Today we’d like to introduce you to Kia Daniel
Hi Kia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hi, my name is Kia and it’s an honor to call myself a Makeup Artist! My journey really began when I asked God, “How can I make more money?” I’ve always been a hustler at heart, juggling multiple jobs, but I wasn’t passionate about those things. After praying over my situation, I feel like God brought me back to my love for makeup.
I started wearing makeup in high school when I did color guard, and even though it looked a hot mess… I LOVED it! Honestly, I never thought I’d be skilled enough to apply it on others and have them think they looked beautiful. But I took that leap! I immediately enrolled in the Master Makeup Academy and took 4 to 5 different makeup classes from local artists. As I learned, my confidence grew, and here I am, two and a half years later in this amazing journey!
I’m constantly learning and always looking to improve my looks and diversify my clientele. Doing makeup is truly a joy and something that I look forward to doing. For me, it’s very personal and I really aim to enhance my client’s beauty and have them feel pretty! My favorite look is a soft glam because she is THAT girl! However, my favorite part of a makeup look is the brow! I believe they really set the tone for the entire look, and I happily take my time to get them just right.
Whether it’s for weddings, photoshoots, special occasions, everyday glam, prom, or anything else, I’m your girl! I can’t wait to see what God has planned for me and my business next!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve definitely faced some rough patches on my journey. At first, I quit my full-time job to dive into makeup full-time, and it was a real eye-opener. I jumped in without enough clients to cover my living expenses. Plus, I blew through a lot of money buying up the whole makeup store because I thought I needed every single product.
Now, I find myself with items I haven’t even touched and many that have already expired. It’s been a big learning experience.
I also want to emphasize the importance of marketing yourself as a makeup artist. Since I’m not very well-known in my city and tend to stay in, my client base has been quite limited. This is an area I’m still actively working on, especially since I’m not as experienced as some of the other artists in my area. Building my reputation and clientele has been a tough journey, but it feels incredibly rewarding when clients refer me to others. A big thank you to the fellow makeup artists who send clients my way—I truly appreciate your support!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a makeup artist, I create looks for a variety of occasions, including weddings, photoshoots, special events, everyday glam, prom, and more! However, my all-time favorite style is soft glam. If I weren’t aiming to specialize solely in wedding makeup, soft glam would definitely be my niche. To me, it’s the ideal look! This is also my most sought-after service, with many clients using photos of my soft glam creations as their inspiration. I take pride in how far God has brought me, the connections I’ve made, and the boost in confidence I’ve gained along the way. It’s amazing how this path has benefited me in ways beyond just making money. What I think makes me stand out is my attention to detail and my ability to see things from my clients’ perspective. I never want anyone to leave my chair feeling unhappy—that would really upset me. I want people to feel like they can express themselves and my goal is to deliver!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If you’re an aspiring makeup artist, my top tip is to keep practicing—seriously, practice as much as you can! Don’t hesitate to ask your family and friends to be your models; getting that hands-on experience is crucial. It’s also a big plus if you can find a seasoned MUA mentor or a friend in the industry to guide you through the challenges and share their insights. I’ve picked up a ton of valuable lessons outside of my makeup classes that would have really helped me when I was just starting out.
Pricing:
- Natural Glam – $65
- Soft Glam – $75
- Full Glam – $85
- Brows – $20
- Brows & Lashes – $25
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Devine Studios Photography
Clothed in Love Photography
