AROUND THE WORLD, THERE ARE WOMEN STARTING BUSINESSES, TURNING THEIR PASSIONS INTO PROFIT AND INSPIRING OTHER WOMEN ALONG THE WAY. WOMEN UPLIFTING AND SHINING A LIGHT ON OTHER WOMEN IS WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT AND IN THIS SEGMENT, WE’RE FEATURING Makeup artist, marissa vossen .

At A Glance:

Marissa Vossen creating a look for her client, H.E.R.

Arrow + Phoenix: What's your favorite book?

Marissa Vossen: The Alchemist is one of my favorites

A+P: What is a quote you live by?

MV: “That which is meant to be, shall be.”

A+P: What is your favorite travel destination and why?

MV: I have so many! I love traveling! The Amalfi Coast of Italy is a favorite. The people, the food, the culture, the history. I just love Italy, it is such a beautiful country.

A+P: Which meal or favorite food can you eat anytime day or night?

MV: This is tough because I am a total foodie. Ramen would make the list of favs day or night.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

A+P: I love the looks you create and the passion you have behind them. How did you get started as a makeup artist?

MV: Like most little girls I first started playing with my Mom’s makeup. When I got a bit older one of my sisters bought me some of my first makeup products and another sister gave me the Kevin Aucoin Making Faces book. I always loved trying to replicate the makeup looks I would see in magazines and photos. I grew up in Hawai’i and was a professional Polynesian dancer. I danced in all the resort shows and we had to do our own makeup for stage. This is where a lot of my makeup practice came in. In college, I got hired at M.A.C. and quit after a year because I really just wanted to paint faces. I hated the retail part. Upon moving to LA friends would always ask me to do their makeup for fun or to go out. I got some opportunities to do Makeup for some music videos and an entire career began to unfold. I decided as long as I loved doing it and doors kept opening I would keep going. I am so thankful I did!

A+P: That’s amazing! I love that your culture inspired your career and that your friends have been so supportive. What moment in your career thus far have you been most proud of and why?

MV: Doing H.E.R. makeup for her first time at the Grammy’s in 2018. This was such an epic moment not only for me, but for H.E.R. as well. She was nominated for 5 Grammys, it was her first red carpet, she absolutely killed her performance, and brought home 2 Grammys. The day ran so smoothly, the energy was amazing, and it’s really a day I’ll remember forever.

A+P: Due to current events I know this is quite the question, but what is the biggest challenge in your career? What keeps you motivated to keep going when things get challenging?

MV: I think one of the biggest challenges is the inconsistency of the “industry”. You really must plan ahead and be prepared for this.

That being said, currently like most others I am facing one of the biggest challenges in my career to date and possibly ever due to COVID-19. I went from 2020 being my busiest year to watching everything in my work calendar get completely cancelled. Which is very scary for self employed small businesses. Not knowing when I will work again is extremely stressful. To deal with this I do my best to stay consistently positive, have regular calls with the family and friends who are positive and motivate me. I also haven’t stopped being creative during this down time. I continue to play with makeup and even paint, draw, and color. Staying consistently creative has helped a lot with the anxiety and stress that this virus is causing not only to myself, but the world to as well.

A+P: Working in the entertainment industry can be intense and so incredibly tough, as you’d mentioned. What advice would you have for other women who would like to embark on a career in the beauty industry?

MV: Believe in yourself! Don’t give up! And never ever stop learning or Believe in yourself! Don’t give up! And never ever stop learning or practicing!

A+P: The warmer weather is always a fun time to experiment with looks because you can be inspired by tons of colors. What looks are you most excited for as we head into the Spring and Summer season?

MV: I feel like spring/summer 2020 makeup looks are going to be creative, colorful and fun. Pops of color, unique shapes, glitters, bright lips. Oh and lots of natural glowy skin which is a favorite of mine.

A+P: As the world is still on standby due to Covid-19, what do you have planned next in the meantime?

MV: Currently everything is on hold. In the meantime I have been doing stay home one on one FT makeup classes. Showing people how to do their makeup with whatever they have in their makeup bag.