Life & Work with Michelle Cuevas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Cuevas.

Hi Michelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hello, thank you so much, so happy and grateful to be back on the platform. From my previous interview, I was able to spill the tea on how I basically picked up and packed my entire life and everything I’ve ever known in Miami and moved to Los Angeles. I was scared but one thing I realized is if you’re scared or feeling fearful about something. Don’t run away, run towards it. I’ve experienced growth in my personal life and in business, mastered new lessons, unlocked new levels and made new vows to myself. Updated my vision board and already crossed five things off and still counting. I have a few things in the works that I can’t reveal just yet. Let’s just say she hasn’t disappointed. 2022 was a great year. let me fill you in on how it went down. Here at Cuevas Beauty, we bring the glam to you. I was able to travel beyond Los Angeles to various states and cities around the country like New York, Miami, Utah, Arizona, and Puerto Rico. I was even able to bring the glam internationally to countries like several cities in Mexico and Costa Rica to name a few. I’ve been put in a position to work and be trusted with world-renowned photographers Sebastian Salinas and Ryan Dwyer. Which resulted in being published in Playboy nine times USA and Internationally. Including their other platforms like Playboy Centerfold and Playboy Plus. My makeup has also graced the covers of Maxim Australia and Super Models Unlimited magazine. I was the lead makeup artist for various commercials, campaigns, and movies with major companies like Jordan, Nike, Nieve Ski and Netflix. I’ve also been able to expand in the world of pageantry with Beauty By Ladycode. Working pageants like Miss NY USA and Miss Earth USA.

Grateful to even be able to experience the chaos of New York’s Fashion Week with top makeup artists from around the world. To me as a makeup artist for the last decade, I’m never done learning and always seeking ways to improve my craft. I was able to train with some legendary heavy hitters in my industry like Danessa Myricks, Melanie Mills and James Vincent. All of these accomplishments and experiences have led me to my purpose which is teaching others. I didn’t realize my gift until my clients kept constantly asking me if I offer courses. The quote “You will never win if you don’t begin” – Helen Rowland was just stuck in my head and it’s absolutely right! So I’m proud to say as of February 2023 I was able to take my business to the next level and expand with Cuevas Beauty Academy. Providing the highest level of education to aspiring and working makeup artists alike. In September of 2022, right before my previous article was released. I made a vow to myself to not have a plan B, always go for the two points and not the field goal and to just stay consistent. One quote that can sum this up is “Consistency is one of the biggest factors to accomplishment and success.” – Byron Pulsifer. Consistency is key as well as a great support system. I would be nowhere without my loving husband Patrick, my best friend Anais Gornail – COO of Cuevas Beauty Academy and of course my family.

During the pandemic in such a time of uncertainty. I remember my husband vividly telling me “If I was a talented artist like you I definitely wouldn’t be wasting my time waiting tables”. So I did just that and dove head first and focused on my artistry and nothing else. I learned to keep people around me who consistently push you, motivate you and never laugh no matter how crazy your ideas sound. Most importantly, people who keep it real with you even if you don’t like what they have to say at that very moment but it’s the honest truth. You are a product of your environment. So if your support system doesn’t align with your views in life, always being negative and most importantly never challenging you to take risks. This is your sign to leave them behind and don’t look back! Hide for six to twelve months and just work on your dreams. Your dreams only work if you do, was one of the biggest things I learned when I became a makeup artist and now launching Cuevas Beauty Academy. It takes YOU to do it and no one else.

