Today we’d like to introduce you to Cherie Cook.
Cherie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I think about it now, I suppose my artistry started when I was 7-8 years old. I was always into the arts, singing, dancing, writing, and amongst many other talents, I loved to draw. I attended performing arts summer camps since I was a young girl and even attended a high school that catered to gifted teens. My family always embraced my creative abilities but growing up middle class I was also heavily pushed towards my academics. I was taught that without an education possibilities were limited for future success and I truly fed into it. I guess I always knew I didn’t want to go but I knew if I didn’t at least entertain the idea of college it would be frowned upon amongst my family.
College was basically a confirmation of what I already knew. Three years and I changed my major three times with no feeling of self-satisfaction or belonging. At the end of my third year with only a social life established, I decided to give my collegiate ventures a break. When I returned home, family on my back, I was anxious and determined to not be lazy. I quickly secured a part-time retail job and with my slight skill in doing hair, I enrolled in cosmetology school.
I wasn’t passionate about hair, but I had a little talent and was willing to try anything to find myself. I liked working with my hands and being creative so it was a breath of fresh air from lecture halls and research papers, and I embraced the change; looking forward what lay ahead.
One week from moving onto the next phase of cosmetology school I was attacked on campus by another student. I naturally defended myself but with the schools “no tolerance” policy myself and the other student earned ourselves a ticket out of school and searching for our next move. For a while, I held onto the hair industry. Using all my connections, I freelanced on clients referred to me by friends, and I also did hair for photo shoots lead by a photographer friend I met while in school.
As a team, we worked with local colleges’ fashion departments and collegiate pageants. On a shoot for Georgia State’s Miss Black and Gold pageant ads, I was asked to help with makeup, as we had a large group of girls. The curriculum in cosmetology school taught me some personal techniques that I used on myself, but I was no makeup artist. Fearless, however, I jumped in and instantly fell in love! Intrigued by how the vivid colors, face sculpting, and lashes came together to transform this girls into glamorous women fascinated me and I was hooked! I don’t think I ever picked up a brush & comb after that.
For the next two years, I continued with makeup. Creating editorial and beauty work with my friends to establish a portfolio & experience. I literally didn’t profit a dime my first two years, but I had my eyes on a new pursuit. I knew in order to be seen as a professional makeup artist, I needed to land a professional job in the field, so I focused my efforts with Mac cosmetics. It was my dream job, and I felt somehow if I could work for the brand it would validate me as an artist.
After two years of unpaid shoots, practice, and studying the brand and their product line, I finally felt I had a portfolio that would qualify me for the job. I landed my 5-minute interview with the company and they didn’t even ask to see my portfolio. LOL Nevertheless, I acquired a freelance position with the company which soon after led to a permanent position.
Working with the brand was definitely not what I expected but I learned a lot of my technique and found myself as an artist from my peers and superiors. I worked for the brand for five years before starting my own business last year. When I started CherieBeauty, It was nothing. I hadn’t made enough connections or took enough outside clients at Mac to have a real client base. The brand was my life and before starting my business, I thought working for them was the end game for a makeup artist.
However, I pressed on and with prayer and faith, some of my MUA friends started referring me to clients, setting me up with new creatives, and paving the way for CherieBeauty. It was like a trickle effect; people spreading the word about me and my business and here we are.
One year in, and I’m profiting my weekly Mac checks in one day. My journey is a true testament to what divine intervention and perseverance looks like, and I’m excited to see what new heights CherieBeauty will reach.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to success is never smooth. It is filled with hurdles, bumps, left and right turns and my road is no different.
Struggling with finding my purpose, defying my families collegiate goals for me, and getting kicked out of cosmetology school we’re all trying times for me but it all led me to finding my artistry.
The most consistent, continuing struggle with being an entrepreneur and artist is having the crutch of consistent pay and benefits swept from under you. Even though I am profiting more working for myself and I’m in a much better financial position; The journey of an entrepreneur is a very trying one.
You will not always be booked you have to remain humble and CHOOSE not to compromise your passion for stability. You truly have to love what you do and have a true passion for it despite the money.
I still do collaborative creative shoots to keep my business relevant and thriving and that always gravitates people to me and my business.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the CherieBeauty story. Tell us more about the business.
I believe CherieBeauty is an example of the power of makeup and how it empowers people to tap into their true confidence and true self. My business is me and is a reflection of me, and I am an Artist. I do not like to restrict myself to one style of makeup and my biggest goal in establishing Cheriebeauty is to be as versatile as possible. My artistry attracts people from all walks of life; Business Women, Brides, Models, Creative Directors, Photographers, and I create a variety of different looks that fall under a variety of different categories. I am most known for beauty looks. The type of client that is attracted to me most is one who enjoys glamorous, flawless, glowy, makeup but still wants the comfort of feeling and looking like themselves.
I am most proud of my business for its perseverance to keep growing. My artistry has been alive for almost eight years and it has taken this long to establish CherieBeauty as a brand and I truly feel I am thriving and there is more to come.
When I am doing makeup I am truly exposed, my personality, my passion, my happiness, and I truly connect with my clients for the hour that they are in my chair. That’s what sets my business apart from others.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I truly believe my life and business has been lead by fate and divine intervention. I do not believe in good/bad luck. I believe every triumph and downfall has guided my business and life to where it is now and everything happens for a divine purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: Cheriebeauty.online
- Phone: (678)641-7186
- Email: cherie_beauty@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/cheriebeauty_
Image Credit:
Photographers: Hassan Richardson[@rarifilmz] & Mel.B Elder[@melbelderjr] ; Models: Shadelle Goodson,Octavia Grace, Acacia McBride, Brandi Marion
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
