For more than 30 years, Mikki Taylor has been a power player in the fashion and beauty industries, enlightening women of color as beauty and cover director at Essence magazine. Having appeared on several television networks and shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View and CNN, Taylor has become the leading source on embracing holistic beauty — from the inside out.
Ambassador for Ambi Skincare and author of Self-Seduction: Your UltiÂmate Path to Inner and Outer Beauty (BalÂlanÂtine Books/One World), Taylor has expanded her international brand further with her latest read, Commander in Chic: Every Woman’s Guide to Managing Her Style Like a First Lady (Atria Books; $26.99). Inspired by the fashion poise and prowess of First Lady Michelle Obama, Taylor’s latest book is a convenient, yet extensive guide on beauty and fashion that any busy career professional can reference to step up her style game.
BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Taylor to find out how she began her career journey, how she tapped into her gift, and how you can capture your own purpose for professional fulfillment and success.
BlackEnterprise.com: How did you get started in the business of beauty and fashion?
I first met the Essence team as a model … and after I went into fashion and merchandising, I was hired at Essence to work on the fashion pages. I brought my expertise from working with Elie Tahari Ltd., where I handled a lot involving the production of fabrics and textiles.
In my first year at Essence, I was home sewing and accessories editor, so I would shop the fabric market and have the pattern houses create clothing for a special feature within each issue that was dedicated to clothes that readers could make at home. A year later, after curiosity and using my gift (I also had a background in beauty retail), I became the magazine’s beauty editor.
What sparked your purpose and inspiration in pursuing your career?
A lot of it was heavily influenced by my mother, Modina Davis Watson, who was the make-up artist, wardrobe and hair stylist to singer Sarah Vaughn for 10 years. [That time] was my coming of age, watching beauty and style have its way. My mother traveled the world with Vaughn, and she’d send magazines home from all over the world. All of it was an influence in getting started in my career. It was quite easy to choose a path of beauty and fashion.
What inspired you to write your book based on the style of Michelle Obama and what was the process?
It was in keeping with my goal to help women own their lives and master their purpose. I understood, after working with First Lady Michelle Obama, that every woman could embrace and relate to her. I’ve always seen women as muses and was always inspired by Mrs. Obama.
I’d first met her when she was then-Sen. Barack Obama’s wife in 2006 at an Essence shoot. I remember she walked in camera-ready, and I was quite impressed. I ended up working with her again, as I’d written about her in the magazine. I’d worked with her in her home in Chicago, and they were always entertaining guests and had all the excitement of the presidential election. The last I saw her at that time, I had a feeling it would be the last time I would see her as a senator’s wife.
The next time I worked with her, I decided to write the book, which took six months. From this book, readers will be able to know when and where to shop, what to wear, and the best makeup finds. They’ll know the most bankable, mileage-making pieces to include in their wardrobe, so that they can present their best and most confident look to the world.
How have you used social media in branding yourself and facilitating your purpose?
Social media allows me to keep conversation going. I’m heavily involved on Twitter and Facebook. On Twitter, I have themes like Follow-up Fridays, where women can ask questions; I Am Mondays, where women can declare their strengths; and Spread the Love Wednesdays, where people can tell how they are making the world a better place.
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You’ve had more than three decades of success. How can women, who are also seasoned in their careers, find that boost to refresh and revive?
It’s part of owning your life. You have to ask yourself, ‘Is this the life that I want to live?’ Does your job allow you to use your gift? Does it fuel your soul in the most meaningful way? Does it challenge you to grow? If it isn’t pushing you, causing you to be smarter or open doors to other opportunities, it may be time for a change.
Whatever your dreams are, go get what you need to fulfill them. You have to consistently be in a revival. The Creator installs gifts in you,
and your goal should be to spend all of it. Compose a checklist to make sure you’re on course and expand it all the time. Know your value and set your own standards. Where do you see yourself in five years? How do you evaluate yourself? Does the job live up to your standards? Are you making a contribution?If you have awareness, it’s time to act on it. Age is not the piece that gets in the way. Make someone know why you are the best at what you do, or create the opportunity for yourself.
Where do you see your career transitioning in the coming years? My goal is to empower women. That’s been my mission for the past 30-plus years. I see continuing that mission on a greater plane, to empower us in every aspect of our lives. I am touring the country as a motivational speaker trying to help us own our lives and master our purpose with distinction.
I have a new nail polish line coming out February 2012, called The Forever Nude Collection by Mikki Taylor, which includes a select group of nudes where the colors are based on skin tones and undertones [of women of color].
As the Ambi Skincare brand ambassador, I look forward to empowering a new generation of what I call ‘flawless females’ … and I look forward to empowering our inner and outer beauty from that perspective. There will be more books ahead, and I will continue to use every medium — radio, television, print, social media— to empower us in every way that I can. This is the work I’ve committed my life to.
Mikki Taylor’s 6 Tips for Finding Your Purpose and Career Success
Identify your gift and use it. “My mother really used her gift, and she was a creative artist. We were encouraged to do the same.”
Make your gift your contribution. It’s not about going to work. It’s not about getting a job. People do that every day. But using your gift is something on a higher plane.
If something you desire doesn’t exist, have the vision and determination to create it. “At Essence, I created the position for cover editor, pitched it and got it. I wanted to give our covers synergy and balance.”
Develop ‘Brand You.’ “Be aggressive. Be your best marketer and best cheerleader. Identify where you want to position yourself and use your gift.”
Get a mentor. This person should guide you to where you want to be. “Never accept the concept that its lonely at the top. You want to be surrounded by supporters, great people, and those who have been where you’re going.”
Get out of your comfort zone and get involved. Attend events that have everything to do with the industry you see yourself being involved in. “For example, if you want to be in the beauty industry, attend events by the Cosmetic Executive Women organization in New York. Network. Network. Network.”
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS! Join us for the landmark 10th Annual Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm, March 2—4, 2015, at Fort Lauderdale Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, FL. This exciting, one-of-a-kind executive leadership summit is designed to train, equip and encourage women to become industry leaders, learn career strategies, and discover proven work—life balance techniques. Register Now! https://blackenterprise.com/wps