Lisa: Akua, thank you for talking with us today. We're thrilled to have you with us! Tell us about your business.

My claim to fame is being a celebrity makeup artist for the last 12 years.  I have evolved my career into creating a social enterprise in the healing beauty arts. We solve people's problems and provide pleasure by assisting people in being beautiful through being WELL.

Lisa: What inspired you to get started in makeup artistry and to turn your passion into a business?

Initially freedom and the natural occurrence of receiving a generous exchange for sharing my creativity with others. I also loved what a difference I seemed to make for others by making them feel beautiful.  With my own growth and evolution, I overstood that my desires are so very simple. It simplified everything in my life. So like me I know that people's desires are very simple. We want to be loved, appreciated and respected. Being WELL is a huge key to realizing that utilizing ancient wisdom and remedies. I can share that with people in a simple and beautiful way.

Lisa: When did you realize that your love of make-up and beauty was more than a hobby?

When I started being booked to work on major motion pictures with A-list celebrities, magazines, and TV commercials.

Lisa: As a renowned makeup-artist who has worked with thousands of clients including celebrities, what beauty basics have you found work for all women?

1. Having a beautiful smile.
2. Confidence
3. Being WELL

Lisa: I agree completely. 'Beauty' is organic and really starts from within. By the way, Akua, tell us about the meaning of your beautiful name.

Akua means "the sweet messenger". My full name means, "the throned goddess who brings the sweet message of resurrection."

In tribute to my west Afrakan ancestors I "Sankofa'd"  (go back and fetch it) a proper name.  I was born on Wednesday and so Akua is the soul name given to females born on Wednesday in the Akan culture of Ghana.

The name Auset came to me through my Elders divining to inquire about my life's incarnation objective, and Auset literally jumped out to claim me.  Auset is an Ancient Egyptian goddess and the most ancient goddess (Afrakan or otherwise) documented.  The Greeks called her Isis and The Christians, Mary. Auset represents all that is feminine: creativity, nurturing, magic, royalty. In the Ancient myth, Auset resurrects her husband/brother Ausar's dismembered body after being murdered by his jealous brother Set, then gives birth to Heru (the warrior of light and victory).  My work is all about Resurrecting Our Sleeping Giants through the healing beauty arts.

Lisa: Akua, tell us a bit about your typical day in the office!

Well the first thing is that I don't work in an office! I never, ever, ever, ever envisioned myself in an office or going to the same place working for someone else everyday. Second, there's really not a typical day.

It's all different if I'm on assignment on location, in a studio, in-town, out-of-town, if I'm working in my home "office" ("The Goddess Sanctuary"...3 out of 4 people fall asleep when they visit...ultra-peaceful vibes).  If I'm working out of the sanctuary I check emails, myspace, place orders for supplies, mix special remedies for clients, ship books and products, edit film and photos...whatever I'm doing that day there is always, always, always some world music vibes in the background...from Augustus Pablo, Daude, Sparlha Swa, Khari Lemuel.

Lisa: I must say this sounds supreme...the just desserts of finding and moving within your appointed and anointed space. How has your business grown or changed since its inception?

It's gone from the superficially driven commitment to a spiritually driven commitment.  My goal is to Resurrect the Sleeping Giants within ourselves by keeping my inner giant alive! I am my best example.

Lisa: Wow, what a powerful statement.

I really appreciate that. Now tell us, what has been your greatest challenge along the way?

Being confident enough to always be generous with my gifts, talents and abilities.  When you share your gifts you will always have more than you require.

Lisa: Yes, I completely agree. When we give, the arms of the universe open up to pour blessings back to us. On that note, what has been your greatest reward?

The freedom to be home and available to my family, spending my days the way I choose. I love that my work has inspired others to create more choices for themselves.

Lisa: As you know, health and wellness are central to the message we aim to share with our readers. Tell us how do you balance work and caring for you while pursuing the work you love?

Fortunately, they go hand-in-hand. I am a walking example of my work. I LIVE healing beauty arts. My life is researching and studying ancient wisdom and remedies, products, eating living foods, dancing, doing yoga, while sharing, teaching and coaching others.

Lisa: Akua, you recently published a book entitled Superwomen and Goddesses: Workin' Your Power & Magic (Book One) that speaks directly to young women (and men). You say on your website that:

"the intention of this book is about the resurrection of the sleeping giants in our households, high schools, colleges, in the hood and most importantly - where we stand."

Tell us more about this project and your mission, which extends beyond your business to include your heart's work.

The Project: The book is a blueprint for my work of being the big sistah I never had for the girls of this era, and hopefully, for many eras to come.

My Mission: Our girls require development, guidance and inspiration from us.  No one else will do it better than us. In my book, 'goddess' is defined as everything that this female touches inspires life. If every female really lived as if everything she touched inspired life, the world's rhythm and complexion would evolve into something quite beautiful.

Social Enterprise: I have been asked if I am a feminist; to that I say no.  If I must be labeled, it would be a hue-manist.  I am committed to being a divine hueman being and every product, tool, resource, project, program,event that my business provides is for the social evolvement of huemanity.

Akua with staff & girls from The Butterfly Project

Lisa: What's your vision for the future of your business & other endeavors?

Creating more healing beauty artists and empowering people by sharing the keys to beauty through being WELL.  Incorporating holistic i.e. eco-friendly methods of producing, marketing and distributing our products, tools and resources.

Lisa: Ok, before we go, tell us what words of wisdom can you offer to other sisters who want to bring their passions to life as you have?

I urge them to explore these four questions often:

1. Who Are You? Spiritually, Mentally, Emotionally, Biologically, Historically, Culturally.
2. Why Are You Here? What Is Your Life's Work?
3. Who's Your Haven Of Community? Your masters, gurus, healers and soul friends.
4. How Do You Share Your Gifts With Humanity?

Lisa: Thank you Akua...we wish we could talk longer but we know you have to go! We look forward to reading your books and following your work. God bless for all you do!

Abundant thanks to you!