We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiina Valenzuela . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiina below.
Tiina, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Quieting the inner critic in my journey passing imposter syndrome in makeup artistry. The mask of Doubt…..
throughout my journey as a business owner and makeup artist Imposter Syndrome has had a huge impact in my work ethic and success. Many people who know my story can relate coming from a high stigma community. It all started when I landed my first ever fashion show gig in the valley. I was contacted by a very well-known designer Alyssa Chavez owner and creator of Jade Alchemy. She had mentioned how much she loved seeing my work and my use of color in all my artistry and mentioned I would be a perfect fit in her show. So I said yes, i was so excited but deep down i was still in doubt. Days turned into weeks and i still didn’t comprehend on why she chose me. No matter how hard and determined I was in perfecting my craft I still didn’t feel worthy enough for the opportunity given to me. The day of the show finally came and I was backstage, sponges and brushes in my hand ready to conquer the day. My station was right next to an artist whom was much younger than me with many years of experience in the fashion industry a true veteran. As I watched her effortlessly perfect each model with confidence a voice screamed in my head: you don’t belong here! They’re going to find out you just got lucky. You’re blending is amateur, your kit is cheap and you’re about to ruin every model that sits in your chair. That crippling thought- that feeling that I was an imposter waiting to be exposed- could follow me for years, overshadowing every successful booking. As the day went on with each model I couldn’t stop myself from looking over and comparing my work with hers despite the great feedback I would get from each model. I never felt so vulnerable and unworthy in my life, so I proceeded with my work and continued my job. The day had finally ended with all models done I proceeded to pack my things to head home, Despite of how I fell all of a sudden she came over and introduce herself. My stomach sank I didn’t know how to react but once we started talking and broke the ice we talked about everything and anything that had to do with makeup we even talked about our own makeup Journeys and how far we’ve come as artists. She had mentioned she worked with so many artists and had done so many shows that their work and talent couldn’t even compare to mine. At that moment I felt a huge weight come off my shoulders as I said to myself quietly…… ” I am worthy, I am enough i should be damn proud of myself. Weeks turned into months and I still struggled with imposter syndrome after the fact I just had done my first ever fashion show. The self doubt that I could never make it beyond what the valley had to offer me. Then the universe spoke I started booking gig after gig had my first ever feature in a magazine come out showcasing my work in june of 2024, to Landing my first ever interview with the Denver Voyager just a year later in june of 2025. Right then and there I promise myself that I would never doubt myself no matter how difficult the obstacles may be I would never let my reality of my accomplishments, achievements and self-worth confuse me from my perception in fear instead of facts. Imposter syndrome is not rooted in reality but in our own perception, we have control and power of who we are and what we are truly capable within us or in other words fake it until you make it and I can truly say that I overcame it and you can too!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
For those who don’t know me my name is Cristina Valenzuela also known as Tiina. I am a self taught |certified Pro makeup artist based out of Monte Vista Colorado. Makeup has been my business since 2017 my passion for makeup started off as a hobby to help with my anxiety and other mental health issues I struggle with till this day. It’s been a way to help me decompress from heavy situations as well as a form of expression when words simply Aren’t Enough. What I feel is most exciting about my job is witnessing the level of confidence my clients have as soon as they leave my chair, they’re satisfaction and smiles are worth more than any amount of gold or glory. Another exciting thing about my job is the free range of creativity my clients give me when it comes to their looks, I can express myself without any doubt and so can my clients. My services range from social events to special moments like weddings,birthdays sweet 16s Ect I am well-rounded for any occasion. Another great service I have is being able to travel to my clients who cannot travel to me, It gives them their privacy as well as comfort receiving high quality makeup in the comfort of their own home. When I am not in Glam mode | business owner , I am a stay-at-home mom to five individualistic boys of all ages as well as a wife to my amazing husband / best friend Carlos. We are definitely a bunch but when I am not slaying the world we are busy with sports, school functions or we simply love being homebodies. My boys are definitely the main reason I do all that I do, I created a form of income to help my husband as well the upbringing of my boys. Another amazing person in my life who has been my number one supporter and confidant is my husband, I know this statement may sound cliche…………. but If it wasn’t for him I would not be the mother, wife and artist I am today. His knowledge and perspective of the world has helped me in everything I do, whether it be about makeup or the world itself there is nothing I don’t know how to do or figure out he is not only my husband he is my best friend. As I wrap up my introduction Bonita Minkz has so much to come this 2026! new and bigger classes, new collaborations even new territories as Bonita minkz is Beyond the Valley we’re excited to slay so many new faces as well building new friendships along the way I cant wait to meet you!!