Special Feature: Interview with Andrea "Nikki" Mobley

Hey, everyone! I have finally moved from Nashville, Tennessee back to New Orleans, Louisiana. During my time in Nashville, I met many amazing people and heard their incredible stories. One of those people is like a sister to me that I met while going to the Oasis center for three years, she is also one of the first people I met in Nashville who is in the LGBTQA community and supported me during my struggles in coming out as bisexual. Andrea “Nikki” Mobley, originally from Murfeesboro, Tennessee, is a woman of many talents, from cooking to fashion design, and to doing mixed-martial arts. However, what I wanted to learn the most was her story about her main passion, cosmetology. Nikki has been known to do hair, makeup, and nails for many clients and has even been responsible for doing my Viking shield maiden hair and makeup for last year's Halloween. I sat down with my sister at her apartment to get to know her story.

Nikki stated that her childhood hairstylist inspired her to pursue a passion in cosmetology but says there is not a way to explain the creative process. “My childhood hairstylist taught me a lot by just watching what she did with my hair. As for the creative process, I would say what inspires me to get into a certain style or look is colors. I love bright tones. History and historical figures also play a huge part in my style. I love the Ancient Egyptian style and I love the Cleopatra and Nefertiti style of makeup. In my eyes, these historical women inspired more of what we know today as the makeup industry.” During her time from starting up her cosmetology business to her goals for the future, Nikki states her wife, her family, and her chosen family in the LGBTQA community have always kept her going. “I have done a lot of makeup for my family and some of the people who inspire my makeup are drag queens. I swear they do the biggest and most fabulous looks in the world. The people in the drag field who inspire me are Kim Chi and Bianca Del Rio. I love the high points that Bianca puts in her eyes, that's where I get my high points from. I would also say Selena Quintanilla is a big influence for me as well.”

Nikki started to add makeup and nails to her work when coffin nails and more acrylic designs started becoming a trend. “One of the things I really love to do are makeovers, which includes the hair, nails, and face. You can't have a face without your hair done. Your hair and your face are both on your head and I feel it doesn't look right if one is done and the other is not. I just love being different in my work.” Nikki told me that there were a few difficulties in starting up her path. “One of the difficulties I had starting up was the fact that I like makeup but sometimes the blending was very hectic, especially when you use green colors or a light blue or yellow. If you blend them too much, you have a hard time seeing the different colors and you see the creases. Another difficulty I faced was I didn't have the money at the time to get what I needed to do hair, makeup, and nails. I've been blessed to have had a lot of help along the way and I'm finally getting to go back to work soon so that will help me overcome the challenges of getting what I need for my cosmetology.”

The makeup industry has produced different beauty gurus over the years and celebrities are creating their own makeup lines too. Nikki believes the biggest breakout star for makeup in our culture right now is Rihanna. “She has made so many different shades for people who have different skin tones. As for the other stars, I do not agree with the drama that they have had with each other. What the makeup industry should be about is supporting each other, not bringing each other down. I also respect Rihanna for having skin tones for every shade in the world, she's more diverse.” Nikki also believes that makeup not only helps you express yourself, but can help with confidence. “I am very proud of people like Sam Smith and Lil Nas X, who have came out as gay and who are now expressing themselves in makeup and heels. I feel like when they express themselves like this and bring it out, it's helping people who haven't came out yet and helping them accept and love themselves for who they are.”

Nikki states that makeup can help with mental health and help heal the mental struggles one faces. “One of the people I really look up to is Demi Lovato. To me, she is a true queen. She openly admitted that despite being an A-list celebrity, she still has her mental health struggles just like everyone else. I also like to use my cosmetology as an outlet to express and heal myself whenever I am feeling down. Also, if I cannot sleep, I go and do my makeup to help me relax.” Nikki had many people she wanted to thank for their support and had advice to give to up and coming artists. “Whatever you want to do in life, put your mindset into that and don't let anyone tear you down. Support each other and keep each other going, spread the love and confidence. If someone else doesn't believe in you, you need to believe in yourself. At the end of the day, everyone has to treat themselves like they are kings and queens. Treat yourself like you would want to be treated. I would like to thank the people who have trusted me enough to do my work on them and the support of my wife. My wife has even told me that she is going to let me do her nails soon.” If Nikki had the opportunity to do anyone's makeup, she would choose Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, RuPaul, Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Hiddleston. “When doing RuPaul's makeup, I would also do the outfit, the hair, nails, the whole thing. As for Chris Hemsworth, I want the challenge of doing makeup on someone with a beard. As for Tom Hiddleston, I would love to give him a total glam makeover, something that would work well with his Loki suit and I would give him a steampunk makeover.” Nikki says the best way for people to reach out to her for her cosmetology services is to contact her over Instagram at @andrea.mobley1996 and she is also in the process of creating her own website.

I really enjoyed sitting down with Nikki and learning her story about her passion for cosmetology. I'm going to miss her so much and I cannot wait to come back and be a part of her and her wife's wedding. As I leave Nashville, I look back on all the good memories and life lessons I have learned here. However, it is time to start a new journey to New Orleans. My next two blog features will have my friends Eric, Savvy, and Donnie in the band, Sweet Cambodia, and an interesting gentleman from Chicago, known as the “Vampire Rockstar”, Jack Lestat. I hope that you all enjoyed this interview and I will keep everyone updated on my career and travels. Happy Reading!

-Melanie Lane