{"id":168168,"date":"2025-09-24T13:30:30","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T17:30:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=168168"},"modified":"2025-10-02T12:26:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T16:26:17","slug":"how-a-signature-blush-defined-makeup-artist-painted-by-esthers-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=168168","title":{"rendered":"How Blush Defined Makeup Artist Painted by Esther\u2019s Rise"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.centerimg {padding:4em 7em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg2 {padding:4em 4em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg3 {padding:4em 3em;margin:20px 0;}\n.sidetxt {padding:16em 2em 16em 2em;;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg img {margin-bottom:0px;}\n.instagram-media {margin:auto !important;}\n#wp-content hr {margin: 40px auto 80px auto;width: 80%;}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/09\/509622911_18418402126096766_6429501125607951046_n.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-168171\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Anok Yai | Image courtesy of Ngozi Esther Edeme<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p>You may have seen her viral pink blush looks all over Instagram and TikTok, inspiring countless recreations. It\u2019s no wonder then how <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/people\/Ngozi-esther-edeme-1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ngozi Esther Edeme,<\/a> best know as Painted by Esther, has taken the beauty industry by storm, redefining the notion that darker skin can\u2019t handle bright, colorful blush. Her love for beauty began in Nigeria, watching her mother spend hours getting ready, and later became a source of comfort after moving to England. She went on to study sociology and work as a nurse, but the traditional career path left her unfulfilled. After graduating in 2018, she moved to London, and soon after landed big break doing makeup on Tiffany Calver <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/people\/aubrey-drake-graham\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">(Drake\u2019s DJ) <\/a> on his tour. From there, the momentum never stopped. Today, Edeme counts <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/adut-akech\">Adut Akech<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/Naomi-Campbell\">Naomi Campbell<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/olandria-carthen\">Olandria Carthen<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/gabrielle-union\">Gabrielle Union<\/a> among her clients. Her work has taken her to some of fashion and pop culture\u2019s biggest stages, from the Met Gala with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJU5U9kOpbZ\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Akech<\/a> to this year\u2019s Super Bowl, where she created <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DF4eAvbObTR\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SZA\u2019s look<\/a>. Even during our interview, she was juggling calls to glam a celebrity the very next day, a testament to her rising demand. \u201cI never take it for granted, and I\u2019ll never let it get to my head,\u201d she says. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s about staying humble. This could all end tomorrow, but I\u2019m grateful that it hasn\u2019t.\u201d Models.com spoke with Edeme ahead of fashion month about her beauty icons, how her fine arts background sharpened her makeup skills, and what\u2019s next for her. <\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/09\/487248780_18405194014096766_3767321537723618244_n.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-168173\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Cassie | Image courtesy of Ngozi Esther Edeme<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Where are you from, and what was your relationship to beauty when you were growing up?<\/strong><br \/>\nI was born in Nigeria and went to school there before moving to England. My journey with beauty started back home, where there is a strong emphasis on presenting yourself well. I\u2019d watch my mum get ready for work, spending hours on her hair and makeup. I can still remember the strong, perfumed smell of her powders, and that really ignited my love for beauty. She would buy me dolls, and the first thing I did was braid their hair or redo their makeup. When we moved to England, beauty became my comfort, especially while asylum seeking, when there weren\u2019t many other comforts. I spent hours on YouTube watching tutorials from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/MsAaliyahJay\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aaliyah Jay<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@Makeupshayla\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Makeupshayla<\/a>. In secondary school, I had my prom while living with white foster parents, they didn\u2019t understand how significant it felt to be the only Black girl in school with something to prove. In Blackburn, where I grew up, beauty was important for many of the girls, too. They would come into school with fake tan, lip gloss, nails, and lashes. When my foster mum refused to book me a makeup artist for prom, I decided to do it myself. I went back to YouTube, watched<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@patrickstarrr\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Patrick