Getting Good With Looks

Zachary Edward never intended to be a makeup artist, but that didn’t stop him from saying yes when opportunities came around.

Edward discovered an interest in photography as a high school student and invited his friends to participate in photo shoots.

“I wanted to move to New York and be this big editorial fashion photographer,” Edward said. “My best friend was my main client. I wanted to get into editorial photography with makeup, but she didn’t know how to do makeup.”

Edward thought it would be easy enough, so he set out to learn.

Photo by Boo Media

“I went to the Mac cosmetics counter in the Dillard’s in Panama City, and they said I could come in every Saturday,” Edward said. “They would demonstrate how to do a look on half of a face, and I would do the other half. I learned from other artists, and eventually they invited me to apply for a job.”

On the way to the interview, Edward was stuck in traffic. He notified the store that he would arrive late, but the interviewer called off the meeting, citing his tardiness as a red flag. They would not be moving forward with the hiring process.

Edward sought comfort from a friend in Orlando who consoled him by saying that any Mac counter in Orlando would hire him on the spot. That was all the encouragement Edward needed. He headed south with $500 to his name.

In Orlando, Edward began learning from other artists until he was invited by an old friend to move out to Las Vegas to serve as the on-set makeup artist for magazine photo shoots. He used this opportunity to create content for social media.

“I posted the looks that I was doing and got a really good reaction,” Edward said. “I just kept posting, and that’s how I became friends with (makeup artist and social media influencer) Patrick Starrr. Once I moved to Las Vegas, I saw a big boom of new clients reaching out to me on social media.”

Posting on social media turned into a career. Edward began working with celebrities including Erica Mena, French Montana and even boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“It wasn’t ever about schooling or anything. It was just learning from pushing myself into the industry,”  Edward said. “Every opportunity that I saw or that I got offered, I took it. I didn’t know where it was going to take me, but I was gonna learn from it.”

Zachary Edward, photographed at Thistle & Thorne in downtown Panama City, sees life as a confidence game — and a little makeup can’t hurt. He encourages people to pursue their loves. “Do what makes you happy and feel hot,” he advises. Photo by Boo Media

His Instagram account grew, and he started a YouTube channel where he shared two of his hobbies: movies and makeup. Edward started posting makeup looks inspired by films while reviewing the film at the same time and garnered thousands of views.

“I love storytelling, and I love movies — I could talk about them all the time,” Edward said. “It’s never been a thing for me to be famous on social media. I post things because I want to be educational and fun.”

Edward recently moved back to Panama City to be closer to family following the pandemic. His Instagram page features Alys Beach prominently as a backdrop for his photos. He shares excursions to local restaurants to promote community businesses.

“I’m a very aesthetic person, and Alys Beach works with where my color story is right now — gray, white, black and beige,” he said. “They have the best walkable spots, and I love to go out there and try the new restaurants, walk around the space and just take photos because it looks really good.”

Edward said makeup can be a stylized expression of self, regardless of gender.

“I mean, there’ve been men in makeup for years with kabuki theater, on the runway or on the red carpet,” he said.

Zachary Edward has a lot of pleather in his wardrobe, finding that when wearing black over black, multiple textures can make an outfit more dimensional and interesting. In this photo, he sports a red blazer set by BoohooMAN x Landon Barker and a plaid shirt from Ralph Lauren. Photo by Boo Media

Edward has advice for young men looking to venture into the world of makeup.

“First tip is just don’t care what other people think,” he said. “If it makes you happy, do it. You’re not hurting anyone by putting on concealer.”

He recommends trying out brow gel to tame frazzled eyebrows. It’s simple to do and won’t be immediately noticeable as makeup. Next, he suggests grabbing a color corrector and a bronzer. Finally, round it all out with a good lip balm. “You can’t walk around with crusty lips.

“Be confident in what you want to do,” Edward said. “People always feel like they are being judged. Confidence is gonna change everything.

“Do what makes you happy and feel hot.”

Photo by Boo Media