We were lucky to catch up with Elicia Criss recently and have shared our conversation below.

Elicia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Being a woman at anytime involves some level of taking chances. Literally because of all the stressors of: am I smart enough, am I pretty enough, am I strong enough, or am I enough. So owning a business can sometimes increase those anxieties or dispels them..

I find myself in this weird space of can I, should I, and dammit I am. Although I have been poured into by some great women, I’m still sometimes caught in that space. My circle of wives, mothers, full/part time grinders, hustlers and friends give me the swift kick in the butt to take that risk! To be at the point I am today it took encouragement from one of my biggest supporters, my sister, without her role I would’ve never begin in makeup. Because of her I was introduce to makeup royalty. From that point the Mocca makeup and skincare Queen herself took me under her wing, and from there I learned about what being a business owner took. Learning and making moves to chase your passion is a sacrifice of time with friends and family which is a risk of losing your support circle. So finding balance is key. Through this chase I have met many more icons and legends in the making that all have supported me or my business. Right now business is going strong and steady. I’m honing my skills gaining new clients and soon looking to take the next biggest risk of starting another business that will empower, promote, and bring attention to other minority owned beauty brands.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clientele for me is actually my current clients. My current clients feel comfortable, confident, and cared for when they are in my chair, and they want to share that experience with their friends and family.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

This journey hasn’t always been this smooth or easy. At one point and time in the beginning my husband didn’t understand why I wanted to get into the makeup industry. To him it was a hobby that was taking away from family time, and it cause a strain on our marriage. Until my husband saw my clients and how beautiful they looked and felt did he understand that I love what I do and it is not a phase. If I had not kept pushing and balancing I would not be where I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.crownedbycriss.biz
• Instagram: @crownedbycriss
• Facebook: Crowned by Criss LLC