68th Emmy Award Nominee for Makeup | The Wiz Live!

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Written by NZINGHA for TheGlamSquadFiles

I can’t tell you the sheer joy I had in knowing there was a plan to bring the play The Wiz back into production. You know there’s a gift (well, I’d bee given several gifts actually) that I’ve had ever since I was a little girl and two have always worked for me has been foresight and the ability to speak things into existence!

I knew in my spirit that this play would be revived at some point in time. I thought it would be much sooner than 2015 though! This play is so special to me personally because I was there at the very first performance and the very last when it was on Brodway with the original cast.  This was the first play I’d ever seen on Broadway and it shaped the way I would move in entertainment. The singing, dancing, costumes and of course MAKEUP!!

I always loved the Wizard of Oz but when The Wiz premiered it was the soulful adaptation with a Dorothy that I could visually relate to and her voice was so incredibly melodic and it was LIVE! Stephanie Mills the original Dorothy in The Wiz (also the Aunt of one of my dearest and oldest friends). I felt like I could reach out and touch the stage. It was magical…the dances I felt warm almost made me feel like I too could dance like that (of course I was dreaming, and took several dance classes to try my hand at it).

Apparently I wasn’t the only one who loved this millennial spin on The Wiz. I read that 11.5 million people tuned in on that Thursday night! And I can tell you I ran home from work quick fast in a hurry so I wouldn’t miss not even a commercial!! According to Nielsen, roughly 269,400 people sent 1.6 million tweets about “The Wiz Live!” on Thursday night and 6.4 million people saw those tweets a total of 128.9 million times!!

The production more than tripled the number of tweets for either “Sound of Music” (449,536) or “Peter Pan” (474,735). And according to social media analyst company Canvs, “The Wiz” drew four times as many reactions per minute than “Peter Pan” (792 vs. 178) and more than three times as many as “Sound of Music” (238).

It was the very next day that I was on set with two of the Makeup Artists that worked the show my dear heart Christine Dominecki, my spirit sister Stephanie McGee and Bjoren Rehbein. And here we were together working side by side doing “disco 80’s drag makeup” for this new TV show. We pulled out all the stops on makeup that day. But those three really pulled some stunts the night before on The Wiz!!! I couldn’t stop praising them for their great work and as I was saying it…saying, how much I loved their work….in my spirit I heard they’re gonna win! Huh? Gonna win?? Win what??? Oh, yes ratings for the show, right yes, I’m sure they will have great numbers coming in from this performance.

Well, I now think that spirit voice I heard was more referring to The Primetime Emmy Awards!!! I’m rooting for everyone on the team. And I do hope that little voice in me was right! This will mean so much to many who loved the show. Cheering my friends on for their great work is easy…now to send them off to LA for the actual ceremony!!! Yay!!! Here’s a look at their awesome Makeup Work!

The cast of The Wiz Live!

Prosthetic Makeup created by Department Head Makeup Artist for Saturday Night Live Louie Zakarian.

Makeup Artist Debi Young – Makeup for Mary J. Blige as Evilline

Makeup Artist Stephanie McGee – Makeup for Amber Riley as Aderappearl. Pictured here with The Flying Monkey’s from Cirque Du Soleil and Emerald City Citizen.

Makeup Artist Christine Dominecki pictured here with Elijah Kelley as Scarecrow.

Makeup Artist Bjoren Rehbein and his Makeup for Queen Latifah as The Wiz.

Mary J. Blige as Evilinne, Queen Latifah as The Wiz, Amber Riley as Aderappearl


***Outstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special (Non-Prosthetic)***

The Wiz Live! • NBC • Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television, Storyline Entertainment

Cookie Jordan, Co-Department Head Makeup Artist 

Matiki Anoff, Co-Department Head Makeup Artist 

Debi Young, Makeup Artist
Stephanie McGee, Makeup Artist

Bjorn Rehbein, Makeup Artist 

Christine Domaniecki, Makeup Artist 

68th EMMY AWARDS Nominations for Makeup & Hair

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Written by NZINGHA for TheGlamSquadFiles

It’s awards season for prime time TV and the nominees have officially been announced!!

