As you all may know, I had the opportunity to interview Nicki Minaj on July 4, and instead of asking her about salacious gossip and rumors, I wanted to talk about something positive for a change. I asked her about a young lady that was on the boat with her that day that she was using as her makeup artist name Tatiana Ward. Tatiana goes by the name of Beat Face Honey on YouTube and she gained popularity and a huge following through her makeup tutorials–some of which were inspired by celebrities. Tatiana received her big break of being a celebrity makeup artist this year when Brandy allowed her to do her makeup (after Tatiana’s followers bombarded her with messages) and now Tatiana is working with Nicki Minaj. You can see her work on Nicki in the upcoming “Clappers” and “Get Like Me” music videos as well as the 2013 BET Awards.
[To catch up on the story click here. Also click here to read Tatiana’s email after she worked with Brandy.]
I logged on to Instagram the day I uploaded my interview with Nicki and was in tears when I read Tatiana’s response. She wrote:
Can I say tearjerker?
People may wonder why I write about Tatiana’s story so much and my only answer, besides the fact that it’s inspiring and she has an amazing spirit, is that I am paying it forward. When I interned in radio, I had no money and I wasn’t eating and I remember walking in the Assistant Program Director’s office one day and I told her with tears in my eyes, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’
I had been in that radio station every day for six months straight from 7am in the morning until 10-11pm at night working for free because I was not only passionate about it, but I knew I had to do what others wouldn’t to get any job that became available. So I would come in and learn how the morning show worked and get coffee and all that jazz, I would go back to the promotions department for a few hours and help the marketing director, at 2pm, I’d go back to the studio and help the afternoon jock book celebrity interviews and run the boards. I’d do van runs with the promotions assistants in the evenings and on weekends. I attended sales meetings and learned how the station made money. I did whatever it took to be useful vs. being useless. But I was also hungry and broke, and days away from getting kicked out of my apartment.
When I came into her office crying, Kris Kelly, the assistant program director at WJLB at the time, immediately wrote me a check and she said “I’m doing this because this is an investment. You are a star!” [The first time I had ever heard those words.] She said, ‘I don’t need this back. All I ask from you is that you help other young women in the same way as I helped you.’
Since then, I always remembered that. When I started my blog and it began to grow, I always made a conscious effort to hire young women, (especially those in small towns who had limited opportunities) to work for me, whether it was in graphic design, designing outfits for big events, working as my personal assistant, digital marketing, etc. I provided not only a mentorship, but an opportunity within my brand. I had to fulfill that promise.
I post on Tatiana because she is a star, her story is beyond inspiring (she really renewed my passion in what I do) and I know that she is also paying it forward by helping someone else.
A huge dream for me is to create a platform for these type of stories and I promise you I am working on it every single day.
Thanks everyone for the continuous love and support and thank you Kris Kelley (WGCI) for that check. It got me through the next week before the station hired me as the Promotions Coordinator. Look at GOD!
Me and Tatiana (Beat Face Honey) on July 4: Myx and Mingle Cruise
And my interview with Nicki Minaj on how she hired Beat Face Honey:
My instagram is on the blog!!!! (-:
Hey Necole!
The name is stated but you may call me Ness. I am a 25 year old Graduate Student and I just finished reading this article and I am in tears, yet again today. I say yet again today because this morning I woke up, not giving a damn anymore about things and just letting the tears flow.
I graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Art/Graphic Design & Photography. It was such a rough 4 years for me, especially the final semester of college because I had to battle possibly not graduating due to the fact that no bank was approving me for a loan (I wasn’t qualified for almost any scholarships because of my dad’s salary and I was kicking ass in school with a 3.6/3.7 GPA), taking 18 credit courses (6 classes) but deeper than that, having to watch my mom suffer and get badly ill because of a dislocation in her lower spine with a hernia which caused her to almost lose 100% mobility in her left leg.
So for that 1 moment, I said screw my dreams – she comes first. I lost sleep and a care for my life – just to bring her back to the strong woman I always looked at her to be. Now, 3 years and 2-3 internships later, I still struggle. Although I am working to obtain my masters degree in Web and Multimedia, I try so hard not to lose hope in getting that job in something that I love with all of my heart.
When I came across Tatiana Ward’s story, I said to myself “moments like this still exist! anything can happen when you fight hard to make your dreams come true!” When I read about you and your background story a couple of months back, you became one of the very very few women in my life I can honestly look up to and say “if she was able to make her dreams come true despite hardships then damn it, I cant lose hope, my time is coming!”.
Thank you for bringing these stories to light, thank you for paying it forward, for just being you! This is just what I needed to keep pushing forward with my day and if I ever meet you in person, a big thank you and a hug will be given. You are making a difference. Never forget that. <3
Thank you so much. This means everything to me…
Ya know what I love about this story? These beautiful women are supporting eachother, encouraging eachother, and empowering eachother! Necole, you are gorgeous, and because of that honestly I would expect you to really live up to the “bitchie” part of your name… But clearly you are lovely inside and out! I truly respect you for that! 🙂
Don´t forget the men you inspire as well! Love your work ethic Necole. God bless.
I swear everytime I feel like giving up, Necole writes a touching blog that reminds me to keep pushing. Thank you! I’ve followed u since day 1 and I’m probably one of your biggest fans….not because you’re a big time blogger now, but because your story is so inspiring.
Both of your testimonies are encouraging. God shows out when you trust, believe and stay committed to His purpose in you without having the means. Congratulations to you both as you continue to do amazing things and set new trends.
This post solidifies something I wrote down just the other day “Have a plan, think it out, write it out, wait for it, and marvel in it!”…. Thanks again for inspiring and telling your story and the story of others for the betterment of us all!