On this highly requested episode of Behind the Brush, Beth is joined by one of Australia’s most well-known makeup artists, Mia Connor. Having worked in the beauty industry for almost twenty years, Mia has been named Makeup Artist of the Year by the Australian Beauty Industry Awards and is a world-class educator, traveling the world with her in-depth masterclasses.
Listen as Beth and Mia talk about overcoming your fears to build the career of your dreams and why building your personal brand on social media is just as important as building your business.
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On this highly requested episode of Behind the Brush, Beth is joined by one of Australia’s most well-known makeup artists, Mia Connor. Having worked in the beauty industry for almost twenty years, Mia has been named Makeup Artist of the Year by the Australian Beauty Industry Awards and is a world-class educator, traveling the world with her in-depth masterclasses.
Listen as Beth and Mia talk about overcoming your fears to build the career of your dreams and why building your personal brand on social media is just as important as building your business.
Episode resources:
If you enjoyed this episode then please either:
This is Behind the Brush by Saint Jack. I want my makeup artist to learn, and I'm not afraid to tell them like that. I love what you've done here. However, this, this, and this, I would probably recommend that you do this and this and this, like always leave with a compliment first. And then cuz you obviously don't wanna crash and burn their confidence. But yeah, like I don't want my makeup artist paying money for me and then walking out, going, oh, and I'm just saying to them, oh that's great. Yeah. That's great. That's great. That's great. Like there's no constructive criticism there and they're, they're learning nothing. If you don't give them that feedback. Hello, and welcome back to Behind the Brush. It's me. It's Beth, your host makeup artist and founder of Saint Jack Cosmetics. How are. I am good. Uh, it has been a remarkably large fortnight. Do you ever go through those periods where like every single night you've got like a dinner booked with somebody else and then every weekend you're booked up and you're so busy and then neck minute, you make a TikTok and then neck minute, your face is all over the daily mail and pedestrian TV and bloody the independent UK and some random news website in Africa. Has that happened to you? Has that happened to you? Uh, because that just happened to me. Um, I made a TikTok and it went viral and yeah, it has just been an absolute storm of attention that I am really not used to. But if you have any interest in going and having a look at that, I won't explain it on the podcast on this particular episode, because I will be here all night, but you can go check out my TikTok at Beth Wilson underscore MUA. More importantly, though, from the work perspective, what an amazing couple of weeks I have had baby, I worked with my graphic designer to finish up the packaging for the second product. And it is, I am telling you chef's kiss. I love the way the makeup cleaning. Miss looks like the bottle with the silver and all of that, but this is like, It's next level. It's like your girl has owned a brand for almost two years now. She knows her shit, and this is going to be so amazing. And you guys' makeup. Artists are gonna love it, but this is the kind of thing that is gonna touch the lives of just beauty lovers, like regular people who love makeup. And I am so excited. You can hear the excitement in my voice, but I also wanted to thank you because the last episode of the podcast that went live was the fastest downloaded, like the most streams that the podcast has ever had in the first 24 hours. And that is a really gorgeous pat on the back. But I have to say, I think that that's got absolutely nothing to do with me and everything to do with Alex paren. If you happen, listen to that. You can remind yourself to do that later because this episode is where you're here with me now. if you leave, I will find you that wedding crashes thing. Anyway, look, go back and listen to it. If you haven't, if you have listened to it you'll know that it was so good. And she was so amazing that she even made me cry. She literally brought me to tears with her vulnerability and just, oh, she's such a beautiful person. Oh my God. And it was really emotional for me. I got probably, oh God, I don't know how many, but I got so many DMS after that episode and really from brand new people who I'd never spoken to before, who didn't follow Saint Jack, Jack before didn't know about the show and you guys are just so grateful and man, after receiving so many nasty little messages over the last couple of days with the whole TikTok thing, I gotta say. Every nice message, you know, is really just a beautiful thing. And I know, I know it meant a lot to Alex as well, so thank you guys. It really is my privilege to share these stories and to give a platform to people like Alex and like our guests today to share their stories and their advice, and really be part of building a community of artists and beauty lovers that are gonna lift each other up. And speaking of lifting each other up, I could not have asked for a better guest to have on this episode today, Mia Connor. She is one of the most well-recognized makeup artists in Australia and maybe the world. I don't know, she's living on the beautiful gold coast. She originally studied makeup at Napoleon per and then studied at the Frampton Institute, which will go into a little bit more detail on the show. Then she went full-time freelance and she opened her own studio where the genius that she is, she actually taught herself. Oh, Learnt professionally. I'm sure probably didn't teach herself, but she did other beauty services, like spray tan and hair extensions to financially support herself while she builds up her clientele and her makeup portfolio and her brand as an artist. God, what a legend in 2015, then it was absolutely no surprise that Mia was named as makeup artists of the year at the Australian beauty industry awards. And in every year since, and I can say this, cuz I've been following her since then. Her career has grown from strength to strength as she tours her world famous masterclass to every corner of Australia and the globe with a signature style refined over her almost 20 years in the industry. Mia is simply one of the best. She is someone you have begged me to get on this show and my God, I did it. And after having such great vibes with her today, it's not hard to see why. And I hope that we will meet again. But that's enough for me, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mia Connor, Mia Connor, a very warm welcome to Behind the Brush. How are you? Thank you. How are you? Thank you for having good. Of course. I've just been telling you that I've been having a little bit of a drama today. And if you wanna check that out, go have a look at my off, but I am very happy to just be here today and just talk makeup and talk makeup with you. If Beth Beth six years ago could know that I'd be here today, chatting with you. She'd be like no way. Oh, stop. It's true. It's true. Really? Like there's been a couple pinch me moments like that with this, and you are definitely one of them for me. So we'll jump straight into it. And I'm curious to know what did you wanna be when you grew Well in, like, let's go back to primary school when children are kind of yeah. Like what do you wanna be? Like, I wanted to be an artist cuz I was always into art in school, but I just thought that it was like, so like impossible and out of reach, like almost like I've used the analogy before, like I wanna be an astronaut that type of like idea. So yeah, I did wanna do that, but then I just, I also figured that like the idea of being a makeup artist was I'd have to move to America and just work in films. Like, and, and all of that would be in Hollywood. Like this is obviously a very like yeah, naive, um, interpretation of my idea back then of what makeup is and, and maybe it was even true back then, but it's certainly, obviously not that, not the case now, but yeah, that's what I, I wanted to be. So here we are. Here we are. So if you wanted to be an artist, you mean like kind of paint on canvas vibes or all sorts of different things. Yeah. So I was mainly into drawing, but ironically I was into drawing a lot of faces, but more so like abstract faces. And I did my HSC cuz I went to school in new south Wales. So we did our HSC back there and I did three, I picked up an extra unit of art. Like I did three unit art instead of two unit art. And my major works were like, what you submitted for your like major work was like this, all these series of abstract faces and stuff. So it's pretty ironic that like it's done a bit of a, you know, a loop