I’m so excited for all my fellow Makeup & Hair colleagues. CONGRATULATIONS!!! To all who worked so hard to put on a great show and display excellent Artistry again CONGRATULATIONS!!!

So, here’s the list of the official nominees…

Outstanding Makeup For A Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)

Game Of Thrones • Battle Of The Bastards • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead; 360 Television and Startling Television
Jane Walker, Department Head Makeup Artist Kate Thompson, Makeup Artist

Nicola Mathews, Makeup Artist

Kay Bilk, Makeup Artist

Marianna Kyriacou, Makeup Artist Pamela Smyth, Makeup Artist

The Knick • Whiplash • Cinemax • Cinemax Entertainment in association with Ambeg Screen Products, Anonymous Content and Extension 765

Nicki Ledermann, Department Head Makeup Artist Stephanie Pasicov, Key Makeup Artist
Sunday Englis, Key Makeup Artist

Tania Ribalow, Makeup Artist

Rachel Geary, Makeup Artist
LuAnn Claps, Personal Makeup Artist 
Penny Dreadful • Glorious Horrors • Showtime • SHOWTIME Presents in association with SKY

Enzo Mastrantonio, Department Head Makeup Artist Clare Lambe, Key Makeup Artist
Caterina Sisto, Makeup Artist

Lorraine McCrann, Makeup Artist

Morna Ferguson, Personal Makeup Artist

Vikings • Yol • HISTORY • An Octagon and Take 5 production in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for History

Tom McInerney, Department Head Makeup Artist Katie Derwin, Key Makeup Artist
Ciara Scannel, Makeup Artist
Vinyl • Pilot • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Paramount Pictures, Jagged Films, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions

Nicki Ledermann, Department Head Makeup Artist Tania Ribalow, Key Makeup Artist
Sunday Englis, Key Makeup Artist

Rachel Geary, Makeup Artist

Michael Laudati, Makeup Artist Cassandra Saulter, Makeup Artist
Outstanding Makeup For A Multi-Camera Series Or Special (Non-Prosthetic)
Dancing With The Stars • Halloween Night • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Zena Shteysel, Department Head Makeup Artist Angela Moos, Key Makeup Artist

Patti Ramsey Bortoli, Additional Makeup Artist Sarah Woolf, Additional Makeup Artist

Julie Socash, Additional Makeup Artist Alison Gladieux, Additional Makeup Artist

Grease: Live • FOX • Paramount Television

Zena Shteysel, Department Head Makeup Artist Angela Moos, Key Makeup Artist
Julie Socash, Additional Makeup Artist

Alison Gladieux, Additional Makeup Artist
Key & Peele • Y’all Ready For This? • Comedy Central • Cindylou, Monkeypaw Productions, Martel & Roberts Productions, Principato-Young Entertainment, Central Productions

Scott Wheeler, Department Head Makeup Artist 

Suzy Diaz, Key Makeup Artist
Jason Hamer, Key Makeup Artist

Natalie Thimm, Key Makeup Artist

Michael Blake, Key Makeup Artist

Saturday Night Live • Host: Ryan Gosling • NBC • SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Louie Zakarian, Department Head Makeup Artist 

Amy Tagliamonti, Key Makeup Artist

Jason Milani, Key Makeup Artist

Daniela Zivkovic, Makeup Artist

Melanie Demitri, Makeup Artist 

Margie Durand, Makeup Artist 

The Wiz Live! • NBC • Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television, Storyline Entertainment

