There’s no one that radiates divine feminine energy quite like Lee Mariah Armoogam. The 26-year-old spiritual healer, multimedia artist, and model might arguably be the literal definition of the phrase. Her aura is the color of sunshine and her spirit is contagious. It is evident that Armoogam moves through the world with a deep love and gratitude towards the earth and its people, and it’s this purposeful movement which makes her most beautiful. “I feel beautiful when I honor my authenticity,” she tells REMEZCLA. “Walking my unique path and getting to know myself better has taught me to shine my inner light in a new way.”
For Armoogam, beauty comes from within—stemming from the alignment of the mind, body, and spirit. It’s about being seen and honoring her ancestral roots. Her roots in the Caribbean have not only nourished her deep connection to the earth and her spiritual practice, but they’ve also supported her daily routine—from meditation to hair care. For Armoogam, hair is more than a personal fixture, it has a deep cultural significance. Hair is a medium through which she honors her lineage. “My hair has always been a part of my self-expression and identity,” says Armoogam. “My hair is a mixture of my African, Indian, and Taíno lineage.”
However, Armoogam didn’t always feel so connected to her hair. In fact, growing up, she was the only one with curly hair in her immediate family. As a result, her early hair care experience involved learning how to nurture her own hair and discovering the best products to use. While challenging, fully embracing her curls taught Armoogam to honor her individuality, especially as an Afro-Latina who often didn’t see herself represented in beauty. “It’s important to see different representations of beauty, especially the diversity of Afro-Latinx hair,” she reminds us. “Whether you wear yours long, short, in braids, or a head wrap, there are stories and history in the ways that we express ourselves through our hair.”
Some of Armoogam’s favorite curl-friendly, hair care products are the Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-In Defining Creme and the Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating & Defining Hair Mask for Curly Hair.
For Armoogam, beauty is about pouring love into yourself; that’s why for her it isn’t a routine but a ritual. “My favorite part of getting ready is the act of love and self-care that goes into preparing for my day. I try to think of it as a ritual and remain aware of the thoughts I’m pouring into myself during the process. Whenever I feel stagnant or off, getting ready and nurturing myself inspires an energy of newness and change,” she tells REMEZCLA.
When Armoogam takes part in her beauty ritual, she’s honoring those aspects that are most important to her—strengthening her connection to her lineage, culture, and community. Beauty is just one tool for getting to know who she is and where she comes from. She understands that she’s part of a legacy that is far bigger than herself, and honoring her ancestors through beauty is her way of remaining centered in her purpose and aligning with her path.
“When I celebrate Latine beauty, I celebrate the strength and resilience of my African and Indigenous ancestors. I recognize the beauty and magnificence of how powerful it is to be here today. When I see myself, I see the generations that have come before me.”
Belleza Remix is a Remezcla platform presented by Ulta Beauty that celebrates Latine beauty through the diverse cultures, countries and rituals that make us all unique. Lee’s story is just one of many perspectives of Latine beauty. Shop Lee’s Beauty Picks below.
