By: Katherine Massopust and Carolyn Maxwell

Mayvis Payne

SOUTH AMBOY – South Amboy Author Mayvis Payne’s memoir covers her journey from retail to becoming a celebrity makeup artist. She begins her career in the makeup industry with her childhood and love of makeup, beauty, and fashion. After taking classes and jobs in retail, she was encouraged by her husband to pursue her passion. Payne climbed up the ladder of success with trials and tribulations Along the way up, without naming names, Mayvis talks about the good, the bad, and the ugly in the celebrity makeup industry.

Each chapter of Payne’s memoir is highlighted with Artist Tips, sound advice that any aspiring individual can apply to any profession. These dos and don’ts are presented throughout the book.

Payne speaks of those who inspired her, including the late Dr. Maya Angelou, Civil Rights Activist and Author whom she had the pleasure of meeting. Payne has had clients from everyday folks to celebrities.    CBS Sunday Morning Correspondent Mo Rocca wrote the Foreword. He never forgot how Mayvis’s professionalism and radiant glow made him, and his guests feel so comfortable on the set of the show on the Cooking Channel he hosted, “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” where Payne did the makeup.

The Amboy Guardian had the pleasure of meeting Mayvis Payne who explained her beginnings in Mississippi and how she lived in several other states to South Amboy where she resides now and loves. Her journey took a small halt during the pandemic. Her husband had a heart attack, and her daughter battled cancer and is a survivor. Payne’s husband encouraged her to write her memoir since she had no excuses due to the lack of jobs due to the pandemic after telling all her tales which she wrote about in her journals.

Payne mentioned that a lot of her opportunities came through word of mouth because of positive feedback from working on previous assignments. Although she loves living in South Amboy one reason being the convenience of rail service to New York, her dream is to live in Manhattan to be close to the action. Payne also spoke of future endeavors and projects she wished to work on.

“Lipgloss Chronicles” is a fast read and I recommend the book to anyone aspiring in any career, with timeless advice, especially in the entertainment industry.