We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shí-Fawn Chee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shí-Fawn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The Blended Girl mission is to share and curate products to show Indigenous beauty & glam.
We want to Indigenize more spaces within mainstream media and beauty industries. This mission is meaningful to me because of the under representation across the board in media, whether it’s fashion, TV, magazines etc.
Throughout history there has been a lack of genuine indigenous faces. We wanted to create a space that helps to bring to light our beauty and highlight our humor, stories and art.
Through products we can teach and through makeup artistry we can enhance without changing that natural indigenous beauty that makes us unique.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Yá’át’ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é Shí éí Shí-Fawn Chee yinishyé
Kinyaa’áanii nishłį́
Bilagáana bashishchiin
Táchii’nii dashicheii
Bilagáana dashinalí
Ákót’éego diné asdzáán nishłį́!

That is the traditional Diné introduction telling you who I am and what I am. This also helps let us know who we are related to.
I am originally from LeChee Arizona & I was raised by my grandparents and two aunts on the Diné (Navajo) reservation.
I fell in love with makeup in my early 20’s & since then my passion grown.
Over the years I noticed that when I walked into various cosmetic stores there was no representation for indigenous peoples on any packaging or palettes, aside from Aztec & Pendleton designs.
While attending college I came up with a business plan for my cosmetics line and my own vision for palettes. Not too long after BLENDED GIRL COSMETICS was born!
The products have evolved from the early days and hopefully will keep getting better and better with time.
I graduated as a Master Makeup Artist from TINT School of Makeup and Cosmetology (July 2021). I really wanted to expand my skills so that I wasn’t just educated on the products but the application of makeup as well.
Course work studied included – Basic Makeup, Period, Stage, SFX, Runway, Photography and many more.
Thank you for reading and learning a little of the history of BGC. There are many great things planned for the future.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Throughout my Blended Girl journey I have had to pivot many times and start over.
My personal life has gone through tons of growth and as a result I have had to step away from my business and makeup artistry to adjust.
Moving states, starting therapy, going on a healing journey, getting married and now expecting my first child all within three years has been a great experience but has also set my business goals back…since running a business all on my own is very hard work.
I have put a lot of projects on hold but I can’t wait to get back to creating again and giving my customers the products they love.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I had somewhat of a following on my personal socials and in the beginning promoting my products and getting them seen was somewhat easier than starting with no audience.
I also started my business when there were not a lot of indigenous beauty brands.
My advice is that in the beginning you don’t need spend all your capital on product photos…I personally take all the photos of my products and I also do the website design for my business.
Once you grow & have more to spare then invest in all of the extras.
I would recommend spending your start up funds on promo items such as business cards, postcards, packaging and actual product.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blendedgirl.com
• Instagram: @blendedgirl.cosmetics
• Facebook: Blended Girl Cosmetics
• Youtube: @ navajocutie7171

Image Credits

Picture credits:

– Larry Price Photography
– Viktor Photography
– Ric Colgan Photography
– Shí-Fawn Chee

Models: Melaina Ashley, Cat Huynh, Isabelle Anana, Naiomi Glasses, Quannah Chasinghorse, Chavauna Kautz

MUA: Shí-Fawn Chee