Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonya Floyd
Hi Sonya, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My career/passion started off as a dream deferred. Since elementary grade and having the absolute best third grade teacher, Mrs. Judy Parrish, I wanted to become a teacher. I have always loved working with children and teaching them new ways to do things. My first job was actually working as a Teacher’s Aide for a summer enrichment program that was held at my church. Around my sophomore year of high school, my health seemed to take a decline. I was in and out of the hospital for having asthma attacks and allergy attacks almost monthly. My doctor suggested homebound education and I was able to walk and graduate with my class of 2000 from Hume Fogg Magnet High School. I then decided to pursue and education degree from Tennessee State University here in Nashville, however, again, my health got in the way. I felt defeated and was really unsure of what my plan was. I remember praying to GOD to make me find something that I could do with my life that had meaning but also I could control my surroundings and my schedule. After working a few years in the Metro School System, my doctors thought it was best that I go on disability for my asthma. Being around children was causing me to catch all the little germs they love to share and also my asthma was still not under control. At this point: I felt like I had no options. I’ll never forget about three month after being on disability and feeling more like a liability, I called my boyfriend, now husband, while he was at work just wanting to chit chat. He suggested that I find something on YouTube that I might be interested in watching. That was the start of my love for makeup. I watched countless videos and discovered love for the artistry. At the time, my best friend was getting married and I watched her makeup trials and loved it all. I used to walk around the mall looking at all the beauty counters and all the artists at work. One day, I walked past a MAC counter and the manager at the time, complimented me on my makeup and asked me if I was interested in doing makeup. I was ecstatic but so nervous. She invited me for an interview. It was an on-call position that I could take if I felt up to it and also would not interfere with my disability. I interviewed, using my best friend as my model, and got the job! Makeup has found a way into my life!!! It was what I prayed for. On top of that, my best friend had a line sister that was starting her own photography business and needed a makeup artist for some jobs so we met and have been rocking together for over twelve years. Once I decided that I no longer wanted to sell makeup, I looked into learning the skill of makeup application. I took a Makeup Freelance/T.V./ Bridal course from the Academy of Makeup Arts here in Nashville. The program added to my education from MAC helped me to become more confident with all types of makeup application. The school also helped develop me into a business owner where I could create a lane for myself and my artistry.
I have been blessed with so many wonderful opportunities from working with the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders, working with celebrities for Award shows, working countless weddings and events to also working on some local production television shows. My journey has taught me to never stop believing the direction that GOD will lead you if you just ask and it has also taught me that I make a difference. Although I thought I would be teaching kids new things, I get to teach women how to apply makeup that makes them feel simply beautiful. I feel like my niche in this industry is creating classic, timeless looks that acceuntuate women’s natural beauty and boost their confidence one stroke of a brush at a time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has not been at all easy. On top of my severe asthma diagnosis and other health concerns, I had definitely let fear and doubt make me believe that I wasn’t good enough. My lack of confidence in my artistry set me back. I watched some of my friends in the business get booked for big gigs and also watched them launch their own companies and I did not know if I had what it took to be just as great. I had to remember: everyone’s journey is different and we all need to celebrate each other! I stopped comparing myself and started enjoying where I was and the clients that loved me and my artistry. I took my time to make my own lane and I found my niche which was accentuating natural beauty.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Professional Makeup Artist from Nashville, Tennessee that specializes in Natural Glam Makeup. I have been doing makeup for over thirteen years and it still brings me so much joy with every single client/appointment. I love making women feel confident and simply beautiful with the enhancement of their natural beauty. I am proud of myself when they look in the mirror and say that they see themselves just on a more upscale level. I believe what sets me apart from other artists is that I listen to my clients, I hear what they are looking for in their looks, I hear what they like and don’t like about makeup. MAC taught me to ask the questions, but I taught myself to listen to the answers and watch the body language to see how my clients feel about the whole application process.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my most favorite childhood memories was curling my mom’s hair on Friday nights before her salon visit on Saturday mornings. She let me pretend to be a hairstylist and we would watch television and I got to just play in her hair. On some occasions, she would allow me to add some lipstick and blush to her for a full makeover.
I also loved any time we got to spend together as a family. My dad worked every other weekend so the weekends that he was off, we would spend doing something together as a family. I especially loved the summer time when we would pack up in the car and drive to Tullahoma to hang out at the Air Force base and on the water for a weekend or two.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.simplybeautifulbydevonne.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplybeautifulbydevonne
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplyBeautifulByDeVonne
