Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Hicks-Onyejose.
Hi Tiffany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I found a passion for doing makeup in college. Anytime my friends and I went clubbing on a Thursday night or any night, I would be asked to do makeup. Originally my plan was to go to law school after college. I planned that in law school, I would work as a makeup artist to make ends meet until I was finished. Life had other plans. I remember, in 2014 about a year after I graduated college truly starting to embrace myself as an MUA. I would go to different makeup stores with a full-beat face giving in my resume with no makeup experience begging for someone to give me a chance to get my feet wet. It wasn’t until 2015 where I was able to start freelancing for Mac Cosmetics. In 2016 I gave my business a name, Artistry By Tiffany J. I freelanced with Mac for 3.5 years ending at the beginning of 2019. However I still ran Artistry by Tiffany J, doing various photoshoots, fashion shows and weddings.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. It took a year for me to get my foot in the door from 2014 to 2015. It has been a lot of struggles. A lot of people think it’s just financial struggles. It is also emotional, mental and physical struggle. Emotionally because no one really tells you what the road of entrepreneurship is like. You get a rude awakening thinking you’re making thousands coming out the gate. Mentally it can take a toll when you feel like no one supports you and you’re just struggling to make ends meet while being hopeful your business moves off from the ground. Physical because I have also done this full time as well as being an educator. It took me 5-6 years to find a space where I could take clients.
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?
So I wear many hats. Besides being a makeup artist, I am a full-time educator as a Dean of Students in middle school. I also do brand consulting more so for imaging. Helping entrepreneurs find their look when they need a revamp or need advice. I specialize in doing bridal and tv/editorial. I am most proud of my work that I do with weddings and fashion shoots. I am most proud of my work ethic. It is hard to work a full-time job and run a business full-time as well. What sets me apart is that I truly work to enhance facial features while doing makeup.
How do you think about happiness?
My daughter makes me happy. She gives me hope day in and day out. There is something about the innocence of a child is pure. Her smile lights up a room and her laugh is infectious.
Contact Info:
- Email: artistrybytiffanyj@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistrybytiffanyj/?hl=en
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArtistrybyTiffanyJ/
