Meet Paula Heckenast

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Paula Heckenast. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Paula below.

Paula, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I found my purpose in makeup when I realized how much joy it brought me to give makeovers growing up. My real “aha” moment happened in 2012 when I gave a friend a ride to her makeup school orientation. I was only there to help her out, but something clicked for me during that visit. The more I thought about it, the more I realized makeup had been my passion all along. That day, I decided to sign up for classes myself, and shortly after, I quit my insurance job to pursue makeup full-time. It was the best decision I ever made! Now I get to help people feel beautiful and confident every single day—it’s truly what I was meant to do.

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

I’m Paula Heckenast, a professional makeup artist and educator with over 18 years of experience. My career has taken me across North America, working on incredible projects for brides and celebrities alike. After relocating to Tampa in 2021, I started to expand my passion into something even bigger—City Lights Beauty Agency. What started as a makeup artist career has now evolved into an agency representing top-tier beauty talent.

What excites me most about what I do is empowering people through beauty. Whether it’s a bride on her wedding day or a celebrity walking the red carpet, the transformation goes beyond makeup—it’s about confidence, empowerment, and making someone feel their absolute best. I’ve always been passionate about making makeup accessible and easy for everyone, and now I get to expand that with my agency, City Lights Beauty.

Currently, I’m focused on growing the agency and launching new services, including exclusive VIP bridal packages and artist representation for top-tier events. I’m also excited to continue developing my podcast, “The Makeup Lesson Podcast,” where we bring beauty stories, expert tips, and transformative makeup moments to life.

The beauty industry is constantly evolving, and I love being at the forefront of that. Whether it’s through makeup, education, or running my agency, my goal is to keep pushing boundaries and create lasting, meaningful experiences for every client I work with.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I think resilience, adaptability, and sheer stubbornness (hello, trauma!) have been the most impactful in my journey. First off, resilience—this industry will test you in every way possible, but being able to bounce back from setbacks, bad clients, or projects that just didn’t work out is everything. Then, adaptability—nothing in makeup ever goes exactly as planned, whether it’s a client’s request changing at the last second or needing to troubleshoot on set. Being flexible and quick on your feet is a game-changer. Lastly, stubbornness (or, as I like to call it, “passionate persistence”)—pushing through when things are tough and continuing to grow even when doubt creeps in. Trust me, it’s a necessary skill!

My advice for anyone early in their journey is: embrace the challenges. You’re going to face some tough moments (probably more than a few), but that’s where you grow. Build resilience by learning to take every “no” or misstep as a chance to improve. Stay adaptable, because the ability to pivot will open up new opportunities. And be stubborn! Believe in yourself, even when others don’t, and keep pushing forward. Growth comes from those messy, uncomfortable moments.

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?

Had you asked me this a few years ago, I would have proudly said, ME! The person who’s been most helpful in helping me overcome my most recent challenges and build essential skills has definitely been my boyfriend, Josh. His support has been next level—he’s helped me see things through a different lens and reminds me to slow down and enjoy life. He’s been a huge reason I’ve been able to navigate the ups and downs of my career with a more grounded mindset. Josh always reminds me that I quit the rat race for a reason—we don’t need to keep up with the Joneses. His perspective has not only helped me in my personal life but also allowed me to approach my business with more clarity and intention, staying true to my values instead of constantly chasing what’s next.

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