As a part of the Morning Lazziness series about strong women leaders who attained success with their incredible ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sheena Marie.
Sheena Marie Beauty Studios started out as merely wishful thinking to me. Since childhood, I have a love for makeup and everything beauty but wasn’t sure how she could turn her passion into a career. After much prayer and self-evaluation, Sheena Marie went from searching for the right steps to every single step falling into place.
She was determined to not only create beauty using tools of makeup and brushes but help to encourage self-love and confidence in all of her clients.
Sheena Marie Beauty Studios is truly a family-run business! Her daughter’s 19-year-old daughter is the lead makeup artist, and her 21-year-old is her operations manager for all her locations.
Sheena Marie Beauty’s sister is her business consultant and general manager of the company. Her mom is her financial consultant, and her brother serves as security and the male grooming guru. Sheena Marie is dedicated to creating a family-run empire for generations ahead to inherit.
What inspired you to become a makeup artist?
I actually wasn’t inspired to be a makeup artist as much as I was inspired to be my own boss and entrepreneur. I prayed to God to open the necessary doors for me to truly live out my purpose, and thus, Sheena Marie Beauty was born.
At what age did you makeup for the first time? What was your mom’s (family) reaction?
I had to have been about 9 or 10 years old, the first time I decided I was gonna “beat” my face. My family wasn’t too surprised because I’ve always been the girly girl who loved playing in my mom’s makeup. It was so bad that I started receiving the makeup kits, the 1000 eyeshadow gifts, for Christmas and birthdays. My mom was against it at first, but eventually, she gave in and let me wear it around the house only.
What does a typical day of a makeup artist look like, and how do you make it productive?
A typical day usually consists of servicing clients, researching products, and new looks via social media (Facebook, IG, and YouTube). Ways to make it productive would be how can I become even better by marketing myself, reaching out to new audiences with innovative techniques, and attempting to collaborate with larger brands and other artists.
How do you determine a client’s personal style?
I like to have a consultation with every client to determine their look, personality, and what would fit best for the event that they’ll be attending. With a bit of conversation, I learn so much about my clients as well as make them feel right at home and comfortable to discuss anything.
What is being dressed up to you, and why should every woman put wear makeup?
Dressed up to me is wearing what you feel the best and most gorgeous in. Every woman deserves to look and feel beautiful; it’s their birthright. Makeup is a great enhancer to beauty, and every woman should at least try it! There are so many different looks that could be created using eyeshadow colors, lashes, and lipstick that it could make for an incredibly fun and funky or super sexy and chic style that one never knew existed had they not tried a quick beat to the face.
What is makeup for you? Bold, beautiful, sexy?
Makeup is whatever you want it to be, which is why I fell in love with it. One could be super fun and impulsive while another could wish for something clean and barely there but then switch it up to sleek and sexy. The variety of it and the mystery behind the creativity of makeup products are amazing.
Who is your dream celeb whom you wish every day to style?
My dream celeb is Queen Bey herself! Every makeup artist wants to work on Beyonce.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an inspiring women entrepreneur?
One habit of mine is that I am constantly looking at ways to increase the revenue of my business, and I don’t end my day until I’ve come up with at least 3 new and proven effective ways to do just that. I then implement them throughout the week while tracking the progress or lack thereof.
If you had to live anywhere else in the world, where would it be and why?
I’d live in Bora Bora. It’s such a beautiful place where the weather is gorgeous, and the people are so kind. I would love to enjoy such an incredible place with my family because I’d obviously take them with me.
