Life & Work with Brigette Navarro of Wilmington

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brigette Navarro

Hi Brigette, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Brigette, I am
Currently on my 10th year of being a makeup artist and have moved up to be the assistant store manager at MAC, I also am on my 4th year of creating prints for clothing and have multiple pieces that have been bought throughout the United States. My particular life has always been drawn to art and I’ve managed to navigate my life to be fully consumed by it . I grew up in the city of Wilmington Ca, I am a first generation Mexican American, I came from a single parent household hold with 2 sisters and one brother. I attended high school and eventually dropped out and had to enter a continuation school. After graduating I worked multiple jobs never thought I’d be a makeup artist in any way but when I was working at two restaurants I was actually a cook and a cashier with no car I decided to take a 3 month course to get my makeup certification, I struggled for the most part getting around but I made it happen; after I received my certification I freelanced for about 6 years and worked at Speedy cash for 4 years I had a huge struggle with responsibility and accountability for my recklessness. I had a huge shift in my life when I lost my cousin then a year later I was a victim of gun violence and suffered major PTSD. But once again I kept pushing and searching for something meaningful. I eventually started my clothing brand in dedication to my cousin and named my first sweater after him for my own tribute. The piece did extremely well and I decided to quit my job to focus on my career, but unfortunately on my last day I got into some trouble and totaled my car and had a huge set back. In the mist of all that I had to pay rent so I applied at MAC but didn’t ever think I’d be hired; so I worked a office job for about a week and a half and kept pushing my brand just to pay my rent; I eventually got interviewed and received the news and was job offered. I am in a great place in my career and I feel in any circumstance one can prevail as long as you find something to hold on to. Thanks to Art I have been resilient!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was definitely a rough path. The struggled with mental illness, PTSD, and self love. I feel that being a victim of gun violence actually made me appreciate life more because I was extremely careless with life as if it wasn’t beautiful. I grew up in poverty and had no guidance in how to obtain or maintain a healthy and stable life, I had to create my own reality and blaze through every situation head first. Even then that was problematic because I never took time to care for myself or made sure I was mentally prepared to take on any task.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a makeup artist full time, a designer part time. I am a painter and a realism artist. I am most proud of my design and clothing brand only because I imagined something and creating a piece that never existed and I have a foot print on this earth that will live longer than me. I specialize in makeup artistry and realism design. And I am most known for being a makeup artist.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice that I wish I was told when I started would be in the beginning do it scared, do it broke, bet on yourself and always look in the mirror and talk to yourself as if you were motivating the child with in you. We are our biggest cheerleaders.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shadeofsepia.bigcartel.com/
• Instagram: Beautyinsepia / shadeofsepia