- 9 months ago
Marsai Martin will share her best beauty lessons while offering insight into her personal journey and exciting new ventures with Mari by Marsai.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00We arrived at our last panel of the day, but we've still got so much more in store.
00:04We have a performance and then, of course, our Texture on the Runway fashion show.
00:09So stay tuned for those.
00:11But I know you guys are going to love this panel because we have a very special guest
00:15joining us here to tell us a little bit more about that.
00:18Please welcome Essence Ventures president and CEO, Caroline Wanga.
00:30Hey, everybody, how are you?
00:37Good.
00:38You enjoying yourselves?
00:40I'm not going to waste your time because you didn't come to see me.
00:42You came to see who I'm introducing.
00:45I'm guessing so.
00:47So I'm not sure if you know who this mogul is, but if you don't, you ought to today.
00:53She is phenomenally authentic while phenomenally successful.
00:59I'm going to tell you just a little bit about her for the two or three of y'all that may
01:02not have heard from her because you live in an abyss somewhere.
01:07She got her start in film at five years old.
01:11I was choosing what color gummy bears to eat at five years old, and she was already doing film.
01:18At 10, she stole the hearts of America when she landed the starring role of Diane on the
01:24Emmy-nominated series Black-ish.
01:26Heard of it?
01:27Figured as much.
01:29At 14, again, remember what we were doing at these ages.
01:34At 14, she became the youngest person to be named an executive producer on a film.
01:41That film was called Little, and she also starred in it, so multiple things.
01:47She is the founder and CEO of her own production company, Genius Entertainment.
01:56She is CEO of Mari by Marseille, her new nail line, and, as if her resume wasn't big enough
02:06for you, she actually is the youngest person to ever land a first-look deal with Universal
02:13of any studio, the youngest period.
02:16So, ladies and gentlemen, and any other way you identify, please make sure we show a welcome
02:28to a legend in the making, Ms. Marseille Martin.
02:32Come on, y'all.
02:46Do you know, I understand who's sitting in front of you?
02:51This is history in the making.
02:52I wasn't doing what she was doing at 14.
02:57Hi, love.
02:59Hey.
02:59How are you?
03:00I'm good.
03:01How are you guys?
03:04Hello, hello.
03:05So, we're going to start with a really simple question.
03:09Okay.
03:10Because I think the fact that BeautyCon is here, I opened this morning by talking about
03:14I don't have the greatest relationship with beauty.
03:17I spent a lot of my life figuring out if I belong there because the images I saw didn't
03:24match me.
03:25What has been your life's relationship with this thing we call beauty?
03:29Ooh.
03:30I mean, there's so many levels to it when it comes to beauty.
03:35I think it's different from personal and then also professional.
03:40Okay.
03:40But when it came to it being personal, I mean, I grew up with a whole bunch of amazing women
03:47in my household.
03:48I had my grandma with me, my great grandma, my mom.
03:51I mean, I had my dad with me too, but you know, he also...
03:54They're both right there.
03:55Yeah, listen.
03:56You know, he also likes to look good in his own way.
03:58So, beauty was always something that was a confidence booster in my household.
04:05And I learned really quickly that it comes from within, not just how it is outwardly.
04:12Listen, my grandma would have her wig on, have her edges laid, have her high heels on,
04:17ready to go to Walmart somewhere.
04:20Shout out to Walmart.
04:21Shout out to Walmart.
04:22Shout out to Walmart.
04:23You feel what I'm saying?
04:24But within that, it came with a confidence that it doesn't matter what she got on, it was
04:33always something that she knew that she could just pull off because that's just her personality
04:38and that's what she loves.
04:39So, I carried that along with me, which connects to it professionally when I had a TV show that
04:47was on for so long to where I learned different things from makeup artists and hairstylists
04:53and to be able to find what makes me, me.
04:56Yeah.
04:57And I think that's what exudes beauty in a sense.
