Beauty Interview: Tatiyana Elias, Beauty with Purpose
Makeup: @tatiyanaelias
Hair: @thepowerofglow
Photo credit: @knnycvstro
Tatiyana Elias: Website
Mothers In Unity: @mothersinunitycharity
For Tatiyana Elias, beauty has never been simply about makeup. As a celebrated Los Angeles celebrity makeup artist whose career has taken her from television and film to fashion, editorial, and the red carpet, her artistry has always been rooted in something deeper: helping people feel confident, empowered, and comfortable in their own skin. As she puts it, makeup and hair are simply the tools—the real purpose is the person sitting in her chair.
With an impressive roster of clients and credits, Elias has learned that success in the entertainment industry extends far beyond artistic talent. Professionalism, trust, discretion, and genuine human connection have become defining principles of her career. For Elias, every client relationship is built on creating an environment where people feel heard, respected, and cared for.
But beyond the glamour of celebrity artistry lies the heart of her work: Mothers In Unity, the nonprofit she founded to support mothers and children facing difficult circumstances. Having been raised by a single mother herself, Elias understands firsthand the challenges that can shape a family’s journey. Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, she transformed them into motivation to create something meaningful for others.
Her vision for Mothers In Unity goes beyond providing immediate necessities. Elias recognizes the importance of helping women access education, employment opportunities, financial resources, mentorship, and the tools needed to build more independent futures. Her approach is about looking beyond what is most visible and asking a more important question: What do people actually need to move forward?
That philosophy extends into her annual Holiday Toy Drive, which has grown from an initial goal of approximately 400 toys to an ambitious target of 2,500 toys this year. For Elias, the initiative is about more than gifts—it is about ensuring that children experiencing financial hardship can still experience the excitement, dignity, and joy of the holiday season.
Elias also believes deeply in the responsibility that comes with having a platform. Whether through her work in beauty and entertainment or through social media and her growing network, she sees influence as an opportunity to open doors, raise awareness, and inspire others to participate in meaningful change. Her philosophy is refreshingly simple: giving back should not be about appearances or career benefits, but about creating real impact.
As she continues to evolve as a makeup artist, entrepreneur, author, and nonprofit founder, Elias is entering a new chapter with ambitions that extend far beyond what she has already accomplished. With new projects quietly taking shape behind the scenes, she hints that her biggest work may still be ahead. One thing is clear: for Tatiyana Elias, this is only the beginning.
You’ve built an impressive career as a celebrity makeup artist, working across television, film, fashion, and red-carpet events. What first inspired you to pursue makeup artistry, and when did you realize it could become your calling?
I don’t think I ever saw makeup and hairstyling as simply my “calling.” What inspired me was something much deeper, the ability to make someone feel beautiful, both inside and out, and to help them find a confidence they may not have felt before. I’ve always loved seeing the transformation that happens when someone sits in my chair and leaves feeling more confident, empowered, and comfortable in their own skin. For me, the makeup and hair are just the tools; the bigger picture has always been about the person sitting in front of me. I want everyone who sits in my chair to walk away feeling better about themselves than when they arrived, and over the years I realized that, that is my true calling, not just creating beautiful looks, but helping people see and feel the beauty within themselves.
Your portfolio includes names such as Michael Douglas, Paul McCartney, Christopher Lloyd, Linkin Park, as well as collaborations with major brands and publications. What have some of these experiences taught you about creativity, professionalism, and working at the highest level of the industry?
Working with incredible talent and major brands has taught me that professionalism is one of the most important things you can bring to this industry. Your talent matters, but so does how you carry yourself, how you treat people, your ability to remain patient, and how you conduct yourself when no one is watching. This industry can come with its share of drama, but I’ve learned to stay out of it and keep my focus where it belongs: continuing to grow as an artist and making sure my clients feel confident, comfortable, heard, and taken care of. Confidentiality is also everything. If you’re someone who wants to gossip, share your clients’ personal business, or turn private moments into public stories, this industry is not for you, and you won’t build a lasting career that way. At the end of the day, we are in the customer service business. We’re often invited into people’s homes, their dressing rooms, and some of their most vulnerable moments, so earning their trust and making them feel safe and respected is important.