Starrr<\/a>, Makeupshayla, and Aaliyah Jay, and practiced. Prom was the first time I did my makeup for something big, and it turned out so well. My teachers and classmates loved it, especially my eyeshadow, and I thought I could really do this. I applied for countless makeup jobs, especially at MAC, but was always rejected. That drove me to prove I was good enough. I studied sociology at university because my parents wanted me to have a degree. While I understood that, I wasn\u2019t passionate about it. Instead of focusing on my dissertation, I was planning makeup looks. I would ask girls on campus if I could do their makeup, and they agreed. I posted the looks online, and they often went viral. After graduating, I moved to London, took a leap of faith, and couch-surfed while pursuing makeup. I always believed something would work out, and it did. My first big break was going on tour with Drake, doing his DJ Tiffany Calver&#8217;s makeup for two weeks. Posting about it brought attention to my work, and it kept growing. My first major client was Ari Lennox, I did her makeup for a shoot, and she posted it. People loved it, and it kept building from there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Was your family supportive of your decision to be a full-time makeup artist?<\/strong><br \/>\nInitially, I didn\u2019t have my parents\u2019 support. I didn\u2019t really have anyone\u2019s support, but I had my own. I\u2019ve always said I\u2019m stubborn in a good way, because if I had listened to what people wanted for me, I\u2019d be miserable. I\u2019d be stuck in the wrong job. I was a nurse before this, and it just wasn\u2019t fulfilling. I was depressed and thought, This can\u2019t be my life. So about a month after graduating in 2018, I moved out. I told myself, I know what I want, I know what God has planned for me.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I saw that you also studied fine arts. How did that path lead you to become a full-time makeup artist?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes, I studied fine arts all my life, from school through college, before dropping it at university because it became too theoretical. But it definitely helped me. I always have a reason for everything I do on the face, and that translates perfectly into makeup. I\u2019m an artist by nature; that\u2019s my first talent. I was a portrait artist, so I\u2019ve always studied faces and sketched them. I used to win competitions for it. Fine arts taught me how to apply light to the face, understand the high points, mid-points, and low points, and contour perfectly. The nose was my favorite thing to draw. I loved focusing on the middle point and sculpting it out. My mediums were pen, graphite, oil paint, and sometimes acrylic if I was feeling experimental.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DOstmW-DG3M\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DOstmW-DG3M\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DOstmW-DG3M\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Ngozi Edeme (@paintedbyesther)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>Who were some of your beauty icons growing up? I know you mentioned your mom, but were there any other beauty icons who inspired you?<\/strong><br \/>\nMy number one was definitely <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/sam-fine\">Sam Fine<\/a>. His book changed my life, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/kevyn-aucoin\">Kevyn Aucoin<\/a> was another huge influence. There\u2019s one look he did on <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/Naomi-Campbell\">Naomi Campbell<\/a> that has stayed with me forever, a matte \u201990s eyeshadow paired with flawless skin. I was also inspired by drag queens. I watched Drag Race religiously to see how they beat their faces, applied makeup, and transformed themselves. That\u2019s actually how I learned to use tapes. A lot of my biggest inspirations are male artists, I don\u2019t think men make up better, but they bring a different flair and touch. <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/scott-barnes\">Scott Barnes<\/a> was another turning point for me, I attended one of his masterclasses, and it completely shifted the way I work. He taught me how to prep the skin before sculpting and introduced me to underpainting; he\u2019s the one behind that famous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CqJNuqGOBGO\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">photo <\/a> of <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/kim-kardashian\">Kim Kardashian<\/a> with the contour lines across her face. From him, I learned placement, product textures, and how to really blend. He is the underpainting king. Of course, there\u2019s also <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/pat-mcgrath\">Pat McGrath<\/a>. She\u2019s the queen of shimmer and avant-garde, and her work has heavily influenced mine. I\u2019ve had the honor of working with her and meeting her, and she truly is everything you\u2019d expect her to be. