Bilingual immigrant. 

Spanish teacher. 

Cosmetics wizard. 

Mom. 

The list above doesn’t begin to express all that is Jamhile Eckert. 

Named after the Lebanese term for beautiful, this mover and shaker embodies the moniker through her work as a makeup artist. 

But, her journey to get here hasn’t been easy. 

After becoming a mom at just 19, many told Jamhile that a four-year degree or any profession in a creative industry was not possible. Undeterred, she attended Tennessee Tech University where she acquired not only a Bachelor’s degree but an ignited spark for a career in makeup as well. 

She stated, “When I was a student at TTU, YouTube makeup tutorials began blowing up. I started watching these videos and thought, ‘This could be fun.’ From there, I began doing my own makeup and a couple of years later I started working at a shop in town which sold makeup, dresses, and more.” She continued, “Next, I started my Instagram and at first I just posted about myself. Then, somebody reached out and asked if I did wedding makeup and I said ‘Yes of course’ even though this was my first wedding. My journey into doing makeup as a career had officially begun.”

Following graduation, Jamhile leveraged her fluency in two languages and accepted the Spanish position at Upperman High School. Now, after seven years of educating students in this role (while still managing a thriving cosmetics business), she is making the leap to makeup as her full-time profession.

On the time spent as an educator and the fear of launching out on her own, Jamhile said, “It’s scary. Being at Upperman has been a security blanket. I know what to expect while in my position and I teach the same thing six times a day. Going from that to doing this full-time is scary, but for years I’ve told my students ‘You don’t have to go to college. If you don’t want to go to college or you do, great. Don’t do something just because you make money.’” Elaborating, she stated, “I realized that I felt like a hypocrite. As much as I love my students, it’s time. My husband (Sean) has been telling me for years to do this. He’s always believed in me. It’s hard to bet on yourself, but it’s time.”

Through her contributions as a central figure in Cookeville’s thriving beauty scene, Jahmile has shaped lives across the Upper Cumberland for years. As a publication, her talent has adorned covers, inspired features, and elevated any set she’s entered on our behalf. Jamhile is dedicated to altering lives through craft, and this zeal for others made her a no-brainer for 2024’s Movers and Shakers edition. 

When asked why she’s chosen this path, Jamhile stated, “My favorite part of this career is seeing the transformations. My slogan is “Feel like yourself, just elevated.” When someone sits in the makeup chair, they’re afraid. Because we have so much to do, women view getting ready and putting makeup on as a chore. To me, makeup is my escape. I can focus on me, on making myself feel better.” She continued, “When girls sit down, they always point out their flaws. We all have blemishes. We live in an age where everything looks perfect, and that’s unattainable. These women feel less than because they don’t look like the internet. When they sit down with me, I tell them, ‘You’re beautiful, I’ve got you.’”

– by Andrew Buckner, photos by Abby Weeden