Interview for Women@Work
Women@Work is a Facebook group with the aim of supporting and encouraging women who want to make a career. In their description they say:
Ordinary women work with Heart and Intuition and make every day an Extraordinary day. However, sometimes we need some tips, a guide or simple a women chat in order not to get lost in our career path. This is a Group for: Sharing meaning professional experience; Sharing new projects: Getting in contact with an International Women network; Sharing professional advice; Sharing motivational contents; Be part of a strong professional Women Online Community that support each other!!!
They asked me if I wanted to do an interview. I was very happy and of course wanted to share my story and encourage people to do something they love. Here you can read my interview:
Tell me a bit about you?
My name is Emelie Eriksson, I’m 22 years old and working as a hairstylist, makeupartist and a little bit as a photographer. I have my own company called MLI where I offer beauty and photography services.
Where you are from?
I come from a small Island between Finland and Sweden. The Island belongs to Finland but we only speak Swedish on the Island. Since the Island is very small there is not any exciting and challenging jobs in my industry there. Therefore I decided to work abroad for a while to gather experience and work at a higher level. That was one of my best decisions in life. But my love for my hometown is very big and I think I will return there when I’m older and feel that I have done everything I want to do.
How did you start this career?
It all started when I was 14 years old and did an internship at a hairdressing salon in Stockholm where my godmother works. She has been my inspiration since I was a kid. When she told me that I have talent for this, I knew that I’m meant to work in the beauty industry.
After high school I started to study makeup, hairstyling and fashion at Novia University of applied sciences in Finland. 2018 I got my bachelor in beauty and cosmetics degree. While I was studying I did 2 long internships where I assisted successful makeup artists and hair stylists in Stockholm and Paris.
The first period I spent in Stockholm where I assisted some of the leading in the beauty industry in Sweden. We worked with photoshoots, film and TV. During this period I developed so much as a stylist but also as a human being. It was then that I for the first time saw how it really is to work in this world. I have worked for so many good and nice people but there is those few people who can make the job feel like a nightmare. They push you down and humiliate you at a level you did not know was possible. I’m so impressed about myself that I could go through it and not gave up my dream. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
The biggest thing that happened to me was when I assisted the world famous makeup artist and hair stylist Harold James in Paris. He has worked with celebrities such as Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, etc. There, we worked mostly in weddings but also on various photoshoots and with celebrities on fashion week and other events.
This January I moved to Barcelona to study hairdressing at Barcelona Hair Academy. In the weekends when I’m free from school I sometimes work as a hairstylist for Contour Hair & Makeup Agency and also with my own company MLI. So this is where I am today.
Why do you like your job?
I have always had an eye for aesthetics, not only in the beauty industry but also in art and music. When I was younger, art was my favorite subject in school and I have had the music as a hobby since I was 6 years old. I have always loved to be creative and create artwork and music. I feel like doing a makeup or a hairstyling is almost like creating a work of art but on a human being instead.
What I also love about my job is the variation. All days look different and you will never get bored. I also get to meet so many new people.
Which brands do you use and why?
I don’t have a favorite brand, but I have a few favorite products from different brands. So in my makeup and hairstylingkit I have a mix of many different brands. The brands that I have the most products in are Nars, Chanel, Makeup Forever, Kiko, Nyx, +Osis and Four Reasons.