05:01I love that.
05:02So many times we learn from the people around us.
05:04And so hearing about your grandmother going to Walmart all flying and completely snatched.
05:08Absolutely.
05:08We can all relate to that, but also the opportunity to learn from your industry because of how
05:13long you were there.
05:14So, how did you know you were passionate about the things you're doing now?
05:19Whether it be your businesses, your acting career, like where did this passion come from
05:24and when did you know it?
05:25Ooh, where did this passion come from?
05:28That's a very in-depth question only because I did start when I was five.
05:32I mean.
05:33So, it was like I'm doing it for fun, to be honest.
05:36Okay.
05:36When I was little.
05:38But then I realized how many times you have to choose this profession.
05:46And I think that happens in a lot of different areas, right?
05:49So, I mean, I think when I turned 13, 14 and I became a producer, I learned.
05:55Can you say that again, please?
05:56How many of y'all can say at 13, 14 I became a producer?
05:59Yeah.
05:59So, yeah, when I started, when I started producing, it really did feel like a different lane that
06:07you can't just do, you know?
06:08It's something that comes from within.
06:11It's something that you have to learn, the arts, the history behind it, what it means
06:15to be a young black woman in this space and having a seat at the table in a room of white
06:21male-dominated people.
06:22Yeah.
06:23And they're, you know, trying to battle with their versions of marketing and branding and
06:29what makes people see different things.
06:32And that's what producing is all about, you know?
06:34So, I mean, just like I always say marriage in a sense.
06:39Like, I've never been married.
06:40I don't know nothing about marriage, to be honest.
06:41What did you say?
06:41I don't know nothing about marriage.
06:44But I do know that in any way, shape, or form, you have to choose something.
06:50That's exactly right.
06:51You have to choose something every single day.
06:53Yes.
06:54And that's what I see, you know, within my parents, different people around that are
06:59couples and together, they have to choose each other every single day to make it going.
07:04It doesn't matter what ups and downs that you go through.
07:06And that's kind of how I resonate with acting and producing in the entertainment industry
07:11in a sense.
07:11Like, you have to choose it every day to keep going.
07:14It doesn't matter what the trials and tribulations are.
07:17Yeah.
07:17And that's how I knew it was my passion.
07:19I love that piece of advice, right?
07:20Because it applies to all parts of your life.
07:22A lot of times we're raised in these fairy tales that your dream will come to you, knock
07:26on the door, get you dressed, and take you outside.
07:29To your point, you make a choice and you have to choose it daily.
07:32Exactly.
07:33When you stop doing that, then your passion will start to wane.
07:35Which I love.
07:37So one of the things I love about you is no matter where we see you, hear you, you are
07:43always the same person.
07:45There is an authenticity that marks your presence.
07:49How intentional is that for you?
07:51And at times, how do you deal with it when you encounter a non-authentic person?
07:56Oh.
07:56I know.
07:57Go wherever you are comfortable.
07:59I mean, we can lean.
08:01Let me think.
08:02Like, I mean, honestly, I don't know who else to be but me.
08:08So it's hard for me to explain.
08:11Like, I...
08:12Because, shoot, I've tried it, to be real.
08:15Break that down a little bit.
08:16I've tried to shape a form of a different version of myself to make other people satisfied.
08:23I've done that before.
08:24Can anybody relate?
08:26Yes.
08:26I'm like, let's be real.
08:27We've done it before, whether it's in school or different conference rooms or a job application.
08:33Like, you know, sometimes you got a lot of kicking.
08:35You know, that's what I used to do.
08:37Yeah.
08:37Because I thought that was the way to get in or feel accepted or be satisfied.
08:43Yeah.
08:44And I learned...
08:47Honestly, that's why I thought it was hard for a minute to even do public speaking like this.
08:52Because I felt like I had to put on, like, okay, let's...
08:54Be Oprah.
08:55Let's do this.