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/danessa_myricks\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Danessa Myricks <\/a> has also been a major influence, especially when it comes to photography. She gave me the confidence to embrace it, because as a makeup artist, you need to know how to capture your work in the best light. I used to be intimidated by cameras and lighting, but watching her so confidently handle it made me realize I could do the same. Last year, I met her at a dinner and had my camera with me. She asked me what camera it was because she loved it, and it was such a full-circle moment, me putting her onto a camera after she had inspired me so much. We bonded instantly over that, and we\u2019ve kept in touch since. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you also know how to edit your images in Photoshop?<\/strong><br \/>\nYou have to. It goes hand in hand, but I try not to because I don\u2019t want to mislead anyone. That\u2019s why I post a lot of videos so that people can see the makeup in motion. I also share content where I haven\u2019t taken the photos myself. For example, I recently did a look with Olandria for <em>Watch What Happens Live<\/em>. I found the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DNVQCxCMB0L\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">images<\/a> from Twitter and they were perfect, I like posting things where you can see the work in different settings. I had a meeting recently with an agency I\u2019m signing with, and they picked up on that. They said, \u201cWe love how your pictures feel from your point of view, and we can see your work from so many angles and in different lighting.\u201d That way, people know exactly what they\u2019re getting. You don\u2019t have to come to my page and think it\u2019s heavily edited or question whether to book me. When your work only shows one face, one angle, it limits the type of client you attract. I want all kinds of clients, so I try to put out content that caters to everyone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Your signature look, most notably your pink blush seen on <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/anok-yai\">Anok Yai<\/a>, <em>Love Island\u2019s<\/em> <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/olandria-carthen\">Olandria Carthen<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/cassie-ventura\">Cassie <\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/jaylah-jimya-hickmon\">Doechii.<\/a> has taken the internet by storm. How did you develop this signature style?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt really came from trial and error. There wasn\u2019t a specific inspiration. If anything, it came from being stubborn. When people said as a Black woman I had to stick to orange blush, I wanted to prove that wasn\u2019t true. When I look at a face, I focus on undertones. Not every Black woman has orange undertones. We can be warm, cool, neutral, or super warm, and pinks, corals, and purples complement those tones beautifully. For me, it was also about seeing beauty across all ethnicities and noticing what draws me to each person. For Black women especially, cheekbones are often incredible, and the best way to highlight them is with color and glow. It started with that and years of experimenting. The more faces you work on, the more you tweak and learn what enhances them. I also think it ties back to my love for dolls, Bratz, Winx Club, Barbie. My mum always bought them for me, and that probably influenced me subconsciously. I\u2019ve always been heavy on blush for myself too. It\u2019s my number one product. After moisturizer, the first thing I apply is blush. So this signature style grew from practice on myself and others, and over time it became what people recognize me for.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/09\/532410332_18425309863096766_1337511567423876256_n.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-168170\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Olandria Carthen | Image courtesy of Ngozi Esther Edeme<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>This year marked your second Met Gala, where you keyed <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/models\/adut-akech\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Adut Akech\u2019s<\/a> look. What was it like collaborating with the <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/swarovski\">Swarovski<\/a> team to bring that vision together?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt was interesting, to say the least. This is why being stubborn helps, because the direction they wanted was not the final look. They wanted her plain, with no color on her face at all. But I\u2019ve done Adut\u2019s makeup for years, and I know what complements her and what pops on camera. She was wearing this elaborate pink outfit, and as a dark-skinned Black woman, pink complements her skin perfectly. The mood board they sent was just skin and a lash, and I said, \u201cThat\u2019s fine, but that\u2019s not what we\u2019re going to do.\u201d On site, they repeated that vision, and again I pushed back. I told them her skin needs color, shimmer, highlight, and drama. She has the perfect face and features to carry it, she  really is a Bratz doll. Once I pitched my idea, they agreed and said, \u201cYou know what, you\u2019re right.\u201d I appreciated that they were willing to listen, I gave her the drama and Adut loved it. She always gives me freedom and trusts my hand. We\u2019ve been working together for four years now, and the first time I did her makeup was for the British Fashion Awards. Since then, we\u2019ve built that trust. For the Met, we settled on a pink brow, pink highlight on the cheekbones, a neutral eye, and a sparkly lip to tie in the outfit and the essence of Swarovski. That was my intention, to translate that onto her face.