We were lucky to catch up with Londa Monnee’ recently and have shared our conversation below.
Londa , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Well, I’ll start off by saying I was never confident about the way that I looked. I used to get picked on for being dark skinned. It actually took me a long time to feel beautiful or even attractive. I started doing makeup when I was 16 years old. I was my first client when I did my makeup for my senior prom. And let me tell you, looking back at those pictures, I have came a long way! LOL. Not being very knowledgeable about applying makeup, I used to put on foundation that was lighter than my actual complexion. I figured it looked good because I was lighter than I actually was so people would think I was pretty. Not knowing at the time I looked like a ghost LOL. This also boosted my confidence. But oddly, no one ever said to me that it didn’t look good. I actually started to get noticed and complimented. I guess they didn’t know better either. But as time went on and I gained more knowledge and experience, I realized that it wasn’t only the makeup that made me beautiful, it was my personality. So that’s when I came up with Monnee Cosmetics LLC.. My business is all about enhancing your natural beauty and knowing that beauty comes from within. When someone books me, they know they will still be able to recognize themselves once I’m done with servicing them. Believe it or not, a lot of women don’t like that heavy makeup, especially if they’re not used to wearing it. I make sure that I apply with lightweight products from the foundation all the way down to the eyelashes. I work with all skin types and tones. I felt my approach with my end goal with Monnee Cosmetics would make me stand out from others because I’m so passionate about making women feel confident in THEMSELVES. Knowing that when they get home and take off the makeup, they can still look in the mirror and say “I slayed today!” What gets me excited mostly about my business is that I have a support system that believes in me more than I believe in myself. I know that Monnee Cosmetics will go very far!
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 started taking makeup seriously just a few years ago when I moved to Los Angeles, California back in 2017. At the time, I was still trying to find my calling. Acting is huge in LA, so I figured I would take a couple of classes, be an extra in a few shows and movies, and just get out there to network. One day I was an extra on set of a movie for Netflix, and I became fascinated by the key makeup artist, Ashlyn Ayers. She was on top of her game! She didn’t miss a beat with her flawless work ethic, professionalism and punctuality. One thing I learned living in Cali is, closed mouths don’t get fed. So I went to talk to Ashlyn during a break, told her a little bit about myself and asked if she needed an assistant. She said at the moment, she didn’t but she might for future projects. So we exchanged information and eventually had a meeting. Not even a month later, I became Ashlyn’s assistant when she worked for BET. She mentored me on everything and taught me the ins and outs. When I first started, Ashlyn had me helping setting up for the day, and cleaning makeup brushes. I eventually moved up to helping prep celebrities faces and doing touch ups between cuts. Although I worked long hours and didn’t get paid much, because I was technically an intern. But I feel that I gained so much more than money. I gained knowledge, technique and inspiration that I now use for Monnee Cosmetics. What I’m most proud of throughout this journey so far is that I am able to adapt anywhere and make the best out of any situation. When I moved to Cali, I went alone. I drove over 36 hours just to find myself. I initially had a plan with a family member prior to committing to the move, but that went left when I arrived. Before I moved to LA, I worked at Buffalo Wild Wings, so I asked for a transfer. It was approved, but when I got to the location, I wasn’t in the system. Due to the setback, my funds became lower and lower because all of my money went to hotels or Airbnb’s that I lived in. I ended up being homeless for 3 months. I used to park in residential areas to get some sleep. I joined a cheap gym that I would pay $20/month just so I could shower and have something to do. And I didn’t eat much because I clearly couldn’t afford it. Some of you may ask, why didn’t I just go back home or tell my family and friends? I didn’t want to feel like a failure. There was so much going on that I was embarrassed. Even though I had a lot going on (even things I haven’t mentioned), I stayed positive and landed back on my feet.
Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?
So I relocated to Georgia a couple of years ago and decided this would be my forever home. I was done moving and I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. As I started to grow Monnee Cosmetics and gain some loyal clients, I got even more serious about my brand. I created a website, and a business Instagram and Facebook page. One day I received an email from a woman who was getting married and she was looking for a makeup artist to service her and her bridesmaids. My initial thought was to respond to her and let her know that I had never done a wedding before, but something told me not to. So I responded like I would any other client, got all of her information and asks for pictures of her and her bridesmaids. I was so nervous, because this was this woman’s special day and I wanted her and her bridal party to look amazing. I knew I could do the job, but the fact that I would have had to be quick and extra prepared for all types of tones, acne, etc. on the spot, it made me doubt myself. But I used the information and pictures she gave me to my advantage. I practiced my speed and had everyones foundation colors noted and prepared. I also gave the bride a free consultation. When the day finally arrived, I slayed each and everyones faces as if I had been doing this since I was born! Everyone loved their makeup. Even the venue owner reached out to me a couple of weeks later and told me that they loved my work and wanted me to partner with them for their future weddings! As I’ve stated before, closed mouths don’t get fed!
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Oh my goodness, yes! My social media grew because of my idol, Taraji P. Henson. A couple of years ago, she hosted The BET Awards and she wore this 90s outfit. I thought she looked so bomb! So I thought to myself, I’d have a little fun and imitate her look and the picture she posted on her instagram. People always told me we resemble each other so I figured I could pull it off. I put my hair in a big, fluffy ponytail, went through my closet, got as close as I could to her outfit, grabbed my phone and tripod and got to snapping. Little did I know, not even 24 hours later of posting my picture, she reposted it on her instagram account! When she posted, I didn’t know because it was late at night and I was sleeping. So when I woke up the next morning and looked at my phone, I just saw a load of notifications of phone calls, texts, likes, comments, etc. I didn’t know what was going on. But I noticed that my mom called a bunch of times, so before checking anything else, I called her back to see if everything was ok. She yelled in the phone asking where have I been and I must not of been on Instagram. so I checked while on the phone with her and I immediately started screaming and freaking out! I couldn’t believe Taraji noticed little ol’ me. My follower count grew to reach over 10,000. Ever since then, I just kept up my social media with creating relatable content and just being myself. For those who are looking to build their platforms, I would suggest just being your authentic genuine self and have high quality photos. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to achieve nice photos. I use my phone for everything, even editing. Nice, clear photos and videos draw people in and keeps them interested.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://monneecosmeticsllc.weebly.com
- Instagram: Londamonnee
- Facebook: Monnee Cosmetics