Today we’d like to introduce you to Cejae Charlemagne.
Hi Cejae, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story began eleven years ago in high school, when a teacher recognized my talent and reached out to a Professional Makeup Artist to see if I could assist her on larger bookings, such as bridal parties. That opportunity opened the door for me to gain real experience in the industry at a young age.
After graduating, that experience gave me the confidence to apply to ULTA Beauty, where I worked as a Prestige Beauty Advisor while continuing to build my freelancing career independently. With three years of freelancing experience and a year of cosmetic retail experience under my belt, I applied to MAC Cosmetics and have proudly been part of the brand for eight years now. For a brief time I also worked at Sephora and truly enjoyed the experience, but MAC is where my heart is.
Five years ago, I graduated from Esthetician School and became a Licensed Full Specialist. During that time, I discovered a passion for full body waxing and brow services, including brow laminations and tinting, which allowed me to expand my expertise and services at the time beyond makeup artistry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Between 2021 and 2024, I operated my business out of a salon space. In the beginning, I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed the freedom of decorating my space, organizing my tools and products, and working in an environment that felt both professional and safe. It also gave me the opportunity to go full time with my business and experience what a full day of back-to-back clients truly looked like.
Eventually, however, I realized how expensive renting a space can be—especially during slower seasons. I made the decision to step away from the salon and transition to a more flexible approach by traveling to my clients instead, which is something I’ve been doing ever since.
My clients have come to love the convenience of having me travel to them for their makeovers. It allows them to avoid traffic, eliminates the stress of rushing to an appointment, and lets them get ready for their events comfortably in their own homes at a time that best aligns with their schedule. Plus they can’t beat the bragging rights of saying to a friend on the phone, “I’ll call you back, my Makeup Artist is over and I’m in the middle of getting glammed up!”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Professional Makeup Artist born on the beautiful island of St. Lucia and currently based in Tampa, Florida. My artistry specializes in Full Glam. In Tampa, I’m best known for my Soft Glam and Editorial makeovers, but if you asked someone back home in St. Lucia, they would tell you I’m a beast at Carnival Glam — where the looks become much more colorful, bold, and expressive.
What sets me apart from other makeup artists is my ability to tap into makeup styling. I take pride in actively listening to my clients. Their expectations, their vision, and what they want their makeover to represent means much more to me than what I think would suit them best.
To me, the most important part of any makeover is the consultation. Taking the time to understand my client’s desired look ensures we’re fully aligned before the makeup application even begins. This is why it’s very rare for a client to leave my chair unhappy and why I have 80+ 5 star reviews on my booking site!
How do you define success?
I define success as making my younger self proud. Every day, I make a conscious effort to represent my brand with care. From how I serve my clients, down to the cleanliness and professionalism of my kit.
I always knew from a young age that creativity spoke to me more than traditional academics, and being able to turn that passion into a successful eleven-year career in makeup artistry reassures me daily that I’m moving in the right direction.
Pricing:
- No Eyeshadow, Everyday Glam $130
- Full Glam $150
- Bridesmaids + Wedding Attendees $150
- Bridal Glam $200
- Makeup By You! Lessons $50-$350
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beautybycejae.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautybycejae?igsh=N3dlYnJkcmJ5Zmo5&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CBA9MDcqc/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beautybycejae?si=WuEg2lvGSJ2qmOoX
Image Credits
All photos I took myself except:
4th + 5th photo: Natanni St. Omer
6th: JaLynn Blanks
8th: Reje Rush