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In your eyes, what&#8217;s the most important part of your job as a makeup artist?<\/strong><br \/>\nThat\u2019s a good question. No one\u2019s ever asked me that. Being good at your job is number one, but being personable is just as important. They have to like you and your spirit. Naomi picks up on energy, and the first time I met her she said, \u201cYou\u2019ve got good energy. You\u2019ve got good spirit.\u201d I told her, \u201cThank you, I\u2019m happy to be here.\u201d And I always am, no matter the situation. Whether we have plenty of time or we\u2019re rushing in a stressful environment, I try to stay calm because they can feel that energy. If you\u2019re panicky, it rubs off on them, and they\u2019re the talent. You have to remember that. Their needs come first, their ideas come before yours, even if they trust you. You can\u2019t be egotistical, it\u2019s not about you. You have to be a good listener and take direction well. My background in customer service and nursing helped with that, and those experiences shaped how I work now. So for me, the most important things are being skilled and being personable. Being nice, making people laugh, and loving what you do. If you love the job, you\u2019ll push through no matter how tired you are.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJU5U9kOpbZ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJU5U9kOpbZ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJU5U9kOpbZ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Adut Akech Bior (@adutakech)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>You\u2019ve worked with supermodels like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DL5fj0KsQz9\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Naomi Campbell<\/a> and artists like<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DMNWO3fMzIK\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Tyla<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKw8qrBNKEs\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kelly Rowland<\/a>. How do you adjust your approach depending on the client?<\/strong><br \/>\nI\u2019m blessed that they genuinely trust my eye. They know I love them, and they know I\u2019ve done my research. I understand their personality types and what makeup they\u2019ll want. With more mature women, the look is usually toned down unless the occasion calls for something bold. Naomi prefers a sculpted face. She\u2019s not heavy on blush, which makes sense with her incredible cheekbones. She likes sculpt and glow with radiant skin. Kelly is more playful. She doesn\u2019t tell me what to do, but she\u2019ll show me her outfit and hair, and I\u2019ll build the look around that. Tyla is young and fun. She usually says, \u201cGive me loads of blush, give me an eye or a lip.\u201d She always wants something playful unless it\u2019s for radio, then we\u2019ll keep it simple with basic glam. I look at their personality types. I grew up watching Naomi and Kelly, so I know their preferences. With Tyla, it\u2019s clear from her page. Her aesthetic matches mine perfectly.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I know you said that you grew up watching Naomi Campbell and Kelly Rowland. So how does that feel for you now that these are your personal clients?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt\u2019s quite insane. On one hand, it feels like just another day, but then I\u2019ll see clips on Twitter or TikTok of Naomi\u2019s best walk moments and think, what? It still hasn\u2019t fully registered that this is the same woman whose house I go to and travel with. We were just in Brazil last week, and before that Hong Kong. Moments like that make me realize, wow, this is real. It does feel surreal. I even go to her kids\u2019 birthdays, which is mind-blowing. With Kelly, it\u2019s the same. Our glam sessions are filled with prayer and gospel music. We talk, we vibe, she\u2019ll play me unreleased tracks and ask what I think. While filming The Voice, she pulled me into her room to play songs she\u2019d been working on. She gave me her headphones and waited for my approval, and I remember having an out-of-body experience thinking, is this really happening? Music is a big part of our bond, we connect over <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/brandy-norwood\">Brandy <\/a> rock, and so many shared tastes, and she trusts my ear. Naomi is one of the reasons I got into makeup. That iconic Kevyn Aucoin look on her shaped me. To now be traveling with her, taking photos at Christ the Redeemer together, it\u2019s surreal. I do have to pinch myself sometimes and think, oh my God, this is my life. I never take it for granted, and I\u2019ll never let it get to my head. One of my constant prayers is to never become arrogant. I don\u2019t ever want to feel like I deserve these things or that they have to happen to me. Of course, you work hard and want success, but I never want to feel like I\u2019m the end-all. For me, it\u2019s about staying humble. This could all end tomorrow, but I\u2019m grateful that it hasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Going back to Naomi (Campbell), I know that you\u2019ve worked together across multiple editorials for <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/dazed-magazine-dazed-magazine-summer-2025-covers\/2537688\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dazed<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/i-d-magazine-i-d-magazine-springsummer-2025-covers\/2488578\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">i-D<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/dust-magazine-china-dust-magazine-china--issue-3--2025-covers\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dust Magazine<\/a>. You touched on this a bit, but how is your creative partnership? Could you expand on that a little more?