Today we’d like to introduce you to Talisa (Tally) Anderson.
Hi Talisa (Tally), please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I did not grow up in an environment where women were empowered. My childhood was marked by violence, poverty, and fear, and for a long time, survival was the focus. However, moving from Chicago to Indiana became a life-changing turning point for me. At the time, it was difficult as a child, but looking back now, I see it as one of the greatest blessings God could have given me.
For the first time, I was exposed to people whose families went to college and who saw education and opportunity as attainable. That shift in environment changed the trajectory of my life and gave me options and perspectives I may not have otherwise had.
Today, I consider myself a reflection of resilience and growth—someone who does not look like what they have been through or where they came from. For much of my life, I searched for a blueprint or example to follow. As I’ve grown older, I’ve become comfortable with the idea that perhaps I was called to become the blueprint myself.
Growing up in Indiana, I was a young girl trying to find a way to pursue higher education as a first-generation high school graduate. At the time, there were no examples in my family to follow, and it was clear that my parents did not have the financial resources to send me to college. I also was not a straight-A student—I was simply an average student determined to create opportunities for myself. Because of that determination, I turned to pageantry as a way to earn scholarship money for school.
While competing in pageants, I quickly noticed that there were very few girls who looked like me represented in the industry. Finding makeup artists who understood how to enhance and celebrate a brown, plus-sized face was incredibly difficult. I was even told at one point that plus-sized modeling “wasn’t a thing.” But I refused to accept limitations placed on me by others. In many ways, hearing “you can’t” became my motivation to prove that I could.
What began as pageantry soon evolved into modeling, and over time I became deeply involved in both industries. I spent nearly 15 years as an artist, model, and pageant competitor, building confidence, resilience, and a passion for beauty that empowers rather than excludes.
In December 2020, during the height of the pandemic, I relocated to the Memphis area. That season of transition inspired me to step away from working behind the makeup chair and focus on building something greater—a beauty brand that reflected my values, experiences, and vision. That is how Tally Made Beauty was born.
TMBeauty is a Christian, African American-owned beauty brand that blends bold, vibrant beauty with elegance, grace, positivity, and empowerment. More than cosmetics, the brand represents confidence, authenticity, and the belief that beauty should make people feel seen, valued, and celebrated. Everything I create through Tally Made Beauty is rooted in my journey and designed to reflect who I am and what I hope others feel when they experience the brand.
In addition to Tally Made Beauty, I am also the founder, owner, and operator of Kavod Generational Arts Academy. Kavod Generational Arts Academy is a prophetic arts academy dedicated to developing artists who minister with purity, purpose, excellence, and spiritual integrity.
Currently, the dance division is the first and only active school within the academy, but the long-term vision is to expand into multiple creative disciplines, including schools for singers, poets, actors, and writers, each operating as its own specialized branch within the academy.
The foundation of Kavod Generational Arts Academy is centered on ensuring that every artist understands the importance of using their gifts to bring glory to God while ministering with knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and skill. The academy focuses not only on artistic development but also on character, spiritual growth, discipline, and purposeful expression through the arts.
This year marks three years since the academy was established. While we proudly serve students locally in Memphis, Tennessee, we have also expanded our reach to students in Mississippi and Arkansas and currently operate a satellite chapter in Louisville, Kentucky. Our continued growth reflects both the impact of the academy’s mission and the increasing desire for faith-centered artistic development within communities across the region.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the greatest barriers I had to overcome was believing and understanding that I was enough. I grew up in a chaotic, abusive, and at times unstable environment, which shaped many of my early experiences and perspectives. I also grew up without my father and did not meet my biological father until my 30s. Those experiences taught me the importance of healing, self-worth, and creating a different path for my life.
Today, my mission is to empower women to feel seen, heard, valued, and confident in who God created them to be—whether they wear makeup or not. Through both makeup artistry and dance ministry, I strive to help women rediscover their beauty, strength, and purpose. Having personally experienced what it feels like to be overlooked or unheard, I carry a deep passion for creating spaces where others feel encouraged, empowered, and genuinely seen.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am Talisa Tally Anderson. I hold an associate degree in psychology, a bachelor’s degree in general studies, and a master’s degree in adult and community education and executive development for public service. I am also a makeup artist and cosmetic line owner, as well as a founder of Kavad Generation Arts Academy. I’m the type of woman that can be summed up by one sentence. I am multifaceted, I am entertaining, I am gracious, I am humble, and I love to have a good time. If you want to see me in the city, I will be vending at the Memphis Women’s Expo, July 24th-26th at the Kent. You can get your tickets here (memphiswomensexpo.com), I am proud of the fact that I am a creative and a lifelong learner. I feel that there is a lesson in everything.
If people want to reach me they can reach me at tally@tallyyourbeauty.com or check out my cosmetic line at www.tallyyourbeautiful.com
Makeup Classes
https://tally46.wixsite.com/classesbytmbeauty
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I am resilient, and I am not intimidated easily.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tallyyourbeautiful.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tally_the_beautiful/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MsTally
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mstally/
- Other: https://tally46.wixsite.com/classesbytmbeauty
