Samantha Lennon: Makeup Artist


Samantha Lennon was born and raised in The Bronx, NY. Growing up without a mother, having been raised by a single father, there was always a lack of beauty and makeup regimens in her life, so it’s not a shock that makeup artistry was not an obvious passion for her. But it eventually became just that: a passion that spawned a talent and an eye for beauty that cannot (and will not) be denied. Having spent most of her childhood on her own, Samantha spent a lot of her time listening to music and experimenting with makeup. During her early teens, she started asking all her girlfriends to volunteer to be her guinea pigs! “Being from New York, there is such a diverse group of people surrounding you, and that allowed me versatility in learning on all different ethnicities and allowed so much inspiration from all my surroundings,” Samantha says. Samantha headed to college at the ripe age of 17 and her planned course of study was Fashion Design. “That was the second interest I had since at the time, I figured makeup artistry was not suitable for a career. It didn't even seem like a possibility to me,” Samantha recalls. But her date with destiny was on. Shortly after enrolling in classes, she wisely and honestly realized fashion design was not the career path for her. Despite the personal revelation and her “finish what you start” attitude, Samantha decided to finish her course work and earned an Associate’s Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing. While attending the school, she found herself developing a close friendship with a musician and working part time in a music store. “That is the industry I really felt comfortable in, without a doubt,” she admits. After college, and the age of 19, she returned to New York, with her eye fixed on the music industry. She started at the bottom, as the now-defunct Virgin Megastore in Times Square, but she thought this would be a crucial place to begin her sojourn in the music business. “I figured what better place to be than the center of the world, in the biggest music place ever,” Samantha recalls. In just two years, she interacted with diverse crews of people, and thusly, she gained an appreciation for helping all kinds of people achieve what they wanted, educating them about music in the process. While in Virgin’s employ, she was responsible for all the marketing end-caps, served as a minor music buyer and was in charge of all the promotions coordinated by record companies and retail. Through the record company connections she developed during this time, she landed a referral from someone for her dream job at one of the most recognized independent record companies in the world, Roadrunner Records. "It was one of the happiest days of my life, and one of the biggest achievements I ever felt,” she says of the process. All throughout her three years there at Roadrunner Records, she learned hands on invaluable experience in marketing, production, advertising, finance management, art, promotions, and department coordination. Throughout her tenture, she was still consistently doing makeup and honing her craft on the side. It was during this time that she received her certification as a makeup artist, taking endless amounts of classes and courses to remain as current and educated as possible. She also amassed a portfolio and built a name for herself in this industry, as well. She worked with many noted photographers, models and stylists. It was a split life of working in the music industry with famous bands, and having a good time while working. On the other hand, she was immersed in the fashion industry, which was something she could not get enough, as well. Juggling both her love for music and makeup was fun and taught her a gift for multi-tasking, but a decision needed to be made. “It was getting to the point where I started feeling like my life was incomplete, unfulfilled if you will,” she says. “Remember, I never thought I could merge the two lifestyles together, with wanting to run a business and being a makeup artist. There are so many makeup artists in New York and I did not really want to compete with them in the freelancing world. Not knowing when the next gig would come did not make me happy. I do not necessarily prefer the perceived job security of a full-time job, but the scarceness of freelancing did not sound like the best idea to me either.” While Samantha says, “There were a few women at the record company that always had my support and thought very highly of me as a makeup artist, some did not know anything about makeup, and others just wanted to learn the newest trends and tips. I would take them out constantly to makeup stores, educate them on product, instruct them on doing makeup for themselves, and it was the most rewarding thing I ever felt." She aided her coworkers in their individual and varied makeup quests for the entire three years she was working at the label and that gave her the courage and confidence to take that crucial, yet scary, next step. "I could not believe that it was in my eyes the whole time, that I knew what I was destined for,” Samantha says.… that was enough for me to write a business plan and quit my full time job.” Since taking the big plunge into working for herself, it has been a life not short of fulfillment and happiness for Samantha Lennon. "Each client I interact with is an amazing experience. It makes me a better teacher and lets me know what the true issues and concerns are for women who did not know how to wear makeup,” she says. For her business- “Samantha Lennon At Home Makeup Consultants”, she travels and brings her skill, talent and knowledge to women everywhere, so interested parties should always reach out to her for a consultation.

