We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Derricka McCloud a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Derricka, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The mission behind Pretty Dee’s Glam is rooted in a lifelong passion for beauty, self-expression, and empowering women to feel confident in their natural selves. From a young age, I found joy in makeup—not just for how it transformed appearances, but for how it made people feel. In high school, I was the go-to person for doing eyeshadow and eyeliner for all the cheerleaders before our games. Even then, I understood the power of enhancing someone’s beauty to boost their confidence.

My journey with makeup began in middle school, where I experimented with white eyeliner and mascara. In college, I embraced my feminine side more fully and started learning new techniques from my peers. Looking back at old photos, I laugh at the unblended eyeshadow and messy eyebrows, but it was part of the process. I kept practicing and growing. After college, I found myself paying professional makeup artists to do my makeup for events—an experience that inspired me to start doing it myself due to the high costs. I turned to YouTube tutorials, product reviews, and hours of practice to improve my skills.

Eventually, I started doing makeup for clients in my home. While they were happy with their results, I always pushed myself to get better. My style naturally evolved into what I now specialize in—natural glam. I want my clients to still look like themselves, just enhanced. I believe makeup should bring out your best features, not cover them up.

About three months ago, I invested in my craft by taking a professional watch-and-learn class with BaelynnTheMUA, a makeup artist I admire greatly. That class taught me advanced placement techniques and helped me perfect the clean, flawless look I had been striving for. Now, I confidently take photos of my clients from any angle, with no filters—because the work speaks for itself.

I recently took another major step by renting space in my godmother’s salon. This decision allowed me to create a more professional and comfortable experience for my clients and gave me the space I needed to grow. Investing in myself, my business, and my education has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Pretty Dee’s Glam is more than a makeup brand—it’s a reflection of my journey, my growth, and my passion for making others feel beautiful. I’m excited for what’s to come, and I truly believe that with hard work, faith, and continued dedication, this business is just getting started.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! My name is Derricka, and I’m the founder and makeup artist behind Pretty Dee’s Glam, a beauty brand dedicated to enhancing natural beauty through soft, clean, and confidence-boosting makeup looks. My journey into the beauty industry started long before I made it official. Growing up, I always loved makeup. In middle and high school, I started experimenting with white eyeliner and mascara, and by high school, I was doing eyeshadow and eyeliner for all the cheerleaders before our games. That early passion never left—I just kept growing with it.

In college, I became even more interested in developing my skills, learning from peers and practicing as much as I could. When I look back now, I laugh at some of the looks—my blending was off and my eyebrows were all over the place—but it was all part of the process. After college, I began paying makeup artists to do my makeup for events. The cost added up quickly, and that motivated me to start doing my own makeup. I taught myself through YouTube tutorials, online research, and lots of trial and error.

Eventually, I started doing makeup for others out of my home. Clients loved the results, but I knew I wanted to get better. I’ve always had a vision for natural glam—makeup that enhances, not hides. I want my clients to feel like the best version of themselves. About three months ago, I invested in myself by taking a professional class with BaelynnTheMUA on Instagram. That class was a turning point for me. I learned placement techniques that helped me create cleaner, more polished looks. Now, I can take unfiltered pictures of my work from any angle and feel confident in the quality.

What sets Pretty Dee’s Glam apart is my focus on authenticity and care. I specialize in soft, natural glam—elevating my clients’ beauty without masking who they are. I don’t rush the process. I listen to what each person wants and make sure they leave my chair feeling beautiful and seen.

One of the things I’m most proud of is recently moving my business into a professional salon space, where I now work out of my godmother’s shop. This change allowed me to take my business to the next level and offer a more welcoming and professional experience. It was scary stepping out on faith, but it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

To anyone reading this, I want you to know that Pretty Dee’s Glam is built on passion, growth, and a deep love for making people feel good in their own skin. I’m excited for what’s next, and I truly believe that my brand is about to take off in a major way. I’m here to help you look and feel like the most confident version of yourself—and I’m just getting started.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been a combination of consistency, faith, and authentic connection. Posting every day on Instagram has played a huge role in building my visibility and showcasing my work. Social media allows people to see the quality of my makeup, my style, and the growth in my skills. I’ve learned that being active online helps people trust you as a professional—even before they meet you.

Word of mouth has also been incredibly powerful. When clients leave satisfied, they tell their friends, family, and followers, and that kind of genuine support has helped my business grow naturally. I also make it a point to promote myself—whether it’s sharing my work online, talking about my services in person, or just being confident in what I offer.

But beyond the business tactics, what’s truly kept me going is my faith. I pray over my business, I fast, and I stay patient even when things are slow. There have been moments where I felt discouraged, but I never lost faith in what God has planned for me. I believe that when you combine hard work with spiritual discipline and consistency, the results will come. My journey hasn’t been easy, but every client, every step forward, is a reminder that I’m on the right path.

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

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was not to be discouraged when friends or family didn’t support my business the way I expected them to. In the beginning, it was hard seeing strangers support me more than people I personally knew. I used to take it to heart, thinking maybe my work wasn’t good enough or that I wasn’t doing something right. Over time, I realized that support doesn’t always come from where you expect, and that’s okay. I had to learn to move with grace, keep my focus, and remember why I started.

Another important lesson was to never stop promoting myself—even when business is slow. There were times when I would hold back from posting or marketing because I felt discouraged, but I had to push past that. Consistency is key, and you never know who’s watching.

I also had to learn the importance of investing in myself and not waiting on anyone else to believe in me first. I used to think I needed others to help grow my business, but once I made the decision to invest in my own growth—like taking a professional makeup class and moving into a salon space—things started to shift for me in a big way.

Lastly, I had to stop comparing myself to other makeup artists. I would scroll through social media and feel like my work wasn’t good enough compared to what I saw. But I had to remind myself that everyone starts somewhere, and that there’s someone out there who would love my style and the way I do makeup. I had to focus on perfecting my own craft and building confidence in my own journey.

These lessons helped shape me into the artist and businesswoman I am today. They taught me to trust the process, stay grounded, and never stop believing in the value of my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/80ad7d0a?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKj-lVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp80fBpBdFQSmmRSYr5Zs7By08jvKeT3GmUbs8kgJsjzIEGG9BUkP6Q-hflyK_aem_Gc6FDx07DmywvSwyruFYsw
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettydeeglam?igsh=MWQ2NmVpc3F6a2Rydg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr