Today we’d like to introduce you to Karim Orange.
Hi Karim, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Karim Orange. I am an Emmy-nominated makeup artist turned beauty, lifestyle, and travel writer, turned farmer, and explorer. I travel the world using all of my skill sets to explore new cultures, environments, and landscapes through a very different and unique lens.
When I was a kid, my favorite movies were The Swiss Family Robinson and Pippi Longstocking. Both movies made me crave adventure! I imagined being shipwrecked with my family, and not wanting to be rescued because we liked that lifestyle better. Pippy Longstocking gave me the courage to escape into my mind, and create adventures around me (even if it was just playing in the mud, pretending I was looking for buried treasures). At some point, I also wanted to join the circus. I cried real tears when Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey shut down.
I didn’t join the circus, but in my 20s, I toured with several musical artists, including Mary J Blige. We toured the United States by bus. This journey took me to almost every state in The United States. The most impactful thing I learned during this journey, was to accept people for who they are, how they live, and what they bring to-the-collective.
My current need for exploring has led me to one of the most beautiful and iconic places in the world. Moab Utah. I had the opportunity to visit The Grand Canyon last year and feel in love with the scenery. All of the sudden, I became obsessed with this part of the country. Specifically Moab, Utah. I had a friend, that does public relations for a popular spa and resort there. I explained to her that I would love the opportunity to visit and work there. I came to Moab for my own personal reasons (spiritual balance and clarity), but I feel in love with the people and culture here!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road here at all, but a necessary road. When I initially arrived here (Utah), I was very nervous. According to the Census Bureau, in 2019 there were less that 2 percent of African Americans living here. Once I got on the property, where I was going to be living and working I immediately saw a large population of blacks (there were migrant workers from Jamaica).
I was happy to see a familiar race, but very unhappy about the treatment I noticed. You have an entire nationality from a foreign homeland and culture, that live in the middle of nowhere and not allowed access to anything other than work, and sleep, if you don’t drive (which is all of the blacks here). We have not had the opportunity to just explore Moab on our own.
We all pay rent here (on property), but I was questioned by management regarding having a farewell dinner, for a current employee. Hello? This is America, and we are consenting adults paying rent! I started to understand that, a lot of seasonal people of color workers are brought to remote places feel invisible, and voiceless, and are afraid to speak up for themselves for fear of being fired.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a two-time Emmy-nominated makeup artist specializing in clean, organic and sustainable makeup. After visiting Moab Utah, and seeing the amount of people getting married here, I decide to return during the wedding season next year for this purpose. (The website will launch October 10th)
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Most people do not know that I’m actually an introvert.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.karimorange.com
- Instagram: @thatgirlorange
- Facebook: Karim Orange
- Youtube: Karim Orange
Image Credits
That Girl Orange
Damon Hall Booth for the image of the two models (example of Karim Orange’s makeup work)
