Meet Lennie Billy | Professional Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lennie Billy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lennie, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I think growing up surrounded by beauty, my mother is a cosmetologist and esthetician, she owns a salon and I was always there to help her. I remember that one day she trained me to help her do make up for some clients she had for a wedding and there I felt in love with makeup. I used to save the money my mom would give me for school and buy drugstore makeup. Also, I would always got through her makeup and try her lipsticks, eyeliner, mascara, etc. Even though, I went to college to pursue Nursing, insight I didn’t feel it was for me, so after trying and failing trying to enter into nursing school and admitted to myself that Nursing wasn’t for me, and looked up for a Makeup School and signed up!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think that what sets me apart from other artist is the love and passion I have for makeup. Makeup for me isn’t just apply products to a face, it’s art, it’s being able to change, transform or emphasized someones beauty. For me everyone is beautiful and I like to enhance each persons beauty through make up.

I got where I am today with a lot of hard work, I started by only working during weekends, for free, doing test shoots to build my portfolio with great images to be able to show clients. Then I started reaching clients, and use my PTO or Vacation time from my 9-5 job to work with productions and campaigns. I was fortunate enough to get an interview with an agent at Wilhelmina Miami and they decided to represent me in 2018, and with them I worked form amazing clients like Puma, Polo Ralph Laurent, GAP, Macy’s, worked for 2 Covers with Naomi Osaka for ESPN Magazine and Times Magazine, and did makeup for Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger for Vogue USA August 2019 issue. I can say I’m super blessed to have worked with all those amazing jobs so early in my career because I graduated as a professional MUA in 2015.

When Covid hit, my job was really affected. Wilhelmina Miami closed the Artists division so my agent told me if I wanted to continue working with him, he moved to Ford Models so I moved with him but it hasn’t been the same. I decided to explore other venues and started creating online content, it has been a fun ride, I’m still working as a Makeup Artist but I also love sharing my knowledge and create fun and exciting content for Social Media. I believe that the best way to overcome challenge is by adapting to what’s new. I learned during Covid that there’s so many ways to explore Makeup and there’s no recipe for success, you just need to be open and willing to learn and new opportunities will come, and that’s true because this year I had the amazing opportunity to work for Vogue USA again for their August 2023 Issue doing makeup for the Return to Tennis of Caroline Wozniacki.

I want the world to know that every time I do makeup I do it with love, passion, and respect. I care for my clients and have huge respect for this art, I love color and makeup it’s part of my life!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well living in Miami makes it easy because there’s a lot to see and do here. My favorite place to go is the beach, of course, so I would take my guest to as many beaches I can! I love going to Key West and see the sunset at Mallory Square, eat some key lime pie is a must do, and take a picture at the 90 miles to Cuba marker. My favorite food to eat is Peruvian, all the seafood and ceviche! but if you are a coffee lover, which I’m not, I will take you to Versalles so. you can drink a true Cuban Cortadito coffee and eat real Cuban food. I love traveling and learning about new cultures too so I’m always open when people want to share their backgrounds with me and tell me all about their cultures, that’s what I love about being a MUA because I get to work with people all around the world.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Definitely my mom and my husband, they are my two big fans! My husband is a photographer and director, and with him I started doing makeup for productions and campaigns. He introduced me to this industry, and showed me how to reach out to clients, other photographers and basically explained everything I needed to learned about the business. And my mom just gave me all the inspiration and love I needed to keep going, she has always believed in me and my potential and has supported me every step of the way.

Website: www.lenniebilly.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeupbylennie/

Youtube: youtube.com/lenniebilly

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lenniebilly

Image Credits
Naomi Osaka ESPN was shot by Mark William and Sara Hirakawa Naomi Osaka Times was shot by Mark William and Sara Hirakawa Caroline Wozniacki was shot by Norman Jean Roy Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger were shot by Carolyn Drake Two Editorial Pictures (Two models with colorful makeup) were shot by Julian Restrepo Pictures of me I shoot myself.