Get To Know: May

Back in 2023, we interviewed May (@maytahmi), a UK-based Bengali editorial makeup artist and content creator known for bold textures, graphic shapes, and culture-rooted looks. Her work blends artistry, identity, and experimentation in a way that feels deeply personal — and unmistakably her own. We’re now bringing this exclusive print interview online!

Hi May! We cant wait to get to know you and your craft! Tell us who you are, and what you do?

Hey!!! So my name is May, but my family call me Tahmina! I’m Bengali, born in London and moved to Manchester when I was like 3! So I’m very much a northern babe hehe! I’m 27 years old and feel like I’ve lived many lives before getting to be a content creator which I am now! I specialise in editorial and creative makeup. 

How did you first get into editorial makeup and how would you say your work has your work developed or changed over time?

It was when I dropped out of my masters at uni and decided I wanted to fall back in love with art because that’s what I wish I did at uni instead of biology and data science. And the easiest way it felt for me was to do makeup. Combining the two was so interesting to me and like using my face as a canvas was so exciting. My work has developed over time via my peers and seeing what’s inspiring other people definitely! Sometimes it’s hard because you end up following trends but I try to do my best to add my own twist to it. 

Are there any big lessons you learned while navigating the industry, or any advice you want to share with other BIPOC & queer creatives who want to get into editorial makeup or social media?

If I’m being honest, the biggest lesson I’ve learnt is you have to work harder than your white peers just to be seen. It feels like BIPOC and queer creatives have to be viral consistently to be seen and respected in the industry and then when you’re faced with shadow banning and weird algorithms it makes things ten times harder. As annoying as this is to say, I would just say keep going and insert yourself into the spaces. Make a wave and make brands aware that you’re confident in your art and platforms and they will miss out if they don’t work with you. Also, I feel like it’s easy to give up and I wanna say it’s okay to have those down days and let yourself feel what you need. Because then you can take time to pick yourself back up and create amazing content. Community is also everything! You will make so many friends in the industry where you can uplift each other and put people on. The biggest thing for me is creating opportunities for others too because you know how much you would have valued that when starting out. 

What or who is your biggest inspiration for you, that influences your makeup designs and aesthetic?

There’s so many creators! Just to name a few, @pradaolic @naezrahlooks 

@imonaugust @lynda.florae and of course my bestie @wendysworld_xox

Tell us about your favourite look that you’ve created! And why is this one of your favourites?

It has to be all my bindi looks! I just love the merge of my culture and my passion. They make me feel the most confident when wearing and even looking back at! It just feels so MayTahmi coded hehe.

What do you think we’ll see more of in the editorial beauty space in the coming year, and what do you specifically want to see more of?

I really hope to see more innovative looks. I feel like editorial beauty is always so ahead of the curve and really paved the way for conventional make and what they decide is trending. Performance makeup would also be so cool. Like applying makeup in an artsy way to tell a story.

Any icks you have in the beauty industry that you want to see less of in the future?

I’m a sucker for it sometimes cos you need to drive engagement to your page, but all these makeup looks being labelled into popular drinks etc. I don’t know it just feels like the beauty industry is less creative now and only cares about selling products which I get but I wanna see more than just a blended smoky eye being labelled as a coffee look.

We love how you perfectly blend graphic shapes and mixed textures while creating your looks. Tell us how this became a fundamental part of your work.

Honestly, I never look into how I incorporate different textures, it just kind of happens! I honestly just see my face as a blank canvas and try and do as many different things and see what works! I just love different textures and mediums and want to incorporate as much as I can together! 

Lastly, what can we expect to see from you in the future? Any exciting projects or plans we can be on the lookout for?

Ooooh I do have some things that I want to aim for whether it’s brands to work with via my own page or some @wendyandmay ventures but I like to manifest and work towards things privately cos I’m so scared of not being able to achieve certain things! I’m such an anxiety ridden person haha. I just plan to work as hard as possible to grow my platform and make some changes within the industry behind the scenes! 

For the latest exclusive interviews grab issue 04 here!