Community Highlights: Meet Kimberley Whren of KSV Artistry and #SELFCAREGOALS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberley Whren.

Hi Kimberley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Kimberley Whren A.k.a Shay b.k.a Kimmy. I’m from the DMV and I am a traveling Celebrity Makeup Artist and Esthetician! Since I can remember, I’ve always been interested in the beauty industry—mostly hair and fashion! I went from designing and making my own clothes in middle school to modeling in fashion shows across the city in high school; even doing makeup for the shows. I loved it and knew it was a space I belonged. I even tried out for America’s Next Top Model four times but was never chosen.

As a young girl, I had acne and my mom suggested wearing makeup to cover it. I was not really into makeup, but wearing it to cover my acne helped enhance my look and I became obsessed with transforming; all the color palettes; lashes and more! After graduating High School, I jumped into the job market. I had a career in Property Management, however everyday throughout the day, I dreamt of doing makeup. Even while giving tours to my prospective residents, I would think to myself, “Wow she/he would be a good canvas for me to practice my makeup and grooming skills on LOL! Luckily, I had my little sisters, cousins and partners who would let me practice on them.

As the oldest, I always wanted to set a great example for my younger siblings and inspire them to be the best at whatever they wanted to be! However, years went by of not full filling my dreams and passion due to stability and listening to people who didn’t understand or truly support entrepreneurship. I couldn’t take it any longer, so I quit my full-time career in Property Management and I took a makeup 101 certified course with a popular Makeup Artist in the DMV area. Soon after, I enrolled in Aveda Institute to learn more about makeup and skincare and graduated with my Esthetician certification. I decided I wanted to do makeup for production, TV/Film, fashion shoots, celebrities and more, so I packed my bags and drove cross-country to Los Angeles!

In LA, I immediately hit the ground running, working at Sephora as a Beauty Studio Coordinator, MAC Cosmetics as a Third Key Holder and at Beam Creative Agency production studio for creatives and artists. At Beam is where I started working for myself as a full-time Entrepreneur! I established KSV Artistry where I offered professional makeup, grooming and skin care services. As an Aquarian with humanitarian traits throughout my chart, loving my career really inspired me to establish my second business, #SELFCAREGOALS! This company sells apparel from hats, tee shirts, hoodies and masks, all while empowering men and women to self-care, self-love and heal themselves inside and out on a daily basis!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
NO!!!!! The journey has been nowhere near smooth; however, I am grateful for all the lessons. I am a spiritual person centered on praying and manifesting, so that made it a little easier just continuing to keep the faith in every situation. However, going from a full-time, stable paycheck every two weeks job to not being certain when I would book my next gig or client was totally different. It forced me to invest in marketing myself and networking consistently, which paid off.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about KSV Artistry and #SELFCAREGOALS?
Through KSV Artistry, I have been a Pro Makeup Artist for six years specializing in enhancing my client’s beauty with a natural beat and glow. I do makeup for photoshoots, content production, music videos, film, weddings, and more. I also teach one on one classes for those who wish to learn the craft for themselves! I have provided specialized skin care services for the last two years as for both men and women. I have provided male grooming for six years with a specialty in natural hairstyling, skin prep, powder/foundation, and nail cleaning/ clipping.

#SELFCAREGOALS is essentially Self-care and Self-love apparel! We have tee shirts and hoodies with captions such as “LESS EGO < MORE SOUL,” which represents silencing your ego to really feel and hear your soul speak and “QUEEN SH!T,” which represents remembering you are a Queen and to stay on your Queen Sh!T everyday! We also have #Selfcaregoals dad caps; face masks and tee shirts.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ksvartistry.com
• Instagram: @KSV.Artistry @OwnUrLight
• Other: www.selfcaregoals.com

Image Credits:
Rose DiFerdinando, CEO NewBreedLA.com NewBreedLA@Gmail.com