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

Mauria , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

What my parents did right as it relates to my career as a makeup artist is two fold: unrelenting support followed up with guided direction. To keep an interesting and lengthy story brief, my dad sat me down, locked eyes with me and said, “what is it you’d REALLY like to do; go do THAT!” After having a nearly identical conversation with my mom, it was full speed ahead with attending school, obtaining my license in esthetics and ultimately working with some of the most incredible clients as their makeup artist.

Throughout my entire life, encouragement and consistent reassurance in my capabilities to succeed and peruse any goal set before me was what I was presented with from both of my parents individually and collectively, and I’m forever grateful for all they’ve instilled in me. I am… because of them!

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?

I’m Mauria Smith, makeup artist, licensed esthetician and sole proprietor of Elizabeth Mae, named in honor of my paternal and maternal grandmothers respectively, providing on location makeup services in the areas of production, editorial, commercial/print and luxury bridal. After working for a well known cosmetic retail brand for a number of years, I made the decision to branch out on my own and cater to a specific clientele that the beauty industry as a whole tends to shun and treats as an afterthought: black women, more specifically, those of darker complexions, which is what I believe sets me apart from the vast majority of other professionals in my field. Although I provide makeup services to clients of any ethnic background, I specialize in catering to the aforementioned in attempts to bridge that glaring gap and oversight that exists between black women and the beauty industry, and I take tremendous pride in not shying away from focusing on this area in our industry to serve those who look like me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My overall goal is to eventually expand my company, Elizabeth Mae, into a cosmetology school that is TRULY inclusive, because as any honest professional who is licensed and works in any field of cosmetology will tell you, there’s little to no instruction and insight given to students on specific haircare and skincare needs for black men and women. That needs to change, and said change should be immediate! There’s no legitimate reason that any stylist or makeup artist that is working professionally should be unable to properly service black clients. We all attend the same schools, are required to take the same state board exams across the country and are held to the same standards to maintain our licenses and keep them current. It stands to reason then, that everyone who’s in this profession needs to learn about ALL types of haircare and skincare instead of turning certain clients away because they “can’t provide them with service”. (Yes, this actually happens!) This is why I have such a deep desire to open a school, so that each licensed beauty professional is proficient and confident in all aspects of services for everyone, regardless of their race and ethnicity.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of what I do is seeing a client’s reaction when their vision for the look they wanted to achieve is met! Seeing the light that sparks in the eyes of a client who’s looked in the mirror after I’ve completed their makeup, or after a photo shoot has wrapped and the final images and edits are complete, and the reaction is pure satisfaction… it is truly indescribable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elizabethmae.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauriasmith/
• Other: Email: mauria@elizabethmae.net

Image Credits
Marybel Photography Castaldo Photography Edz Antoine