Multiple Emmy® Award winner Kevin James (KJ) Bennett is identified as a leading industry expert due to his impressive credentials, diverse skill-set and acute dedication to the cosmetic industry and the profession of makeup artistry.
KJ began his career in retail cosmetics – a training ground which has produced many of the industry’s most notable artists. This evolved into photo, runway and celebrity makeup. The next step was TV and within 3 years he received his first Emmy nomination. In less than 10 years he had received 5 nominations and won 2 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup. His resume of broadcast artistry includes primetime network and cable productions (including the Law & Order franchise), talk shows, news magazines, daytime dramas (Another World and As The World Turns) and regional/national commercials.
KJ has appeared on international entertainment and news shows including Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America, Today, “E” Entertainment Network and HSN (Home Shopping Network).
His engaging on-camera personality has been utilized by shrewd producers on a number of realty shows for MTV, VH1, TLC, Style, HGTV and TV Land, where he was featured Makeup Expert on “She’s Got The Look”.
His insightful, honest and often irreverent beauty advice has been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Elle, InStyle, Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Self and Health as well as respected trade publications WWD, American Salon, Skin Inc and GCI. He is also quoted regularly by popular on-line publications, beauty blogs and in YouTube videos.
In 2010 KJ became a contributing editor for Key Publishing’s Make-Up Artist Magazine, which is the #1 international makeup artist trade publication. He was also tapped to write a bi-weekly “Expert Advise” column for their popular Makeup411.com website. KJ serves as an “Industry Expert” for BeautyPress.com and as “Cosmetics Expert” for NY Times best-seller, Dr. Leslie Baumann’s International Esthetics Advisory Board. He is also a contributer to Dr. Baumann’s popular Skin Guru blog on Yahoo Health.
KJ’s passion for education has made him a popular lecturer at international media and trade events. He facilitates his “By Request” workshop and seminar program and has been contracted to create training modules for major cosmetic companies and makeup schools. His devotion to beauty education was further recognized in 2010 when he was named the Makeup Mentor for the Beauty Changes Lives Project sponsored by P&G (Proctor & Gamble) and the AACS (American Association Of Cosmetology Schools). The project promotes the positive impact a career in the beauty industries offers.
Building your first professional makeup kit can be very expensive (and confusing). So, in 2005 KJ created IN MY KIT, a professional review and reference website. The content is focused on cosmetic products, tools and accessories that meet or exceed the requirements of pro artistry in all media formats (photo, film and video). Word got out about this “insider information” and the website began attracting consumers and professionals. By 2006 it was being referenced and linked to internationally. In December 2010 it exceeded 1 million unique visitors.
KJ’s cosmetic consulting company Makeup Art + Design Enterprises (M.A.D.E.) debuted in 2010. Read more about it HERE.