Meet Kadisha Tautua’a | Freelance Makeup Artist

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

Hi Kadisha, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
Choosing to be brave. Starting this journey in freelancing, I knew that it would come with a lot of fear and unforeseen obstacles. However I knew that I had to be fearless in everything I did in order for me to get the most out of it. It would take me getting comfortable outside my comfort zone to realize that, that is where I would grow the most. In the first year alone that I started my journey I accomplished so much and I owe that to me being fearless and brave. I would pay attention to the things that would scare me and I would address it head-on. I wouldn’t avoid it. That turned into me sharpening my skills in makeup, networking, and business which would then lead to more opportunities. Even when I did encounter failure I had to choose to give myself grace and continue on like my confidence wasn’t shattered in pieces. LOL. That, is bravery to me and it’s not easy but you need it to be ‘successful’.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been the family makeup artist. I started out by just doing makeup for fun on myself and then other people would take notice and would ask me to do makeup on them. Years would go by before I actually considered freelancing for it. I didn’t think a career in makeup would be possible for a first-generation Tongan girl like me because I’d never seen it happen before so I would always brush off the idea. It wasn’t until I seen another Pacific Islander makeup artist, Tilomai Hill working in the entertainment industry, that this dream became a reality. To see someone who looks like you, in those spaces is so empowering. It was like a light switched on in my head and I knew then that I had to do something about it. Finally in 2020 I dropped out of school, quit my call center job and pursued makeup as a career and I haven’t looked back since.

Starting out was easy but maintaining that inspiration was difficult at times. I learned that if I am not challenging myself or doing something that allows me to be creative, I will get burnt out and quickly lose that drive. Now as I continue on, I set mini goals for myself every single month, that are attainable and not too ambitious. I don’t feel like I’ve reached ‘success’ yet but by the end of the year I will at least have these mini goals & accomplishments to look back onto for reflection, and to build on for the following years. This year I’m having more fun and enjoying the ride so far.

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?
Well I am from Orange County (OC) so I would start there. At the start of the pandemic I began to appreciate the boundaries of OC so over the past couple years I’ve found some cool places that I love and always come back to. I suggest stopping by the Orange County Art Museum in Costa Mesa, they always have the best exhibits in my opinion. Another great place to hang out is the The Lab. It’s a fusion of many different eateries, shops, and cafes and they do a great job at fusing a vibrant community of creatives in art, music, and fashion.

For food, I’d say Rodeo 39 in Westminster is a great start. It’s food hall with so many different options in culture and taste, it’s a foodie’s dream walking into that place. Garden Grove has so many great Vietnamese options, one of my favorite places to eat Pho at is Pho Lu. So good. On the other hand the Mexican food? Where do I start…Tacos los Gueros #1 in Anaheim has the besssst tacos. Hands down. Taqueria Tapatia, an old favorite has the best tortas.

To end off the trip to Orange County, I’d hit up the Soulful Open Mic nights on 4th street in Santa Ana. So many artists, poets, dancers, creatives come through here to release and absorb so much energy, I love what they’re doing here for creatives.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to my parents and all my sisters. They knew I was going to be a makeup artist before I even believed it was possible. Their support and encouragement brought me through so many hard moments in my journey. None of this would be possible without them. I love you, I love you, I love you!

Thank you to Tilomai Hill, she has been a beacon of encouragement and mentorship for me in this journey. I appreciate all the opportunities she’s looped me in on and all the moments of mentorship we’ve had together. I love learning from her, and am so honored to be working alongside her. My love for you runs deep, Tilo! Thank you for everything.

Special shoutout to my best friends Isa, Ray and Daisy! When it comes to our friendship, their love and support has no boundaries. So many times in my journey I needed that support and they stepped in, uplifted me, loved on me, and made my days go from 0-100. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them! I love them deep.

Website: makeupbydeesh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kadiisha.t/