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Bernicia Boateng
Interview & Words Phadria Prendergast
It’s likely that you’ve seen a picture or three pop up on your Instagram explore page of the London based professional makeup artist and influencer. It’s even more likely that after viewing the image, you were led to click follow. Regarded amongst the array of young makeup artists paving the way for adolescent girls of the next generation, Bernicia Boateng certainly isn’t an overnight success. Recently mentioned on one of Forbes’ most coveted lists ’30 under 30’ – the Ghanaian beauty began her makeup journey over 10 years ago stemming back to her mid-teens. WOTC caught up with her to discuss Tom Ford, the women she admires and the importance of having a digital presence.
It was a busy Friday morning and Boateng and I were speaking by telephone when she revealed the two things that sparked her love for makeup – her mother and like many of us, insecurity. She explained how much of a glamorous woman her mother was; a woman who always took pride in how her makeup, nails and hair looked. “That to me has always been a very important part of a woman - keeping yourself groomed and looking beautiful, that was one aspect of it,” she explains. “Another also was just being a little bit insecure,” she admits. “Being a very dark skin girl, growing up in London not feeling beautiful, I did kind of find comfort in wearing makeup and making myself feel pretty. But as I grew up, that definitely turned into loving myself a lot more.”
Boateng, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing, quickly realised that she loved to apply makeup on others and not only herself, after taking on a Christmas position at global makeup giant MAC Cosmetics. “I love how it makes people feel. I love the boost of confidence you see in them. They come in, and they’re kind of slouchy, not feeling so comfortable, but by the time you’re done, they want to be seen by everyone. That transition is definitely what I do it for and just getting to know people. Getting to know how different people live their lives, what they do, great conversations, building relationships - it is just a beautiful energy when you are glamming someone up,” she exclaims.
In 2012, Boateng went from Mac Cosmetics onto Tom Ford’s first standalone store in the UK where she worked as a client sales executive. She credits this time as a key part of her career. As she began taking on her own clients, it didn’t take her long to accumulate a strong clientele. “Most of my clients were people who were just on holiday in London for a few months or a few weeks.” Boateng proudly spoke about how the idea of Bernicia Boateng Studios came from the times she would go down to the beauty counter and see all of the makeup in front of her. She was also in love with the process of giving clients a glass of champagne whilst they had their makeup done. “I was like, ‘oh my god, it would be so cool if I had a beauty room where people could come and just feel gorgeous and get their makeup done and look beautiful before they go out. It’s almost like the party before the party.” Working at the luxury namesake brand of the American designer allowed Boateng to choose a lane. “Tom Ford is very luxury makeup and we were taught everything on a very professional basis, and you know, your clientele was rich, they knew famous people. It became the narrative. That was like the direction I wanted to go down. So, it has been a very pivotal point in my life.”
As much of a businesswoman as she is an influencer, Boateng has a strong social media following where she displays her work and also lets her followers in on her personal life. Her client list boasts of the likes of English model Leomie Anderson and actress Michaela Coel. “I feel like it is a lifestyle, I know that everything has to look aesthetically pleasing because of the influencer side,” she comments. “In terms of the artistry, I love it because the combination of the two makes what I do very unique just because I am actually on set, you know. I’m actually behind the camera making sure that I am doing professional makeup on professional models, actors, singers, etc.” For Boateng, being a businesswoman and an influencer is advantageous on both sides, especially in regard to being an influencer because it enables her to speak from a professional standpoint as opposed to simply just giving an opinion on a piece of makeup.
Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, Boateng was among the many to understand the importance of having a digital presence. “I introduced my online classes and made them really quick, fun and interactive - almost like a getaway from a very horrible time where everyone was speaking about death.” In a time where no one had any control over what was happening, Boateng wanted women to feel in control of their beauty so she ceased the opportunity to do just that. Women who wanted to learn anything about beauty from knowing how to do facials to just improving the general look of their makeup could do just that with her.
“I feel like the future of beauty is definitely going to be a lot more virtual”, Boateng comments. With many restrictions and rules still in place, more and more women are learning how to achieve their own glam and taking the risk of being more creative. “I feel like women are not scared to experiment as much because they know they are at home and can wash it off, whereas when you get your makeup done you are paying for it and you are more likely to stay safe. So, I think women will be doing things and using colours that they wouldn’t normally.”
The celebrity makeup artist advises the next generation of makeup artists to be creative and be themselves. “Be daring and love the skin you’re in. I always say that makeup is not to cover you up, it’s to enhance. So, remember to always just enhance your beauty and see yourself the way that others see you. I feel like that is something that’s really important. Sometimes, I see girls and they contour their noses to the nines and it’s like, you’re perfect without all of that. Just enhance what you’ve naturally got. Makeup doesn't make you confident, you make yourself confident.” For Boateng, the more you love yourself, the more authentic and beautiful your work looks.
On the other end of the spectrum, Boateng shared that she is advised by many people, one of which includes British DJ and presenter Clara Amfo who currently hosts BBC Radio 1’s mid-morning show. She leans on Clara for wisdom. “I absolutely adore Pat McGrath as somebody I look at, me being in the next 20 years or so, hopefully less,” she laughed. Her list of advisors also includes Michaela Coel, client and actress who she comments that she has many deep conversations with. “These are all women that are striving, and they’re doing amazing things at the moment. They are a little bit older than me, so it is good to be able to have these strong figures in my life work wise."
Boateng manages her business relationships by simply being herself. “I go with the flow; I always try to keep it as professional as possible to start with and build a friendship through that. I keep up to date with people. I’m nice with my clientele, I treat everyone the same. You have clients that are famous or are in showbiz or whatever, but everyone is on the same level and I think being genuine, being transparent and showing genuine love to people is the best way to keep up with them.”
Before we went on with our busy days, I had asked Boateng whether she was a thinker or a doer. “A doer,” she laughs. “I don’t think much, I just do what I feel is right and I am a risk taker.”
