We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laurel Mona . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laurel below.

Hi Laurel , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I lived on the island of Oahu, Hawaii I was presented with a chance to shoot with a local photographer on the west side of the island, where you can find Oahu’s most beautiful beaches. From there my love of modeling flourished to now being internationally published, appearing in various fashion shows, working with magazines, along with some on camera acting/modeling. While working as a model here in Florida, I was approached by a photographer in Tampa who appreciated my makeup skills showcased throughout my work as a model. He approached me with the idea of becoming a team, where I would coach his models and become his lead makeup artist for headshots, fashion magazine shoots etc. Although at the time I did not have any formal training, I took a chance and grew my skills working with all types of industry professionals. From there I signed up an a bridal makeup intern with a local bridal company and learned the professional and business side of makeup and worked my first wedding as an official makeup artist. Once finishing the internship I worked freelance, then signed with a local makeup company in Tampa Florida, that I still work with today!

Laurel , 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?

I have always loved anything I can get my hands on creatively. As a hobby I love to paint and draw mostly about things that inspire me through nature. During the week I work as an elementary art school teacher, and then work as a makeup artist and model on the weekends. When I’m creating, I am happy! This love of art came from my incredible mother, who was a Waldorf educator for 30 years which is an education philosophy that stems from education through art. As a child, I was exposed to various artistic expressions and am very thankful for those fond memories. The main thing I want my followers to know about me as an artist is that art is the fuel to my soul. I’m not only applying makeup, but I truly am passionate about the art that comes with it. During bridal appointments, the makeup tends to be more soft and subtle, however if when I can come up with the perfect color combination or makeup application that will make your eyes pop or accentuate your beautiful skin and features, that feeling of seeing you light up when seeing the final product lights me up just as much. Bonus points for those beauties that give me full artistic control and tell me- I trust you! I also love a challenge, when a freelance client asks for a more dramatic or avant garde look- and I get to really show my creative side!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When starting out in this industry I was dead set on being a high fashion model. I spent every weekend coming up with concepts, seeking out photographers/shoot locations and doing all my own hair makeup and styling for my shoots. I loved every moment and just like any other industry in the beginning it was an investment of time and money. I truly did love the creative side of planning and executing my ideas and I felt so proud of having my work published, appearing in fashion shows, and overall seeing my ideas and concepts come to life in print. However there came a time that I realized it really exciting to walk in fashion shows and have stacks of magazines with my images in them, however my time and talent wasn’t being compensated as much as I would have hoped. I did eventually sign with some local agencies and worked with companies such as HSN and was booked as a model for Orlando’s makeup show, but I quickly realized that the high fashion work I was looking for was outside of Florida and would require me to move to a city like Los Angeles or New York. I wasn’t a commercial model which is the type of modeling that dominates the Florida market and unfortunately I got a later start with my dream than most models who began their journey in high school. I had a full time job that wasn’t modeling that took up my week days and paid my bills, and wasn’t at the point in my life where I could move to one of those big cities and carry out my dream. This was a harsh reality to swallow for me but at that time makeup artistry came into life and although it’s the other side of the camera, it allows me to showcase my creativity in a different way, and has me booked every weekend making a second income. I feel lucky that things worked out this way, I feel thankful for how things turned out because in that time of uncertainty I met my husband, we bought our home here in Tampa, began teaching art, and I am still booked for jobs through my agencies when I can fit it in to my busy schedule. If I had dropped everything to move to LA and persued modeling, I wouldn’t have met my husband and certainly wouldn’t be where I am today.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

It can be said that I have lived many lives… I began as a server in a restaurant, then worked side gigs while attending the University of Tampa then had the opportunity to live and work in Hawaii as a flight attendant. I worked for 2 years and then had to come home due to some family obligations. I found myself in restaurants again during this time and then had an opportunity to move to Tampa, Fl and use my degree teaching math in Title one schools in Hillsborough county. From there I moved to Saint Petersburg and began working at a startup tech company as a customer service specialist and living the typical 9-5 businesswoman lifestyle. I truly enjoyed it and was very thankful for the experiences it provided me. I also worked part time at the Vinoy Rennaisance resort getting my feet wet with the hospitality industry. From there I found myself back in teaching, where I worked all the way through distance learning during Covid. After 3 years myself and many other teachers were laid off due to budget cuts during this difficult time and that led me to teaching art to small groups of children once the quarentine was lifted. This was something that I really enjoyed and it led me to land a job in Pinellas country where i have worked as the elementary art teacher for the past 4 years at a school that I love. I had always dreamt of being an art teacher, combining my college degree and my love for art into my career and although I took a couple of detours to get here, I am very thankful that I get to express myself creatively and work with students as my career, and then be a working artist doing makeup during the weekend. I feel truly blessed.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.laurelmona.com
• Instagram: @oohlalamakeupartistry & @lalaforlyfe
• Facebook: Facebook.com/oohlalamakeupartistry

Image Credits