Ambassador Feature: Angelica Hamlin

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I’m a thirty-something happy wife, and a blessed mommy of a little princess. Over the last 11 years, my entire work history has been in the beauty industry, ever since I first earned my cosmetology license.

Before we moved to Oregon, I even owned my own beauty salon in California. I’ve loved art for as long as I can remember. For me, beauty has always been a part of that art. Hair, nails, makeup – you name it!

You have years of experience and training in cosmetology. Why did you decide to pursue additional training in order to become a professional makeup artist?

Even with all of my education from cosmetology school, I felt I was never taught enough about makeup. I’d learned all about sanitation and the very basics of makeup application, but I wanted to learn more! I wanted makeup classes that would teach me how to put products together with precision and proper technique, and how to make them stay put on a client’s skin.

Why did you decide to take online makeup classes, rather than enroll in a brick-and mortar school?

Originally, I chose online makeup classes because at the time, I lived very far any brick-and-mortar option. That turned out to be a perfect choice because I found out soon after that we’d be welcoming our little girl into the world! I really appreciated the flexibility of online learning and the option to complete makeup classes on my own schedule.

Ultimately, why did you choose to enroll with QC Makeup Academy?

To be honest, I shopped around a lot in my quest to find the perfect school. When I discovered QC Makeup Academy, some of the top reasons that influenced my decision to enroll were:

I’m not sure it gets much better than that! I just knew the quality of the education was going to be what I needed.

You’ve graduated from QC Makeup Academy’s Master Makeup Artistry Course. How was your experience  with this program, and how would you say it helped you grow as a makeup artist?

My experience with the Master Makeup Artistry Course was fabulous! Even when I came to units that taught skills I never thought I’d be able to learn, they were presented in such a way that I was able to easily understand them. I could learn how to practice them properly, until I got it right.

Sometimes, with online courses, you might be doing something wrong and never even know it. But with QC’s classes, you’re able to get feedback and critiques from your tutor right away, after each unit is submitted. That was invaluable to me!

You’ve also graduated from QC’s Virtual Makeup mini course. Why do you feel that this additional skill-set will make your makeup career even more successful, especially  during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Since most of my freelance makeup work is for brides and fashion photographers, everything on my books was cancelled when the pandemic began. When I saw that QC Makeup Academy offered a Virtual Makeup Training Course, I knew I needed that education.

I didn’t have any clue how to provide a virtual service! But now I do. Even once things pick back up again in my area, I’ll continue to offer virtual services as part of my business. Virtual services allow for an even wider reach of potential clients, and it’s a very manageable thing for me to offer from home!

You’re currently working on completing the Skincare Course. In your opinion, why should makeup artists have proper skincare knowledge?

It’s important to have a good knowledge of the canvas you’re working with, in order to be able to choose the best products. For example, I work with a lot of photographers. During a photoshoot, the elements can be very different and with hot, harsh lights.

I need to know how a model’s skin is going to react to every product I put on her. This way, the makeup stays on her skin throughout the entire shoot. It won’t get oily or shiny from all of the heat.

How useful have the various materials, assignments, and tutor feedback been for your QC Makeup Academy courses?

Everything has been extremely helpful! I still have my books in a small library in my home office. I’ll often refer back to them if I feel a bit rusty on a topic. The assignments also really helped to get me out of my “comfort zone”.

They challenged me to try things I hadn’t done, and I really enjoyed that. And, of course, we already know how much I appreciated having tutor feedback so quickly after each unit. It was like having someone right next to me to help!

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned so far from your makeup classes?

Consistency and blending have to be two of the most important things I’ve learned from makeup classes. I had no idea how much they would affect every single makeup look I would ever try to apply!

You’ve recently joined QC’s team of Student Ambassadors. As an Ambassador, what’s  the #1 thing you want aspiring makeup artists to know about QC Makeup Academy?

I want all aspiring makeup artists to know that they have a chance to get a great education, no matter their schedule or situation! The makeup and beauty courses offered at QC Makeup Academy are perfect for everyone.

From busy mamas who want a career with flexibility, to high school students who want to pursue a career in a field they’re passionate about. From the retiree who dreams of learning something new and creative, to the seasoned cosmetologist who still has more to learn!

These makeup classes are for everyone and provide amazing education opportunities.

How has your career as a beauty professional been affected by COVID-19? In what ways have you adjusted to this ‘new normal’?

When the pandemic hit, I lost most of my bookings for weddings and fashion photoshoots almost instantly. Some of the brides have simply pushed their wedding dates another year out, but so many just cancelled altogether.

I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do. But since then, I’ve started using my knowledge and live demonstration of skills to continue earning an income virtually. It even pushed me to get outside of my comfort zone and start working closely with a beauty brand, to help generate online sales.

What are your top career goals as a makeup artist?

Ideally, I would love to build a brand that my daughter could step into and take over when (and if) she wants to. I also align that with another goal of creating a flexible career for myself that allows me to spend quality family time with her and my husband.

What is your #1 piece of advice that you’d like to give to aspiring makeup artists who are thinking of pursuing a professional career in this field in 2021?

I’d like to simply tell aspiring artists that this is a perfect time to start!

There are so many opportunities right now for you to build the makeup career you truly want. Get creative with it. Let QC Makeup Academy give you all of the tools and provide the education to be successful in whatever you want your dream career to be!

Interested in become a Student Ambassador for QC Makeup Academy? Submit your application here!