Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Gandy.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Ever since I was a little girl, I have been intrigued by the beauty industry. I would watch my mother and my babysitter (Aunt Joyce) take time out of their busy schedules to groom themselves. My mother always said, “No matter how bad you feel, fix yourself up and it will make you feel better!” She entered me in my first beauty pageant when I was two years old… I really had no other choice but to love makeup and fashion!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has not been a smooth road and I have faced many challenges. One of the main problems has been finding people who are willing to help with advertising. Whether you like the services being offered or not, it doesn’t cost anything to share a flyer or business card with someone else. You never know who could be interested!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional MUA (Makeup Artist) and Nail Technician. I started out in Cosmetology at Empire Beauty School here in Dunwoody, specializing in hair. I later decided that was not what I wanted to do long-term. I worked a few years as a social worker in Gulfport, MS before deciding to start my business doing makeup full-time in 2018. Since I am also a musician, I chose to name my business “Lyrical Beatz by Leslie, LLC”. That is what I’m known for – music, so people have just started calling me “Lyrical” instead of “Leslie”, which is still kinda hard for me to get used to. What makes me proud about my journey is that no matter how tough it gets, I don’t give up! I think what sets me apart from others is my willingness to try new things. I am somewhat of a daredevil and I am not afraid to go after what I want, even if it means starting over and over again. I recently went back to school at Unlimited Cosmetology in Hattiesburg, MS because a lady knocked on the door of my business in hopes of getting her nails done. I had to turn her away because I did not offer that service. That very day, I decided to enroll in school to become a Licensed Nail Technician so that I wouldn’t have to turn anyone else away!
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is being successful and setting a positive example for my three children, especially my girls. I am a single mother of two daughters and one son. I want them to be able to say one day, “Mama made it!” I want to leave a legacy and empire for them that I created… that is my goal!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lyricalbeatzandluxnails.as.me/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyricalbeatzatl?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/leslie.houseofclass.gandy?mibextid=LQQJ4d
