August 1, 2018

Conversations with the Inspiring Rose Siard

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rose Siard.

Rose, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am from a little town outside of Houston, TX, where my husband Ben and I still reside. I am 28 years old. I am a beauty and health product influencer. I review beauty products for my followers on Instagram, YouTube and Snap Chat.

I’ve met Benjamin when I was 14 years old and he was 18 and was going to college. His parents had educated him during summer months all his life and he had started college courses before he had finished high school and he was tired of school. He came to my home and told my Mama he was tired of school and wanted to play guitar the rest of his life, so Mama told me to sing, I did and then, she told us to learn 10 songs and go down to our Chamber of Commerce and tell them that we would play anytime for them free. So, we wrote a couple of songs together and learned a few cover songs and went to work. Within a month, we were playing gigs for real money and buying music equipment and a vehicle to transport all the equipment and traveling all over. We look back at this now and think of how young we were and that we did all of this and more all by ourselves we laugh. Never let anyone tell you to grow up and do the normal thing, stay naïve and childlike and just let things happen, never worry.

I thought it would be fun to sing so I started singing, I was asked what makeup I was wearing by my few followers on Instagram and I needed money to buy makeup so I designed a turban. So, fun turned into work which turned into creativity.

Ben and I write in the genre we call Southern Folk. It is a little folky and a little country. Writing songs with Ben is probably the most fun I have ever had. He makes me laugh with little rhymes and uses different voices but somehow we get the work done.

Ben and I were going to move to Nashville when my cousin, which from here on out I will call my sister, got married and moved to Nashville first, thinking I would be there very soon. My sister is the selfie queen she was always taking photos of herself and she found this app called Instagram while she was in Nashville and since she was missing me she had me get the app also so we could send each other pics of what we were doing. I sent her pictures of Ben, my dog, and my cats. She wanted a pic of me, so I sent her one and people started asking me what makeup I was wearing. I told them and then they started asking what my opinion was on different products. My pictures began to be all over Pinterest and the rest is because my followers are the sweetest people on this earth.

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 have never seen a smooth road in my life or traveling, I guess you could pave the potholes and pick up the rocks out of the way but that will surely take time so I suggest to starting your journey by putting one foot in front of the other and keep going no matter what. I do know that kindness along that journey will open doors.

My father became ill when I was 14 hence I had to go to work to support our household. When I was 19 we still were struggling with medical bills and day to day living. Christmas came and Ben bought me a $30. bottle of High Beam from Benefit Cosmetics, I was so excited that I got something for Christmas but my mom was crying and I remember telling her not to cry that I would have makeup one day, that was 7 years before I had even heard of Social Media.

What should we know about your business? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
When I first began I only wore eyeliner, lipstick, mascara and a little eyeshadow. I now wear foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer, primer, lashes, eyebrow pencil and setting powder. I contour, line my lips with a lip pencil and use at least 5 different eyeshadow shades. Yes, I’M FANCY. I also use at least 6 different makeup brushes for application. If this is a style then mine would be excess. I use all of these products because some of my followers might only want to see foundation application another may want to learn to blend eyeshadow. I want them all to get the full effect also in case they want to get all glammed up. So, I would describe my style as GLAM which amounts to excess. I think a trained makeup artist has a style such as a wedding, prom, etc. which that is how they make their living. Influencers on the other hand usually only put makeup on themselves and the reason is to teach their techniques to their following. When I first started, I did work with clients but then I didn’t have free reign and that was no fun so I stop that immediately. I like teaching the techniques of makeup.

I remember when I was nine years old I bought 2 books on makeup with my own money Kevyn Aucoin (MAKING FACES) and Bobbi Brown (MAKEUP MANUAL). I would read those books at least once a month throughout my adolescence. I had no idea I loved makeup so much until I was able to wear it and had no money to buy it. So, the easiest thing was learning techniques the hardest thing was having no money to buy it.

I am inspired by the product that I have acquired at the time. If it is a palette with boldly pigmented colors I want to find a way to use them in an everyday look. If it is a new foundation I want to use it to find the most correct application. When I was reading my makeup books I also had 4 magazine subscriptions (ELLE), (INSTYLE), (ALLURE), and (VOGUE). I poured over those issues like they were gold, I knew every designer and every makeup company. I spoke about them like I knew them and was always explaining to my friends and family who they were. I really believe that the designers and the makeup companies are the true artists. Someone had to create the product for a particular function ie red carpet affairs or proms, all we do is put it on our faces with our techniques.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I feel like I am in the 3 fields where there are no barriers for women, makeup, singer, and designer. But I do feel like things are changing for the best for women in all industries.

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