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?
Oh boy! I wish that was the case. One thing I practice on my platform is being 100% transparent with my audience. So if I tell you it was a straight road to get to where I am today, I would be lying. I’ve recently for the last five months introduced yoga into my daily routine. Every day I show up I give gratitude for everything I went through to get to where I am today. One of my biggest struggles I face on a daily basis with anything in my life, not just business is overthinking. Can I get a round of applause for all my overthinkers out there reading this? Yoga has helped a lot with being ok with doing things on my terms and being ok with failure. Launching Cuevas Beauty Academy, I made a lot of mistakes even though I have so much production experience under my belt. Crazy right? I didn’t even make a call sheet. I wondered why I made these very simple mistakes when it was time to show up for myself. Guess what I had to make them. They were a part of the plan. I can’t learn, grow and improve without failure. Slowly learning even though I’m a perfectionist at heart, not everything is going to go perfectly as planned. It’s important to pause, breathe, don’t put energy in things that are out of my control and last but not least turn that negative into a positive. Put it out there! Guess what? You can always revisit for improvements. That is the model I’m living by. What is the worst that can happen? You become successful? But contemplating on what the results will be won’t get you there. What is meant for you can’t be taken away.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an internationally published traveling makeup artist. I service all of Los Angeles and worldwide. I take pride in having a passport and no criminal record. So if you want me to travel with you to Canada, we don’t have to use our last lifeline and call Drake! Because we are Gucci! I’m most known for glamming the sexiest women on planet earth and creating #Theultimatelook. A universally flattering look that has my clients coming back for more. What sets me apart in the industry is the immense passion I bring for my artistry and clients. In addition, always thinking ahead. Sometimes I feel like I have the gift of reading minds. I’m just kidding. Now that I have your attention, it’s all about doing things without having to be told. Always staying one step ahead of the photographer or model. Making sure everything in the shot is perfectly aligned making it less work on the photographer or editor. All while providing a luxury experience and confidence for all my clients and treating them as I would treat Jennifer Lopez. No set is complete without my positive energy! So get prepared to laugh, smile and create a lifetime of memories because I’m your official hypewoman.

I’m most proud of having the opportunity to work side by side with world-renowned photographer Sebastian Salinas and Playboy. Sebastian gives me creative freedom to take all of the shoots to the next level. His work speaks for itself and I am very proud and grateful to be working with someone who is always testing the creative barriers in this industry. A special thank you to every single person who has trusted me and my artistry on some of the most important milestones in their careers or lives. Photographers and creatives who trust me to bring their visions to life. Grateful to work with the top women and men in this industry.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Los Angeles is the consistent sunshine and being able to hike up mountains. I don’t get to do it as often as I would like. However, when I do I’m always up for a challenge. This experience is very similar to success, as I’m constantly reminded with each step. You always start at the bottom and work your way up to the top. You pause, reflect and give gratitude on how far you’ve made it. Coming from Florida where everything is flat, beautiful beaches and swaps. I grew a huge appreciation for mountains.

One thing I can say I like the least is the traffic. When I first moved here, I didn’t know driving fifteen miles would actually take me an hour and thirty minutes. My first year living here, I worked at Sephora. I was constantly pulled into the office for being fifteen to thirty minutes late. Let’s just say it took some getting used to leaving earlier. Since then, I’ve learned to calculate my time correctly. My Golden rule of thumb is leaving two hours early no matter what. If I arrive early, there is extra time that can be allotted for finding parking, setting up or even getting a coffee.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cuevasbeautyacademy.com
• Instagram: Michellecuevasmua
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@glamlashtv3166/featured 

Image Credits
Personal Photo- Photographer- Franz Orban @thecodecreatives Photographer- Sebastian Salinas @Sebby_raw ; Model- Kaitlynn Anderson @kaitlynnjanderson – Playboy Photographer- Franz Orban @thecodecreatives; Model- Brielle M. Simmons @soobrielle Former Miss Earth USA Photographer- Ryan Dwyer @letshoot ; Model- Cailin Alyssa @caylennon ; PR services – Luis Rodriguez @mainstreetproductions – Maxim Australia Photographer- Lance Lockridge @Photoshredz ; Model- Marie Sinclair @missmarielv ; PR services – LA Media Group @la.mediagroup – Playboy Australia Photographer- @Tonygrrro Model- Model- Heather Elley @heather.elley Miss New York USA 2022 – NYFW Tiare Hawaii fashion show Photographer- Ramsey C, @RLBphoto88 Model- Lynnie Marie @misslynniemarie – PR services -LA Media Group @la.mediagroup – Playboy Norway Photographer- Sebastian Salinas @sebby_raw Model- Anna Claire Clouds @annaclairecloudstv – Playboy All Stars Photographer- Aaron Romo @Aaron_roams , Sebastian Salinas @sebby_raw Model- CJ Sparxx @cjsparxx – Cuevas Beauty Academy @cuevasbeautyonline