Teen’s Glamorous Mugshot Is So Striking It Launches Her Career as a Makeup Guru

Nobody ever wants to be under arrest. You hardly expect the cops to take a glamorous mugshot that you can use as a profile picture! But for one teen, an encounter with the law came with an unexpected burst of popularity on the internet. She didn't expect that her arrest photo would end up going viral, nor did she expect the huge wave of positivity and love that people would send her way for her awesome makeup skills. This is a bittersweet story to say the least. The poor student has not had an easy time of things. As if often the case, there's more to this mugshot than initially meets the eye.

Meet Marshala Perkins

Marshala Perkins didn't ever intend to become a viral sensation. Sometimes, these things just get thrown into her lap. But while her story seems cute enough on the outside, it's hiding some truly bittersweet challenges.

A Model Student

[dx_custom_adunit desktop_id="RTK_K67O" mobile_id="RTK_5yk0"] Perkins studied at Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she was working hard to get a degree. She also has friends there and enjoys the social experiences that come from college life. In addition, she has a particularly special hobby that kicked off this entire experience.

A Self-Taught Makeup Artist

From when she was young, Perkins has loved watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. Her parents didn't like her going out too much as a kid, so she'd spend her time learning beauty tips instead. This hobby has led to work as a beautician, which she did alongside her studies.

Feeling Pretty

One night, Perkins was beautifying herself for fun (and Instagram) when some friends came over to ask her to come out with them. In retrospect, she wishes she'd said no, as things didn't go her way.

Getting Into the Car

[dx_custom_adunit desktop_id="RTK_K67O" mobile_id="RTK_5yk0"] So there Perkins was, all dolled up and ready for the night. So who should approach, but the police? Things were about to go downhill fast.

Handicapped Parking

The cops came over to ask why Perkins was parked in a handicapped space. Perkins presented her mother's handicap permit, explaining that she drives her around, and so, she has a legitimate reason to be in the space. But the cops didn't stop there.

Going Above and Beyond

Not satisfied, the cops then claimed to smell weed, and proceeded to search the vehicle. Perkins insists that this is strange as nobody had been smoking - yet. But, the police searched the car, and soon found their justification.

Contraband Found

[dx_custom_adunit desktop_id="RTK_K67O" mobile_id="RTK_5yk0"] It turned out that, yes, Perkins and her friends did have a small stash of marajuana. If this surprises you, you've obviously never been to a college campus. Once the cops found this, they had all the justification they needed for making some arrests.

The Glamor Mugshot

Perkins was photoed and entered into the system. She spent the night in jail and ended up in court. Ultimately, she ended up with $2000 in court fees to deal with, which no student wants. But then, the unexpected happened.

The Internet Finds A Way

Perkins' mugshot was released online, and got picked up by a Twitter account that deals in pretty inmate photos. Before long, the internet was calling out for Perkins' freedom, as everyone wa desperate to see her makeup tutorial!

Newfound Fame

[dx_custom_adunit desktop_id="RTK_K67O" mobile_id="RTK_5yk0"] Of course, Perkins had long since been released when her picture went viral. Nevertheless, people found her, and she found herself gaining a lot of followers in a short amount of time.

Asking For Help

In response to all this attention, Perkins asked her admirers for help with her legal fees. After all, she was still a student, and her home life wasn't exactly great. Remember her mother's handicap? Things aren't going great.

From Bad to Worse

Perkins' mom has breast cancer, and her health has been deteriorating over the past few months. With the additional stress of court appearances, not to mention the challenge of unexpected internet fame, Perkins has made a difficult decision.

Taking Time Off

[dx_custom_adunit desktop_id="RTK_K67O" mobile_id="RTK_5yk0"] Perkins bravely made the decision to take a leave of absence from her college classes in order to look after her mother. This isn't an easy decision to make, and we can only hope that things work out for the family. Sadly, Perkins' story reveals a bigger problem with the justice system.

The Cost of Recreational Drugs

Leaving aside the fact that marajuana's legality differs between states, it's significant that Perkins is a young black girl. Statistically, black people are 3x more likely to be arrested for possession than white people, despite usage of the drug being approximately equal across all races.

The Handicap Space Dilemma

There's also the issue that initially drew cops to Perkins' car. The police saw a young black girl in a handicapped space and figured this deserved investigation. Not all disabilities are easily visible, so the cops should have had no reason to doubt that she was using the space legitimately.

Justice Prevails?

[dx_custom_adunit desktop_id="RTK_K67O" mobile_id="RTK_5yk0"] Perkins' situation in indicative of the pressure that the justice system places upon minorities. Her leave of absence from college shows the cost that can occur when people are not treated fairly. Her education has suffered, all because cops didn't trust that a young black girl deserved handicapped parking.

The Future Looks Brighter

We can only hope that Perkins manages to land on her feet, that her mother recovers, and that she's able to continue her studies. In the meanitme, her newfound fame has led to plenty of opportunities for the young makeup expert.

Bringing Beauty To The World

Perkins is working as beautician, helping her customers to look their best. It's a great way to put her skills to good use, and her online celebrity status means that she's got plenty of people eager to make use of her talents.

The Benefit of Celebrity

[dx_custom_adunit desktop_id="RTK_K67O" mobile_id="RTK_5yk0"] While Perkins' family is struggling at the moment, hopefully at some point in the future she'll be able to return to her studies. She's also got a big online fanbase now that are hungry for her makeover tutorials, so if she ever wants to lean into her fame, it'll be easy to grow an audience.

Let Beauty Shine

Marshala Perkins' story shows the tragic cost of prejudice within our society, and how some of the more disadvantaged among us can end up suffering the most. But, she also shows how light can be found in the darkest of experiences, and how true talent shines forth no matter the circumstances.