We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tifani Donovan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tifani below.

Hi Tifani, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Believe it or not, recently I’ve decided to take my makeup artistry hobby seriously and pursue it as my full-time career. For the past 6 years I’ve been a self-taught makeup artist, catering to women in the Miami area and truly enjoyed connecting with clients, making them feel beautiful, and seeing them fall in love with our VON Cosmetics products during our makeup sessions. Being a makeup artist has allowed me the amazing opportunity to play a pivotal part in my client’s most memorable and special moments. Last year, an old coworker of mines reached out to me to be the makeup artist for her wedding party, I was extremely ecstatic to be the makeup artist for her wedding, however, profoundly nervous as this would be my first ever wedding party. That day I did 11 faces (bridesmaids, the bride, mother of the bride, and mother of the groom). They absolutely loved my work, and most importantly felt beautiful! This was the gig that gave me a boost of confidence, and influenced my decision to pursue becoming a professional makeup artist.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Younger Tifani was always intrigued by the world of beauty, I remember watching my mother as she would get ready; putting on her face powder, lining her lips, coating her lashes with mascara, and smearing lip gloss or lipstick on. Just enjoying the process it took to truly transform, and enhance her beauty that was already present naturally. Not realizing that this was a ritual, a form of self-care, and therapeutic. As cliché as this may sound, I would always play in her makeup and dress up in her clothes. I’d mimic her daily ritual of getting dressed, and would simply fantasize about the woman I would become one-day doing the same thing. This would be my first introduction to makeup, and would be the initial spark of my interest in the beauty industry.

Why just wear makeup, why not create it too? In my senior year of high school I was finally allowed to wear makeup publicly. My Caribbean mother was pretty strict when it came to things like that. I would practice in the mirror how to apply lashes, watched YouTube videos on different makeup looks, observed and practiced, practiced, practiced. Eventually my makeup application skills improved, resulting in admiration from other women, and they’d ask “Who did your makeup?”. This was when I started applying makeup on others and started gaining clients. After a conversation I had with an Aunt of mines, I decided I wanted to created a makeup line, which today is called VON Cosmetics. However, not just any cosmetic line. I wanted my brand to be a place where women would feel fierce, bold, and shameless. Being comfortable in the skin they’re in, and not being afraid to step out of their comfort zones by trying new colors that they normally wouldn’t go for, and truly owning their femininity by defining it however they choose to. Our brand offers various makeup products such as: liquid matte lipsticks, crème lipsticks, lip glosses, eyebrow & lip liners, palettes, eyelashes, and all natural cleansing bar soaps. I’m most proud of the clients I’ve gotten the opportunity to transform through makeup, and to have played an important part in the special moments in their lives. In addition to creating a brand that makes women feel seen, sexy, and fabulous!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is the freedom it allows you to have! Free to be myself, free to try different techniques to sharpen my skills, free to be creative. Being an artist and freelancing you are in control, and this can be scary at times, yet so liberating.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely! I never knew there were schools catered to makeup artistry. Yes, there are courses aspiring makeup artist can sign up for with an established and credible makeup artist. However, makeup artistry is so complex and has many different varieties such as: bridal, cinematic, body painting, fashion, and etc. There are beauty schools that teach modules on the various types of makeup artistry, they’ll help to build your portfolio (makeup artist resume), and usually offer great internship opportunities. If I had known this information and did further research, I would of joined makeup artistry school much sooner. If you’re an aspiring makeup artist, I’d definitely recommend going.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.voncosmetics.com
• Instagram: von.cosmetics
• Youtube: Tivony By Tifani

Image Credits
@1dreaded_marlo: First three pictures.