Thank you, Kym, for taking the time to SLAY with Slay Magazine. We want to start off by saying that we admire your work, and we can see the passion that is SLAYed through your tutorials and photos. We also want to say that you look SLAYutiful in your photos on your website http://www.alittlemakeupcanthurt.com/. Now, let’s jump into our questions!
SLAY: We know that everyone has a history and different things in life cause us to follow certain dreams and paths. Did you always want to be a makeup artist and beauty influencer?
KYM NICOLE: Beauty has definitely been running through my veins since I was a child. I was always attracted to hair styling and knew I’d become a Cosmetologist when I started styling girls in the neighborhood while in Junior High School. Makeup artistry became my passion a few years into doing hair after landing a cover of a magazine out of pure coincidence. It was then that my makeup career began to flourish.
SLAY: The entertainment industry can be brutal, and the makeup industry can be just as brutal. What would you say has been your biggest challenge?
KYM NICOLE: When I first started doing makeup professionally, I was my biggest challenge. I had the passion to hone the craft and the drive to be great, but I lacked confidence and I had an affair with procrastination.
SLAY: Make no mistakes; you are the ultimate makeup QUEEN! Who would you say inspired you to continue to keep SLAYing?
KYM NICOLE: Definitely the greats like Sam Fine, Vonda Morris, Danessa Myricks, Pat McGrath, and more who have paved the way in celebrity, commercial, print, television, and film artistry. Reading books by Kevin Aucoin, Nars, Bobbi Brown, Way Bandy, Robert Jones, and many more.
SLAY: Not only do you SLAY as an MUA, but in 2015 you decided to SLAY as an author for your first book titled “A Little Makeup Can’t Hurt”. What inspired you to publish your first book?
KYM NICOLE: I noticed that there was a need for a makeup book specifically geared toward black women in my inner circle. I also wanted to be able to share how I overcame extremely low self-esteem and self-worth to make it available to others. It was important for me to feature real women that that you would see in your neighborhoods or on a day-to-day basis. I wanted young women to be able to REALLY relate.
SLAY: We noticed that you are truly passionate about self-love especially for young girls and women. In today’s society, we are seeing so many teen girls hurting or killing themselves due to being bullied because of their appearance. What advice would you give to parents of young girls to encourage self-love within our youth?
KYM NICOLE: Self-love truly starts when you’re young and in the home. It’s very important to affirm your children daily and make sure they understand how important they are, not only to you, but to the world. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with over encouraging and over complimenting your children. Their existence means a great deal. Find ways to show them they matter. Social media seems to be a gift and a curse but I’m so happy that black people are finally being acknowledged, embraced, and praised for their beauty and style publicly. It’s so critical for the young and old to see that.
SLAY: Congratulations on your foundation entitled “Erasing Low Self-Esteem”. We idolize your dedication. You are beautiful both on the inside and the outside. Tell us more about your foundation including how can one support this SLAYnomenal cause.
KYM NICOLE: Thank you. There’s so much work & documents to be finished. I pray God grants me with the wherewithal to aid in the esteem of women and young girls young. I suffered greatly coming up, fighting with myself, afraid to face the world because of what I thought of myself, and I hope to lend a helping hand even if it’s just words of encouragement to those who need it. I have a very small team right now but even through the Covid-19 pandemic we have found ways to be supportive for the youth and graduating classes. Prayerfully in the coming months and years, we will be able to [continue to] provide hair, makeup, mentorship services, and classes to those in need. My email is always open for those in need. If I can help in any way, I will do my best or point you in the right direction.
SLAY: We love to end our interviews with a word of advice. What advice would you give to the younger Kym Nicole, to aspiring makeup artists, to aspiring nonprofit owners, to aspiring authors, or to those that are just aspiring to SLAY?
KYM NICOLE: Be You! Find ways to motivate & love yourself for all that you are. Cut the fear and don’t give up. You can’t let fear and procrastination stop you from running toward greatness. Understand the power you possess. For makeup artists, practice and always be open to learning. There’s more than one way to achieve a look. For business owners, your team is everything. Surround yourself with people that believe in you and your gift and want to see you win; those aligned with your purpose. For Authors, just write!! Even if you write one paragraph a day or start with a page of random thoughts and ideas. Just start!
SLAY: Again, THANK YOU Kym Nicole for SLAYing with Slay Magazine. Please let our SLAYers know how they can contact you.
KYM: Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to SLAY with you!
Instagram & Twitter: @kymmyizabeauty
Facebook: Kym Nicole Beauty and Kym Nicole Oubre
Sites: www.kymnicolebeauty.com www.alittlemakeupcanthurt.com
Blog: www.tumblr.com/kymnicolebeauty
Email: ALittleMakeupCantHurt@gmail.com
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