When entertainers, models and other glamorous ones sojourning in South Florida need makeup expertise, they don’t think of calling anyone else. Matti Domingue of Zoule Makeup! Domingue, whose handiwork is appreciated by everyone from young brides, to runway models to musical stars, says her love for makeup and beauty aesthetics started with her mom, a cosmetologist whose salon the young Domingue frequented often as a child.

Says Domingue: “I used to watch how she worked. She was the kind of woman who woke up beautified. Makeup well-done hair and nails etc. I used to love watching her when she had wedding clients when she actually did the makeup since her specialty was hair.”

It didn’t take long for little Domingue to try her hand at things: “My mom used to have to hide her makeup multiple times. She found me with lipstick all over my face,” she recalls. “I loved makeup as a child and now have a greater love for it because I can help people gain more confidence in their selves”.

Domingue agrees that there are some misconceptions about makeup. And the biggest? “When they tell you makeup makes you look fake or older,” she contends. “Makeup does not make you look fake unless you overdo it. There is nothing wrong with enhancing your beauty.”

And enhancing outer beauty is something Zoule Makeup certainly does. Domingue drew the inspiration for her company in the spiritual history of her Haitian roots. “Zoule Means Erzulie [Haiti’s version of the Virgin Mary],” she says deciphering the mystery of the significance behind her company’s name. “I wanted a meaningful name that can make a woman feel like the queen that they already are. To me Zoule means Spiritual Queen. So when I do someone’s makeup I want them to go even deeper within their selves find the inner beauty to project while I enhance their outer appearance.”

For those of us who have never experimented with makeup, Domingue offers this counsel: “There is nothing wrong with asking about makeup,” she contends. “Meaning if you are not so good at applying it on yourself you can ask an expert. For example on Twitter I welcome people [asking] me questions. Also Sephora they are good for that. But I always say this the simpler you are the better, makeup is not meant to be overdone.”

Domingue is eager to address the concerns and fears of some women on how to best take care of their skin when wearing makeup. She advocates the use of a primer, as one of the key products women should use to keep their makeup settled while protecting their skin from any damages. “The ones with SPF are even better. Also before going to sleep clean and moisturize your skin so that it can stay vibrant and healthy.”

The owner of Zoule Makeup is not stingy about sharing her experience either, and has plenty of advice or other young women who want to work in the industry. First and foremost, she says, an aspiring makeup artist must know that the art is not simply doing makeup for a client and making money. “It’s a very competitive field and requires a lot of dedication and passion,” she observes. “Before wanting to do makeup I had to test it out trying photo shoots with friends etc. Loving what you do is the key to success.” Domingue says that aspiring artists must be prepared to be away from their families, sometimes several days and weeks at at a time for assignments. “I believe its takes a lot of courage and personality to do what I do.”

And perseverance. Domingue asserts that a hardworking artist, no matter how successful should never get too comfortable, and those new to the field must be prepared to face obstacles, even daily. “From people not respecting what you do to not appreciating your work,” she observes. ‘Many times people have use the term “Its just makeup. Why do you take it so seriously?’ People have tried to bring me down on multiple occasions to give up what I do. But with my faith in God and myself. I have learned to strengthen up and keep it moving. I do it because it’s what I love. I love transforming a worm into a butterfly.”

And that has been primarily the secret ingredient to her success. Another secret to her success is definitely her ability to approach each client on a person-to-person basis. “Making a client feel comfortable to me is the best way to start,” she says. “I love getting to know them while I do there makeup. Because not everyone likes to have a unknown person invading there personal space. So with a little conversation and laughter it eases the client to fall into there comfort zone.”

Domingue works with all kinds of complexions, and ranks certain products as her favorites to work with. For every day type of makeup, she recommends the foundation to powders, blushes, and shadows in the “Makeup Forever” line, one of her favorite brands. She says that one of my favorite mascaras is DJV Fiber Wig. “It’s amazing,” she gushes. “I also like MAC shadows, concealers, blushes, and lip stick. Nars also has amazing lip glosses. For sensitive skin I recommend Korres they have amazing products that are naturally based. Just to name a few.”

