You may have seen her go viral– Eden Gordley, self-taught makeup artist and model for Complex at VCU and 7:77SALÚ, gets personal with us about her multiple talents.
Age: 17
Classification: Freshman
Major: Political Science (at the moment)
Relationship: Married, basically
Hometown: Prince George County, Maryland
What made you decide to come to VCU?
I know everybody says “diversity,” but that’s the thing about urban campuses: everyone is accepted and everyone is accepting. Basically, I didn’t want to go to school with a bunch of the same type of people.
When did you first realize you loved makeup and how?
I was in seventh grade when I started watching Youtube videos. I was really into the eyebrows, so I started by doing peoples’ eyebrows at school and my love for makeup escalated from there. I went from doing eyebrows, to doing eyes, to doing faces, to doing everything else. It was like a “piece by piece” thing.
What is your favorite look to do?
I like natural — something very natural and soft. Maybe a dark lip. I like a warm natural look.
What do you plan on doing after graduation?
I plan on moving to Cali — LA specifically. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but it will most likely be something along the lines of makeup or modeling — whichever comes first. I may even audition for a movie.
How do you get involved and show off your talent?
Twitter and other social media networks are the best platforms to get your work out there. I do people’s make up, which obviously speaks for itself, and I’ve done photoshoot makeup for a few photographers. Of course, I also have business cards.
What’s next for Eden Gordley?
I have a few photoshoots lined up back home with some pretty great photographers and whatever comes with Complex next semester. I’m doing looks all winter. I would love to go viral again.
Have you ever thought about starting a Youtube page?
No, I haven’t. Everybody does that. Everybody does Youtube. Everybody wants to do Youtube. I wanted to dare to be different. I wanted to create a new way to put myself out there. Plus, I’m not very tutorial-y.
What do you plan on doing with your degree in political science?
I’m actually in the process of creating my own major. VCU doesn’t really have a major for me, so I’m working to make my own.
Who is your biggest influence?
Okay, okay, okay, Michelle Phan. She was the first one to do a Youtube makeup page. She started the Youtube makeup game. She taught me all of the basics. She’s even been on the cover of Forbes. Now, when I watch Youtube, it’s Jeffree Starr. I watch all the “dudes of Youtube,” actually, and I love Nikki Tutorials. I like all of the big, big people.
What other hidden talents do you have?
I do a lot of stuff. I’m a musician at heart. Yeah, I sing and dance. I’m good at a lot of things. I can sew. I even thread eyebrows. I do a lot of stuff, really, but I always forget what it is that I do.
You can find Eden on Instagram and Twitter: @LILETHABASEDGOD