Kelli Anne Sewell never planned on becoming a professional makeup artist. Dance had always been her world—so much so that she once dreamed of auditioning for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders or the Laker Girls. Makeup, though a longtime passion, was just a hobby she indulged in at department store counters, swatching lipsticks and testing foundations.

But life, as it often does, had other plans.

After college, Sewell went into tech sales, shelving her creative ambitions for a more conventional path. Then the pandemic struck. Stuck at home, with time suddenly abundant, she decided to revisit the one thing that had always lit her up: makeup.

“I’d already built a small following on Instagram,” she recalls. “So I started going live every Wednesday night. I’d pour a glass of wine, hop on with maybe seven people, and do a full face.”

Those early livestreams were more than practice—they were the spark. Sewell grew comfortable speaking on camera, answering questions, and sharing techniques. Little by little, her hobby turned into a profession. Bridal gigs started coming in. More followers tuned in. The seeds of a new career were planted.

The Leap of Faith

At the same time, Sewell was nurturing another lifelong dream: moving to New York City. Determined to make connections, she booked trips to New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville. She would cold-message influencers she admired, offering free makeup sessions—no strings attached, no tags required.

It wasn’t about exposure. It was about building a network.

“I knew people wanted to see someone chasing a dream in real time,” she explains. And they did. Her audience followed along as she documented every step of her journey—quitting her job, moving back home to save money, and finally taking the leap to New York.

From there, her career took off like wildfire. Today, Sewell juggles three roles she loves: working with celebrity clients such as Kelsea Ballerini, Alex Cooper, and Alix Earle; creating content for her ever-growing audience; and running her own education platform, Makeup by Kelli.

Teaching Beauty, One Zoom at a Time

The idea for her platform was born out of necessity. Followers constantly messaged her with questions: How do you contour? Should concealer go before or after foundation? How do you keep makeup from looking cakey?

To meet the demand, Sewell announced a casual Zoom workshop called Back to Basics. Expecting maybe a hundred sign-ups, she was stunned when 1,200 people registered. “I had to upgrade my Zoom license,” she laughs.

That first workshop went on to sell 11,000 copies at $40 each—a clear sign she was onto something. If people were willing to pay for a grainy Zoom recording, she figured, they’d be thrilled with higher-quality, thoughtfully produced tutorials.

So she built her own app. Today, it hosts more than 150 videos and adds a new one every week. Industry giants like Patrick Ta, Danessa Myricks, and Sir John have contributed, alongside founders and celebrity clients. A four-city masterclass tour in 2023 sold out in every location.

Sewell had officially moved from Instagram Lives to shaping the future of digital beauty education.

Beyond the Glam: Skincare, Hair, and Daily Rituals

Despite the celebrity clients and glamorous shoots, Sewell’s personal routine is surprisingly approachable. Her skincare is rooted in hydration and exfoliation—two essentials she swears by for smooth makeup application. She’s loyal to products like Rhode’s Glazing Milk and Sofie Pavitt’s mandelic serum, though she admits to splurging occasionally on luxury creams when curiosity gets the better of her.

Makeup-wise, she leans into what she calls “lazy girl glam”—15-minute looks that rely on staples like Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Brow Freeze, L’Oreal’s Lumi Glotion, and Natasha Denona’s Hy-Glam concealer. Her philosophy is flexible: mix foundation with moisturizer for a skin tint, contour with bronzer for beginners, and let blush mimic natural flush instead of masking it.

Hair, nails, and fragrance round out her beauty identity. Sewell stretches washes for nearly a week, swears by Amika’s dry shampoo, and prioritizes color over cuts. Her nails are always kept in a chic milky white with subtle crystal accents. And scent? That’s her signature. From Tom Ford’s Ombre Leather to Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique hair perfume, fragrance is her invisible accessory—“a hug that lingers,” as she puts it.

A Career Built on Authenticity

What makes Sewell’s story compelling isn’t just the roster of A-list clients or the success of her platform. It’s the transparency. She let her audience watch her stumble, grow, and take risks. They didn’t just see the highlight reel—they saw the grind.

That honesty resonates in an industry often obsessed with perfection. By sharing her unfiltered journey, Sewell not only carved out her own lane but also empowered others to believe that passion—paired with persistence—can reshape a life.

From a sales desk to celebrity glam chairs, from casual livestreams to sold-out masterclasses, Sewell’s trajectory proves that sometimes the detours become the destination. And as she continues to expand her platform, collaborate with icons, and refine her own artistry, one thing is clear: she’s just getting started.