08:56You know, let's be Oprah.
08:57Let's, you know, let's get into it.
08:58Like, I thought I had to be, like, the black girl that was like, all right, fight the power.
09:02You know?
09:03That's what I thought I had to be.
09:04Because that's all I saw.
09:06I was like, well, what if I don't...
09:08What if I'm not just that?
09:10Yeah.
09:10And, you know, one day I was doing, like, a panel like this.
09:16And I just chose to be me just one time.
09:20Like, let me just be the humorous, silly...
09:23Yeah.
09:24Witty...
09:25Yeah.
09:25You know, I wanted to be...
09:28I wanted to be her for a minute.
09:32Yeah.
09:32And I realized that was the most comfortable space for me to be in.
09:37And since then, I'm just like, listen, if you want to follow my journey and follow the real me, great.
09:44If you don't, also great.
09:46You know?
09:47All I can be is me.
09:48Yeah.
09:49For myself.
09:50Because that's what makes me feel good.
09:52And I always got to choose myself at the end of the day.
09:54I love that.
09:55I have a quote that I often use that says, who you are is who you are.
09:58If you cannot be who you are, where you are, you change where you are, not who you are.
10:03Right?
10:04So, in that moment that you chose to be you and never go back, I'm sure you freed up capacity to do more.
10:10Absolutely.
10:10With your purpose and with your creativity.
10:12People don't realize faking it takes up capacity for what you're supposed to do in the world.
10:17For sure.
10:17Right.
10:18And then when you get out of that, now you see all the other fake people that are trying to make you say, oh, girl.
10:22Okay, let's break that down.
10:23Oh, baby, you ain't fooling anybody.
10:24Right.
10:24The glasses come under the tip of your nose and you see people differently.
10:27Like, let's be real.
10:29Yeah.
10:29You know?
10:30And I'm grateful enough to see that.
10:32And I'm grateful for my family and the supporters around me that see me for me.
10:37And it's like, just go for it.
10:40Yeah.
10:40Be the person that, like, my family has loved from the beginning.
10:44Yeah.
10:44You know?
10:45I love that for you.
10:46So, you are a multiple CEO.
10:50I don't know what else to call it.
10:51You CEO squared.
10:53Lots of CEOs in your life.
10:55Mm-hmm.
10:56Can you talk to them a little bit about each of your businesses?
11:00What do they do and why were they important to you?
11:03Oh, for sure.
11:05Well, let's start with Genius.
11:07That's my production company, Genius Entertainment.
11:09Which is a fantastic name.
11:11It says what it needs to say.
11:12It's genius, right?
11:13If you don't know it, it's genius.
11:14It's genius.
11:14It's genius, Amelia.
11:15Oh, that's genius.
11:16Ah, you get it.
11:18But, yeah, I mean, we, that, that was the stomping grass, to be real.
11:23Like, we, we built that and then we just went from there.
11:27How did you build it?
11:28Like, what started it?
11:29It's a, it's a family company.
11:31Of course, my parents are a part of it.
11:33And how it started was when we first created Little.
11:38Okay.
11:38And we realized, oh, like, this could be a thing.
11:43This could be something that we can do all the time.
11:45Because, like, the feeling that you get when you put something on paper or you were talking
11:49about it in your living room and you see it come to fruition.
11:52Yeah.
11:53Is a beautiful thing.
11:55And when you realize you can do that over and over and over again, no matter what age,
11:59what time, as long as you have the people and the company or whoever support you.
12:03Yeah.
12:04It's the best thing in the world.
12:06So, that's how that started.
12:08Okay.
12:09And then we just went from there.
12:11I mean, we, I can't talk about the projects because we know, you know, we on a strike.
12:15But I do want to.
12:16There's things that you can go see on the internet about what she can't say.
12:20Right.
12:22There's things that are happening.
12:23But when it comes to Genius, we are all about podcasts, TV, film, all the above.
