Born in New Hampshire, but raised mostly in Arizona, Baze Mpinja just might be the most unlikely beauty editor ever. Her life has been a series of firsts: Baze’s parents emigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the United States, making her a first-generation American. She is her mother and father’s first-born child, and she grew up to become the first woman in her family to graduate from a university. Baze never imagined she would one day write hair, skin and makeup stories that would be read by millions of women all over the world.

From 2007 - 2011, Baze was a beauty editor for Glamour magazine and a contributor to The Girls in the Beauty Department, Glamour.com’s beauty blog. Her television credits include The Tyra Banks Show, The CBS Early Show, the WCBS evening news and The Style Network’s Glamour’s 25 Biggest Dos & Don’ts. Prior to Glamour, Baze served as beauty editor for Vibe Vixen, a girly spin-off of the music title Vibe. She was also the associate beauty editor for Suede, a multicultural fashion and beauty magazine. Baze is currently a freelance writer and editor.

A few of Baze’s beauty obsessions: celebrity hair trends (the good, the bad and the OMG!), finding the perfect mascara, tuberose fragrances and wild nail polish shades. Her beauty icons include Naomi Campbell, Alek Wek, Elizabeth Taylor, Marion Cotillard and Iman.

When she’s not immersed in the beauty world, Baze loves to indulge in two of her other passions: food and film. She is a co-curator of the annual Congo In Harlem film series which premiered at Maysles Cinema in 2009. Baze also enjoys home entertaining and co-hosts a monthly cooking club with her fellow foodie friends. Baze lives in Brooklyn.