We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angela Petta a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Angela , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
A UK based skincare company, The Inkey List had their first campaign in 2020. They selected 11 models: 5 from the UK and 6 from the USA. I was selected as a USA model representing women over 40.
At the time, I was 48 years old. If someone told me when I was 13 years old suffering from severe cystic acne that I would be a skincare model one day; I would not have believed them.
This journey was full of self discovery, pain, passion, knowledge & validation.
First, The Inkey List brand was sharing skincare stories from a wide selection of men and women that had one thing in common: they all wanted quality, clean skincare products that are budget conscious and Earth friendly.
Each one of the 11 models had a story to share. Here is my story.
At the age of 13, I developed cystic acne. My mother had perfect skin and did not know what to do. She took me to the dermatologist & I was prescribed medication. The dermatologist told me to get a skincare routine.
My mother took me to Merle Normal Cosmetics. This is where my love for makeup and skincare began. I had a skincare consultation. My mother purchased all of the products for me. I used they religiously.
Slowly my skin started to clear up. I started to feel a bit of hope.
Over the next 38 years, I would visit various dermatologists, aestheticians, try various skincare brands, had facials, changed my diet, fasted, etc.
It wasn’t until I went into surgical menopause; along, with new clean skincare did I finally see clear skin & the real me.
As I shared my story with The Inkey List, I cried tears of joy, pain, shame and triumph.
I shared my story so hopefully others would not have to endure the pain I dealt with having cystic acne.
The Inkey List campaign is a meaningful project in that I was able to use a painful part of my life to help others heal inside and out.
I am grateful for the person I am today. I get an occasional pimple here and there. However, I now know that I am beautiful with or without clear skin.
I know how to educate myself and others on how to create a skincare ritual for their skin & self esteem.
Thank you Inkey List. I am still so honored to have been one of the chosen ones.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
At the age of 13, I developed severe cystic acne. I learned about how to care for my skin & makeup application. This became my passion. I wanted to learn and teach others on how to care for their skin.
At the age of 17, I worked for Merle Normar Cosmetics. I was trained in the science and art of skincare and makeup. I worked for the company over the course of 17 years.
I have worked with several cosmetic lines & continue to learn about new ingredients, routines, rituals and ways to keep a complexion healthy, youthful and clear.
This article is show casing my extensive knowledge of skincare, self care & ways to bring out the most authentic version of you.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a makeup artist/skincare specialist is helping others to feel good about his/her/themselves. As I acquire new knowledge in the beauty industry; I am eager to share it with my audience on my social media platforms.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
As I stated earlier in the article, I was 48 years old and selected to be a skincare model.
It was nerve wracking and an exciting experience. A woman of color over the age of 40 is considered beautiful?
During the photo shoot, I was super self conscious about my age. I was the oldest of the 11 models & felt a bit uncomfortable.
Then, the photographer said, “where is the real Angela? Let me see her shine!” All of a sudden, something on the inside said “shine, give yourself permission to shine”. I put my hands on my hips and smiled, tossed my hair and showed some flare. I had so much fun. The photos showed the real me.
Women over 40 are amazing, beautiful, intelligent, kind, sassy, classy & should be seen. What an honor to represent this group.
I’m grateful I did not give up or give in. I worked so hard on my complexion. Now, I have a complexion others love to look at. How grateful I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://msha.ke/beautyforumbyangela
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/beautyforumbyangela
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyforumbyangela
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/angelapetta
Image Credits
Angela Petta