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

Shakeeta, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

In my late 20s, I decided that I wanted to do something more with my makeup looks when I went to special events or occasions. So I went to my sister for some makeup tips and it started there with me. My love for makeup grew from enhancing my eyebrows to trying different eyeshadow looks. Then one day, a friend of mines loved my makeup so much that she asked me to do hers. When I saw the look on her face when she looked in the mirror it brought joy to me. Knowing that I could bring joy to women by beautifying them ignited my creative juices. From then on, I knew this was the path for me. When I was a younger I had low self esteem and didn’t know my worth. So being that girl made me realize in this journey how i don’t want any girl/woman to feel that way about themselves if i can help it. My goal is to not only enhance the beauty outside but show women that their beauty resides inside as well.

Shakeeta, 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?

I am freelance makeup artist. I started my business in 2021. I provide makeup services for any occasion or event. I started my own business because I wanted to not only beautify women, but also give them any tips on how to apply makeup correctly and precisely. Being a MUA is not just about making somepe pretty, it’s about the impact that you make once that client sits in the chair. Customer satisfaction matters to me. Sometimes I have clients who sit in silence or maybe some who just had a really hard day, week or month and need someone to talk to or get advice. Being a make-up artist sometimes goes past the chair. I am proud of my work every time my client face lights or maybe even gets emotional when they see an enhanced version of themselves. I want my clients to always trust that before they leave my chair they will love not just their makeup but feel more confident and full of joy.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Yes! Starting a business can be scary. Especially when alot of other business are in the same business that you are in. That was where my fear came in. Not feeling that my craft was good enough and that I would fail. But that’s thing that about failing, you have a choice to either failure or keep going. In the makeup industry I learned alot about who I could go to for advice or mentoring and who I couldn’t. I learned who was for me and who was against me. When I learned of those who weren’t in my corner like I thought, it hurt and it hurt bad. Many days/nights I cried, but I kept going and I kept praying. I kept creating, I kept putting my name out there WITH tears in my eyes. I…kept…going. It takes alot of strength, but I knew with God on myself side that I could do all things.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is simply..to enhance the beauty of simple client that I service. Not just the outside, but the inside as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: Enhancingyoubykcole.godaddysites.com
• Instagram: Eubykcole
• Facebook: Enhancing You by KCole
• Other: Tiktok: @kcole4ya

Image Credits
Professional photo of Interviewee by Timethy Miller Photography