Meet Anna Uskova | Make up artist & Makeup educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Uskova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I started my business, the field of makeup artistry in Ukraine was just beginning to develop (it was 10 years ago) .
I had just graduated from a university of trade and economics with a specialization in hotel and restaurant management. I knew I didn’t want to work in that profession—it wasn’t my calling, nor something I enjoyed. As I considered what I truly wanted to do, I realized it had to be my own business, since I really wanted to be my own boss, however grand that may sound. At the same time, I wanted my chosen field to bring me both joy and profit. That’s why I chose makeup artistry—it’s something I truly love.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career journey began ten years ago when I started working as a makeup artist. Within just six months, people began asking me to train them professionally in makeup artistry. In response, I created a training program that, year after year, I expanded and deepened. I devoted nearly my entire career to teaching in the most accessible and thorough way possible, focusing not only on recruiting students but on ensuring they could build successful careers themselves.

I completed numerous courses to refine my own techniques—so much so that people recognize my work instantly from a single photo. I teach my students not merely to replicate my looks, but to develop their own unique style. I give them flawless technical skills and encourage them to invent their own signature techniques. Equally important, I provide them with the tools and knowledge they need to grow in this profession—everything from self-promotion and PR to sales and marketing, so they can truly launch themselves in this industry.

My path was far from easy. In the beginning, I walked it entirely alone. During my first year, I reinvested nearly every penny I earned back into the business—new cosmetics, advertising, equipment. I lived so frugally that I couldn’t even afford to meet a friend for coffee. By the end of that year, however, I’d reached a level where I could fully support myself comfortably.

A few years in, I opened my first makeup school in Ukraine. It quickly grew popular, and I had many students. I started with one-on-one lessons, which then evolved into group courses. Soon I was teaching both a foundational professional curriculum and advanced master-classes for experienced artists. Students came from all over Ukraine, and my schedule was booked two to three months in advance.

Three years later I opened a much larger space and rebranded to “YouQueen,” meaning “You are a Queen!” Every client was treated like royalty, and the new space became an exceptionally professional makeup academy. I hired staff, trained makeup artists whom I then employed in my studio, and prepared them to become trainers in their own right. As I scaled, I added permanent makeup, hair extension, and brow-stylist programs, building a team of five instructors. I even sold my first franchise and planned further expansions across Ukraine—until the war forced us to pause those plans.

I relocated to the U.S., where I’m rebuilding from scratch—once again starting fresh. Here in America I continue both my makeup artistry and my role as a trainer, working not only with everyday clients but also with celebrity clients. Though it’s challenging to begin anew, I believe I will achieve even greater success here than I did in Ukraine.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live just outside Miami, so if my friend were visiting, I’d of course show her around Miami and Miami Beach, then head to West Palm Beach. We’d go to the safari zoo, and definitely visit my favorite restaurants, like Limonika—which, by the way, was opened by a Ukrainian specializing in Italian cuisine—and Thanks to Harrison, where the food is also insanely good, and which was founded by our talented Ukrainian friends.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I had a challenging journey because few people supported me at the start. My path to launching my own business and entering this field was built on personal growth, tremendous effort, and steadfast perseverance. I was deeply inspired to open my first salon and makeup school in Ukraine by Alan Pease’s book, The Answer. This book shows how anyone can achieve their dream if they truly believe in it and commit every possible effort. It’s especially inspiring because of the personal story of Alan Pease and his wife—how they endured hardships (“through the thorns”) and ultimately reached the stars, fulfilling all their dreams.

Instagram: @u_queen_official_

Image Credits
Anastasia