Nikolina Beauty

There was a version of me that would not post her own work.

Not because the work was bad. Because I was scared someone would think who does she think she is.

My English was broken,
I did not yet have papers,
my kit was not complete,
I was making spelling mistakes.

I posted anyway.
I figured what do I have to lose.
Every single client I have ever had came from being seen.

The women who build real makeup businesses are not the most talented ones. They are the ones who let themselves be seen before they felt ready.

Every coach tells me to take my makeup academy 100% online. Here's why I refuse.

Online would be easier and more profitable. No packing the whole academy every two weeks, no flying my team, no renting conference rooms in every city.

But moving from Serbia to Las Vegas taught me that who you're around changes what you believe is possible.

In our classroom you practice on real models, get corrected in real time, and spend more time next to women who want the exact same thing you do.

Becoming a makeup artist can feel lonely when nobody around you gets it. Sometimes you don't need another tutorial. You need a different room.

DM me the word MUA and I'll send you everything about our trainings and how we help women become paid makeup artists.

A lot of women tell me the same thing. My husband does not really see this as a career. My mom thinks it is a hobby.

Here is what I have learned. They are not saying you are not talented. They are asking one question: is this money or is this a hobby.

So stop defending the passion and show them the plan. What you will charge. How many clients that is a week. What it costs to get trained. When it pays itself back. That you have started looking into schools and that you are confident it will succeed.

I had to have that exact conversation once too. I was not sure if it will work but I knew myself. I did not want to work for someone else, I did not want to do 9-5, I did not want to be told when to take my break or for time off. I loved beauty and wanted my own business.

Talk about it like a business and the conversation changes, when they see you are serious about it. Because let’s face it, just because your mom says no, are you really going to just stop wanting to become a paid makeup artist?

DM me MUA if you need someone to show you how to start

The most common message I get is not "do you think I could do this."

It is "I really want this but I cannot pay for it all at once."

I want to be honest about that instead of pretending money is not a real thing. Almost nobody pays in one payment. Most women start with a deposit and then use a plan that fits what they actually make.

We offer Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay for all our programs, and we have seen women get approved for 6,12, 18 and 24 payment plans starting at $120, $150-$250 a month.

Your monthly Starbucks and Target run can be a monthly payment towards a new career. 1-2 clients can cover that monthly payment. You do not need thousands to start, you just need to make a decission and create a plan towards it.

If money is the only thing in the way, message me the word MUA and I will show you how women like you start even though they do not have everything figured out yet.

In 2015 I was selling makeup at a Macy's counter for 15 dollars an hour plus 3 percent commission.

About 30 hours a week. Around 400 dollars after tax every two weeks.

Then one night I did the math. Four freelance clients. Six hours of work. The same 400 dollars. And the products I bought were now a business expense instead of a hobby.

I did not feel ready. I gave my two weeks notice anyway. I have not had a job since.

If you are already doing makeup on friends and family for free, you are not a beginner waiting to start. You are a professional who has not started charging yet.

Comment MUA and I will send you how we get women from free work to paid clients.

Nobody tells you the hardest part about owning a beauty business isn’t the makeup.

It’s everything behind the makeup.

It’s getting clients.
It’s marketing yourself.
It’s creating content when you don’t feel like it.
It’s handling cancellations, finances, DMs, scheduling, and difficult clients.
It’s constantly learning how to run a business while still trying to perfect your craft.

Being a great makeup artist is one thing.

Building a beauty business that actually works is a completely different skill.

And that’s the part nobody prepares you for.

Researching your makeup products isn’t just about knowing which foundation gives the best finish.

It can be about client safety.

What happens when a client tells you they’re allergic to nuts, citrus, almond extract, or another ingredient and you don’t have the original box with you?

If you don’t know your products, you’re left guessing.

As a makeup artist, you should know what you’re putting on your clients’ skin. Keep your ingredient information accessible, research your products, and when you’re unsure, check before you apply.

Your artistry matters but your client’s safety matters more.

Stop thinking that reaching out means you’re “asking for a favor.”

If you’re a makeup artist trying to build your portfolio, you’re not just asking someone to help you you’re offering them value too.

Instead of saying, “I’m a new makeup artist, can you help me?”

Lead with what you can offer:

“I’m a makeup artist in Las Vegas and I’m currently building my portfolio. I’d love to collaborate with you and offer my makeup services complimentary in exchange for content.”

See the difference?

You’re not begging for an opportunity.
You’re creating a win-win collaboration.

When you lead with value, people have a reason to say yes.