Meet Kathie Quintanilla | Celebrity Make-Up Artist

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

Hi Kathie, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
You may hear this from plenty of successful people about how they were at the verge of giving up, and suddenly that moment change their entire life whether they gave up or continued on. Two years ago towards the beginning of COVID, I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed, not only about the pandemic but also my career as a makeup artist, I thought to myself. “this where my career ends,” I am sure I am not the only one that had those thoughts especially when the entire city was in complete shut down. During those days and months, I became lazy and unmotivated about anything. I remember when Tiktok began to expand, and I had a few calls about how it was my time to create content so that my career can skyrocket, but even when everyone was attempting to encourage me to create content I felt uneasy and defeated. I did not see any positive outcomes. All these emotions and questions really pushed me to give up, and at this point I should have given up. But, for some reason there this small spark in me that did not allow me to give up. That spark was HOPE. I had hope and as long as you have hope for your future that is a big sign not to GIVE UP. Hope is that feeling where you remind yourself that things can get better for you and your future. It is important to also surround yourself with healthy relationships and friendships to help you pursue your goals even in the midst of uncertainty.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am most proud of my confidence when working with a celebrity. When I was younger I would be very shy meeting new people, even though I am the loudest in a group of friends, I was the quietest when meeting new people. I never thought that my artistry would reach a point where I was working on celebrities. Many have followed my journey and at times some have assumed that I have reached the point of success and accomplishment, but I believe I have much more to do, this is not the finish line for me. I believe the biggest challenge for me is keeping a positive mindset. As a freelance makeup artist, we face moments where there are no makeup appointments and the waiting game begins to discourage you. Being in this industry can be very competitive,, which is why it is important to always be flexible and prepared. The lesson I have learned along the way is to prioritize your goals and do not allow negative thoughts or negative people stir you away from what you want to accomplish. The biggest lesson I have learned is to perfect your work and always be willing to learn and grow. Be willing to learn from others and always be humble no matter where in life you are at.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in Los Angeles there are countless of places to go too. Personally, I love to hike and have a good brunch. I love to hike in Malibu and after go to any nearby coffee shops. One of my favorite hobbies is explore coffee shops and nice hiking trails. If you are visiting in California Los Angeles I recommend driving to Malibu or Thousands Oaks for a good hike and grab some brunch at Urth Cafe. I also enjoy driving to the OC and visiting Laguna Beach and on my way back home I have to make a pit stop in the city of Garden Grove to grab some Birria Tacos from the taco truck, “Birria El Tapatio,” never disappoints. But if you are planning on staying a week in California, I recommend spending a weekend in Santa Barbara, the ocean is beautiful and the restaurants are yummy!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a big shout out to Joyce Meyer, her books encouraged me to push forward and not give up on my career. When there were moments that I felt insecure or confused, I would read books such as, “BattleField of the Mind” and/or hear her podcasts on; how to deal with insecurity etc.

Instagram: @quintanillakathie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bowandarrowMakeupArtist

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KathieQueentanilla