Today we’d like to introduce you to Capria “Chyna” Smith.
Hi Capria “Chyna”, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised from Baltimore, Maryland. Started out as a shadow and consultant with Mary Kay. As a little girl always watched my mother and grandmother in the mirror taking their time with getting ready for just a regular market day or special occasions. I started doing my god sisters makeup and we loved getting ready just to take pictures and go different places. So when I graduated high school I took on some courses at Empire Beauty School at the time located in Owings Mills. I got the beauty in mixing colors together to come up with the perfect skin color or even lip gloss using highlights, eyeshadow pallets and different shades of foundation. That is where my passion got activated. Fast forward I wanted a new scenery where I could explore my passion got in my car with everything I had and moved to Atlanta Georgia. In 2020 during the pandemic not knowing how long we would be shut down I had a vision of a cosmetic line, but I couldn’t come up with a name then I dived deep into my childhood and started thinking its more to me than makeup whenever I leave out of my house and that is where I came up with the name Wardrobe Wallstreet Cosmetics. Now I am a full walking brand, on movie set such as Starz, Prime Amazon, Tubi, Own, and some many more major platforms, has a big client base and soon cosmetic line.
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 say yes and no. Yes, because no matter what its just like back at home someone knew me. Someone wanted to sit in my chair, word of mouth I had a good name for myself. I said true to the truth.
No, being a woman that its just you, no spouse, no children, always working never really no days off and focus was sometimes there and then gone just like that because of survival mode. I feel like I could have done better. Being a person that is about perfection stood in my way too, If I didn’t fully have everything at one time I would push it off. One of my BIGGEST problems I face to this day. If my business was not registered it was not a business. If I did not have the website it was not a business, but all of that has changed my outlook on today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a more of a natural soft glam makeup artist. I specialize in enhancing your beauty and pulling out your confidence, not making you look different or unrecognizable. Your tears matter when you see yourself and how beautiful you are. I am most proud of myself, I always put myself to the challenge and this year was actually working on a movie set for a full year fulltime on top of juggling a 9-5. I have been able to work hand and hand with so many different skin tones, check out the scenery and just being present as a key makeup artist for Back 2 Basic Project Management.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I really do not believe in luck! Blessings has made me and my company who we are today. Somethings has been very challenging especially being creative and coming up with your way and your own way, not copying someone else style or work. Putting your own stamp and swag onto your passion should seperate you from everything else.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @wardrobewallstreet
- Facebook: Wardrobe Wallstreet Cosmetics
Image Credits
Photographers: @designerjovi / @singshots.atl / @roqfluellen
