Q: How did you know you wanted to become a professional makeup artist?
A: I always knew, ever since I was at school I just knew all the options I picked weren't for me. I wanted to do something different and out there that interested me. People would always talk about their future when we were younger but I found that so hard because I never really knew what I was capable of in terms of makeup because I was never being showed that type of experience. I then started watching YouTube and realised that there were so many ways around doing what I dreamed of doing. I love watching makeup and applying it myself so I always just had that gut feeling. My inspirations from Youtube are stars like Holly Boon and PatrickStarrr as they create similar looks to me and I'm always looking for new ways of improving my own skills.
Q: How have you ended up where you are today?
A: Through hard work and determination I have achieved what I have wanted to do for so long. I was so scared to get started at first but with a lot of encouragement from my family and friends, I started up my own makeup page on Instagram - like a million other girls have! That’s why I was so worried because there is so much competition out there and I didn't want to get made fun of if my makeup designs weren't as good as other peoples. My page is called CKS makeup and I have gained a large following in a short amount of time - I think it’s around 500 followers at the minute and I only started it up last month!
Q: Has your Instagram makeup page (CKS makeup) bought you success and any further recognition?
A: Yes, indeed it has. Since starting up this page, I have had non stop emails and messages from various women/girls asking for me to do their occasion makeup weather that be for a night out, for their prom or even for their wedding! I have been so shocked with the positive feedback I have received I just never expected it. Also the Instagram page has opened up a massive door for me because a woman’s makeup business on Instagram called Leanneslaterstudios which I have always admired offered me a full time job in her salon! So I will no longer be doing as much mobile makeup as I used to - it will now mostly be done in the salon as I will be taking bookings from 25th May onwards. I couldn't be happier with this outcome and it’s all because of Instagram recognition really.
Q: What advice would you give other young people trying to get into the makeup industry n such a competitive market?
A: Get yourself out there. Honestly. It is the best advice I ever listened to because if you don't start showing people what you are capable of, no one is ever going to know what you actually are capable of. You are unique, no one else has your imagination so your creations will be different from everyone else's. Start doing your family and friends makeup just to practice, take some pictures and post them online and see what people think, what’s the worst that is going to happen? There are so many other platforms you can start up on as well like Youtube you could make your own short videos of step by step guides, a Facebook or Twitter or Snapchat page - the list is endless! So get started up and you never know where it might lead you.