around and now I'm actually working on real people's faces. Yeah, that's crazy. It's like foreshadowing. It's like, you always kind of had that destiny to do it somehow. And that's what was possible at the time. So when did you first. Start getting into makeup then did you have kind of just an interest in it as a teenager growing up? Like, did you have a moment around that time where you were like, this is something I really love more than something that's just part of my everyday routine. Yeah. I mean, if we're, if we go back a little bit to like high school, I did my year 10. Work experience in a beauty salon. So I, after I did that one week, I then wanted to become a beauty therapist and my mom was like, no, you can finish school. Oh really? Yeah. I was like, okay. And then I also really loved hair as well. Like I was always the, the kids braiding everybody's hair. I was a pretty like mean braider. And would I even, I remember cutting some girls hair in high school and just always hair. Yeah. Hair focused. And I remember every time we'd go to the hairdressers with my mom, I'd be sweeping the floors. I'd wanna sweep the floors for the hairdresser. So I was pretty obsessed with that. So I guess I was always like wanting to be in that beauty area, but. I didn't yeah. Pursue any of that until I actually spent a good 10 years as a paralegal working in law firms, both here in Australia and in the UK. And kind of during that time, I started, I did a makeup course because there were a couple of girls that were in my area that had done the Napoleon course and they were making extra money, you know, doing weddings and formals and stuff on the side. And I was always kind of like a bit of a hustler, like always looking for something like, I guess a little bit entrepreneurial that I could make more money with. But always my intention was like for more of a side hustle, I never thought that I could turn this into something that what it is today, but yeah. That's I used to be a paralegal, so yeah, I had to make the I know this is the craziest thing, because obviously, I mean, I've been following you for a long time, but I know I recently heard the expression, a slashy, like you're a slashy, so I'd be a. Like a makeup artist slash brown brand founder slash content creator or whatever. And my understanding is there was a period of time where you're a paralegal slash dental nurse slash makeup artist. Is that true? Well, yeah, my first gotta cover all the possible career basis right Let's look at my resume. So yeah, my, when I left school, I was like, okay. I gave myself a bit of an ultimatum of like, you either get a job or you have to go to TAFE. I had no want to go to university ever. Like once I finished high school, I'm like, that's it I'm done. Like I couldn't wait to leave. So the first job that I could get was as a dental nurse. So I did that for. Three months. Like the original job I went for was actually as a Peronist assistant, which if anyone doesn't know what that is, it's pretty much like dental day surgery, which I realized that I have a fear of blood at that point. So that didn't work out. So I, I got down to me and one other girl that was, I was only 18 at the time. And this girl had far more experience than me. And we had to do a half a day work experience in the theater and I was literally gonna pass out, but I was like, girl, you've gotta look interested, act in no matter what happens. Like you can't faint. Like I need this job, otherwise you've gotta go to TAFE and like study something. So obviously they picked up that, you know, , she's not so good in theater, so I didn't get it, but they offered me a job in the orthodontic practice instead. So. I did that for three months. And even honestly, sucking spit off kids, dirty teeth from their braces was the blood that was involved in that, which wasn't even a lot. Oh, my God. I, that wasn't that even that was that was so visceral. Yeah. I'm like literally trying to suck this spit with like, without watching what I was doing so that I wouldn't like pass out. So yeah. I spent only three months of that. And then I was, again, looking, how can I further this? I was going to study to be a dental hygienist. Why where's the passion coming from? So anyway, I didn't do that. And then another job came up. That's when I switched over to the legal work. And then yeah, I stayed there for 10 years, but in the midst of that, I did do my first makeup course at Napoleon. And just to literally have a side hustle and learn how to do my own makeup properly. And. Having said that I was never really that makeup obsessed. Like I could probably say that I'm still wearing now a very similar style of makeup to when I first started wearing makeup at 16, like, I don't wear that much eyeshadow. I'm more of a liner girl. I don't like wearing too much makeup and yeah, it's been pretty consistent since then since I was 16. So yeah. My Facebook memories are very similar. Yeah. exactly. So you did the Napoleon course. You were in your early twenties. You were still in new south Wales. Yeah. 23. And then at some point soon after that, you moved to the gold coast, right? Yeah, two years later, I decided that I actually really love doing makeup and I was kind of okay at it. So I thought, oh, maybe I'll look at other courses. And I was going to move to Sydney and do the Cameron Jane one, but it was like over a year period. So I was like, I've already been in the workforce for a few years. I don't really wanna be on a student wage for a whole year. So there was the Peter Frampton one up here on the gold coast. So it was three months fast tracked, full time. And uh, yeah, I moved up here by myself and I love the weather up here so much. I just never left. I think about that all the time. Every time I come up to the gold coast, I have a cheeky little holiday in barley or something. I come home to Melbourne. I'm like, that's it. I'm moving it's honestly so good. It's just so much nicer up Yeah. It's But you did the quick little course at the Frampton Institute for anyone listening, who doesn't know who Peter Frampton is. He was the academy award-winning makeup artist. So that would've been pretty epic. I don't know if the Institute is still going. I think I looked it up. It's maybe stopped now. Yeah. I think it has, he was the lead makeup artist on Braveheart. Like that was his big accolation. Yeah. Accolade. Accolation that's not even a word. I I didn't pick up on that. here for makeup, not English that's for sure. yeah. Um but yeah, he, uh, he was quite a character and yeah, it was a lot of special effects though. So clearly that's not what I'm doing at all. And I actually was really bad at it because my brain is very much OCD, symmetrical perfection, which is why I Excel better in beauty, beauty work for photo shoots, where everything needs to be very like quite polished. But yeah, my bullet wound holes were literally perfectly symmetrically round. And Peter's just, he's so such a character, he would just literally say, yes, it fucked Mia, your, your bullet wounds are fucked. so I was like, okay, I can see, I can see what you, what you see here. But yeah. It's and I didn't enjoy it. Like I like making, I like making everyone beautiful. I don't love putting dirt on people's fingernails and giving them a black eye and all of the prosthetics. I just didn't really enjoy it. So I've definitely found my niche in the beauty. And it's a whole other thing as well, when you're kind of doing special effects. Like if you were doing it for film or television, it's a whole other issue with like continuity and it's like, it's Oh God. different kind of creative expression. Yeah. I, I wouldn't be into that either. I think even a couple of times for like Halloween over the last 10 years, they're like, oh Beth, can you put a bruise on me? I'm like, no, I could put some, you know, really dark red liquid lipstick on you and pretend it's blood. But that's about all I'm interested in. Sorry, Yeah, I think it's hard to tap into both sides of your brain to, you know, be really good at both of those things. Like, yeah. So, I think they're two completely different, completely different things. I know that some people have actually asked me to try and get some special effects out on the show and just knowing my own limitations. I wouldn't even know what to ask. So I'm happy to do it if someone's got a suggestion, but it's a completely different. Skill and artistry in itself, but I heard you speak to Vanessa Barney on another podcast, the makeup insider, which for everyone listening, you should go check it out, cuz she's great. And that was towards the end of last year. And you were talking about how you were still a paralegal and you moved up to the gold coast and one of your part-time like jobs at the time for makeup was working in the strip club and you were doing eyes for the dancers. Please tell me about