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

Stephanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I have been a makeup artist for years now and at first taking on makeup jobs or set work was something I did on the side. For the longest time it was how I was making extra money outside of a traditional sort of job. And in the last 2 years it has become my only source of income. At first I was nervous about going out on my own and managing myself, my work, everything and it is still a bit scary at times when work is slow but I always make it work! I am grateful for the connections I’ve made and the clients who book with me and always return. I would say that the biggest step is actually taking that chance to go independent, and for me that was the hardest part deciding to work 100% for myself without a consistent check or financial stability. I’m glad I took that chance on myself and have been striving and growing tremendously!

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?

I got into the beauty industry many many moons ago. I started cosmetology school right after high school and started working for MAC Cosmetics at the same time. I would say my time at MAC really built the foundation to my artistry and as a now licensed cosmetologist I have a very strong background in both hair and makeup. At first I though me taking an interest in the beauty industry was going to be more of a creative outlet for me because while I was in cosmetology school and working weekends at MAC I was also pursuing my degree. I’ve always been a very studious person, and I wanted to get a bachelors degree in Finical Planning and Business Management (which I did) and thought I would use hair and makeup as a way to put myself through college and enjoy doing it while I was on track for a corporate career. BUT, towards the end of my college career and at the start of my work in the beauty industry I got pregnant with my daughter. While I was scrambling to finish my last semester of college I left MAC and started teaching at a cosmetology school – still doing makeup and hair on the side and I realized that with my daughter coming into the world I was in no financial position to start at a corporate job at minimum wage when I had already started building momentum in the beauty industry making a “livable wage” (at the time). So I finished school graduated from CSUN with a Bachelors Degree as a double major in Financial Planning and Business Management, 3 AA degrees and a whole babygirl! Haha. I continued teaching at the cosmetology school, doing makeup and hair for personal clients and in the salon and eventually went on to manage a small business, POUT Beauty Bar which is where I started to work more and more for myself and am now here an independent artist! It’s been quite an eventful journey but each of these experiences has made me the artist, entrepreneur, business woman, and mother that I have become (:

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I would say that something I wish I would have done more but don’t feel like I had an opportunity to do is assisting other creatives. Assisting other artists, makeup artists and hairstylist ! I love assisting whenever I get the opportunity! But when I started in the industry I was so busy perusing school, having a full time job, and supporting my child that I didn’t feel I was able to assist or collaborate or do “unpaid work” and I feel as though I would have loved to jump on experiences to assist and learn from other well known artists! So I always recommend assisting other professionals if anything at-least for the experience!!!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My number one goal is to have a successful business being an artist, continuously growing, all while finding a harmonious work like balance (: And enjoy every day doing what I love!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: By_amaro
• Other: Email: [email protected]