Meet Hana Ali: Celebrity Makeup Artist, Educator, and Author

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

Hi Hana, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“I Shall Find A Way or Make One” was the ancient general Hannibal’s response when he was asked how he would cross a mountain range with elephants. It’s also the motto for Clark Atlanta University where I earned my undergraduate degree. This quote means so much to me because it’s been the driving force throughout my life, both personally and professionally. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think I’m most excited about taking that leap of faith into entrepreneurship some six years ago, and having the gall to fully believe in myself. Walking away from the comfort of a steady income to follow my passion was insanely tough, but I would do it all over again in an instant. I have an intense work ethic and a drive that sets me apart from many of my colleagues. I have this attitude where I believe I can do ANYTHING I set my mind to, and I don’t allow the opinions and/or actions of others to hinder me in the process. I also want to add that getting to where I am today is the combination of two things: persistency and consistency. Giving up was never an option and I purposely chose not to have a plan b. I know it sounds super cliché, but I want people to know that anything is possible and I’m living proof of making nothing into something.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a native of Atlanta, GA I feel it would be my duty to show them the city through my eyes. Although much has changed since I was a child, there’s still a lot of history in tact. We’d have soul food at The Beautiful, take a stroll through Underground Atlanta, shop in the Mall West End, visit the AUC, check out some local shops in Little 5 Points, visit the King Center, ride the MARTA train, grab a fried pie from The Varsity, attend a few day parties, and hang out in Centennial Olympic Park. Oh, and that’s just on day one!

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?
The support of my family, friends, and followers on my social media platforms deserve major recognition! They’ve been guinea pigs, sounding boards, students in my classes, participants at my events, clients, and much more. They’ve purchased products, promoted and advertised my business, sent referrals, and have motivated and encouraged me from the very beginning. I owe EVERYTHING to my tribe!

Website: www.hanaalimakeup.com
Instagram: @hana_ali_makeup
Facebook: Hana Ali

Image Credits
Derek Blanks James Pennie Sommer Nicole