The 5-Year Detour: Why I Threw Away My Makeup Kit and How I Found My Way Back to Bridal
If you had told me in 2014, back when I was a teenager hunched over a laptop, obsessively watching Jaclyn Hill YouTube makeup tutorials, that I’d be here today, I would have absolutely believed you. However, my path to becoming a bridal hair and makeup artist wasn’t a straight line; it was a journey of finding my true values, losing my way in a world that demanded total control, and eventually, fighting to get back to what I love.
The Vancouver Beginnings
After high school, I followed that YouTube-fueled passion straight to the JCI Institute in Vancouver. I originally signed up for Beauty Makeup, but I was quickly captivated by the artistry of the film program. I switched paths, ready to dive into the world of prosthetics and onset transformations.
However, the reality of the film industry hit me before I even finished my first few classes: 16-hour workdays, five days a week, for months at a time. I realized almost immediately that while I loved the art, I loved the idea of having a family and being present even more. I finished my schooling to gain the skills, but I made a definitive choice: I never worked a single day in film. I chose to protect the life I wanted before I even started.
Instead, I pivoted immediately to bridal. I spent my first full season working as a bridal artist, subcontracting for a local company and finally seeing my hard work pay off. I was building a kit, meeting brides, and falling in love with the fast-paced, emotional energy of wedding mornings. I had momentum, and I was finally doing what I had dreamed of since those early YouTube days.
The 5-Year Detour:
But then, at 19, just as my career was taking off, I was introduced to a “big break.” It wasn’t a film contract or a celebrity booking, it was a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) business.
Quick Disclaimer: To be clear, no part of this business was illegal. I truly believe the people “upline” from me thought they were doing the right thing—just as I did at the time. It’s only now, with a few years of distance (and therapy), that I can see how damaging the “hustle” really was.
Before I could even join, I had to go through a “vetting process.” They didn’t just take my money and let me in; oh no, I had to earn my spot. I had to prove my worth through guest meetings, endless coffee dates, and showing I had “the right mindset.” By the time they officially “accepted” me, I felt like I’d won the lottery. In reality, they had just played a brilliant psychological trick: they made me desperate to prove I belonged there.
Once I was in, the pressure shifted from “welcome” to “total immersion.” I’ll never forget sitting at a massive conference, watching a speaker on stage look out at a crowd of young women and say: “Women will get a boyfriend outside of the business and suddenly grow legs and walk out.”
The message wasn’t subtle. It was a warning: Don’t date anyone we can’t recruit. Don’t trust anyone who isn’t ‘in.’ They spoke about our autonomy like it was a bug in the system. They even tried to pre-emptively cut us off from our support systems with lines like, “You’re not leaving your friends; they’re leaving you.”
To keep us locked in, we had a daily “prescription” of 5 Core Steps that I followed with religious devotion:
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- Read for 15-20 minutes: But only from their “approved” list. (No Vogue allowed).
- Listen to a daily audio: Usually a high-energy recording of a speaker from a 2012 conference telling me why I wasn’t working hard enough.
- “Share the idea”: Which is code for “try to recruit every person you meet at the grocery store.”
- Daily Coach Communication: Basically, “confess” your progress to a mentor every 24 hours.
- Use the products: We were “encouraged” to spend our own money to hit goals. Hello, debt!
Getting rid of “Distractions”:
The breaking point for my artistry came when I was told that my makeup career was a “distraction.” They told me that if I wanted the big dream, I had to put “all my eggs in one basket.” So, in a moment of total, brainwashed commitment, I did the unthinkable: I took the professional $2,500 kit I had spent an entire season building and dumped it into a garbage bin.
I took a photo and sent it as “proof of my loyalty.” And the wildest part? It was celebrated. My “mentors” cheered for me. They saw a garbage can full of my passion and hard work as a victory for the business. And the craziest part? I was so proud. I felt like I had finally proven I had what it took to be successful. Just like that, the brushes stayed in the trash, and for five years, I stopped doing makeup entirely.
The Quiet Wake-Up Call
Then, I met my husband. Now, if this were a movie, he would have staged a dramatic intervention. But he did something much more effective: he just stayed. For the first six months of our relationship, he never once protested my endless “meetings” or my “business.” Instead, he quietly and gently held up a mirror. He saw the girl who valued family and creativity, and he let me realize on my own that I was chasing a dream that was actually a cage. He didn’t have to tell me I was lost; he just gave me a safe place to find my way back.
Reclaiming My Voice (And My Brushes)
In the summer of 2022, I finally pulled the plug. I walked away from the meetings, the “coaches,” and the constant noise.
I immediately reinvested in a brand-new makeup kit. Standing in the store, buying the same products I had once thrown away to “prove my loyalty,” was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. My skills were rusty, and my confidence was non-existent, especially since I’d been told for years that my old life was a “distraction.”
I returned to the same bridal company I had subcontracted for right out of school. I had to rebuild my social media from zero, apologize to friends I had “left,” and find my professional voice again. It wasn’t an overnight success; it was a slow, messy, beautiful process of unlearning.
My first Bride in 2022, 2 months after I quit the MLM
The Lessons (The Stuff I Actually Kept)
Looking back, those five years weren’t a total wash. In a weird twist of irony, that business taught me the most important lesson I’ve ever learned: the importance of designing your life. I don’t regret learning how to dream big; I just regret who I let hold the pen for a while. Now, I’m the one designing the schedule. Here is the “Rich Auntie” wisdom I’ve gathered:
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Design your life before you design your career. Ask yourself the “scary” questions: Do you want children? Do you want to be a present, working mom? Do you want to be the “rich auntie” building an empire? Or do you just want a simple, humble life where you aren’t tied to a desk? If you love your job but hate your life, the math doesn’t add up.
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Allow for expensive mistakes. Trust your gut, but if you ignore it (like I did), forgive yourself. Some lessons cost $2,500 and five years of your life. That’s okay. Those are the lessons that stick.
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Listen to the people who knew you before. Your parents and your old friends knew the version of you that loved makeup long before a business model tried to rebrand you. Listen to them. They have your best interests at heart.
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Where I Am Today
Fast forward to 2026. I am married, looking forward to starting a family, and I have successfully built the career I was once told was a “distraction.” I get to be present, I get to be successful, and most importantly, I’m the one in charge.
When you sit in my chair, you’re with someone who knows that beauty is more than just a wing—it’s about having the confidence to be exactly who you are. I’m here to make sure you feel like the most authentic version of yourself on your wedding day (and maybe share a few survival stories while we’re at it).
Let’s Build Your Dream Career (The Right Way)
Beyond bridal, my heart is in education and mentorship. I am passionate about helping aspiring artists navigate this industry without the “detours” I took. I’m here to teach you the “unspoken rules” of the bridal suite so you can walk into your first wedding feeling like a veteran, not a deer in headlights.
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1-on-1 Artistry Lessons: Master the skin prep and foundation techniques that actually work for a 12-hour wedding day.
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The “Bridal Room” Mastery Call: How to manage the clock, navigate “difficult” personalities, and handle the morning chaos with total confidence.
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Business Mentorship: How to build your first professional kit, protect your boundaries, and spot the “red flags” before they cost you years of your life.
Ready to start your own bridal chapter?
I am currently booking for the 2027 wedding season. I would love to hear your story and help you feel your most beautiful on your big day.
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