We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Shaw recently and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Finding my purpose was one of the hardest challenges I faced, I spent a lot of time unsure of what my purpose was. I couldn’t keep jobs, I got bored easily while working for someone else.
I found my purpose by circling back to the things I loved as a child, the things I naturally loved, before life tells you otherwise. I loved makeup and knew I wanted to work it in a way that would be a helpful service and uplift others as I’m such a people person!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a Model, Makeup Artist and Stay at home Mom of 2 girls.
My main focus was being a stay at home Mom and raising my girls the best way I possibly could which was in my care full time. I am so lucky and blessed to have had the opportunity because of my husband. It’s given me the relationship I always wanted with my own Mother who was never apart of my life.
Once having kids I put everything on the back burner for a small window of their younger years to really take in all those moments. Once my oldest started school. I really felt lost and unsure of what my next steps would be. It seemed like being a Mom was all I knew.
I had to re-find myself and my purpose while also trying to generate an income.
I was a model before kids and have always loved being in front of the camera, I picked this back up to have a hobby I could enjoy when free time came up. I found myself doing my hair and makeup for my shoots and Photographers loving what I would do!
I than turned to makeup, the one thing that has always fuelled my creativity all throughout my life. I’m a very creative person naturally. I love going against the grain and following my own direction and makeup allowed me to do so in so many ways. Once I found my passion and purpose it became a snowball I was rolling up this big hill and once the confidence came the snowball started to roll down the hill and get MASSIVE!
That’s when I realized my makeup business and modelling can go hand in hand, I used my modelling skills to network with photographers and grow my makeup artistry business in a faster way. I benefited when models would cancel, I’d jump in and do the shoot myself if I had to.
Than one day while I was promoting another brands makeup, I had a thought of “What if I could generate my own income with my own brand?” That’s when the ball got rolling on my own makeup brand! I heard so many negative things about how there is so many big makeup brands already, but this only showed me where I could go with it and motivate me.
That’s when Charlilah was founded. I choose the name while combining the names of my daughters. I have a goal of creating an empire for them!
Right now, I have mascara to start!
We have launched on Amazon.ca and also launched on Walmart.ca the mascara is selling all across Canada currently.
I’ve done all of this in a little over a year.
It’s a more natural based mascara with no parabens! Which compliments my makeup artistry as I specialize in more natural looks that elevate and enhance beauty. I believe my purpose is to show women how beautiful they are and inspire others through the things I do.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
One of the most impactful qualities I have is I’m a full on dreamer, I dream the biggest dreams and have the biggest goals.
My skills to consistently see the positive in every situation and treat every opportunity and person I meet with the greatest intentions has lifted me up in the best of ways.
The best advice to those early in their journey is to really grab every opportunity, I rarely say no to opportunities and it has allowed me to be in the right place at the right time and network with some remarkable people. Also really stick to what you love, ask yourself the things you enjoyed as a child and really run with it, everything else will naturally follow and your purpose will shine through!
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
The biggest area of growth is in myself and who I am becoming. I am so authentic and comfortable with who I am. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and much I’ve grown as a person through this journey.
I used to be very insecure and finding myself and my confidence has been one of the most rewarding areas of growth that impacts me in such a positive way for my career and my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.michelleshawmakeup.ca
- Instagram: @michshaw @michelleshawmakeup
Image Credits
The Vintage Loft
Ken Lin
Alexandra Fuller
Katie Shaw
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
