Today we’d like to introduce you to Zaneta aka Zaza The Rapping Makeup Artist.
Hi Zaneta aka Zaza, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started taking interest in makeup about eight years ago. I was attending Art Institute of Sacramento sitting in my Program and Coding class frustrated about the minor mistakes and always took breaks doing my makeup. My side hustle was caregiving; I always gave my patients makeovers. My dad has always been my biggest supporter and convinced me to attend beauty school since I’m always playing in makeup. He would tell me, “Do something that you love. I know you love makeup but get a cosmetology license just in case makeup is slow you can fall back on other things like hair or nails.” I dropped out of AI and graduated with my California Cosmetology license in 2014. I’ve always wanted to move to Los Angeles and become a celebrity makeup artist. In May 2021, I dropped everything and moved to LA to fulfill my dreams and many more.
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?
Moving to LA in May wasn’t a struggle but wasn’t smooth either. I was living house to house, different hotels, slept in my car once and kept doing Airbnb to avoid that experience again. I expected the worse moving to Los Angeles, so my living situation wasn’t really a shock. I moved to LA knowing it was going to be a struggle and that it wasn’t going to be all unicorns and glitter.
The first week of July was a struggle and a great life-changing experience. My dad always tell me, “you’re going to get hit with challenges to see if you’re really hungry for your dreams.” Well, I fell and fractured my ankle. I was on a flint, crutches, scooter and a boot until the end of September. I cried everyday. Oh, not to mention my new apartment that I finally moved into don’t have an elevator so I had to climb three stories high and to get downstairs, I had to sit on my behind and slide down.
I fell several times because my weight couldn’t hold myself any longer. So I would crawl to my car ON THE STREET to get to my clients even though I’m supposed to be bed rest but needed the exposer even if it was FREE WORK! It was rough, scooter was in my car and crutches hurt my back and armpit. Boot cut into my shin… Omg, I can go on forever. It was a nightmare.
One day I crawled to my car and I cried out loud, “I wanna go home! I want my mommy and daddy! I want my grandma and sisters! I miss my best friends and my nieces and nephews! I want to visit my little cousins! I wanna go back home!” But I kept hearing my daddy’s voice, “Baby girl, Zaza! You’re going to get hit with challenges to see if you’re really hungry for your dreams!” I told myself, “I’m starving! Grass is greener on the other side. Every time it rains and storms, the sun will always come out! I want this! This is a minor bump in the road!” Man, this is everything my dad beats in my head for uplifting words. I’m very blessed to have such a great support team. I’m happy I didn’t give up!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve always wanted to move to Los Angeles and be a celebrity makeup artist. I was sitting in my Sacramento makeup station at my sister Teresa Marie Legendary Design Salon thinking of innovative ways to promote my makeup business and get noticed by big names in LA before I move.
I’ve always wanted to be a rapper since the 5th grade when my teacher Mr. Kino Carson told us rap is poetry. So why not kill two birds with one stone and make all my dreams come true by being a rapping makeup artist?
I started doing freestyles to Hyphy classics and performing in Sacramento. I then built the courage to drop everything and finally moved to LA May 2021. I continued my performances at So Cal beaches and other attractions. I gained followers and some clientele’s by rapping on social media, performing outside, passing out flyers and my business cards the old school way too.
I’ve worked with so many great people since I’ve moved here and build genuine friendships. My biggest accomplishment since I’ve been here was assisting Andre Campos on Cardi B’s first cousin Nefi Latin music video. I did makeup for her dancers. From there, Andre and I became roommates and family/friends. I also met amazing ladies who were the wardrobe stylist and assistant at the shoot, Arianna Soleil and Kora who I now call my family as well. I’m so grateful and blessed to have met these beautiful and wonderful ladies.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
You know what’s crazy? When I share on my resume who I worked with to people or the great things that took place, they tell me I have good luck. I believe when people tell me, “you have the best of luck!” It makes me feel like they’re watering down my success and hard work. I don’t see anything as good or bad luck, life just happens. I work hard to where I’m at and where I’m headed. If anything “bad” happens, I take it as “it’s life and things happen for a reason. Let’s move on and find the next best thing.” Anything good happens isn’t luck… I was just there at the right time and place meaning I was doing what I was supposed to. Even fracturing my ankle wasn’t bad luck, it was meant to happen to challenge me and teach me a lesson. I feel like everyone should have this mindset to keep swimming like Dori.
Pricing:
- In Home/Studio Full Glam: $95
- Travel Full Glam: $120 (after 15 miles of my location is $2 per mile)
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://zazaxobeauty.square.site/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/zanetalovesyou?utm_medium=copy_link
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/zanetalovesyou
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCEWKHnHxW-fupHJx1JwCMvA
- Other: https://instagram.com/zazaxobeauty?utm_medium=copy_link
