We were lucky to catch up with Emily Northrup recently and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Opening my small business, Sunless Silhouette Custom Spray Tan. I took a chance on myself, and honestly I wasn’t sure I could do it! When I was a little girl I was labeled the “bad child” in class, I was relentlessly picked on, left out, and had little friends. I grew up with a learning disability, which left me telling myself, “ you aren’t smart enough, you aren’t capable, don’t speak out loud you will sound dumb, they won’t be your friend you don’t even know how to read or tie your shoes”. All of my peers were far ahead of me both mentally and emotionally, and I allowed my identity to become all those things I told myself. In high school I met a guy, who I thought was everything. Instead of love I was given years of mental and emotional abuse, he played on every insecurity I had ever told myself! BUT the one perfect thing that came out of that experience was my son. Still I battled the identity I gave myself. I was a single mother, on welfare, and living with her parents. My son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa or RP for short, this disease is causing him to go blind. Sitting at Duke Hospital I realized I couldn’t empower my son if I was unable to empower myself. My son was scared, I was scared! I thought to myself what is something you love, that you find important? As stupid as it sounds, it was spray tanning. I called myself a professional spray tan client, I was getting a spray tan every week, it helped me heal after years of being told negative things about my physical appearance! No matter what!! Seriously, during Covid I was lucky enough to have a relationship with my spray tan artist that would tan me. After all if I had to quarantine, I could at least have a glow! So there it was, I would become a spray tan artist. I took out a small loan, researched different trainings, and didn’t turn back. My goal is empower women, hear their stories, get to experience their lives, share with them. I took every insecurity that was screaming “you will fail, you can’t do it, you will mess this up” and pushed it all the way down. I am determined to prove to myself, my son, and all women that take the risk, who cares what your little inner voice says.

Emily, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Emily Northrup, I am the owner and operator of Sunless Silhouette Custom Spray Tan. I am a mobile spray tan artist, I mix and create the perfect glow based on your skin type and undertone. My goal is during the 30 minutes we are in each others presence you leave stronger, loved, and most importantly you see yourself all perfection you are. There a ton of spray tan artists out there, and each one has their own talent. What makes me different? I do not offer a light, medium, or dark tan. I offer a custom blended solution, I mix undertones, and colors to create a unique color for you. After all, we don’t all wear the same foundation, so why would we wear the same spray tan color?

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In July of 2024 my car was stolen with my spray tan machine inside of it. Well I am a mobile spray tan artist, no car and my mobile machine is gone= no business! My car insurance was taking forever to process my claim and the rental car was being charged at a daily rate. On top of that, my son was rushed to the hospital with an appendicitis. Life was not great! I had to find the strength to keep pushing, I just had to pull my big girl pants on. Luckily I had a backup Machine, weighed a lot more but it worked. I had a rental car, and I had a support system and amazing clients! My son was past the hard part of recovery but still couldn’t do much. I was honest with my clients and I found they appreciated me more. They allowed me to bring my son to our appointments, I would setup in their room or wherever they felt comfortable and my son would stay in the living room. A few weeks later they closed my insurance claim, I bought a new car and I’m still using my backup machine.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn years of identifying as less than or not capable. After growing up with a learning disability being the victim of bullying and mental abuse, I had to tell my self every day I could do this! I had to unlearn doubt, I had to learn empowerment, I had to unlearn you can’t and learn you can!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sunlesssilhouette.com
• Instagram: Sunless.silhouette
• Facebook: Sunless Silhouette