Baddie 2 Baddie: Beauty & the Baddie: Permanent Makeup

On this episode of Baddie 2 Baddie, April and Cynthia dive into the world of paramedical tattooing and its importance for women of color, particularly survivors of cancer.  Joined by Nina Austin, a three-time cancer survivor and speech pathologist, and Zuri, a permanent makeup artist, and epidemiologist based in Houston, the baddies learn about Nina's 3D areola tattoo and how permanent makeup such as scar reduction, eyebrows and more can restore self-confidence and a sense of normalcy in survivorship.  

This episode highlights the need for representation and skill as it relates to women of color, self-care and insurance coverage for nipple mound and areola restoration. Zuri also offers advice on how to safely get permanent makeup services and who to trust for the best results.  

About our guests:

Nina is a three-time cancer survivor.  Nina is a third-generation breast cancer survivor who is BRCA+ and has battled breast cancer twice.  Most recently, she battled uterine cancer.  By day, Nina is a speech pathologist in Houston.  Nina bravely volunteered to be a live model, and received her 3D areola tattoo on stage to ensure that women of color were appropriately trained to provide paramedical tattooing on women of color.  

 Zuri has been a lifelong lover of makeup. In 2018, she expanded her services to semi-permanent makeup and has since gained 10 certifications in the field. Zuri’s artistic eye coupled with attention to detail has allowed her to progress in the world of both makeup both traditional and semi-permanent. Zuri is an avid learner and holds a Bachelors degree in Biology from Texas Southern University and two Masters's degrees from Texas A&M University. As a perfectionist , she aims to make each client look their best with an emphasis on the integrity of the skin and stable healed work. Zuri is continually upgrading, learning, and developing new techniques, and her understanding of art and skin science transfers wonderfully into the art of micropigmentation. Zuri is a licensed tattoo artist in the state of Texas and was awarded the PMU Women of Color Award for Best New Artist in 2019, SHEEO of the Year in 2022, and the Best Speaker in Science of Permanent Makeup Award in 2022.

Outside of PMU, Zuri is a trained scientist. With a background in the sciences, Zuri developed a training program that hyperfocuses on bridging the gap between the art and science of PMU. Zuri avidly believes that is the science of PMU that yields stellar results and this is what sets us apart in service and training. We focus on the scientific principles of skin physiology, pigment chemistry, the science of skin, and infectious diseases to perform safe services with lasting stable results.

Outside of Artistry By Zuri, Zuri is employed as an Epidemiologist.  You can find Zuri on the web and Instagram by visiting @artistrybyzuri

About our Hosts

April is a cool high school counselor in South Carolina. She was diagnosed at 35 with Stage II, Triple Negative Breast Cancer and BRAC1+. April is a single southern belle looking to share her testimony and advocate for women of color who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is the proud mother of a miniature pincher named Gigi.

Cynthia was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in 2018 one year before she was old enough to begin regular mammograms. After a lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation, Cynthia is currently undergoing hormone therapy. To cope, Cynthia shared her journey candidly on social media.  This led her to educate and advocate about breast cancer and health disparities. Cynthia lives by the mantra, "If you've got to go through it, GLOW through it."  An educator by day, at night Cynthia glows by volunteering her time as a Baddie Ambassador with For The Breast of Us, an Advocacy Ambassador for the Susan G. Komen Center for Public Policy, a certified global educator with the Know Your Lemons Foundation, a member of Alpha Kappa Sorority, Inc. and a proud Bajan Baddie!