Rising Stars: Meet Alaina Monét of Tempe, Arizona

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alaina Monét.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
My love affair and affinity for makeup started at a very early age because I was essentially born into the beauty world. Growing up, my great-grandmother was a seamstress, and there were always beautiful women coming in and out of her atelier. I would watch them in amazement and adoration as they would get ready for weddings, prom, etc. My grandmother handed me my first brush, and the rest was history. I spent most of my adolescent years creating and experiencing makeup as a creative outlet with aspirations to be a makeup artist. Fast forward to high school, I was immediately drawn to theatre, where I started to develop and hone in on my skill set doing makeup for high school plays. After high school, I graduated from the Southwest Institute of Natural Aesthetics here in Tempe, Arizona, and landed my first job at Origins. After I arrived at Origins, I captured the attention of the regional manager at MAC cosmetics. She was impressed by my artistry and customer service, began working her magic, and encouraged me to apply for MAC, and that’s where my artistry catapulted to new heights. I worked for MAC for several years before I decided to take a leap of faith and embark on my freelance journey.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My path throughout my makeup career has been quite the journey. I relocated to Las Vegas, where I’ve spent the last several years working on Cirque Du Soliel Shows. The late David Day, a regional trainer with MAC cosmetics, invited me to work with him on the “All that I am” tour with Jennifer Lopez backstage, giving me the courage I needed to master my artistry. After years of freelance, the pandemic hit and shut down the Las Vegas shows for months. As an artist, our jobs weren’t considered essential. I decided to pack my bags and return to my roots here in Arizona summer of 2021, and I had no clients and had to start over from scratch. Discouraged within my first few months, I felt like makeup artistry was destitute, and I needed to put my bachelor’s degree to use to get a corporate job.

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 believe that every woman is beautiful, and beauty lies within. Makeup is a feeling. I get to bring those emotions to life by creating a masterpiece by using soft colors to enhance the beauty that exists. I specialize in soft bridal glam. Inspired by the makeup of the ’90s, everything was minimal. No filters. No enhancements. Just beautiful beings with subtle makeup to evoke a feeling of timeless beauty. I am most proud when my clients tell me, “I feel beautiful, yet I still feel like myself, and it’s exactly what I envisioned.” What sets me apart from others is that I am not only a makeup artist but also an aesthetician, and skincare comes first. I do an extensive consultation and focus on the skin. That’s where I spend most of my time assessing the skin, creating magic with beautiful textures, and celebrating every freckle and acne scar without editing those images.

What do you think about luck?
Success happens when preparation and opportunity meet. I have been extremely fortunate to meet the most amazing creators along the way who saw something in me, took me under their wing, pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and challenged me to try different techniques. Networking and being open to every opportunity will take you to the most extraordinary places. You’ll never know who you’re going to meet. I don’t believe in luck, I believe if you’re a good person, you attract what you’re ready for, and those “lucky moments” will come. You have to trust the process. My kindness is what brought me here after all these years. People might not remember your name, but they’ll remember how you made them feel.

Pricing:

• For a custom quote, please email me or message me on Instagram @alainamonetbeauty or alainamonetbeauty@gmail.com

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @alainamonetbeauty

Image Credits
@dreahphotography @alainamonetbeauty