this in detail because my jaw was on the floor. I was listening to that and I was like, that is so fucking lit. Like I loved it. did. I did that job for a year. I had paid really well. They were, you know, they were reg, they were regular invitations to please, like, let's further your career onto the dance floor. They were always looking for new girls, like to come up on stage. But yeah, no, I didn't go down that path, but much respect to all of the girls that definitely do that, but it was insightful for me. Like I had never, I was very, I guess, naive, cause I would've been 25 then I think. Yeah. And I don't know, I just, I'd never been into a strip club yet. Sorry. so. Especially this particular strip club, because what I discovered was was that different clubs have different licenses as to what the girls can and can't do. And I mean, my understanding, I guess, of strip clubs was that when you see in all the American movies, they're always like don't touch the girls, like hands off the Mm whereas in this club, It was kind of like free for all. And girls would come and sit in my chair and be like, oh my God, my nipples are so sore today. Like, and I'm like, they're going, what, what do you mean? oh Oh God, I had this guy just like pulling on my nipples all last night, blah, blah, blah, blah. But just so open and candid about it. And I was just like, what the hell? so, yeah, like that was like such an eyeopener to me. And like, there was a couple of occasions where I had gone onto the floor and like seen everything, you know, all the girls at work and yeah, it was a bit of an eyeopener for me because I hadn't been into a strip cover for. So seeing the girls go from Spokey eyes in my chair to like grinding, but naked on like straddling some guy was a little bit of an eye opener for me, but like again, like kudos to them. For doing that, a lot of them are putting themselves through university and just literally killing it, like with money, like back then, it was quite lucrative. I have no idea what it is now, but yeah, so that was a year, which kind of came around at a good time because I had opened my studio shortly after that. So it was kind of like gonna be paying my part of my rent, like for the studio that I had. So we ended up getting fired actually, but nothing to do with us, but, you know, I'd had enough by then, like, and we did have a good gig cuz it was literally like some makeup artists in the strip clubs. You see them in nightclubs, they're sitting in the toilet. Waiting for girls and off, you know, you see it in America, they'll be selling mints or whatever, or selling, you know, this and they do it for tips. And back then, like makeup artists would sit in the toilets in strip clubs. And like, it would just be up up to the girls to like pay them. Here's 10 bucks for some eyes or whatever. Whereas this job, I was only doing one hour a night. I think it was like
seven till 8:00 PM. It was perfect. Like it wasn't late in the night. And I think we were getting 80 bucks an hour, which I was stoked with. Like back then, this is like going back yeah. Years ago now. So yeah, it was a good little bit of pocket money for me. love it is a good bit of pocket money, but also something that kind of occurred to me was like, You would get quite a bit of creative expression, I guess, and also allowance like that. You could kind of play with like a more dramatic smokey eye or maybe play with color because they wouldn't, I, I suspect I'm making assumptions here. They wouldn't have minded that, whereas like a lot of the time now it's like very soft and like, I wanna bronzey glowy, but like you could really kind of go for it. And I just know that when people let you do that, it's just so much fun, but it's also such a great way to learn. Yeah, learning and also working on speed cuz we had to be as quick as possible and just learning on different faces. So yeah, it, it was a good experience. And like, I guess from that, I kind of became like the go to glamor, like makeup artists. Like I did a lot of when I was starting out, I did a lot of those model portfolio shoots where the girls are on the beach in bikinis, I've done penthouse, pitcher magazine, like, you know, full like pretty much porn, like O open leg, photo shoots videos who knows what's go, I've worked with porn stars and, and prostitutes. I've worked with all of them. And a lot of them, the look back then was very glamor with, you know, the really black smokey eyes. And yeah, I, I did a lot of that work that I was definitely known for that. So I got a lot of practice with the black smokey eyes. I love it. I love a good black smokey eye. So you, you just mentioned a couple of minutes ago that kind of around that time you opened your studio. So is that around about the same time as well that you said Sara paralegal don't need your. it was exactly like, I literally left one to do the other. I was literally like, I had already mentally left the building. Like with that job, once I decided that I was going to become full-time with makeup artistry, I didn't just do it to be, to do go and freelance full-time I literally consecutively opened my salon to time it with like Friday, I was leaving the office and Monday I'm now a makeup store owner. So I was literally usually using the time that I had in the office on the phone to like people setting up the, the fit out and all that sort of stuff, like a bit, but What, what they don't know, won't hurt them. And we are all guilty of that. Yeah. So it was all ready to go. So luckily my partner at the time, he was a tradie, so I had two salons, like not at, at once, but I moved from one after two years to another and he did both of the fit out. So I was super lucky in saving money there, but I had a, yeah, for 13 years I closed it just before COVID, which was the best timing ever, ironically, cuz I was traveling too much and uh, never there. And then we all stopped traveling so what were you, what were you doing in the studio? Like, so if you stopped kind of working as a paralegal on Friday, and then you started back in the studio on Monday, like your first day, what did that, what did those first few, like weeks, months, even years look like, like, cuz obviously makeup is, you know, busier for freelancers, you know, Friday, Saturday or whatever. So was it shoots? Was it just kind of, you know, girls coming in for a formal, what was the tea. Well, I implemented spray tanning. I built like a spray tanning room into the studio and I also started doing hair extensions as well. So I kind of needed to look for other services that I could offer to fill in the gaps, you know, because like you said, event makeup, it's all very weekend orientated. And I wasn't, I was doing some photo shoots, but a lot of them, I guests were on weekends and stuff. They weren't like the photo shoots I do now where it's like a full day on a Monday or a Wednesday or whatever it would literally be like in and out hair makeup. And that was it. There was no half day full day back then. So yeah, I did. I even did a brow waxing course and a lash tinting course at one point to really fill in the gaps. But I didn't really do that that long. And then I ended up subcontracting like renting a space to an eyebrow threading. Person, Rena who, yeah. Who she kind of just was one of the first to bring threading to the gold coast, eyebrow threading. So she approached me and so I rented space to her and was just, was looking for ways to cover my rent. Yeah, well, you gotta do what you gotta do. Yeah. And I did that for, I've been doing master classes for over 10 years now. So once I started doing my master classes, I dropped everything else. Like the spray tanning, the hair extensions because the master classes filled the, the financial void of those other services. And I hated doing them anyway. So I mean, I did a mean spray tan, but I mean breathing in all of that spray tan, you know, every time there was a festival, there'd be like 30 spray tans in a day. It's just not a fun time. So I was thankful to get rid of those services. So how long after opening your studio, did you feel I'm kind of curious at what point do you get to the, you know, the thought process of I'm ready with my skills, where I'm at that I can actually start teaching others. Like when did you get to that point? Well, it was never a case of me saying, oh, I'm ready. I'm gonna do this. It was more so people were asking me like, Do you do master classes? Like, do you teach, like, and at that point I'd done a couple I've participated in a couple of master classes, but I'd never considered myself or anyone wanting to learn off me. So until yeah, people were asking me because back then we had Facebook as the social media platform. So people were following along and asking if I taught makeup and then I decided to put some gold coast master classes on. And then after that obviously