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Between Friends
published long ago
All of the best beauty secrets are shared between
friends. So, it’s pretty serendipitous
that we’ve found Tamia, who recently co-hosted
our NYC BeautyBash™.
They call her a “soulful chanteuse,”
and that she is. But she’s also one of those
natural beauties that stop a room cold.
Hand-picked by Quincy Jones, this little songbird
has earned herself four Grammy noms over the last
several years. Collaborating with Brandy, Gladys
Knight and Chaka Khan on the Set It Off soundtrack
helped set Tamia off, but it was her duet with
Eric Benet that really heated things up. She went
on tour with Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Missy Elliot
for the sold-out “Ladies First” concert
series and married NBA star and Orlando Magic
guard Grant Hill.
Growing up in Windsor, Ontario, just across the
border from Detroit’s Motown, Tamia was
listening to the voices of Aretha Franklin, Cece
Winans and Anita Baker early on. “I was
that little 6-year-old singing into her brush
with her mom yelling, “Please stop!”
She took that brush to task and began studying
voice, acting and singing, before taking on local
theater, choral productions and her church choir.
Singled out among Canada’s prestigious musical
academies, the petite balladeer went on to become
a Billboard chart regular and surprised many with
her warm sensuality in her “Stranger in
my House” video.
 Since
her last album, Tamia has been focusing on charity
work and her family. Her 4-year-old daughter Myla
Grace has become a budding source of inspiration,
and her support of Prevent Child Abuse America,
Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an African-American art
collection touring the U.S. and Habitat for Humanity
is awe-inspiring. We’ve seen photos of her
building the “Grant and Tamia Hill House”
for low income families in Orlando, and yes, she
still looked beautiful.
Tamia has some surprisingly simple beauty secrets
that keep her looking her best. “I’m
a product junkie. I’ve tried and tested
everything, but believe it or not, I love Aquaphor,”
she says. “I always have it in my bag, and
I can put it on my lips, skin, nails, anything
that’s feeling dry.” Her Shu Uemura
eyelash curler is her other tried-and-true tool,
that, and her double-ended eye pencil from Mally
Roncal. “This one’s great because
I can line my eyes with one end, than use the
highlighter powder on the other. Instantly, I
look awake.” Mally lipgloss and bronzer
by Iman are her other two favorites she never
leaves home without. As for that gorgeous hair
that’s never been far from a brush, “Davies
Gate. I use the whole line. Right now I’m
into their chocolate shampoo and conditioner which
help maintain my darker color.”
Tamia's fourth album is a departure from her
previous releases under the major labels. Launched
under her own auspices of Plus 1 Music Group,
“Between Friends” (www.tamiaworld.com)
is an independent expression of her vocal range
and lyrical prowess. Her video for her single,
“Can’t Get Enough,” recently
premiered on VH1 Soul and vh1.com. “This
album reflects where I am in life both personally
and professionally – a mother, wife, friend,
and now, entrepreneur,” Tamia says. “Music
is a part of me-everything that I do, every step
that I take. I am still thankful and amazed, because
I still see myself as that little girl with a
brush.” That’s a little secret we’ll
keep between friends.
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