Domingue has great plans for her business, including hiring and training additional makeup artists to join her staff.A woman with impressive business acumen, Domingue wants to eventually create her own line of cosmetics, and expanding her little empire beyond the state of Florida and dip nationwide and delve into the European market. Among her other plans, is to provide clothes and other essentials for underprivileged kids and babies in Haiti. Says the entrepreneur: “God has blessed me profoundly and I feel that its only right that I give back to the ones in need. Also I would like to help the women that have the same interest [with] seminars and such. Zoule Makeup to me is not about finding the outer beauty but also finding the good within yourself.”

And all who know her would agree.

Girls like Liz Paul weren’t supposed to grow up to be savvy business women running retail empires. If anything, they’re supposed to be unstable adult wards of the state. Growing up in Florida as the neglected daughter of a business woman and an artist, Liz Paul recalls that she often had to fend for herself and her siblings. She beat statistics, and is the proud owner of the wildly successful retail shoe empire, U.B.U Shoes.

The business woman’s success can be partly attributed to her tenacity when it comes to taking note of neglected markets. Paul often noticed that the bigger shoes sizes get, the less stylish they tend to be. So in addition to smaller sizes, her self-honed shoe retailer also sells affordable yet trendy shoes for women whose shoe size is above a size 8.

In addition to running U.B.U. Shoes, Paul runs Simply U.B.U—which sells trendy clothing for women.

Kreyolicious: At a young age, you had to fend for yourself and take care of your siblings. I know I’ve read stories where a person would be given huge responsibilities at a young age, and become resentful as a result. Did you have to deal with that? Feeling that you had to grow up too quickly??

I was very resentful and mad at the world. At a young age, my parents left me which caused a very strained relationship with them. It caused me to be mad and happy at the same time. Not only did I have to take care of my siblings—who still live with me today, but I had businesses that I had to learn and operate. I had to learn to drive at the age of 13 so that I could get my little brothers to and from school. I can even remember forging documents just so that I could make deposits in the bank; these were responsibilities that were forced upon me. It’s sad, because I look back and I didn’t learn how to ride a bicycle until two years ago—something that most kids learn at an early age. In fact, my daughter is the reason that I learned to ride a bike. I didn’t want my daughter to learn how to ride a bike before me, and she still learned a day early. My parents were so business oriented and into that life. My father was a musician, and was never around and my mom owned her own businesses and centered her life on that and money. At an early age, I became disconnected from my biological parents. Business is all that I know. The man I considered by father owned three boats that imported and exported goods to and from Haiti and Florida. My little brother was very sickly from the day he was born and because everyone was so concerned with their own lives, I had to raise him myself.

Kreyolicious: How’d you overcome all of this?

In order to overcome everything and deal with it, I just learned to get over it. When I look at my brothers and my daughter, I’m proud and it just makes me smile and makes everything worth it. I made many mistakes on my journey. I didn’t have a roadmap, I just created it as I went along. I’m proud to say that both of my boys—my brothers—graduated and went to college and my daughter is 10 going on 30. As far as my parents and everything that they put me through, I wish them the best. I pray for them daily. I don’t want to block my blessings by being angry.

Kreyolicious: You went through a depression at one point. What helped you go through those rough times?

Two things…My daughter and my boys—brothers. They don’t have anyone else, only me and after my dad died (not her biological father), that’s when I went into depression. My daughter’s nanny took my daughter away for 3-6 months because I just couldn’t function. At that time, I had a job that paid $80,000 a year, and I lost it because I couldn’t go to work or eat. Luckily, I had enough in my savings to get by and to continue to put my daughter through school. But, being depressed is an understatement! Though he wasn’t my biological father, it felt like he was and he has been a rock and strong and positive figure in my life. To lose that, was devastating.

The second thing that helped me get through was thinking of my dad always saying, “Manje. Manje. Manje”—which means eat, eat, eat. I remember that no matter what was going on, he would tell us that, he meant it literally and he meant it figuratively, but thinking about it definitely helped me and to this day gets me through. Every time I get down I think about that literally and think about his drive and hustle and how hard he went for us every day!

Kreyolicious: As you built your business, were there times when you felt that maybe it wasn’t mean to be? How did you get through those times?

