We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hailee Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Hailee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
My whole life, I’ve never really taken the traditional approach to things. I am neurodivergent, so even traditional schooling wasn’t for me. I was smart and got good grades, but the environment wasn’t one I thrived in. This alone made me realize that a traditional path to a career (ie, college) wasn’t going to be for me. I also knew I didn’t want the constraints of a 9 to 5 or to answer to a boss. I’ve always been an artist and a creative, so that’s exactly what I pursued. I graduated high school at the age of 16 (thanks to charter/online schooling) and immediately started training under and assisting a professional makeup artist. From there I moved to Los Angeles right when I turned 18 and went to a makeup trade school. I knew I wanted to be a makeup artist, and so I dove in head first to learn everything I possibly could. I started freelancing as a makeup artist at 18 and did that on and off for the next 10 years. In 2023, I started creating content about makeup and beauty and sharing what I know. That led to me becoming a UGC creator and full time content creator, while still using all of my makeup expertise. I am so happy that I followed my gut and pursued this artistic path. It has been very hard at times, but I wouldn’t change a thing. It has made so many of my dreams come true, and I swear it gets better everyday.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’ve always been an artist and was drawn to makeup and beauty from a very young age (think stealing mom’s lipstick at 4 years old). I didn’t even know being a makeup artist was a real career path until I was about 16, and at that time I immediately started pursuing it. I started training under and assisting a professional makeup artist and once I was 18 I went to a makeup trade school. I then went on to be a makeup artist for the next 10 years, before getting into content creation. I am now a full time content creator focusing on beauty and makeup. It is my passion to share my expertise, as well as informing the consumer about products. I like to think that my authenticity and years of experience set me apart from others. I have trained under some of the best artists in the world (Academy Award Winners) and have so much to share.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
As I previously mentioned, I was a makeup artist for many years. When the pandemic happened, there wasn’t much work available for me as a makeup artist, as it is a very intimate job where you are face to face with people and there are sanitary concerns. At this time, it became very clear to me that while I loved doing makeup and still had a huge passion for art and beauty, I wanted a career that didn’t require me to physically show up somewhere and interact in person with others. I had already been curious about content creation, but it became something much more serious to me at this point. I realized I could still be a part of the beauty community and share my knowledge/passion for makeup, while being able to work from the comfort of my home or even while traveling the world. So I pivoted completed into being a content creator, and am so happy about that choice. I may still do makeup artistry in person at some point down the line, but this is the perfect fit for me at this point in my life.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing others resonate with your work. It is the most incredible feeling to put your heart and soul into a creative endeavor and to have others connect with it. It is an incredible part of the human experience in general, and it’s just so meaningful to know you’re not the only one who feels this way or who can relate to this experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ugcbyhailee.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haileejonesmua?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haileejonesmakeup
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haileejonesmua/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@haileejonesmua?si=lOgdQYDFsIMRleDP
- Other: https://pin.it/1Lz1OsaqJ
Image Credits
Actor’s Choice Photography by James Pratt
Cinema Makeup School
Disney Channel