Alumna creates beauty and community through professional makeup

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When Deja Blackwell graduated with her degree in African and Black Diaspora Studies in 2021, she didn’t expect to find herself doing celebrity makeup for a living. 

In the years since graduation, the artist and entrepreneur has turned her fervor for makeup artistry into a successful makeup business providing glamorous looks for anyone who wants one. 

“I always knew I was meant to be an artist,” Blackwell says. “I’m a creative person through and through. I especially love creative projects where I can think outside of the box.” 

In this Q&A, Blackwell details her career in the makeup industry and how her art extends beyond cosmetic aesthetics to building community. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in makeup artistry? 

I’ve always been involved in visual arts like sculpting, painting, drawing and photography but had little interest in makeup as a high schooler. I attended the only public performing arts high school in the nation, ChiArts, which afforded me the opportunities for solo art exhibitions, awards and training that shifted my entire world in the best way. Once I graduated from high school, I wanted to take a break from the way I had been utilizing art. 

When I came to DePaul, I was a psychology major. I intended to study art therapy, then switched to African and Black Diaspora Studies because of how intrigued I was after taking a class in the department. 

Even though I loved the program, I felt like something was missing. I had a conversation with Amor Kohli, one of my favorite professors at DePaul. We talked about what was missing, and I realized that it was always going to be art. 

I began exploring doing my own makeup during this time, experimenting with different looks. 

Did anyone else inspire your journey to become a makeup artist? 

Definitely my mom, Dani Blackwell. She is also part of the DePaul community as the assistant director of New Student and Family Engagement in Student Affairs. She always encouraged me to try new things as a kid. I did everything from karate to ballet, and she supported me through it all. 

Tell us what a typical day in your job looks like. 

For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of working with celebrities and influencers, including recent collaborations with WNBA Chicago Sky players. Some of my standout moments include creating the glam for Angel Reese’s Met Gala appearance, Simone Biles’ Country Music Association Awards appearance and her Sports Illustrated cover. 

I’ve also worked on campaigns for brands like Reese’s Puffs, Reebok, Business of Fashion, Jumpman Jordan and more. My portfolio includes appearances on Windy City Live, the Wild ’N Out tour and other high-profile projects. Most recently, I created a look for Angel Reese’s movie promotion commercial for Wicked. 

What are the most meaningful aspects of being a makeup artist? 

Being a makeup artist is about making people feel good about themselves. If someone comes in having a hard day but leaves with a smile and more confidence after I do their makeup, I know I’ve made a mark, and that is super important to me. 

There’s an art in the way I connect with clients, especially being a Black makeup artist. Some of my friends, who are also models, confided in me that oftentimes, there weren’t any artists who knew how to do makeup for their skin tone. That can make people feel excluded in those spaces, and that’s why my makeup artistry emphasizes creating communities. 

Tell us about your favorite makeup look you’ve done. 

The look I did for Angel Reese at the Met Gala this year because of the journey it took to do it. I have a fear of flying, but for this project, I had to fly to New York with Angel and do her makeup on the airplane. I had one hour to do a full glam makeup look, which was especially challenging because I had to work with the natural lighting coming through the windows. 

Even though I faced these obstacles, her makeup turned out fantastic. This project helped me face my fears and be resourceful under pressure. It was a life-changing experience.​