Today we’d like to introduce you to Mercedes Small.
Mercedes, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
At the age of 23, I realized that I didn’t want to be known as a model and I was exhausted with trying to lose inches from my hips (which didn’t happen no matter how many laps I swam). Flashing back to high school, I would always buy lip gloss and colorful eyeliners at the beauty supply stores, I loved my art classes, unbeknownst to me that love and obsession would turn into a career 5 years later. I started with doing makeup on friends while working in retail moving up to working with models for a very lovely place called L & A Healing studio, my “kit” was almost all drug store products stored in zip lock baggies and carried in a ratty old suitcase. (I’m judging myself enough for you all by the way). Fast forward to today and I am a full-time hair and makeup artist working for Anastasia Beverly Hills, Make Up For Ever, Factor Artists as well as having my own expanding clientele.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely has not been a smooth road at all. I struggled to work 2 jobs to build my kit, there was a time when I didn’t have hot water or heat in the winter due to having terrible landlords. I was showering at the gym, I got pneumonia and was hospitalized for several days. Upon moving to Rogers Park from Park Manor, I was fired from a job that offered stability, so I did photos shoots and printed business cards that very weekend in March of 2016, I decided that was my time.
I wound up working at a bar which allowed me to work as an artist and keep bills paid until the environment initiated a sudden decline in my health as I have an arrhythmia. Five months into that job, I had an episode where I was having palpitations, pains and I couldn’t breathe. The owners didn’t have the air conditioning on a 98 degree summer day with a full house lack of full staff. I was honestly terrified to go back, one month later, I underwent surgery to have a pacemaker implanted. I felt sorry for myself, I was angry that I couldn’t do anything for myself and I had to move back home with family for some time before I could find stability. In that time I worked tirelessly working on unpaid test shoots to build my portfolio, finding paid work where I could and not wanting to work a regular job as I knew it would take away from my opportunities as an artist.
In 2017, things were really starting to happen for me. People knew who I was and enjoyed my work or at least it’s progression. I had just launched my website after working on it for 3 months and then boom, I miscarried after finding out and sharing with a family that my partner and I were expecting. I was a wreck, I stayed in bed for almost 3 weeks and the idea of doing makeup was the only thing that pushed me to come out of hiding but I was still in a rut that took months to recover from. I stopped getting requests to work from Tom Ford but I was hired by Factor Chosen Model Management is now known as MP Management. I went from being depressed and bursting into tears at random to feeling like I had a purpose again. I remind myself when things get tough that our angel didn’t pass in vain and that pushes me to work my ass off in everything that I do.
Sometimes, I look back and wonder how in the world I’m still going but there’s really no other option.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I offer makeup services for all occasions to men, women, and children. I specialize in commercial and special events makeup. I am known mostly for my gentle nature and care when handling clients and my clean beauty makeup looks. I’m most proud of that fact that my clients have become great friends and that in my first 2 years of business I more than doubled my income. What sets me apart from other Makeup Artists is my need to never become too comfortable or stagnant in my career. I’m always pushing myself to achieve greater and I will always treat my clients with respect and handle them with care. I hate hearing about clients’ previous experiences where someone was rough, disrespectful, smelled like cigarettes, etc. I enjoy making my clients feel good, offering light hand, neck or face massages when I see clear discomfort. I think that being a Makeup Artist is about more than creating a beautiful makeup look. It’s also about being sanitary with products and listening to your client’s needs.
What were you like growing up?
As a kid, I was always into the arts, I wrote short stories and poetry all the time, I loved to sing and play video games. I was a bit timid and shy but grew to be very outspoken. I remember playing the violin an cello in grammar school, we played for the queen of Liberia. In high school, I was head of the drama team, I loved playing with colorful eyeliners and altering old clothing into new styles. I always found something to get into.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.masmakeupartistry.com
- Phone: 763-445-0429
- Email: info@masmakeupartistry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masmakeupartistry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MASMakeupArtistry/
Image Credit:
Ian Mclaren Photography, Katherine Rousonelous, Alyssa L. Evan & Emily Perigo, Tsuna. Evan & Emily Perigo, Oona. Mark Serrano, Gabija Gauskaite. Sarah Paul, Royal Princess Parties LLC. Dalibor Tolevski, Megan Meilke, Maggie Krebs. Michelle Cox, Kensington Events, Kamilla B. Evan & Emily Perigo, Robb Gordon Miller
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