gets documented online. Then people from Sydney and Melbourne and all the capital cities, Canberra, and Adelaide and Hobart and Perth, they were all asking like, will you come to Sydney? Will you come to Perth? Like, blah, blah, blah, blah. So that's how the masterclass happened. I never thought, you know, that I got to a point in my career. I was like, right, I'm gonna do master classes. Cause I'd never even considered doing them at all. I just didn't think of myself like that yet. Which is so crazy because you're so good at it. I remember it would've been so long ago now. I don't, I think it was like pre well pre COVID because I remember you did a masterclass with the secret Fox. That must have been Christmas 2019, because COVID, wasn't a thing yet. And I think you were saying like the best thing that you can do after you watch a masterclass is to go and like do it on somebody else, like a, right. Like if you learn how to do a look, go do it on someone so that you can like, just actually get that done. And I did one of your ones with the secret Fox and it was for the smoke. BU I. And I just remember this friend that I had this friend I had at the time, which in hindsight, what always, cuz she's not still around anymore. I did the best, the best smoke bomb eye on her ever. And I was like, yes, Connor, I think I had like couple hundred followers and I like tag you. I was like, thanks so much to me, Connor for teaching me how to do this. and it was just so nice. old And oh, the smoke bubble, I think even then like, yeah, you like commented on my post. You were like good job, even though the photo was like horrendous. So Oh, I'm sure it I guess like it wasn't great. So like at what point did you feel like you had really like developed that style and like the way that you were kind of presenting those master classes where here is a brighter look or here is the smoke bum eye. Like how did you create that look like what was going on? The smoke bomb. Tagline is still, it's a bit cringy for me, but whatever, like, it was good marketing at the time. It is a little bit, it's a bit like your first Hotmail address. Like when you look back and you think of what, what was your first Hotmail address? And yeah. You see the reaction is like cringe. So, yeah, I don't know, but it was, I always, like, I guess I like marketing, so I was always, you know, looking for something different to stand out instead of just calling it another, oh, learn how to do a smokey eye. Like I wanted to come up with a catchy phrase that was remembered, like, and it was remembered because people like you were still bringing it up till this day and I've actually brought it back. I brought it back a little bit with my content creator class where I'm incorporating a little bit more of those looks, but I've called it. I've revamped it to the sultry content creator masterclass. Again, I may look back on that and regret it, but, Oh, whatever. I feel like we all do shit like that, where we, we like brand things a certain way. And then a few years later, you're like, what was I thinking? But it, it was memorable. And the look itself was like, it was pretty great. I mean, I remember you used in that particular masterclass, you used like a tiny, tiny little Smashbox pallet. And I remember like hustling my fat as down to Mecca to buy that exact pallet, just cause I'll be like, yeah. Would we be a cutter? makeup I've sold for Mecca. My God. know, I know. Where's your commission. Interrupting this episode of me talking with more of me talking it's Beth, the founder of Saint Jack. And I just wanted to quickly remind you that the makeup cleaning miss is a must have for your professional artistry kit made with the highest quality alcohol. So it absorbs quickly and smells so good. The miss kills the bacteria on the surface of all of your products, like your eyeshadow, palettes, bronzes, blushes, everything. So everything can stay nice and clean between clients proudly Australian made. Get your hands on the missed online at WWT Saint Jack dot com AU and use code Brush 15 to join the hundreds of other artists like 10 J penny antra and Jack kale who always have the miss by their side. Now let's get back to the show. So I read on an Instagram post that you made in 2016. Cuz I scroll all the way back. It took Okay. Not creepy at all. It's very creepy. Thank you for finally admitting it. Most people to hear that. And they're like, ah, yeah. Cool, cool, cool. Very creepy. But no, that's good. I like that. You do your research. I do gotta be prepared in 2016, you made a post and you were like people who know me know that I'm like really scared of public speaking, but like I'm really trying. And then in 2019 you literally toured the content creator masterclass all over the country, as well as New Zealand, the us and 10 countries in Europe. What the F like how do you go from being terrified of public speaking to then organizing like an international Mr. Worldwide tour of your classes? Like that's crazy. well, Valium Valium works wonders Oh my God. Tell me about it. SIS. because yeah, valley. No, yeah, look, I have never taken Valium until I had to present. I was doing the beauty expo. That was my first. Like proper onstage thing. And I started crying before I had to go on. So I was going on for crown Brush Australia and I think it's something to do with the stage. I just freak out. And like, when I get nervous, my hands shake. And then obviously you're not gonna do a great wing liner if you've got like shaking hands, plus they film you you're, you know, like filmed up on this massive board behind you and they zoom right in. So yeah, it's just pure adrenaline. I was very nervous. Like I, yeah, I was never a good public speaker. I would go bright red in the face. I'd run out of breath and Nelly pass out because I'd be trying to say the whole thing, like in one go and I dreaded it. I hated it so much. So my first gold coast master classes, I feel like, yes, I was really nervous. My hands were shaking and I was running out of air. And I do remember one makeup artist revisiting the masterclass, like coming back, I don't know, a year or two later saying I did like, she'd done one class. And then she came back to do the next and was like, I remember, like I could see from the back of the room, your hands were shaking. I'm like, oh, thanks for that. Thanks for trying attention to that. you so much. Yeah. Once you do more of them, once you do more of them, like the fear does go. And like when you're on the same level, like on the ground level with all of the people, that's a different experience than when you are on stage for me. Anyway. So when my first stage experience, which was my first Valium experience, got to the convention center and was freaking out, and I remember going up to Tanya and Susan from crown and like, Susan was like, oh, you look like you're about to cry. And I mean, you never say that to someone that looks like they're about to cry because they cry. And I did. And I was like, oh my God, like I, people are gonna see me crying. Like I was so embarrassed. And I remember I got into the crown Brush stand and I threw myself on the ground. Like I was ducking down under like under their tables so that no one could see me because I was so embarrassed. Cause I just got into such a state of crying and they were looking at me like, what the fuck? Like what are we gonna do? Like she's meant to be going on stage for. And then I was like, Tanya was great. She was like, here have this Valium. I'm like, give me the Valium. So anyway, I took the Valium, I think I had one and a half Valium that day. So I was like, literally a zombie, but so exhausted and such like, so frazzled still. And. Ray Morris was there and she was talking to crown and crown were telling Ray, we've got this artist. That's quite scared of going on stage. And Ray's like, oh my God, who is it? Like, and they're like, it's Mia. And I'd done one of Ray's master classes before. And Ray was like, oh my God, I'll I'll come out and give her a pep talk. So she came out the back and gave me a pep talk and I'm still like shitting myself about going on stage. You're getting micd up. And anyway, she's like, I can MC for you instead, I can do a way better job. I can introduce you. Instead of like the current MC I can really hype up the crowd for you. And I'm like, What I don't, I don't want the crowd to be there. I certainly don't want them hyped up. So she was so nice that she was literally gonna come on stage and assist me. Like that's gonna calm my nerves. Ray Morris assisting me some little upstart makeup artist. Like that's hair, my hands are shaking and I've got Ray Morris trying to pass me brushes. So that didn't happen. But I was like, very grateful for that. And then, yeah. Any stage stuff that I do, like where I'm literally micd up and on a big stage, I do have to have a Valium to go on because