Meet Kaylee Raquel Ellison | Make up artist / content creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaylee Raquel Ellison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaylee Raquel, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my business back in 2020.
I had worked previously under a makeup and hair company who is known as honey bee, lovely beauty.

It was a wonderful experience.
I learned and gained so much knowledge through this company and for that I’m forever grateful. It definitely was the foundation and starting point of my journey.

I decided to step out on my own because I felt confident enough to do so. I honestly didn’t think too much about it. I just decided to take a leap faith! Of course it was a scary thing to do, but I had to take a chance! There was this tug in my spirit that wouldn’t allow me not to try.

Also during that time I was sharpening my skills by the day and I was also getting the opportunity to work with people in a more professional setting.
It was a great steppingstone for when it came to interacting and engaging with my own clientele. It gave me so much confidence for when I did decide to take that leap of faith.

I had also found a love for cosplay makeup, and it was just another way for me to be creative and express myself which I loved and so did my audience.
It also gave my business another avenue to to offer clients Halloween/special effects or holiday event looks. I was also asked to work on a movie set, which was such a great experience! I got to meet so many people and network in a way that I hadn’t before. (:

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What do you want the world to know about you or your brand story? –

My art is away for me to make women feel more confident & beautiful, men as well lol. One of my favorite things of being a makeup artist is seeing the reaction of when I show my client’s my work. The gasps, tears, ohooos and awhhh’s is what I do it for! I struggled very much as a young child and even through high school with confidence and self image. I think a lot of us at that age struggled with our outside appearance. I remember having very few moments of feeling good about myself. I hear this to be a common thing amongst us millennials, but I too, was one who struggled with bulimia and anorexia. It started as far back as eighth grade and continued even right before I had my first born. I decided to get help in 2012. I left my home in Texas to seek professional treatment in Fort Lauderdale Florida. I was there for six months and I couldn’t imagine my life without that time. I met a lot of amazing people and I was able to understand and cope in ways that I hadn’t before.
When I have someone in my chair, I make it my mission to engage, listen, uplift, & empower as much as I can.. being that I work with young ladies on a frequent basis, I go back to her, the little girl in me. I know she needed someone to uplift and remind her of the beauty that she carried with her every day. I hope that everyone that comes into my chair feels a sense of love, beauty and acknowledgement.

What am I most excited for? – I don’t want to give too much away, so I’m not going to say a whole lot but my bestfriend and I are starting a business that empowers women while uplifting men. We are currently pursuing this, so production is in the works! We will be releasing early to mid January 2025!
& with that said be on the lookout!!
We can’t wait to share it with you! 💞

Being in the makeup industry can be a little challenging at times. There is this drama that seems to follow the make up industry. I choose to focus more on my clients rather than engaging too much online. Also, it does get hard to consistently put yourself out there. I create content on TikTok and Instagram and it’s not easy posting you or your work and allowing judgment to come through. I will say that this is probably my biggest struggle, not necessarily with one on one clients but posting for the world to see. It sometimes gives me extreme anxiety to the point where I won’t even post. It’s something that I have been trying to work on. I know the opportunities that it can bring for me and my family so I try to make that my focus as opposed to focusing on the opinions of what others might think.

How do I overcome challenges?
By simply seeking solutions. It sounds simple, but I say this because I am someone who is very emotionally based, and sometimes that can lead me down a path of self doubt. I’ve learned that it’s not necessarily about how you feel in that moment but what you can do in that moment. Community is a really big thing for me. Having like-minded people around you who love you and support you is such a game changer. If you were to ask me how to build a community I would say by pouring into others and inspiring those around you by taking initiative.

Lessons I’ve learned along the way – That everyone that I encounter is struggling with something. To always show love and be light, no matter what. It’s probably not about me and had nothing to do with me which helps me not take everything so personal.

What am I most proud of? My family is my number one. None of this matters without them. I love and adore them with every fiber of my being and even though I’ve been able to do so much there’s nothing in the world that could ever separate me from them 🥺🥹😭
For me, family is the most important.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best friend is currently in town from Denver, Colorado! I currently reside in the suburbs outside of Houston, but we’ve already gone to a couple restaurants in the heights, local foods was a great little place, great food and good vibes. Discovery green, there’s so many great pockets in Houston, sometimes it’s just nice to be there lol. We’re also planning on going to craft txt, which if you haven’t been you need to go! It’s a big holiday store that has a million Christmas trees decorated in every theme you could imagine. Walking around with a hot coffee, when it’s cold outside, looking at Christmas decor, is the little boost of serotonin you never knew you need!

Also, it’s not about where you go, but who you spend your time with. I hosted a painting pumpkin theme get together a few weeks ago and it was the cutest thing ever. I made a simple pasta dinner, I Picked up some small pumpkins that were maybe a dollar at H-E-B. I told the girls to wear their PJs, we had wine, painted pumpkins and ended it with a movie night. I love to create little fun nights like this with a couple of girlfriends,

I’m also very family oriented and I come from a big family as well so there might be a family barbecue, football game, game night, sushi night, early gym work out seesh, bible study, church etc.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes, of course! I had mentioned previously that I worked under a makeup and hair company.
That company’s name is Honeybee lovely beauty. Lexi Douglas is the business owner and she was the first to take me under her wing. I learned so much from watching her and learning her techniques. I would not be the make up artist today without her!

I also want to give credit to my loving and supporting soon to be husband. We have been together since 2013 and he has been a constant cheerleader in my corner. Anything that I wanted to do, he was always there to guide me through it.
He’s such a positive, fun loving being and his unwavering love keeps me going. I would not be half the woman I am today without him. ♥️

Last, but not least, I would like to thank God for placing people in my pathway. He knew who I needed and what I needed. I probably wouldn’t have taken initiative on my own, had he not planted those seeds for me. Yes, it was me that took the leap, but it was his encouragement & love that led me to do so. He has also been my backbone and continues to remind me of how worthy I am and how much I’ve grown over the years. I am grateful for all of the titles that he has blessed me with. Not just as a make up artist or business owner but also as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, a friend. I can’t thank him enough.

Website: https://K.raquelartistry.com

Instagram: Kaylee_raquel

Facebook: Kaylee Raquel Ellison

Image Credits

brookegayophotography