Meet Jessica Y. Garner of Virginia Gold

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Y. Garner.

Jessica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I got started in the Cosmetology industry from pure motivation. My grandmother Virginia had passed away & my friend’s intermediate family members were about to move away. My friend needed a support system because she had just enrolled at Paul Mitchell the School in Birmingham, AL.

Yet, I needed to fill an empty hole after losing my grandmother and she was obsessed with hair & makeup! So, in 2013 I enrolled at Paul Mitchell with my friend as well! Cosmetology changed my whole life! I participated in the Birmingham, AL & UAB fashion shows my first year as an artist. As time passed, my passion for makeup grew! I was featured as a makeup artist for New York Fashion week in 2017. My makeup clients grew quickly that is when I decided to make an investment! I started my product and eyelash line called “Virginia Gold!” I sold out of everything the first week each time I launched a product! I pray that my next goal is to make a million dollars. I am proud to have a line named after my grandmother & I know she is in heaven smiling down on me!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey as an artist has not been a smooth road. I battled with depression my first year while in Cosmetology school. I took a whole month off of school to care for my mental and physical health. During that time, I learned that cosmetology was definitely a purpose for my life. I missed school everyday while on leave. When I returned to school I pursued a full-time schedule and completed my courses at Paul Mitchell. I literally experienced every program the school had to offer! Night school, 3-day school, & full time studying! I met so many people and learned so much as a full-time student. Yet, my second biggest stumbling block was my finances. I sacrificed participating in many things in order to get to where I am today!

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Virginia Gold – what should we know?
Virginia Gold is the name of my business line branched off of Jessdivinegifts. Jessdivinegifts is a business that offers many services and products! I am a licensed cosmetology artist. My specialties in hair are sew-ins & crochets. My specialties in makeup are face painting & full face applications. What sets me apart from other artist is my personality and intimate experiences. I am a freelance artist. Therefore, I travel all of time. If my client is in the labor and delivery room & she needs makeup I am on the way! I’ve styled hair and makeup inside of an old airplane at the Birmingham Museum of Flight. I’ve styled hair for sponsors at a St. Judes fundraiser. I’ve styled hair & applied makeup for homeless women in my streets. No job is too big or too small for me. God has humbled me for it all. If you can pay that is a blessing if you can’t pay God told me he paid it all for you! Because everything I have is because of him!

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My biggest mentor and motivator for my business is my grandmother in heaven. Every time I speak about my product line I remember this is all because of you Virginia Duster Davis!

Contact Info:

• Phone: 2055672294
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Jessdivinegifts
• Facebook: Jessdivinegifts Jessica Garner

Image Credit:
LaPicVisuals by Lacheston, Brian Pride, Lorenda Pryor, Selena Pryor

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