Sylvie Bien-Aimé September 16, 2026

Rising Stars: Meet Sylvie

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sylvie.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey began in Montreal in the early 2000s, when a young Sylvie discovered a pull toward beauty and fashion. In 2000, I started formal training in professional makeup at Edith Serei Academy, then went on to earn a DEC in Fashion Design at LaSalle College — a combination that sharpened both my technical skill and my eye for composition.

For years, I built my name on the fundamentals: weddings, corporate headshots, photoshoots, and magazine editorials. Over time, that craft evolved into something more expressive — what I now calls afro-futuristic creative makeup and bodypainting, treating the body as a canvas rather than just a face to transform.

Along the way, I co-founded SL Studio Lounge, a creative space in Montreal’s Hochelaga neighborhood for photography and bodypainting projects. I also worked among side Lissa Sévigné for the Ebony Tarot Deck, a special edition that celebrates afro-canadian artists of the city and beyond.

Today, as Sylkie Sly, I am creative, melanated, and — since embracing my bald look — a proud “baldie.” It’s a story of craft becoming art, once I let my heritage and individuality lead.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Juggling your passion while being a single mom really helped me become more resilient. I always had to make hard decisions and stay focused on my priorities.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Shifting to a more creative side of makeup artistry really let me bring my identity into my art directly. As a woman of Haitian descent, I use my work to celebrate my roots! I want to showcase the beauty of our melanin!

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.sylkiesly.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sylkiesly
Facebook: Sylkie Sly
Youtube: sylkiesly

Person with elaborate gold and black face makeup, wearing a crown-like headpiece with long spikes, touching lips with fingers.

Close-up of a person with vibrant blue makeup holding a paintbrush near their face, against a blue background.

Woman with blue makeup and paint, holding a paintbrush, smiling against a blue background.

Makeup artist applying makeup to a woman with short hair in a room with brick wall and window.

Woman with curly red hair wearing ornate headpiece and earrings, looking at camera against dark background.

Person with dark skin and bright eyes, smiling, in a dark setting with a patterned background.

Person with glowing, colorful body paint and face, illuminated under blacklight, with a dark background.

Person with glowing, intricate body paint and face design under blacklight, in a dark environment with colorful lights.

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