We were lucky to catch up with Ellie Cat recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellie, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

Although I do not feel like I am rolling up to my 35th birthday, my career is just now beginning. I still feel as if I am bouncing all over the place, without one clear path regarding what I want to do with my life—going back and forth between all aspects of fashion, beauty, and art while sharing my experiences with others with realistic expectations. I always have said, “You name it, I can do it, and if I can’t. I’ll figure it out.” My career hasn’t always been the most steady and I am most certainly not where I would like to be. I have had the same dream since I was a little girl. I want to be recognized, noticed, and famous, no matter how I have to do it. I just wanted people to recognize who I was and to have a positive influence on those who did recognize me. If you put all of my experience throughout the years onto one resume, I would imagine it would be a pretty lengthy but outdated rap sheet. On paper; my career looks amazing. However, the gaps makes for an unappealing view. Especially in the fashion/beauty industry. I only just recently decided to close the gap in my experience and start filling it with whatever I could. Starting over every time a period of three months or longer, without a booking. Looking back, I definitely wish I started investing my time and energy into my creative career way earlier than I did. I had a habit of letting life get the best of me, letting it take me down abusive paths that no one should have to go through. Now, being on the other side of the storm, advocating for those who share similar stories but may not yet be strong enough to get out. I didn’t have anyone to help guide me, but if I did, maybe I would have been able to close those gaps a lot sooner than now. If I had begun before I ever stopped, the momentum might have never stopped, and who knows where I would be now.

Ellie, 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?

Fashion and beauty in every way shape and form, with realistic expectations and a comedic spin. That is how I live my life. My whole life revolves around this industry in one way or another. From the time I was in elementary school, the other students always told me that I was going to be a fashion designer or makeup artist, living in Los Angeles or New York. Well, they weren’t wrong… for half anyway. I don’t live in either of those cities, yet. I have always felt different than the others. More outspoken, loud, opinionated. And I definitely didn’t have your average childhood either. Growing up in show business, in the middle of the smallest town in Missouri, was completely opposite of the other kids in my class. I was out of town every weekend, sometimes missing a lot of school. My peers didn’t understand or didn’t believe me when I would tell them what I was up to. Thankfully, I have always been one to be outside of the box. I never really cared what they thought and I am still friends with some of those people today. Some of them being my biggest cheerleaders. Having grown up in a tiny town; obviously somewhat of an outcast. Dancing my way through grade school, into modeling and pageants, musicals, TV Appearances, publications, etc. It wasn’t until now that I really understood that if I were to have kept up that momentum all those years ago, I could have done anything. In high school, my love for fashion and beauty really started to shine, and my special effects makeup started and my first two gowns were designed under a local designer. Once I found out how much I loved designing gowns, I partnered with a contestant from Projects Runway (way before he was on the show) for a custom gown collaboration. Learning those skills to network, design, and create in so many different areas at such a young age, led me to where I am now. With more inclusivity and confidence than ever. I am only just beginning, behind the camera, in front of the camera. Sharing my journey through social media, with the most realistic view of every aspect of it.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

For me, I wish I had been able to unlearn how to not fall into abusive patterns when it came to relationships. Being in those relationships hindered me and held me back from doing what I love and pursuing my dreams. It held me back for over a decade. To the point where I didn’t even recognize myself anymore. I was constantly walking on eggshells and molding myself into what they wanted me to be. I wasn’t allowed to be myself, just a robot. Emotional abuse took away my power to love myself, and the physical abuse caused me to be afraid. Both of those combined continued to push me further and further into a hole of what I thought was “normal.” One day, after attending an event that was on my bucket list, I realized I had had enough. Enough of the fighting enough of being buried alive. Now, 4 years later, I no longer walk on eggshells, I make decisions for myself, and my career is no longer dictated by how someone is feeling. It is a great thing to be able to choose myself. Now, I share my experience and my story with others hoping to inspire them to choose themselves.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love the way the finished product speaks. The way someone views what was created. Whether it be the clothes that were designed and styled on the runway or the hair and makeup on the cover of the magazine. Reading comments after posting. Being able to see and be recognized by any finished product speaks volumes. To be able to see what others see and read what they have to say. I love being able to engage and inspire people both in person and on social media while being the realest and most authentic person I can be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ellie-cat.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliecatltd

Image Credits

Manifest Filmworks, Silas