LAFW 20222*

"We need all Bless models out the chair in 3 minutes...Bless models 3 MINUTES!” Says the beauty director of Hot Roller Girl productions, the gas behind the 2022 LAFW beauty room. It’s day 3, about 15 designers in and were half way through the day. I look over to my left Nik is slaying his model per us. I just wrapped up my Bless look and I’m cleaning my brushes before another model gets my number. In this moment I look around. I’M HERE! With all the commotion going on these past two days I haven’t had the chance to really take it all in. But this moment it hits me. Maybe it’s all the photographers around, maybe it’s all the melanin whatever it is. This moment it dawned on me.

When I was younger I always dreamt of being part of LAFW, those dreams however consisted of me actually walking the runway. If you know, you know I spent my younger years modeling, and for a while I thought that was going to be my thing. But nope. This experience here is far more gratifying. To me it matters more, so much more. Having not gone to school for makeup and only being in LA for short of two years. Even more, only having been actively chasing my dreams for what almost 4 years now, I literally never imagined I’d be here. Especially not this fast. But literally here I am.

Doing makeup for designers such as Jimmy Paul, Milano the Brand, Ndrew James, Perry Jones, Michael Cinco, Rocky Star, HYPE brand and literally so much more. The appreciation is real. This is my first official fashion week and I had every intention of doing wtf I came to do. That was my energy of the weekend. COME TO SLAY! PERIOD.

I gassed myself up with talks with my mom, who does a good job of reminding me how talented and capable I am, and some reggae music. Idk if y’all know but reggae music has some inspirational ass messages if you listen closely. My roots needed watering.

The first day, Thursday night we only had two shows I believe. Essentially I got my feet, more so my big to wet. We were gifted so many wonderful products that were used to create the amazing looks of each designer. There were daily check-ins with beauty leads and just all around camaraderie amongst the entire beauty room. If I had to work in a team this surely would be the environment of choice. By night two, the first night of the real chaos we had familiarity with the flow and process it boded for a truly seamless night, despite the constant flow of models in and out of quick changes. It made a newbie like me feel comfortable and capable to execute the lewks for the girls.

I truly can’t express how grateful I am for this opportunity. A little girls dreams came true. A woman’s work was acknowledged. A dream turned reality. Gas for the next leg of thus unknown journey of mine. Whatever you wanna call it, it was magic for me. A high I truly wish I could experience forever!

To my first, but definitely not last LAFW thank you. You owe me NOTHING!

- Tatiana Noele 💋

SWIPE FOR MORE BTS!