Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Barrios.
Jessica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I lived in El Centro California my entire life and I stayed out there until I was about 20 years old. My original goal was to go to a community college in my hometown and get a degree in criminal justice and just start my career in law enforcement.
I realized while I was going to school that it just wasn’t for me and although my mom was proud of me for following her line of work, I just couldn’t do something that I didn’t see myself enjoying. I completed a few seasons of fish processing in Alaska and finally had some money to move to San Diego for better opportunities. I started practicing on makeup and it came out to be a long lost passion that I never knew would come about after growing up tomboy for so long.
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?
The road hadn’t been smooth at all. I’ve had to move about 4-5 times since coming to San Diego. I’ve lived with plenty of different people from my friends to family to my boyfriend’s friends and only some I am still close to. I was in and out of jobs and school just trying to grab onto something to hold me up from falling out of my path towards my overall goal. Although, for any woman or young woman about to start their journey, I’d advise them to just go for it, follow your gut, and it’ll all come together in the long run. There’s a plan for everyone.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a makeup gal. I love all things about makeup between artists and products and trends I’m all for it. I am definitely known for makeup. Lots of my friends ask me to do their makeup all the time and usually, I don’t even charge them just because I love it when they ask and it just gives me a chance to get some practice in because they usually trust me to kinda just do my own thing so I get to play around with some bright colors.
What I’m most proud of is that for so long, I was lost in what I’m going to do with my life and after so many different tries, I finally found something I’m good at and I don’t have to call it a “job”. What would probably set me apart from others is that I am constantly trying to keep up with the trends and I’m moving forward with the mentality that this blessing is only going to get better as long as I keep growing and accepting any and all criticism
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor has a lot to do with where you want to be. The mentor that I had chose was someone who had the life I was dreaming for and gave me tips and advice on how to get there my own way.
Contact Info:
- Email: jessica_barrios90@icloud.com
- Instagram: @glamaholicjess
Image Credit:
Jessica Barrios
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
