My journey started in 2015. I had just gotten out of a relationship, and I was heartbroken. I felt incompetent to most girls. At the time, I thought a new makeover wouldn't help me at all, but my mother had other ideas. She thought it was a brilliant idea for me to use makeup. I never used makeup before, and I was kind of scared of using it too. Makeup was sort of like a taboo really. In 2015, everyone in my high school thought that if a girl wore makeup at school, it was because they wanted to impress someone, which automatically made it look like she was trying hard. I did not want to look like "that" girl. I tried to explain that to my mom, but she insisted not to worry about it.

My mom brought me to Sephora for the first time, and I was in awe. There were so many things to choose from. It was overwhelming, to say the least. My first ever foundation was the SmashBox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation. In all honesty, it wasn't the best foundation, but I was in love with it at the time. I only bought the essentials that day. Throughout the entire day, I was really contemplating whether this was still the right idea. I was at my lowest point, and I wanted to change that. In my mind, I didn't know if it was going to change anything, but it was a worth a shot. This day marked the day that I would become a better person.

I should've bought more if I knew I was going to end up wearing makeup almost every day. It was a growing obsession. I started to watch YouTube Videos on how to take care of my skin and what products would help my skin. I started to create different looks with all the eyeshadow palettes I had and started to buy more. No one could stop me from doing it. Things were looking bright, and I couldn't be any happier. But there was a downside to all of this.

I started to get side comment from girls in the bathroom saying things like makeup made my face worse or it wasn't going to change a thing. I ignored them, but it did make me want to quit. I really started to believe what they said, but my friend motivated me to continue. That same day, she went to buy her first foundation and eyeshadow palette. She said I was the reason why she bought that. She saw a big impact makeup had on me, and she wanted to feel the same thing.

Makeup really brought out a new side of me. Over time, I improved my skills and began to use them on other people. It's a great experience to get someone to see their true beauty and to see another side of them they've never seen before. That's what makes me feel accomplished. My self-esteem increased drastically, and I eventually did become more myself again. Makeup shouldn't hide our insecurities, but rather enhance our beauty. Makeup shows my creative side in ways that I didn't know I could showcase. Makeup is my outlet for stress and imagination. My journey as a makeup artist is just beginning, and there's no stopping.