Meet Daniella Knight | Makeup Artist

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

Hi Daniella, how do you think about risk?
Risk has played a huge role in my career path. Rewinding back to my undergraduate studies at UCLA— I was on track to graduate with a pre-med degree. I had my next ten years planned out to the T and was so certain that I was going to be a doctor. My third year I knew I was wrong, but I was scared because what else was I going to do? My plan after graduating was moving back to Texas where my parents were. After I graduated, I decided I’d stay a few months longer to figure out what I was going to do and to stay until the lease ended. I did so much soul searching at that time and ended up taking a job with Da Vinci Connect as an academic coach. I thought teaching may be my calling as I took CalTeach my last quarter at UCLA and was really inspired through working with kids. Not too long after, I found the freelancing job with Charlotte Tilbury. I never though to pursue artistry professionally but many people saw my talent before I did, so I told myself, why not? The rest is history and fell into place. I got another apartment, and have been in LA almost two years since then— definitely past my initial plan! I’m so glad I took that risk and pursued what I love because I’m so happy with what I have accomplished so far.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a makeup artist. My specialty is soft glam and bridal, but I love any kind of makeup truly. What sets me apart from others I believe is my personality and approach to makeup. I believe less is more and I want the skin to be able to breathe through the makeup, no matter how heavy. I focus on complexion more heavily due to this fact. I’m most proud of my growth, the tips I’ve picked up on the way to perfect my craft. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and I’m truly happy with where I’m at in my artistry. Every face I touch I amaze myself and believe in myself even more. It definitely wasn’t easy getting this far, I had many learning curves, had close calls with looks going south, and had to deal with some slow months too. The lessons I’ve learned through my journey is that you have to believe in yourself. Every ounce of doubt you get will only hold you back. This is a tough industry to make a name out of yourself in, and if you don’t believe in yourself, who will? What I want the world to know about my brand is that I care about not only making you feel beautiful on the outside, but I truly want you to feel beautiful within. If I can inspire you or uplift you in any way during my service then I know I have done my job to the fullest extent.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Welcome to LA! When you arrive we can get brunch at Castaway in Burbank, they have amazing food and drinks with a beautiful view. We can stop by the promenade in Santa Monica and walk along the shops until we hit the beach. Once we get there we can whip out our towels and sun bathe until freckles appear on our noses and redness starts to show on our shoulders. We can get sushi for dinner at the Americana or anywhere in the valley. If you want to have some fun we can go to Universal Studios and ride all the rides! On a more chill day we can hit the thrifts off Ventura, along with some secret spots I know of sprinkled throughout the valley, let’s hope we find something cute. We can wind down and watch a movie in downtown Burbank after we grab dinner at yard house or finney’s, and then we can maybe add a touristy stop before the end of your journey.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Firstly I’d like to thank my parents for supporting me through my crazy endeavors and change of plans. Through my journey, I want to shoutout all the amazing mentors I’ve had, as well as my muses that let me get to where I’m at today. Thank you Dana, Sam, Hannah, Maya, Nicole, Ashley, Yetzabel and Zoe for letting me practice endlessly and your faces. Each time my brush laid hands on your face was a moment of learning and improving, expanding my knowledge and experience with different face types. Although fun, it meant so much to me to take the time to let me practice and perfect my craft. Thank you Christine and Vera for taking a chance on me and believing in me and my abilities, especially thank you for your guidance and advice throughout the journey with Charlotte Tilbury. Thank you Jazz, Stacey, Christina and Rosie for being such amazing trainers and artists, for teaching me new tricks along the way and techniques I use every single time I touch a new face. Your advice and tips have really helped me perfect my craft and open my mind to different methods of artistry. Thank you to all of my colleagues at Nordstrom, but especially Courtney, Meliza, Nery and Charlene for being amazing leaders and role models, for pushing me past my limits and believing in my growth. You inspire me everyday to do better and become a strong leader, too. I love each and every one of the people that have supported me on this journey and I can’t put into words how grateful I am to have met each one of you and learned something new about myself and my craft each time. It really takes a tribe like they say.

Instagram: instagram.com/daniellasartistry

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniella-knight-3b408223b