Today we’d like to introduce you to Ericka Almeida.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ericka. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started doing makeup on myself about 4-5 years ago and would sit in my room and practice again and again and again until I got the look I was going for. After I started getting a little bit better my friends would always ask me to do their makeup for proms and formal events.
From there on out things escalated pretty quickly and I had heaps of people messaging and texting me asking me to do their makeup. When I did my first wedding that’s when things started to become real to me and I realized that I wanted to make a career out of what I was doing. I then landed a job at MAC cosmetics and started doing peoples makeup on-counter for more experience and knowledge about makeup tips and tricks.
Then I made the decision to now attend esthetician school and receive my license this way I can further my education on the topic and hopefully one day in the very near future open up my own full-service salon. Until then I will continue to take any occasion makeup bookings and stay active on my Instagram page (@Ericka.beautyxo)
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anything comes easy for anyone especially people trying to make it on their own and create a name for themselves. I’ve had to deal with a lot of amazing competition and some people who just don’t understand the industry itself that I’m trying to make my career in. It hasn’t been easy with going to college and thinking every day “this isn’t what I want to do for the rest of my life”.
So for me, that was the hardest part, stepping away from the normality of going to college and saying to myself that that is not what I need to be doing, I need to be going to esthetician school. At the end of the day, I do sometimes get in my own mind and think to myself “what if this doesn’t work, what if I’m not successful?”
But I quickly try and change my mind and realize that I have all of my future ahead of me and I can do anything I want to as long as I put my mind to it and I’m passionate about it. And this, makeup, is what I’m overly passionate about and I will continue to do what I need to do in order to get where I want to be no matter what it takes.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Beauty by Ericka Almeida – what should we know?
I’m a freelance makeup artist and I do absolutely any occasion. From a night out to a full glam avant-garde makeup look, to a timeless bridal look I travel for it all. I find myself specializing in full glam makeup, more of a Hollywood style glam than anything but still for sure appreciate doing much more simplistic looks and natural glam makeup. I feel as tho my company has come such a long way from where I had started that I couldn’t be any happier or prouder of where I am.
I’m proud that I have expanded my name from not only prom makeup but too much larger weddings and recreating very bright, vivid looks with only a simple picture as a reference. I think the fact that I am so young sets me apart from others. I’m able to do someone’s prom makeup one year and have them remember me and request me on the day of their wedding.
So being able to meet so many new people and just build a business by word of mouth is amazing. Also I think that being able to talk to so many people and brides and even my mom, as she owns her own business, I’m able to get incite that others may not be able to get and it allows me to use that to my advantage and give my clients the absolute best experience I possibly can.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
In order to be in this industry you hands down have to be creative. I feel as though I’m very creative and I’m able to have that show perfectly through my work. Another quality I think I hold is outgoing. Being in this business and meeting new people every day my name is backed by the words of people I meet.
I’m filled with first impressions so I have to make sure I’m myself and just super outgoing every time I meet someone new and introduce them to what I offer. Sometimes as a makeup artist I’m in a room with just me and my client and it’s my job to create a presence that’s comfortable and friendly to be in. So being outgoing has definitely helped me out in this field of work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/ericka.beautyxo/
- Phone: 5084916061
- Email: Ericka.beautyxo@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Ericka.beautyxo
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