Every face tells a different story. When you’re creating a look for a celebrity or public figure, how do you balance your artistic vision with their personality, individual identity, and the moment they’re stepping into?
I always start with a conversation with my client. I want to know what they love, what they don’t like, what they envision for the look, and which features they want to accentuate the most. From there, I’ll offer my professional perspective, suggest different options, and often show inspiration photos so we can create a clear vision together. As artists, we have the expertise to know what may photograph beautifully or work best for a particular event, but I also believe it’s important to listen to the person sitting in your chair. It’s their face and their moment, so their opinions should always be part of the process. My goal is to find the balance between their vision and my artistic expertise and create a look we both feel confident about, while still speaking up professionally if something they’re requesting may not translate well or be the best choice for the occasion.
You’ve successfully expanded your career beyond artistry into entrepreneurship and authorship. What have those additional chapters taught you about building a personal brand and creating opportunities beyond the makeup chair?
I feel like I’m still learning and growing through these chapters of my career. I’ve always been someone who wants to keep evolving, and I’ll probably always have more on my plate than I should but somehow, I always find a way to make it work. If there’s one thing these experiences have taught me, it’s that networking is everything. Your network truly is your net worth. I’m realizing that opportunities don’t always come from waiting for someone to discover you; sometimes you must create them yourself. That’s something I’m really focusing on now, building genuine relationships, expanding my network, and putting myself in rooms and conversations that can lead to new opportunities. I’m still figuring it all out, but I’m excited about what’s ahead.
Your work with Mothers in Unity represents a deeply personal and purpose-driven side of your career. What inspired you to establish the organization, and what did you hope to create when you first began?
Being raised by a single mother and experiencing firsthand the challenges that can come with doing everything on your own deeply shaped who I am today. For a long time, I thought the only way I could help people was through makeup and hair, but eventually I discovered the nonprofit world and realized I could use my passion and resources to make an impact on a much larger scale. Starting my own nonprofit, Mothers In Unity, has not been easy, but every time we’re able to support a single mother or a child living in a shelter, it reminds me why I started and reassures me that I’m on the right path. My childhood and the struggles I experienced taught me not to succumb to my circumstances, but to use them as motivation to become someone who lives not only for herself, but for others. I want to take everything I’ve been through and turn it into something meaningful, and ultimately, I want my life to leave a positive impact on the world.
Mothers in Unity has provided support to over 6,000 children and empowered 4,000 women with essential resources, professional attire, and mentorship. When you look at those numbers, what moments or stories stand out to you most?
Believe it or not, when I look at those numbers, it’s not necessarily the numbers or even the individual moments of giving that stay with me the most, it’s the voice in my head telling me, “You need to do more.” I think about the mothers who have escaped domestic violence or trafficking, families experiencing financial hardship, and children who are growing up without access to things many of us might take for granted. Seeing a mother smile when she receives something she genuinely needs or watching a child light up over something as simple as a new toy, makes me incredibly happy and reminds me why I started Mothers In Unity. But more than anything, those moments fuel me to keep going. No matter how much we accomplish, I always feel there are more mothers and children we can reach, more resources we can provide, and more ways we can make a lasting difference.
You work closely with single mothers and children living in California shelters. What are some of the needs within these communities that you feel are often overlooked or misunderstood?
What I’ve noticed is that some of the most basic necessities are often the easiest to overlook. Nonperishable foods, like canned goods, and sanitary products for women are incredibly important, yet there can be an assumption that shelters receive plenty of these items because they’re everyday essentials. We often see an abundance of clothing and gently used toys being donated, which is wonderful, but there are other needs that don’t always receive the same attention. Beyond physical necessities, I also see a tremendous need for resources and guidance, helping mothers understand how to access education, employment opportunities, financial resources, and other tools that can help them rebuild their lives and become more self-sufficient. For me, supporting these communities means looking beyond what is most visible and asking, “What do they actually need to move forward?”
Your nonprofit brings together people from beauty, fashion, entertainment, and the local community. How important is it to you to use the relationships and platform you’ve built through your career to create opportunities for others?
