Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Nicole.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Vanessa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My love for makeup and all things beauty started at the age of 12. In my free time, my favorite thing to do was sit in front of a computer and binge watch makeup tutorials on YouTube. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup at that age so I used to run into my mom’s room and swipe her makeup bag, apply a full face while watching my favorite Beauty Guru’s, then wash it all off before I was caught! A year later, my mom gave me a single purple eyeshadow and a tube of mascara. I went nuts! I must’ve mastered every purple eyeshadow look in existence. For years I practiced and practiced! At 15, I put myself out there and started doing makeup for friends; mostly sweet 16’s, senior photo’s, and prom. From there, I started promoting my services and building a business. I was able to connect with local businesses to get my work and name out in the community. I contacted local photographers, new businesses, wedding planners, just about everyone! I was able to work with so many kind people. The opportunities provided by everyone I had worked with helped me land a position as a freelance artist with Smashbox in 2016. That opened up the door to work with Urban Decay, Benefit, Stila, Lancôme, Tarte, and many more! I now work full time as a freelance Makeup Artist and Lash Tech. It wasn’t easy and it took time but I am so blessed to have been helped by so many in building my dream!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My biggest piece of advice for any woman starting her own business is to just keep going. Do not be discouraged! I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I just wanted to give up. I questioned my abilities. At points I didn’t think my dream was achievable, I didn’t think I would make enough money to get by, I didn’t think I would ever be successful, but despite that, I kept going. It may sound cheesy but the best thing you can do to achieve your dream is to believe in it!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Vanessa Nicole Makeup Artist – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a San Diego based Makeup Artist and Lash Tech. I specialize in everyday beauty! I have a very natural style of makeup as well as in lashes, I love accentuating natural beauty! My signature is fresh glowy skin. I think that is what sets me apart from most.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I think as far as networking goes you just have to be willing to put yourself out there. When I first started my clientele was built solely word of mouth. I worked with friends and family and they would recommend my services. Eventually, I made business cards and started leaving them in local coffee shops and picking up other business cards while I was leaving mine. I would get in contact with the businesses who had left their cards by email and introduce myself. I found coffee shops to be the perfect place to leave cards and get business from. Networking is as simple as picking up and leaving business cards! You just have to be confident in your work and being the first to introduce yourself and offer your services.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.VanessaNicoleMua.com
- Phone: 619-862-0259
- Email: VanessaNicoleMua@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessanicolemua/
Image Credit:
Genesis Imagery, Dakota Max Photography, Proteas and Pearls Photography
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