Daneille Mattis, Toronto-based Certified Makeup Artist "I've had to prove myself"
Interviewed by Carey-Lee Dixon
Danielle Mattis is a certified makeup artist and business student in her twenties based in Toronto, Canada. With over two years of experience, she has refined her skills through practice and certified training in makeup artistry.
She shares how she has found her passion and is living her dream.
In this feature, Danielle describes the biggest risk she has taken to date, which has challenged her to step outside her comfort zone.
Your 20s are defined as a time for exploring, learning and finding yourself. But being a make-up artist is your thing, would you say, you have found exactly what you always wanted to do?
Doing makeup wasn't something I always wanted to do.
I never grew up with dreams of becoming a makeup artist. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, like my dad, and I wanted to succeed. I had no idea what passion was. It wasn't something that I was familiar with because I had never experienced it. It was merely an idea that I heard about time and time again. It wasn't until I got my hands on some makeup brushes and dabbled in some drugstore eyeshadows during my free time that I recognised my love for it.
Now, I've found my passion and calling.
What inspired you to pursue your dreams in the field of beauty?
My inspiration was birthed from my passion.
I love making women look and feel beautiful and confident. When I recognised my love for beauty, I couldn't imagine living without fulfilling my purpose daily.
You are quite passionate about your work; how important is it for you to 'live what you love'?
That phrase alone is such a driving force for any entrepreneur.
It's not easy trying to build a brand for yourself, but you know what is easy? Waking up every morning happy to go to work, knowing that I'm truly "living the dream", all because I know I get to do what I love.
What would you say is the most challenging for you as a 20-something-year-old female entrepreneur?
My biggest challenge is time management. Pursuing my degree in business administration while simultaneously trying to expand my brand can be quite a task, knowing that I can't prioritise one over the other because they are both very important.
Also, I've had to work with people who may not take me as seriously due to my age and years of experience (I've been a makeup artist for two (2) years and some change).
I've, therefore, had to prove myself more than the average MUA.
What is the biggest risk you had to take to 'make things happen' for you in your career?
As an entrepreneur, there are bound to be risks, as we live our lives with many uncertainties. But one that I'm undergoing right now is my makeup workshop, which has to be my biggest risk so far. Simply because this is my first-ever workshop, and I have no experience planning events of any sort. But stepping out with faith and out of my comfort zone, I'm very positive it will succeed.
What is your advice to other women who are unsure how to make the step to pursue what they love?
My advice is simple ...
Believe in yourself. You can't expect others to believe in you if you don't even believe or have confidence in yourself.
Research. Once you decide what you want to pursue, research as much as possible about that field to understand its pros and cons and how to start.
Act. Start somewhere. It's true what they say: You have to work to get to the top, so get to it and don't shortchange yourself. Remember, every little thing makes a difference.
Be inspired. There are probably tons of people you can admire in your chosen field. Ensure you find a few people you can look up to and seek mentorship from to steer you in the right direction.
Also, remember that networking is everything, and never lose faith.
