Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Davis.
Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to be interview again and share my story hopefully to continue inspiring others around! My name is Rachel Davis and I’m a Global Professional Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist, and Male Groomer specializing in film, TV, fashion, corporate, pageants, and weddings for the last 11 years but have been immersed in this world almost all my life! I’m originally born and raised on the tropical pacific island, GUAM and have just moved to Atlanta, Georgia in September 2022.
My world of beauty opened up when I was a child. My late Grandfather Catalino Bejado had moved to Guam from the Philippines in the ’60s after the war on Guam and built up infrastructure, barbershops, nightclubs, and restaurants building a legacy for his family to thrive off of and build generational wealth! I remember some of my first memories began in the barbershop sweeping the hair off the floor to my Mom selling AVON back in the 90’s so I would dip in her stash and play with the makeup delivering packages all over the island! My father was a Music Producer with his own production studio Stel Star Productions producing 100’s of local Chamorro musicians and artists still operating on Guam today and my Mother was the Marketing Director and entrepreneur starting her own magazine, working for multiple business while still assisting in the success of my Fathers company! When I was 13, I was blessed with a sweet stinky little brother who is now running the operation along with his own businesses so I truly have no choice but to succeed and make them proud! One of the biggest influences in beauty for me was when we would travel to Tokyo, Japan all the time and every single trip we would go on we always stopped by Harajuku! I was always so intrigued by the decora fashion and babydolls & GOTH LORDS walking everywhere in the name of fashion! It was the most inspiring place to be seeing people stand out doing what they love, never fitting in. I love what I do because we break molds, we break rules, and we stand in our truths as creators!
Eventually as I got older, I became obsessed with high fashion magazines, reading every beauty article and even became so intrigued with the MAC counter ladies! I was always so infatuated with the transformation of beauty and the confidence it brought because I struggled with self-image and body positivity for YEARS as a teenager. Those were some of the most fragile times and beauty really saved me many times. I would play in makeup and find where I felt most comfort in with a swipe of eyeliner or a little concealer for tired eyes. It truly made all the difference in how I moved in this world with just a light touch of makeup or a change in color of the hair. During the summer of my senior year in high school, I applied to work for Guam’s premier luxury shopping beauty destination DFS Galleria and was immediately hired for Estee Lauder companies to become a product promoter! I thrived in this world and eventually went on to work for Christian Dior and ended up meeting the love of my life!
We moved a year later to Charleston, SC with the military where I finally took the leap and signed up for a Cosmetology course to fully immerse myself in that world dedicating an entire year to gaining my license! I became pregnant and had to give birth to my sweet little girl Cree, 2 days before my graduation and in that moment, I wasn’t sure where my career would go. I became real innovative and searched high and low for weekend jobs and got hired by Charleston’s top bridal company servicing hundreds of brides up and down the coast! I grew in so many other fields from TV shows, corporate jobs, photoshoots, pageants, and fashion shows! I continued to blossom my career through the years working with A-list celebrities, politicians, and clients all over the world from North Carolina all the way to Spain! I contracted for top luxury companies in the Carolinas from Tarte Cosmetics to NARS Cosmetics traveling around the states to educate and promote products as a freelance Artist.
Building my business in Spain was by far the toughest! I was on a good streak of six years, constantly booked with all the events, weddings, TV shows, and all but had to put that aside as a military wife and focus on my other talents in a foreign country. It was tough but I thrive well under pressure so I turned my 3rd floor into an in-home salon where I finally was able to create a space to do hair color, cuts, skincare facials, body and facial waxing, and so much more! I was able to work with the US Military DAMA Representative for the Spanish festivals and so many amazing photographers! I became pregnant again during COVID and within those stressful times, had to put my salon business to the side so I focused in on building up my product line finally The Dollyhouse! We had two successful years creating botanical-infused natural beauty products designed for my clients in mind! I created an array of products including: lip oils, lip scrubs, lip glazes, body scrubs, bath salts, facial and body oils, and my line of faux eyelashes!
