Meet Yazid Smith | Entrepreneur & Aspiring Influencer

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

Hi Yazid, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
There are a lot of different things and overall life experiences that contributed to my effectiveness and got me to where I am today. But, there’s a lot more work that needs to be done to get where I want to be. However, I feel being ambitious, continuously searching for inspiration, reminding myself of my worth, and being self sufficient/independent were some of the habits that I developed that got me THUS far. But I’m just getting started!

What should our readers know about your business?
I am so proud of Yazid Smith Cosmetics. I remember being a sophomore in high school, purchasing Elf Mascara and Maybelline Fit Me foundation (my first makeup products) and couldn’t wait to try it on when I got home. While shopping, I realized there weren’t many black LGBTQ influencers or black people in general being recognized by brands or used in their campaigns at that time. I wanted to change that. Being a business owner and working for myself was always a goal of mine. So, I set a goal to start my own cosmetic brand, and have my community involved as much as possible. Despite how the beauty industry was for us at that time, my community is now running the beauty industry if you ask me. However, I want to have my own business — a black LGBTQ beauty brand with black LGBTQ ambassadors and employees. How many beauty brands do you know that are owned by a black trans-woman being sold on Sephora and Ulta shelves? Not many. But I know I want to be one, if not, the first one. Despite the challenges to get thus far, I have dipped my pinky toe in the entrepreneurial side of the beauty industry with Yazid Smith Cosmetics. I was so overwhelmed by the unexpected support I received for my soft launch. But now it’s time to gear up to elevate and take her to the next level. Look out for our official launch coming this year. It’s literally just the beginning for the Yazid Smith brand and Yazid Smith Cosmetics.

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?
Atlanta is literally a place for everyone. I promise there’s a good place in Atlanta for every vibe and mood. Don’t even get me started on the food! As long as I’ve been here, there’s still so much more for me to explore. I grew up in a small city in Georgia called Covington (about 30 mins away from Atlanta). I only lived in Atlanta for four years when I attended Georgia State University, so there’s still a couple places I haven’t gone yet. But when it comes to food, I’m a bad b*tch, and Future said all bad b*tches eat seafood & guess what? He was right! So, if you are hanging with me, we’re going to Juicy Crab, Rockin’ Crab, or Wild Crab for a seafood boil. After that it’s literally whatever you can think of. There’s literally endless possibilities. Just be spontaneous and see where the city takes you. I definitely will recommend the strip club though, I went to Onyx for the first time last year and had so much fun, I have to go again!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If anyone is in the LGBTQ community, especially with interest in beauty, the majority of us know who Stahr Milan is. Short story time… I had always had an issue with acne when I was younger. A lot of skincare products never worked for me, so I turned to make up for help covering up those insecurities. Stahr Milan was the first black LGBTQ member that I encountered on Youtube who inspired me to do make-up (alongside Aaliyah Jay and Jackie Aina) and make it a possible career. This then led to the thought of Yazid Smith Cosmetics and the drive to become an all around influencer. I also don’t think Stahr receives as much credit as he deserves, so shout out to Stahr Milan for opening that door black LGBTQ beauty influencers! I also appreciate my sister Jadah (IG: byefelicias_) for always being supportive of me from the beginning. She’s my go-to when discussing business ideas, and when I need encouraging words to keep me on my sh*t. She keeps me grounded and makes sure I’m putting my best foot forward. Lastly, my mother definitely deserves credit for raising such a badass, strong, tenacious ass b*tch. Without having an example of someone that embodies that to look up to, I wouldn’t be who I am today or have those qualities instilled in me.

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/yazidsmith

Other: contactyazidsmith@gmail.com