Conversations with Shawn Cosey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Cosey. 

Hi Shawn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I originally began doing hair in the 8th grade and when I went to high school, I started cosmetology. I always had a love for hair but it wasn’t until I got to college when I was approached to do make-up for a friend’s fashion show. I had never done makeup before and hardly ever wore it myself but I guess she saw potential in me. That was almost 11 years ago. I am now a professional traveling makeup artist/creative director, business owner, and micro-influencer. 

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?
Of course, it’s been a bumpy road, I’m a firm believer in nothing worth having comes easy. When I first started in the beauty industry, we didn’t have access to all the learning tools that artist have today. A lot of my earlier years were trial and error. I didn’t have a lot of support starting out because being a freelance makeup artist wasn’t something you heard a lot about. When people spoke of mua’s they would correlate it to women who work at cosmetic counters or think it was really farfetched cause they thought only celebrities needed professional makeup. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for my outgoing personality. My clients come for my work but they stay for my personality and professionalism. I adore all my clients and love how I leave them feeling like they’ve gained a friend. Most of them give me the artistic freedom to do whatever I think is best for their desired look. 

I believe that my ability to enhance their looks without altering their appearance is what sets me apart from other artist. 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
In my experience networking outside of the city was my best decision, it was only after I made the decision to do so that I started to notice the people around me start to gravitate to my business. I started my own outreach and began to link other women with like-minded individuals who could help them with their endeavors. In doing so I was label the “Beauty Plug”. I have recently started working with other businesses to effectively increase their social media presence and brand marketing. 

Contact Info:

• Email: Studio608nashville@gmail.com
• Website: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18483996
• Instagram: @IAmShawnCosey