Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna McElroy.
Jenna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I might not have a mansion on the coast of Newport overlooking the ocean, nor do I have a Pulitzer prize or have my work grace the cover of vogue (yet) but to some my story seems like a local success. I was born in Escuintla, Guatemala, the dirt poor part and even saying it was ‘dirt poor’ may be an overstatement. Nonetheless, Guatemala is where my journey started. Soon, after I was born, my birth mother relinquished me and I was adopted and brought to the USA by a kind-hearted couple living in Warwick, RI. Growing up, I found a love for painting, drawing, and anything to do with ‘Art’.
As a little girl, I would hear ‘your so creative and talented’ or ‘your such a great artist’ which the more I heard it the less it meant to me. ‘Art’ was never presented to me as something I could grow up and pursue as a career. Having my art work picked to represent the local elementary school was no big deal compared to getting a 100% on a spelling test. In my young mind, it was no big feat to be ‘talented’ as an artist, so I had to find something else I was ‘good’ at, but, that’s only because of what outside influences bestowed upon me. As for influences or mentors, I did not have anyone, the only successful artists that I heard of were Picasso and Monet. I did not appreciate or relate to either of their styles so I came to a dead end as far as looking up to anybody for inspiration. As I grew into my teens, I discovered an artistry that I never knew existed; makeup artistry! I became obsessed with all things makeup artistry related and started to dream of becoming a famous makeup artist living in New York city.
At the end of high school, I was convinced by a lot of factors that my dream could never happen and it faded into the background and shifted to attending college and someday working in corporate America as some executive or manager. I don’t regret getting my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration nor do I regret the professional office experiences I have received working for major companies, but at the end of the day, it did not matter, because I ended right back where I left my dream as a little girl, as an artist, a creative, a professional makeup artist. I do not have any set days off, but I do make spending time with my family a priority. Otherwise, you will find me spending all of my free-time immersed in the presence of makeup, applying makeup to clients or at photoshoots collaborating with other local artists for magazine submissions. It’s true when they say, “do what you love and you will never work a day in your life’ because I could get up at 3 am every day and go to bed at 11 pm and do it all over again the next week with no complaints! I love my craft but all of it would not have been made possible without the immense support from my husband, without his encouragement I would still be miserable sitting at a desk in an office. Fast forward to today, here I am, a passionate and self-taught professional makeup artist specializing in bridal, production, boudoir, and creative editorial makeup and I LOVE it!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Self doubt is the biggest obstacle and second to that is a comparison. It’s hard to be your own cheerleader when you doubt yourself so my advice is just go for it! Break your boundaries! It’s hard not to compare myself with other talented pro makeup artists but I quickly remind myself that ‘their’ journey is not MY journey and whatever successes they accomplish even if they are bigger or better than my personal successes, I wish them the best because as hard as this industry is it becomes a lot harder when artists stop supporting one another. I am all for artists supporting other artists no matter what stage of their career they may be in.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Makeup By Jenna – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Bridal and creative makeup are my two favorite makeup styles to execute. I love bridal because I feel it is the ultimate honor to be part of a bride’s wedding day. I love everything about wedding days, from waking up on the weekend very early to arrive on location to packing up my kit and wishing the bride a wonderful wedding as she steps inside the limo!
Creative editorial makeup is what really allows me to express my artistic capabilities and also express myself creatively. It’s the type of makeup that is meant to stand out and make a statement. Creative makeup lets me express feelings and emotions that I can not put into words and allows me to creates a visual image for clients such as fashion designers that up until that moment in my chair only existed in the designers mind. Creatively there are few things that inspire my creative artistry which are nature, emotions, fashion and various cultures from around the world.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
If you have people that inspire you, find them on Facebook and Instagram and follow them! Network all the time. When you really love what you do, it will not come off as ‘salesy’, it will come off as passionate! If you want to connect with someone, reach out to them! If they do not respond or say ‘no thanks’, then move on and keep going, I have been rejected tons of times but if I let that stop me, I would not be sitting here typing this right now. Be respectful, be polite and when success comes your way, don’t forget the people that helped you get there. Never assume you know everything about the industry because most likely, you don’t. I am constantly learning and perfecting my craft from studying others that have been successful in the professional makeup industry. Do not put yourself into an age group, I have learned from veteran makeup artists and upcoming self taught makeup artists everything, from how to market your beauty business to what products to try and what products to stay away from.
Pricing:
- Bride Makeup $150
- On location makeup $145
Contact Info:
- Website: www.makeupbyjennamua.com
- Phone: 401-573-4339
- Instagram: makeup_by_jenna_ne
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/makeupbyjennamuane.com
Image Credit:
Peonneemoull Pech, Tina Liu, Marc Klaus, Dan Phillips Studios, Andrea Sleiman, Stephanie Sunderland, Audrey Hansen, Hannah Labonte, Raya Wilson, Jordan Blackwell, Lindsay Roberts, Maya Moran, Jaimie Neveu, Jeffrey Dickerson, Kaye Chapman, Danielle Morgan, Fayth Muoio, Nyki Alvarez, Maya Moran, Stephanie Amato and Allie Sepanek
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