I was a teleworker, lol). When I rose from the nap, I had a burning desire to explore the world of beauty. I said within myself where is this coming from?” I immediately got on my knees to pray. I said “God, if this is what you want me to do, then show me how. And I promise to put you first always.” I started looking at YouTube makeup tutorials that day. I ordered a product and started practicing every day. I had no clue as to what I was doing but the fire inside of me wouldn’t let me quit until I had figured it out.
Along this journey, God places two mentors in my life. Robert Maddoxx and DeMarlo West. They saw something in me and invested in the gift. I would call Robert almost every day asking questions and he would answer every one of them. I built my product knowledge off of his wisdom.
One day, during the summer of 2014, DeMarlo reached out to me via Facebook and invited me to one his hands on makeup classes. It was that class that shaped me. It polished me. we spent almost four hours with a model trying new looks, step by step. I owe these two gentlemen a lot. I’m grateful for them and how incredibly generous that have been through out my career. Thanks, fellas.
Time has flown by since that first year as an aspiring makeup artist. I’ve made many mistakes and have celebrated many accomplishments. My work has been on tv shows like TVOne’s Sisters Circle, WeTV’s Braxton Family Values, BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel and Sunday Best, VH1’s LHHLA, GMA’s Dove Award, the Stellar Awards, and TBN’s Praise the Lord, I’ve been blessed to work with amazing artist and personalities like Miss Quad, Trina Braxton, Evelyn Braxton, Maranda Curtis, Lisa Knowles, and Carla Hall (the Chew).
Out of all the people I have worked with and places I’ve been I know this one thing…we are all the same. We all want to feel beautiful. I still have the same purpose and that is to make women all over the world feel like my mother did the day she got her first make over.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has absolutely not been all smooth… lol.
One of my biggest struggles has been handling the business side of being an artist. All, we, as an artist, really want to do is create. So, I had to learn how to be an artist and a businessman at the same time.
I also had to learn the value of the gift I possess. I was ashamed to charge my worth or teach people how to treat me and my business. These things all come with time.
Soufully Beautiful by Kent Christian – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business is named Soulfully Beautiful by Kent Christian. I am the owner and Key makeup artist. We specialize in complete GLAMOUR!!! We are known for flawless skin like makeup application. We believe in showing people the best version of themselves through the art of makeup. Along with having a great artist, we pride ourselves on being personable and kind. That’s how we will change the world, through beauty AND kindness.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Oh, wow…
I can honestly say the day I walked into Walmart and picked up Christian recording artist Maranda Curtis’ Album “Open Heaven.” To be the makeup artist for that project was enough, but to see your work in WALMART!!! It still blows my mind.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 404-482-1511
- Email: soulfullybeautifulbykc@gmail.com
- Instagram: @soulfullybeautifulbykc
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