‘I’ve been dealing with bipolar disorder, which hasn’t been the easiest because I had to overcome suicidal ideations.’

GERALDINE SMITH, ELMONT

“I started in makeup about five to 10 years ago. I was in high school, and I saw a friend of mine who was really fascinated with it. Because she was heavily into makeup, it motivated me. I thought it was cool the way she could transform a person’s features and enhance her beauty. So, from there, I started practicing on other people, family members and close friends.

“I had mental struggles from when I was 17. I’ve been dealing with bipolar disorder, which hasn’t been the easiest because I had to overcome suicidal ideations. It was hard even sometimes with being around close relatives. There was a lot of relationship issues going around within my life. I think that’s what affected me to the extent where I didn’t even want to be here anymore because I felt I was at a place where nobody was able to really be there for me or really treat me right.

I take my passion and my clientele seriously.

“My mental health struggles did affect me when it came to my business. A lot of the times I would be very depressed and stressed out. I would have to put on a face like I was OK around clientele. I think that’s what made it hard because a lot of the times I was not OK. I would just suck it up and tell myself, ‘Well, I have to be strong about it.’ In reality, I was breaking down.

“But over time, I told myself this is something that I have to accept. Ever since I started to accept it, I started to realize there’s nothing really wrong with me. It’s just a matter of diagnosis. It doesn’t define me. It doesn’t make me a bad person. I just had to be strong about it.

“So, right now, my business name is @finessedbygee. I do have my business registered. I want to get back into being in a space. My goal right now is to get out of my parents’ home pretty much and into my own apartment, which I’m working on. Once I do that, I can focus on bringing in clients, doing makeovers and seeing my business take off.

“Ultimately, my goal is to be full time with the makeup. I would say it’s a career choice. I take my passion and my clientele seriously. I want to be able to get as much exposure as possible, so that way I can really excel when it comes to having a thriving business.”

Interviewed by Victoria Bell