Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Renee.
Hi Sharon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career about 18 years ago as a makeup artist at MAC Cosmetics in Washington, DC. Back then working for MAC was a big deal so that was the moment when I felt like THIS was the career for me. While working there, I started freelancing and working on photoshoots, special events, and weddings in the area and developed a love for makeup outside of retail.
After three years of being I MAC, I decided to take a leap of faith and make freelancing my full-time gig. I loved it and the freedom it gave me, in addition to being able to build my portfolio. While building my resume, a fellow MAC artist became the makeup department head for a show in New York for MTV and asked me to be an additional artist for the show. That’s when I fell in love with TV makeup. I was literally driving from Maryland to New York, which is a four-hour drive including expensive tolls, twice a week for the job because I told them I lived in New York at the time. I knew that making that sacrifice would pay off one day and eventually I became the key makeup artist for a show that aired during the BET Awards for 3 consecutive years. Currently, after being away from Atlanta for five years, I have recently relocated back to the city and have been working on numerous projects, including productions at Tyler Perry Studios.
Alright, 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?
Anytime you work for yourself you’re going to experience some bumps in the road, It hasn’t been a smooth road and I’ve experienced many highs and lows. As a freelance artist sometimes the money comes consistently and sometimes it doesn’t. And when it doesn’t you get discouraged and start doubting yourself and your career and it can take a toll on you mentally. There was even a point in time when work was coming back to back and I was “booked and busy”, then it changed like that when someone broke into my car and stole my entire kit. I basically gave up on my career at that moment because I felt like all of the time and money I spent on building my kit was completely gone! But I’m fortunate to have an amazing group of friends and family who sprung into action to help me rebuild my kit and it was a humbling experience to say the least because it truly showed me that people really believe in my dream and support it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a makeup artist currently working in TV and Film. In addition to that, I love to do clean beauty makeup and soft glam. Clients come to me when they want to enhance their natural features without looking overly made up. My style is soft with a touch of glam. Being in the industry for almost 20 years I am proud that I can still execute my style of makeup with clients, but I also keep up with trends so whatever style you want I can provide. I think this sets me apart from others is my energy. Not only do you receive a beautiful makeup application from me but you experience a sense of peace and calmness when around me. I think it’s important to have that quality when you deal with so many different personalities.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The most important lesson I’ve learned in my career due to Covid is how to pivot. Covid put a stop to my livelihood as a makeup artist so I had no choice but to figure out ways to bring in money while staying at home. The positive side of that is it took me out of my comfort zone, which in the end was exactly what I needed because it allowed me explore other avenues of my industry like content creating. I knew nothing about Tik Tok until Covid!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sharonreneebeauty.com
- Instagram: @therealsharonrenee
