We were lucky to catch up with Porsha Shelton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Porsha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The first dollar I earned was from my first client. It’s a day that I’ll never forget! Her name was Tara and she had contacted me to see if I was available for her to book an appointment. Without a second thought I immediately said yes. I’d been praying for this day to arrive and it was finally here. I was so stoked! When she arrived I quickly got started. I just remember the blissful feeling I had while doing her makeup. I was on cloud 9 from start to finish. The end result was beautiful and most importantly she loved her makeup. She had even invited me to her event in which I was more than honored to attend. It also gave me the opportunity to scope out how my makeup application sustained and looked in photographs which is key as a Makeup Artist. She looked stunning. I kept glancing over at her, admiring my work. It was such a proud moment for me. It was definitely the confirmation I needed that I was praying for. I’d finally found MY purpose! The very next day I won the grand prize at a makeup class I attended and was offered a job at an exclusive makeup studio. The opportunities have been abundant ever since.

Porsha, 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’m a PRO Makeup Artist with over 7 years of experience. I provide a luxury beauty experience for my clients. I specialize in makeup for beauty, editorial, bridal and special occasions. My brand stands for bringing out your true beauty and confidence from within. My clients have expressed to me that they thoroughly enjoy their sessions with me. Some even call it makeup therapy. If you’ve ever graced my chair you know that we will definitely share some good laughs and conversations. We will always depart gaining something new from one another. I feel what sets me apart from others is that I’ve also sparked a major interest in photography and videography. I’ve been inspired by working alongside my fellow entrepreneurial peers on different sets. It’s such a huge compliment when a director or photographer tells me that my work looks great on film. I figured, why not give it a try? I’ve always loved taking photos and videos of my work so why not embark on a new journey and expand my brand. I love what I do but I also want people to know that hard work is required. You have to put in the work and the time. As in any industry, in order to remain relevant and acheive continued success I believe you must God 1st. Pray. Map out a detailed plan. Believe it in. Set goals and boundaries. Focus. Sacrifice. Educate yourself. Have a mentor. Keep successful and supportive people on your team. Stay positive. Don’t give up. Stay disciplined. Be consistent. Be personable. Remain open to learning new techniques to perfect your craft. Lastly, have a thorough understanding that client care and customer service should be your #1 priority. Maya Angelou said it best “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

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

A story that I would say illustrates my resilience would be if it wasn’t for makeup I wouldn’t be here today. Before becoming a Makeup Artist I felt so unaccomplished and unfullilled. Although I was already serving Active Duty in the United States Navy I didn’t feel I was doing enough. I was doing very well in the military, receiving awards and recognition for my hard work but I didn’t feel like I was making a difference. I had traveled all over the world and still felt something was missing. No one knew during that time that I was silently battling depression. Makeup happened and it immediately pulled me out of it. I’d found the fulfillment I’d been searching and praying for. It gave me further reason to keep going. Each client I have continues to remind me of my resilience. If I had decided to give up and check out, I would’ve never had the opportunity to see the beautiful places or network with the amazing people I have through doing makeup. Makeup is so powerful. It tells a story. I’ve overcome and conquered obstacles over the years by the power of makeup and how therapeutic it is to me. My art heals.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being a Makeup Artist aside from the connections are the referrals. To think someone loved your work enough to share your information with someone else is awesome. To even be recognized for my artistry like “Porsha did her makeup.” is so cool to me. I meet some amazing and talented people on a day to day basis and to know they were referred or referred others is a true blessing. You never know who’s watching you!

Contact Info:

• Website: styleseat.com/porshashelton2
• Instagram: @globyporsha
• Other: – E-Book: The GLO Recipe | globyporsha.gumroad.com – Email | globyporsha@gmail.com