Who Is Cardi B's Makeup Artist Erika La' Pearl?
Beneath The Brush: Cardi B’s Key MUA Erika La’ Pearl Shares Her Definition Of Beauty, Confidence And More
Source: Courtesy of Erika La’ Pearl / courtesy of Erika La’ Pearl
Welcome to “Beneath The Brush,” where we explore the stories behind some of the most notable MUAs in the game. Each feature will highlight the “why” for each MUA and showcase their career trajectories, go-to products, and makeup tips.
When you hear the name Erika La’ Pearl, versatility instantly comes to mind. From Arya Starr’s soft pink beauty beat for the “Goodbye” music video to Victoria Monet’s dewy masterpiece for the Renaissance Film Premiere, Erika’s skills know no bounds. Not to mention, Erika is the brains behind Cardi B’s gorgeous makeup looks.
Erika’s gift of effortlessly creating balance and contrast in her makeup portfolio shows that she carefully honed her skills through professional and self-taught practices. And like many MUAs, the art form initially caught her eye as a child.
“The first time I fell in love with makeup was around 10 years old,” Erika exclusively tells Hello Beautiful. “I remember going through my mother’s eyeshadow palette and trying on blue eyeshadow. I loved the way I looked in the mirror, and from there, I knew I wanted to create.”
Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty
It’s common for childhood dreams to be delayed, especially when life takes us down unexpected paths. While Erika has always been passionate about creating in the beauty world, her MUA career didn’t take shape until her mid-20s, after being laid off as a supervisor at a law firm. Thankfully, the minor setback turned into a major boost in the right direction.
“This gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion,” the Florida native says. “I went back to school, and the rest was history.”
After completing beauty school, moving to Atlanta, and flexing her networking skills, the hard work and determination paid off. Erika started doing makeup for reality stars and landed the opportunity of a lifetime: working with Cardi B.
“I first met [Cardi] in Atlanta in 2016,” she says. “She was doing Love & Hip Hop then, and her management team requested that I do her makeup.”
Source: Courtesy of Erika La’ Pearl / courtesy of Erika La’ Pearl
Once Erika got the seal of approval from the “Enough (Miami)” femcee, her life changed. One job turned into the next until she eventually earned the title of Cardi B’s key makeup artist — working on everything from photo shoots to red carpets. “Never give up,” Erika says. “Continue to showcase your talents on social media and be open to criticism.”
Below, Erika La’ Pearl shares her definition of beauty, her career journey, must-have products, and more.
On how she defines beauty:
“Beauty means being confident, being secure in your skin, and knowing that not everyone will look the same, and it’s okay to have individuality. Beauty is not only skin deep but also who you are as a person and how you treat others.”
How being a celebrity MUA boosts her confidence:
“I am way more confident with my techniques and working on different skin tones. Working in this industry, I am also better at working under pressure and time constraints. I can do glam in small spaces when rushing for shows and videos. Timing is everything in this industry.”
Three must-haves in Erika’s beauty kit:
“My three go-to products in my kit are setting powder, long-lasting setting spray, and IEnvy Wisp Lashes ($3.99+, Ivyusa.com) or the IEnvy Edge Fit Lashes ($3.99, Ivyusa.com).
Go-to makeup tip:
“My go-to makeup tip is to complete your look. I always add lashes, such as the IEnvy Press and Go Lashes ($9.99, Ivyusa.com) or the IEnvy Hybrid Extensions ($4.99, Ivyusa.com).
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Beneath The Brush: Cardi B’s Key MUA Erika La’ Pearl Shares Her Definition Of Beauty, Confidence And More was originally published on ionehellobeautiful.staging.go.ione.nyc