Cookie Jordan, Co-Department Head Makeup Artist 

Matiki Anoff, Co-Department Head 

Makeup Artist Debi Young, Makeup Artist
Stephanie McGee, Makeup Artist

Bjorn Rehbein, Makeup Artist 

Christine Domaniecki, Makeup Artist 

Outstanding Makeup For A Limited Series Or Movie (Non-Prosthetic)
All The Way • HBO • HBO Films in association with Amblin Television, Tale Told Productions, Moonshot Entertainment and Everyman Pictures
Bill Corso, Department Head Makeup Artist

Francisco X. Perez, Co-Department Head Makeup Artist 

Sabrina Wilson, Key Makeup Artist
American Horror Story: Hotel • FX Networks • 20th Century Fox Television, FX Productions

Eryn Krueger Mekash, Department Head Makeup Artist 

Kim Ayers, Assistant Department Head Makeup Artist 

Michael Mekash, Assistant Department Head Makeup Artist 

Silvina Knight, Makeup Artist
James MacKinnon, Makeup Artist 

Sarah Tanno, Makeup Artist

Fargo • FX Networks • MGM Television, FX Productions

Gail Kennedy, Department Head Makeup Artist
Joanne Preece, Assistant Department Head Makeup Artist 

Gunther Schetterer, Key Makeup Artist

Danielle Hanson, Key Makeup Artist
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story • FX Networks • Fox 21 Television Studios, FX Productions

Eryn Krueger Mekash, Department Head Makeup Artist 

Zoe Hay, Department Head Makeup Artist
Heather Plott, Assistant Department Head Makeup Artist 

Deborah Huss Humphries, Makeup Artist

Luis Garcia, Makeup Artist 

Becky Cotton, Makeup Artist 

Roots • Night One • HISTORY • An A+E Studios Production in association with Marc Toberoff Productions and The Wolper Organization

Aimee Stuit, Department Head Makeup Artist 

Christa Schoeman, Department Head Makeup Artist 

Niqui da Silva, Key Makeup Artist
Paige Reeves, Key Makeup Artist

Marike Liebetrau, Makeup Artist 
Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup For A Series, Limited Series, Movie Or Special
All The Way • HBO • HBO Films in association with Amblin Television, Tale Told Productions, Moonshot Entertainment and Everyman Pictures

Bill Corso, Special Makeup Effects Department Head 

Francisco X. Perez, Co-Department Head Makeup Artist 

Sabrina Wilson, Key Makeup Artist
Andrew Clement, Prosthetic Designer
American Horror Story: Hotel • FX Networks • 20th Century Fox Television, FX Productions

Eryn Krueger Mekash, Department Head Makeup Artist 

Mike Mekash, Assistant Department Head Makeup Artist 

Bradley A. Palmer, Special Makeup Effects Artist
Bart Mixon, Special Makeup Effects Artist

James MacKinnon, Makeup Artist
Kevin Kirkpatrick, Makeup Artist

David Leroy Anderson, Prosthetic Designer 

Glen Eisner, Prosthetic Designer
Game Of Thrones • The Door • HBO • HBO Entertainment in association with Bighead, Littlehead; 360 Television and Startling Television

Jane Walker, Department Head Makeup Artist

Sarah Gower, Special Makeup Effects Assistant Department Head 

Emma Sheffield, Key Special Makeup Effects Artist

Tristan Versluis, Key Special Makeup Effects Artist

Barrie Gower, Prosthetic Designer
Penny Dreadful • And Hell Itself My Only Foe • Showtime • SHOWTIME Presents in association with SKY

Nick Dudman, Special Makeup Effects Department Head 

Sarita Allison, Key Special Makeup Effects Artist
Barney Nikolic, Special Makeup Effects Artist

Paul Spateri, Special Makeup Effects Artist

Dennis Penkov, Prosthetic Designer 

The Walking Dead • No Way Out • AMC • AMC Studios / Stalwart Films, LLC / Skybound / Circle of Confusion / Valhalla Entertainment

Greg Nicotero, Special Makeup Effects Department Head 

Jake Garber, Key Special Makeup Effects Artist
Gino Crognale, Special Makeup Effects Artist

