Today we’d like to introduce you to Brea Pillow.
Hi Brea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey into the beauty industry honestly started in a very unexpected way.
After graduating high school in 2014, I decided to take a gap year before starting college. I wanted the opportunity to work, gain some real-world experience, and truly figure out what direction I wanted my life and career to take. During that time, I started working with UnitedHealthcare.
Every morning before work, I would beat my face and apparently, I was doing something right! My manager and coworkers constantly complimented my makeup and would tell me that I should consider doing it professionally. At the time, however, makeup was simply a hobby and an outlet for me. It was something therapeutic that allowed me to be creative and gave me a way to express myself.
Eventually, I started wondering, “What if I actually tried doing this professionally?”
From there, I began practicing on absolutely anyone who would let me. My mom, my friends, and coworkers you name it! I spent countless hours learning, practicing, making mistakes, improving, and figuring out what worked for different faces, skin types, complexions, and features. I wanted to make sure that if I was going to put my name behind something, I could confidently stand behind the work.
In 2016, I officially launched Brea Danae Artistry.
Those early years were definitely a learning experience. I was working full-time in corporate America, attending school at night, and simultaneously trying to build clientele for a brand that was still very new. It was exciting, but it was also incredibly stressful. Eventually, I made the decision to prioritize school and my career, but the passion for makeup never went away. In 2018, I resumed my business and began taking it much more seriously.
Since then, Brea Danae Artistry has grown into so much more than I initially imagined.
Building a beauty business in Nashville has come with its challenges. Nashville is an incredibly competitive and relationship-driven market and establishing a consistent clientele as an independent artist isn’t always easy. I’ve learned that talent is only one piece of the puzzle. You must constantly market yourself, network, build relationships, create memorable experiences, and continue showing up, even during seasons when it feels like no one is watching.
And I’ll be honest: I’ve never been the most popular makeup artist in Nashville, and I’ve never really tried to be.
Of course, every business owner wants visibility and wants their work to reach more people. But I’ve also learned that being the most popular isn’t necessarily the same thing as being the right artist for the right client.
My clientele is a reflection of me.
I’m naturally low-key. I appreciate things that are polished, intentional, classy, and effortless. I don’t necessarily need to be the loudest person in the room to make an impact and I think that same philosophy shows up in my artistry. I love makeup that still looks like you. I want people to see your features before they see the makeup.
At the heart of Brea Danae Artistry has always been something much bigger than makeup. I want women to feel beautiful, confident, and seen. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching someone’s entire demeanor change when they look in the mirror and realize just how beautiful they are.
My goal isn’t to change someone’s face or make them look like someone else. It’s to enhance what is already there and help them see themselves in a new light.
And I think that’s one of the biggest misconceptions about makeup. Makeup doesn’t have to mean covering yourself up. For me, it’s about highlighting what’s already there.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with women for some of the most important moments of their lives—from birthdays, graduations, photoshoots, galas, celebrations, conferences, award events, and special occasions to bridal parties and weddings.
I’ve had the opportunity to travel for clients and events, including working with clients outside of Nashville, and I’ve been blessed to see Brea Danae Artistry become part of experiences that are much bigger than I ever imagined when I first picked up a makeup brush.
I’ve also had the opportunity to be part of special events and communities, including the Stellar Awards, and those experiences have reminded me that there really is no limit to where this business can take me.
Diversity is extremely important to me.
I want every woman to know that there is a place for her in my chair. All skin tones, complexions, ethnicities, ages, and beauty preferences are welcome. I don’t believe beauty has one look, and I don’t believe my artistry should either.
Whether someone wants a soft, natural enhancement or something a little more elevated, I want them to leave feeling like the absolute best version of themselves.
I’m also passionate about creating an experience, not simply providing a makeup service. I want clients to feel comfortable, celebrated, heard, and cared for from the moment they book until the moment they leave my chair. After 10 years in this industry, I’ve learned that people may forget exactly what makeup products you used, but they will remember how you made them feel.