I believe one of the most powerful things I can do for Mothers In Unity is use the platform I’ve already built through my career to reach more people. Social media has allowed me to share our mission with a much larger audience through Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms, and networking has been a huge part of growing our reach. I’m also incredibly grateful that some of my clients choose to support the nonprofit, but I’m very intentional about never making anyone feel pressured or as though I’m asking them for something. Many of them know about my nonprofit, and if they ever want to contribute, I’m grateful to accept that support, but I never want to blur that professional relationship. It’s a fine line, you want to use your network and platform to create awareness without making the people in your life feel obligated. I’m also incredibly grateful for a local coffee shop in my community that consistently shows up for us whenever we host a donation drive, and the community always comes through with so much generosity. To me, using my platform is about opening the door, sharing the mission, and giving people the opportunity to be part of something meaningful.
Your annual Holiday Toy Drive has become an important part of your mission. What does the holiday season mean to the families you serve, and what do you hope this year’s initiative will accomplish?
Our goal for this year’s Holiday Toy Drive is to collect 2,500 toys, which would be an incredible milestone for Mothers In Unity. A few years ago, we started with a goal of around 400 toys, so seeing this initiative grow every year means so much to me. The holiday season can be incredibly meaningful for the families we serve, especially children who are already experiencing circumstances that are beyond their control. I never want a child to feel left out because their family is struggling financially or because their circumstances are different from their classmates and friends. When they see other children receiving new shoes, clothes, and toys, they deserve to experience that same sense of excitement and joy. Your circumstances should never determine whether you get to experience happiness. The holiday season does put a lot of pressure on my shoulders because I know how much these families are counting on us, but I’m willing to take that on. I’ll continue doing whatever I can, serving wherever I’m needed, and bringing our community together to make this year’s toy drive the biggest one yet.
You’ve created a unique connection between glamour and giving back. Do you believe the beauty and entertainment industries have a greater responsibility to use their influence for positive community impact?
I truly believe the entertainment and beauty industries have a responsibility to use their influence for positive change. When you have a platform where so many people are watching you, looking up to you, and sometimes even wanting to be you, you have an opportunity to inspire people to do more and be better. You can either use that influence to encourage others to make a difference or simply use it for yourself. I believe that when you have that kind of reach, you should use it for good and genuinely live by that, not because it looks good, gains followers, or benefits your career, but because you truly care about helping others. For me, giving back isn’t about putting on a show; it’s about using whatever influence I have to create real impact and hopefully inspire someone else to do the same.
For women—particularly mothers—who may be facing difficult circumstances but want to rebuild their lives, what message of encouragement would you want them to hear from someone who has built a career while also creating a nonprofit movement?
The message I would want every woman and mother facing difficult circumstances to hear is don’t be afraid to move forward, and don’t let your circumstances convince you that your story is already written. Don’t self-sabotage, and don’t let fear or other people’s opinions keep you from becoming the person you want to be. I truly believe that at any point in your life, at any age, you can make the decision to start again and completely change the direction of your life. I could have allowed my circumstances to define me, but instead I started my makeup business, then created a nonprofit, then became an author, and I continue to challenge myself to do more. None of it was easy, but I kept moving forward. You don’t need anyone’s approval to build a better life for yourself and your children. Make the decision today that you want more, take that first step, and keep going. You are allowed to change your life, and you don’t have to wait for someone else to give you permission.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for Tatiyana Elias and Mothers in Unity? Are there new initiatives, partnerships, or dreams you’re hoping to bring to life in the next
Looking ahead, my vision for both myself and Mothers In Unity has grown far beyond what I originally imagined. I’ve reached a point in my life where I know I’m meant to do more, not just through makeup and hair, not just through the nonprofit, and not just through the books I’m creating. My heart isn’t settled yet, and I truly believe there are bigger ways I can make an impact and create meaningful change in this world. I’m working on some things behind the scenes that are bigger than anything I’ve done before, and I think I’m going to surprise a lot of people in the coming year. I’m not ready to reveal everything just yet, but I can say this: there is so much more to come, and I’m just getting started. GR8T