"I use my beauty as a weapon of taking back what’s mine. I don’t like to limit my beauty in any shape or form due to watching the world utilize, appropriate, and reshape what they think black beauty is and exudes for years. Beauty is more than just makeup and getting pretty for myself. It’s an act of pride, power and intention of showing who I truly am for what I make it, not you (the world)."
Multidisciplinary artist Mecca Mozelle knows why they are on this earth, and understand that beauty goes beyond our perception. Hailing from the Bronx, the model and artist makes a point that they have limitless capacity when it comes to doing exactly what they want, and have every intention of exercising this capacity. Below, we speak to Mozelle on beauty as an act of resilience, the product they can never live without, and the most beautiful thing the universe could have done for them.
What is your morning beauty routine?
My morning routine can either be super simple, or intense. I like to steam the entire bathroom with my hot shower running because it tightens my pores and makes my skin super tight. I use an oatmeal mask/scrub I created that really deep cleans all the oils built up over night, then I take my Noxema ultimate clean anti blemish pads which cleans and dries my face out even more so I have fully removed all oils after my shower. To bring moisture back to my face, I add my super moisturising vitamin e oil and Shea butter to glaze my face like a donut.
What is your night beauty routine?
My night routine is my favourite, as a child my skin was filled with black heads and eczema. So I take my skin routine very seriously, it has been a very long journey.
At night, I don’t like to use too many products. So I’ll simply just wipe my face with Bioderma Sensibio H20, then use Cetaphil face wash, and lastly add my absolute favourite moisturiser (my top secret) is the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Night Cream.
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Describe what you do for a living? What does a typical day look like for you?
I’m an artist in many forms. Everything I do has to feel and align with the freedom to express, be, and elevate. A typical day for me would be a morning run to catch the sun rise and nice breakfast. I like to also blast music and sometimes that can lead me to want to paint, work out, stomp all around my Bronx apartment in heels strutting or twerking, then tapping into whatever craft my heart desires for that day. I always feel like each artist within in me has a world of their own, I just follow with the rhythm with whichever one I am that day.
Is beauty ever an act of resilience for you?
Yes, I use my beauty as a weapon of taking back what’s mine. I don’t like to limit my beauty in any shape or form due to watching the world utilize, appropriate, and reshape what they think black beauty is and exudes for years. Beauty is more than just makeup and getting pretty for myself. It’s an act of pride, power and intention of showing who I truly am for what I make it, not you (the world).
What is the supermarket/ drug store/ chemist beauty product(s) that you use and love?
Maybelline Fit Me Foundation, the goat of all foundations. I’ve been using it since high school.
What is your main form of beauty body maintenance? What products do you use on your body?
Vitamin E oil and Cetaphil. My body and skin can be very sensitive so these products are not harsh or harmful. Cetaphil also has assisted with my unfortunate case of eczema.
How do you express yourself through beauty?
My favourite way to express my beauty is with my jewellery and makeup. Internally, I truly feel like a goddess from another world after years of experiencing many insecurities and doubts on where “my type of beauty” fits in. I always like to wear statement pieces gold rings with meaningful symbols or jewels, and gold chains that I almost never take off because it helps show the essence of where I come from. Kings and queens. My makeup is my favourite way to express. I love to emphasise my lips with beautiful blends of colours and gloss, and highlight my sharp cheekbones as much as I can because I truly used to be insecure about my androgynous facial structure. But now it’s trending so I’ve been showing out.
Can you talk about what for you is the most beautiful part of being in the LGBTQIA+ community?
Everything is beautiful about being apart of this community, there are zero limitations to who you are, what you are, how you love, who you love or how you are even able to express yourself to the world being openly a part of the LGBTQI+ family. I feel unstoppable, because not only am I gay, but I’m black. That’s the boldest, scariest, most beautiful thing the universe could have ever done for me.
What do you do when your body needs to recover?
Sleep/Rest . I believe everyone should have one day a week where they do absolutely nothing. Practicing stillness, can be so beneficial in many ways.
You’re tired/ hungover/ rundown: what is your beauty hack?
Sleep again! Lots of water and healthy but filling foods to rejuvenate.
What is the one non-negotiable in your beauty routine?
Lavender oil! It has to go with any perfume, oils or whatever I have on to smell good. I rub it everywhereeeeee.
What kind of change would you like to see in the beauty industry?
Safe, performative, and token diversity gimmicks. Seeing one black model, an Asian model and 4 white models is not change or progressive. That’s not what anyone means when we say be more inclusive. There should just be a equal amount of opportunity, understanding, and PAY within the beauty industry for all as a model. Also representation on large platforms that showcases humanity, not the faces that consistently push white supremacy and capitalism.
Do you have a beauty icon? Who are they and why?
Brenda Sykes and Diana Ross in the 70’s. Their essence is truly timeless to me and breath taking. One of my favourite movies is Mahogany, and I feel like it instilled a type of softness within my spirit watching Diana prance around and be fearless within fashion. Brenda Sykes BONE STRUCTURE, plus her beautiful features is unforgettable. I hope to leave that impression one day.
What is the best advice on beauty you’ve received?
Emphasise your beauty, don’t change it.
What is the best advice on health you’ve received?
The best advice on health, I once saw a post on Instagram that said “People don’t truly understand how good you can really feel.” And it was life changing because with dealing with years of depression, I am now at a place where I don’t set limitations to my happiness. Things can actually turn out amazing instead of possibly having a bad outcome. And I believe that with my entire heart.
