LENOIR — Throughout Black Background Thirty day period, it is vital to acknowledge the achievements of African People in america in our communities and past.
Mila Thomas, a celeb make-up artist for a significant selection of popular Black celebs, started out with humble beginnings in Lenoir and Caldwell County.
She graduated from West Caldwell Substantial University, then went on to examine Mass Communications at Winston-Salem Condition College.
While she was escalating up, Mila usually had a talent for art, primarily drawing and portray, as well as implementing makeup.
“She’s constantly liked accomplishing makeup, so she’s undertaking what she loves,” explained Mila’s mom, Wongalee Thomas of Lenoir. “The main point with Mila, she’s constantly mentoring. Girls and fellas from all around phone her asking issues. She’s a superior mentor she likes to support other people today, and she’s generally uplifting many others. We are so happy of her.”
Mila’s sister, Crissy Thomas, is the only woman and one particular of two African Us residents on Lenoir City Council.
Mila’s occupation has spanned all across the globe, from her very first job at MAC Cosmetics in Winston-Salem to working for Wager in Washington, D.C., the present “Love and Hip Hop” in New York Town, as very well as teaching grasp courses in Lagos, Nigeria. She’s done make-up for a selection of displays on network tv from channels such as MTV, VH1, and Bravo, just to title a few.
Mila carries on to glow brightly as she’s developed a respected name for herself as the “go-to girl” in the Black movie star make-up industry. She at some point moved to Los Angeles, California to operate on “Love and Hip Hop in Hollywood,” wherever she now resides.
“I did the grind for yrs,” Mila recalled. “That’s what folks really don’t see, the grind and the hustle they just feel it’s all a glamorous lifetime. I experienced to slumber on my friends’ couches for decades just so I could have my desire occupation.”

She said she’s actually located her market as she designed a unique talent for lighting Black skin, primarily for community tv. Her substantial shopper list involves artists like Nicki Minaj, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lewis, Ashanti, and Tamron Hall.
Also, Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph of “Moesha” and “Abbott Elementary” fame has been Mila’s consumer for 5 many years. Mila has traveled all over with Sheryl to give her the excellent appears to be for ceremonies and functions from the American Tunes Awards to the 57th Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 12. Sheryl was the initially Black particular person to execute the Black nationwide anthem, “Lift Each Voice and Sing,” in the course of the Super Bowl’s pregame present.
“I’m so proud of her and so delighted for her,” claimed Mila of Sheryl’s good results. “I know how resilient she has been, and it’s been quite worthwhile to work with her. She’s so swish and experienced, really diligent, and usually positive, all of which has led her to wherever she is now. I’m so delighted to be on that journey with her.”
Of her expertise at the Tremendous Bowl this year, Mila reported, “It was wonderful. To have hundreds of thousands of people today see my operate on that magnitude of a phase was completely a milestone in my occupation.”
For Sheryl’s Super Bowl look, Mila labored with each other with Sheryl’s daughter and hair stylist to make confident her make-up and hair would “dazzle and pop” on the phase.
What is following for Mila? Nicely, 1 of her primary goals is to continue on to offer you her mentorship to youthful aspiring Black makeup artists.
“Coming from a small town, I had never ever witnessed any one all over me accomplishing make-up,” Mila explained. “I did not know if there was a long run in it simply because I couldn’t see it, but folks kept telling me I was excellent … it is extremely essential for me to not only make, but I want to use my expertise to give back again. Whatever I do, any items I generate, I give again to my local community. I want to educate young ladies and allow them know that they can be anything they want to be.”
“My suggestions for younger people is, feel about what scares you the most and do that,” she added.
Stick to Mila Thomas @makeupbymila on all social media to study additional about the proficient makeup artist.