<\/strong><br \/>\nShe really just lets me get on with it, she doesn\u2019t tell me what to do. She\u2019ll sit in the chair, and even if we\u2019re short on time, she trusts me. In Brazil, she spent an hour on her lashes, which left me only 20 minutes for makeup before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DN1W_6xXMKk\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">live TV<\/a>. She said, \u201cIt\u2019s fine, Esther\u2019s quick. Esther can do it.\u201d And I did. That clip was everywhere online. She trusts that I\u2019ll get her right, even under pressure. At the end, she\u2019ll check and say, \u201cYeah, this is good.\u201d If she wants a tweak, it\u2019s small, more gloss, less gloss, but rarely any direction. It\u2019s the same on shoots. They\u2019ll send a mood board, but when we get there, she\u2019ll say, \u201cDo what you want, give me what I like.\u201d That happened recently for Vogue Japan, or maybe Vogue China. The team had an elaborate mood board, but she wanted her signature glam. With her, it\u2019s about finding the middle ground. You don\u2019t want to ignore the shoot\u2019s vision, but you also want to honor her preferences because she\u2019s so specific. She\u2019s done makeup all her life, so she knows exactly what she likes, especially with skin. If you can get her skin right, you\u2019re locked in. I\u2019ve been working with her for almost four years now, and that trust is what makes the partnership work.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/09\/SnapInsta.to_534930445_18426180199096766_3993510041627560056_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-168174\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Naomi Campbell by Sean and Seng | Image courtesy of Ngozi Esther Edeme<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Looking back on your career so far, what moments stand out to you as some top highlights?<\/strong><br \/>\nDefinitely this year, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DF4eAvbObTR\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Super Bowl<\/a>  was number one. I did <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/people\/sza-r\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SZA\u2019s <\/a> makeup, which was insane and still doesn\u2019t feel real. Meeting and working with <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/cassie-ventura\">Cassie <\/a> comes second, she\u2019s the mood board for me and my friend, a hairstylist I often collaborate with. We don\u2019t over-plan; we vibe and create looks together, and Cassie has always been our inspiration. When they reached out, it was surreal. We walked into the room, looked at each other, and started jumping like kids. Then Cassie walked in apologizing for being \u201cso late,\u201d even though it was only five minutes. I told her, \u201cGirl, I\u2019ve waited seven hours before. You\u2019re fine.\u201d She was heavily pregnant, glowing, and so warm, that day stays with me. <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/models\/Naomi-Campbell\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Naomi (Campbell) <\/a> is another highlight, I love her. She\u2019s taken me places I dreamed of, given me opportunities like a <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/vogue-korea-vogue-korea-november-2023-covers\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vogue cover<\/a>, and pushed for me every step. She even brought her full glam team onto the Ritz Yacht recently and made sure we had our own rooms. She is serious about supporting Black talent, always tipping quietly, always making sure people are seen. If she likes you, she trusts you completely, working with her feels like family. <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/kelly-rowland\">Kelly Rowland<\/a> is the same. She\u2019s such a kind-hearted, grounded woman. Working with her feels like therapy, I literally skip to work when I know I\u2019m glamming her. We\u2019ve done Venice Film Festival, Fashion Weeks, Making the Band, and now The Voice UK. The trust she places in me still amazes me. She could easily book someone with 20 years in the industry, but she insists on me an I\u2019ll never take that for granted. <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/viola-davis\">Viola Davis<\/a> is another standout, that job came last minute as I was leaving Paris. I had to decide between her and another client, and of course I chose Viola. I only had an hour with her, but we talked politics, she radiated warmth, and she loved the makeup without a single note. A week later, she followed me on Instagram and reposted a behind-the-scenes clip I had taken, that was surreal. Also, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/chloe-bailey\">Chloe Bailey<\/a>, she\u2019s more than a client, she\u2019s my sister for life. We\u2019ve built a bond outside of glam, and she\u2019s one of the most encouraging, fun people I know. <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/tyla-laura-seethal\">Tyla <\/a> too, I adore her. Also, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/gabrielle-union\">Gabrielle Union<\/a>, my Scorpio queen. I\u2019ve been blessed to work with so many incredible women, but those moments are definitely the ones that stand out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You&#8217;re a Scorpio as well?