I can't stop my shaking hands. So that's how in a Well, you know what fucking good on you for just for saying the truth, not like, oh, you know, it's hard, but we get through it. Sometimes a Valium does wonders for these sorts of things, but I mean, obviously you do get a lot out of it. If you like. It's one thing to kind of like, I know you're doing a lot of work with crown at the time, and then to kind of go on for beauty expo, but like, to then organize independently, a tour kind of all over the world, like to hit like different cities in the states and then go literally all over Europe. Like, what is it, I guess that makes it worth it. Like if you get so nervous and like, you kind of build yourself into a state some of the time, what is it that you love educat? So much, like why. Well, I mean, once you get off the stage, you're like, that was awesome. It's literally the first 10 minutes that you're on stage that you're like, oh my God, like dying. And obviously the lead up to that. But then once you, you almost go on a high, like once you you're up there and you get off stage and, and you, you know, hopefully you did a good job and people were really receptive to you then. Yeah. Like you walk off going. That was actually amazing. I wanna do it again. It's just part of being a human, I think it's like fright or flight mode. So, but the educating for me, I love it. Like I love whether it's on stage or, you know, doing my, my group master classes or my one-on-one master classes where I can actually have that moment with an, a makeup artist that I can change their artistry for the better. And finally, you know, see the full light bulb moment go off in their head, like we're explaining to them and demonstrating something to them. So it might be so simple to them, but it changes like their artistry dramatically, but they've never had somebody it's like, they can't see the forest for the trees sometimes. Like they just need.. Yeah. I mean, we've all experienced it in all elements of life. Sometimes you're like, oh my God, I never thought of doing it like that. How simple and how, like, why didn't I try this before? But you know, we're all makeup artists that are kind of like out for ourselves on some level. It's not really a group activity. Is it like it's a real solo career path. So I love being over to share my knowledge because I didn't do any assisting work. I had to learn everything like that. I ha that I'm now passing on data, makeup artists just by trial and error. I guess I am really good at explaining in detail, you know, how to get from a to B and the, the things that you may encounter along the way and the ways to fix those things, rather than some teachers that I've encountered can be lazy teachers. They will, they, they don't explain themselves because they don't know how to ex. Explain like, you know, how you make your bed every day. If you had to explain to somebody how you make your bed every day, you would be like, well, I just make it like, so you've gotta break teaching right down into step by step. And I think some teachers don't do that enough to be beneficial to an artist. And also they can fall into the trap of being a bit lazy with their critique. I will always. my, I want my makeup artist to learn and I'm not afraid to tell them like that. I love what you've done here. However, this, this, and this, I would probably recommend that you do this and this and this, like always leave with a compliment first. And then cuz you obviously don't wanna crash and burn their confidence. But yeah, like I don't want my makeup artist paying money for me and then walking out, going, oh, and I'm just saying to them, oh that's great. Yeah. That's great. That's great. That's great. Like there's no constructive criticism there and they're, they're learning nothing if you don't give them that feedback. So yeah. That's why I love teaching. I just love relaying all the info that I've had to gather. Think you have to hunt together for yourself over all these many years. Yeah. Hunting and gathering the info. It's very true though, because it's like, you know, I I've been to lots and lots of, you know, different classes and courses and all this sort of stuff. And it's like, sometimes there are those ones and they can like tell you like good things and like what products to use. And in theory, like it works this way and then you kind of leave and you're like, oh cool. Like, I think I should go out and I should buy these products. And then I'll, I'll be better. But it's like, it's much better rather than just getting a pat on the back and being like good job. Like you kind of completed the class and that's all you need. It's like, so actually, no, if there's something I could have done here better, let me know because I'll actually leave here a better artist and that's gonna further my career as well as my skill. I think just in general, not even just in makeup artistry in any kind of education that that's so important, cuz it doesn't have to be like a critique in a way that's negative. It's like, all right, well let's work on this. Yeah. Yeah. wondering if there's a moment with all of the classes that you've done, cuz you do so many kinds, you just kind of mentioned you do the ones where you're on stage, whether that be kind of representing a brand or something else. So you do the ones that are like on the ground, you know, with like a smaller group of artists where it's like you do like look and learns where it's like they watch and then they do it on their own model. Right. Is there a moment that really stands out to you that you remember where you feel like you had a really big impact on a makeup artist or someone in particular while doing this work? Like where something really amazing happened or you could see a really like big change happened in them. Hmm. That's a tough question. Was this on the list? It was what wasn't shit. Sorry. wait, don't expose me on my list of questions. Everyone just thinks I come up with this shit on the fly sorry. Yes. Yep. She's good on her feet. Nothing like not one particular person stands out, but I mean, I have got regular makeup artists that I interact with that they. You know, will always message me on Instagram and be like, how do you do this? How do you they'll ask me advice for all different things. And, and eventually they do come and do a master class most of the time. So building those like relationships, and then finally, like, they've got trust in you because you've answered all their questions. Then they come and do the class, you get to see their artistry and then you get to see their artistry change because you've coached them. And then after the class is finished, they continue to message you. Like, what do you think of this? What do you think of that? I'm trying this and I'll continue to critique them and like coach them. And then you see, you know, their work completely evolve. And they're finally kicking the goals that they've always wanted to, like a perfect example is just today a makeup artist who knows you littles, you know, Sylvia. Yep. Yeah, she has been messaging me for, I don't know how long, but we really like got on well, and then she came and did both of my master classes and she messages me. We message each other regularly and she just uploaded a reel cuz I've been coaching her on her reels and like, you know, this is great, but next time do this, like do this, you know, this will work for you better. And she messaged me today, super happy. Like she kicked a goal because one of her reels that she posted got like the most ever views, I think 17,000 views or something. And it'll probably be far more by the time anyone listens to this podcast. But just like moments like that, where you're like, oh, like me giving her help and advice, like has finally like been the turning point a little bit for her in what she wanted to like achieve. So moments like that. That's a hundred percent a great answer to the question. I did prepare that. talk a I said to you? No, no, that that's a hundred percent. What. Like it just must be. I can only imagine so fulfilling to see kind of the advice and support that you give people. Like, not just in the class, but like beyond really kind of have that impact. Yeah. She actually, she messaged me last night and she told me about that one. I was like, that's lit, that's so good. Like good on you. Like keep going, you know, it's all you gotta keep doing in this day and age with content, but that's a whole other story. Am I right in thinking that you are coming to Melbourne? Soon-ish so maybe there's some master classes coming up soon for people to come to. Is that not announced? So Melbourne, well, no, it hasn't been announced yet, but I just, I'm struggling to find time in my calendar. yeah. Okay. Well hopefully you Yeah, I was, I'm definitely coming next year. I just, I feel like we are literally on almost