Kevin Wasner, Special Makeup Effects Artist

Garrett Immel, Makeup Effects Artist Kerrin Jackson, Makeup Effects Artist Carey Jones, Prosthetic Designer 


Here’s the 68th Emmys Full List of Nominations from The Hollywood Reporter

Here’s the 68th Emmys Full List of Nominatons from Variety Magazine 

POWER season 3

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Written by NZINGHA for TheGlamSquadFiles


Are you ready for one of the hottest TV series on air?!?! Can’t wait to see it??? Well POWER is bringing it to you live and direct for another amazing and intriguing season, season 3 of POWER on the Starz Network.


I’m sure you’re going to be on the edge of your seat once again this season. You have seen the show right? YOU HAVENT SEEN THE SHOW???? WHY???? Who does that????

Okay, if you’ve not seen the show I’m going to challenge you to binge watch for the next 3 days before season 3 airs this Sunday July 17th! Trust me you’ll be hooked!

Here’s the trailer for the show just in case you’ve not seen it…

I can’t tell you how I’m almost in tears writing this post right now. This is how excited I am about the show and the incredible cast and crew of this show! It’s always an honor for me to be asked to work on the show ! It’s now two seasons for me and everyday is truly a joy.

This is the best crew I think I’ve ever worked with such synchronicity and flow. The level of Artistry that is behind the scenes is indescribable! The Glam Squad on the show is impeccable in Artistry!

Just recently the shows Makeup Department Head Anita Gibson won The NYWIFT 2016 Design Award for Makeup! Bravo!! CONGRATULATIONS!! Well done!! 

I hope to interview Ms. Gibson in the near future for you vizionaires, Pro MUA’s and supporters of TheGlamSquadFiles Blog. Pro Makeup Artists supporting other Pro MUA’s and future MUA’s is what we do here.

You may have seen the ceremony review on one of my previous posts here on TheGlamSquadFiles. Designing Women Event | NYWIFT | The Glam Squad Files…

https://theglamsquadfiles.com/2016/06/14/designing-women-event-nywift/

Here is Lead Actress Lena Loren and the POWER Glam Squad ..Makeup Department Head Anita Gibson (in the blue dress), Makeup Department Key Daniel Green and Additional Makeup Artists Tobe West, Pat Theius Moore and NZINGHA

https://youtu.be/YrRtKw2IJx8

Are you on the edge yet? After that sneak preview you should be! Especially if you watch the show. 

Well, im going to leave it right there. Enjoy season 3!

VH1 Hip Hop Honors |MUA 👑NZINGHA👑 * The Queens of Hip Hop

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Written by NZINGHA for TheGlamSquadFiles

July 10, 2016….

Sunday afternoon the VH1 Glam Squad meeting and rehearsals at Lincon Center in New York City. As you come to the corner of 66th and Columbus Avenue there are scores of trailers that line the streets on either side. Stage hands are setting up the area that will be The Red Carpet. What’s The Red Carpet for?…The 2016 VH1 Hip Hop Honors!

I meet with my colleague Department Head Derrick Kollock (Hair Designer & Colorist for Love & Hip Hop, The Wire, VH1, Confirmation the movie and the list goes on and on), we head to the production trailer for our Crew Credentials before entering the building. Walking down that street we are bombarded by the poster sized ads for the show featuring the images of the honorees Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot, Lil’ Kim and Salt & Peppa w DJ Spinderella. 

I suddenly get butterflies in the pit of my stomach…not because of fear or nerves before a show but because of a healthy dose of pride. Proud of all of the ladies who are being honored on Monday. 

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!!! Years of hard work and perseverance in the business of entertainment as well as the challenges of personal life and, they, through it all still keep shining, brining the hits that make us dance and sometimes become the soundtracks to our lives.

I’m also proud to say that all the ladies being honored have been my clients throughout their careers and my career as Makeup Artist as well! 

