Meet Nicole Ruggeri | Freelance Makeup Artist

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

Hi Nicole, how do you think about risk?
I’ve always viewed taking risks, in general, as important, but especially important as it relates to my life and career. When I decided to start my own career in makeup, it was far from what I had spent years preparing and studying for! I decided to leave my position as an elementary school teacher, and knew it would be a huge risk to do so. I was tired of settling for careers that didn’t spark that fuel within me. I knew if I wanted a change, it would have to be while I’m young and hungry. The first risk was leaving, the second risk was starting a social media platform to showcase my creativity with makeup. I launched it without telling anyone, and I just knew I had to put myself out there to grow. So, I pushed past that discomfort, started my Instagram page, took the necessary steps to educate myself and began my business in freelancing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I admire all of the wonderful people I’ve met in this industry thus far, and am looking forward to all of the connections I’ll make moving forward! But ultimately, I have to remember to show myself some admiration and remind myself how far I have come. I had always dreamed of working in the creative industry, and I think I was mislead to believe it simply was not possible. I chose to bet on myself, and it made me think, “why would I ever bet on anyone else?” It has not been easy, and I have many moments where I question my talent, or question if I belong where I am. I think anyone who makes their passion their career does the same. Self-doubt is a challenging obstacle to overcome. But then those rewarding moments happen, and you forget why you questioned yourself in the first place. I hope that when people leave my chair, they feel confident, included, and beautiful. If I can check those boxes, then I am succeeding.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I think it can be scary to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and share your passions with other people, but I have felt so supported by the people in my life. Each one has shown consistent faith in me, and sometimes that can be all you need to feel powerful enough to pursue your dreams. But on top of that, I would truly like to show how grateful I am to that first handful of clients that instilled their trust and belief in me, and allowed me to do their makeup on such a special day in their life – their wedding day. I felt such a strong connection with them, and am forever appreciative. This allowed me to showcase my work, and it only lead to more opportunities! That recommendation to a friend, that shoutout on social media, taking the time to write a review, that quick text from a client that reads, “I love my makeup! You made me feel so beautiful!” – all of these actions mean the most to a small business.

Website: nicruggmakeup.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicruggmakeup/

Image Credits
Gillian Lee Photography Fine and Fleurie Photography Alex Healy Photo Shot by DNA