I originally started my company off with a business partner. However, I saw very early on that we had two different visions. My main priorities were growth, branding and helping women that felt like they had to be accepted through society by being fashion forward and trendy. I wanted to do it for that girl who felt she needed to spend her entire check, or forgo paying her light bill to fit in—whether it be to buy Christian Louboutin or whatever. So my whole point was to make sure all women felt beautiful, good and trendy without having to sacrifice so much. I just wanted all women to be themselves at any budget. However, my business partner didn’t see it that way. She was more, “Let’s make money and pocket it”. So when the opportunity arose, I bought my partner out, and it was definitely one of the hardest decisions that I’ve ever had to make. When I was contemplating doing it, I got on my knees and prayed for weeks, “Dear God please give me a sign you want me to do this.” It’s crazy because one day all the resources became available to me, and available to me for free! Everything I wanted and needed to make UBU Shoes a success on my own! It was if nothing could go wrong and God just opened every door.

Above: A sampling of some of the merchandise sold by U.B.U. Shoes.

Kreyolicious: What would you say to someone who’s trying to build a business, but who has personal problems to deal with that keep on getting in the way?

One thing about me is that I’m a runner. If I don’t feel something is right, I run. But nothing will stop me from doing what I want. What I want people to understand is that personal issues will arise. But you have to ask yourself, “What’s more important?” What you want for yourself or the negative things? It gets tiring, but you have to dig deep and find out what’s important to you. Exclude everything that prevents you from being Number One.

Kreyolicious: Where do you draw your strength from?

I would be lying to you if I said some days weren’t easier or harder than others. I’m not a failure; I’m a go-getter. So failure is not an option. If I have to do things, I get them done. My dad never lost. So my goal every day is to make my dad proud and live how he taught me. When I’m tired and can’t go on anymore, that’s when I dig deeper and keep going. I’m always on go-mode.

Kreyolicious: How do you stay connected to Haiti?

My dad is originally from Saint-Louis-du-Nord. To be honest, I have not been back to Haiti since my dad passed. I never had a need or want when he was around; I vacationed at Coco Beach, Haiti; Labadee, Haiti and the Citadel in Haiti. My dad was very prominent. When I retire, I want to buy a big house in Haiti. But to be honest, I’m scared. I’m scared that when I touch down at the airport, my dad won’t be there to pick me up and I don’t know how I can deal with that. My boys brothers frequent Haiti all the time. In fact, I sponsored a trip for the oldest in January where he stayed until June. I support him and his endeavors to follow my dad’s footsteps in the import-export business. I physically want to go back. Haiti made me whole. When I think about it, it may be the void I’m missing. But I don’t want to breakdown. Nevertheless, I have plans to go back. I send stuff back such as clothes, shoes, money, all the time. However, I know the moment I put my foot back there, I can make a difference—especially in the Cap-Haitien area. But my dad is the only thing that is stopping me from physically going there. I love Haiti.

Kreyolicious: You’re a single mom, a friend and a business owner. What do you do to keep everything balanced out?

I make sure that I make time for my family first and foremost. My daughter is always first priority. But it’s about being balanced and making time.

Kreyolicious: If you could give Kreyolicious readers some tips about handling money and finances, what would it be?

Currently, I’m reading The Richest Man in Babylon. In fact, I’m on the last chapter. One of the key themes in the book is to build a lean first. This means you start off small, take 10% of your income or salary and put it away—as if it never existed. When that number is what you want, invest it. Make sure you’re investing with a person that specializes in the field that you’re trying to get into. Make sure you invest in something you truly believe in—and make it work for you. You always want to be better than last year. An example can be with Christmas. Were you struggling last year and are you still struggling this year to get gifts for everyone? If so, you’re doing something wrong. If you feel you’re headed backwards, start small and start saving for your savings or for a rainy day. Once you have enough to invest, you need to re-invest. Your job won’t make you rich, but investing will—real estate, property, stock, insurance, business, etc. Re-invest, invest and re-invest.

Kreyolicious: Sounds good to me…What’s next for you?