And on Monday I feel honored as well for all the years of work I put in working behind the scenes drafting what has now become iconic imagery in Hip Hop Music History! 

I’m also proud to be the Makeup Department Head for my longest standing Hip Hop client Lil’ Kim in VH1’s Tribute to her. CONGRATULATIONS Kim❣❣❣❣My job…EASY…remixing my own iconic Lil’ Kim looks!! WOW! Kinda like giving a nod to my own work…lolol! Crazy right?

http://www.vh1.com/video-clips/u0fy2l/hip-hop-honors-2016-lil-kim-style-tribute
Okay, so as we leave the production trailer and head to the area where the dressing rooms are set up we walk down the halls past the rooms tagged on the doors are some of Hip Hops brightest and legendary females and honorees Artists Queen Latifah, Eve, Missy Elliot, Lil’Kim…then Nelly Furtado, Tweet, Fantasia, Amber Rose, Sway and the list goes on. 

We drop our bags and head straight to wardrobe who is Department Headed by Eric Archibald (Beyonce’, Jennifer Hudson, etc,etc) and his team of stylists, seamstresses and runners taking up a room the size of a gymnasium!!! 

We go into meeting!!! Strategizing the nights looks and break down the nights performing Artists and when they’re on and what they’re wearing.

VH1 Glam Squad Hip Hop Honors | Makeup & Hair , Tim Snell & Lisa Logan, Wardrobe Department, Sam Fine, Renny Vasquez and myself


After that meeting Derrick and I go into serious pow wow meeting about Hair and Makeup designating to our assistants what their responsibilities will be for the show and the looks we are about to recreate.
The excitement is building…we know what we have to do but can we do it all with the time we’ve been given. “Okay guys lets turn it out!” Derrick says as he pulls out 3 amazing wigs that gave me flashbacks of the era’s hairstyles. 

They were all stunning and handmade!! Unbelievable WOW! From the lavender, lime green and blonde curly I didn’t know which one I was in love with the most! 

The hair assistants begin to sort out the wigs and station them as Derrick and I run downstairs to the stage to check the dress rehearsal for lighting and stage blocking.

Okay everything looks great! Let’s move it out and get ready for the show tomorrow…we’ve seen all we need to see here…kiss kiss let’s talk later if we need to and get a good nights rest because we’re back in tomorrow to turn this mutha out! See you then! Smooches!

What can I say about the honorees…they all give me chills with the level of their Artistry! They made Hip Hop History being the highest grossing female Hip Hop Artists!

The clients that I’ve had the longest standing relationship with have been both Missy Elliot and Lil’ Kim. Seeing both of these stupendous larger than life Ladies from the beginning of their careers has been phenomenal to be a part of and to see from the sidelines.

There has never been any Artist in Hip Hop male or female that has accomplished what Missy Elliot has bought to the table. Not only has she produced her own music but has a huge catalog of R&B hits (Grammy Nominated and Grammy Winning) that she produced for other Platinum Recording Artists!!

Yes no doubt, no questions whatsoever that Missy Elliot is an ICON!!

One of my fave music videos that feature both my Ladies Missy Elliot and Lil’ Kim one of the songs from the soundtrack to the movie Moulan Rouge Directed by Baz Lurmann. Missy was the Executive Producer of this track “Lady Marmalade”

Another fave of my that really set the industry on its ear audio and visual “Crush On You”. The visuals were a nod to the movie “The Wiz” starring Diana Ross (who Kim would meet not too long after at the MTV Awards…in the now famous purple pasty jumpsuit)

This is one of our first official music videos together “Get Money” where all 6 of my clients: Biggie, Mary J. Blige, Salt n Peppa and DJ Spinderella, Charli Baltimore and Lil’ Kim

All I can say is I worked for mine and I quote the line anytime someone tries to come for me!! In the words of Lil’ Kim…” I’m a leader y’all on some followin’ 💩, comin’ in this game on some modelin’ 💩…I’m the real son! It’s the real son!”