Samantha Lennon was born and raised in The Bronx, NY. Growing up without a mother, having been raised by a single father, there was always a lack of beauty and makeup regimens in her life, so it’s not a shock that makeup artistry was not an obvious passion for her. But it eventually became just that: a passion that spawned a talent and an eye for beauty that cannot (and will not) be denied.

Having spent most of her childhood on her own, Samantha spent a lot of her time listening to music and experimenting with makeup. During her early teens, she started asking all her girlfriends to volunteer to be her guinea pigs! “Being from New York, there is such a diverse group of people surrounding you, and that allowed me versatility in learning on all different ethnicities and allowed so much inspiration from all my surroundings,” Samantha says.

Samantha headed to college at the ripe age of 17 and her planned course of study was Fashion Design. “That was the second interest I had since at the time, I figured makeup artistry was not suitable for a career. It didn't even seem like a possibility to me,” Samantha recalls. But her date with destiny was on. Shortly after enrolling in classes, she wisely and honestly realized fashion design was not the career path for her. Despite the personal revelation and her “finish what you start” attitude, Samantha decided to finish her course work and earned an Associate’s Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing. While attending the school, she found herself developing a close friendship with a musician and working part time in a music store. “That is the industry I really felt comfortable in, without a doubt,” she admits.

After college, and the age of 19, she returned to New York, with her eye fixed on the music industry. She started at the bottom, as the now-defunct Virgin Megastore in Times Square, but she thought this would be a crucial place to begin her sojourn in the music business. “I figured what better place to be than the center of the world, in the biggest music place ever,” Samantha recalls. In just two years, she interacted with diverse crews of people, and thusly, she gained an appreciation for helping all kinds of people achieve what they wanted, educating them about music in the process. While in Virgin’s employ, she was responsible for all the marketing end-caps, served as a minor music buyer and was in charge of all the promotions coordinated by record companies and retail. Through the record company connections she developed during this time, she landed a referral from someone for her dream job at one of the most recognized independent record companies in the world, Roadrunner Records. "It was one of the happiest days of my life, and one of the biggest achievements I ever felt,” she says of the process.

All throughout her three years there at Roadrunner Records, she learned hands on invaluable experience in marketing, production, advertising, finance management, art, promotions, and department coordination. Throughout her tenture, she was still consistently doing makeup and honing her craft on the side. It was during this time that she received her certification as a makeup artist, taking endless amounts of classes and courses to remain as current and educated as possible. She also amassed a portfolio and built a name for herself in this industry, as well. She worked with many noted photographers, models and stylists. It was a split life of working in the music industry with famous bands, and having a good time while working. On the other hand, she was immersed in the fashion industry, which was something she could not get enough, as well. Juggling both her love for music and makeup was fun and taught her a gift for multi-tasking, but a decision needed to be made. “It was getting to the point where I started feeling like my life was incomplete, unfulfilled if you will,” she says. “Remember, I never thought I could merge the two lifestyles together, with wanting to run a business and being a makeup artist. There are so many makeup artists in New York and I did not really want to compete with them in the freelancing world. Not knowing when the next gig would come did not make me happy. I do not necessarily prefer the perceived job security of a full-time job, but the scarceness of freelancing did not sound like the best idea to me either.”

While Samantha says, “There were a few women at the record company that always had my support and thought very highly of me as a makeup artist, some did not know anything about makeup, and others just wanted to learn the newest trends and tips. I would take them out constantly to makeup stores, educate them on product, instruct them on doing makeup for themselves, and it was the most rewarding thing I ever felt." She aided her coworkers in their individual and varied makeup quests for the entire three years she was working at the label and that gave her the courage and confidence to take that crucial, yet scary, next step. "I could not believe that it was in my eyes the whole time, that I knew what I was destined for,” Samantha says.… that was enough for me to write a business plan and quit my full time job.”

Since taking the big plunge into working for herself, it has been a life not short of fulfillment and happiness for Samantha Lennon. "Each client I interact with is an amazing experience. It makes me a better teacher and lets me know what the true issues and concerns are for women who did not know how to wear makeup,” she says.

For her business- “Samantha Lennon At Home Makeup Consultants”, she travels and brings her skill, talent and knowledge to women everywhere, so interested parties should always reach out to her for a consultation.