Check Out Josie Beltran’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josie Beltran.

Hi Josie, 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?
My story in The USA began back in 2002 when My family and I moved here from Mexico. I was just 16 years young. Coming from a small town from Michoacán to Los Angeles was a cultural shock, specifically because of the language barrier. I was able to go to high school and graduated in 2005. I literally did four years of high school in two and a half years, that was though.

My career now is being an Artist. I’m a Makeup Artist, Lash Artist, PMU Brow Artist and recently retired Makeup Instructor with ten years of experience. I have done it all in the makeup world, from freelancing from home and house calls, trade work, working for different Makeup Academies to having my own studio, and moving back to renting a station, and even gotten opportunities to work with a couple of Latin celebrities. I can proudly say that I am living my childhood dream job. I’ve been working in the beauty industry for 12 years and counting.

This is all can sound so dreamy and as I often hear it from my students, like such big accomplishments. However, all of these accomplishments have cost me a lot of behind-the-scenes hard work, disappointments, tears, and failure.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Coming from a traditional family, it can be challenging to diplomatically go a different route than what your parents excepted from you. Back in the early 2000s having a career in the beauty industry wasn’t looked as the greatest accomplishment. Following my childhood dream to become a Makeup Artist, meant like going against the world for me.

After high school, I did go to college for a couple of years, but I just did not like it. I also had already started working, but it wasn’t until I became full-time and worked full time for about three years. That’s when I realized I couldn’t stay there and I needed to pursue my own dreams.

I remember that with my savings and tax return, I was able to pay for a makeup course that will certify me as a professional Makeup Artist. I got certified, however, I felt lost. I did not know what to do next. I had no money left to invest in a professional makeup kit, a chair, a light l, or a camera for good pictures.

I had to start somewhere, thankfully I have a lot of sisters and nieces and friends I could practice on. Still, I could only use their faces so many times. Besides my insecurities, my lack of experience, and the right tools, personal problems also emerged. It started to become harder and felt like more pressure because no matter what, there was no shortcut, I had to do the heavier work and build a strong base to be able to stand strong. I remember one of my sisters Gricelda, she gave me a book called “The Secret” it really helped me a lot with believing in myself and I started to speak more affirmatively. One of the things I would say was “one day, I’m gonna be so busy, that people are going to call me and ask me to do their makeup, and I will say: Let me check my agenda”

For the next years, I was doing makeup for free and or charging maybe $20 or $30 for gas and some supplies. I did a lot of TFP trade for print, I worked with people that connected me with more potential clients and people that just used me.

While being busy doing makeup for free and or charging a small fee, the bills were piling up and as expected arguments and more took place and through it all, I never gave up.

It took me about five years to get to a position where I was already a Makeup instructor and booked back to back with makeup during the busy season. I remember it was a Friday night when I had gotten home from teaching a class, I had to prepare my kit to wake up the next day at 5 am to go do makeup. As I was cleaning my brushes, I had an epiphany. I was finally there, I was finally booked so much that I had to have an agenda. I was so busy I didn’t realize it. In that moment I cried of happiness and of how proud I felt of myself.

After realizing that I was finally where I wanted to be, I decided to stay there for a while. I continued teaching and I did that for ten years. I still occasionally teach group classes, only to cover for a fellow artist.

Throughout these past 12 years, I also continued my education by adding more beauty services like PMU Brows and Eyelash Extensions. I have also met so many beautiful souls who feel inspired by me and who remind me of me.

I have come across so many students that have said to me that a career in the beauty industry is what they always wanted and that after so many years they are finally following their dream.

I can now say that I’m in a different stage of my career. After working mainly solo throughout the past 12 years, I recently moved into a work environment where I have coworkers and I’m part of a new family for me at a beauty salon “Dolled Up”.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
– At the Salon Makeup Artist -Lash Extensions Artist
– PMU Brow Artist
– One on one lesson
– At location Makeup Artist

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The crisis definitely made me learn that even though I am an established Artist, I need to have more savings because I was not prepared for it all. Also, the fact that being self-employed doesn’t come with paid sick days and much more. It opened my eyes to look into what is there for us self-employed people as far as retirement plans and more.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/josiesglam?igshid=YTM0ZjI4ZDI=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dressyourbrows

Image Credits:
Photographer on picture that says pro studio on chairs, his name is Eric Gonzalez The rest of the pictures were taken by me or my phone.