Check Out Ivana Garcia’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivana Garcia.

Hi Ivana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story really began when I was about five years old. I used to put on little fashion shows for my parents, and somewhere in those moments I picked up blush and mascara for the first time—and I was naturally good at it. I remember feeling something light up inside me. Ever since then, that same light has stayed with me. Even during times when I tried to walk away from it, somehow life always aligned me right back to beauty.

I started by watching YouTube tutorials, doing free makeovers for friends, glamming girls for prom, and practicing on myself just because I genuinely loved the feeling of being in glam. In high school, I enrolled in cosmetology through dual enrollment with Chattanooga State in Tennessee. After graduating, I continued cosmetology school to finish my remaining credits. But hair never fulfilled me the way makeup did. Every time I did makeup on my classmates, that was when I felt alive. Still, cosmetology didn’t feel aligned.
I originally wanted to attend MUD (Make-Up Designory) in Los Angeles, a school that focused on fashion, photoshoots, and on-set artistry—the exact environment I dreamed of. But I was young, and my parents didn’t feel comfortable sending me across the states. So I finished cosmetology school, attempted the state boards… and failed. That moment really shook me. I felt lost because beauty was all I ever knew.
At the time, I was working at Forever 21 and came across esthetics. I looked into it, fell in love with it, and eventually became licensed in Tennessee and Georgia. Right out of school, I opened my first spa suite I was 20. I had no idea what I was doing, but I made it work. After a few months, I made the difficult decision to close it because the location didn’t feel right for the vision I had. If I was going to invest everything—time, money, and energy—I wanted it to be somewhere I truly saw myself growing.
After that, I worked in a factory to save money for a future spa. I remember crying on my way to work because I felt so unfulfilled. The timing still wasn’t aligning. Eventually, I quit everything—my jobs, my sense of “security”—and traveled. And during that time, when I had nothing tying me down, I got real with myself. I asked: What do I truly want? What am I meant for?
The answer kept being makeup.
So I decided to pursue it fully. On my 23rd birthday, I was hustling but still unaligned—no structure, just figuring it out and getting clients whenever I could. By my 24th birthday, I told myself to go all in, and if it didn’t work, I’d walk away. But the moment I committed, everything opened up for me. I entered the fashion industry without a mentor, relying only on faith, self-discipline, the gym, changing my mindset, and overcoming my limiting beliefs.
Within my first year, I was published in seven fashion magazines, including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, Malvie, Moviér, and more. And on my 26th birthday—literally on November 14th—I checked my email and saw a message from Atlanta Voyage Magazine. Everything came full circle in that moment.
Today, I feel aligned, grateful, and proud of the woman my younger self dreamed of becoming.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’m a first-generation woman from a small town in Tennessee, and stepping into an industry that thrives in major cities came with a lot of challenges. When I first started working in Atlanta, I had no network—no photographers, no models, no connections. I was walking into rooms where I felt like I had to prove I deserved to be there.
There were mornings I’d wake up at 5 a.m., drive hours for a shoot, pour my heart into the work, and then drive back home to Tennessee near midnight. It took discipline, sacrifice, and a lot of moments where I had to remind myself: you belong here.
What pushes me through is knowing I’m not just doing this for myself. I’m doing it for my little nieces, for the women watching me from the sidelines, and for every first-generation girl who has ever felt like she had to shrink to fit in. I want them to see that you can come from a small town and still walk into bigger rooms with presence, confidence, and ownership.
My message is simple: you can do anything you dream of if you believe in yourself, dive in fully, and trust the ride. I want to be an example—and an advocate—for stepping into your power, taking up space, and knowing you are worthy of every room you enter.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in editoral, on set, fashion, and to everyday glam. I am known for “Model ready skin” which focuses on minimal make up but let’s enhance it and add to it. I am most proud of for example when I finish doing makeup on a model and she looks in my mirror and starts to tell me girl my skin is so pretty like it looks like my skin and I’m like yayyy! Well that’s what I specialize in model ready makeup. What sets me apart from others? When you sit in my chair, it’s not just about the makeup—it’s an experience. Every session is customized for you, not just in products, but in presence. You don’t need to perform or be anyone else. My goal is to see you fully and help you feel safe, beautiful, and empowered.
At the end of the day, I believe people remember how you made them feel. Makeup fades, but energy lingers—and that’s what truly sets my artistry apart.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is how my mom always made the holidays feel special, no matter what we were going through. She poured so much love into every detail and really lifted the spirit of the season. Every December, we would travel to Mexico and stay for two to three weeks—a tradition I’m continuing this year, actually. I’ll be heading there in a couple of weeks to spend the holidays with family, and I’m so excited. Christmas in Mexico is truly magical: the lights, the festivity, the high energy. Ever since I was little, those moments have been some of my greatest memories.

Pricing:

• Natural Makeup $125
• Full Coverage $150
• Bridal makeup $195
• Bridal Party (per person ) $125

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golden_divineartistry?igsh=bjVvMWp0a2RkOHB4&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Wezoree:
Model IG: @Juliaannturner
Photographer IG:
@Berkshireweddingphotography
Makeup IG: @Golden_divineartistry

Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam:
Jelwery store / producer Govinda Kakkad
IG: @Ethnicearsstore
Photographer IG @Vasilisdarkroom
Model IG: @Savannahmiles (miss GA 2025)
Wardrobe stylist IG: @Suki718stylist
Styling & assistance iG @avapolvino @dead.model
Makeup IG: Golden_divineartistry

Moevir Paris:

Photographer IG @vasilisdarkroom
Model IG @xcherry4869
Makeup IG @Golden_divineartistry

Vogue:

Photographer IG @vasilisdarkroom
Wardrobe stylist & CD IG @NasmOney
Model IG: @faithii_e
Model agency: @aimodelmangement