Meet Nicole Willis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Willis.

Nicole, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started loving makeup as a performer and dancer from an early age. I started dancing at the age of three and continued through college and professionally as a pro cheerleader in the Arena Football League for five seasons. In that time I graduated with a Radio and Television Broadcast degree, got married and was working in corporate HR for a financial institution before I realized my artistic side was not being tapped into…

I found many old teammates, friends, and co-workers asking me to do their makeup for all occasions (and they were paying me???) So, I decided to start under a working makeup artist who studied in Paris and a very prestigious beauty school. She got me my start and I credit Pooja with a lot of my understanding of the wedding industry now. That was over 10 years ago and we still occasionally work together.

My freelance business took off and today allows me the freedom to stay at home with my two children Cameron (7) and Olivia (4). I have an amazing and supportive husband (LJ)that gives me extra confidence when I doubt myself. These things culminated are a force and I’m truly happy to do what I love. I enjoy the before and after the process and how my clients feel going into some of the most important occasions in their life. It’s really special and fulfilling.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been a pretty smooth business and I’ve been really lucky to have such great people in my chair. Is it hard to balance everything…ABSOLUTELY! Wife, Mother, church callings, volunteering at my children’s school, dinner…oh yes and my business. It can be crazy somedays but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I think the best addition was having the makeup I use on my clients available for them after to purchase and receive at home within five to seven days.

I can read/list all the colors/products I used and they can order from there via their phone. It’s kind of like going to the makeup counter and getting everything you need plus a little education on how to apply. But I come to them. Not to mention the videos I post on Instagram/TikTok/YouTube that they can refer to if they forget how to do something.

Please tell us about your business.
Most of this was covered in previous answers but what I will say is that I enjoy what I do and I love people. I’m very social and interacting, learning about people is one of the best parts of my business. I specifically specialize in a makeup look that is glam but in a way that they still feel like themselves.

I want my clients to leave my chair feeling radiant and beautiful. I also don’t want them to feel like they have a 7 layer dip covering their faces and that they don’t resemble themselves. I’d say 99.9% my clients answer to “How much makeup do you usually wear?” is “None” or “Very Minimal”. You can imagine the shock if I went from zero to 100! My style is natural glam, always play up the eyes and make sure my clients feel like their best selves.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have started doing what I loved at a younger age. It was a different time back in the late 90’s early 2000’s. With IG, YouTube, TikTok and many other media platforms available young adults everywhere have opportunities to do things we only dreamed of back then.

Pricing:

• Bride Full Makeup 100$
• Bridesmaid Full Makeup 85$
• Special occasions 85$
• Travel Fee Flat Rate (more than 30 miles) 25$
• Just lashes 12$

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nicolewillismakeup.maskcarabeauty.com/en
• Phone: 4802990050
• Email: nicolewillismakeup@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/nicolewillismakeup/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/nicolewillismakeup/

Image Credit:
Chelsey Slusher (product photos only)

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