So many videos I did but I promise this is the last one I’ll post you can just look up all the rest on your own. I love how many visual changes we had in this one. I absolutely love Kim in the chocolate brown hair (it’s my personal favourite look)!!

STROBING Makeup? What is “Strobing”?

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Written by NZINGHA for TheGlamSquadFiles™

As I’ve been researching on the internet I’ve found this new term floating around “STROBING”. I’m like what the blaze is that about?!? These kids making up names for this we’d already tagged for years!!

It made me chuckle a bit to think how everything in life really does go in cycles. Contouring is a cycle revisited in every generation and it seems so again with STROBING! Ok I’d done this look on several occasions with my Musical Celebrity Clients all throughout the 90’s only we never called it strobing.

My Makeup look for Mary J Blige for Interview Magazine shot by David La Chappelle. Here she is strobing with NARS BODY GLO and Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel.

 

The look for me took me back in different eras 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and 70’s Disco. One of my fave sites to see some vintage looks is http://www.queensofvintage.com you will see nothing is really new, it’s just revisited by an era that comes behind it. It’s rediscovered and in some cases redesigned but never re-invented!!

Here’s Ms. Marilyn Monroe clearly 50’s style strobing

  I mean just look at these Legends looking glorious and just that hint of sheen and highlight in the right spots. Meanwhile the natural contours of their faces were strong to begin with.

All Strobing is is a play on light, highlighting and a little sheen or even a high gloss for extra drama! It’s not to be confused with a dewy look. A dewy look is lightweight and pretry much consistent all over the face. Strobing is focused either in a mild way or in a dramatic way (that’s when I break out the oils, not just creams or shimmering powders) it’s really making use of the light source on your subject and reflecting that light. 

 

My latest Strobing makeup work with the lovely Model Olivia. See how the light hits her face in strategic places?

 

This is Rapper Charli Baltimore in a shot we did for Honey Magazine again a play on light and liquid to create this strobe look.

 

  Now I’m going to share with you how my creative mind worked at that time (and trust me it saved me many a day when I had countless models on set to do full face and body makeup). Believe it or not I would use a can of Isoplus Oil Sheen Spray!! 

Yes I used a hair sheen spray, yes it worked and yes it looked good!!! No streaks just an even stream of sheen in all the right places and the formula was thick enough to stay in place yet thin enough to coat and spray and no harm was ever done to anyone’s skin!! 

My personal technique for “Strobing” is equal parts foundation to liminzer (MAC Strobe Cream, Gorgio Armani Luminzer, or a loose shimmering powder and all other makeup are also creams) I like to use my fingers on the skin to warm it up and move the product better. Then I go in and stipple brush in circular motions to blend. And then I’d  finish off with a mist of sheen spray (well now I use Caudalie as my sheen spray).  

I strobe on the body as well. I would use the same technique with the body and a larger brush (no sponges!). My fave body strobing options today are 

  1. Caudalie (The spray bottle and scent make this one #1 choice for numerous purposes)
  2. NARS Body Glo
  3. Body Shop Honey Bronze   

My Makeup for Lil’ Kim in this video is “Strobing 101: For Dummies ” music video style. Check the pause at counter 3:44-3:45 you will see STROBING at its best!!

“Soul Sista” Written & Sung by Bilal, Directed by Nzingha Stewart , Makeup Consultant by NZINGHA . Here we are STROBING to the 11th power!!!

Right now this is my “Go-To” on set STROBING body oil by Caudalie’…WHY? Smells great, sprays (that’s the deal breaker for me) and they’ve got mini’s (also a deal breaker for me, remember I bought the mini Isoplus’ because they were mini and spray!) for my On-Set bag! 

