Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Hellesoe.
Jackie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was seven years old, I remember my mom receiving a makeup kit for her birthday & I was so astonished by the different colors & variety the kit offered. From that day, my mom had to hide her makeup from me because I would constantly play in her makeup, & being so young, my mom didn’t want me to think makeup was what made me feel beautiful, so she made me stop or else I’d get in trouble. Years later, while I was a senior in high school, I started to get into the makeup scene because of YouTube beauty gurus & I finally got my first job at a fast-food restaurant. I remember using all my paychecks to pay for makeup at Sephora so I can practice looks on myself and family. Eventually, that led to me posting my looks on Instagram & Facebook. My life has changed since taking that first step because major companies such as ColouredRaine, Black Radiance Beauty, Colourpop Cosmetics, and MakeupRevolution have reached out to me in regards of becoming an ambassador for their companies. Social media has become an outlet for me to be where I am today, & God has blessed me with this talent to share my artistic side with everyone.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road was definitely hard. There were days in the past that I would constantly compare myself to other makeup artists & where they are in their journey, & I would beat myself up about why I am not where I want to be at. I would constantly be on social media 24/7 as well which stopped me from perfecting my craft because I would always watch other people killing the game while I’m just observing. I had to learn the hard way that consistency is key, & watching other people’s journey shouldn’t be a comparison but motivation to want better for myself. I now only go on social media to post a look or a story on Instagram, or to show support to other artists/self-made entrepreneurs. I understand the struggle of trying to make a living off your passions because some people will try to take advantage of your talent. You have to learn how to be your own boss & manage the craziness in the beauty industry because if you don’t take advantage of the blessings God gives you, someone else will.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Makeup Glam By Jackie story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a freelance makeup artist and I specialize in mostly dramatic glam on myself and clients. People know me as doing “drag queen looks” or “full face beats.” Haha. Of course, I had the negative comments of people telling me I wear too much makeup or I only look good when I have makeup on, but this makeup dream has paid my bills and caused me to be noticed by huge companies so I’m thankful for that. The thing I’m most proud of from this talent is how I can inspire so many people to become the best versions of themselves. Makeup for me isn’t just about enhancing someone’s features, it’s about the art that comes with it & the story behind each look that I do. There have been times where I would be having a horrible day but I have five clients lined up to do full face glam for, and as much as I dreaded to be around people while I was upset, I just couldn’t quit because I knew these beautiful women relied on me to get the job done. It definitely taught me how to separate emotions from business. The biggest accomplishment that I feel like sets me apart from others is that I always strive to make everyone become the best versions of themselves. In the beauty industry, people become very self-centered and start to forget where they come from. I always remember who I am & what I stand for, and I will never stop trying to help everyone elevate themselves to the next level.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see myself owning a cosmetic line in the next 5-10 years. I’ve always wanted to have my own cosmetic line that caters to all skin tones, all skin textures, etc. Vegan as well! I hope to be the first Samoan makeup artist who comes out with something huge!
Pricing:
- $50 Natural Glam
- $60 Soft Glam
- $70 Dramatic Glam
Contact Info:
- Email: jackiehellesoeb@gmail.com
- Instagram: @forrealjackiee
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