Meet Paija Hudson: Professsional Makeup Artist & Owner of The Glamour Feed

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

Hi Paija, 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?
One day I was sitting in church and I heard my pastor say “we praise God by using the gifts He gave us.” That was such a pivotal moment in my life because it put hundreds of things into perspective within a matter of minutes. My brain and emotions started firing off in tandem. That is when it all made sense that our gifts and talents are to be used not only to make an income and survive but to bless and help others. When something is a part of your calling it will not leave your mind even when you try to focus on something else, it’s almost something is calling your name and you have to answer “Yes.” You know it’s time to keep going when you feel that feeling. One thing I have learned is that the most successful people failed and failed often, this helped them find out quickly what mistakes to avoid in the future. Errors do not mean give up, they simply mean find another way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey as a makeup artist is so unique. It was birthed from painful trauma, even though it is literally a wonderful thing. Becoming an adult and recent college graduate in the middle of the recession that took place in 2010 left me filled with doubt and confusion about the bright future that we graduates had been promised. I ended up having to work anywhere from 2-3 jobs to make enough to stay afloat while amassing debt and battling an abusive relationship. I decided I wanted to feel pretty during this time, so I decided I wanted to try to wear makeup. My goal was to look better than life was treating me. Ready to give up, I called my brother crying, and he says, “you’ve gotten pretty good at makeup. Maybe you can charge people to do theirs.” He connected me with his friend, a pro makeup artist, Nedra Jones, who took me under her wing to begin my journey as a professional artist. Was it easy? No, absolutely not I was terrified every time I got to a set or a new client. I was self taught and had no idea about color theory or symmetry yet. What was the biggest factor? My clients had more confidence in me than I had in myself, so it helped me recognize my own talent. If strangers could trust me, why couldn’t I trust myself? That was when I knew I had a gift and decided to invest by taking workshops and training with veteran artists. Years later, I have been blessed to develop a celebrity clientele, and I host of clients that I call my very own superstars. This year I am launching my beauty store and product line, The Glamour Feed. This brand is a labor of love and has been highly requested. My goal is to provide professional products at a level that is useful and easy for consumers. Artists aren’t the only people who can appreciate high-quality products at an affordable price tag. You can follow @theglamourfeed on Instagram for tips and tricks and more information on the website launch date for more information.

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?
LA isn’t just home it is where I was born and raised. I love my city! Some of the places I would say to check out are some of the amazing black-owned businesses like Simply Wholesome, a health food and wholistic store and restaurant. Another place that is great is The Serving Spoon, a mixture of breakfast, brunch, and soul food. It goes without saying that you should visit any of our amazing beaches and bar hop. Take a bike ride in Hermosa Beach, or just lay out and soak up some sun. Lastly, people should visit some of the historical places and communities. Skip the places you see on TV, try to really learn about the history of the city, a great Instagram account to follow is @Demarcosmith to learn about Los Angeles. 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 want to dedicate my shoutout to all of the creatives. From my mother to my sister, to all of my friends, supporters, and those who provide constant inspiration. This shout out is for you. Continue to create, evolve, laugh at nay-sayers, and be grateful for all of your gifts. If any other Makeup Artists need mentorship, please feel free to reach out. I have mentorship programs and courses to develop aspiring artists. I am excited to see all of you at the top!

Website: www.pjlovespj.net
Instagram: Pjlovespj
Twitter: pjlovespj
Facebook: The Glamour Feed
Youtube: youtube.com/pjlovespj
Other: Please follow @theglamourfeed on instagram and TIK TOK , also Pjlovespj on Tik Tok.

Image Credits
All photos are myself or my work