We were lucky to catch up with Anhisha Cooper recently and have shared our conversation below.

Anhisha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

Beauty, Fashion two industries that rack in billions of dollars each year. Continuous change to what’s new, trending and relevant. But how is it that a billion dollar industry is over saturated and many artists go unnoticed?

Hi my name is Anhisha, I’m a professional makeup artist located in Miami, Florida.
I have been in the makeup industry for 8+ years now as a professional freelance makeup artist and content creator.
Initially when I started makeup I wasn’t taking it serious and didn’t think I would turn this into a career.

The start of my career was a lot of unknown, learning, long nights of research, trying to be relevant and a lot of self reflection & criticism. I faced many challenges in my own personal and career wise. Being a makeup artist isn’t easy. You have to provide skill, knowledge, customer service and communication skills day in and day out when it comes to clients, events and gigs.

The biggest challenge in my option is exposure. Currently the industry is overly saturated and everyone in some shape or form interacts with makeup. With that being said, you would figure being in the industry for this amount of time I would have over 10k followers, brand deals and everything that is showcased when you see the title “Makeup Artist.”

We’ll sorry to bust your bubble but no. I sit at 2.6k followers, even with my years of talent, knowledge, working for a big name company that trended constantly I still struggle with exposure. Many times. I felt it could be the location that Miami just isn’t a makeup thriving type place but you constantly see models, events that showcase makeup.

Profitably comes with clients. Clients comes with who you know and who you know comes from word of mouth. When your showcasing things online, in person and you still are unnoticed you start to think it’s you (the makeup artist).

To those starting out, I would suggest to constantly promote, get your name out there and push as hard as you can to the point people are sick of hearing your mentioned for even simple events.

Now I know your wondering, Anhisha why didn’t you do that? Why don’t you take your own advice. Sad thing is I have. But for some reason I’m at a stand still when it comes to exposure and support. I’m constantly in research mode, spending on Ads and really pushing my name out there but nothing is sticking.

Also, there has to be an understanding I’m not in this industry for the money, fame, or materialistic things. I do makeup and choose it as a career because I literally live, love , breathe makeup. Everyone that has meet me knows I’m a makeup artist and the biggest makeup lover in their circle. I’m constantly the go to person when it comes to products and product knowledge and honestly that makes me happy.

My artistry is my child and I will continue to thrive in my own way even with no exposure or profitability. I always find a way to make sure I can continue my career/ craft and so should you.

Anhisha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Anhisha, I go by Candiiexo or RmoCandiieMakeup.

I started makeup in 2010 (high school) and didn’t know anything about it, didn’t know what blending was besides the things I learned in art class, didn’t know nothing about brows, lashes. All I knew was L.A Color Pigment & Eyeliner.

With time I got better, by 2011-2012 I was able to blend colors and really showcase my makeup and people knew me for my makeup.

I was always into art as a kid and my parents made sure I stood busy weather it was art or swimming. But the one thing I’m grateful for is they embraced my artistry. No one in my family is artistic so how did I get this gift is just a me and god thing.

I have grown a lot since 2010 and took a leap of faith in 2018 when attending beauty school to become a sate certified aesthetician. After that, I pushed myself daily to do events the school was hosting. Pushed my artistry to different levels outside of the industry standards. Everyday for 3 years after work at my 9-5 at Best Buy (10 years I worked for) I would do my makeup, go on Facebook live and do tutorials.

During that time all we had was YouTube & Facebook, then later Instagram to showcase our craft. When it comes to craft, I’m what you call a “colorist,” meaning I specialize in colorful makeup. I love color.

I didn’t know I would be standing here today saying I don’t work a 9-5 and that makeup is my full-time job. But it happened, I took another leap this year in March and left the retail world for good. I felt it was necessary because working a 9-5 and your dreams can be hard to balance especially in retail and I would at times in my life put makeup (the one thing that brought me happiness) on the back burner.

I suffered by doing that. I became depressed more so after my mothers passing and I didn’t have an outlet because I pushed makeup away. I pushed gaming away. I pushed everything I loved away because I was hurting.

If you love something and you know your good at it. Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Don’t put it on the back burner because everyday you do you will wish you didn’t. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that mental strain like I did for many years.

What are my tips to people getting into the industry?
1. Get your state aesthetician certification to ensure you understand skin, infection control.
2. Invest in yourself. Take master classes, courses. Always elevate yourself so you stand out professionally.
3. Don’t settle! If you feel your worth $125 for a makeup look then stick to it. Don’t low ball yourself just for the money, take pride in your craft. You worked hard to cost that much.
4. Your kit is not a reflection of you and your talent! You can buy the most expensive of the cheapest products all that will matter is how you use them and if your knowledge is there on how to use them.
5. Your the best advertisement! Even if your going to the grocery store , go with a bear face, business cards or a business scan QR code/ Popl and let people know your a makeup artist. If you see someone with their makeup done ask who did their makeup, and proceed to let them know your a makeup artist and if they every want to get their makeup done you can do that for them.
6. Don’t expect people close to you to always support you or go hard for you. (This on is a tough pill to swallow but remember not everyone in your circle will promote you or rock with you.)

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

At the time, I was working at Best Buy. I’m a workaholic so I would put in 12 hour shifts just to make extra money to buy makeup. When I first started makeup, I was buying drug store makeup. But then with time, I started buying products from Sephora and brands I would find on Instagram.

Money comes and goes. I have worked very hard to fund all my makeup wants. I have easily invested over 20k+ in makeup. Not all at once but over time.

You don’t have to own every trending item. You can find dupes but how ever much you put into your passion is always an investment you can get back later from your own hard work.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My audience started on Facebook and it was mostly people from middle & high school and eventually family. In 2017 I stated my Instagram but didn’t really put in the work to make it my main focus of showcasing my work.

Currently in 2023, social media is popular and it’s in our everyday lives and routines now. With my research, the best way to build a social media will require these key things

1. Quality work vs quantity
2. Engagement with those who post similar content to you and those to comment on your work
3. Tutorials , How To, any credible knowledge helps the next person
4. Be your biggest supporter and hype person
5. DONT COMPARE yourself to others

Contact Info:

• Website: https://candiiexo.as.me/schedule.php
• Instagram: Instagram.com/candiiexo
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@candiiexomakeup?_t=8bsT0hdy4E6&_r=1

Image Credits
All Photography & Makeup Credits To Anhisha Cooper/ RmoCandiieMakeup