DMV Makeup Artist & Podcaster

I wish I could bottle up how I felt yesterday and save it for a rainy day! 🥰 I am beyond honored and humbled to be the recipient of the @blackbeautyroster 2023 AJ Crimson Trailblazer Award. AJ meant so much to me and was the the epitome of a trailblazer, so to receive this award in his honor 🥹 …I can’t even begin to articulate the feeling. To be seen and celebrated for my hard work in a room full of my peers is so rewarding. What made it better is that my 2 mentors @merrellhollis & @danessa_myricks were there to witness it. They have both been so instrumental in my journey and it felt so good to make them proud.💕 The crazy part is that I thought the award was enough. Then BBR & @tartecosmetics awarded me with a $10,000 grant for my business!!! Slide 4 says it all 😭😭😭 Y’all!!!! I’m still soaking it in. I met so many of my idols yesterday, my fave YouTubers, and more. It was lit 🔥 Black Beauty Roster absolutely outdid themselves and it’s so aspirational for what I want to do with @friendsinbeauty . I have lots more footage coming so bear with me. In the meantime check out some highlights in my story & subscribe to Friends in Beauty on YouTube so you can see the vlog of this day when it drops. LlNK lN BlO 💋

In case you missed it 💋 Thank You sooo much to all of the incredible humans that attended the Friends in Beauty Speed Networking Event 🙏🏾 My heart is so full and I’m so blessed to be in a position to curate such a transformational experience for you all. Your presence and enthusiasm made the evening truly remarkable. 💕 Networking is the heart of success in the beauty industry and I can’t stress enough the importance of making meaningful connections. Being in the room with like-minded individuals opens up endless opportunities and sparks the potential for growth and collaboration. Remember, the fortune is in the follow-up!” Take the connections you made and nurture them with genuine interest and care. Reach out, engage, and create lasting relationships that can elevate your careers to new heights. Stay connected with @friendsinbeauty and your newfound #FriendsinBeauty for more exciting events and opportunities lined up just for you! I can’t wait to see you again at our next event, where even more incredible connections await. Cheers to building a thriving network and a bright future together! 🥂 🎥 @nicholas.london #yourbestfriendinbeauty #beautyevents #dmvevents #dmvnetworkingevent #networkingmagic #stayconnected #followup #beautyfriends #entrepreneurlife #beautypreneur

Her smile is infectious 💕😍🥰 @esthi_feliciamarie @domoshotme @phrenchmade @akuarobinson #dmvmakeupartist #dmvcreatives #photoshootmakeup #friendsinbeauty #skinisin

Let the countdown begin! 💃🏽 In 7 days I will be returning to the Hair Education Beauty Summit for a 2nd year in a row and serving as a moderator for the Wisdom Well 2.0. panel. ✨ A conversation centered around women entrepreneurs in beauty. We will be sharing our lessons learned and touch upon topics such as: how to start, sustain, grow a business... the joys and frustrations of being a beauty entrepreneur and a woman in business. 🗓️May 4, 2026 ⏱️10:45am 📍Meadowlands Expo Center Get your tickets today via ! See you there! @haireducationbeautysummit #HEBS2026

I had THEEEE best time working the @yslbeauty Pop Up at Tyson’s Corner Mall last week. ✨ 7 days straight of good vibes, beauty & helping people spend their coins on YSL Beauty during the @sephora sale! Better them than me…am I right!? 😆 This was such a fun experience. I literally could not have asked for a better group of people to work with. I got to work & catch up with my #friendinbeauty @ashleynartistry & made some new friends. I also learned some self-defense moves from our personal security guard @king_bro_x so don’t even try me! 💪🏾 Shoutout to my #friendsinbeauty @marlisacornitcherbeauty & @eleasemonet_ for popping up on me. Also, my nieces, sister, and everyone else I randomly saw in the mall that stopped to say hi! Love y’all! 🥹💕 Have you tried YSL Beauty before? Drop your fave products in the comments. 👇🏾 #yslbeauty #priclessonemgmt #sephorasale

Come visit me at the @yslbeauty pop up at Tysons Corner Mall 💋 I have some makeup goodies and a hug for you! Find me in the evenings located in front of the Sephora. I’ll be there until Sunday. Come see me & shop the Dua Lipa collection in stores at Sephora during their savings event ✨ #yslbeauty

