Rising Stars: Meet Melissa Volido of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Volido

Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had a passion for beauty, and I can thank my mom for sparking that interest in me at an early age. She played a huge role in my introduction to makeup—doing my hair and makeup for dance performances during the eight years I danced. I still vividly remember her trying to glue on false lashes, sometimes using too much glue, so I’d see little strings every time I blinked. Those early memories made beauty feel like second nature to me.

As I got older, my love for makeup only grew. I was the girl who wore a full face of makeup to school, not just because I enjoyed the artistry of it, but because it gave me confidence. When I hit puberty and started struggling with my skin, makeup became more than just a passion—it was a form of self-expression and comfort.

It wasn’t until my second year of college that everything shifted. When Covid hit, I found myself studying from home while also working remotely, and during that time, I started questioning if I was truly happy with the path I was on. Coming from an immigrant family, there was always an expectation that I would pursue a traditional career—something stable, like becoming a doctor. The idea of working in beauty never felt like a real possibility.

Then I met Jordan, my now fiancé. He was living in California at the time, and as we got to know each other, he was the one who encouraged me to take my passion seriously. He helped me see that turning beauty into a career wasn’t just a dream—it was something I could actually achieve. That gave me the push I needed. In January 2021, I took a leap of faith and moved to LA, and by March, I had fully immersed myself in content creation. That was the real beginning of my journey, and I haven’t looked back since.

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 hasn’t been a smooth road. The biggest challenge early on was being so far from everyone I cared about—except for my fiancé, who was my boyfriend at the time. While I was incredibly grateful to have him by my side during such a huge transition, I also felt a deep sense of loneliness and isolation. Up until that point, I had never really left the little bubble I grew up in, so moving to LA was a complete shock to my system. I suddenly had to navigate life on my own, without the familiar guidance of family or close friends. It was a time of major personal growth, forcing me to sit with thoughts and emotions I had never truly confronted before.

Beyond the emotional challenges, there was also the overwhelming task of figuring out how the beauty and content creation world actually worked. I had no clue how to represent myself when working with brands, how to negotiate deals, or even the unspoken rules of industry events. Everything from pitching myself to understanding contracts felt like a mystery. I had to learn through trial and error, making mistakes along the way but also gaining valuable experience. It was a tough learning curve, but those struggles ultimately helped shape me into the creator and businesswoman I am today.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a makeup artist and beauty, baking, fashion, and lifestyle content creator. My journey started on TikTok, where I was solely focused on beauty and makeup. I built my platform through creative makeup looks, tutorials, transitions, and transformation videos—this is what initially kickstarted my growth and following. But as I evolved, so did my interests. Naturally, I began branching out into other areas that resonated with me, including fashion, lifestyle, and most unexpectedly, baking.

Baking is something I only started exploring in the past year, and it happened completely by accident. Six months postpartum, I was coming out of a difficult period of postpartum depression and had lost a lot of motivation. I decided to channel my energy into something creative and meaningful—I wanted to make my daughter’s first birthday cake. I set my sights on a vintage heart cake, not knowing that this small personal project would open a whole new door for me. To my surprise, people loved my cake content. Just a couple of months into exploring this new interest, my third cake video went viral, hitting 16.6 million views—the most viral video I’ve ever had.

That moment made me realize how much my audience resonated with seeing me take on something new. What sets me apart is that I bring a personal, evolving approach to my content. Whether it’s beauty, baking, or lifestyle, I create from a place of genuine passion and curiosity, and my audience gets to grow with me. I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to carve out my own space in multiple niches, proving that you don’t have to fit into just one box to succeed as a creator.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories was when I was about 10 years old. My parents had planned a trip for us to visit Texas, and we were beyond excited. But at the very last minute, the trip fell through—something completely out of their control. We were already on our way to the airport with our bags packed when they broke the news. Instead of letting us feel disappointed, they made a spontaneous decision that turned out to be one of our best family memories ever.

They took us to a nearby hotel that had an indoor balcony and a theater-style movie setup where they handed out popcorn at night. To us, it felt like the coolest place ever. During the day, we spent hours at this huge waterpark nearby, running around and having the best time. In the evenings, my parents let my brothers and me run downstairs to grab popcorn before settling in for movie nights. It was such a simple thing, but in that moment, it felt like an adventure. Looking back, it’s one of those memories that reminds me how much effort my parents put into making sure we had fun, no matter the circumstances.

Pricing:

• Soft Glam – $110
• Full Glam – $130
• 1:1 Makeup Session – $150
• For collab/partnership rates please email melissavolido@gmail.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beacons.ai/melissavolido
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissavolido?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@melissavolido?si=NAR8XvUvb8wI8X0I
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissavolido?_t=ZM-8toFtdKCLyR&_r=1

Image Credits
Family Christmas Photo – Panos Production
Bianca’s 1st Birthday Photo – Daisy Vrabac