Between Friends

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.