Meet Bianca Fairchild

We were lucky to catch up with Bianca Fairchild recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bianca, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Being that I am a transgender female, I feel as though I have no choice, but to be resilient. As one can only imagine, it is incredibly difficult at times and it takes an insurmountable amount of strength just to be me… just to be in my skin, in my body, and face the world as myself. That in and of itself, requires a great amout of vulnerability. I live in a world that doesn’t readily accept, understand, and even hates those like me, yet I’ve chosen not to hate the very same world in return. I think that is very telling and speaks volumes about my character and who I am as a person. There have been times when I’ve just wanted to give up and “throw in the towel”, but I know that I have so much life to live!

Aside from myself and my own personal experiences, I would have to say my resilience also comes from my family. Both of my parents are very strong, hard-working, inspirational people, and they instilled those same values in myself and my brother at such a young age. They always taught us that nothing good ever comes easy and the importance of hard work, never giving up, and loving ourselves.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

While I have over 10 years of retail styling experience, any and all things beauty have always been my first love. It just always came so naturally to me at such a young age. Whether it was styling my Barbies, playing in my mother’s makeup, or flipping through the glossy pages of fashion magazines and watching runway shows, I’ve always felt so connected to it. It has ALWAYS been a part of me!

One of my first professional jobs as a makeup artist, was for fashion designer Emilio O. in 2010. He was shooting for his Fall/Winter collection, and I had the opportunity to do makeup and assist in styling the models. It was a great way for me to get the feel of what it was like to work onset. I had also worked for both Makeup Forever and Laura Mercier briefly.

I began doing freelance makeup for men’s underwear and apparel company Andrew Christian in 2016. I met the creative director during a shoot and was asked if I had ever thought about doing makeup for her on set for the company. She loved my energy, artistry, and professionalsm. She had seen something in me, and felt that I could be a possible asset to the brand. I took her up on her offer, and about halfway through the shoot, I was asked to come back for another shoot that week, and I have been their key makeup artist ever since. It was such a natural fit and I honestly love every aspect of it. It has never felt like work to me, because I am doing what I truly love, when I can.

Because makeup is something that I am so passionate about, I love not only the feeling it brings to me, but more so my clients! I always want to ensure that I leave a client not only looking, but FEELING better than they were prior to their experience with me. I really enjoy educating my clients on products, technique, and application. One of the most important things for me as an artist, is really building a good relationship with my clients and ensuring that they feel seen. We all deserve to look and feel beautiful inside and out.

Aside from makeup, modeling is something that I’ve always loved and want to try, but haven’t quite built up the courage to try yet. I’m getting there! One of my dreams ever since I was little, is to be the face of a brand. Ideally, a cosmetics company.

Last year, I had the pleasure of working with an amazing cinematographer (Mykhailo Dolgin) and his team (Focus Media), on a short film about my life and my journey as a transgender woman, titled “Fear of Fying”. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that was/is so incredibly special to me! Not only was this a chance for me to heal, but it also serves as a voice for those unable to speak their truth. The film rides upon the backbone of resiliense, tenacity, self-reflection, and self-love. Fear of Flying,” serves as a vehicle for sparking conversation among audiences and ultimately fueling the fire for both empathy and compassion. It challenges us to look beyond the surface, to the shared humanity that binds us. It urges us to open our minds, hearts, and arms to all those around us. In doing so, we weave a much richer, more vibrant tapestry of human experience marked by acceptance, thus giving way to the power to change lives. I encourage any and everyone, to watch this film with an open heart and open mind.

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?

I would have to say self-confidence, having an open mind, and willingness to take chances. I believe that all three tie into one another and can prove to be very impactful in one’s life (both personal and professional). I still struggle at times with my self-confidence and tend to be fearful of taking chances, but believing in myself and taking chances has given me many amazing opportunities. They have also helped me to build character and challenged me to be a stronger, better version of myself.

If I could give any advice to those that are early in their journey, I would tell them, that you have to really believe in yourself first, because no one else will. Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance and be open to new ideas and/or ways of thinking. Take chances, even if they don’t always necessarily work out. Take them as a learning experience.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I think it’s safe to say that we can all feel overwhelmed at times, especially in the world we live in now. Everything from everyday life (work, family, friends, relationships, social media, etc.).

When I feel overwhelmed, I do a few things to help calm myself. I like to be active, so I’ll go for a run and just let my mind go. Not think about anything, but be present in the moment. Movement, exercise, and being active, is so important for the mind and has proved to be beneficial for your mental health.

I also love being in or near water. It has always had such a calming effect on me. Going to the beach, is something that I really enjoy. Just feeling the sun on my skin, listening to the sound of the ocean, and just being outdoors, is so relaxing to me.

Sometimes, I will just sit and listen to music or watch a favorite show or movie. I also try to limit my time online, but it can be hard at times. I find that being online every now and then, can be somewhat stressful for me and I have to “unplug”.

Therapy, is something else that I did for a few years and found it to be somewhat helpful and a different means to dealing with my feelings.

I’m a very emotional person by nature, and I never hesitate to cry if I need to. Those that really know me personally, understand this to be true. Sometimes, it’s really important for me to realease my feelings and energy in that way, as opposed to holding it all in.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Bianca.fairchild
• Other: “Fear of Flying”

  Link:

  https://vimeo.com/821421651/3538303769

Image Credits

Mykhailo Dolgin
Ben J. Grant
Focus Media