Exceptional Nigerian-born makeup artist Mali Thomas has been selected by Bobbi Brown Cosmetics as their new Global Artist in Residence.
Mali Thomas, who has over ten years’ experience in the field started off from humble beginnings, working in a restaurant before becoming a visual artist.
“I worked at my family’s restaurant at the age of 15,” Mali told Fluff Magazine. “My biggest career inspiration is through visual art. I didn’t know I would become a makeup artist. I loved to paint on canvas and one day I tried a different medium and it stayed with me. I fell in love with doing makeup. I purchased Kevyn Aucoin’s Face Forward book and the rest is history. Keyvn Aucoin, Way Bandy, Jean-Michel Basquiat are amongst the list of artist that inspire me.”
Mali studied Modern and Contemporary Art History at SAIC in Chicago and holds a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts. She is the owner of Mali Magic LLC, co-owner of Mali & Mursi and her recent appointment at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics gives her a leading role in the #DewyBrownGirl makeup movement working alongside existing Artists In Residence Nikki DeRoest and Romy Soleimani.
When one sees her artistic work, it is hard to believe she perfected it by practicing on her family members.
“I was fascinated by color and the ability to transform a blank canvas into something special. I became more curious about seeing my work on people and began to practice on family,” Mali told VoyageLA. “At that moment, I knew this passion for art, on and off canvas would shape my life. I moved to New York in 2012, started building my portfolio with photographer Maya Guez, assisting, working on countless production sets. One celeb followed the next and with the help of social media, I was able to market to people from all over the world.”
Black women, especially those with more ‘melanin’ always find it difficult to get a suitable shade of foundation or face powder but many including celebrities have found their solution through Mali.
In her interview with VoyageLA she went on to talk about her drive and highlighted the challenges faced by women of color when it comes to makeup products and how she is helping solve this.
“I started to notice there was a disparaging lack of representation in the beauty industry. Makeup companies were not only excluding women of color from their foundation shades, we weren’t visible but we exist! Models would come to me before going to shoots to get their makeup done in fear that no one would have their foundation shade on set. Once I realized this was a problem, I decided to take a stance. I used my social platform to share the beauty of women of color and educate people on how to do their makeup,” she said.
Mali also launched “Behind Her Magic” which is aimed at promoting the end of color discrimination worldwide.
It is true that beauty comes from within, and for Mali, it’s not only about making women look good but also about making them feel good in their natural skin.
“I think we are leaning more towards skincare and clean beauty. We are more interested in taking care of what’s underneath, which has always been my Motto,” she said to Voyage LA.
And what keeps her brand strong?
“We are most proud of the way we are able to evolve and support others. Understanding the importance of growth and never losing integrity is key. We never look at others as competition only as inspiration. We believe the energy you put out will be returned to you, so share positivity!” she told Voyage LA.
“Your thoughts are magnets and they attract what you focus on,” she continued. “I’ve learned to channel my thoughts into focusing on what I want to achieve. Also, understanding the importance of a solid team is key. A team you can learn from because you cannot do it by yourself. You should have a group of people that aren’t going to just tell you what you want to hear.
“However, you must know the difference between constructive criticism and people advising you based on their own fears. Some people can’t see your vision because they can’t see it for themselves. Treat everyone with respect and try new things. There will be times when everything seems to be going wrong but you have to reevaluate and keep going.”
Mali Thomas is also responsible for scouting and nurturing raw talent.
“I hired my own models; most were up and coming, for beauty brand campaign shoots. I am proud to say that the majority of these women have gone on to successful careers,” Mali told VoyageLA. “I love working with the underdogs versus who is “popular” at the time. Being a half-Nigerian woman that came from humble beginnings, I wanted to set the bar high. I didn’t want to just do makeup. I wanted to set the tone and help others along the way. I have to journey forward because people are looking up to me. I owe it to them and to myself.”
According to Fluff Magazine, “Mali Thomas is a leading makeup and beauty educator,” and her “combined love for makeup, art, and painting, makes her a force to be reckoned with. Mali’s greatest passion is her work because it makes her feel free to express herself and to share her gift of artistry through sheer desire and technique.”
Phoebie Shamiso Chigonde is a journalist passionate about gender equality, social development programmes and grassroots-based solution seeking initiatives. She has a passion for women and community development. Phoebie is also a radio personality at a regional commercial radio station, a platform that enables her to network with like-minded women, journalists and activists as she continues to document and tell the story of the ordinary woman from the lens of that very ordinary woman.