I began my makeup journey at just 16 years old, professionally at 18, long before social media became a business tool and marketing was built almost entirely on word of mouth, referrals, and reputation. In those early years, I worked a Monday–Friday job while dedicating my weekends to building my portfolio—often unpaid, sometimes without clients at all. I showed up anyway, believing that consistency and passion would eventually create opportunities.

During the early years of my journey, I never imagined makeup artistry could become a full-time career. While in college, after completing my basic courses, I was preparing to transfer to a university to pursue my bachelor’s degree. However, I wasn’t confident in choosing a major or career path I could truly see myself doing for the rest of my life. Rather than commit to something that didn’t feel aligned, I made the difficult decision to take a break from school.

At the time, makeup was simply a passion—something I had loved since childhood, doing makeup for friends and family for fun. I never thought it could be taken seriously as a profession. Slowly, friends and family began recommending me to photographers, and my name started circulating organically. Without realizing it, I was gaining real clientele and building momentum.

A turning point came when my hairstylist—someone who had known me since high school—recognized my passion and asked me a question that would change everything:
“Why don’t you go to esthetician school and get your license so you can open a makeup studio?”

At the time, we were told a license was required to touch the face, and the program also offered makeup education. I decided to give it a try. I completed 700 hours of esthetician school, building my portfolio and taking clients from my home while relentlessly working toward my goals.

After graduating, I fulfilled a long-time dream of working for MAC Cosmetics, where I gained invaluable product knowledge and industry experience. As my artistry began to take off, I found myself unable to balance MAC’s schedule with my growing weekend clientele. I made the difficult decision to leave and return to an office job while continuing my artistry on the side.

After 12 years in an office setting, something shifted. Makeup requests began coming in not only on weekends—but during the week. In 2019, I took a leap of faith, left the security of a steady income, and committed to my artistry full time. I didn’t know exactly how I would do it—I just knew it was time.

One week later, I was presented with an opportunity at BAM Blowouts and Makeup, working in a salon environment. I quickly became #1 in makeup product sales, developed customized routines using the brand’s products, and built a loyal client base that booked me nearly every day. What began as a part-time 10-hour-per-week role turned into 60-hour weeks, leaving little time for my personal clientele. I even redirected my private clients to the salon, earning an hourly rate instead of my standard pricing to sustain my position with the salon.

Within three months, management recognized my leadership and asked me to manage the makeup department—training, recruiting, and interviewing artists while building a team of women from the ground up. That experience ignited a realization: I could build this—but for myself.

Eventually, the long hours, increasing responsibilities, and loss of personal clientele gave me the confidence to step away and open my first makeup studio in Dallas. I became the first makeup artist in Dallas to operate a full hair and makeup salon during the pandemic, navigating constant uncertainty and adversity.

During my first year in business, I did not make any income. While pregnant and facing the realities of pandemic life, I took on lash services simply to pay rent and cover basic expenses. Despite these challenges, I remained consistent—showing up daily on Instagram, creating makeup content on myself, building community, and maintaining meaningful connections with women on my platform during an incredibly uncertain time.

With no income coming in, I invested the last of my savings to remodel my salon with my own two hands, alongside the support of my family. After pandemic restrictions were lifted, I began rebuilding—starting with my portfolio, regaining clientele, and reestablishing my presence in the industry. As bookings increased, I quickly realized I needed a team, especially with childbirth approaching.

I hired my first two employees just two months before giving birth so my clients could continue to be serviced. I took only three weeks off after giving birth before returning to work, driven by the months of lost business during the pandemic and my determination to rebuild. That momentum eventually allowed me to grow a thriving salon and lead a team of 6–12 artists.

I personally trained artists with no experience or minimal skill into confident, working professionals—mentoring them in technique, kit building, professionalism, photography, content creation, marketing, portfolio development, and personal branding.

We practiced twice a week, often for months, before artists were ready to take clients. This required immense mental strength and sacrifice. I invested countless unpaid hours training artists, often unsure if they would stay once fully trained. Some artists trained with me for 3–6 months at no cost, earning no revenue for the business before leaving. At times, I questioned whether I could continue—financially and emotionally—while covering overhead costs and repeatedly starting over.

Despite the challenges, I learned the real ins and outs of the beauty industry—what works, what doesn’t, and the costly mistakes that most artists never see until years later. I learned that free work, when done intentionally, can be an investment—not a loss. I learned resilience, leadership, and how to build systems that support growth.

In my second year of business, my company generated half a million dollars in revenue—but it didn’t come easily. There were sacrifices: weekends, late nights, unpaid work, time away from family, and constant reinvestment into others.

What never changed was my love for teaching. Even when artists didn’t stay long-term, being part of their journey showed me the impact I could have on someone’s life and career.

Today, I am taking everything I’ve learned—the wins, the failures, the risks, and the lessons—and applying them to educating the next generation of artists. My goal is to help artists build confidence, clarity, and sustainable careers without spending years climbing a ladder alone. With today’s technology and the right guidance, I believe artists can achieve in a shorter time what took me years to learn the hard way.