four, four months, three months left of the year, four or three months. And I like to set my master classes down like three months ahead, no less so that it gives me time to market and hopefully fill them. But with Melbourne, I should have said it down because I've been getting asked by Melbourne makeup artist for so all through. COVID like when, when, when, when, when, and, and Melbourne was my strongest venue for, for master classes, like always like I've done Melbourne sometimes four times in a year when I was starting my, my master classes up. There's just so many makeup artists down there. So yes, coming soon. It'll be early next year and then I'll do one in cans. I'll go back to cans early January, I think. And then I've got my Sydney one, which I think there's literally one spot on my content creator one in November, the bridal one's full and I've got gold coast in October. And then I've gotta look and learn for the everyday woman also in October, which is not for makeup artists. It's just for anyone that loves makeup Well, it sounds like for the one tickets that, that is left to the content creator, one for whoever's listening to this, it's like the hunger games guys. There's one ticket left. One of you. At it, but when you do come, that'll be exciting and I'll, I'll let everyone know who followed me here. Cuz I know that so many people have been asking me to get you on the show. So they're the kinds of people who would love to learn from you. But I am interested like you are so in demand for bridal even still to this day, you still do bridal special events, red carpet, like glamor, right? You got shoots going on, you got the master classes, like all the dates you just rolled off. First of all, I'm tired just describing that. And so it's like, I know for me when I've got so many different balls in the air that I can start to feel like I'm being spread really thin. I'm just interested. Like, do you feel like you thrive on the kind of hustle of it all? Or do you sometimes struggle with like, I've got so much to do? I don't know how I'm gonna do it. Yeah. I mean, I definitely, like, I prefer to be busier than not. I don't like having too much downtime. And as a freelancer, I think most freelancers are the same because we are self-employed usually and everything. The buck stops with us. We have to motivate ourselves. Constantly to do other things other than our bookings, like we have to do our own marketing, make the content, like all of the things to keep the wheels in motion. And I find that can be quite hard to stay focused if you are not constantly busy. So I do prefer to be busier than not. And I do definitely, I guess, thrive off the hustle and I've got big goals that I want, you know, ticked off in certain timeframes. And I am very aware of, if you keep doing what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got. So. The hustle is like there's an end game, of course. But I also find sometimes in the past as a freelancer, you can, when you do have downtime, you won't use it perhaps productively and you'll go to the, oh, this is me speaking. I'd go to the beach or I'd just mess around. I'm a procrastinator as well. So this year I've really knuckled down and I'm just like work, work, work, work, work. And even if I don't wanna do certain stuff around furthering my business and stuff, I'm just making myself do it. So, yes, it's a bit difficult, especially when I've got an online booking system where people can just book whenever they want. So sometimes you'll wake up in the next morning and someone's booked in a bunch of things. And if you look too far into your calendar, you're like, holy shit. Like that's when you can start to get a bit overwhelmed, but I just try to take it day by day and I try not to work Sundays. And I, I, if I'm getting super busy, I'll go into my calendar and I'll start blocking out days so that I can just have a little bit of reprieve. Mm. Yeah, I think it's important to make sure that you are still having that downtime, but in complete contrast to that, because CIS never sleeps a K U a few years ago, three, three or so years ago, you started journaling on your Instagram using the hashtag hashtag shit. Connie Yes, And in this like, kind of, it kind of just became like, I suppose, like a way. Or like capture in your post, but also give like a bit more information, but it wasn't always, like, sometimes it was like really tangible tips about technique, about how you use like a certain look, but often it was more really like about your mentality or like tips about running a business or like, you know, sometimes you would call bullshit on like habits that like people, artists in our industry have created over time. And I'm just interested to know, like, why is like doing that? Why was doing that important to you and like giving back in that way, because you know, your content is so visually pleasing that you could probably just get away with being like, here's another gorgeous photo without adding that extra layer. So like, why is that important to you? Well, I mean, back then, you could have got away with just a beautiful picture. And like everyone knows that, you know, a few years ago, everyone's pictures did far better on Instagram, but now they don't and you know, video is preference now. But in addition to that, you need to kind of capitalize on every element of social media that's offered to you, which is in a caption as well. So, you know, having a caption, just writing, you know, oh, you know, glam for Mary for her 21st birthday. Like no one gives a shit like that is the most boring caption ever. It. It doesn't stand out and it doesn't make your audience like wanna follow you. It doesn't demonstrate your personality and your quirks. It doesn't give them any value at all, other than seeing a pretty picture. So I was using that educational captions, I guess, as a way to show my personality, which I find you can follow people on Instagram, just for their personality. Sometimes. Like they could even be a shit makeup artist and you might be like, oh, I actually enjoy watching her or following her or him or whatever. So I wanted to kind of not be like, not showcase myself as like, you know, I guess someone that I would, if I was back working in the law firm, professional mirror, like, you know, very clean cut and like, well spoken. I, I didn't wanna, you know, no smoke and mirrors. I just wanted to show people, this is how I am. This is how I talk. If you like it, you like it. If you don't, you don't. So there was that element, but also. Gaining followers and giving them a reason to follow you. And then also eventually like the end game for me is that, you know, maybe one day they will come and do my masterclass because I've kind of built myself to be hopefully a trusted educator or, you know, a leader in my, my field. Like I, I'm trying to demonstrate that I on some level know what I'm talking about. And then hopefully, yeah, they will come and book a masterclass or they will buy an eyeliner off me. But I also love writing. Like I teach this element in my content, create a masterclass and people will often be like, but how the hell do you like, do you, you know, block out time to draft up these captions, but they honestly just come. So like I love writing. So it just, literally, I can just write a caption, like straight up and posted and really just think about what is, what is in the picture that's standing out that I can write about. So you've just gotta really. Focus on that, but that's the reasons why incorporated incorporated the captions, cuz I'm just trying to utilize social media and keep my audience engaged. And also, you know, I'm happy to help. It's just an added layer of my education for my master classes for taster. Love it. It's all so well considered and it's so true. You. Think I, I really do, even for myself, like I sometimes question it, you be like glam for blah, blah, blah. On her birthday. She is wearing. And then you like tag the brands and the exact products. It's kind of like, I even see people are moving away from that now. And they're like, comment, if there's any particular product you want, cuz it's like, no one really is reading that like either the real or the TikTok or whatever you're making is engaging enough on its own. Like visually that people will enjoy that. Or you're absolutely right. It's gonna be like what you're saying, whether it be in the captions. I'm curious to know what's your take then on kind of like talking to camera, you do sometimes quite a bit with like tutorials on stories and things like that. Do you think that that's really important for people to pick up on as well? Yes. Yes and no. Like the makeup artists you'll get some makeup artists that are like, oh, I just don't. I hate social media. Like I hate talking to camera. I just wanna do makeup. And I always come back to like, choose which path you