I want to continue building U.B.U Shoes and telling my story. I strongly believe that if I can do it, anyone can. I know everyone has obstacles…ups and downs. I get it. My mom gave me up for money at one time! I remember she gave me condoms to go sleep with men for money. When I refused, she took away everything and disowned me. I had no money, no phone, no place to live, nothing. So, if I can come back from a situation like that and get this far and raised a child and raised my brothers at such a young age, anyone can. I’m 30 and I’ve experienced more than a sixty-year-old, and I still have more experiencing to do. I just hope I can motivate someone to do something they thought they couldn’t do—and help motivate them to follow all of their dreams.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT UBU SHOES|

Every blogger wants to be Karen Civil. Why wouldn’t they want to be her? She is an influential new media princess and the head honcho of her own digital media marketing agency, Always Civil Enterprise, and the creator of Living Civil bracelets. And her empire doesn’t stop there. She launched her own clothing company Civil Clothing, already touted as one of the best urban wear brands on the market; and she founded a lifestyle property, Living Civil. Oh, and Karen Civil TV, in which she shares exclusive video interviews—with such rappers as Big Sean, Tyga, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa—should also be mentioned. No wonder so many look up to her. They may want her success, but it’s doubtful that they want to put in all the hard work that catapulted her to the highly coveted station where she holds court. Hard work…now that’s something that is in embedded in Ms. Civil—the way hemoglobin lines up blood.

Her hectic work days days consist of one meeting after another, trips to industry events, planning photo shoots, fielding phone calls and emails from industry folks and rappers vying for her attention. She also manages the editorial staff at KarenCivil.com. Based in Los Angeles, the civil-living entrepreneur can minimize the existence and importance of a rapper by ignoring him (or her) on her website Karencivil.com, or make him (or her) an overnight sensation by merely mentioning him or her on the website. Indeed, Karen Civil is that powerful.

In the late 2000s, most of the popular urban blogs had already been established. It seemed unlikely that there was place for new blood. But either Karen Civil was not dissuaded by this, or thought she could bring something different to the blogging game. Where there’s will, there’s a civil way. She had interned with some of the biggest radio and music brands in New York, and had made more than a handful of connections with talent and shot-callers in the music world. When rapper Lil Wayne went to serve a jail term, Civil teamed up with web designer Karla Moy to create a website to help the star keep in touch with fans.

Civil had assisted Wayne in keeping his brand intact. Now, the Brooklyn-born, Elizabeth, New Jersey-raised gal wanted very much to bring her own venture to life. She knew one of the primary principles of starting a business: start with what you already know and have a passion for. She knew she loved music, especially hip-hop…and she had some contacts. She didn’t want to be a digital sharecropper, as Nicholas Carr would call it…you know one of those types who help big brands build content, but don’t benefit in the long run. No, Karen Civil wanted to build her own brand. There were several highly-trafficked hip-hop blogs, but none were helmed by a female. She turned on the ignition on KarenCivil.com and has been driving on the success highway ever since, landing on Black Enterprise’s Top Blogger list, and being whisked by Dr. Dre to head the social media of his headphone brand. When big conferences want an expert on their panels, Karen Civil is one of the first names that pop into their heads.

Hanging out with Lil Wayne.

K. St. Fort: What are your memories of growing up Haitian?

I guess it would start in Brooklyn when I’d go to family parties and get-togethers. I have a very big family and getting the chance to spend time with them and see my cousins are some of the best memories I have. We had traditional foods and Haitian music playing when we would all come together.

K. St. Fort: Musical memories…?

At family parties, my cousins and uncles were always playing T-Vice’s music.

K. St. Fort: An internship was instrumental in getting you to where you are. When one gets an internship, what is the best way to stand out?

You basically let your grind speak for itself. You have to put in that extra work to show how dedicated up are… You have to stay longer and don’t become a crop watcher, so to speak. Let your grind and ambition show.

K. St. Fort: In the mid-2000s, you gave props to artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, long before the mainstream knew them. Or rather acknowledged them. Why did you try that approach, when maybe other bloggers weren’t really trying to touch anyone that hadn’t already gotten mainstream validation?

That’s what I built my site—for the purpose to showcase music that I like—not what necessarily has a large following yet.

K. St. Fort: You breathe music. Heck, it’s dripping from your nostrils. But who are your favorite artists. And no girl, this isn’t a trap question.

I mean it’s a variation of music that I listen to…everything and everyone. It’s hard to pick just a few, but I do love Andy Suzuki, Pink, some old school artists, and many many more.

K. St. Fort: What do your parents think about your career in the music world? Are they like, “Se sa Karen, se sa!”

They are proud that I am pursuing my dreams. I came from a family of hard-workers who all have good yet regular professions, so they are glad that my career in music is actually working for me.

K. St. Fort: Were you ever tempted to go the celebrity bashing direction with your blog?

No, because I have been that kid that was picked on. I never want to be that person.