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes. We bonded on that for sure, Gabrielle (Union) is my queen. She&#8217;s the reason SZA booked me, she went into SZA\u2019s DMs and told her, \u201cIf you need a makeup artist, this is your girl.\u201d In interviews, she talks about me, and even Dwyane (Wade) talks about me. They\u2019re both so supportive, she trusted me enough to do Dwyane\u2019s makeup and also Zaya\u2019s. That level of trust means everything. I even got an email from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/anikaaroundtheworld\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Anika Noni Rose<\/a> where the subject line said Gabrielle Union had recommended me. So yes, heavy on Gabrielle.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DFaRJYssx3Q\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DFaRJYssx3Q\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DFaRJYssx3Q\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Ngozi Edeme (@paintedbyesther)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you keep your mental health in check, because you&#8217;re so busy all the time? Are there any rituals that you do?<\/strong><br \/>\nI got a dog recently and that has helped the most, I live alone and wanted a companion to share life with. He sleeps next to me at night and having him around gives me comfort. I tried therapy but it did not click, so I may try another therapist in the future. I focus on sleep when I can, which is essential after back-to-back trips. In one week I was in Brazil, then the week before I was in LA, New York, Chicago, and Canada. My body is still recovering from that schedule and from long flights. I also make sure to eat, and I pray a lot. I use the Bible app daily to remind myself of the word. For me, Christianity is about continually refreshing and applying what you learn, not relying on yesterday\u2019s insight. I pray throughout the day, even quietly when I am out. If something is bothering me, I talk to friends, my parents, or my assistant. My assistant Rochelle, knows me so well that she is like a therapist to me. <\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you define success in this industry, and what do you see next for yourself on the horizon?<\/strong><br \/>\nThat\u2019s a good question, I think I\u2019ve reached where I wanted to be. I\u2019ve worked with the people I dreamed of <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/people\/kelly-rowland\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kelly (Rowland)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/models\/Naomi-Campbell\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Naomi (Campbell)<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/people\/gabrielle-union\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gabrielle (Union),<\/a> <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/sza-r\">SZA,<\/a> and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/jaylah-jimya-hickmon\">Doechii. <\/a> For me, that feels like success. But you still have to keep pushing. Life doesn\u2019t stop once you hit your goals, so I\u2019ve set new ones. Right now, I\u2019m working on a book because there\u2019s been so much demand for it. I also want to create my own products. I already have one I use on my clients, a setting spray I developed in university and have been perfecting ever since. It\u2019s the only spray I use to finish glam. If I\u2019m doing a performer like Doechii, I\u2019ll add One\/Size or Kryolan, but for everyday glam I only use my spray. One day, I\u2019ll release it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/09\/painted-by-esther-image.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"460\" height=\"498\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-168209\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Ngozi Esther Edeme<\/small>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anok Yai | Image courtesy of Ngozi Esther Edeme You may have seen her viral pink blush looks all over Instagram and TikTok, inspiring countless recreations. It\u2019s no wonder then how Ngozi Esther Edeme, best know as Painted by Esther, has taken the beauty industry by storm, redefining the notion that darker skin can\u2019t handle&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":450,"featured_media":168209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6476,10414,16,13943],"tags":[12930,15018],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168168"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/450"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=168168"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":168214,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168168\/revisions\/168214"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/168209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=168168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=168168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=168168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}