Meet Midtown Atlanta Celebrity Makeup Artist: Hana Ali

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hana Ali.

Hana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My journey began with a deeply rooted passion for art. As a child, my spare time was consumed with drawing, sketching, painting, building & creating for hours on end. It’s safe to say that I’m completely obsessed with expressing my creativity and all things related to the arts. After earning my master’s degree in 2009 I was at a crossroads. Working in corporate America wasn’t ideal for me; but, simultaneously I was apprehensive about starting my own business. It wasn’t until three years later when a close friend ignited something inside of me that pushed me to embark upon a career within the makeup industry. In the beginning, I practiced my techniques on myself, family and friends. I attended classes, workshops, seminars, watched hours of demos on YouTube and social media. I challenged myself every chance I had to work on my craft. Any opportunity where I was able to do makeup I accepted it: fashion shows, photo shoots, local events, etc. I wasn’t concerned about being paid because I was too focused on learning, growing, and networking. It was extremely important for me to be around individuals that were already in the industry whom I aspired to be like. I knew then that I had found my passion and there was nothing that could deter me from pursuing my dreams. Fast forward present day and I can proudly say that I’m an award-winning, full-time professional makeup artist with a rapidly growing business. I hold over 60 publications both nationally and internationally and have appeared on television networks such as Bravo TV, Lifetime, TV One, and BET. More recently, I became an educator for the Bronner Brothers and Texas International Beauty Shows where I am able to share my knowledge and expertise with up and coming makeup artists. It is necessary for me to teach those that are eager to follow in my footsteps. Nonetheless, I am continuously learning and pushing myself to become a better artist and business owner each and every day!

Has it been a smooth road?
I definitely faced a few challenges along my journey. For one, doing makeup on myself was a lot different than doing makeup on others. Learning how to effectively apply makeup to other people was initially a bit of a struggle. In addition, balancing a part-time job, motherhood, obtaining clients, building a professional makeup kit, having the proper tools, and so many other factors were all obstacles along the way. However, I am the epitome of hard work and dedication. Furthermore, goal-setting was imperative and it helped me stay on track and achieve success in such a short period of time.

Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
Truthfully, I don’t believe in luck. What I do believe is that hard work, dedication, persistence, setting goals and a burning desire to WIN are the key elements of success and have been essential in the development of my career. On the contrary, I have experienced difficult life lessons where I’ve had to endure situations that tested my resiliency and character. However, it was the power of knowing what I wanted that catapulted me to where I am today.

Is there a quality or characteristic that has played an outsized role in your success?
I’m VERY passionate about what I do, and it’s evident in my work. My passion lays the foundation for everything else. I think it’s extremely important for my clients (and potential clients) to know that I don’t do this because I have to, I do it because I want to.

Tell us about your favorite and least favorites things about our city.
As a native Atlantan, I’ve seen our city grow in unthinkable ways. Despite growing at such a rapid pace, I’m happy that we’ve kept several elements of our southern hospitality intact. I love this city because it’s by far one of the best places to start a business and perfect for entrepreneurs such as myself. Nevertheless, there are antiquated ideologies and anachronistic mindsets that are still prevalent. I’m hoping that more progressive and liberal thinking will replace those attributes as our city continues to evolve.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hanaalimakeup.com
• Phone: 678-598-1893
• Email: hanaalimakeup@gmail.com
• Instagram: hana_ali_makeup
• Facebook: Hana Ali

Image Credit:
Derek Blanks
James W. Pennie
Cedric Pitts
Demetrious “Rious” Williams
Carlos Stephenson