Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Okwilagwe.
Hi Catherine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I initially started playing with makeup on myself when I was in the 6th grade, it started off as just me stealing my mom’s mascaras, eyeliners and eyeshadow palettes to her getting tired of me taking her makeup and finally started buying me my own.
From there, I continued to play in makeup on myself and in high school, I used to get all dressed up and beat my face to school almost everyday regardless if I played basketball or not. Then eventually, my teammates and my friends always wanted me to do their makeup and that’s where I began practicing on other people. I never took makeup seriously it was always just a passion of mine and at the time was a talent of mine that I never really thought I could make a career out of just was having fun. I went onto college and I continued to play in makeup on my friends and practiced in my dorm room on my teammates.
Eventually, I started freelancing on the side, I even did my first wedding which was for my coach, but I was never too active because I also played college basketball and my schedule never allowed me to pursue it fully from the court to the classroom. I eventually graduated with a degree in Health from The Texas Southern University and I thought I wanted to pursue Physical Therapy, which is what I always thought id do since I was in high school. For whatever reason, I decided to pick up a brush last year February 2020 and I fell back in love with makeup and I haven’t looked back since. I’m actually happy everything worked out the way it did cause I feel like makeup has always been my passion I just never trusted myself as much as I do now.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely not been smooth, we love to post the highs and the accomplishments but not everyone is always honest about the lows. Trying to pursue anything as an entrepreneur can be a little risky and hard. It’s a rat race within itself but with all that risk can come high rewards if you trust yourself and your business enough to put everything you go into it and be consistent. I’m still learning along the way but I could definitely say every experience has a lesson within its own. Dealing with clients isn’t always easy and I feel like early on, I struggled with knowing my value as an artist, especially when it came to putting a price tag on my work which I’m so passionate about. As an artist in every field we tend to be high critical of ourselves and the work we put out, through our eyes we might have a different perspective than what our viewers see and it super important to be more confident in yourself and your work, even if your not exactly where you would like to be. Thats super big for me cause I obsess over being great at what I do but it comes from a place of loving what I do so much. Along the journey, I’ve also learned no matter what to not compare your work to anyone else, you are you and that is your power, someone will appreciate and love your work. and the last thing I learned is as you continue to grow be a sponge and always be willing to learn new things cause it so crucial to your growth as an artist.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a self-taught professional makeup artist based here in downtown Dallas, TX. I specialize in beauty glams.
What matters most to you? Why?
My family and makeup are everything to me. My family is the reason why I get up every day and go so hard at what I do and makeup is literally where my heart is. I can remember makeup getting me through some of my darkest days, its always been fun for me and actually therapeutic at times when I just pick up a brush and start listening to music.
Pricing:
- Regular In Studio Glams Range from $80-95
Contact Info:
- Email: MakeupByCatherineO@Gmail.com
- Website: https://makeupbycatbooking.as.me/schedule.php
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_makeupbycat/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakeupByCatherineO
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@_makeupbycatt?lang=en
Image Credits
Red bathing suit photos – @Brenshotya_ on Instagram
