I completed a one-year course at St. Petersburg Technical Institute, and shortly after that I started working. I've been working in this industry for the last 13 years.
What kind of training do you have?
I have a full cosmetology license. I have a nail specialty license. I'm a certified educator with Deep Brilliance (a hair product company). I'm a makeup artist, freelance. I kind of do a little bit of everything.
What was your first job?
When I started out in 1998, I started on the Internet, doing a lot of work for free. My first job I got over the Internet, and I went to Mexico, New York and Chicago to do a calendar. That was the first job. I did it for free, but they paid all of my expenses. So, I basically went on vacation for three weeks within three months.
How many hours do you work a week?
I can work anywhere from 24 hours to 40 hours, or more or less. It varies from week to week, since I'm on the road, I'm in the salon, and oftentimes working as a freelance artist for the Home Shopping Network I can work 24-hour shifts, anywhere from 4 a.m. in the morning to 2 p.m. in the afternoon, so it varies.
How much do you make?
This year has been very good. Anywhere from $38,000 to $40,000 a year.
How much do you make a week?
My pay fluctuates because my industry is very seasonal. It can be anywhere from $300 a week to $1,000 a week, or more or less. It just varies because of the seasons and whether I'm working in the salon or working on a photo shoot or working at Home Shopping Network.
What's a good day?
A good day for me would be on the set of a commercial or a photo shoot where I only have to be at one place at one time and I get the maximum amount of money.
What's a bad day?
A bad day is when I have to wake up before my kids and leave the house and be at one place for so many hours and then leave that place and travel to another location for so many hours and then come into the salon until 10 or 11 o'clock at night so that when I get home my kids are in bed already.
Why do you choose to be a freelance makeup artist instead of just working at a shop?
I have so much more flexibility as a freelance makeup artist. I'm able to set my own schedule, schedule my own appointments, accept and decline any offers that I choose. I get to meet a lot of people, sometimes famous people, so it's interesting.
What are some of the disadvantages to being a freelance makeup artist?
The biggest disadvantage is never knowing when the phone is going to ring. If I didn't supplement my income by working in the salon, I'd be home waiting for the phone to ring, and the phone doesn't always ring.
What is one of the hardest things that you do on the job?
One of the hardest things to do is when I have to travel as an educator. Sometimes I'm gone for three or four days at a time. Being away from my kids and making sure that they are taken care of, that's probably (one of) the hardest things. The hardest thing is gaining the trust of the individual I'm putting makeup on, especially if it's a woman. Most women feel as if they already know how to do makeup, so they don't trust you right off.
What's your secret to hiding a bad feature?
I get the opportunity to work with a lot of mature women with fine lines, and the best thing that I can do for fine lines is use highlighter. It helps to minimize the lines.
How do you accentuate good features?
I like to see definition and separation in the face when I do makeup, so I try to do a lot of contouring and highlighting to bring out the person's features.
Do you have the correct shade for everyone you work with?
Every shade possible under the sun.
Why did you decide to start your own makeup line?
There was a big need for proper colorations for ethnic skin. And in the salon we have direct contact with women who need someone that knows about skin and the different colors and hues. So, we decided that we would search out companies and create our own line to benefit the ethnic women of all colors.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
One of my goals is to be a host of a makeover show. I want a show here in the Tampa Bay area that would grab people off the street and give them a makeover.
