Meet Trailblazer Contrashelby

Today we’d like to introduce you to Contrashelby.

Contrashelby, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always considered myself an artist. Since I could remember, I’ve always been drawing and that’s truly what started my “career” (if that’s what you’d like to call it).

Before I started my Instagram, I was a freelance illustrator. I’ve been commissioning tattoos for friends and clients, I would paint canvas’ for people to hang in their houses and I sold my art online. Only recently, I switched to makeup as my new medium, but it wasn’t necessarily by choice. I’ve developed carpal tunnel in both of my hands so it was much harder to hold a pencil for eight hours at a time. Makeup is much faster and seizes the urge that I have to create in a day without the pain. I’ve always found the artistic side of makeup more intriguing to me, the idea of editorial makeup is beautiful, but I wanted to put a twist on it. I started my Instagram because I wanted somewhere to put my work, not really expecting much to come from it. Flash forward four months later, brands I’d only dream of collaborating are working with me. It’s definitely hard to wrap my mind around, especially since it’s so sudden. I’ve realized I have a platform to relate to others, be the odd one out and still show people that beauty isn’t always about societies views of having a perfect face or body. You can still be “weird” and cool. I also have been showing daily reminders to be kind to one another in a world that’s not so kind as of late. I think that’s pretty important, especially for social media personalities, to show that we are still people who can show others that being a good person is more important than the follower count on our profiles.

Has it been a smooth road?
A definite struggle is being taken seriously by your peers. People don’t really ride with you until they see immediate success which is unfortunate, but I had a strong support system who believe in what I do.
Self-doubt is a huge enemy of mine but I’ve learned to welcome it. It’s a great reminder that I’m human and can still be vulnerable.

Advice for young people starting their journey would be: keep going. If you’re questioning about HOW to start and why you can’t, you never will. You will always be your worst critic, some of your closest friends won’t believe in you, but you have to remember:
1) why you’re doing this;
2) who you are;
3) you are worthy.
Look at your negatives that you are facing and try to turn them into positive learning experiences if possible. You. Can. Do. It. ♡

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am mainly an artist on Instagram. I personally do not prefer to use the word influencer, but if that’s what you’d like to call me then so be it! I work with different mediums but mostly makeup. I’m proud of my works, almost as if it’s my own personal art gallery to show to others. I’m also proud of sharing hardships in my life with my audience. I believe that somehow sets me apart from the “normal” beauty page, although they’re all incredible. I basically doodle on my face and people vibe with it. That’s always amazing as an artist to see and to grow your own little community from it? More than I could ever ask for.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
The most important advice I can give to a young person starting their career would be, is to push through the nay-sayers and negativity because you WILL come through triumphant. It is SO important to speak your goals into existence and believe that you will achieve them. Work hard because success isn’t handed to you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/contrashelby
• Twitter: Twitter.com/contrashelby

 

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