This season of OFW is all about pulling back the curtains and showing off behind the scenes. What better way to celebrate this notion than by revealing what goes into OFW’s signature editorial photoshoots. It takes a village to materialize the team’s inspirations for this project and Alia Jackson has been a part of that team for the last 6 years, bringing to life the incredible visions of our theme through cosmetics.

We sat down with Alia, our incredibly talented Editorial Beauty Director and the mastermind behind the beauty of Omaha Fashion Week’s editorial campaigns, to find out what it takes to make a career out of your passions.

How old were you when you started doing hair and makeup?

When I was around 7/8 years old my mom was a Mary Kay representative. She would let me pretend to put makeup on using her empty makeup compacts. Ever since those days, I have been fascinated with makeup. I didn't take doing hair so seriously until I attended Cosmetology school in 2013.

What or who inspired you to pursue hair and makeup?

I was around 15 years old when Michelle Phan was the very first makeup artist creating looks on YouTube. I would be fascinated watching her create all these beautiful, unique looks. I would sit and watch her videos for hours and on my 16th birthday, my mom bought me my first-ever makeup palette and makeup brush set. After that, it was a wrap. I was immediately hooked.

Who are your current inspirations and idols?

At this point in my career, everything that has to do with makeup, color, tone, and fashion are my biggest inspiration for creating pieces of my own.

How do you stay motivated as a creative?

I stay motivated as a creative because I am constantly emerging myself in makeup artistry and hair trends. I watch makeup tutorials on all platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Netflix with the iconic UK Television show, Glow Up. And the list goes on. When people ask me what I like to do for fun, I tell them, " I watch makeup tutorials, like all the time."

What advice do you have for others wanting to pursue a career in the beauty industry?

In the beauty industry what sets you apart from everyone else is your work ethic, your timeliness, your professionalism and your ability to adapt in fast changing environments. Set a tone for yourself, find your line and constantly strive at perfecting it.

How long have you been working with Omaha Fashion Week?

I have been working with Omaha Fashion Week for 10 years now. I've been doing the season fashion week premier photos for 6 years now.

What has been your favorite season to work on?

My favorite season would definitely have to be this season coming up. I feel like it expresses the elegant and softness in the creativity as far as hair and makeup. Last season's Tenacious show was definitely right up there with the geometrical shapes and colors.

What do you love most about Omaha Fashion Week?

I've always loved how people take it so serious to dress their absolute best for Omaha Fashion Week. Alyssa Dilts and I are always inboxing each other about 2 weeks out from the show asking each other if we've found our fits yet because we just know each other is going to show out! I love the creativity that each individual brings that makes the show have that euphoric feel to it.

When working on Omaha Fashion Week editorial looks, what is your process like?

When working on the Omaha Fashion Week editorial shoots I first look at the models provided and then I think in my head, what is something that hasn't been done that can make this next season be the next show. The photos produced from the shoots are what ultimately set the scene when everyone walks in so you want to make sure that the look is conducive to the theme, and puts out the right energy as far as color, shape, flow, and symmetry. We work as a collective team and each of our parts is extremely important. None of it could be done without one another. So always remember you can't do everything on your own, it truly takes a village.

What was your favorite part of last season's shoot?

My favorite part of last year's shoot was the contrasting color in the outfits and the background pieces with the colorful geometric shapes.

I was inspired to recreate the makeup on myself for the showcase because I was just absolutely obsessed with the banner of color only on the eyes. It's different and unique and. OFW is all about promoting your own style while staying with the theme. Always remember to have fun with your looks.

Photography | Wyatt Fangman

What do you anticipate/hope for the future of the beauty industry?

My hope for the future of the beauty industry is to evolve into more creative looks that use more SFX and require even more extravagant hair. I want not only the fashion to be the show, but the hair and makeup to be just as important.

Behind the Scenes with Editorial Beauty Director, Alia Jackson