Behind the Brush

As a makeup artist, I've encountered a range of reactions when I tell people what I do. This ranges from excitement, admiration and interest in my craft, to the assumption of "oh you're one of those". For many, the image of a makeup artist is tied to the ideas of being shallow, insecure, or even unintelligent. It's frustrating, because nothing could be further from the truth.  The Stereotypes We Face If you're in the beauty industry, you've probably heard it all. People think you're obsessed with looks, that you must be insecure if you're so focused on appearances, or that your work can't possibly require any real skill or intelligence. It can be disheartening to see someone's face drop when they realise you're not in a more traditionally respected role, and self-admittedly I have felt a sense of shame admitting to people what I do on occasion. I fear I will be viewed as someone who is all surface, no depth when I say "I am also a ...

As most of you know, I started this venture when I was 14. Watching and looking up to celebrity make up artists like Mario Dedivanovic, it had inspired me to start myself. Was I good when I was 14? Definitely not. Am I where I want to be now, 7 years later? Definitely not. Have I improved and grown both my confidence and clientele? Definitely. This has become measurable through both returning custom and the volume of new custom I have experienced in those 7 years. Had I not have taken that leap at 14, when it feels like the whole world is judging you- I wouldn't have gained the experience I now have.  I started in my bedroom with no ring light and with a seat that was nowhere near tall enough for me to work efficiently, because 14 year old me couldn't afford a new chair or good lighting. Until I could. I then would practice all day everyday in an attempt to improve, borderline harassing my sisters and friends to let me paint their faces. I then would make posts which would be n...