‘Sometimes when things are looking like they’re not going the best, you just need to take a step back, rework and go out full pressure.’

Uniondale

“I started makeup to express myself and try to push myself into a creative space. When I was in college, I started working in a makeup store at the mall and really loved it. I loved selling the products, product knowledge and most importantly, doing makeup on customers when they came in. Once I graduated, I started my makeup brand.

“Marketing yourself is so hard being a business owner. I said that I was going to quit, and then one of my old friends was like, ‘There’s money to be made out here. You love it. Just keep going.’ Literally the day that I changed my Instagram name to Nudeebeats, I got a call from someone that I’ve never spoken to before. That was my first client. All I can say is that sometimes when things are looking like they’re not going the best, you just need to take a step back, rework and go out full pressure.

“Nudeebeats is about a year old now, and it’s been working really well for me. Nudeebeats means just accepting and loving your natural state. I really stress that makeup can be transformative, but I don’t specialize in transforming a face. I specialize in enhancing your natural features. I want people to really feel comfortable in their own beauty, so when I do makeup, it’s all about keeping it natural, bare and nude.

“I had so much fun trying out new looks that were outside of my repertoire as far as the skin during Fashion Week. An old college friend that was the project manager for Denzel Dion’s fashion show needed another makeup artist assisting that day. So they put me on the project. It was probably everything that I expected it to be — super high pace, very on edge and anxious the whole time trying to rush through everybody.

“It was really hard, but it was super rewarding. I met some amazing people. I also learned a lot from them. It was so much fun working under him, and his models were from all walks of life. It was just a really loving environment. It might have been tough the whole time, but how I really remember it was a blast.

“In the future, I definitely plan on starting a cosmetic line. I actually want it to be a skin-care line. I would like to start off in that direction and then branch off into lip products within the next three to five years.”

Interviewed by Victoria Bell