K. St. Fort: So while you’re heading KarenCivil.com, you get tapped to be Social Media Director for Beats by Dre. How did they ever pull you away, chile?

They didn’t pull me away from anything. I am just doing more than one thing. It lets me be creative and I get the best of both worlds.

K. St. Fort: Studying the history of your brand, it surely grew quite fast. And it grew at a time when most thought that music blogs, urban blogs had hit their apogee. What do you attribute that to?

I’ve been doing it for a few years now. I have tried to be consistent, but I still don’t feel like it is where it needs to be. I try to give you a vision of the artist with interviews and new music exclusives.

K. St. Fort: How important do you think image is to a blogger?

I can’t speak for the next blogger, but for myself I take care of my body and mind. I try to get out more often and love to stay in shape. I can’t just throw on sweats if I want to. I have always cared about my appearance, but now I especially take extra care of my personal image.

K. St. Fort: You tend to emphasize a vision board a lot. Out of all the dreams and goals that you had on your board, that you have since accomplished, which one proved to be the most astounding—even to you, who believed so ardently that you would accomplish it?

I think making the Ebony Power 100 list last year with amazing women like Oprah was incredible to me because I wasn’t expecting it at all. I definitely can’t just pin-point one thing, but every day something new is happening for me and I am being acknowledged by my peers which is accomplishing.

Interviewing Wiz Khalifa for Karen Civil TV.

K. St. Fort: You made a statement once about the U.S. music industry: “Everybody got a Haitian on the team. It’s the standard.”

I mean our work ethic is like no other! We are all hard-workers, just think about Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliot had Mona Scott. [Rapper] 50 had Sha Money XL and so on.

K. St. Fort: Do you feel some sort of partisanship with others of Haitian descent in the music industry?

Of course, I love Sha Money XL, and have so much respect for Mona Scott. We all have that bond and it feels like we are family.

K. St. Fort: What Haitian artists and bands do you like?

Rap-wise I like Jeezy and [konpa-wise] T-Vice. Usher—whenever he decides to admit his roots.

K. St. Fort: In web world, there is sometimes slander, and it’s spread like nothing else in the world. How do you handle rumors and online slandering?

I mean—I am human and it does affect me, but I have amazing friends who remind me that certain people don’t matter and you can’t take anything personally.

K. St. Fort: Do you have plans to work with Haitian artists in a genre like konpa?

No, not that I know of—yet.

K. St. Fort: The music industry is known for being fast, and for being artificial. Some might even use the word “plastic” to describe it. How do you keep yourself civil and real?

It comes with any business, and you’re going to have to face the phonies. I come from a well-rounded family—which is why I have remained grounded.

K. St. Fort: Speaking of which…Can you spot a user from a mile away? Or is face contact required?

It takes time to spot a user because they tend to blend in.

K. St. Fort: Out of all the honors you’ve gotten, industry-related or not, which one means the most to you?

My mom’s blessing is what means most to me.

K. St. Fort: You have Civil Clothing and Civil bracelets. At which point did you realize it would be a good idea to expand your brand?

I think there comes a point in every business person’s career when you need to create those tangible items that set you apart.

With rapper Drake. Karen Civil was among one of the first bloggers to give her stamp of approval to Drake before he blew up in the mainstream.

K. St. Fort: Did you have any qualms about having your name as your brand? And putting your face in front of your brand?

No.

K. St. Fort: When was the last time you went to Haiti?

About two-and-a-half years ago, when my aunt graduated from college.

Karen Civil and rapper Nippsey Hussle.

K. St. Fort: It’s no doubt mentally taxing to be at the head of all these brands. How do you make sure you take care of yourself?

I meditate daily. I love to stay in shape and I am into yoga and my daily workouts. Som I make sure I am mentally, spiritually, and physically alive.

K. St. Fort: It would seem to most that the next big step for you would be for you to head a record label division or something along that line.

You never know what the future holds.

K. St. Fort: What’s next for the Civil Brand?

I will continue to look for new ways to grow. I am working on my book that is coming out next year and planning the annual Live Civil Brunch.

Karen Civil kicking it with Rick Ross at an industry event.

Be sure to visit Karen Civil’s flagship site by CLICKING HERE.

This has been another segment of Yap Mennen/They Ballin’—in which overachieving boys and girls of Haitian origin and their accomplishments are highlighted.