Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Lee.
Hi Sonia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I studied art and fashion in Korea. One of my teachers suggested I transition into makeup as I had an eye for beauty. I then attended the best makeup school in Korea. Due to my skills, Amore and Judanhak are the two companies that influenced me to come to Los Angeles to study beauty. I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. I believe that to be beautiful is to love oneself and feel confident. I am a professional makeup artist and men’s groomer. I am grateful I met my agents at Exclusive Artists (Darin, Claire, Andy, Allie, Matt, and Kim). I work extremely hard and my team works just as hard to get me where I am today. I had poor English no one could understand me at the beginning. Basically, I did not know much when I started. I had no idea how to start the journey. I had no support…that is the way to start… learning who is out there.
For anyone who is trying to start their career – just do it and do more and do not give up…that was what I told myself when I felt lost. Meeting everyone was a gift to me…I felt like everyone I met was there to teach me something. When I get up in the mornings, I check in with myself and tune into how I am feeling. I always respect others and see how I can learn from myself and others. I struggled every day wondering how I can produce better work but working with others is what inspired and motivated me. It was almost as if they stretched my own abilities I didn’t know could be stretched further. Stretching my abilities was stretching my mind and strengthening it. I try to not compare myself to others because I’d rather focus on my own work and learn how to perfect my craft. Daily practice with meditation with my teacher helps me. His name is Ilchi Lee, Creator of Brain Education and Body & Brain Yoga, New York Times bestselling author and Creator of the Earth Citizen Movement. He believes that the brain plays a key role in creating health, happiness, and peace for individuals and the planet and has helped people maximize the potential of the brain.
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?
I am now having a smooth road because I have Exclusive Artists supporting me. When I first arrived to LA, special FX makeup school tuition was expensive. After graduating, looking for work was not easy. I had three different agents before meeting Darin at EA around 2005. His support has absolutely helped me to grow where I am today – EA has built my career. I am very grateful for their love and trust. It’s important to recognize that struggle is inevitable but what matters is that you do your best every single day!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a celebrity men’s groomer to some of the most elite talent in the business!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I took a risk when I left my comfortable life in Korea in 1989 to come to America without speaking any English. I had three wonderful agents before meeting with Darin at EA in Los Angeles. We had scheduled a date and time to meet but I was busy working and could not make the meeting. Then one day, I just booked the ticket and had a quick 24-hour trip to meet Darin. After meeting with Exclusive, I left my previous agent in NYC and I started working immediately! I will say I took some risks while also following where life happened to take me. I think risk taking is necessary. I took a risk to move to NYC from Korea and took a risk with a new agency in Los Angeles… looking back I am so glad that I took a risk. I carved my own path and decided to build a life different than what my family and I ever expected!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eamgmt.com/sonialee
