Lena Chavez Soria
San Francisco, CA USA
"What other people think of you is none of your business. You’ve got to stay true to yourself."
Career Roadmap
Lena's work combines: Art, Fashion, and Being Creative
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Going to esthetician school is a great start. Then, what I did was research agencies and other makeup artists, drawing inspiration from their websites. I'd also suggest going to shows, conferences, and events to learn and gain exposure.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Vocational
Esthetics
Arnold Beauty College
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
At 10 years old, my cousin let me do her makeup, which lit a creative spark in me.
2.
I started going to community college but it didn’t feel like the right fit for me, so I followed my gut to massage school, where I learned to connect mind, body, and spirit.
3.
After graduating, I got a job as a massage therapist at a beautiful spa in Berkeley, California.
4.
Realizing I wanted to be more lucrative in the spa industry, I decided to go to esthetician school.
5.
While training, I watched a classmate’s makeup technique in awe and started practicing on everyone around me.
6.
I worked at Sephora and Nordstrom, which gave me hands-on experience with every kind of face and skin tone.
7.
I freelanced for Laura Mercier for 10 years, learning how to perfect complexion work and deepening my love for empowering clients through beauty.
8.
I built my freelance career by showing up, saying “yes,” and learning behind the scenes of photo shoots, weddings, and special events.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You need to go to traditional college.
How I responded:
I went to community college after high school because college is the norm and expectation. But when I was there, it didn't feel right to me. A friend of mine told me about her mother's job as a massage therapist and spa owner. I had never thought of going that route and I was immediately intrigued. I decided to leave community college and go to massage school because I knew I needed to follow what felt right to me.