Fast-forward to 2026, and my business may not be exactly where I ultimately want it to be, but it is growing, evolving, and thriving, and I’m incredibly proud of that. There are still so many things I want to accomplish. I want to continue expanding my bridal clientele, growing my travel services, working with more brands and creatives, traveling for destination bookings and events, collaborating with other businesses, and creating opportunities that allow me to showcase my artistry on an even larger platform.
But more than anything, I want Brea Danae Artistry to remain authentic to who I am.
I don’t want to build a business simply because something is trending. I want to build something that has longevity. Something that represents excellence, confidence, inclusivity, femininity, and authenticity.
When I look back, it’s amazing to think that what started as a hobby while working at UnitedHealthcare eventually became a business that I’ve spent the last decade building.
There have been plenty of moments when I could have given up, but I kept going.
And I think that’s what entrepreneurship has taught me more than anything: you don’t have to be the loudest, the most popular, or have the biggest following to build something meaningful. You just have to continue showing up, continue believing in your gift, and continue serving the people who are meant to find you.
Today, I’m still dreaming, still learning, still creating, and still building.
And honestly, I think the best part of my story is that I’m still writing it.
At the end of the day, I just want the Lord to continue using me for the purpose He placed me on this earth to fulfill. I believe every gift, every experience, every setback, and every opportunity I’ve been given has a purpose. Makeup just happens to be one of the ways He allows me to use my gifts to serve others.
I don’t know exactly where Brea Danae Artistry will be ten years from now, but I know I want God at the center of it. I want Him to continue opening the doors that are meant for me, closing the ones that aren’t, and allowing me to use my talents, my story, and my platform for His purpose.
I’m not just building a makeup business. I’m building something that I pray will leave an impact and I’m trusting God with the rest.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. Lol. If anything, I think the challenges are what have shaped me the most as a business owner.
Building Brea Danae Artistry has been a beautiful journey, but it has definitely come with its share of highs, lows, disappointments, and moments where I questioned whether I was doing the right thing. Nashville is a very competitive market, and as an independent artist, it can sometimes feel like talent isn’t enough. One of the biggest challenges has been building consistent clientele in Nashville. Social media presence, popularity, networking, and who you know can play such a huge role in whether people discover your business. I’ve had seasons where I was constantly promoting, posting, networking, and putting myself out there, only to feel like I wasn’t getting the response I hoped for.
That can be extremely discouraging!
I’ve also had to learn how to navigate the financial side of entrepreneurship. Running a business isn’t just about doing what you love. There are expenses, supplies, marketing, studio costs, travel, equipment, and so many things happening behind the scenes that clients don’t necessarily see. There have been times when I’ve invested heavily into my business because I believed in the vision, only to have things not work out the way I expected.
Another major turning point for me was being laid off from my corporate HR career in 2024.
For years, I had the security of working in corporate America while continuing to build Brea Danae Artistry on the side. Makeup was something I loved, but I also had a career that provided stability. Being laid off completely changed that. Suddenly, I was no longer able to look at my business as something I was building on the side. I had to really depend on it.
There was a period where makeup was my primary source of income, and that was both exciting and terrifying. I had bills, responsibilities, and real-life expenses, and there wasn’t a guaranteed paycheck waiting for me every two weeks. Every booking mattered. Every client mattered. Every referral mattered.
It forced me to look at my business differently. I had to become more intentional about marketing, networking, creating experiences for my clients, strengthening my brand, and figuring out how to turn something I had always loved into something sustainable.
One of the hardest moments was having a beautiful studio suite that I had designed specifically for my brand, down to every detail, and eventually losing it. That was difficult because it wasn’t just a physical space to me. It represented something I had worked incredibly hard to build.
There have been moments when I’ve compared myself to other artists, looked at someone’s following or booking calendar, and wondered, “What am I doing wrong?” I’ve questioned whether I’m visible enough, whether I’m marketing myself enough, and whether my business is growing fast enough. And then there are the internal struggles that people don’t always see. But I’ve had to remind myself that my journey isn’t supposed to look like someone else’s.
