Today we’d like to introduce you to Lashanda (L.A.) Anderson.
Hi Lashanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
9 years ago, I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Atlanta from Kansas City, Missouri. I left with a fashion design education and teaching credentials. After doing some soul-searching and trying to figure out who I really wanted to become and what I wanted to do I decided to try and venture out into fashion in the Metro Atlanta area. After numerous failed attempts and working odd jobs. I decided to go back to the drawing board. When success didn’t come as I expected I turned back to teaching, something I want it but behind me. It wasn’t because I didn’t love teaching, but it was because I thought my season for that was over.
Initially, I only got into that field for temporary circumstances which turned into a permanent job for 7 years. Also, by listening to people telling me that that was a stable career. It was never in my plans which is why I kind of dreaded going back to it. However, the return was short-lived. Just when I was about to give up hope one of my student’s mother’s approached me randomly about my appearance, particularly my makeup. I then found out that she worked for Upscale magazine. She gave me a business card. Later on that week we sat down at dinner and discussed how venturing into beauty could be another avenue for me to make a name for myself besides fashion. She suggested that I start doing makeup since I seemed to have a knack for that. She stated that everything that I was gifted in all went hand-in-hand so whichever I decided to do would definitely open other doors. And she was right. So I focused on all of my gifts and talents, which were fashion, film and beauty and allowed whatever door I was supposed to walk through open. And that door was beauty.
Our connection didn’t last long and we fell out of touch but I just took it as a divine appointment to get me going in the right direction. I started doing makeup locally which led me to being on film and television sets, which allowed me to cross over to do wardrobe on those same film sets. Those same sets introduced me into modeling and doing some acting gigs. I enjoyed myself in all areas however my passion was really for the set life and beauty. I now work with many photographers as their main makeup artist for their projects, while being a model and film student studying film editing, animation and production.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has not been smooth. Many times I wanted to turn back because I thought I made the wrong decision. I thought I heard God wrong when he told me to leave everything and trust him. My short amount of time of now working in the industry up seen so many things and I’m sure there’s more to see because I’m still in the beginning. I definitely had a lot of people appear to be not who they say they are. They will literally get you excited about working on their projects meanwhile they’re just using you for your talent and their own come up. You will get let down a lot, you will get rejected a lot especially if you have morals. There are times where I literally have droughts and no projects lined up, that in itself will make you start second-guessing if you have chosen the right career. But every time I thought like that, an opportunity always would pop up and I had to tell myself that I was just having a moment. I must say though that lately, I have been having those moments less and less because I know my purpose and direction now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What do I do? Whatever it takes! Just kidding. Although I wear many hats I will just say I am a makeup artist now thriving in modeling and visual art. I normally specialize in performing makeup services on a film production set. But I also work with many photographers in the Metro Atlanta area on their shoots. I’m known for being a creative. Creativity is my life. I can make any and everything at art pay. Rather it’s fashion, beauty, film, photography, music, etc. I always see with an artist and listen with a creative ear. I can make art out of anything and I see the beauty in everything.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can follow one or both of my Instagram pages @nostalgic_beauty8 or @Elle_dvine.
Email me: landerson64052@gmail.com
I’m always open to collab with anyone.
Contact Info:
- Email: landerson64052@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Elle_dvine
- Facebook: Instagram.com/Nostalgic_beauty8
Image Credits:
Harold Greaves (@hgreavesphotog)
Harold Sams (@samsationalphotos)
