Alani Thompson wants to give city students a lesson in glamour.
The self-made Brooklyn makeup artist, a Midwood High School grad, is now an official vendor for the city Department of Education, calling herself a “beauty services partner” with the DOE.
Thompson, 26, caused a stir last week when she revealed the role on her Instagram page with a sexy leg-crossing pose and the DOE logo emblazoned across her body.
“I’ll be bringing makeup services directly to schools, helping students look and feel their best for every special event,” she posted.
Dozens of followers gave the names of NYC middle and high schools where kids might appreciate Thompson’s skills at applying bold eyeshadows, liner, lashes and lipstick.
“I want to help girls build their confidence, especially around proms,” she told The Post.
A DOE spokeswoman confirmed that Thompson has a DOE vendor identification number — among thousands of businesses that can be hired to provide goods and services to NYC public schools — although that “does not automatically result in a contract.”
But Thompson’s announcement generated several requests for her services, she said: A social worker at PS/IS 66 in Brooklyn asked for a workshop on makeup around prom time. A teacher at Gotham Collaborative High School in the Bronx asked Thompson to speak with students in a cosmetology course. An after-school program at Pugsley Preparatory Academy in the Bronx wants Thompson to help middle-schoolers use makeup.
Thompson started doing makeup for classmates in high school talent shows and theatrical productions, then worked in Macy’s cosmetics department while attending the College of Staten Island, where she majored in biology.
Thompson dropped plans to become a doctor to start her own business as a makeup artist, “Beat by Lani,” doing makeup for weddings, graduations, proms and other occasions. Most of her customers are Black.
“I want to encourage girls to go to prom and showcase their beauty” because she’s seen how it boosts their self-esteem, Thompson said.
“The girls would bring their moms, who are trying to help them break out of their shell, all nervous and shy. But once the makeup is done, they’re on their phones taking pictures and videos – the confidence just goes up.”
By sharing her skills, Thompson also hopes to encourage students to explore cosmetology as a way to make a living “because beauty is a good career, too.”
Thompson’s hourly rate for schools ranges from $75 to $150 an hour, depending on the number of students, she said. A half-day workshop of two to four hours would cost $250 to $500, and a full-day workshop of five to seven hours would cost $600 to $1,000, including supplies and tools for hands-on demos.
But Thompson is not yet state-licensed as an esthetician, which is required of those who charge fees to apply makeup for special events or to teach makeup techniques. Applicants must complete a 600-hour approved course of study and pass the state’s written and practical exams.
Thompson said she plans to enroll in a local cosmetology school specializing in makeup this fall. Her mom, a school safety agent in Brooklyn, put her in touch with fellow staffers who helped her obtain the vendor ID.
“This service could be enormously beneficial to students with disabilities as enrichment in the daily-living curriculum or during the annual prom and graduation festivities,” said Donalda Chumney, a former Manhattan superintendent who also supervised programs for kids with special needs.
“But principals must always ensure that school programs have educational value, and system leaders must ensure that any adult who interacts with a student is properly licensed.”
The DOE said some schools may bring in professional stylists as part of career and professional opportunities for students. But the spokeswoman said Thompson does not have permission to claim an affiliation with or endorsement by the public schools.
The post NYC makeup artist eager to bring glamour to public school students as ‘beauty services’ vendor appeared first on New York Post.
