Today we’d like to introduce you to Serina.
Hi Serina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always loved being artistic and creative growing up. I loved all things art in school and I used to have drawings and sketchbooks with all different kinds of styles of art. I used to sketch out fashion pieces too. (Which I still have lol) Then, in high school, I got into wearing more makeup. I became obsessed with false eyelashes and more “dramatic” makeup at the time.
People at school and at home would make fun of me for it. That didn’t change my love for it though. Makeup for me at that time was not only a form of self-expression but also gave me more confidence and I think the rebellious side of me liked it because so many people would tell me they didn’t like it or not to wear it. I always said I wanted to be a fashion designer growing up. So with that being said, I went into college wanting to major in fashion design but the people around me at the time discouraged me out of it so then I switched to interior design but I still felt discouraged out of that as well. Then, I decided to major in psychology because I could “make more money” with that. I loved and enjoyed psychology too but eventually, I ended up dropping out altogether for personal reasons and started to work full time.
In 2016, when makeup on YouTube and Instagram was really taking off and huge, it sparked my interest in makeup again. So I started to intentionally wear fun, more dramatic makeup looks to work. Then, I started taking pictures of my makeup looks and posting them on Instagram. I started off with beauty makeup but it still didn’t fulfill my creative need so I started to dip my toes into the creative, facepaint, creepy, and sfx side of makeup and fell in love with that. I’ve been in that space ever since.
I really started to grow and take my social media presence more seriously in 2020 during the beginning of quarantine. It was a great time for me to grow and find my style(s), my likes and dislikes, my strengths, and weaknesses. It also helped me keep my mind on other things other than what was going on in the world. My skills have grown so much since then and I’m so proud of myself for how far I’ve come.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road. I have struggled with my confidence, mental health, and other personal struggles along the way. I’ve also had people that were close to me try to discourage me out of doing what I love. Throughout this six years makeup/social media journey, I have had many ups and downs, long breaks, streaks of motivation and inspiration, and huge life changes. My love always comes back to creating though.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work as a content creator. I create videos, photos, etc. for different companies online/social media. I also (sometimes) work as a freelance makeup artist. I have done bridal, prom, events, and Halloween makeup on clients. It’s not something I frequently do because I am very particular on who I work on and with.
I believe that I’m most known for my creative and creepy makeup looks online. I take pride in my creativity. I am never short on ideas or inspiration. I always try to think outside of the box with my work.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
If we’re talking about in general, my closest family and mental health matter most to me. My closest family matters the most to me because they love me unconditionally and support me endlessly. My mental health is extremely important to me because I had gone so long not making my mental health a priority because it never was growing up. Once I started to take care of myself and my mental health, I saw many positive changes in my life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/serinabinah
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRL9sY7V/
