We had the good fortune of connecting with Aalaysia Smallwood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aalaysia, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
My God sized dream is to do charity work with cancer hospitals to provide beauty makeovers to the patients. I’ve lost family members to cancer and I can’t imagine the thoughts of the women and little girls losing their hair and not feeling beautiful. So I want to do my part by providing makeovers for them makeup, wigs, manicures. The works. If I can do my part in making them smile and feel beautiful I want to do just that! Service to others is the rent you pay for your room on earth. I also want to be in the magazine industry as a makeup artist. I feel as a black woman there’s never really a fair chance given in high fashion magazines like vogue and vanity fair as a creative. I want to break those barriers and make space for myself and the other black creatives to come.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m busy with photoshoots, weddings, style shoots you name it! I’m very passion driven, I’m passionate about every single thing I do. My art is simply about making people happy and feel beautiful. I’m not like every makeup artist I focus on enhancing not transforming. I want my clients to feel like the best versions of themselves. I never want them to feel like when they remove their makeup they’re removing their beauty. You are already beautiful I’m just here to enhance it, intensify it. I got where I am professionally today by not giving up. Trust me I’ve had every reason to give it all up and get a corporate job. I asked myself ownership or slave ship which do you want? And I made the decision to go head first for my dreams. The alternative is a ordinary life but why would I settle for ordinary when God promised me extraordinary! I don’t feel like I’ve made it I haven’t begun to reach my peak, but I’m not stopping!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would definitely go to spa castle get some pampering. I’d take her to Tru Kitchen Kocktails for some yummy food and drinks then later that night do some club hopping in deep ellum. Wouldn’t be us if we didn’t go shopping at the galleria mall to spend a bunch of money on stuff we don’t need lol. To me Dallas is all about the food, the nightlife is cool but I’m a sucker for some bomb food, scenery and laughs of course!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
40 day prayer challenge by Mark Batterson changed my life. It taught me how to pray and what to pray for. God aligned me with talented people and revealed amazing opportunities. I’ve really built and molded Lei Beautique by myself with the support of my close family. My friend Stacey Daugherty owner of Lavish Beauty Studio in Sherman, Tx has been the closest thing to a mentor that I’ve had. She not only inspires me but she never hesitates to help me or guide me in the right direction and set me up for success.

Instagram: Leibeautique_

Image Credits
Photographers: Samson Uko, Mackenzie Clark, Yusra Mohammed Stylist: Kimberly Williams

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