For makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur Camara AUnique, working with celebrity clients is just another part of her job. But it doesn’t cease to inspire her or the work she strives to do in the industry. It’s part of the reason she names her eyelash collaborations after the dynamic women in fashion, beauty, entertainment, and more, who continue to teach her lessons daily.
For her latest lash collaboration the beauty expert really wanted to honor a glamorous woman who tells all of our stories with grace. So naturally, she named her newest lash after her client, friend and Hollywood heavyweight, Ava DuVernay.
Article continues after video.
When They See Us Red Carpet
ESSENCE attends the red carpet premiere of "When They See Us" and asks the cast about freedom for young Black boys in America and what that means.
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With the Ava lash now available, we caught up with Camara to get the tea on how she came to work with the director, how to apply false eyelashes like a pro, and what it’s like to have Ava DuVernay as an ally.
How did the Ava lash come about?
Ava had hit me up and said, ‘We’ve got to do something together with your lashes, where you could teach me how to apply them.’ But she’s in LA and I’m here. And then an article came out [about me] in ESSENCE, I sent it to her and she was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is amazing, I got to help you. I have to help make you a mogul.’
And then the lash was born?
I named it after her and then we set up a meeting for me to do her makeup. We had 15 minutes to shoot this video because her schedule is insane. And we did the how-to video of me teaching her how to apply it. She didn’t think she would ever get it. But my technique on how to apply your lashes actually works, my technique is really good.
I understand her because I’m trash at applying falsies.
You have to take a handheld mirror and put it to your chest, and look down at it. And when you do that, you can see your lash line. Or to put [lashes] on in your bathroom, tilt your head up and then work your way from out and then tilt your head over to the inner corner. As long as you can see the lash line you get to play.
This is a glamorous lash, but Ava’s known to be very natural.
Not on the carpet. On the carpet her face is always beat, she’s always looking glamorous. She has a more natural makeup look that’s from light technique and very polished technique. But her eyes always look intense. Her eyes are always giving you that sultry beauty. And so I wanted the lash to speak to that. I wanted to go for more of a va-va-voom kind of lash with this one. This is one of my most glamorous lashes.
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 12: Ava DuVernay attends the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
What is it about her personality that pairs so well with it?
Ava’s always present, even when she has 50 other things going on. And so I wanted to have a lash that spoke to someone just feeling present and just being in the room like ‘there’s a story about me that you should know and that’s why I’m wearing this.’
It sounds to me like she’s just genuinely a strong Black woman who is looking to help and empower other Black women.
She’s literally the definition of Black girl magic. She’s not just saying it just to say it. It’s actually like, ‘how can I help you, and how can I make this happen, and what do you need?’ And then she follows through. She’s a standup woman.
Did you know that APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD) is a serious genetic disease that impacts people of African ancestry? AMKD affects thousands of Black women and men, however, it’s not yet widely known or diagnosed in the United States. Therefore, we want to recognize AMKD Awareness Day, held annually on the last Tuesday of April. Now is the perfect time to learn more about AMKD, have open conversations about your health with your family and doctor, and seek additional testing resources, if needed.
“This disease has a huge impact on my daily life,” said Emani McConnell-Brent, an advocate and ambassador for the American Kidney Fund (AKF), currently living with AMKD. “I don’t feel like I have the luxury to operate in the world like an average 21-year-old.”
While kidney disease is often regarded as an older person’s disease, Emani’s story is unsurprising once you learn that AMKD can develop at a young age in otherwise healthy people and can advance faster than other kidney diseases.
Chronic kidney disease is often regarded as a “silent” disease as it typically has no noticeable symptoms until the kidneys have declined dramatically, often necessitating kidney dialysis and potentially, a kidney transplant.
In the U.S., there are clear disparities among those affected by kidney disease. “People of all races and backgrounds can have kidney disease,” says LaVarne Burton, president and CEO of AKF. “But people of color are more likely to be affected by kidney failure.” Kidney disease affects one in seven American adults, however, the prevalence of end-stage kidney disease (kidney failure) among Black people in the U.S. is over four times that of White people.