So even when I felt like I wasn’t doing enough because I wasn’t following the same path as everyone else, I eventually realized that I don’t need to be everything to everybody. I just need to be really good at what God called me to do.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned through all of it is that setbacks don’t mean you’re failing. Sometimes they are simply redirecting you.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Brea Danae Artistry is a Nashville based beauty business specializing in natural makeup, elevated enhancements, bridal beauty, and luxury makeup experiences. I’ve been a makeup artist for 10 years, and what started as a hobby and creative outlet has grown into a business that has allowed me to work with women from so many different walks of life. At the core of my artistry is one simple philosophy: I don’t want to take away from a woman’s natural beauty. I want to enhance it.
I specialize in makeup that looks polished, feminine, effortless, and still feels like you. I love creating a beautiful complexion, enhancing someone’s natural features, and giving them that “your skin but better” feeling. I can absolutely do a more elevated glam when the occasion calls for it, but natural beauty is truly my lane. I think that’s one of the things that sets me apart. I work with different skin tones, complexions, ethnicities, ages, facial structures, and beauty preferences. I never want a woman to look at my work and think, “I don’t know if she can do my skin tone.” I want her to know that she is welcome!
A lot of my clientele consists of Doctors, Lawyers, Nurses, Directors, CEOs, CFOs, and other accomplished women who don’t necessarily want over the top glam for every occasion. They want to look polished, beautiful, refreshed, and confident without feeling like they’re wearing a mask. And honestly, that’s exactly my style. It’s kind of a quiet luxury approach to makeup. It’s not always the most dramatic transformation, and it may not be the type of work that gets the loudest reaction on social media, but when a woman looks in the mirror and says, “This is exactly what I wanted,” that’s a big deal to me!
As far as what I’m most proud of, honestly, it’s not one particular booking or accomplishment. I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve kept going for 10 years!
I’ve had clients become repeat clients. I’ve watched women refer their friends, daughters, coworkers, and family members to me. I’ve had brides trust me with one of the biggest days of their lives. I’ve been able to be part of incredible events, including experiences surrounding the Stellar Awards. And I’ve watched something that started as me practicing makeup on my mom and friends become a legitimate business. That’s something I’m incredibly proud of. I’m also proud that my business has remained authentic to me.
I’m not trying to be the makeup artist for everybody. I want to be the artist that the right woman finds and says, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
My clientele may not always be the biggest or loudest, but it is intentional. They reflect the kind of woman I am. Professional, Feminine, Confident, and Understated.
And I think that’s what makes Brea Danae Artistry special.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If I could give someone who is just starting out one piece of advice, it would be this: When you’re ready to throw in the towel, DON’T!
There have been so many moments in my 10 year journey where I thought, “Maybe this just isn’t working.” I’ve had slow seasons, disappointments, financial struggles, comparison, rejection, and moments where I questioned whether continuing was even worth it. But I’ve learned that sometimes you’re much closer to your breakthrough than you realize. There really is always light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to be willing to keep going long enough to see it.
I would also tell anyone starting a business to stop trying to follow everybody else. Don’t build your business based on what’s trending. Honestly, I hate trends. By the time you copy what’s trending, there’s already someone else doing it, and you’re losing the opportunity to create something that is uniquely yours.
I would also tell new entrepreneurs not to become so obsessed with the numbers that they forget the people behind them. Followers are great, likes are great, bookings are great, but relationships are EVERYTHING.
Treat every client like they matter because they do. Your first client deserves the same level of care as your hundredth client. Some of my best opportunities have come through referrals and relationships I built years ago. You don’t need the perfect studio, the perfect logo, the perfect website, thousands of followers, or every piece of equipment before you begin. I spent a lot of time thinking I needed everything to be perfect, when what I really needed was to simply start and continue improving along the way.
Figure out who you are, what you do well, and what makes you different, and lean all the way into that! Your business will evolve as you do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.styleseat.com/m/v/breapillow
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breadanae
