Daily Inspiration: Meet Da’Shanae X Hardy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Da’Shanae X Hardy.

Hi Da’Shanae, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2016, I was pregnant with my son trying to figure out what I could do outside of working a job to make money. I finally set my mind on becoming a Makeup YouTuber. I was encouraged by my partner at the time to instead take on my journey into being a makeup artist.

While I was pregnant with my son I had 2 paying clients. I used myself as my model and practiced at least once or twice a day to perfect my artistry. At this time, I was living with my aunt who let me use her dining room area to take clients.

Within my first year of doing makeup, I had 4 paying clients. Can we say discouraged? Highly! But I also was hopeful. I decided to get out more. I connected with a photographer, I went to networking events, I was doing makeup for free to have work to promote… I was doing all that I could think of to make a name for myself.

I started using hashtags on my work as well and people started finding me. Before I knew it, I had celebrity clientele along with a growing clientele base locally. During my beginning stage, the clientele was very sporadic. I had some people telling me I should “get a real job”, so it was hard to stay motivated when I had people I love not believing in the vision I saw for myself. I kept going anyway!

Fast forward to late 2019, I moved my son and me into a 1bedroom apt because everything started to pick up a bit and I was in a better place financially. I was working a job as well that, in truth, I wanted to quit and once January 2020 rolled in, I decided that I was going to go full time with makeup. I finally felt like it was time to take that leap of faith!

Everything was going great and then Covid came and shut everything down! I am truly grateful that I wasn’t affected as much as I could have been when the salons closed. Once quarantine lifted and the salons reopened, my clientele picked up tremendously! I was receiving a lot of wedding inquiries too, which was always a goal of mine! I absolutely love weddings!

As things continued to progress, later in 2020, I was able to move out of my 1bedroom apartment and put me and my son into a 3 bedroom single-family home and I was blessed with a suite of my own in 2021! I’m actually coming up on my 1 year anniversary with that! Woohoo!

I stayed focused and put in the work necessary to get to where I am, and it doesn’t stop here! 1,240 clients later… I am beyond grateful!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. I had challenges financially. I wasn’t always able to take on jobs as a makeup artist because I was and am a full-time mother. So if I didn’t have coverage for my son, I just couldn’t make it.

I also had my own self-doubts along with loved ones discouraging me telling me I need to “find a real job”. I felt conflicted at times, but I chose to shut outside noises out and stay focused on MY goals.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a self-taught Professional Makeup Artist. I will be going to school this fall of 2022, God willing. I specialize in enhancing women’s natural beauty. I create glams that range from natural to dramatic! I strive hard to exceed my client’s expectations.

I’m most proud of my determination to achieve my goals. I can also humbly say, I’m impressed with my faith. I know that if I put the work in, God will take care of everything else. Accepting my own, and being myself sets me apart from others. I make it clear that I am more than a Makeup Artist. My brand is “Letmypeoplefree” and that itself is a lot to unpack and intrigues many of my clients!

I not only provide quality work, but I also strive to keep my followers up to date with the reality of the world we live in.

What are your plans for the future?
I’m looking to switch gears and become a content creator as well. I have had one brand so far reach out to me in regards to a paid collaboration, so I’m really excited about that!

I also plan to start my own cosmetics line this year. I am starting off with selling lashes, and God willing, I will launch other beauty products later this year or early 2023.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Www.letmypeoplefree.as.me
• Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/Letmypeoplefree
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Letmypeoplefree

Image Credits
Devin Mcallister, Gavin Boulware, and Natosha Branch