We recently connected with Aisha White and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Aisha, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk in life that I took when my position was eliminated from my job I worked for 15 years. Not a risk, no, but the next step was. I had to decide if I would get another job in a similar industry and potentially risk this happening again or take a risk and go out on my own. I went with the latter. And wow has it been a ride. Best risk I have ever taken. I have taken control of my destiny and my talents.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have always enjoyed makeup. Whether it was on someone else, in a magazine or on myself. it has always facilitated me. I wasn’t allowed to wear any makeup until I was about 16 years old and then it was only allowed in the most minimal form. Mascara, lower eyeliner and lip smackers lipgloss. Probably why I was obsessed with it. When I was 18 I could wear a bit more haha which is funny cause aren’t we free/adults at 18. I begged my mom to take me San Jose’s Valley fair mall to buy makeup from Mac cosmetics. We had recently moved to the Central Valley so it was about 1.5 hours to San Jose. She complied and I was hooked. I had just gotten back from a college tour in Atlanta and one of the girls had some Mac makeup, I was so intrigued and needed to have it. My first Mac purchase was a NW45 (still my color) studio fix powder, chestnut lip pencil and icon lipstick. As years passed I would buy drugstore makeup here and there but always saved my money to buy a mac eyeshadow, mascara and my studio fix. I remember going to the Mac counter/store and seeing the working artists and saying to myself I want to grow up and be just like them. I have always been very visual so when I went to shop at Mac I would see a look on one the artists that I liked and I would ask what they used to achieve that look. I would buy it and head home with so much excitement and try my best to recreate it. I did that for so many years. I later became one of the mac artists and worked for the company for 15 years.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of my creative career is making ppl happy within themselves. At times we can feel down about our outer appearance weight, skin hair whatever it is it happens to most of us. So to be able to come in not only with my artistic talent but I try to keep an uplifting positive attitude with all that I encounter so it’s much more than makeup and art. It’s empowering someone to love themselves and at times it works in the other direction where the client has inspired and empowered me.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I had to pivot. I had to embrace social media! WOW this was so hard for me. I knew my career with mac had become stagnant and I needed to start looking for next steps. The first step I made was getting an IG. And I was terrible and terrified. It was like walking into the scary house on the corner and night and alone. It was a huge pivot because I had always relied on word of mouth and gaining customers from Mac to fuel my freelance business. But the idea of putting myself and my clients out there just seemed so foreign to me. As all social media did to me at the time. I never even had a “MySpace” 🤣 I got an IG account January of 2020. What a huge sign from God that was. The other girls at the counter were like just do it you will get lots of business. In my head I was thinking this is crazy. It’s a bunch of strangers why do they care or want to see me. I was so naive. Thankfully I started the account as I was laid off in July of 2020 and I had a leg up on building my freelance business cause now I was much more savvy at how social media works.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aishasmakeupartistry.com
• Instagram: aishasmakeup_artistry
• Linkedin: Aisha White