We eventually got out of the military world and moved to Atlanta, Georgia in September 2022 where we currently thriving and pursuing our dreams military-free! It was an incredible journey traveling the world focusing on my husband’s passions so now we decided it’s time for me to thrive in my world! We’ve been enjoying every moment and God willing, I’ve been booked BACK TO BACK since the first day we moved here! I’ve been able to open my own private suite, work on national TV news stations, TV shows, soooo many photoshoots and events, and build my village of people! Being in Atlanta has been a big test of our strength and patience rebuilding our life for the 4TH TIME! Nothing comes easy and the journey always makes a better story than the destination but the process finally getting to this moment just brings me immense chills! So many times I wanted to give it all up but I had to stay persistent doing what I love building the legacy and generational wealth my late grandfather Catalino had in mind for all of us.
There’s truly nothing I would rather do in this life and it’s the most phenomenal job in the world beautifying men and women all around the world instilling confidence, grace, and determination through my clients! When God gives you a gift, capitalize on it and monetize it getting creative and thinking outside the box always! Continue blossoming in your journey and trust that your path is no one else’s but yours so build that up to make yourself proud every single day!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The journey to becoming a successful and notable Global Beauty Expert has been tough! You don’t just become a Makeup Artist, you must become a business person and educate yourself in every aspect to really thrive! After about 11 years in the industry, I’ve been able to successfully become the top Makeup Artist in every city I’ve lived in due to educating myself on my downtime, prioritizing attending beauty and hair seminars to take my skills to the next level, and also find other talents to keep me balanced! Often times working nonstop in this world can burn you out but gracefully moving in your journey knowing God’s plan is beyond the current moments is always so comforting! Another feat I continuously faced was being a military wife and having to rebuild my business and brand four times over! It’s been a difficult and tedious process but when you stay focused and locked in, the fruits will bloom. My best suggestion entering into any field is to find a mentor, build your village and community of others in your industry doing what you do so you can continue finding inspiration and thriving! It’s okay to struggle and face the pressure, they’ll only ever make you stronger!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Global Beauty Expert with a focus on Makeup Artistry, Hair Styling, Male Grooming, and Creative Direction for creative projects and photoshoots! I specialize in film, TV, corporate, commercial, fashion shows, weddings, pageants and all formal events! I love high fashion, glamorous makeup looks as well as no-makeup makeup looks depending on the project! I’m most known for my natural & radiant glamorous looks! Working in the industry for over 11 years now, I’m most proud of trusting my journey and the path God has brought me down! I’m proud of the determination and resilience I’ve developed as an Artist because it’s a tough and saturated world but you just always find your lane and what you thrive best in. I believe what sets me apart is my creative direction and passion in what I do as a professional taking client satisfaction, cleanliness, and creativity to the next level with each and every client! Also, I believe the vision for The Dollyhouse sets me apart completely because not only am I a working Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist but I also am now a Creator for products, Creative Director for projects and photoshoots, Visionary for an event-planning team, as well as a successful and passionate Mother and wife to the most amazing little bunch!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
The biggest surprise for most is where I’m from! Being from a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean, GUAM, and thriving across the world doing what I love really becomes a shock factor! Most people are like “but are you FROM FROM there?! Your family is actually from there!?” because most of the world only knows Guam as a US territory and we’re much more than just that. We have our own identity and culture as Chamorro people with YEARS of influence that has been tainted by colonization from the Spanish to the Japanese, and now liberated by the United States however we still continue to face adversities and colonialism from the powers that influence my island! Guam is such a tiny island it’s 1 hour top to bottom so as a creative Artist like myself, I had no choice but the travel to continue finding my light and doing what I love!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thedollyhousebeauty.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedollyhousebeauty
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedollyhousebeauty
Image Credits
Sherlie Cristal Sanders Claudia Offei Drizzy Gatita George Cecile Knox Paris Camatified Studios Faith Tim Mcguire Mallory Leonard Ebony Ealey Tamarea Rushdan Sasha Yehya Richard Millie VS1 ATL Studios Ludovica Elva Mae NurseofHair – Ingrid Rachel Davis The Dollyhouse Sanchez
