Meet Trailblazer Kat DeJesus

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat DeJesus.

Kat, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always been into the arts. Music was my biggest passion, I actually got into makeup by coincidence. I’m Colorado born but moved to Chicago when I was 7 and grew up out there. When I was in college, I hated working at the Gap and thought working at an Ulta would be way more fun. I was 18 at the time. Clothing retail was definitely not for me. I never knew my change of job would take me where I am now.

I used to read all the fashion magazines and give customers tips from what I read in them. One day, a lady was so impressed with my “advice and knowledge,” she told me to go downtown and apply at the Bobbi Brown counter at Bloomingdale’s on Michigan Ave. She said she would out a good word in for me. On a whim, I went in and applied. I was so surprised that they called me and I got hired immediately after the interview. That was it……I hit the ground running. I stayed with Bobbi Brown for 2 years then worked for Benefit, became a manager, left after two years and got a job as an assistant manager at the MAC counter at the old Marshall Fields.

That was when I started networking more. Doing magazine shoots, weddings, music videos… etc. After five years with MAC, I got fired (work politics). That was the best and worst thing that ever happened. It forced me to freelance. I worked for so many lines. Smashbox, Nars, Kevyn Aucoin, Charlotte Tilbury just to name a few. I also had a stint where I was doing makeup at a strip club. Then, I went through a phase where I almost left makeup and tried to do a 9-5 for a few months. That was such a terrible idea. I am not an office person. Luck was on my side and an old colleague referred me to an agency and I got signed.

Then, I started assisting other artists in production and commercial work. Almost like I was climbing steps. One thing just came after another. Then, a few years back, I met my fiance, we got pregnant and decided to move back to Colorado to raise our family and be closer to my family.

Soon as I moved, I enrolled in Esthetics school at Denver School of Botanical and Medical Aesthetics. You can’t do freelance makeup legally unless you are licensed in the state of Colorado. My old agent in Chicago put a good word in for me in Denver and I got signed to Wilhelmina Denver as an artist. Then, a year and a half later, my old esthetics school asked me to come back and teach their makeup program. And here we are.

We have been in Colorado for two years and we hit the ground running. I am still doing commercial work but now I am also a Makeup Educator that just finished teaching a Dora approved 4 Advanced Makeup Course at my school.

Great, 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?
I don’t know anyone who has had it easy in this industry. Things are constantly changing. It’s definitely over-saturated now that so many people can learn basic makeup skills on youtube. One of my biggest struggles was not knowing my worth. A lot of artists undercharge and don’t realize that it brings the industry down as a whole. Our overhead is so much more than other beauty fields. We have to carry hundreds of products, brushes and disposables at any given time. It adds up because we have to pack almost everything in every shade, texture and formula to cover all skin types and skin tones.

Advice I would give… take a few business classes for makeup artists. Knowing how to run it as a business and not as a hobby is sooooooo important. Also, learn to be as well rounded as possible, especially if you want to go into production. You can know how to do the most amazing cut crease but if you can’t do “no makeup,” makeup you won’t get far.

Don’t rely strictly on social media to build clientele. You have to get out there!! Before I moved back to Colorado two years ago, I already started networking with artists in the area through referrals. When I got out here, I sent like 30 emails to photographers. Old fashion networking can still get you so far in this industry.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Kat D Makeup – what should we know?
My strength is making skin look like skin. Makeup should feel like a second skin. Bringing someone’s inner glow out is so important. I want my clients to feel like a better version of themselves. Definitely more Oscars makeup and less MTV awards.

Also, my versatility in working with all ages and all skin tones. I can’t tell you how often I hear horror stories from women of color saying they had to bring their own foundation or redo their makeup because an artist wasn’t able to match their skin tone. It’s super important to me that no matter who is in my chair, they leave feeling comfortable and confident and most importantly beautiful.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Learn as much as you can and keep learning. This industry changes fast. There are always new trends, new products and new techniques to be learned.

Be humble, even if you think you know everything, be open to learn more. You can learn something from someone who started makeup yesterday and you can learn something from an artist who’s been doing this a lifetime.

Network and build a community with other artists. Not everyone is trying to steal your clients. If you have a community of artists to refer to and get referrals from, no one will ever be without work.

Don’t be afraid to ask for the rate you deserve. If a person can’t afford your services, let them go, don’t lower your prices to accommodate them. They might not be the right client for you, clients who respect your skill and time will pay your rate. This isn’t a yard sale… you don’t have to haggle to keep the client.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.KatDMakeup.com
• Email: info@katdmakeup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katdmakeup
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatDMakeup/

Image Credit:
10 Photos, Nicole York Photography, Marcus Turner Photography

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