Today we’d like to introduce you to Mayte Guerrero Lopez.
Hi Mayte, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started when at 17 years of age, I moved to the United States, a country full of opportunities where I really wanted to be at and start a career. A few days after being here, I started high school. I was in high school for a year and a half. I met some friends who like me came from other countries and everything was new for us. I was able to learn the basics in English, both to speak and to write. My time in high school passed very quickly and as soon as I graduated, I was at home without doing anything since I was afraid to ask for a job or continue studying because of the language, and because I didn’t know how to drive, I also didn’t have a car, But it wasn’t long before I found my first job in a fast-food restaurant, I had several jobs before being a makeup artist, I was a waitress, a cashier, prepared food, and also worked as a salesperson at the mall, all these jobs helped me a lot to learn more English. At this point, I was losing the fear to communicate with others and learned how to handle money and other skills, but I knew they were jobs that I didn’t want to do for the rest of my life. In Mexico, I used to do my friend’s makeup/hairstyles and cut their hair so I knew I had to find something that had to do with the beauty industry. It was something I have always loved doing since I was a kid.
My career starts when, one day I went with my uncles to a concert where they had information for jobs and schools, one of them was “La escuela de maquillaje” where I took a course for a couple of months to become certified as a professional makeup artist, I liked that the course was in Spanish so I couldn’t be happier. By then, I already had my license and my car thanks to my dad and the little money that I was able to save with the jobs I had.
As soon as I finished my course and got my certification, I continued working with my then instructor and that’s when I started as a Makeup assistant. I had the opportunity to work for Univision, also several music videos, some Austin fashion shows, and also started getting my first clients.
Since then, I have not stopped working, in 2019 I worked for Ipsy at SXSW, at the end of the same year I had the honor of doing makeup and hair on the first Mexican Miss Universe Lupita Jones, at the beginning of 2020 I started taking hairstyle courses, same year I collaborated for a wonderful Houston magazine called LUXCIOR, and I started offering self-makeup classes for girls who wanted to learn how to apply makeup on their own.
At the end of 2020, I was able to create my own brand of eyelashes and pigments in which I continue working on. I’m a freelancer who works for one of the best companies in Austin Lux Beauty and a bridal.
Along with all this, I continue to update myself and keep learning new things with the best makeup artists: Andy Alexis, Pepe Gutierrez, Alcantara, Mushi Beuty, Rodo Gonzalez.
To finish this year off, 2021. I was able to achieve another one of my goals by becoming a microblading artist with Mushi Beauty; the best microblading artist in Mexico.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There was three big challenges on my career as makeup artist; one of my big challenges is the language, I listen to a lot of English music this helps me a lot with my pronunciation and learning new words, also friend, family and clients help a lot.
Second challenge it’s of course writing, I feel like a baby who it’s learning the Abc’s it’s like going to school once again, but to have a good communication with my clients, I have to do my best and keep moving and learning.
Last one of my big challenges is to miss out on special occasions like (birthdays, graduations, weddings, holidays, etc.) as a mom of a four years old, its such a challenge to leave her for so many hours during the day sometimes for 3 to 4 days straight, she’s growing and I know time won’t go back, but as a mom of a girl I really hope in the future she looks at me as an inspiration and understand the important of being independent.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My job is the best job ever, as a makeup artist I’m able to do makeup on different people and any social event it can be anniversary, birthdays, quinceaneras, photoshoots, but one of my favorites are weddings, at the moment I can say that I achieved one my main goals and it is doing brides makeup, it can sound like its the same as a social makeup, but brides are really special to me, every bride that comes to me has a different view of her self for her wedding day, and I really had to listen carefully to their ideas to make their day special, it can be a romantic bride, classic, modern, natural, dramatic, vintage, bohemian, glamorous, etc. did you guys think there was only one look for brides? Because when I started, I thought the same. That’s why I had to practice every single day, different looks and make sure every look is perfect on my clients. After five years of being in this industry, I would say I am known for my bride’s complexion, it can be stressful to find the perfect foundation and contour but imagine being on your wedding day and looking nothing like you imagined it, this is why trials are such an important part of this process, trials can be at least a month before your wedding day. This is the time where we discussed your ideas, my advice as a makeup artist and of course, I make sure your skin is looking fabulous for their special event not only in person but in camera as well.
At this point, I’m very proud of myself for not settling on my past jobs I had, I like taking every opportunity that comes my way.
I’m really grateful because I’m one of few people who does what loves as a job, this is what sets me apart from others.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success has several definitions depending on the person and their dreams, for me success is being at peace with myself, loving my job, wanting to learn something new every day, having work events every weekend and above all knowing how to have a valance to be able to spend some quality time with my family.
Contact Info:
- Email: maytelopez20@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkbmayte/?r=nametag
Image Credits
Photographers: Zach Brigham-Delude, Joan Karel, Huyentranphotography, Dev.stroudphoto, Kristinlavoiephoto
