We recently connected with Iryna Bublyk and have shared our conversation below.
Iryna, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
There was a time when confidence felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford.
Moving from Ukraine to Tennessee meant starting over — in a new language, a new culture, and a world where nothing felt familiar. But the truth is, confidence doesn’t come from certainty. It comes from rebuilding yourself when life gives you no guarantees.
When the war started in my home country, something inside me shifted forever.
I remember doing makeup for a bride while reading messages from friends hiding in bomb shelters.
That contrast — between beauty and chaos, joy and grief — changed the way I saw everything. I realized that my job wasn’t just about makeup. It was about restoring a sense of calm and dignity in a world that had lost its balance.
Since then, confidence for me has become quiet — not loud or showy, but steady and grounded.
It’s the ability to keep showing up, to create beauty when it feels like there’s none left, and to believe that light always returns.
Over the years, I’ve learned a few lessons that guide me:
• Confidence is built, not born.
• You become strong by staying kind.
• You attract what you believe you deserve.
• Healing yourself helps you heal others.
Today, when I work with women — whether it’s a bride, a business leader, or someone rebuilding her own life — I see in them the same light I had to find in myself.
Confidence, to me, is not about being loud or fearless.
It’s a quiet inner peace — the knowing of who you are, even when everything around you is uncertain.
It’s finding strength not in validation from others, but in your own heart.
Confidence is the ability to be gentle without being weak, and soft without losing your power.
It’s no longer about proving yourself, but about being fully present — trusting, grounded, and real.
True confidence is calm energy — the kind that doesn’t need to convince anyone, it simply is.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a professional makeup artist and educator based in Knoxville, Tennessee.
For the past 10 years, I’ve been helping women feel confident, calm, and radiant through beauty — creating looks for weddings, photoshoots, and special events. But for me, makeup has always been more than just cosmetics; it’s a way to reconnect women with their inner strength and self-worth.
What makes my work special is the energy I bring into each session — I believe in calm leadership in beauty. My approach is gentle, mindful, and focused on creating an experience where women feel seen, safe, and beautiful inside and out.
In addition to my bridal and creative work, I also teach and mentor other artists — sharing my techniques, experience, and passion for authentic, confident beauty. Helping others grow and find their voice in this industry brings me so much joy.
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?
Looking back, I’d say the three qualities that shaped my journey the most were resilience, empathy, and discipline.
Resilience — because life tested me many times, from starting a new career in a new country to finding hope during the war in my homeland. I learned that confidence grows every time you choose to stand up again.
Empathy — because my work is about connection. Understanding women, their emotions, and what they’re going through allows me to create beauty that feels deeply personal and healing.
And discipline — because talent is nothing without consistency. Showing up, even when you don’t feel inspired, builds both mastery and self-trust.
For anyone at the beginning of their journey, my advice is simple: start where you are, with what you have, and keep your heart open. Don’t chase perfection — focus on growth, purpose, and people. The rest will follow.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I believe that when you’re open and willing to grow, life brings you the right people at the right time.
Throughout my journey, I’ve met incredible mentors, clients, and friends who have taught me what I needed to learn — sometimes through guidance, sometimes through challenge. Each of them became a mirror, helping me see my potential more clearly.
Their support and belief in me gave me the courage to keep moving forward, even when the path felt uncertain.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bublikmua.com/?fbclid=PAZnRzaAOAgadleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaeaMpNZkvvxb97RYO4V0IMXUTsujBEL9BmVGIKXiNJ4jd-sz8UhDVjY5qlaIQ_aem_IFWEI2eogekxrPeWrswmqg
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irynamuah?igsh=ZnM5bWo5ZGc2bTd5&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iryna-bublyk-ba1b38159?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
