Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorothy Strouhal.
Dorothy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have had a life-long passion for hair and makeup. Yes, I was the girl in high school who dumped all her personal makeup out and used it on EVERYONE! If you were darker than me, no problem! A little eye shadow pigment will fix that right up! This God-given passion fueled me to open Your Makeup Expert in 2005. However, before my career as a professional makeup artist, I was a stay at home mother of three and helped my parents run a preschool… I made the choice early on (18, to be precise) that I was going to be a mom and wife first. When all of my children started school, I began my career. I fully believe that by choosing my position as a mom first and waiting to start my career, my career path was honored and blessed by God. In a little over a year from entering “the industry,” I started my own studio, YourMakeupExpert which is now a go-to for celebrities as well as elite brides in Houston, TX. I have had the privilege to work with national celebrities such as Dr. Oz, Conan O’Brien, Clay Walker, US Presidents, The Oprah Show, and countless others.
I made a weird, yet divinely appointed, television debut from behind the camera to in front of it, on the Food Network Channel’s hit show, Worst Cooks in America (season 3). Mind you, I didn’t even know the Food Network existed, so you can imagine my surprise when it was a national show and not some 3rd-grade cable show that only aired at 4 a.m.! I told God I would go if He left the door open… and boy did He! Not only did He open it but He held it wide open even when I was being a little bit of a Diva.
When I came back from New York, I was hit with the reality of a very dark subject, Human Trafficking. God instilled in me at that time a drive and passion for this that helped fuel the start of BeautyWillRise, a non-profit organization fighting against human trafficking. As founder and president, I am committed to doing all I can, to shine a light on this epidemic, and prevent future generations from falling into it. We have created a youth prevention program for youth and parents. We are passionate about equipping and empowering youth and the community through education and knowledge. We believe this generation can bring a significant shift and change in fighting human trafficking in our nation. We can’t do everything, but everyone can do something and we are challenging others to find their “something”.
As I enter the next stage of my life journey I am fully committed to following Gods lead, wherever it may take me. God fulfilled my dreams (my family and dream job) and now, it’s time for me to give to Him His dreams for me. Writing, speaking, ministering and helping to empower women back to a place of health and internal beauty is a beautiful path I am pursuing now. Emotional, physical, mental and spiritual health is the key to a beautiful life.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Life is anything but smooth. It’s a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. I believe the biggest challenge I faced as a young woman was not living my day to day life with intentionality. I was not self-aware of who I was and the impact of every decision I made. I literally was just trying to keep my head afloat. There came a breaking point when I had to look at the ugly truth of who I was and the choices I had been making that revealed my weak character. Once I saw this stark ugly truth, my real life began. I began to invest in my emotional and spiritual healing and growth and began to set my path in the direction I wanted it to grow.
My husband and I have been married for over 25 years. We have fought to grow together, have overcome betrayal, infidelity, and immaturity all while raising a family. It has been an uphill challenge but we are now reaping the benefits of all our hard work. It is a beautiful marriage because we BOTH chose to do the hard work and stick with it.
My advice for young women is to learn who you are. Understand that you can grow and will change. How you handle that growth and who you become is all up to you. Know that at ground zero, you are enough to do all that you dream of doing and pursuing. Gaining the tools and experience to walk your life path takes time, but you can do it. We live in a microwave society, we all want things done quickly and immediately! But you don’t get quality with a microwave mentality. You must take the time to slow down, be intentional, and carve your own life path.
You also must have something or someone in your life greater than you. If all you do is always about you, then you will never be fully fulfilled. At one time, my children and husband filled this role. I quickly realized that no human was enough to fulfill me. I learned that my God is my grounding agent. He is why I do what I do. He is the one that is there when no one else is and meets the needs no human can. He is the reason I get back up when I fall hard and fail… and you WILL FALL and FAIL if you are trying to succeed. Failing is a part of success so you must have a rooted, grounded relationship in higher power and calling than just you.
Lastly, you are a trifold being. You must nurture, care for, and grow your spirit, your soul (mind, will, and emotions), and your body. Take the time to nurture you, so you can do all in this life you have been given to do.
We’d love to hear more about Your Makeup Expert & Beauty Will Rise Org.
I am a production makeup artist. I provide makeup, hair, and grooming services for celebrities and high profile clientele. I have had the honor to work with many A-listers over the years, as well as work national events such as NFL Superbowls and MLB World Series. Your Makeup Expert has also created a makeup line that marries high-quality beauty products with giving back to the community. A portion of every product purchased through YME is donated to fight human trafficking. I am proud of being able to serve our clients and community with excellence and meeting needs that go beyond simple makeup services.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Mentors are vital for growth and success. Choose your mentor well, because they can teach you what they know but they will impart who they are to you. Look forward to where you want to go and choose them from that perspective, not from where you are now. You must have a forward vision to move forward, finding a mentor who is a forward visionary is key. Most importantly, pray for whom you should connect with. It doesn’t take a lot of mentoring, interactions or networking to get where you need to be, it only takes the RIGHT ones.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.YourMakeupExpert.com ; www.BeautyWillRise.org ; www.DorothyStrouhal.com
- Phone: 832-597-1194
- Email: ds@dorothystrouhal.com
- Instagram: YourMakeupExpert ; DorothyStrouhal
- Facebook: Your Makeup Expert ; Beauty Will Rise; Dorothy Strouhal
- Twitter: Dorothy Strouhal
Image Credit:
Gerrard Harrison
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
