Growing up, I loved watching glamorous reality shows: America’s Next Top Model, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Girls Next Door, and Jerseylicious. The women in my family did their hair, makeup and dressed for the day, even when there weren’t plans to go anywhere. I would flip through my mom’s magazines and catalogs like Redbook, Newport News, and VS. As soon as I could, I wanted to be like the stunning women I saw on TV and in my family.
At 12, I needed glasses. I’ll always thank my mom for getting me contacts right away! She even got me grey colored contacts!! On top of that, I got Baby Phat glasses that were stylish. That Christmas, she gifted me my first set of makeup. Since she was an Avon representative most of my life, all of the products were mark. by Avon. The eyeshadow, blush, mascara and lip gloss were all giving me a very natural look, and it was so fun to feel glam and pretty. She also gave me a Seventeen magazine subscription. I feel like 2007-2008 was the PEAK of magazines. I absolutely loved reading fashion magazines and seeing all the cute outfits!
My exciting hair journey started in Arizona when I was visiting my dad. I can’t remember what made me want to cut all my hair off, but my stepmom made an appointment and took me to a great salon, and I went from having long hair to the cutest cheekbone-length haircut. After getting this cut, I was all about experimenting with it.
At 13, when I was visiting them again, my stepmom had her niece over with bleach! I asked if I could get my hair lightened like them, and my “going blonde” journey began. Also, around this time, the scene hair was in style, and I was cutting my own hair with super short layers and teasing it to be spikey. I kept cutting and dyeing my own hair (and friends, family, and acquaintances) for years and eventually was doing it in cosmetology school.
I had two-tone hair color, highlights, natural and unnatural colors, and every length of hair. I slowly grew my makeup collection with drugstore brands (elf, Cover Girl, Maybelline, Hard Candy), Hot Topic makeup, and Avon. I did makeup on myself that people either loved or hated, and I just loved having fun! I usually wasn’t on-trend because I loved looking at Japanese fashion. A lot of things I’d wear and get “WTF is she wearing?” reactions, then see the same naysayers wearing the same thing a few months later. 😂 Here’s where influencing began.
I got lucky to have a family that let me express myself the way I wanted to. I knew that I didn’t wear makeup, change my hair, or get clothes to try to be attractive or cool. I wanted to be myself and enjoy getting ready! I was so sure of what I did, that I never cared what people’s comments were, whether they were good or bad.
At the point of graduating high school, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. I just knew what I was good at: beauty. Two weeks after graduation, I was in cosmetology school. Regency Beauty Institute was mostly hair-focused, but I learned skin, makeup, and nails also. I feel so fortunate to have gone to beauty school before college. It was a time that I really grew up and got to be surrounded by adults, not kids my age. I met my best friend that I still love so much (and neither one of us are hairstylists anymore 😅).
In another post, I’ll talk about how this translated into my social media journey. For now, we’ll keep going with beauty!
When I realized that working at a hair salon wasn’t right for me, I became a florist and just continued enjoying beauty for myself. I started taking content creation seriously in 2020, years after just dabbling into it, and YEARS after being a really exciting fashionista. I was 25, working full time, and not nearly as adventurous with my look anymore.
Today, I’m focused on full-time influencing and giving people the tools to style themselves. It’s a dream come true!!!
My story with finding my own style has given me the mindset and skills to share my message with others: Beauty is about feeling like your true self. Not the prettiest, boldest, or trendiest–just yourself. What you enjoy and see is all that matters, not what others think. The skincare, makeup looks, and hairstyles that I share are all inspiration for feeling confident, authentic, and colorful. To be unafraid to let your personality show when people see the colors and art on your face.
I hope my content translates that message well. Thank you for reading about my beauty story, and I’d love for you to share yours ♡ Tag #cakefacecrew on your TikTok or Instagram post so I can share it and join me on TikTok LIVE so we can talk more!
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