Today we’d like to introduce you to Alondra Sublett.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always loved makeup and everything related to the beauty industry. Before the social media craze, and way before Instagram was around, I was the Beauty and Fashion editor/contributor for Bella Magazine, a local magazine in Indianapolis, IN. It was a fun and great experience for me, as it gave me the opportunity to travel to Miami, New York to attend and cover Fashion Week. Attending those events gave me the insight of what goes on backstage and I fell in love even more for the beauty industry. A few years later, I got married and had kids so I became a stay at home mom. It was after my second baby was born that I noticed I needed a way to keep my sanity and focus more on myself to cope with my chaotic life and relieve some of my stress. Makeup always helped, even if it was just cleaning and organizing my stash. So, one night I did my makeup, posted on Instagram and tagged the brand… they reposted me and that’s how everything started, Makeabella came to life! (The name came to me one night as a form of make= makeup or making, and Bella= beautiful, making makeup beautiful or make a beautiful).
I continue doing it for the love of makeup, these posts on social media have given me the chance to interact with followers from all over the world. I have met and talked to really awesome people and connected with amazing brands that support me on the daily. I still can’t believe it, I consider myself lucky, I get to have fun while testing new products, creating looks and at the same time getting the support of my followers all just by posting things that I love and enjoy!
Has it been a smooth road?
It has been a pleasant road since I have enjoyed the ride of this social wave, but the struggles I have faced were more about having the time to create content. Being a housewife and mother of three kids has made it a little bit more of a challenge to have content ready to post in a timely manner. I have to literally sit my toddler in my lap sometimes, I order to be able to create some content. Hehe
Unfortunately, social media is a fast paced environment, in order to survive or be on top you have to be constant and relevant, and to me, that has been the hardest struggle to overcome.
The advice I give women who are starting their journey in the beauty industry, mostly on social media, is to focus more on quality over quantity. Nowadays, the quality is what gets you noticed, something I’m also trying to work on as well. Dedicate your time to retain your followers instead of focusing on growing the numbers, they’ll eventually come.
Unfortunately, now with the algorithm on Instagram, it has been much harder to gain followers and so much easier to lose followers. Form a relationship with your followers and brands that support you and always do it because you love it, not because of the free products, fame or the money you may be able to obtain through this kind of exposure that social media gives you… or it will consume you and get you frustrated if your numbers don’t grow and if brands don’t sponsor you… be willing to put in the work, sometimes things don’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of time to plan, create, post, engage in social media, and if you don’t enjoy it can really burn you out fast!
Most importantly be yourself, be grateful and be humble to everyone, especially the ones that started the journey with you no matter how famous you become!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Makeabella – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m a self-taught makeup artist/social media content creator/influencer.
I have received certifications by Mario Dedivanovic (@makeupbymario) Tamanna Roashan (@dressyourface) Karen Sarahi Gonzalez (@iluvsarahii) Brian Champagne Amongst some.
I’m best known by @Makeabella on Instagram and Facebook. I create content for brands and post on my page, I also have had the opportunity to become a certified makeup artist.
The accomplishment that I’m most proud of is that I had the opportunity to work for an HBO production ‘Quinceañera’ doing the makeup for two girls (Jacky and Nina) celebrating their 15 (Hispanic version of sweet sixteen). Tommy Mottola and Thalia Sodi Mottola were the Executive Producers. It was so exciting for me since I’m a huge fan of Thalia, known as The Queen of Latin Pop!
It was surreal watching me on tv and my name on the credits at the end of the film.
The thing that probably defines me more instead of setting me apart from others, is my perseverance…. even though I’m not in the place I’d love to be at the moment, I still want to keep on going. I’m persistent because I really love what I do and I enjoy it so much… reach out to me, I’m always willing to help too!
Who have you been inspired by?
In my personal life, without a doubt my Mom!!! She is the epitome of perseverance, hard-working, never giving up, such a warrior!
She has been my influence since I was a little girl, in makeup: I still remember her applying her lipstick on and using that same lipstick she’d rub her finger on it and apply to her cheeks… in life: to always work hard and do what you love, and when you get what you want to help others! She is truly an inspiration.
Stay at home mothers, working moms… how do you do it!? My respect and admiration, they always are a source of inspiration and fuel to keep going.
Professionally it has to be Naomi (@Vegas_Nay) Anastasia (@anastasiabeverlyhills) and Norvina (@norvina)
I identify so much with Naomi, a mother of three, (just like me) Latina and really a pioneer of this social media beauty industry…
Anastasia & Norvina, these mother and daughter duo, hard worker business owners of Anastasia Beverly Hills. Their story is so I inspiring, immigrants (like myself) amazing supporter of the beauty community and always willing to help. My Anastasia favorite quote: “To be successful, it’s a formula, 10% it’s a talent 90% is hard work, really hard work. The harder you work, the luckier you’ll get, and have passion, if you don’t have the passion, it’s not going to happen…”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.makeabella.com
- Email: makeabella@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeabella
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeabella
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Makeabella
Image Credit:
Alondra Sublett @Makeabella
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