Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Courtney Mony. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Courtney, thanks for joining 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.
The biggest risk I ever took was moving to Seattle from Arizona with no plan. Seventeen years ago, a friend and I saved for a few months and decided to go for it, even though we didn’t know where we’d live or work. The drive itself took almost a week because we got stuck in a snowstorm and ended up spending most of our savings on hotels and regrouping.
When we finally arrived, we found an apartment within a day and both picked up jobs at coffee shops while we figured out next steps. I eventually enrolled in esthetics school, earned my license, and worked my way into editorial and commercial makeup and hair. While working on the cover of InStyle, I was introduced to cosmetic tattooing, and that changed everything.
Today, I own my own permanent cosmetics business, specializing in brows and natural enhancements. That leap taught me that I can figure things out as I go, trust myself, and build something meaningful from uncertainty.
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?
Hi, I’m Courtney Mony, a licensed esthetician and permanent makeup artist based in Seattle. I’m originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, and earned my esthetics license from Penrose Academy in 2012. I’ve always had a love for makeup, which eventually led me to dive deeper into skincare and pursue professional training.
After graduating, I worked for Chanel as a skincare consultant and had the opportunity to train in both New York and San Francisco. From there, I moved into editorial and commercial makeup artistry. One of the highlights of my career was being part of the makeup team for a beauty issue cover of InStyle Magazine, working alongside celebrity makeup artist Erin Skipley of Contour and Ink.
Erin introduced me to the world of permanent beauty, and after training with her in Seattle, I began specializing in cosmetic tattooing. For the past six years, I’ve been working out of the Contour and Ink studio, offering services including brow enhancements, lip blushing, supernatural freckle tattoos, Procell Microchanneling, and even cosmetic teeth whitening.
I live in Seattle with my two cats and feel lucky to be surrounded by an incredible community of friends. My family is still in Scottsdale—where I have three sisters and seven amazing nieces and nephews. When I’m back visiting, I also provide permanent makeup services for clients, friends, and family. Currently, I’m working on expanding my reach with pop-ups at tattoo shops and local markets.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I built my audience on social media very organically. I focused on connection and trust rather than numbers. I shared my work and the process behind it which includes education, healing, and what clients could expect. I think people connected with the authenticity and the realness.
My advice for anyone starting out:
• Show up consistently
• Let your personality be part of your brand
• Don’t aim for perfection, aim for honesty
• Focus on providing value, not just “content”
A small, engaged audience that trusts you is far more powerful than a large one that doesn’t.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me has always been referrals. When someone has a great experience and feels confident in their results, they naturally want to share that with the people they care about. That kind of trust-based growth is something you can’t fake. It comes from consistency, care, and building real relationships. I’m really grateful that most of my business has grown through word of mouth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://courtneybeautyink.square.site/
- Instagram: @courtneybeautyink
- Other: TikTok: @courtneybeautyink
