Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooklyn ‘Niori’ Floyd.
Brooklyn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up, I’ve always had a passion for beauty, art, and fashion. My grandmother (Bessie Floyd) and father (Eric Floyd) have always been trendsetters, great eye for detail, and was up on the latest trends in all walks of life. Due to this, it made a major impact in my life. When visiting both of them on weekends as a young girl my outfits took a major turn straight out of a kids fashion magazine, ready to strut my walk on the runway of the streets. Showcasing the beauty of every piece of clothing that was put together just for me. Grooming played a big part in my life, I’ve experienced going to the hair salons at a very young age. It was very exciting to me watching all the ladies hairstyles come to life in the sense instead of the finished product after all the work was put in. At that very moment, a piece of that memory and passionate rush stuck with me. I started doing hair on my dolls creating all types of styles.
As I got older, in high school, I took a strong interest in art/ design. I loved drawing, also sketching fashion designs. In art class, I was always the one who’s drawings made it to the front of the school’s entryway for display. My father was always a good drawer, therefore, that skill got passed down to me. Halfway through high school, I planned on going to school for art and design but life circumstances changed that path for me. Fast forwarding to just a few years ago as a single mom I was working 3 dead ends jobs trying to make ends meet for me and my daughter. I got to a point where I wanted more, a career so I wouldn’t have to struggle to work 40+ hours a week making ends meet. As time progressed, I spoke to my grandmother about what was going on and me wanting to go back school so I wouldn’t have to be working myself to an early grave. At that moment, I had made my decision left everything behind in Lake County, IL and moved to the North Side of Chicago. My grandmother had taken me and my daughter in, so I could pursue my passion going to school to become a cosmetologist. I attended Truman College for Advanced Cosmetology in 2015.
In the mist of me going to school, I experienced so much, working with celebrities, celebrity hairstylist, and makeup artist. Learning so many different techniques bettering my craft as an artist. I got to work with B.E.T Networks for a Hair Battle in Atlanta, that was an amazing experience. Then, later on, I picked up my true calling for Makeup. I’ve always had interest in makeup but never really took action in doing it for others. When I finished Cosmetology School, I decided I wanted to go to Makeup School to learn more about the art and foundation of makeup. That very moment, I had made up in my mind that this was what I wanted to do as a career. I had faced many difficult challenges along the way trying to work for some major makeup companies. Therefore, I decided to be a traveling makeup artist/hairstylist, trying to get my name out there while building clientele.
Finally, I landed a job with Estée Lauder Clinique, I was with them for a few years as a Regional Freelance Artist. I’ve worked with many other companies as well as gaining so much experience under my belt becoming a Regional Beauty Sales Coordinator with Proactiv too. I’ve tried for so many years to work with MAC Cosmetics but was turned down every chance I got. As of now, I’m an Independent Contractor Freelance MUA traveling to different clients such as photographers for photoshoots, weddings, fashion shows, everyday working client or events. I’m currently a full-time student again in Pre Med School pursuing my minor in the Medical Field. That way income is secured on all ends for me and my family. This has truly been a long journey for me but my time is now and with the help of God all things are possible, success is mine.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has been some struggles, nothing is easy in life whatever you want you to have to put in work to get it. Then, there are the ones who are more fortunate than others who has it made but in my circumstance, this wasn’t my case. The beauty industry is very cut throat, every person for themselves to be honest. There is not a lot of helping hands along the way. I don’t understand why it’s like this but it is. Lots of competition on each end of the block and all in between in the Chicagoland area. It makes it hard for you to get to a certain level as an artist. You can only expand your horizon so far in Chicago. That is another reason why I’m pursuing the Medical field as well. My future goal is to move, so I can go full throttle as a makeup artist maybe become a celebrity artist. I’ve been blessed to have had the opportunity for my work to be featured in many online social media makeup pages, clothing pages and on Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Website. The advice I can give to young ladies is no matter what cards you are dealt make the best out of any situation you are given. It might seem like things are going nowhere because of how long it’s taking to pay off, trust me it will at the end. Trust and believe in what you want, don’t ever let someone take your dreams or desires away from you prove to yourself that you are great, that you too will be successful in your lifetime!
Please tell us about your business.
Every client I sit down with I asked them what kind of makeup style do they like and what’s the most important attribute in the makeup service they want to be the main focus on there face. I always work with the client letting them put there own input on how the face is being made up. It’s also a teaching moment for the client as you go. I strive to enhance a client’s natural beauty, not overloading it with heavy cakey makeup products. I focus on preparing the face with a mini facial using great skin care products as well which sets the face up with a flawless finish plus that boost of picking me up. Those 3 components combined sets me aside from the rest. My specialty/known for is a beautiful Glammed Natural beat face. Majority of the makeup styles I am able to do upon any client request. I’m very proud of how far I’ve come and how my skills have evolved. At times I don’t give myself a lot of praise because I always feel that I could do more. I’m a very humble person, due to my trials and tribulations it’s made me this way.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
No matter what industry you’re in or walk of life females do have to work 10 times harder than a man. I feel that there is still this doubled standard that comes across in any situation you are faced with. There is always something you have to prove to be compiled as worthy in order to be chosen. Leading to females being rivals against each other instead of working together for the same goal. At times, feeling like we are all animals in the jungle looking for our next pray. We all can be great and share the throne!
Pricing:
- Full Face Glam- $60
- Natural Glam- $50
- *Beauty deals $45
- Facial- $45
- Travel Fee- $10+ up
Contact Info:
- Email: ninifloyd@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mizbrooklynny/
Image Credit:
Chris Ross Photography, Marlon Julian
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