Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Ruiz
Hi Jacqueline, 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?
I’m a professional makeup artist. My love for beauty started from an early age. I always admired the girls who did their hair in cute styles, carried around lipgloss, had fun with their outfits. I had a fascination with all things beauty in movies, shows, magazines, etc., whether it was the makeup, hair, nails, clothes – I loved it all. I’m originally from Miami, FL, & I come from a Dominican family. If you come from a Hispanic background you know how big we are on appearances & looking well put together, at all times. So I’ve always been taught that how you present yourself is very important. Expressing yourself through those things, which for me started with makeup, it’s a way to show who we are & gives us that sense of self, & that sense of confidence to carry ourselves in a more uplifted manner.
I’m an artist at heart, I was always an art kid. Growing up in South Florida, it has a huge influence of art all around. So I attribute my love for art from that, apart from having a natural talent for it. When the time came that I was allowed to start wearing makeup, which I was about 13yo, it was easy to interchange my paint brushes with makeup brushes. I learned from the infamous YouTube University, when the influencers were called ‘beauty gurus’. I took a lot of inspiration from tutorials & music videos. I used to beg my mom to take me to Ulta, save up my allowance & walk to CVS, look up brands on the internet; anything to get my hands on some makeup & be able to experiment with it at home. I had fun sitting at my desk at night & following tutorials on Youtube even if I had to wash it off after. My friends & family were always super supportive, letting me use them as canvases, which helped me get practice with doing makeup on other faces. I knew from that point on what i really wanted to do when I got older.
As soon as I graduated high school I went straight into a cosmetology program, completing it within a year. My first job as a licensed professional was the salon in Ulta. I’m forever grateful for the ladies I met working that first job. They were really the ones who helped me lay down a strong foundation for my career & molded me to be who I am as a professional today. Fast forward to now, I’ve been in the industry for 8 years (sounds crazy to me that it’s been that long) & have learned so much on this journey so far. I love what I do whole heartedly. There’s a lot more things I want to accomplish. I’m happy with the direction my career is going in & can’t wait for all the new experiences the future holds for me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There will always be obstacles along the way, in anything we do in life. Every chapter will bring a new challenge to overcome & learn from. For me it was a few things: learning the business side of the industry aside from just having the talent, how to stand up for myself as a professional, having imposter syndrome, finding where I belong & finding that real sense of community with other fellow artists/beauty professionals, staying consistent with things like social media & putting myself out there, & just continuing to grow & find new ways to keep the passion alive, which is the reason I’ve got this far to begin with.
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?
My specialty at the moment is in bridal. Every girl deserves to feel like a princess, especially on one of the most important days of their life. The experience of being pampered is ethereal, & everyone should experience that at least once. I like to think of myself as sort of the fairy godmother; just sprinkle a little fairy dust, & send them on their way to their happily ever after.
What has set me apart is my attention to detail & versatility with my skills. I ask for the overall vision a client is going for, & use those elements to bring that vision to life, tying it all together for a cohesive look. A lot of thought goes into each step. People appreciate that the most, it shows the effort I put into curating their look & making it into something special. My proudest moments come from making that connection with someone & being able to show them the beauty they hold within themselves.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My best advice for new comers is to find your niche. Figure out what your favorite thing to do is, & just hone in on your craft. Explore & try different styles & techniques. Don’t be afraid to get your hands in it so you can feel things out. Don’t give up just because it’s not perfect. Through trial & error, you’ll improve & find what works best for you & how to add your personal touch to your work. That’s the one thing that took me a while to learn & I wish I knew from the start, was how to find my personal ‘brand’. Once you figure that part out, that’s when the magic happens.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Jackiejasmua