✨ Meet the Panel: Wisdom Well 2.0 ✨ Step into a powerful and purpose-driven conversation at the Hair Education Beauty Summit 2026 💫 This dynamic panel highlights women entrepreneurs in the beauty industry who are sharing real experiences—from how they started, to how they’ve sustained and grown their businesses over time. 💫 Moderator: Akua Robinson @akuarobinson 💫 Tiffany Nicole 💫 Mandy Akbar @mandyshairboutiqueny 💫 Kanosha Ora @kanoshiaaa 💫 Marian Haye @marianhayebeauty 💫 Juanda Roberts @princesshairpizzazz Wisdom Well 2.0: This pane lis all about drawing from lived experiences—lessons learned, challenges faced, and the growth that comes with being a woman in business. From the joys to the frustrations of entrepreneurship, this conversation will pour into you with real insight, practical gems, and honest dialogue about building and maintaining a beauty brand. 📅 May 4th, 2026 ⏰ 10:45 AM 📍 Meadowlands Expo Center, Secaucus, NJ Come ready to be filled, inspired, and equipped with the knowledge to start, sustain, and grow your own journey in beauty. 💫 🎟️ Visit for more details #NewJersey #NewYork #NJ #TriState #NYCFashion NYCBusiness

✨ Meet our 2026 HEBS Panel Moderator ✨ Meet Akua Robinson @akuarobinson — professional makeup artist, beauty educator, and host of Friends in Beauty: The Official Podcast. 💄🎙️ Known for uplifting beauty professionals and creating meaningful conversations in the industry, Akua has built a powerful platform that connects artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives through education, storytelling, and community. Through her work as a makeup artist and podcast host, she continues to inspire the next generation of beauty professionals to grow their craft and build lasting careers. At the Hair Education Beauty Summit 2026, Akua will serve as Panel Moderator, guiding an engaging discussion with industry experts and helping unpack the real experiences, lessons, and opportunities shaping the beauty world today. ✨ 📅 May 4th ⏰ 10:45 AM 🎤 Panel Moderator: Akua Robinson 📍 355 Plaza Dr, Secaucus, NJ 07094 Don’t miss this powerful conversation led by one of the industry’s most passionate voices in beauty education and community. #HEBS2026 #HairEducationBeautySummit #BeautyEducation

So excited to announce that I will be returning to the Hair Education Beauty Summit for a 2nd year in a row and serving as a moderator for the Wisdom Well 2.0. panel. ✨ A conversation centered around women entrepreneurs in beauty. We will be sharing our lessons learned and touch upon topics such as: how to start, sustain, grow a business... the joys and frustrations of being a beauty entrepreneur and a woman in business. Get your tickets today via ! See you there! @haireducationbeautysummit #HEBS2026

Do you interlock or twist your locs? 👀 Laverne, Founder of @nvlxlabs , shares how her products help with some of your worst loc fears. Check out the rest of the conversation, share with another Friend in Beauty, and drop a comment to share some of your takeaways. 💎 If you prefer to watch then tune on YouTube & SUBSCRIBE ✨ LlNK lN BlO TUNE IN HERE 💕 Apple: bit.ly/FIBPodItunes Spotify: bit.ly/FIBPodSpotify YouTube: https://youtu.be/H7QVKIcmtzs

Proof…Yes I still do makeup 💋 Glam for my girl @candalada for the screening of her documentary @raecelebration 2026! Skin @mentedcosmetics - M10, T10, Yacht Life Eyes @glamazonbeautycosmetics Supreme Being Eyeshadow Palette Lips @soulchiccosmetics #dmvmakeupartist #blackownedmakeupbrands

On this week’s episode of the @friendsinbeauty Podcast, I’m so excited to sit down with Laverne Amara, Founder of @nvlxlabs , an eco-lux clean haircare brand created specifically for the loc community. Laverne is a certified loctician and trichology analyst whose work focuses on scalp health, buildup prevention, and education in the natural hair space. In our conversation, she shares how her journey evolved from providing services behind the chair to launching her own product line, and what it really takes to bring a beauty brand to life from scratch. We talk about the realities of product formulation, why her shampoo took about a year to perfect, and the science behind creating formulas specifically for locs versus loose natural hair. Laverne also opens up about entrepreneurship later in life, balancing multiple identities, and why slow, sustainable growth matters more than chasing viral moments. Check out the rest of the conversation, share with another Friend in Beauty, and drop a comment to share some of your takeaways. 💎 If you prefer to watch then tune on YouTube & SUBSCRIBE ✨ LlNK lN BlO TUNE IN HERE 💕 Apple: bit.ly/FIBPodItunes Spotify: bit.ly/FIBPodSpotify YouTube: https://youtu.be/H7QVKIcmtzs #friendsinbeauty #fibpodcast #nvlxlabs #loccommunity