Jessica Smothers, on left and known professionally as “Jess Smo,” won first place in the Avant Garde Makeup Artist of the Year category at The Skin Games. She is pictured with her model, Alicia Grandview.
‘Jess Lee Smo’ captures 1st place in Avant Garde Makeup Artist category
A former Pensacola State College student is one of the best makeup artists in the world.
Jessica Smothers, known professionally as “Jess Lee Smo,” won first place in the Avant Garde Makeup Artist of the Year category at The Skin Games held March 14-18 in Atlanta.
The Skin Games is one of the largest international skincare and makeup competition and award shows. Competitors include novice makeup artists, mom-and-pop shop entrepreneurs and professionals.
Smothers, who studied in the Advanced Esthetics Program at Pensacola State, also competed in other categories – placing in the Top 10 in the New Esthetician, Compromised Skin and Pigmentation divisions.
“I probably entered more competitions than any other competitor, and there were hundreds of competitors,” said Smothers about the Skin Games.
“Winning first place in the Avant Garde category was amazing. I cannot tell you how awesome I feel. It was an incredible burst of emotion for me.”
Smothers is a makeup artist at Destin Mobile Makeup Box and owner of Ever Enchanted Aesthetics. She also earned advanced certification from the Soothing Art Healing Therapies School of Massage.
Smothers created a celestial and ethereal look for her model, Alicia Grandview, based on the “Hollywood Aligned With The Stars”-themed Avant Garde competition.
“I wanted there to be some movement in the makeup, and I used rhinestones and face paints to create our look,” explained Smothers, who added the competition included hair and wardrobe.
Model, Alicia Grandview
Grandview, an esthetician and hair stylist, owns Grand Styles in Pensacola. She was also a Pensacola State cosmetology program student.
Smothers was one of seven to compete in the Avant Garde category, where makeup artists had three hours to style their models from head to toe.
“It was the most artistic category, and I enjoyed competing in it,” said Smothers, who initially planned to participate in the Skin Games in 2023.
“My father (Keith Smothers) passed away in March 2023, and I was unable to commit to the event, but I promised him I wouldn’t give up. So, I bit the bullet and signed up this year.”
Sonja McCall-Strehlow, a PSC professor and coordinator of the Massage, Advanced Facials and Basic Facials program, said Smothers grew by leaps and bounds while a student.
“I am super proud of Jess’s accomplishments and so over the moon about her winning the Avant Garde category. As a PSC instructor for 23 years, it always makes me proud of my students who become successful in their chosen craft and to know they got their start right here at PSC,” McCall-Strehlow added.
Despite being a makeup artist for several years, Smothers does not have any formal training but plans to remedy that very soon.
“I’m looking into that now, but I know the sky is the limit,” she said, adding that she plans to purchase her current salon space and continue to grow her business. “I always liked doing makeup but didn’t realize I had this much artistic ability.”