We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marandan Renea a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Marandan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents allowed me to be me, take my own risk and make my own decisions and whoop my own you know what if I made the wrong one

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?

My name is Marandan Renea. I am a licensed cosmetologist and instructor as well as a certified professional make up artist. My love affair with the beauty industry began at the age of six years old doing hair on baby doll heads my mother got for me. My mom worked in the salon when I was younger and I used to be in there with her all day sweeping up hair, doing odds and ends jobs. I would watch the hairstylist for hours, creating something out of nothing and fell in love. I made a decision at that moment, that’s what I wanted to do with my life and seeing the faces of the women being so happy after their services were rendered lit fire under me and I hadn’t even touched a real person yet, so I decided to take up cosmetology in high school. I paid attention to the complaints of clients when I was in the salon, working as a little girl, and applied it to my career for the future I paid attention to things like features, facial shapes, and hair textures to create custom masterpieces for each individual client. My severe attention to detail sent me a part from my competition. I literally thought of everything and left no stone unturned when it came down to the specific look. I stayed in the salon for 12 years of my career now that I am a freelance artist for major companies I carry the same values and distinction into my current career as a hair and makeup artist for All Elite Wrestling (AEW on TNT) Now I am proud to say that I actually take part in creating brands and “the look” for people that are seen in loved by many.

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

I remember when I first started venturing away from the salon and doing work for New York fashion week. One particular time I was actually pregnant with my fourth child with few resources, nor was I getting paid to work the week of shows. With $100 to my name I booked an Airbnb which was only a room in a small basement apartment owned by a couple. A friend of mine gave me her entire child support check totaling no more than $200 for me to survive for seven days. Nauseous but determined I worked every show and did it with Grace ankles swollen. I ate from food trucks and got prices of pizza here and there drink water and conserved as much as I could. Ultimately, I met the right people in the industry. I wowed the biggest names in the industry and gained more exposure. I went into the unknown with no expectations only the desire for more. It paid off.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the freedom. Freedom to be who I am, do what I want, and express myself in only a way that I can. I’m showing my children that you can do what you love and what you love will take care of you. My purpose is very clear and I have not gone without because I blindly follow it without fear. There is only difficulty in the logistics, such as discipline, scheduling, staying the course, etc. but getting the job done is effortless. I’m supplying a life for myself in my family that mouse can only dream of, and that is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist, I have the power to create the future I want.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.themarandanrenea.com
• Instagram: @marandanrenea
• Facebook: Marandan Renea
• Linkedin: Marandan Renea
• Twitter: Marandan Renea2
• Youtube: Marandan Renea

Image Credits
LaReina Shaw