We had the good fortune of connecting with Michaeline and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michaeline, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’m pretty sure that most people become more risk averse as they age. It’s funny because I’m the opposite! When I was younger, I was too nervous about the potential consequences of taking risks and thought that venturing even a little bit from my path wasn’t even an option.  With more life experience, I’ve come to admire risk-taking.  I like the process of weighing my options, debating the pros and cons, asking others their opinion and understanding that life doesn’t have to be a straight shot.  My whole career as a makeup artist was built on a leap of faith.  I had no experience as a business owner or friends in the creative field.  I knew that I wanted to succeed and that was enough.  I left my job as an engineer to pursue my passion. I treated it like a do-or-die scenario. I honestly gave myself no option to fail, but of course it was a huge gamble to leave security for a dream.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My art is incredibly sacred to me.  I’m honored that I get to share my creativity for a living and collaborate with other talented artists.  It is something that I greatly treasure, especially because I honored myself most when I took the leap to become a beauty professional. When I’m doing makeup or hair for someone, I’m in the zone and I’m operating at a different frequency than I normally do.  It’s almost like a runner’s high.   

Something that sets me apart from others is the fact that I enjoy doing hair and makeup equally.  I know that many artists gravitate toward doing one or the other, but honestly I love being able to appreciate both arts.  It feels like painting and sculpting.  I’ve studied both, and assisted other accomplished artists in both capacities. I used to feel inferior and looked down upon the fact that I was offering both services and not finding a specialty in one.  But now, I am comfortable and happy to be both a hair and makeup artist!
There isn’t one gig or job that I am most proud of, but rather the cumulation of all of them. They all build on each other.  Perhaps a test shoot I did for my portfolio was something that landed me the big job for Sony.  Or a random “cold-call” email eventually landed me the shoot for Cosmopolitan.  So, I suppose I’m most proud of my perseverance and the will to keep moving forward even when starting from the bottom.  That habit definitely helped me get where I am today.
I’m most excited about all of my recent work with my client Sofia Reyes.  Sofia is an incredible musician, singer, and songwriter.  In the past few months, I’ve been doing her makeup a lot. She has many projects releasing soon, including several music videos, a reality show and brand partnerships.  It’s really a special thing to build a relationship with one client, see their progression, and get to tailor looks just for them. We have been working together for close to 5 years now, and I love the opportunity to grow side-by-side.  Her latest single Echalo Pa’Ca just dropped along with her music video… it’s awesome if you get the chance to check it out on YouTube!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ooooh, ok!  The first thing that comes to mind is the Temescal Canyon hike.  It’s a great workout and you can typically complete it in about 1.5hrs.  The view at the top of the hike is most impressive as you can see from downtown, to all the way down the coast.  Make sure to take some pictures!!  After the hike, I’d stop at Acai Nation in Pacific Palisades for a refreshing acai bowl or smoothie 🙂 Another must-do is Mexican food for an out of town guest.  I love my local Mexican spot – Don Antonios.  They have a bomb skinny margarita and all the traditional favorites.  (And yes, they have outside seating too!) During the summer, I love checking out a performance at the Hollywood Bowl.  My favorite way to enjoy the music is to get a 4 person box towards the front and bring picnic food.  PS – if you can catch a fireworks show there too – do it!  One of the best I’ve seen. Something I’ve been going to for years is First Fridays on Abbot Kinney.  There are a bunch of street vendors, food trucks, and local shops.  It’s a great way to kick off the weekend! Oh, and last but not least – a beach day is in order! There’s no way you can come all the way to LA and not check out the beaches.  My favorite might be Hermosa Beach – such a cool vibe and the pier has all sorts of restaurants, bars, and shops to check out after some beach time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to Shoutout a fellow makeup artist – Holly Eve. She is now CEO of her own brand, Madame Lemy, but when I first started in the industry as a freelancer, she mentored me and offered invaluable advice.  She helped me off the bat with basic makeup looks, the best products for starting my kit, booking gigs, and communicating with clients.  I remember texting her with random questions about the business, and she was always so generous with information.  Looking back, I’m sure my questions seemed like no-brainers, but at the time, I was so green and it was incredible to have her as a resource.  I’m super grateful for her mentorship, and help navigating the beauty world.

Website: www.mickbeauty.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mickbeauty
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mickbeauty
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mickbeauty
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxv1oINunvHlZQu85j_1K9g

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