12:30All the above.
12:31And we just love to create.
12:32And we're working with so many amazing companies to just keep pushing the narrative
12:37and breaking boundaries for not just me, but everybody that's coming behind me as well.
12:42And in front of me.
12:42Working with my peers and working with people that I've always dreamed of working with.
12:46And that's the beauty in it.
12:47You know, I'm going to ask you to just go somewhere because you brought something up that is happening in this time,
12:54but hasn't happened very much, which is the strike.
12:56Yeah.
12:56So we know that this strike is pretty historical.
12:59Like a strike like this has not happened in a really long time.
13:02You have an entertainment company.
13:04You work in the entertainment field.
13:06If you've got an audience here that doesn't understand how to support what's happening with the strike,
13:12what would you advise them?
13:13Because this is a very unique era for those in the entertainment field.
13:17And although everybody here may not be in entertainment, they're in beauty.
13:19When things dry up, when things change, when situations change, you've got to figure out how to navigate it.
13:24So what would you want this audience to know about the strike and how they can support?
13:28Ooh.
13:29Well, there's a lot of layers when it comes to the strike.
13:31We haven't had a strike like this in years.
13:3560 years if I've read correctly.
13:36Yeah, something like somewhere around there.
13:38And the last time this happened, all of our shows that had our people of color, our black shows, our black films, they were wiped away.
13:49Wow.
13:50They were wiped away and we had to restart.
13:52Yeah.
13:52And I was a part of a show that was one of the first ones to come back from a long strike.
14:00And it took a minute because we have to realize we're in an industry that is very controlling and wants to...
14:11And, of course, we have our CEOs and our dominant leaders that don't want to change, that they don't want change.
14:19Because the money is real comfortable the way it is.
14:21Yeah, the money is real comfortable.
14:21Listen, they don't want change.
14:23And that's the hard part about it.
14:25So I would say the best way to support is to watch.
14:30To watch our shows.
14:32To watch the shows that you...
14:34Are y'all picking this up?
14:35To watch the shows you're tweeting about.
14:37And, like, oh, go support it.
14:40Because the people that are really focused on keeping these shows on the air are the people that are going to control it after the strike happens.
14:50So I would say support, support our shows, support our films, and support our actors.
14:59Yes.
14:59Support our actors.
15:01Because this is a very tough time right now.
15:04And, I mean, I can't express how deep and heavy this is.
15:09Yeah.
15:09And, you know, all we can do is just keep going and keep pushing and keep fighting.
15:13Yeah.
15:14But at the same time, you know, we got to support the best way we can.
15:17Because they're going to look at the numbers and be like, oh, okay, we need to keep this show on.
15:21Yeah.
15:21That's what they're really going to look at.
15:23Yeah.
15:23So please support in the best way you can.
15:25Y'all are in L.A.
15:26You guys are going to see the people picketing and supporting and fighting.
15:30Go ahead and roll with them if you want to.
15:32Because this is all about the good fight.
15:34This is all about the fight.
15:35For value.
15:36For value.
15:37Absolutely.
15:38And so here's what's interesting in that.
15:40Because usually in an ecosystem like entertainment, it's not just the people you hear about but are affected.
15:45But it's then the people they interact with.
15:47So we're at BeautyCon where I'm sure there's a number of people here that did beauty on sets of these shows.
15:52Yeah.
15:52That now because those shows are happening, you ain't getting booked no more.
15:56Exactly.
15:56To do makeup.
15:57You're not getting booked to do glam.
15:59Right.
16:00Right.
16:00No edges to be laid.
16:02No edges could be laid.
16:03Why are we on strike?
16:04It's a domino effect as well because you think about all of the productions that go behind this.
16:09That's exactly right.
16:10We're all affected in a sense.
16:12Like the transportation is affected because I don't get there.
16:14The mic, the sounds of people are affected.
16:16There's so many people that are losing jobs because of this big circle that we call the industry.
