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

Ryan , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Choosing the life of a creative is not easy. I often wonder if life would be easier if I just had a regular 9-5. Coming up with concepts, and being consistent while still trying to earn a living is really difficult. sometimes I find myself slipping into depression wondering when Ill have the big break. I’d be lying if I said that I was happy with the choice I’ve made in pursuing my dream, but the thought of working a job that I hate is what keeps me motivated. That, and my son.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Ryan Champion, known as Ryan Marie online. I’m a makeup artist and content creator. I do makeup tutorials and have recently started incorporating lifestyle content to my platforms as well. Im not the most polished content creator, and I may be little more transparent about my journey as a creative with my audience. I’ll always be honest about where I am mentally and share both struggles and triumphs. I started making content as a way to creatively express myself. My love of makeup eventually lead to teaching classes and providing makeup services locally. I am most proud of the art that I have put out into the world through my creative makeup looks online, but I also love being able to help women feel beautiful for their special day or event. Whether that means applying the makeup or teaching women how to apply makeup themselves. I’m also very grateful to World Of Wonder for allowing me to be apart of their production “Painted With Raven”. My experience on that show was one of the most memorable moments in my makeup career.

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

A few months back I was experiencing changes in my mood and body. I soon discovered that have tumor in my pituitary gland. The tumor still remains and I am now working on getting it removed. Dealing with this has effected my drive, my mood, and has often times left me uninspired to create content. Despite this discovery I have keep going and hope to be back to being my creative self after recovery. I refuse to lose everything I built over the past 7 years. I will do whatever it takes to keep myself in the game. if I’ve learned anything over the past few years its that nothing worth having is without sacrifice and hardship. I know that all my hard work will pay off and my time is coming.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Through art, culture is created. The world wouldn’t be anything without art and innovation. We have to support our artist by first respecting what they do and how they contribuute to our society. The time and effort it takes to create art in any form isn’t easy. The ability to create something that makes you feel sad, angry, rebellious ,happy or any other emotion is truly beautiful. Supporting artist by buying their work, and paying them what they deserve to curate content is a good start. Being a working creator online has been extremely difficult over the years. Especially being a black creator. Black creators are constantly being taken advantage of and being unfairly payed or not payed at all. As anyone can imagine, it makes being a full time creator very difficult. I get emails everyday from companies expecting me to curate content for free and I know that I’m not the only one. We have to continue to advocate for all artist from all walks of life, respect their talent, and give them the compensation that they deserve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ryanmariesmakeuplounge.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanmarie__/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryanmarie__

Image Credits
All photos were taken by me.