We recently connected with LaBrianna Rusk and have shared our conversation below.

LaBrianna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

I’m in the makeup industry, so far what I am seeing is a lot of face and body art! The makeup industry is full of amazing artist! Between creative makeup and the graphic liner work the trends in 2022 were at an all time high! That is what I love about makeup. It is always innovating! Nothing ever stays the same in the makeup game!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is LaBrianna Rusk. I go by Bri for short! I am a self taught MUA from Dallas, TX! Born and raised in West Dallas! I am 26 years old now! I started this makeup journey at the age 23. When I first started makeup it wasn’t really to become a makeup artist, but God had bigger plans for me! I went through a stage in my life where I did not have a drive for anything. Which lead me to stop taking care of my appearance! After a lot of prayer, I found some small motivation to get back on my feet! It didn’t matter my mood or if I was too busy, at least one day of the week, I would get all dressed up! That day became every Friday! My supporters know it as Issa Briii Beat Friday! That’s where I got my name for me to start branding myself! That started my love for makeup!

Now, Starting my journey as an MUA, is a more exhilarating story! I started teaching myself the basics of blending and different styles of eye makeup. Once I mastered the basics, I got into more creative eye makeup and a little bit of face designs! I started a trend called Recreation Wednesday. My supporters and I would pick out 5 makeup photos I have never tried, and we would vote on the look I will try to attempt that week! I learned so much during this process! I learned that my artistic ability can go further than just glam makeup! Which lead me to face and body art!

Once I taught myself face and body art, it was over! My first ever face and body art look was in 2021 when I did the emoji challenged! I surprised myself! I did not know I could do something of that caliber! That fed my hunger in striving to become one of the best creative MUAs in Dallas, TX! I later started my first 31 days of Halloween that same year! Every look I did was a new look I have never tried before, but yet I was a natural! The looks were beyond great for me to be a beginner in face and body art!

Now, we are at the end of 2022 and I have accomplished so much! I have mastered face and body artistry! I have taught myself how to make and apply prosthetic! One of my biggest accomplishment this year was winning the Face Wars competition on my birthday weekend in September! My first in person makeup competition, and I won? I could not believe that! It further solidified that I’m in the right place! God has me on great journey and I am trusting where ever he leads me!

As 2022 comes to an end, it so much in 2023 to get done! I have built my name and I have shown my work, that only leads me to push this further! 2023 will be my year! God has already started to show me that! Just wait on it! If people don’t know me now, they will!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

On this journey, I had to unlearn what society taught us being beautiful was! Beauty is not the clothes you have or having the perfect body! It’s not even the makeup on your face! I had to teach myself beauty comes from the person you choose to be! Beauty is the confidence you have in yourself! Confidence is everything! No one can take that away from you but you! That’s what I had to teach myself! Beauty is untamed, and it doesn’t have a body, face, or money requirement!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

It has been many times people have tried to slowly tip the crown off my head! I have been told I was not good enough. I was told to be normal and keep a steady job that actually pays you because makeup doesn’t. I have been laughed at for being different. People questioned my ability to even do makeup! With all those things, no one managed to come close to knocking the crown off my head! For each stone that was thrown at me I turned it into Diamonds, and then I added those Diamond to my crown! Each time someone say I can’t, I back doored and show them I can! Because one thing is for sure, negative people don’t do anything but build me up! My crown sit high as ever now with a shine so bright no one can take it away from me! I built that crown!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.issabriiibeat.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labrianna__
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/labrianna.rusk?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@labrianna__