Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria McGrath.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Victoria. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I actually graduated with a degree in fashion design! Nothing tells the tale of ‘real life’ like the story of a girl who got a degree in something that she didn’t make a career out of. Although, now, 12 years post FIDM graduation, after working in retail beauty to pay the bills, becoming a ‘MAC girl’ and then freelance makeup artist with noooo bosses anymore; I finally find myself in the entertainment industry SURROUNDED by style and fashion!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth roads are boring and teach us nothing. I think the scariest/riskiest part for me was leaving MAC to go full-time freelance. I wasn’t very good at sales but I LOVED being an artist. It’s been 6 years and it’s been a journey of faith! My advice: you prob shouldn’t leave a steady paying job to do something you love unless you have lots of help financially or you have savings but while you’re saving or planning start doing one thing at a time toward your goal. Do photoshoots for free, meet as many other creatives as you can and post post post post to your Instagram, blog or website. Put yourself out there. Know that every day will be different, some weeks you will be rich some weeks you’re borderline homeless but all the while you gotta believe in yourself and keep your thoughts positive. ATTRACT the jobs you want.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a full-time freelance makeup artist. I work with a lot of models, social media influencers, celebrities, brides and various brands! I do mostly beauty makeup but more often now I get to create and creative direct with friends and brands. I’m obsessed with my job because it brings me around all DIFFERENT kinds of people every day, and I love people.
Speaking of people, I also have a podcast with a partner and every week we get to talk to AMAZING, powerful, creative people.
What sets me apart from others? I would say my pink hair but now everyone has pink hair (which I love!) I’m fun, I love everyone literally, I want everyone to love themselves and my job being to make them prettier, really helps out that quest. And I’m a MOM so my perspective is much more nurturing and non-competitive than it would have been had I started in this industry any younger!
Who have you been inspired by?
Wow. My mom, such a powerful working woman who always has grace and literally never seems stressed. Oprah duh, her podcast is my self-help homework every day. All the moms I work with and who come on my podcast who are juggling mom life and work life and staying sane, nothing more inspiring. My grandma Lou, she recently passed but she lived 94 revolutionary years as a creative, strong, liberal WOMAN. I get my creativity from her for sure, I get my liberal and free nature from her. She was a quintessential well rounded educated WOMAN.
Pricing:
- Personal makeups start at 150$
- One on one makeup classes for non-makeup artists start at 150/hr
- Makeup classes for makeup artists start at 100$/hr
- Bridal makeup starts at 250$
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.vixavage.com
- Email: vix@vixavage.com
- Instagram: @vixavage
Image Credit:
@alltheloverita, @dbahnphotos, @dbahnphotos, @jeremygudac, @rocksea, @dbahnphotos, @martymoes, @Laurenalexandra_photography, @mattpetran, @baz
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