Story & Lesson Highlights with Justin Douglas of Metro Atlanta

We recently had the chance to connect with Justin Douglas and have shared our conversation below.

Justin, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Honestly, what’s misunderstood is that people especially men often assume my life is one big glam session. They think because I work in beauty, I must be in full makeup 24/7, always “on.” But the truth is, this is my career, not my lifestyle. My media persona is about creating luxury moments and making clients camera-ready, but my personal life is much simpler. I’m just a regular guy who happens to work in beauty. When I’m off the clock, I love playing Xbox, singing karaoke, and enjoying my alone time.

There’s a separation between the Justin Douglas the world sees and the Justin Douglas who values peace, downtime, and normalcy. I think people forget that behind the artistry and the lights, I’m still just me a guy who found a career he loves, but doesn’t need to live in glam every second of the day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Justin Douglas, and I’m a professional celebrity makeup artist, creative entrepreneur, and the visionary behind The Justin Douglas brand. For over a decade, I’ve worked with reality TV stars, red carpet clients, and magazine features including shows like Love & Hip Hop Atlanta and The Braxtons. But what makes my journey unique is that I’ve built my career from the ground up, transitioning from a MAC Cosmetics artist to becoming a sought-after name in both beauty and media.

What sets my brand apart is that it’s more than just makeup it’s about creating soft glam with a pop, a signature style that highlights individuality and confidence. Alongside my artistry, I’ve launched Motivational Mondays, a weekly series where I share the lessons, struggles, and victories behind the glam. It’s my way of giving back, inspiring other creatives and dreamers to keep pushing no matter what obstacles they face.

Right now, I’m expanding into new spaces from magazine features and campaign work with brands like LYS Beauty x Sephora, to writing motivational eBooks and building my podcast. I see myself not just as a makeup artist, but as a storyteller, a voice, and a leader building an empire that blends beauty, media, and motivation.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was simply Justin a kid from Hollywood, Florida, full of creativity, curiosity, and heart. I was the one who loved to make people feel good about themselves, whether it was through style, expression, or just my energy. I didn’t have the titles yet, the credits, or the platform but I had the spark.

Growing up, I always felt that pull toward artistry and storytelling, even when it didn’t look like a traditional path. People around me often tried to define what “success” or “manhood” should look like, but deep down I knew I was meant to carve out my own lane. That freedom to create, to dream, to inspire that’s who I’ve always been at my core.

Today, everything I do from my makeup artistry to my Motivational Mondays platform is rooted in honoring that version of me. The one who wasn’t afraid to dream big, to stand out, and to turn imagination into reality. That’s still the foundation of The Justin Douglas brand.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I spent a lot of years carrying pain in silence from childhood into adulthood. On the outside, I learned to smile, to show up, to keep moving… but on the inside I was dealing with wounds that I thought I had to hide. For a long time, I believed pain was something to cover up, not something to share.

The shift came when I realized my pain could actually be my power. Every disappointment, every closed door, every season where I felt overlooked all of it gave me depth, perspective, and resilience. Instead of letting it break me, I started letting it speak through me. That’s how Motivational Mondays was born: me turning my own struggles into messages that could inspire someone else.

Now, I don’t see my pain as something to be ashamed of it’s part of my story, and it fuels my purpose. By owning it, I’ve created a platform, a voice, and a brand that doesn’t just focus on glam, but on the real, hard truths behind the shine.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is definitely real but it’s not the whole of me. What people see is the artist, the visionary, the motivator who shows up on set, in front of the camera, or online. That part of me is genuine I love to inspire, create, and deliver excellence. But like anyone, there are layers people don’t see.

Behind the scenes, I’m deeply disciplined, reflective, and intentional about how I move. I’ve had to learn boundaries, self-care, and patience in ways that don’t always translate on social media or TV credits. The public sees the highlight reel, but my real power comes from the consistency and resilience that happens in private.

So yes the public version of me is the real me, but it’s also curated. It’s not a mask, but it is the part of me I choose to share with the world. The beauty of it is that both versions public and private are authentic, and together they make up the full story of Justin Douglas.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing? 
What I would regret most is not going all the way with the vision I’ve been given. I know I wasn’t put here just to do makeup even though that’s my gift and my lane. My calling is bigger: to build an empire that inspires people to believe in themselves, to create spaces where beauty, media, and motivation meet, and to prove that you can come from humble beginnings and still leave a lasting mark on the world.

If I didn’t write the books, launch the beauty line, build the platforms, and step into my role as a public figure I would regret not showing people what was possible. I’d regret dimming my own light when I was born to shine. My legacy isn’t just about the clients I’ve glammed or the shows I’ve worked on it’s about creating something that will outlive me.

So the biggest regret would be not pushing this vision to its fullest potential, because that’s the gift I owe back to the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://TheJustinDouglas.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iam4everdoug?igsh=MW81aGtjbXkxYzg5aA==
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-douglas-749215234?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Twitter: https://x.com/4everdoug?s=21
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GYrV28a6d/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@4everdoug?si=Jayshdd6PTMBC4ZE

Image Credits
Credits: The Justin Douglas