Beauty Mark

By Randi Barreiro | Photos by Marina LaBaff

Tisha Thompson is arguably Akwesasne’s most prominent serial entrepreneur. She co-owns Babes Cosmetics, a wildly popular makeup line and salon with her daughter, Babes Thompson. Tisha acts as the CEO of Jacobs Tobacco Company and operates the Grand Mohawk Inn. She also once owned the Thompson Lacrosse Company and T-19 Sports which is now headed by her son, Ty.

Despite the many hats she wears, the siren call of the fashion and beauty world has seduced the 47 year old since she was 18. “I’ve always loved making people feel good, either by giving them a haircut and updos, or doing their makeup,” she says. “I think everyone is born with a gift, mine happens to be enhancing appearances.”

In 2013, this mother of four teamed up with a group of friends to form a glam-squad called Beautylicious. They offered a one-stop specialoccasion styling experience that was an immediate hit. In fact, their success inspired a new market within the Mohawk community.

Babes (L) and Tisha Thompson, as seen on the cover of Native Max magazine's August 2018 issue. The pair were featured for their collaboration on Babes Cosmetics.

Photo: Marina LaBaff

Fast-forward to “Fashion After Dark”, a sold out collaborative fashion show and showcase held at the Port Theatre in Cornwall last December. The event put the spotlight on up-and-coming Native artists as well as top designers like Akwesasne’s Niio Perkins (featured in Perch, Issue 1), and Norma Baker-Flying Horse (Red Berry Woman), a Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation member, who recently debuted a couture collection at Paris Fashion Week.

For Tisha, the night was a fun way to promote highly skilled hair stylists and makeup artists who weren’t as visible as the models and designers, but who worked just as hard.

I want people to think of makeup artistry as a trade,” she says. “I have todo a lot of convincing.”

Tisha’s tradecraft has landed her on the cover of Native Max magazine and her work has appeared on several red carpets. As personal stylist to Ojibwe actor Adam Beach, she’s been behind the scenes at the New York City premieres of Suicide Squad and Netflix’s Juanita.

Her biggest work-related appearance to date was at Dressed to Kilt, put on by Friends of Scotland, a charity co-founded by Sir Sean Connery. Held in early April, the popular New York City fashion fundraiser featured pro athletes, celebrities, media personalities, and hot models in traditional and new-age highland attire.

Given free rein to showcase her vision, Tisha assembled an experienced crew of all-Native designers, models, hair stylists, and makeup artists. Everything on the models—from the one-of-a-kind coats to her signature Friday Night red lipstick—was crafted by Indigenous women.

Visibility and representation are important,” she says. “This is our time to shine.

Tisha admits to being shy and uncomfortable working a room. Instead, she loves being backstage and is thrilled to watch her clients and muses strut down the runway, red carpet, or aisle.

So what comes next for Tisha Thompson?

“When I get an idea in my head,” she laughs, “I’m gone.” She motions upward and forward without divulging any specifics.

Here’s some free advice if you want to keep up to her next project: Catch her if you can.