Rising Stars: Meet Holly Scholten

Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Scholten.  

Hi Holly, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have always loved doing makeup for fun and as my way of expressing myself creatively. I was also very drawn to SFX makeup and Halloween makeup looks. Occasionally, I would do makeup on friends or family for fun, help out at a friend’s wedding or with prom. Although I loved makeup all through high school, I knew that I did not have an interest in cosmetology school since my creative talent does not extend to the hair world. I ended up going to college for four years studying business and competing on both the basketball and track teams. I graduated from Cornerstone University in 2022 with a major in finance, a concentration on economics, and two torn ACLs from sports! Six months before graduation, I wanted to see if I could potentially get back into doing makeup for people, but on a more professional level. I took those six months to study, build a kit, find other artists to talk to, watch online courses and classes, and more. Two weeks after I graduated and my track season ended, I worked my first wedding, and I loved it. After that one wedding, I knew I wanted makeup to be more than a side hobby. I took my love of makeup and my business degree to create a perfect blend of all the things I loved doing. I officially filed for an LLC in early 2023 and created Hollyjmakeup LLC, and I am so excited to see all the adventures that takes me on in the future! 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Anyone claiming overnight success or smooth sailing is sugarcoating the real story. Everyone fails from time to time because it is a necessary process we go through to learn from. If you are not failing at times, you are not trying hard enough. For me, it was a challenge to start from scratch and know where to begin with what felt like a daunting task. I did not know how to get my name out to people or how to convince people to let me be a part of their wedding, a huge life event for people. I am still honored and humbled that people believed in me and gave me a chance, even when I was new. Another struggle that I still experience every appointment or wedding is the pressure and self-doubt that comes with being a part of big life events for people. Prom, weddings, special events, and photoshoots are all meaningful occasions to people that will last them a lifetime. Makeup for these occasions end up in the photos that people frame in their house, share to all their loved ones, and look back on to remember the feeling of that event or moment. As a makeup artist, I want everyone to look back feeling beautiful, confident, and like themselves. I think that was a lot of pressure for me right away and still is. I love to help clients feel their best, and that’s also what drives a level of perfectionism in me. I think in the beauty industry, it’s easy to compare your work to other people’s since there’s so many other wonderfully talented business owners and social media allows you to see all of them at once. I think it’s easy to lose sight of your progress and doubt your success when you compare yourself to another person whose journey has been completely different than yours. Although I think this feeling is probably common for others, I think it also can be used to fuel your desire for success and to learn to appreciate where you’re at while also wanting continual growth within yourself as well as your business. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a bridal and event makeup artist! The majority of my clients are brides and those involved in the wedding with the bride (bridesmaids, flower girls, moms, family, etc). I love doing any makeup look, ranging from the most minimal application to a dramatic glam makeup look, but I believe a soft glam style is what most of my clients book me for. I love a light makeup look that helps brides feel and look like themselves, with just some extra added touches to elevate their everyday look. For bridal makeup specifically, I aim to keep brides camera ready but not overpowering their natural features so they can still recognize themselves. A common concern I hear from brides is “I don’t wear much makeup, and I don’t want to look completely different on my wedding day.” I think my soft glam style is perfect for them and gives them just enough to feel “done up” without making them feel different. I think what makes me most proud and what sets me apart is that I often do not feel like I am working an event, but that I am hanging out and catching up with a friend. I love that my relationships with clients do not feel like consultant-customer relationships. I love makeup but ultimately, real life and world changes come through relationships. One recent bride I serviced wrote me a review where she stated: “We connected so quickly and I honestly would consider her a friend…” I believe that at the end of the day, you can’t love what you do without loving the people who allow you to do it. I think I will always feel like the brand-new artist who is humbled and honored that anyone would give me the opportunity to play a small role in their big life events, getting to know, talk and connect with them and all the people who are most important to them. 

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Going into makeup and forming my own business, I decided I wasn’t going to say no to anything without trying something, getting more information, or entertaining an idea at least a little bit. I decided that I would rather fail, have my time taken up or buy a product that didn’t work for me rather than miss an opportunity. Whatever it is, never say no right away without entertaining the idea for a while. 

For makeup specifically, start out working for cheap and doing free work because building your portfolio to showcase your work is necessary. It is not always the most fun process, but it also takes away that pressure of having to be perfect, and it creates a space for you to try new products or styles, learn your process, and really get comfortable doing makeup with different people in different settings. 

Lastly, look at everything as a learning opportunity. There are so many artists who are looking for friends in the industry, people to work with, or just points of contact for questions or comments. Reaching out to local salons, finding people through social media, joining group chats or Facebook pages are all great ways to make connections and find support or mentorship. I met my very best friend in the industry through a Facebook group chat, and she has been a listening ear, advice giver, model for me to practice on, and so much more. If you go looking for someone to help you or new opportunities, you will find them. You may have to put yourself out there, and a lot of times, it’s uncomfortable, but that just goes back to the necessary struggles in order to grow. The more you do it, the easier it gets. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hollyjmakeupllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyjmakeup/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollyjmakeup/

Image Credits
Kara Awe
Madison Kristine