We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chelsea Sule. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chelsea below.
Chelsea, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I love this question. As a freelance artist, I feel like I have to overcome imposter syndrome on an almost daily basis in a new way. I’m definitely still working on it, but I’m truly starting to feel like I absolutely deserve to be where I am, and everything else my future holds. The first time I heard this term was when I was reading the book Presence, by Amy Cuddy. She talks about her struggle with imposter syndrome during college, and how she used intentional body language, deep breathing, and a “fake it til you become it” mentality to overcome it. If you haven’t read the book, it’s worth the read. She also has a TED talk about it if you’d prefer that. I began to practice working on her various “power stances”, coupled with visualization meditation and breathwork. I work on various elevator pitches in my head, just in case. I also repeat a mantra out loud in my car every time I am arriving to a new client or social situation “May I be a blessing to them, and they be a blessing to me.” My Aunt Lisa taught me that one, and its beautiful.
Of course I still get nervous as I progress in my career and life. I live in LA, and opportunity is all around me. Sometimes I walk into the homes of millionaires, or famous actors and musicians, and I know I need to leave them with a great first impression, It can be terrifying. But after I center myself with these little actions, I remember that they’re humans too, I’m absolutely worthy of being there (after all, they chose me to work with them), and that I am a delightful energy to be around (not to mention great at what I do). I actually had one of my most famous clients recently tell me how nervous she was, before she was about to walk out to perform a show. I couldn’t believe that she just told ME she was nervous. She chose to share a vulnerable moment with me. And she absolutely killed her performance. Little shifts like this continue to remind me that we all have these imposter feelings, no matter how big we become, and we can all overcome them.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Chelsea Sule, and I am an artist, I was born and raised in Green Bay, WI, where I had my start drawing and painting in elementary school. I also began working in the beauty industry at my mothers salon at age 14 as a receptionist, where I also received education in hair and makeup through the classes they offered.
I moved to North Carolina in 2006, and during college, I worked at a Clinique counter, and then freelanced on weddings and photoshoots. After graduation, I began working full time at a salon as a hair assistant and makeup artist, and bartended on the weekend to pay the bills. In 2012, I started working with my first agency, traveling all over the east coast to work for Fashion shows and various photo shoots and productions. After 10 years in NC, I moved to Miami to sign with Ford Artists and further my career. Ford was short lived, as they shut down their artist agency, and I signed with Wilhelmina. A few months later, my life shifted again in a big way when Wilhelmina offered me a full time position as an artist agent and manager in Los Angeles. I worked as an agent for 5 years, 3 at Wilhelmina and 2 at Celestine Agency, before I returned to being a freelance makeup and hair artist in 2021 during the pandemic. Currently, I am represented by Celestine, and work on photoshoots, fashion shows, events, weddings, and with celebrities for the red carpet.
Throughout my life, I’ve continued to paint as a hobby, and began learning to work with music as a DJ in 2022. I’ve recently rebranded myself from Makeup/Hair artist, to Artist, as I have been selling my original paintings and prints. Eventually, I’d love to have a career in music production, fine art, and makeup/hair, which will allow me to express myself fully as an artist in every field I’m passionate about.
Recently, I’ve been having paint nights with friends and neighbors, and discovered that so many of us are insanely talented. I launched a small Shopify website to sell my work, though it’s really meant to be a temporary site. I wanted to list some of my friends art on it as well, to help them sell some of their work. At the same time, more of my friend circle wanted in on these art nights, and I came up with an idea to start an artist collective. It’s still in the brainstorming stage, but I’m very excited about it. The collective will host an online gallery of various artists’ work, local events, and eventually, I hope to have a physical gallery in Los Angeles. I really look forward to watching this one grow.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe that there are many things that have contributed to my success so far, so to narrow it to three is tough. The first quality is that I recognize and own my talent. I was a dancer from the age of 2, through my high school graduation. I worked incredibly hard as a dancer to get to a competitive level, had many rejections from teams, and had to audition year after year to be on the team I ended up on. We were great, and it was an honor to be there. I had to work so hard to even keep my spot. Meanwhile, there were a handful of girls that showed up to those auditions, never having danced a day in their life, and they were such natural dancers that they just blew me and half of the team out of the water, ending up with a front and center spot in all of the routines. I was so frustrated, envious even, that I had worked my whole life at this passion, and didn’t have half of the raw natural talent that they did. When I started doing makeup, it all clicked. I had to “audition” for my Clinique job by applying makeup on one of the managers, and people immediately started talking. The woman practically gasped when she looked in the mirror. I was instantly hired. I became the makeup artist everyone wanted to have their makeup done by. Yes, it was just a counter in a mall in a small town, but I knew I finally had what those dancers had back in high school: Raw Talent. Everyone has something they’re innately amazing at. Every makeup team or mentor I’ve worked with with has spotted this talent as well, and it’s continued to validate that internal knowing. Everyone is innately amazing at something. When you uncover what that something is, RUN after it. Especially if you love it.
The second quality that’s brought me to the level I’m at is my attitude. I am not afraid to be humbled, I’m not afraid of feedback, and I never look at other artists in my field as my competition. I would be lying if I said I never feel a bit salty when another artist is chosen over me for a job, or when I’m told to adjust something about my work on set, but I take it with a smile, and I redirect. Greatness requires flexibility and grace, and while I know I’m talented, I also know that there are many artists out there who have a better portfolio than me, more talent in certain areas, and more time under their belt fine-tuning their work. We can all learn from each other, and in an industry like ours, we NEED to learn from each other and help one another. There’s room for all of us. Maybe not on the same job on the same day, but if we all keep this attitude, we’ll all succeed in a big way.
The third and most important quality I’ve found is my genuine passion and love for what I do. I find so much joy in creating, and making people feel beautiful, and it shows. I love people’s reactions to my work. The excitement I bring is contagious, as is the excitement other creatives bring to a set, wedding, or job. Most people in my industry absolutely love what they do, even if they get burned out on it sometimes. It’s something we can all feed off of, and it just creates this bubble of positivity. There’s a huge ripple effect that pours over into our entire lives when we have a good day together creating, and people want more of that. Even if I’m having an off-day, if I can just focus on how lucky I am to be doing what I love, it brings the vibe up and changes the whole day.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My clients come from all walks of life, ages, professions and cultures. I love hearing everyone’s stories and I listen with an open mind and heart. I enjoy working with people who also have an open mind and heart. I like clients who are creatively aligned with me, who have an idea of what they want, but are also open to giving me some creative freedom. I like clients who enjoy connection and conversation, the same way I do, who are engaged in the moment and the experience of working with me. I really like clients who are also passionate about their work and life, and are excited to be there. I also like working with people who are not afraid to tell me when they are particular about certain products, colors and techniques. After all, I’m being hired to make you look and feel good, and it takes both of us to make sure that happens. And of course, I love a client who is loyal, and respects my rates, no questions asked.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chelseasulemua.com
- Instagram: chelseasulemua
Image Credits
Photographers France and Jesse – Snow/Flowerbed/Moonlight editorials Phoebe Fitz-Underwater
