Hear her roar! Meet Jillian Harvey, one half of music duo Lion Babe, daughter of actress Vanessa Williams - and the latest rising star to land her own MAC make-up collaboration

Jillian, 26, is part of up-and-coming neo-soul duo Lion Babe
Her mother is actress and former Miss America, Vanessa Williams, 53
The singer teamed up with MAC on a gold eyeliner, in stores today
FEMAIL chatted with Jillian about all things beauty - including what she's learned from her mother

PUBLISHED: 22:21, 28 April 2016 | UPDATED: 22:21, 28 April 2016

If singer Jillian Hervey looks familiar to you, that's because her mother is singer/actress/beauty queen Vanessa Williams. But with a burgeoning music career (she's one half of neo-soul duo Lion Babe), a fierce on-stage persona, an incredible head of golden curls and a new make-up collaboration with MAC, she's clearly forging a path that's uniquely her own.

The 26-year-old's rising star status is what prompted the make-up brand to tap her for its four-part Future Forward series, which also launched limited-edition collabs with musicians Tinashe, Halsey and Dej Loaf earlier this month.

Jillian's contribution to the series is a gold eyeliner - in stores today - that perfectly captures the retro glamour apparent in both her music and her style.

Golden girl: Lion Babe singer Jillian Hervey, 26, collaborated with MAC on a gold eyeliner as part of the brand's Future Forward series with rising artists

Shop Lion Babe's eyeliner for MAC, in stores today: MAC Liquidlast Liner in Lion Babe ($21, maccosmetics.com)

'I try to make whatever I'm wearing a reflection of what [Lion Babe's] sound is - we're a little bit funky, very New York...we're from the '90s, but love the '70s. I also love ancient mythology,' the singer told FEMAIL at a preview of the collaboration earlier this week.

'Eyeliner is a go-to for me and gold has always been a color that I really like,' she continued. 'It's reminiscent of a lion, it's a strong color. I thought it was a good match.'

Fittingly, Jillian was dressed in head-to-toe gold (including the eyeliner, of course) when we met her and we were able to get a closer look at the striking product.

The color is insanely pigmented and the gold bolt painted across her top lash line completely lit up her face.

Shine bright: Gold has always been a signature hue of Jillian's, who calls it a 'strong' color

'I wouldn't wear this every single morning. I feel like my Lion Babe look is an embellishment of my everyday look - it's definitely more extravagant and more artistic,' she said.

She has, however, had plenty of opportunities to play with the eyeliner considering she's spent a lot of time on stage recently. Lion Babe performed at Coachella and is the opening act for Disclosure on their current tour.

'It smudges easily so I've used it as a shadow, I've put a little bit on my lips before, you can wear it as a highlighter. I love when make-up can do more than one thing.'

It's no surprise that make-up is something she's learned a lot about from her former Miss America mother.

'She was the first person to teach me about my T-zone and where to highlight. When I was little she used to do my stage make-up for my dance recitals, so that was like my earliest tutorials.'

Good genes: The singer (left) is the daughter of actress, singer and former Miss America, Vanessa Williams (right), 53

Off stage, the Lion Babe songstress really does like to keep it simple; her must-haves include Urban Decay mascara, Burt's Bees lip balm, MAC concealer and refreshing rose water spray.

Her long, coiled hair, however, seems to require slightly more attention.

'I like to go super blonde early in the spring because the sun's out and it helps keep that tone. The girl who colors my hair, Carol Benn, is known for beachy, natural looks. I want it to look like a Lion's mane with different tones of honey and brown,' she explained.

To keep her hair hydrated and healthy, she applies Moroccanoil when she gets out of the shower and does hour-long coconut oil masks after she gets home from touring or from beach vacations.

The hair, the voice, the cat-eye, those genes...we hope you've enjoyed getting to know her, because Jillian's moment in the spotlight has only just begun.

Shop Jillian's beauty essentials below.