An Inspired Chat with Kimberly Davis of Downtown

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kimberly Davis. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Kimberly , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
I think a lot of people misunderstand how much work really goes into doing makeup on set. For my beauty looks I always like to know what my client looks like before I do their makeup I like to study their face, features and their own style of makeup so I can create something they love. When I do special effects I practice weeks ahead of time, even if it’s something I’ve done before I like to make sure I’m at my best. I spend hours promoting and talking to clients and filmmakers. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that makeup artists don’t always get credit for.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I have been doing beauty makeup for a few years and one day, I talked to a friend in Atlanta and he told me he has seen a lot of my makeup work and I should think about doing makeup for film projects. I started to research how to get started on film projects. I looked up makeup artists, joined Facebook film groups and started posting and introducing myself. I got a call to do makeup for my first film project in Columbia, SC they wanted to also teach me how to do special effects makeup. I started to learn a few things about special effects makeup and I started getting calls for projects in Georgia, NC, SC and Texas. I worked on short films, features, commercials, music videos and photoshoots. I really enjoy working on photo shoots and film projects being creative, meeting new people. I hope to be doing this a long time, this is definitely a dream come true. I’ve been able to work with some amazing people that I never thought l’d meet like Deon Richmond, Mo’Nique, Charnele Brown, Robert Lasardo, Rod Wave and ESG, Butch Patrick and Kathy Garver, Harlem Globetrotters and Jennifer Freeman to name a few.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That you have to fit in! I was always taught to do as I’m told, dress and act a certain way but that’s not for me at all. I like to be different, I don’t mind what others think of me, I like to be around people that push me to be better, to go after my dreams, the ones that tell me I can do anything. I’ve grown so much out of what I was taught and it really helped me.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh yes! There have been a few times on film sets where I had some divas that really tested my patience lol but I just pushed through because I know how much I wanted to be apart of that project. It all worked out great at the end but I definitely have had a few moments. That’s what helps build us and grow to get through those hard moments and keep going forward.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
That my friends are my life. I love being around my closest friends they always brighten my day and make me laugh. We can’t pick the family we are born into but we can pick who we want in our lives and often those friends become family.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I love this question because I have a picture of me when I was very little coloring makeup on women’s faces in magazines I always look back at that and it makes me smile. I didn’t start my career until my 30’s but I definitely feel like it’s what I was meant to do. I still love coloring faces.

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