We were lucky to catch up with Larica TheMua recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Larica , thanks for joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

My parents did a lot right, but one of the biggest things they gave me was the confidence to believe I could build something of my own. My dad always encouraged me to think bigger than just being an employee. He would tell me that I had the ability to work for myself, create my own opportunities, and not be afraid to take up space as a business owner. That stayed with me, especially when I started stepping into entrepreneurship as a professional makeup artist.

My mom also played a major role in shaping my values. She taught me the importance of carrying myself with respect, being dependable, and treating people well. In the beauty industry, talent matters, but character matters just as much. I learned early that people remember how you make them feel, not just how good the service was. That is something I carry into every client experience. When someone sits in my chair, I want them to feel seen, comfortable, beautiful, and valued.

Their support has impacted both my life and my career because they helped me see that ownership was possible for me. Becoming a makeup artist and building my business is not just about makeup. It is about freedom, purpose, and creating something my children can watch me build. My parents gave me the foundation to be confident, hardworking, and intentional, and those same morals guide how I run my business today.

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 background and context?

I am a professional makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur based in Cordova, Tennessee. My journey in the beauty industry started from a genuine love for helping women feel confident, polished, and beautiful, but over time it grew into something much bigger than makeup. In 2020, I opened my own salon suite, and that experience introduced me to the business side of beauty in a deeper way. I had other beauty professionals working in my suite, including nail techs, braiders, and body sculpting specialists. I also collaborated with different people in the beauty industry, which helped me build relationships, learn from others, and understand how powerful community can be when entrepreneurs support one another.

Today, I provide professional makeup services for women who want to look and feel their best for special events, photoshoots, birthdays, weddings, content days, and everyday confidence moments. My goal is not just to apply makeup, but to create an experience where my clients feel comfortable, seen, and cared for. I believe beauty services are personal. A client is trusting you with their face, their time, and sometimes even their confidence, so I take that seriously.

What sets me apart is that I understand both the creative side and the business side of the beauty industry. I have learned that talent is important, but consistency, professionalism, communication, and relationship-building are just as important. Some of my most loyal clients have found me simply by searching for local makeup artists on social media, which showed me how important it is to document my work, stay visible, keep practicing, and keep showing up even when business feels slow. Success in this industry does not always happen overnight. Some people may come in the game hot, but long-term success comes from staying consistent, improving your craft, adapting to trends, and continuing to build trust with your audience and your clients.

I am also inspired by entrepreneurship in my family. My mom recently opened a full beauty and barbershop in Texas, and seeing her continue to build has motivated me even more. I am currently working on building my own salon suite concept where other beauty professionals and entrepreneurs can come in, rent their own space, grow their businesses, and collaborate together. I want to create an environment where we are not just working beside each other, but helping each other expand our clientele, share ideas, and grow within the industry.

One of the main things this business has taught me is that you have to be willing to evolve. You have to stay open to new ideas, keep up with the market, pay attention to trends, network, carry yourself professionally, and always look for ways to improve. You cannot be afraid to talk to people, promote yourself, pass out business cards, post your work, and build a real portfolio. Beauty is creative, but it is also business, and I have learned to treat it like both.

What I am most proud of is that I never limited my vision to just doing makeup. I see my brand as something that can create opportunities, build relationships, and eventually provide space for other entrepreneurs to grow too. I want potential clients and followers to know that when they support my business, they are supporting a woman who is passionate about her craft, serious about her growth, and committed to creating a beauty experience rooted in confidence, professionalism, and community.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been social media and word of mouth. Social media has given me my biggest reach because it allows people to see my work, my personality, my consistency, and the type of experience I provide before they ever sit in my chair. Some of my most loyal clients have found me simply by searching for a local makeup artist online or seeing my work shared by someone else.

Word of mouth is also powerful and sometimes underrated. You never know what rooms your name is being mentioned in, so I believe in treating every client well and making every appointment count. A happy client can turn into a repeat client, a referral, or the reason someone else decides to book with you.

One thing I have learned is that consistency wins. You have to post your work, document your process, show up even when the likes are low, and keep going even when it feels like nobody is watching. In the beauty industry, people want to see that you are active, dependable, professional, and constantly improving. You do not have to wait until everything is perfect to promote yourself. If people see that you are consistent, serious about your craft, and proud of your work, they will start to trust you enough to book your services.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn is that trust alone is enough when it comes to business. In the beginning, I thought that if I had a personal relationship with someone, whether it was a friend, family member, or someone I genuinely cared about, that would automatically make working together easier. Over time, I learned that business still needs structure, even when love, friendship, or familiarity is involved.

The backstory is that I have collaborated with different people in the beauty industry, and I have also allowed people I knew personally to come into my business space. In one situation, I let a friend work in my salon suite without having a clear contract or written agreement in place. Looking back, there were red flags that I overlooked because of our friendship. I trusted the relationship more than I protected the business, and eventually the situation ended badly. It taught me a hard but necessary lesson about boundaries, discernment, and professionalism.

Now I understand that when you bring someone into your business, you have to protect yourself legally, financially, and mentally. Everything should be clearly communicated and put in writing. Expectations, payments, responsibilities, schedules, and boundaries need to be understood from the beginning. That does not mean you do not trust people. It means you respect the business enough to protect it.

I also had to learn that the best business relationships are not always with the people closest to you. Sometimes the best collaborations come from people who are business-minded, like-minded, professional, and able to respect the vision without taking things personally. You do not have to be best friends to create something great together. You just have to communicate well, respect each other’s role, and show up with the same level of seriousness.

That experience helped me grow. It taught me not to ignore red flags, not to let familiarity replace structure, and not to allow personal relationships to pull me off track. In business, you have to be kind, but you also have to be wise. You have to be open to collaboration, but strong enough to protect your vision. That lesson changed how I move as an entrepreneur.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: niorfemmebeauty
• Facebook: Wild Strawberri

Image Credits

Professional photos where taken by @shotchavisuals on instagram. the last photo was taken by me on my iPhone.