She swept onto the inteational beauty scene in 2009, after winning NAHA’s prestigious Fashion Forward award and leaving her stylish mark on Bravo Shear Genius 3. She was even declared an oveight sensation by the press, sending her normally overflowing bookings into the stratosphere. “I know that many people think that I’m one of those rare talents who achieved oveight success—and I’m not disagreeing—but it was still 16 years in the making,” smiles Faatemah, who has carefully planned her beauty career since she dropped out of college at age 20 to become a hairstylist.
This hair virtuosa also wants to set the record straight about her name: “No one calls me Mrs. Ampey, except my husband, Dana. So honestly, folks, just call me Faatemah.” Sure thing! Faatemah conjures up visions of a tall, beautiful and bold woman just like lady herself.
Faatemah’s undying passion for her craft started way before “instant stardom” came her way, or even her beauty school days. “Hair and art have always played big roles in my life,” Faatemah smiles. “I may have enrolled in beauty school as a young adult, but I’ve been doing kitchen hair since I was a little girl, braiding my sisters’ and friends’ curly tresses. Who knew that what I did as a kid would one day become a runway sensation?” At the moment, Faatemah’s career consists of relentless rounds of education events, charity galas, photo shoots, salon work, and design development—all while caring for two young children and maintaining a happy marriage! In her spare time—if there is such a thing—Faatemah is immersed in meetings with manufacturers, TV execs and other shakers and movers, in order to create and clarify the next steps in her career.
On this note, HOT was surprised to lea that in the world of paid beauty spokespersons, Faatemah doesn’t have any such contractual agreement. In fact, with the exception of a single project, she has personally funded all of her photo shoots!“I’m constantly receiving offers, but none have made good sense for me or my career,” she reveals.
“At the moment, for instance, I’m considering contracts offered by a tool brand, a major TV producer and my own product line. Have I finally found a good fit? Time will tell. Until the perfect match does come along, I intend to continue doing what I do best: creating styles that always embody a piece of who I am as a beauty professional.”
(Editor’s Note: Check out Faatemah’s new Amp Wave technique and several of her breathtaking collections on HOT.HairsHow.us.)
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