Had we had Caudalie’ in the 90’s I would’ve bought them by wholesale case as I prefer to have bulk of my fave Go-To products. That’s the other thing. When you’ve been at it for years you develop a signature Pro MUA style, presentation and you become set about the products that will become long term staples in your Kit.

Right now this is mt “Go-To” on set body oil…WHY? Smells great, sprays and they’ve got mini’s for my set bag!

 
Jackie Aina : Strobing

Wayne Goss: Strobing

Tina Young: Strobing

The Skinny On Phat Lashes (Part 2)

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Written by NZINGHA for ZFACEINC,nyc

Ok this post is the follow up to The Skinny On Phat Lashes (Part 1) and this one was a bit difficult to compile because there were so many questions regarding mascara and the use of it.

I’ve seen so many makeup faux pas regarding this area of makeup. I mean lets face it when people look at anyone’s face the first thing really see is a persons eyes and the whole eye area. Truly this is where you have the most space on your face for artistic expression through color.

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*Artist Spotlight | Alex Box

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20140411-124624.jpgWritten by NZINGHA for ZFACEINC,nyc

Every now and again there comes along that just inspires you to do the unconventional, the unexpected…strictly ART MAKEUP. Designs, shapes, colors… It is Makeup… But for what? It’s like going to a museum and examining detail , purpose and the direction of the intention of the makeup. How does it make you feel? The face truly represents the canvas. Alex Box is that kind of Makeup Artists….one who inspires you to dare!!!

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*Artist Spotlight | Sharon Gault Mama Makeup

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20140408-082839.jpgWritten by NZINGHA for ZFACEINC,nyc

It was last year (2013) April at IMATS (International Makeup Artists Trade Show) that I’d first met Sharon Gault aka Mama Makeup. We’d know of each other for many years as she and I both have worked with world renowned photographer David LaChappelle over the years (very few MUA’s get that opportunity because his “family” is tight knit). I was with a friend of mine while passing through the myriad of vendor booths and standing quietly at the RCMA booth, I saw the profile of one fire red head diminutive girl speaking with an older man. I immediately knew who she was,…it was indeed Sharon!

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I walked over to her and said “Hi Sharon, I’m NZINGHA.” Immediately she hugged me ,”NZINGHA! OMG! For real, finally I get to meet you! I’ve heard so much about you!” We hugged and giggled like two little girls in a candy store. “Sharon I’m so happy to meet you too! I looked and instantly knew it was you! How are you muffins?! How’s David doing? Tell him I said hi!”

We talked for quite a bit before I was able to introduce her to my friend who was with me shopping and enjoying the show. Sharon immediately introduced me to the makers of RCMA cosmetics and we all chatted. She and I immediately found a place to sit down and chat for about an hour! We spoke to each other with no reservation and telling our life stories to each other. It was truly a sister bonding moment, like we’ve known each other for years. And in a way we have…through our art.

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I wanted to talk with Sharon forever it was such a joy. Her presence is warm and fuzzy yet powerhouse all rolled into one. We talked about everything but makeup!!! Hahaaaahaa! We mostly talked about life in the fast lane of life and family.

As I looked at her I thought what a doll baby, how could anyone treat her with malice or cruelty. I recalled briefly in my mind her time on tour with Madonna and the ugly behaviour Madonna displayed in the film “Truth or Dare” and I thought about Sharon “You can’t stop a great woman from being who she is destined to be!!!” Sharon moved past Madonna and anyone or anything else that may have appeared to be an obstacle! “Team Mama Makeup” all the way!!!

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I also recalled many years back while I was on tour with Janet Jackson, as the tour was coming to a close I got a call from someone telling me about Madonna’s tour and her looking for a Makeup Artist, I’d been referred.

After seeing that Truth or Dare all I could think of was “not gonna work for any amount of $$$” my West Indian self and her…”Nah man, mi a haffa go beat her pon she head, mi no take tea fa di feva, she come bruk up mi son! Mi give her new eyeshadow called “FIST”!”

