Meet Kyah Riley of Metro Detroit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyah Riley

Hi Kyah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was in college around 2012/2013 I attended a church on campus that was called “The Righteous Movement”. One night at church they dedicated an entire service to just doing prophecies. The minister at the time prophesied to me saying, “I see you making women feel beautiful.” I didn’t know what he meant at the time, because in college I never did anything beauty related. No hair, makeup, or anything. I did wear individual lashes from the beauty supply, so I thought to myself maybe I’ll be doing lashes.

Fast forward to my 21st birthday in 2016, I wanted my makeup done for my birthday as it was starting to get popular. I didn’t book with a makeup artist, I end up watching YouTube videos and decided to do it myself. I got all the products the YouTuber used and followed all the steps. When I finished, I thought it looked pretty good! That’s when instantly it popped in my head of the prophecy the minister had told me. I said, “Maybe this is what that minister was talking about.”

I really fell in love with doing my makeup and practiced every day. I also practiced on anybody who would let me put a brush to their face, and made sure I practiced with all skin tones.

Fast forward from then I have now built a full clientele, launched a cosmetics line, opened up a Makeup and Esthetics salon suites location, launched a digital course, thrived on social media, and continue to grow my business.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest bump in the road I experienced was when I moved into my first suite, I had it for only two years before having to close abruptly. The building that my suite was in caught electrical fire, and all of the tenants had to quickly move out. Luckily, the building didn’t burn down and none of our belongings were damaged, but we did have to move without knowing a return date.

I moved into a friend’s open floor salon with the hopes of the suite owner letting me know I could come back within a week/two week time frame, being that there was no damage to the building. Thinking that this would be a quick process, it turned into a month. This is where I started to get worried because there was no update as to when we would be able to move back in.

I needed to move back in my suite being that I offered a personal makeup experience, and one-on-one makeup classes. This is where I started to seek guidance from God and was ushered into finding my own storefront salon suite location. I would no longer be in someone else’s building, it was time for me to get my own.

Sometimes the bumps in the road is a set up for something bigger God has for you!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a makeup artist, specializing in soft glam makeup. I’m known for my signature soft glam, servicing an overflow of clients in the metro Detroit area. I have also taught this technique to over 400 students in the online setting.

I’m most proud of my ability to scale my business from a small clientele, to know being known all across the world with the help of social media.

What set me apart from others is my ambitious and energetic spirit, social media marketing skills, and a natural technique that keeps my schedule booked each month.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck, I believe in God, and allowing God’s will and purpose for your life to manifest.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kyahrileymakeup.com
• Instagram: @kyahrileymakeup
• Youtube: @kyahrileymakeup
• Other: Tik Tok @kyahrileymakeup