wanna go with makeup. If you don't wanna start making money off your social media, then don't invest too much time in it. If you are already super busy as a makeup artist and you're booked and busy. Who cares about social media? You've got the work because at the you're wasting time like doing this social media and you're already busy and you are happy doing your weddings and events and, and you've got enough work, then you've already kind of like reached the goal. But if you wanna monetize your social media, Or if you do want more clients and you're using social media as a platform to gain them, then yes, you're gonna have to put some time into it. And why not choose social media as a marketing tool because it's free and everyone's doing it, everyone's on it. So the talking to camera thing I think is if you are a makeup artist wanting to, you know, go down the path of creating content for brands or becoming an educator, whether it's an online educator where you need to be comfortable speaking to camera, or if it's literally, you know, you being able to articulate how to get from a to B, like whether it's talking to camera or not, it's all about just speaking in general. So I just think you need to choose which direction you're going with makeup. And I do think that your client really would love to know who, who you are, what you look like, you know, what what's your vibe like, because that can also kind of make or break and people will always form opinions. And judgements on what that person may or may not be like. So it's kind of good to give them a bit of insight. Like you see some makeup artists, you have to scroll so deep just to see what they look like. Everyone wants to see what their makeup artist looks like. It's like when you go to the hairdresser, you're looking at her hair to see, or his hair, what, what it's like, even though they probably didn't do their own hair, but it's the general thing. If you go to a makeup artist, you're looking at their makeup, you wanna see how they do it because that's the setting, the bar for probably what you are gonna get. So I do think it's good to have a little bit of like you and what you look like. And you know, a little bit of personality online. If you choose to I think that that's such a great point. And I mean, we haven't even really touched on it cuz I, I would talk to you literally all day, every day, because I know that I could, and I'd never run out of things to say, but I haven't talked about the, the liquid liner yet, but you launched that. I can't quite remember if that was 2020. It was It was yeah. yeah, I think it was cuz and I think there was some delays and things cuz I know it had been announced then obviously everything went to shit and I don't have to go into any more detail on that cuz we all were there, but like that's the perfect point, right? I've been following you for God knows how long, but when you launched that liquid liner, it made so much sense to me because I know that your liquid liner on yourself is like your signature on yourself. So when that happened, I was like, oh, that makes so much sense. Do you know what I mean? I was like, that's gonna be a great liquid liner because you know that you would never, ever put your name on one. That's a piece of shit, just for the sake of creating a product line to sell to people. And so that is the perfect example of everything that you just said, because I already knew you, even though I've never met you in person, I already knew who you were by that point to be like, ah, of course, whereas obviously sometimes we say celebrities slap their names on things that have like nothing to do with their personality. And you're like, Hmm. So it's like, you know, your, your followers and your potential clients are completely agree with you do want to see who you are for sure. Yeah, yeah, definitely. Love it. I'd never even thought about that. That's genius. I feel like you've got this genius marketing brain that nobody is that nobody is like appreciating or respecting enough that like I've just uncovered it. So now we know, well, I've you. just about enough of your time. I mean, like I said, I could talk to you all day, all day. Just Oh, stop. though. You have done makeup on so many incredible, beautiful women, like famous women. You've traveled the world. You've done all of that. You've collaborated with some of like the biggest, greatest brands in the world, creatives in the world. What are some of the dream collaborations, if any, that you wanna share or dream projects that you still wanna tick off your list? Like what's something you really still wanna do. Well, I've I still wanna obviously brand, I wanna relaunch the liner, which is happening this year for anyone that's listening. It did launch in November, 2020, and then I discontinued it because I was having some manufacturing issues because it wasn't coming up to my. Standard. Like there was some faulty ones in the batches, so I'm remanufacturing that. So that's one thing that I wanna tick off the list and then add on certain cult products. I don't wanna drop a whole range. I just wanna drop really a signature cosmetic products that align with my artistry. So there's that, there's also obviously the online education. I did announce that I was going to have an online makeup academy, but then I've just become so overwhelmed by all the content that I need to create. And the time that I have to invest into that. So I'm not do going down that path cause I don't think I would enjoy it. And then therefore I don't think it would be very I'm successful if you're not enjoying what you're doing. So I'm just filming more online master classes. So that's what I'll be doing products and online education. So the online master classes, will they be similar to the ones that you do in person like the kind of content creation or the bridal one? I'll probably launch, like, I'll probably do a couple of live ones of those, because I feel like they're far too long to be just a recording. And I like the idea of like people being able to interact like instantly and ask questions and stuff like that. Whereas these online classes, like I already had a few that I filmed maybe four years ago and I've, that's what I'm re re kind of modeling now. And I just filmed one yesterday, but it'll be key broken down looks. So I think a whole face video you lose, there'll be some people that will definitely want that and love that. But I sometimes think that shorter things a little bit better to retain and like, you know, not lose focus on. So it'll be a specific eye. Look, a skin look, and just really broken down peaches pieces of the face so that you can. Purchase like, oh, I wanna learn how to do luminous skin. I'm gonna get that video. I wanna learn how to do wing shadow. We'll buy that one. So it all, all be very broken down, but you can use them all together. Yeah. I love that. Well, I mean, I read a statistic yesterday and of course I can't remember it, but it's something like gen Z's attention span now, like for scrolling. So if you're on TikTok or Instagram, whatever is 1.3 seconds. So I think it sounds like a very good career move for you. I know it's fucked to kind of break it down into little pieces because you know, people are just are consuming shorter form content, whether that even be educational or not yeah, otherwise it can even be too overwhelming. You're like, oh my God, I've gotta do hours and hours and hours and hours and hours. And I don't know which bit's gonna be where, whereas I could be like, I just really need some tips on skin because I feel like I just, I feel stale. Like I wanna Brush up, you know, that's awesome. yeah, Really cool. And finally, finally, finally, what advice, because you have so much hashtag shit, Connie says, what advice would you give to an aspiring artist who is at the beginning of their journey today with the landscape of everything that we know about social media today with artistry being pretty saturated industry, there's a lot of us there. Makeup retail is huge. Is there anything that stands out to you? Like if you had a teenager come up to you, I wanna be just like you, what would you tell them? Mm, well, yeah, if they were wanting to follow in my particular footsteps, then, you know, in terms of growing like their brand and social media and stuff like that, and collabing with brands, then you need to obviously focus first on your artistry, which means practicing and counter experience is amazing for that. I worked at Mac for three months when the gold coast store opened and I personally hated retail, but like, it is such a good learning ground for speed. And obviously like working on all different face. Shapes and eye shapes and nationalities and ages and things like that. So you need to be doing makeup constantly. I pretty much living and breathing makeup. Like when I was starting out, I was doing my day job, like Monday to Friday, I was working in that strip club in the night, after every day shift. And then I would do weddings and photo shoots every weekend. And sometimes I'd do photo shoots before I would go to my day job, like at sunrise, like in, you know, getting up at like