16:21Yeah.
16:21And, you know, it's a domino effect.
16:24So when you support one, you support them all.
16:26And the more you watch that show, the more the glam teams, the craft teams, all of the teams that support those that may be in that industry get to get their livelihood back too.
16:36So it ain't about you, boo.
16:38It's about everybody else.
16:39Watch the shows.
16:40Support.
16:40Support.
16:44So let's move to talking about your nail line.
16:48Yes.
16:48Let's talk about how that came to be.
16:50And what is your nail line?
16:51And if folks want to know more about it, what should they know?
16:53Yes.
16:54It's called Amari by Marseille.
16:56It is a press-on nail luxury line.
16:59It started during the pandemic.
17:03The panoramic is what I like to call it.
17:05I'm sorry.
17:05What was that word?
17:06The panoramic.
17:06The panoramic.
17:07The panoramic.
17:08I mean, it's whatever.
17:10You survived it.
17:12Call me what you want to.
17:13Yeah.
17:13So I call it the panoramic.
17:15But while that was happening, I was going to do a makeup line.
17:20I don't really talk about that often.
17:21I was going to do a makeup line.
17:22Wow.
17:22How many of y'all knew that?
17:23I was going to push it.
17:26And then I slowly realized I wanted to, and I might go back to doing a different makeup line or something else in the future because I love makeup.
17:35But I wanted to start with something that really had a connection with me.
17:39And that was nails.
17:41That was press-on nails.
17:42Okay.
17:42Because growing up, I mean, I was a child actor.
17:44I was around a whole bunch of grown people that had hair, makeup, nails all along, luscious.
17:50And I was like, dang, I want some of that.
17:52Did you say long and luscious?
17:53Long and luscious.
17:54I was like, dang.
17:55And I would be on sets and all I would get was like chapstick and brow gel and moisturizer.
18:01Not chapstick.
18:02Yeah.
18:03Moisturizer for my ashy knees.
18:05And I was like, well, dang, where's my lashes?
18:08Where are all that stuff at?
18:09Where are my nails?
18:09So I would go to CVS or Walgreens or any type of store to get some press-on nails.
18:17And then I soon found out that everybody would wear press-on nails on the red carpet because I would have my little silver or pearly press-on nails from CVS.
18:25And then I would see somebody else on the carpet with the same ones.
18:28And I'd be like, girl, let's do this.
18:30We have the same nail tags.
18:31We have the same.
18:32Yes, yes.
18:33And she'd be like, girl, don't tell them I got press-on nails.
18:35And I was like, no, yes, yes.
18:38Yes.
18:38And she was like, girl.
18:40Bust some people out on the red carpet.
18:41Right.
18:42So then I was like, okay.
18:44It's very limited.
18:45And it's a space that no one really touches on.
18:48Yeah.
18:49And I mean, whether you are on the carpet and you want a nail look to match your vibe or you work a lot with your hands or whatever else,
18:57but you still want your nails to be popping, I wanted to create something that was luxury.
19:02Yeah.
19:02That you can get the same style at the salon.
19:04Hence the luscious.
19:05Yes, and luscious.
19:07And that's how Mari by Marseille got started.
19:10And that was the beginning.
19:13So if people wanted to experience your nail line, where could they do that?
19:17You can go on the website, maribymarseille.com.
19:20Okay.
19:22Maribymarseille.com.
19:25And Amazon.
19:26And Amazon.
19:27That's where we are at the moment.
19:29But yeah, I mean, when it comes to me, I love creativity in any way, shape, or form.
19:34And I love things that are out of the ordinary.
19:36Yeah.
19:36Because that's how my brain works.
19:38I love out of the ordinary, out of this world things.
19:41So yeah, I might do a makeup one day.
19:44I might do skincare.
19:46Y'all want to see a makeup line?
19:48Hey, that'd be lit.
19:49That'd be lit.
