Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Senior.
Hi Toni, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been in the beauty game for well over a decade and I started by doing nails on the floor of my high school locker room. That quickly turned into my side hustle as I worked on building my makeup kit to fully dive into the competitive world of beauty.
I didn’t want to go to college when I first graduated, but it was an experience that I needed in order to step out of my comfort zone and explore life beyond NYC. My freshman year was in CT where I was coined the designated Makeup and Nail girl who wasn’t afraid to be bold in my look. Due to financial hardships, I had to leave after my first year and immediately enrolled in Beauty School to earn my stripes.
Eventually, I became the first to graduate out of my class in less than eight months and was blessed with another opportunity to not only continue my education in NY but to build my clientele as a licensed professional where I took clients in and outside of my dorm, working the pageants, fashion shows, and graduation events.
As the years went on, my work was featured in over five digital magazines, I’ve been backstage for every NYFW since Fall 2021, celebrity faces, movie sets, and Pride Week shows. It’s an industry that requires patience and it’s not always consistent, but I never folded.
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?
I would be lying if I said it was 100% perfect. The beauty industry took one of the hardest hits during the pandemic in my personal opinion, specifically my fellow MUAs. Our longevity in be industry was put to the test like never before and unfortunately, myself and others have still been adjusting.
One of the greatest pieces of advice that I received was “One month you might be fully booked with clients every other day, but then you may have a month or two where you’ll only have one”. It was from one of the biggest artists in NYC and it changed my perspective in a massive way where it is not always a reflection of your skills, but it just may not be your season and it varies between Artist to Artist.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a licensed NYS Cosmetologist who specializes in Makeup Artistry, Nails, and Hair Color.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Aside from consistent income, the main thing that keeps me going are the stories behind the work and the energy exchange from client to client. I put my heart into all that I do, and to have someone sitting in my chair with their eyes closed and giving me their trust, I get most excited to see what my work w in them.
Contact Info:
- Website: Calendly.com/ToniRoyMUA
- Instagram: Instagram.com/toniroymua/
- Twitter: Twitter.com/ToniRoyMUA
Image Credits
Getty Images for the 4 NYFW 23 Sergio Hudson show images. Alex Vaugh Full Body shot by @Shaugncooper Donna Summers inspired shoot (all white) shot by @itz_jordii model @kerenejg styled by @kopes__
