Nyssa Green: FACES of Atlanta
She's developed an award-winning talent for helping people putΒ theirΒ best face forward, and you probably see her masterpieces on a daily basis.
If youβre sitting in a chair in front of Emmy Award-winning Nyssa Green, you know youβre going to turn into the most glamorous version of yourself β¦ and she delights in waving her makeup brush like a magic wand. Nyssaβs the artist-of-choice for publications and productions all over the city, and beyondΒ β from 11Aliveβs βAtlanta & Companyβ to CNN, from Jezebel to βSouthern Living,β fromΒ movie sets to celebrity red carpet.Β Β She founded The Green Room Agency in 1998, bringing together a talented teamΒ dedicated to creative expression and growing her business into one of the entertainment communityβs most trusted resources. We met up with Nyssa at one of her favorite playgrounds, The Cosmetic Market at Avalon, for girlie fun with makeup.
Where are you from and how did you make your way to Atlanta?
Iβm originally from Leesville, LA, but we traveled because my Dad was in the army. I went to high school in Ozark, AL, and from there I moved to the big city!
What brought you into the beauty industry? Has this been a lifelong passion and pursuit?
I have ALWAYS, ALWAYS loved hair, makeup and fashion, and Iβve always wanted to be in the industry. I started out as a hairstylist, then added makeup to my repertoire.
As youβve built your career, whatβs been the most surprising thing youβve learned about yourself?
Probably not something I would share.
Who have been your mentors?
Gwynnis Mosby. Sheβs one of the best makeup artists I know, and I learned all the basics from her. Iβve learned so much from her, and still do.
What advice do you share with aspiring stylists and makeΒup artists?
These days, itβs βYou canβt learn everything you need to know about makeup from Instagram.β
Our grandmothers taught us βpretty is as pretty does.β In that sense, what do you find pretty?
Really, I see pretty everywhere. I am inspired by so many different things. I see beauty everywhere, and right now the prettiest thing I know is my little niece, Kaydan.
Youβve tried countless beauty products and techniques. Can you tell us a favorite splurge item, a stealΒ andΒ an oldΒ-school beauty trick?
- Splurge: SKΒ-II skin care products β¦ so FAB and fabulously expensive!
- Steal: NYXΒ lip and eyeliner β¦Β amazing quality and great range of colors
- Trick: Iβm old school for real, so I still do this β sharpen, then run the tip of a Maybelline eyeliner through a lighter, then (after it cools, but still soft) line inside the bottom rim of eye.
Now itβs time for some fun questions. For the lightning round, give us your:
- Junk food splurge β ΒMy momβs pralines
- Guilty pleasure songΒ β βJesseβs Girlβ
- Tearjerker movieΒ β The Bodyguard (Huge Whitney fan, so now I canβt watch without crying)
- Rainy day activity β ΒBaking
- Cartoon alter egoΒ β Wilma Flintstone
Whereβs your fantasy vacation spot?
ΒMy own island
What are some of your favorite places around town for shopping, dining or hanging out?Β
For shopping, the new Restoration Hardware (OMG!), and I love Avalon. When it comes to dining, ΒIβm a member of Eat Out Atlanta, so I am always discovering a new spot or new dish!
Name three things you just cannot live without β other than faith, family and friends.
- My phoneΒ. Itβs the only way I can see Kaydan because she lives in Alabama.
- My makeup kit
- My KitchenAid mixer
Nyssa, thanks for such a fun afternoon. (And the Sprinkles cupcakes were an extra special touch of yum!) Check out more of Nyssaβs work and learnΒ about services of The Green Room Agency online at www.thegreenroomagency.com. Sheβs got some great new things in the works, including moreΒ TVΒ projects and an upcoming series of classes for burgeoning artists.Β
Get to know all our FACES of Atlanta here. And as always, thanks to Catrina Maxwell of CatMax Photography for the fantastic photos today!
