We had the good fortune of connecting with Kierra Lanice Wray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kierra Lanice, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risks or what I call “leaps of faith” have played a major role in my success. I’m a firm believer that great things are on the other side of your comfort zone. So even if I don’t feel like I have it all together, pressing past the moment of fear has always been important to me. Whether it’s pitching myself to a potential client that seems too far fetched or simply introducing myself in unfamiliar spaces, I’ve come to realize this: I am worth the risk, my vision is worth the moment of discomfort, and the people attached to my purpose are worth the fighting for.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a Professional Makeup Artist, Beauty Educator and Industry-Recognized Beauty Expert. I specialize in beauty, editorial and celebrity makeup. My work and expertise can be seen in esteemed magazines like Glamour, Essence, and Fault Magazine to name a few, Runways at New York Fashion Week, red carpets for the Grammy’s and BET Awards and even billboards in Times Square NYC.

The trajectory of my career changed in 2015 when I turned lemons into lemonade the morning of the BET Awards. What started as a moment of disappointment lead to me landing a contract with ViacomCBS and the rest is history.

Nothing about my career has been “easy”. I work hard for everything I have and what sets me apart is my mindset. I chase purpose first. Makeup Artistry is simply the platform. I love serving people with my gifts and ultimately I believe my purpose is to inspire and encourage people to discover their purpose and relentlessly pursue it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my boyfriend Marcus, my incredible family, and the City of Lansing. 517 is my home and I’ll forever bleed green!

Website: kierralanice.com

Instagram: instagram.com/kierralanice

Twitter: kierralanice

Facebook: kierralanice

Yelp: Kierra Lanice Wray

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.