Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Deida Massey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Deida, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I inherited my work ethic from my grandfather. My grandfather was a judge in The Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois. While in elementary school, he instilled how important it is to work hard but seek purpose. As I worked on my craft as a makeup artist, I was able to apply those values he instilled in me to dedicate myself in ways that propelled me to be more committed and ambitious. Having a strong work ethic allowed me to work harder to achieve my goals.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been a makeup artist for over 25 years. I started my career by taking a leap of faith to from my 9 to 5 as a paralegal advocating for abused and neglected children to LA to become a makeup artist. There I had no idea that decision would take my career through leaps and bounds. Today, I am a makeup artist for TV and Film. However, my most rewarding experience has been my non profit wok and the ability to give back in every facet of my purpose. In 2004, I started a non profit called Reel Beauty, Inc. in Chicago. Our purpose is to teach young women about the importance of self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence. Reel Beauty has been my greatest muse as we have mentored upwards 1000 girls through our curriculum inside Chicago Public Schools. We later launched internationally at The Uzima Center in Mwanza, Tanzania with 10 girls initially. To date we have mentored over 50 girls in the village of Mwanza. In 2016, while on a missions trip there, I was introduced to a plant named Bixa. In April 2021, I launched Bixa Beauty a vegan friendly lip line with 16 colors and 10% of the proceeds go back to help the youth at The Uzima Center go to school on the University level. It is one of my greatest contributions to social change. In March2024, Bixa launched our latest color; Margaret Monroe. It is our final color of the lip collection. We are looking to expand the brand in bath & body products soon.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most important qualities or skills that were impactful along my journey were having faith, being ambitious and learning to listen intuitively. Having Faith is self explanatory. Faith is like a muscle and it has to be worked. A lot of times, I didn’t know who things would turn out from a situation and I had to trust GOD first and then myself. I learned to rely on what I hoped for than what I could see. I learned to believe and hope for the best. I apply it to everything in my life. I found it fascinating to become an entrepreneur. However, I didn’t know it would come with so much ambiguity. I would tell anyone to have a plan. A very precise plan. Seek intuitively on how to execute that plan and start working towards it. Some things come effortlessly and others take a little help. Keep going and never give up i=on that dream on the inside of you.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The book I read often when I am embarking on a new journey is “The Alchemist.” I love the story of how Santiago is on a quest seeking purpose. It reminds me of how I set out to leave Chicago and go after my dreams as a makeup artist. I watched my dreams literally unfold into meeting people and going places I never imagined. I can relate to his journey in so many ways. The Alchemist is a very good read.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Bixabeauty.com
- Instagram: @bixabeauty
- Facebook: Bixa Beauty
- Linkedin: Deida Massey
- Twitter: Bixa Beauty
Image Credits
Paulina Fadrowska Photography Rosemint Media Marketing