2:33 AM going to my day job. So you do have to put in the hard yards. It's definitely not an industry. That's gonna fall into your lap, but I watch makeup artists that really apply to themselves and apply themselves and they're consistent and you can watch them evolve and get bigger and bigger. So always working on your artistry definitely assist where you can because it's something that I didn't do. My knowledge that I've had to gain has been, I guess, slow tracked instead of fast tracked, because I've had to learn everything my way, like just through trial and error. Whereas you can obviously fast track. If someone was assisting me, I imagine all the things that I could teach them, like, whereas I just had to come out, work it out myself, so assisting for sure. And you know, education like doing master classes, whether it's online or actually attending the master classes. And then from that, once your artistry is at a level or even building up to that level, it's all about the content. Like if you're wanting to follow in my footsteps, I was using Facebook back when it first started as my platform to showcase my work. I wasn't using, I was using MySpace actually not. I was using MySpace before Facebook as my. Way to, to sell model portfolios for people to book me as their makeup artist, I was using it back then. So it's all about creating good content, you know, getting great faces to work from, to work on and creating content that really stands out. And, you know, for various reasons you could have models that are very diverse. You could have models that are all different ages, that don't have to be a model you can showcase before and after transformations as well. Videos. Unfortunately, you, you, you're gonna have to be a bit of a videographer, like as well. So doing all of those things, I think that it definitely it's content knowing your lighting. Yeah. Content is where it's at. And I used to use like every day off I had, I would do content. well where there's a will, there's a way. And I will say for sure, I feel very inspired at the end of this chat that I'm like, you know what? I haven't done a content day in a little while, and I think I've been a little bit lazy. I've been a little bit lazy in winter with all that sort of shit. So it's time for me to pick up my game and no one better to take the info from it is fun. So thank you so much, Mia. Kinda. Thanks for having me, Beth.. Thank you so much. Isn't Mia, such a legend. What a great chat also. Sorry. I forgot to mention this in the intro, but my cat sat on my lap for the entire duration of the podcast. And I really should have mentioned that at the beginning that maybe you would hear her pairing. I don't know if you can hear it at all, but like she is, I think she's almost like 15. Maybe she's almost 16 and she's gotten so excessively needy in her old age. And I was like, SIS don't you know that I'm talking to me, Connor, somebody I've literally admired for like almost a decade. What are you doing? Like you never pay me attention now. But I know that even if you did hear little, June Meow and away, I know that you got just as much out of that episode as I did, it was really a pinch me moment to be sitting across from Mia, even virtually and getting to ask her everything I have always wanted to know about how she built her phenomenal career. That we just know just between you and me. We know that her career is just gonna flourish even more and more in ways we can't even imagine. I would love to take an inside, look at her brain and up her sleeve because God knows M Connor, she's got a plan and she is going to wow, us. Now, these were kind of hard to pick, but these are my top two takeaways from this chat with Mia. Number one, sometimes the best things in life are living outside of your comfort zone. Never in a million years. Would I have expected to hear that Mia was so nervous when she was about to give one of her first demos or master classes or whatever it was called at the beauty expo with crown brushes, never in a million years, would she have thought that Ray Morris was gonna offer her help either? but. Imagine, just imagine, right. If she let the tears and let the fear and let the anxiety get the better of her and said, oh, you know, educating isn't for me, I'm too scared of public speaking. I'm not gonna do it. What would her life look like now? If she didn't take the Valium, shout out to Valium. Apparently the sponsor of this episode, uh, it's been a big week guys. Um but if she didn't take the Valium or do whatever it is that she needed to do, to be able to get through those initial nerves and just like push through that fear, she would've never overcome it. And she would've never become the educator who has traveled to almost every corner of this earth building up other artists and their skills. So what are you afraid of? What are you afraid of that you wanna do in this career? Because if it scares the shit outta you, it might just be your very best adventure. Number two, social media is more than just your business. It's your brand. This is a big distinction. I feel like potentially deserves its own episode, but think about it. Social media is, you know, good for your business because it helps you get clients as a makeup artist and whatever. And you might be able to kind of just like model your way through that way. But if it's your brand, you're telling people who hire you, what makes you tick? What makes you different? What do you share with others that others don't like, what do you share with your audience that other people don't talk about? Like what, what is your point of difference? I have always read me as hashtag shit. Connie says captions because there's always something a little bit interesting to read in there. And I never really thought about it. That reading that caption, whatever it might be about is actually keeping me on her content longer. And just as a side note, anything that keeps you on Instagram or TikTok longer, Instagram or TAC. TAC TikTok is really into that. They're gonna reward that. So my mind was literally blown in real time because I thought about it. Mia has built her personality and her personal signature style. So well over the last few years, that by the time she launched her product, the eyeliner in 2020, it just made so much sense to me as one of her followers. And it instantly boosted my confidence as a customer to buy it. Now, this takeaway might be a little bit too marketing heavy. This is what I'm talking about. Maybe this is a good solo episode to have a crack at. And maybe some of you guys just aren't at this point yet, but I think the sooner we can share more of ourselves for who we are as people, as well as artists, what we think, what we like, what we don't like, we might sooner find our light. Well, that's it. I feel like my intro and outro today has been so unhinged. Oh my God. Another episode in the pocket, another episode in yours, another episode that will hopefully reach more artists who will want to join this little community that you are building. If you enjoyed the episode, please, please, please, please, please share on your stories. I actually noticed that Alex's episode a fortnight ago got so many story shares that I think it actually really helped, you know, new people discover the podcast. So if you even love me a lot and you wanna give me a great pat on the back, go leave me a review on apple podcast or Spotify, because again, it just helps more people discover the show and that's only gonna be good for all of us now, something also, I wanna mention if you are still one of the two people listening, one of whom's probably my mom, keep your eyes peeled on Saint Jack's Instagram stories, because I have a very fun idea for a podcast that involves all of us, right? All of us as makeup artists as a group, and I specifically need your help to make it happen, right? I'm actually going to be asking you for help to make this podcast episode happen. So keep your eyes peeled for that. I will be announcing that and putting that on stories really soon and how you can do that for me. But in the meantime, you can follow along with all of my antics and oh my God, there were antics this week on my social media. You can find Saint Jack on Instagram. That's at, by Saint Jack. That's B by Saint Jack. Saint Jack on TikTok is at Saint Jack Cosmetics and you can follow me the man, the myth, the daily male legend at Beth Wilson, underscore MUA on Instagram and TU. Let's see how else I can get myself into some hot water in the international press this week, but until then, I'll see you on the next one. Bye.