Meet Terry Mcdonald

We recently connected with Terry Mcdonald and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Terry, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
From a very young age, I always had an eye for beauty. I would spend hours in my bedroom styling my dolls’ hair and creating nail designs. At the age of 10, I expressed to my mother that I was interested in providing nail services to my family and friends. My mother purchased all the basic materials I needed and in no time, my business was up and running. The joy and excitement I felt when I saw all of the beautiful nail polishes and glitters was a feeling I will never forget! I was anxious to share my creativity with everyone. During the week, I would practice trending designs and time management to prepare me for my clients and to ensure that my clients were receiving the best service. In a short period of time, I was known for doing manicures and pedicures and was frequently booked by family and friends. I continued offering my services throughout middle and high highschool. When I graduated from highschool, I landed a job at Victoria’s Secret, where I was the go to associate to assist customers with their makeup needs. The location where I was employed, did not house a cosmetic department, but sold a variety of eyeshadows and lip glosses. I enjoyed sharing tips, tricks and listening to my customers’ beauty needs. I would often come to work with different eyeshadow looks and share how I created my look with my customers. This allowed me to build relationships with my customers and a safe space to address their beauty needs. As time went on, I took a break from beauty services and was attending college for Nursing. During my second year in college, I became pregnant with my daughter and stopped attending school. After having my daughter, I was a stay at home mom for a year. At the time, going back to school to complete my Nursing degree didn’t seem feasible. I had to think of a plan B. I remember praying to God to reveal to me what my purpose and next steps were. While at home, I would practice creating various makeup looks, research about products and how to become a professional makeup artist in the beauty industry. Shortly after, I applied for a Beauty Advisor position at Clinique and that marked the beginning of my career as a professional makeup artist. I knew I found my purpose because the same joy,excitement and peace I experienced as a child playing with my dolls and offering manicures and pedicures, is the same feeling I felt when I began my career as a makeup artist. As I continued on my journey as a professional makeup artist, God continued to reveal to me in subtle ways that beauty was my ministry. I was meant to heal and empower through beauty. I was meant to share my creativity and how beauty has played a major role in my life. 25 Years later, the business I started at 10 years old, is now T Mcdonald Cosmetics.

“ If you are unsure of your purpose, tap into the things that your good at……there is purpose there” – Terry Mcdonald

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Terry McDonald is the founder/CEO of T Mcdonald Cosmetics, beauty educator, mentor, an experienced multi-published makeup artist as passionate about cosmetics as she is about the skin beneath the makeup. Much like a skilled painter who exercises her gifts of texture,perception, and color blends to elevate everyday scenes into a masterpiece.

Terry McDonald applies her gifts as a makeup artist to accentuate this highest form of art on the blank diverse canvassing of the human face. Hailing from the Bronx, New York, Terry’s first foundation was a cream to powder compact by Victoria’s Secret. At 17 years old, Terry was so impressed with the presentation of products and engagement of the Beauty Advisors, she took a job working at Victoria’s Secret and quickly became the go-to sales associate to assist clients with eyeshadow and lip gloss. She went on to work as a Beauty Advisor at Clinique, where she learned the importance of skincare. Her talent blossomed over the years, leading to management and several high-level appointments at Sephora, Kiko Milano,MAC and NARS.

Terry served as lead makeup artist for Harlem Fashion Week and other NYFW showcases as well. An experienced team leader,Terry’s focus is always on enhancing those around her, Clients as well as makeup artists on her teams. She Specializes in bridal, editorial, runway, SFX and film. This young entrepreneur also founded her own cosmetic line of products-T McDonald Cosmetics- which she describes as “sensual, seductive, luxury, Black culture, eccentric, playful, positive.” Her philosophy is all about utilizing beauty as a vehicle for healing and maintaining your mental health. Terry is an Artist who takes great pleasure in providing her clients with a safe space to express themselves while looking their best!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, three qualities that were very impactful in my journey were my relationship with God, my extensive experience in beauty retail management and my ability to transmute my pain into purpose. My advice to those who are early on their journey is to develop a spiritual life, give yourself grace when you feel overwhelmed or unmotivated as these feelings will come about during your journey. Find a safe space where you are able to express yourself, grow and be your authentic self. If you are starting out in the beauty industry, I highly recommend working at Sephora or Ulta. These brands are big on education. You will learn so much about various brands and techniques that will be beneficial to your beauty career. Lastly, collaborations will get you far in the industry and is also a great way to improve your skill set. In this industry, it is not all about money. Joining projects where you are able to create and receive exposure through magazine publications, etc can be just as good or even better than getting paid. Its all about your intentions and how you show up for yourself.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes absolutely! My biggest goal is to be able to partner/collaborate with Tyler Perry. I would love to work with him on set as a makeup artist and beauty sponsor. I truly admire Tyler’s relationship with God, his resilience, his tenacity and boldness to continue to walk in his purpose despite the challenges that may arise. Tyler Perry in my perspective, is very transparent about the struggles he faced on his journey and how his faith played a big part of his success. His story resonates with me on many levels and reminds me that if he can overcome his challenges, so can I. Tyler is the epitome of what hard work and faith can take you in life. If Tyler Perry or anyone on his team is reading this, they can connect with me on the following:

Email: [email protected]
Instagram: Tmcdonaldcosmetics/T.Mcdonaldcosmeticsllc

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Photographers: Duane Lyken, Richard Simpson, Arthur Justin Hairstylists: Latanya Williams and William Lancaster Makeup Artists: Carly Price, Terry Mcdonald, Latraice Venair, Nia Brockington Brand Ambassadors: Jewlez Alize and Heta Heru

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