One cause for the higher prevalence in kidney failure among Black Americans is genetics—specifically changes in the APOL1 gene. Everyone has two copies of the APOL1 gene (one from each parent), but people of Western and Central African ancestry are more likely to have changes (variants or mutations) in their APOL1 gene that can cause AMKD. An estimated 13% of Black Americans have the two APOL1 gene variants (mutations) that are associated with AMKD. “Those who have variants in both copies of the APOL1 gene have a one-in-five chance of developing kidney disease, therefore, it’s critically important for people who are Black, Afro-Caribbean, African American or Hispanic/Latino to be aware of AMKD and have kidney health conversations with their doctor,” explains LaVarne.
What to Look For
If you have not been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease but have started noticing symptoms such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, swelling, fatigue, headaches, foamy urine, itchy skin, and/or muscle cramps, talk to your doctor about whether you should get tested for kidney disease.
“For those at risk for AMKD, there are steps that can be taken to promote kidney and general health, including regular visits with your doctor, maintaining a healthy eating plan, taking all medicines as prescribed, being active at least 30 minutes a day most days of week, and avoiding tobacco,” says Pranav Garimella, chief medical officer, American Kidney Fund.
It’s important to note that people with APOL1 gene variants that cause AMKD are not guaranteed to develop kidney disease. “They should be aware of the possibility, and discussing kidney health and symptoms with their doctor, given that AMKD generally progresses to kidney failure more rapidly than kidney disease caused by other factors,” says LaVarne.
AMKD can present in a variety of ways—including (but not limited to) focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS), hypertension (blood pressure)-associated kidney disease, HIV-associated nephropathy and lupus nephritis. So, people who have already been diagnosed with a form of chronic kidney disease may have AMKD without knowing it, and the only way to confirm is through a genetic test.
If you have already been diagnosed with kidney disease, talk to your doctor about whether getting a genetic test to learn if you have the APOL1 genetic variants is the right next step.
Emani’s Story
Emani’s symptoms first appeared at 17 years old. Emani started having unexplained symptoms, leading to collapsing, and her mother rushed her to the emergency department. “I experienced edema, chronic fatigue, proteinuria, and stomach pain. However, records show that my pediatric physicians noticed I had had protein in my urine since I was seven years old, but it was ignored and said to be caused by an unhealthy diet,” says Emani. “At the point of hospitalization, that major symptom had been ignored for 10 years.”
At the hospital, Emani was given a diagnosis of kidney disease, and the nephrologist mentioned several possible causes of it, including lupus. The experience was frightening and so anxiety-inducing that Emani opted for a biopsy right then and there. When the results came back, she was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a form of AMKD. “At that point, I thought my family and I had received all the answers we needed, but almost a year and three medications later, nothing was working,” says Emani. “My nephrologist suggested genetic testing, and I was diagnosed with AMKD as the root cause of my FSGS.”
Receiving this diagnosis has made a huge impact on Emani’s daily life. “Before class, I have to check my blood pressure, eat breakfast, take medications, check my legs for swelling, and put on compression socks if needed,” says Emani. “It has forced me to be transparent about my diagnosis with friends. While it’s normal for them to want to go out and have fun, I simply don’t have the same amount of energy as them.”
Emani McConnell-Brent with her mother, Shaquita Brent
Power Forward Together
Powering forward means taking action—having open conversations with family and your health care team about your health, family history of kidney disease and learning whether you’re at risk for developing AMKD.
If you have kidney disease, genetic testing is the only way to know if you have AMKD and deciding whether to have a genetic test is a personal decision. Knowing if you have AMKD can help you and your doctor decide how best to manage your disease and take care of your kidneys. While there are currently no medicines to treat the root cause of AMKD, new potential treatments for AMKD are being studied, and you may be eligible to participate in that research.
That’s why the American Kidney Fund launched AMKD Awareness Day to increase recognition of AMKD and encourage people to become APOL1 Aware. “We want people to better understand how their genes can impact their kidney health, and share that knowledge,” says LaVarne.
If you have AMKD, you may be able to take part in a clinical trial.
“This could provide an opportunity for researchers to investigate treatments for AMKD,” Pranav said.
“My plan moving forward is to stay focused, stay positive, and share my journey as it unfolds,” says Emani. “My advice is to pay attention to what your body is telling you, no matter how old or young you are.”
