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

Hi Mariel, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always had a passion for makeup since I was younger. Even throughout college I began to experiment more with different beauty techniques & fell more in love. After I graduated Cal State Fullerton with my Bachelor’s in Advertising, I tried out a few office jobs, but nothing stuck or made me feel fulfilled. So, I ended up coming back to my roots, to what excited me. Helping others get ready for a wedding or special event & seeing the confidence it gives them, gives me so much joy.

I’ve also had the same passion for decorating & planning events. From my seashell & tulle decor on my 16th birthday, to the roaring 20’s from when I graduated college, to helping friends & family plan their birthdays, it’s always been a blast getting creative & finding different forms inspiration out there. I love being hands on & helping my client’s visions come to life. There’s something special about making something beautiful from scratch. To see my partner & I’s hard work come together is so fulfilling & we are just getting started.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Barcibeauty is a new makeup service that I started at the end of 2020. During the pandemic, I took a risk in having close contact with other new & seasoned artists to perfect our craft to deliver beautiful results to our clients . Coming from a background with a Bachelor’s in Advertising, I am happy to be able to combine both worlds into something where I can offer my skills to clients & also use my degree! I am currently growing this business & accepting new clients for bridal & special events.

Charm Occasions is a new business that I started at the end of 2021. My business partner & I were inspired to start our own business when we started to see how much other companies were charging for rentals & purchases for their events. With our love for decorating & my partner’s background in working in the wedding industry, Charm Occasions was born. So far we have utilized our services for romantic picnics, birthdays & debuts.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If one of my best friends was visiting Socal for a weekend, I would take them to Laguna Beach for the views, South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa for some bougie shopping, Morning Lavender Cafe in Tustin for delicious high tea, so we can sip the tea while we spill the tea & hit up a few good eateries & museums in West LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to thank my business partner Claudine, friends, family, boyfriend & clients for all their support in my small businesses. Without them, I wouldn’t have the many opportunities to share my work, vision & skill to get creative & make these businesses happen.

Instagram: barcibeauty

Facebook: Charm Occasions

Other: event page instagram: charm_occasions

Image Credits
Bridal photos – Huskey Weddings Nursing graduate photoshoot – Brian Kintanar Debutant photos – Randall De Leon Photography Decor photos – owned by my company, Charm Occasions

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.