Meet Atlanta Licensed Cosmetologist and Makeup Artist: Victoria Rogers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Rogers.

Victoria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a young girl in 6th grade, I would take interest in the beauty industry always in the mirror. I would take magazines and try to create the look that I saw it in a magazine. No, I didn’t always get it on the first try but after repeatedly trying I eventually got it. I started to braid my hair and started to bring other little girls hairs for $5 a piece. I also sold candy in Middle School to save up money to buy beauty products to do my hair and make-up. When I went to high school no school was not always my favorite I learn to sharpen my hair and makeup skills by chatting with other girls to see what they were using. Around prom season I begin to start charging to do hair and makeup for girls at my school. I was in and out of homeschool because I enjoyed being a shampoo assistant and working as a Young Beauty professional more than going to high school. I then made an extremely tough decision school or beauty school right now! Also because I found out I was pregnant. I dropped Outta High School right before the 12th grade and Straight to beauty school! Once I adjusted to Empire beauty school I found I had more passion for Makeup than hair. After graduating I started training as a freelance makeup artist with Mac cosmetics here I learned so much and I built a lot of skill! After four years of working with one line, I was so interested in skin care and learning more makeup lines. I became a consultant at Sephora, then immediately moved up to an assistant manager position educating Beauty Consultants on skin care and all of the exciting makeup line. I am definitely a perfectionist at heart after a year of management in Sephora I still was not satisfied career-wise. This was beyond being cocky I knew I was extremely great and overqualified, no one could pay me what I was worth and having a second child on the way was all the push I needed. I quit my job! And started my own business veribeauty. This stands for Victoria Elizabeth Rogers Incorporated where I now freelance all over Atlanta. I am also still building an in-home studio where my clients can come and be serviced in a professional and trendy environment. I am the only Makeup in Atlanta that offers a Makeup membership to my clients where they can get serviced multiple times a month for one rate monthly. I am currently working on a foundation line and adding face painting for kids to business, training my daughter because she interested in face painting. My 8 yr old entrepreneur!

I have two kids and I was a single mother. Giving up wasn’t an option it will never be! I want to encourage and inspire any mother or single mother that if this is what you want to do you can make it happen! I did it so can you!

Has it been a smooth road?
No. I am an extremely nice person. And in this industry, you must have tough skin. I used to come off extremely nice and people would try to take advantage or run over you. Also even though on this journey I carried my first daughter and now my second daughter if you keep a can-do attitude you can make it through anything. Before MAC cosmetics I stepped out on my own and rented a space in the back of a beauty store. and made numerous mistakes image-wise, pricing wise until I worked for Mac cosmetics they really show you what you’re made of! Start under a cosmetics company first! A coupon is nice but don’t give everyone a discount! Lol

Any predictions for the industry over the next few years?
In the next 5-10 years, I believe the beauty industry will still be a top dollar industry. I still hear women joke about this today. ….”my bills may not get paid on time, but I’m going to go get my hair and makeup done tonight”!! However, with makeup services, we must continue to get creative on the business side of it all. The internet and a lot of social media sites are exposing tons of makeup secrets, tools, and tricks. Women are either calling themselves Makeup Artist without the proper training and the other 30% are just learning to do it by what’s out on the internet. So does this put a shift on things? Absolutely.

This is why I chose to come up with a membership/subscription where clients can come a few times a month for one monthly fee. I have to stay ahead of the game.

Trends repeat themselves, skills can be learned, it’s originality that keeps this industry alive.

Has there been a particular challenge that you’ve faced over the years?
My biggest challenge would have to be vulnerability. Building relationships is important in the industry and for personal growth.

I know I am human but I have the hardest time showing it. You have to be a little venerable to build relationships and I’ve become better at this but It took a lot of practice. We all need work in some area.

I think having your game face on is sometimes enough for people to take you seriously but not enough to connect with you.

Let’s change gears – is there any advice you’d like to give?
My biggest advice to others starting in my field would be… Be consistent. If you struggle with fear it is not always a bad thing. If you are not scared you’re not alive. As long as you walk towards what you’re afraid of, you get to see exactly what you’re made of. It’s hard to find creativity if you make quitting an option.

Contact Info:

• Website: Veribeauty.com
• Phone: 6787240719
• Email: veribeauty1@gmail.com
• Instagram: Veri_beauty
• Facebook: Veribeauty