I was young and extra spicy then, Lololol! My reply to that person who called me was a healthy no and boy am I glad about that. Had I gone out on that tour I would’ve missed the whole new wave of R&B artists that were about to kick the door down.

Sharon was also on that wave with her roster of musicians and actors that seem endless to even mention. Did I mention Lady Gaga? No?…Lady Gaga….team MAMA MAKEUP all the way! Needless to say Sharon is a fabulous face force to be reckoned with! Some say their brush is not a magic wand but in the hands of Sharon Gault I beg to differ!! Sharon is pure magic on makeup,…the skin comes alive with warmth, depth and boldness.

Mama Fashion

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Mama Music

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Mama Actors

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Mama Means Business

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The original interview with Sharon Gault aka Mama Makeup by Vaga Magazine
Like many people who grow up with little means, the choices are: become a victim of your situation, or use it as an impetus to break free. Though her childhood may have been bleary, her escape (as it is for many) was the world of fashion. Collecting fashion magazines like some people collect baseball cards, Gault had every issue of Vogue: “I was obsessed with collecting my Vogue magazines, and I loved the make-up in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.”

Surprisingly, make-up was not where Gault started off. Sharon Gault got her start as a wannabe photographer in California after she became infatuated with a sexy boxer named Lee Canalito. “He looked like a Michelangelo sculpture – he is so beautiful. I started photographing him and photographing things at the gym.”

But as a babe on a budget, photography soon proved to be an expensive habit this was back in the days when people still used film – imagine that. So Gault got a job as a receptionist at Vidal Sassoon.

And thus a new chapter began.

“I used to have a Farrah Fawcett kind of hairdo, like feathered hair and highlights. So I became a hair model.” Her mane soon became the sounding board for Vidal Sassoon. Red, black, platinum, asymmetrical cuts, shaved, she did it all. “I’d go from having this long gorgeous lion’s mane hair to cutting all my hair off, being a house model at Sassoon.”

Though she loved modeling the different looks, Gault’s interest ran deeper than just the superficial.

“I was fascinated at how hair revolutionized fashion and I was really excited about studying what Vidal Sassoon did and how he created his signature shape.”

Her fascination with hair soon led to Gault doing hair for others. She studied at the Vidal Sassoon Academy where she honed her skills as a hair and make-up artist.
Her charming, personality and skills soon took her to the top of the celeb circuit where she notably became famous for appearing in Madonna’s movie, Truth or Dare. Under the guidance of Peter Savic, she keyed the hair for the background dancers and singers for Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour.
Though she may not have become Madonna’s BFF, she did find a soulmate in David LaChapelle. “He’s the closest thing to a husband I’ll ever have,” she jokes. After meeting LaChapelle at a photo shoot in New York, the two became fast friends.
“I was assisting a hairdresser and someone on set said, ‘If you and David LaChapelle meet each other, you will be inseparable.”

And inseparable they were. She went on to become LaChapelle’s muse, working with him on an i-D magazine shoot in which she appears naked lying underneath a bubble perched on a field. Gault may have appeared calm and serene, but in reality she was lying on a trash landfill.

“I’m lying on this landfill, sweating, thinking I’m going to get some bad toxic thing in my system. I’m sitting there crying. And they had no permits and the police were driving by, and here I am naked, and everybody is looking at my coochie.”

Though most people might be a little hesitant about appearing naked even if they have model-perfect bodies, Gault says she was comfortable being photographed nude.

“My mom tried to teach us to honor our bodies. It’s that side of me that likes to show that people love me for me, not for my body.”

Not unlike what she did for the Calvin Klein “Pepper” fragrance commercial.
The commercial was all about encompassing different body types, different people,
and different looks.

“Kate Moss used to live with me, and it’s so nice because it opens up with Kate talking – and at the end it’s
me, and I’m like, ‘It’s for you, it’s for me, it’s for everyone.’ Like we’re all one.”