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Name: Denize Nelson
Superpower: Traveling makeup artist extraordinaire
When Denize walks into a room everyone thinks: Wow, this is a fireball in a gorgeous package!
You simply can’t miss her. She’s witty and dynamic and has the most beautiful laugh. But guess what? She’s also soft and kind and is always ready to help. She makes everyone feel comfortable around her and happy. And this is what Denize does for her clients every day because she chose to follow her dream.
This is Denize. And this is her story…
Hi Denize!
What’s your style and what makes you most comfortable?
Okay, so no judging, but I’m actually a girl who loves walking barefoot. My jeans and oversized T’s are my favorite day-to-day wear, and I couldn’t care less about having my nails done or styling and coloring my hair every month. Some people might tell you that I have the dress sense of a bulldozer!
Denize showcasing her casual, comfortable style in a denim shirt and easy up-do.
I used to work in a workshop for a very popular car manufacturer and getting my hands dirty in grease and oil was nothing new. I only started wearing makeup in my early twenties, and only because I had to – apparently it goes well with corporate wear. Who knew?! *giggles*
Denize in more formal makeup.
We know you’re a traveling makeup artist. What do you want to do with this talent?
My dream is to make every single lady out there see her true beauty on the outside, and to feel like the queen she really is on the inside!
We live in a world where glossy magazines tell us what the perfect woman should look like, and THAT destroys what we see in the reflection of our own mirrors.
We are all unique and beautiful. And I want everyone to feel powerful and amazingly beautiful on the inside.
What planted the seed for you to think about becoming a professional makeup artist?
One morning a colleague of mine asked me to do her makeup for her wedding. I was stunned and I immediately said no!! Just because I can draw perfectly even eyeliner does not mean that I can do a proper full face of makeup on SOMEONE ELSE’S FACE! And for her most beautiful day??? Never!!
Aaaanyway, after a glorious amount of red wine one night, she convinced me and I finally said yes. I did her, all her bridesmaids’ and her mom’s makeup on the big day, and they looked amazing!
I got so many compliments and her granny asked me why I’m not doing this full time. I just laughed it off and went on with my day.
How did you finally get started in this field?
While I was working my 6 to 6’s every single day of my life, my gorgeous little boy was born. I quickly realized that this rat race of working so hard for peanuts and missing out on all of my son’s ‘firsts’ because he is in daycare all day is not worth it!!
One Saturday morning, the first Saturday off I’d had in ages, I was sitting in a cozy coffee shop with my son, eating ice cream with him, and there and then I decided THIS IS IT!!! This is what life is all about – spending time with my son! Laughing with him about something that doesn’t even make sense, but really BEING THERE with him!
Denize with her husband James, who has supported her in following her dreams.
So, I picked up my phone and told, not asked, TOLD my husband that I’m resigning from the job I’d been working at for almost 14 years. Being the good man that he is, he asked no questions and just said, ‘Okay’. I could hear the question mark after the ‘okay’, so I immediately said I’m going to become a professional makeup artist.
His second ‘okay’ had an exclamation mark at the end of it, and I knew this was what I was supposed to do!
And, knowing you as such a dynamic lady, you acted very quickly on this…
Absolutely. I enrolled in a two-year course at a fabulous place right around the corner from my house. But then the day that my course started we found out that I was pregnant with my daughter (*please hear dramatic music in the background here*).
I had to change from doing a two-year, part-time diploma to doing it in 6 months full time because I just knew that when there was another baby nothing was going to get done! But I DID IT!!!!!!
And here we are.
Denize, now a qualified makeup artist.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Okay, so I get up REALLY EARLY every morning. I use my ‘makeup time’ as ‘Me Time!’ and I have to get it done before my family wakes up!
I’m so in love with early mornings. It’s quiet. It’s just me and my makeup case – sometimes I play music and forget about everything that grownup life throws at you for those 30 minutes! It’s just me, my music and my foundation! Bliss!!!!
After a normal hectic morning routine of dressing everyone and dropping them off at school, I meet up with the photographer I work with. We do the most amazing makeovers!!!
I color them in and style their hair, then he takes the most beautiful photos of them! We change lives!!!!! They walk out of that room with confidence. They get into their cars feeling beautiful! Feeling that they can look the world in the eyes again and say ‘THIS IS ME!! And I’m AMAZING!!!’
Oh, I love my job! We’re extremely busy and we probably do between 4 to 7 makeovers a day!
Denize doing a professional makeover while the cameras roll.
What challenges have you faced along the way or in everyday life?
It’s a tough industry. And let me tell you, a bunch of women competing with each other isn’t pretty!
It’s almost as if no one wants to see the sun shine on anyone other than themselves. It’s crazy!!! And it’s draining.
But… Chin up. Chest out. Tummy in. You can do this, honey!!!
How does your work inspire you?
Denize putting makeup on an inspiring woman in an inspiring setting – no more car manufacturer offices for her!
I get to meet inspiring women every single day of my life! Every lady arriving for a makeover shoot has a story, and they are mostly sad stories. Very few of them just come in because they want nice pictures. And every single day of my life I realize how truly blessed I am.
To all the phenomenal strong and beautiful woman whom I’ve had the honor of meeting, I salute you! You think that I’ve changed your life because now you can see in yourself what I see, but it’s really all of YOU who have changed mine.
What’s your personal motto when it comes to following your dreams?
You know what, as long as your heart is in it, nothing will or can ever come between you and true happiness!!!
What keeps you going when things get tough?
Denize with her beautiful family.
My beautiful family!! My amazing husband. My two gorgeous children. And coffee. Definitely coffee.
Did I say coffee?
I meant coffee.
What would you tell your bestie who wanted to follow a dream of hers?
Nothing is impossible!!!! What you put out into the universe you will get back 45 x 45!!
How can we find you online and see your work?
Go check out my page Magenta Blush. You can also see my daily work on Pixelpro Photography on Facebook.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I want you ladies to remind yourself DAILY that you are strong, you are capable and you are loved!!! You are the most beautiful creature walking this earth, and nothing is worth your tears!!!
♥♥♥
Denize, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It’s a wonderful reminder about how important family is and those you love. And coffee, of course!
From car grease to blusher is quite a turnaround in life, and all from a decision you made over ice cream. If anyone is reading this while sitting back and waiting to make a move, then this is your sign to take action!
I love the fact that you take me-time every morning before starting the day. That’s a great little nugget of a tip for us ladies – taking time out for ourselves every day, no matter how busy you are.
We look forward to seeing you grow from strength to strength and will follow you on Facebook to enjoy your gorgeous makeovers.
Put on that tiara, girl, and may it always shine brightly!
♥♥♥