19:50I just did an audience survey.
19:52No, that was great.
19:52Thank you so much for that.
19:54That was a community survey.
19:55Yeah, but I love it.
19:56So you have so much going on, but I am sure because of your journey, you feel the pressure
20:02of this word role model, right?
20:04And we know this is a word that most people are given.
20:06Very few claim it, right?
20:08It's like, you're a role model.
20:09I didn't ask to be a role model.
20:10Why are you giving me that name?
20:11But it comes with people who pursue their purpose.
20:14How do you handle that pressure?
20:16Whether you agree with being a role model or not, people look up to you.
20:19You inspire.
20:20How do you handle that?
20:21Because it can't always be easy.
20:23Oh, it's definitely not easy.
20:25But I think it comes with the mindset that you hold with that.
20:30Everything, when you really think about it, the way that you move, the way that you act,
20:34the way that you make decisions, it's all about how you feel mentally.
20:39And when I hear role model, like global role model, it's like, well, hold on.
20:44Right.
20:44Whose globe?
20:45No.
20:46Whose globe?
20:47Whose globe?
20:47What role?
20:48And who modeled it?
20:49No, no, no.
20:50And, you know, when you think like that, I think that's when the pressure comes.
20:55When you see yourself in a space that feels overwhelming, in a sense, yes, of course you're
21:03going to feel the pressure.
21:04But I'm grateful enough to have a family that supports me and loves me.
21:08You've talked about them a lot.
21:09Yes.
21:09And I appreciate them kind of keeping me at bay and sticking to my grounds.
21:16And also, too, like I said, going back to the mental health part, you've got to do
21:22things to take a break.
21:23You've got to do things to kind of turn off that switch that you feel and be yourself
21:30for a moment.
21:31Have those moments of writing in your journal or talking to a therapist.
21:34Listen, talking to your therapist is the most thing that you can do.
21:36You better get a therapist's best friend.
21:38And also being able to just have those times to yourself to where you are not the role
21:43model.
21:43You are not whatever people say that you are.
21:47What does that look like?
21:48When you say these times when you're not the role model, like what does that look like?
21:51I mean, because people will be quick to put a name.
21:55I mean, hand it to you.
21:56People, yes, and just hand it to you.
21:57You know what I mean?
21:58And yeah, it can be a lot of pressure.
22:01But at the end of the day, like I said, all you can be is yourself.
22:07That's right.
22:08And we are living in a world that is very sensitive and tippy toes on whatever you do.
22:14I mean, politically correct, all that there.
22:16For sure.
22:17So, you know, I just want to make sure within myself I know where I am and I know where
22:22I stand and I'm doing what I love to do.
22:24Yeah.
22:24And just moving forward with that, you know, so you don't feel the pressure as much.
22:28It can ease it.
22:30I would say it takes it away completely because I am a perfectionist at heart.
22:33Aren't we all?
22:34But it does ease the movement and not make everything so fast.
22:39Yeah.
22:40So I am going to give you the last word.
22:42Is there anything else you want to say to this audience before we wrap up?
22:47Thank you so much.
22:49I appreciate you guys.
22:50It's so great to be back.
22:54And yeah, I'm excited.
22:56There's a lot of things going on.
22:58Yeah, maribamarseille.com.
22:59I got a little festival thing called Say Summer Cookout.
23:02You can join next year.
23:03It will be lots of fun.
23:06Yeah.
23:07And I'm just grateful to be working with the people that I'm working with now,
23:10like Clinique and Carol's Daughter and all the above.
23:13And yeah, I mean, if you want to watch, go ahead because I am continuously going on my journey.
23:18And thank you so much.
23:19You're welcome, love.
23:20Thank you so much.
23:20It means so much to have you here.
23:21Ladies and gentlemen, History in the Making, Marci Martin, give her a hand.
23:26Thanks, everybody.
23:27Have a good day.
23:33Bye.
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