Beauty Guru Ateya of Smuve Complexions

Story: Taylor
Graphics: 19th letter

In a little over a year's time this You Tube beauty guru now has over 17,000 regular subscribers. They faithfully tune in to listen to her advise on hair, make-up and an occasional recipe or two. My kids want me to make another batch of banana nut bread with toffee chips, which I learned from watching her. Yes, it really is that good. But some of the best things that I have learned from her tutorial videos I don't have to share with my family. They are just for me. I have learned so much in just the last few months from watching her. I learned about Nu-Gro, sew ins, MAC products.....too much to list. She really makes it simple to follow along with her. When I watch her videos I feel like she is just one of my girlfriends talking to just me. She seems to be just very open and friendly. As my grandma used to say "shes good people." I was talking to a girlfriend at work a couple of weeks ago and she mentioned that she watched "Ateya" on You Tube too. That got me to start wondering if she really knew how many people she has helped? If she really knew how many lives that she has had an effect on with her smile, her downhome hospitality and her words of wisdom. Ateya is beautiful and entertaining. Her swang is breathtaking, her make-up game is soild as a rock and she can cook up a storm? Good thing we are all the way in California. Gotta keep that woman away from my husband (laughing).

Read the interview with Ateya.

Rather you think she uses too much heat on her hair or she uses the wrong products. Or you just don't like her but don't really know why. She's doing her thang! I did a Google search on "Ateya" and came up with 85,000 results pertaining to her and her hair and beauty regimens. Seems I am not the only one who likes what she is doing.

Some people may say after reading her interview that she is not even a professional hairdresser, why listen to her? Well Oprah studied communication in college, but I and millions of others like me take her advise on all kinds of things that don't pertain to her degree. Now before you write in saying that I am comparing "Ateya" to "Oprah" I am not. I am only saying that a degree on your wall does not make you the "end all know all" on a subject. I found Ateya to be sweet , knowledgeable and seems to be truly humbled by her success. I love me some Ateya and I have a feeling there are many others who do too.


BecomeMagazine.net: Have you always been interested in hair?

Ateya: No...I was a tomboy(laughing). I was in all the sports coming up. Later on in high school (8th or 9th grade) I was more into hair. It was a thing all girls did in my hometown. We made sure we got our hair and nails done faithfully every Thursday after practice.

BecomeMagazine.net: It is hard to see you as a little tomboy. So when did you become a hair stylist?

Ateya: (laughing)...I am not a hair stylist...I have lots of family members that are licensed...but I watched and learned from them.

BecomeMagazine.net: Well then you learned a lot from them that's for sure. What made you decide to start making videos on You Tube?

Ateya: Wow...I began wanting to learn how to do it professionally. So I took MAC Classes at the Galleria Houston first. Then I was googling makeup and youtube popped up. After that I saw BeautyAllure (she is no longer with Youtube but we all MISS HER) and she was so nice and did makeup so well. So I was like I will do it one day. Then as I joke I did a video and it was ok. Then people wanting to know about MY HAIR. So I posted My Hair Regimen and its been a CRAZY ride ever since. But I thank god for it!

BecomeMagazine.net: BeautyAllure was great. Her real name is Nicky. She is still around because I see her on the MAC Addicts network I am on. Don't know why she quit doing videos, but thank you for doing yours. Okay, I gotta ask you. I read that the ladies of the Long Hair Care Forum (LHCF) had or have an issue with you? Is there or was there a beef between you & LHCF?

Ateya: No No No...no beef. Not on my part anyway. I got sooo many emails from my subscribers about LHCF was talking about me. I was like "Who is that"? So I went to the site....joined....and saw the comments and I was like ok....not that serious..in my opinion. So I did a video to tell every one I saw the comments and its fine. Everyone has an opinion and its ok. I was more like IGNORE any negative comments about me or anyone else cause it makes MORE MESS. So I stated on my video its ok and if they think I use too much heat I am sorry but its my hair and IT WORKS FOR ME. Then so many weeks later Sandra Rose has them on her site and the very next day....I got tone of emails that I was on Sandra Rose and I was like nooooo...but I emailed her and told her MY STORY and then it was all good. Cause I don't like people making up things so I just told MY SIDE and she understood more. But no beef...LHFC keep up the great work!

BecomeMagazine.net: Thank you for clearing that up for everybody. So how do you decide your video topics?

Ateya: That is hard...now cooking topics is a breeze but the makeup is like ok take a eyeshadow name and make up a phrase. Some I need to change but I been so busy..(laughing)

BecomeMagazine.net: Oh yeah. I know about busy. So you model too. How did get started in modeling?

Ateya: Yes I use to Model. Went to Barbizon of Houston Texas and graduated in 1998 and it was a great experience. But I learned more out of modeling school then in model school. So people KEEP YOUR MONEY!

BecomeMagazine.net: You heard her...KEEP YOUR MONEY PEOPLE (laughing). How did you learn so much about make-up?

Ateya: Honestly I am still learning. I just all of a sudden took it seriously and I love it. Hair and Makeup is in!

BecomeMagazine.net: Yes it is. You have a movie called "One Night Stand" What is it about?

Ateya: One Night Stand is not finished yet. The Director is a new dad and he has been taking time out to get the new feel of that and we hope to finish by May. And its about my husband...he has a One Night Stand...and I kinda set him up...but its a twist...so I cant tell it all..but I can say I cut off his....(*&^$) off.

BecomeMagazine.net: Whoa! You gonna have to let us know when it is done. So what made you want to do a movie?

Ateya: Always wanted to do that. In school I loved Drama classes but was so much in sports my schedule would not permit that. But now I am learning as I go and its great.

BecomeMagazine.net: I saw you on istardom.com and people were asking for your autograph. How do you feel about that?
Ateya: ARE YOU SERIOUS! I am going to check that site out now. I would be happy to do that. Dont make me cry....

BecomeMagazine.net: You have a new website coming. What is that going to be about?

Ateya: It will be more of a buy here type deal. When I wear earrings, ring, hat, they always say Ateya I want that? So now they can buy it on SmuveComplexions.com

BecomeMagazine.net: Wow. That sounds really great. Can't wait. So did you think you would have over 17,000 subscribers when you first started?
Ateya: NO never....Not one for that matter. But GOD IS GOOD!

BecomeMagazine.net: Yes he is. Who's famous head of hair would you most like to work on and why?

Ateya: Taraji P. Henson. She is on her A game this year. I would love to put her on a half wig cause I always seen her with her hair so I would Upgrade her to A+ with that.

BecomeMagazine.net: Who's famous face would you most like to put make-up on and why?

Ateya: Lil Kim. I love her to death! She is truly a diva! I just want to make up her my way....thats all I will say...and hope she loves it!

BecomeMagazine.net: Lil Kim if your listening.........holla! What do you want to say to all your fans out there?

Ateya: Thank you all for sticking by me. You are more than I ever expected! You are some TRUE ride or die subscribers and I love all of you from the bottom on my heart! Keep God First!

Thank you Ateya so much. You are wonderful!

Do you want to know more about Ateya?

Ateya's YouTube Videos. Hair care, make up and food! Whatelse do you need.
www.youtube.com/Ateyaaa
Ateya's website. Your one stop source for makeup and hair tips. http://smuvecomplexions.blogspot.com/
Ateya's future website. Go watch her video for a sneak-peak of the new site.
http://www.smuvecomplexions.com/

Comments have been turned off for this story. If you would like to make a comment please do so on Ateya's YouTube page.

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