Meet Raquel Cohen | Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raquel Cohen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raquel, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
My main goal, from the beginning of my career, and what I anticipate being my goal until the end, is to deliver the best quality work that I am capable of, and make my clients feel beautiful and secure in the way they look (I consider it an honor and privilege to do so). I don’t have a monetary figure in mind, and choose to not measure my success that way, I am not in this business to amass great wealth but my dream is to fully support myself doing my art full time. Expanding my skill set, and exploring this medium completely is also a goal of mine.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Makeup artistry was something I sort of fell into. I grew up doing theater, for most of my childhood and early adulthood. The preparation for a show was almost as fun as performing, and makeup was a huge part of transforming into a character. I also appreciate the accessibility of makeup. It has no size, no gender, and it’s for everyone (if they so choose). It’s always a challenge having a career in the arts. There’s so much uncertainty, and insecurity. So many creatives I know suffer from imposter syndrome. We feel like we don’t measure up, or that our peers our surpassing us in skills or success. Overcoming that insecurity is the biggest hurdle for me. I try to embrace collaboration over competition, there is room for everybody, and I am so lucky to have a group of artists that are my colleagues and friends, and instead of feeling envy I feel inspired by them every day.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So many things! A trip to Lafeyette Coney Island is a must. The DIA, Hitsville USA and MoCAD are always places I like to show out of towners. Belle Isle, The Redford theater, and Third Man records as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people in my life that have supported me, and my work that to name just one would be too exclusionary. So I’ll say a book: Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin is the “bible,” for makeup artistry. It was published in 1997 but still remains the best guide on makeup artistry.

Website: Instagram.com/raq.a.pella

Instagram: Raq.a.pella

Facebook: Facebook.com/raquelmua

Image Credits
Photo 1: by Tobi Adelaja Photo 2: by Nicole Lockhart Modeled by Megan Lew Photo 3: by Hillary Ilyssa Modeled by Korey Espinoza Photo 4: by Elizabeth Desmarais Modeled by Kipriece Tate Photo 5: by Gabriella Polisena Modeled by Bri Nguyen Photo 6: by Kayla Borbolla Modeled by Ciara Elizabeth Photo 7: by Nicole Lockhart Modeled by Megan Lew Photo 8: by Jeremy Johnson Modeled by Dalia Fragoso My headshot was taken by Erika Proctor