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The top three qualities that made a powerful impact in my journey as an artist as well business owner are. Communication and interpersonal skills, learning how to listen and understand each client’s vision, skin type and needs or special accommodations. While building a report making all clients feel comfortable, respected and confident in your ability as an artist, as well explaining And discussing new products techniques and your overall process of the services you provide. Number two would have to be technical proficiency and creativity, having a natural ability and use of color like blending, shading and understanding different looks. Whether it be a bride to be who is looking for a more subtle look instead of a night out type of glam which is more heavy and dramatic. Product knowledge is also a great key to help you understand the various properties each makeup product has to offer, you must be precise in having a steady hand where any mistake is crucial and attention to detail to obtain a flawless finish. Last Would be the professionalism and the adaptability a makeup artist should have, for example hygiene. without great hygiene not only are you exposed to nasty germs and skin diseases so are your clients! Keeping an impeccable station does not only reflect the type of hygienic person you are, it also shows your clients that you care for their well-being as well as their health by keeping your tools and products disinfected at all times, swapping out old or expired products with new ones as well as maintaining a clutter free area for Easy flow of creativity and Less distractions. You want your clients to feel especially tailored when booking with you by creating a fun, relaxing, and drama free environment. Who you decide to go into business with as well as collaborate tell your customers exactly who they are doing business with , they are the reflection of you and your business one wrong decision can cost you years of hard work and can also be very difficult to come back from as I speak from experience. Remaining calm under pressure or remaining composed, in high pressure situations can also show your clients that you are not easily distracted. If only I knew then what I know now my journey would have been much easier but life does not come with a cheat sheet or manual on how to be the person and business owner you strive to be, You have to work hard and fight for what you believe in. My advice to people who are looking to start their own journey in the beauty industry is to never be afraid to be individualistic. Believing in yourself and remaining humble will always outshine the rest also by staying consistent with beauty trends and techniques are key as well, practice will always make perfect and if you can remain discipline you can achieve anything you put your mind to as I am living proof of that today.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Face Forward by, Kevyn Aucoin. This book was given to me by the many few family members who have supported me in the early stages as an artist and have the privilege to call them my aunt and uncle, Mrs. Dessiere & Gilbert Cano, owners of precision renovations repairs and Plumbing LLC located in Litchfield, Arizona. Even though I could have purchased this book myself my aunt was already on the lookout to purchase it for me. By the time I knew it two days had gone by and I received something in the mail. Lo and behold the book was in my hands as soon as I held that Holy literature I began to study and apply it into my practice what I had learned. So I started to get to work on how to incorporate all that knowledge into my technique. Three nuggets of knowledge I could say I’ve learned are far too many to speak of but I’m very happy to discuss a few of them with my readers. First would have to be is getting familiar with your products and tools. He specifically talks about how it does not matter what brand your tools or makeup products are because with time they will eventually be seasonal,off the market or discontinued. He simply goes into depth on how it does not matter what you got it’s about how you use it. Being able to create impeccable looks with any product whether it be high-end or budget friendly the true “magic” behind it all is in the application. Another thing would have to be balance! knowledge of basic face structures and understanding the concept of makeup balance has taught me how the use of products are infinite but the places to put them are not. For example if a client books a service that focuses more on her colored eyes, you want to be able to create and combine color that not only favor her complexion but also intensifies the color of her eyes as well. Purples, burgundy’s and light Browns are great color combinations especially for those who have brown eyes. This helps you focus more on the eyes than the overall look creating a balance of light and dark distribution. Last but not least would be the use of color, in the beginning of my journey as an artist I never really knew how the use of different colors can make or break a client’s look. Certain colors can intensify parts of the face that can easily expose flaws your client may not be so comfortable with. For example, to avoid making dark under eyes look worse, it is best to steer clear of concealers that are too light. This can make your under eyes look more ashy or gray as well as cooler tones like pure pinks and Blues witch can emphasize Darkness. That’s why it’s best to always use Peaches , Oranges or red colored concealers depending on their skin tones to help them neutralize the blue and purple tones before applying foundation. It’s always recommended by a makeup artist such as myself to learn how much is enough as well as what color of concealer to use to neutralize the area without making it appear un natrual and heavily before applying foundation. Even though I learned so much from this book and continue to learn from it, I feel those three things for me were the most impactful throughout my journey. Getting to mix new knowledge with the old can create endless possibilities and I am thankful to be able to own such a gem a true Pioneer in make up because even though this book was written in the 90s, it’s slowly making its way back into our modern era. Rest in peace to the artist I One Day wish to be Mr. Kevyn Aucoin.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://book.heygoldie.com/Bonita-Minkz
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiinav_mua?igsh=MXVsa2Nlc3RhNWQ5aQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17yT58nvJY/
- Other: Via cell 719.496.7625 Or email 📧 @ [email protected]
Image Credits
Yulisa Moreno Muñoz ( Moreno Photography)
Myself *(tiina Valenzuela)* Bonita Minkz
