Meet Shelby Juan of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Juan.

Hi Shelby, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey as a makeup artist started in 2014, when I was a teenager and my mom was beginning her own career in content creation. At the time, she started receiving PR from different beauty brands, and I became fascinated by everything that would arrive at our house. For the next few years, I would get so excited whenever she received a new package because it gave me another excuse to sit in front of the mirror and experiment.

I would watch makeup tutorials from artists and creators like Manny MUA, Desi Perkins, and Daisy Marquez, and then try to recreate their looks on myself. I wouldn’t stop until I felt like I had perfected the look, which sometimes meant spending anywhere from an hour to three, or even five, hours in front of the mirror. I could genuinely get lost in the artistry of it.

Around that same time, my mom began taking makeup clients herself and One day she became overbooked and noticed that I was doing pretty well with makeup, so she asked me to help her with a client. That was really the moment I discovered how much I enjoyed doing makeup on other people. From there, I started practicing on my friends, and in 2017, while I was still in high school, I charged for makeup for the first time when I did some of my friends’ makeup for prom.

What started as something I enjoyed doing on the side slowly became a business. Even after I graduated high school, people I had gone to school with would continue booking me for prom the following year, and they would recommend me to their friends and family. A lot of my early business came through word of mouth. For several years, it was still more of a side gig while I worked other jobs, but the foundation was being built without me even fully realizing it.

In 2021, I decided I didn’t want makeup to just be a hobby anymore. I wanted to take it seriously and pursue the career I had always envisioned for myself. I used some of my COVID stimulus money to put a down payment on Michael Vincent Academy, where I was able to learn more about working in the production and set environment. I had always known that I wanted to work on set, particularly with celebrities and in the entertainment industry, so MVA felt like an important step toward that goal.

While I was in school, I started networking and landed my first music video job. From there, things began happening very naturally. I started assisting other artists, meeting people through those connections, and building my career through word of mouth, social media, and simply continuing to show up and do good work.

I didn’t officially leave my last job until 2024, and honestly, it didn’t happen the way I had imagined it would. I wasn’t planning to quit and I didn’t have a backup plan. I reached a point where I had to make that decision for my own well-being, and it was scary because I had bills to pay and didn’t know exactly what would happen next. I had to trust myself, my abilities, God, and the universe.

Looking back, I’m grateful that I took that leap. Once I committed to being a full-time makeup artist, opportunities started coming in in ways I hadn’t experienced before. I’ve met people and clients who have completely changed the trajectory of my career, and I’ve been fortunate to have clients refer me to other people working in the industry.

Today, I’m a full-time freelance makeup artist based in Los Angeles, working across different types of projects and continuing to build my career in the beauty and entertainment industries. I’m also expanding creatively through content creation and sharing more of my life and journey online.

It’s funny because when I look back at where I was when I first started, it feels like I’ve come such a long way. But even after everything I’ve accomplished so far, I still feel like I’m at the beginning. There is so much more that I want to experience, create, and accomplish, and that’s what makes this chapter so exciting for me.

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 definitely wasn’t a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was that, deep down, I already knew what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be a makeup artist, and I knew I wanted to work in the entertainment industry, but I didn’t always know how to realistically get myself there.

I’ve known since around 2017 that I wanted to attend Michael Vincent Academy, but for years, the biggest obstacle was simply money. I was working other jobs, paying my own bills, and trying to build a life for myself while also watching other people pursue the careers they wanted. There were so many moments when I felt limited by my circumstances and wished I could be further along.

From 2017 through 2024, I was constantly balancing makeup with other jobs. There were times when I felt unhappy because I knew I was capable of doing more and that makeup was where my passion was, but I didn’t yet have the resources or the confidence to make it my full-time.

Working at Corner Bakery was particularly challenging because I was already prioritizing makeup whenever opportunities came up. There were times when I would cut back my availability, call off, or make decisions that prioritized my makeup career, which understandably created tension with management. That period was difficult and sometimes took a toll on me emotionally, but it also made something very clear: I couldn’t ignore what I wanted forever.

Even leaving my job in 2024 wasn’t easy. I had to make the decision unexpectedly and without the safety net I had imagined having. I had bills and responsibilities, so there was a lot of uncertainty around what would happen next. I had to learn how to trust myself and keep moving forward even when I didn’t have all the answers.

And honestly, there are still difficult periods. Freelancing isn’t always consistent, and there are times when things slow down and I have to figure out how to stay afloat. I’ve learned not to see that as a failure, though. I have other ways of making money when I need to, and I continue finding ways to keep myself moving forward while building the career I ultimately want.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that things don’t always happen on the timeline you imagine. For years, I felt like I was waiting for my opportunity, but in reality, I was building the foundation for it. Looking back, even the difficult years were part of the process. They taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and, most importantly, how much I really wanted this.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a LA based freelance makeup artist, and I would describe myself as a versatile glam artist. I love being able to work across different styles depending on the person, the occasion, and the overall vision. My favorite looks tend to be FULL glam, especially blushy, baddie inspired looks with a beautiful overlined lip but I also love a clean, fresh “clean girl” look inspired by Hailey Bieber’s signature makeup.

More than anything, I love makeup as an art form and the fact that I can create something completely different depending on who is sitting in my chair.

One thing I’m especially known for is my speed and efficiency. I can complete a full glam in around 30 to 45 minutes when necessary, although that doesn’t mean I prefer to rush through my work. I actually love having the time to slow down, be detailed, and enjoy the process with my client. But if someone books me last minute or has a tight schedule. I know how to work efficiently without sacrificing the quality of the final look .

That skill has become especially valuable as I’ve started working more in the entertainment industry. Talent and artists sometimes have very limited time to get ready before a shoot, performance, appearance, or award show so being able to remain calm, organized, and efficient while delivering a polished result is something I’m very proud of. I want people to know that when they book me, they can rely on me.

But I think what really sets me apart is the experience I create in my chair. I’m very intuitive when it comes to reading personalities and reading the room. I’ve had clients tell me that they were extremely nervous or overwhelmed before sitting in my chair, especially when preparing for major events, and by the time they left, they felt completely calm and refreshed.

That means just as much to me as the makeup itself. There can be a lot of pressure surrounding a big event, and I love being someone who can help take some of that pressure away. I’ve been told that I have a naturally calming presence, and I think that is one of the qualities I’m most proud of

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If I could give advice to someone just starting their makeup journey, my biggest piece of advice would be to start posting from the beginning. Don’t wait until you feel like you’ve “made it” or until everything looks perfect. Record and document the process. People genuinely love watching someone grow, and you never know who might discover you along the way.

I would also encourage people to say yes to opportunities that scare them, especially when the only reason you’re hesitant is because you don’t feel ready. Sometimes those opportunities are exactly where the most growth happens. You may walk into a situation feeling nervous or inexperienced, but you can walk away with new skills, new confidence, and a completely different mindset.

Another thing I believe is extremely important is taking master classes and continuing to learn. Master Classess aren’t only about improving your technique. They’re also an opportunity to meet other artists, build community, and surround yourself with people who are passionate about the same things you are. Some of the relationships you build along the way can lead to collaborations, referrals, and opportunities you never could have planned for.

Most importantly, don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. It’s so easy to look at another artist’s career and wonder why you’re not where they are yet, but everyone’s path looks different. I’ve learned that there really is room for everyone, and someone else’s success doesn’t take anything away from your own potential.

Stay positive, stay curious, keep learning, and keep showing up. You don’t have to have your entire career figured out before you begin. Sometimes you just have to take the next step and trust that the rest will reveal itself along the way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbysjuan?stkn=cmV3aXA2NmQzeWY=