We were lucky to catch up with Gabrielle Estrella recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Gabrielle, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Working in the artist industry is definitely hard. There is so much competition EVERYWHERE. I often still struggle with imposter syndrome, but having the right mindset is key to overcoming the mental block.
When I have a client, I always talk with them and try to envision exactly what they want. Unfortunately, of course, I am not a mind reader and sometimes visions get skewed. Not every client you have is going to like the work that you provide, and that is okay! Most clients will be overjoyed by what you’ve done. You’ve made them feel so beautiful and confident, and as much as they reassure you that they love it, the voice in your head still says its terrible and they hate it. You didn’t perfect one small line, or you rushed over a teeny tiny detail that nobody else would ever notice. It can be mentally exhausting. Something I like to remind myself of is, when you stress over something before it happens or without reason, you are putting yourself through it twice. Take some deep breaths, and let your brushes do the talking!
You, as an artist, need to trust yourself and your craft. You have dedicated your time, money, and career for this. Your client has likely looked at your work before booking and chose you for that reason. Be confident in your work, no matter what.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve explained my backstory in depth in my previous interviews, so I will give a brief synapsis here. My name is Gabby and I am a self taught makeup artist from a small, humble town in New Jersey. I have been fortunate enough to travel all over the country with my other half, Russell, and my sweet Pitbull, Peanut.
I am currently practicing in St. Petersburg, Florida trying to build my clientele back up. I am also enrolled in school to become a Licensed Esthetician and Nail Technician, as well as receive additional makeup training such as airbrush makeup application. As of right now, I am taking clients in the greater St. Pete/Tampa area through my website www.estrellasignaturemakeup.com.
My looks of choice are big, colorful eye looks, and fuller coverage foundation. I do love a “no makeup” look as well, but I thrive with my colorful eyeshadow palettes and glitters. I am also adding nail, skin and waxing services to my website soon, hopefully around or before March 2024.
Support for my small business means more to me than you know. Please consider booking a makeup trial with me if you are in the area, or even leaving me a small donation to show support via the “book” tab on my website.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
During my journey as a makeup artist, I cant really think of 3 distinct things that aided me more than the others. Although, I do think some things are very important to remember to have a successful career.
I think that being kind to yourself is a major step in the right direction. If you wouldn’t tolerate a client or stranger being rude and unkind to you, why would you accept that behavior from yourself?
Secondly, moving more towards my actual craft, knowledge of skincare is monumental to having happy clients. Being able to distinguish what will look best with their skin type and shade means they will look their best and feel confident.
Lastly, and I think most importantly, being flexible with your client. Being able to give them the look they want even if that’s not the style you prefer. For example, your client doesn’t want heavy foundation and wants to look natural, but you prefer a more full coverage face. You give your client a natural look and do your best to fulfill their vision. Although, there is a fine line between giving the client what they want even though you know it will be unflattering to them, and guiding your client to something more flattering to their skin type or facial structure instead. Always have a replacement so your client feels guided by you instead of just saying no and not offering anything in its place.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I think this is a great question! I absolutely think that being a well rounded professional is important. I tried for a very (VERY) long time to stick to what was comfortable for me. I am a self taught makeup artist and I looked for schooling programs that were strictly makeup artistry and had virtually no luck finding the right program. I had a really hard time accepting that what I wanted wasn’t really available. It wasn’t until very recently that I started my journey to expand my knowledge. I am currently enrolled at the American Institute of Beauty in Saint Petersburg, Florida to become a Licensed Esthetician and Certified Nail Technician, as well as furthering my knowledge in Makeup Artistry and eyelash extensions.
Being a well rounded professional is thinking about and being prepared for your future. Being able to offer a list of services instead of one very specialized service to start out will excel your career. If you’re able to check off multiple services in one visit for clients, that is more appealing than them having to hire multiple artists for multiple services. More services per appointment mean more money in your pocket. Eventually you will have a list of clients booking different services and your entire calendar will be full. Trust the process!!
Contact Info:
- Website: Estrellasignaturemakeup@gmail.com
- Instagram: estrellasignaturemakeup
- Other: If you’re in the St. Petersburg area, I will be accepting clients for nail and skincare services at my school soon. Please reach out via my websites contact form and I will provide the information if you’d like to meet me and get something done! I look forward to meeting you!
