Enhancing Faces While Rejuvenating the Soul
Enhancing Faces While Rejuvenating the Soul
Be Simply Stunning with Joyua Gibson
“But there are things I will not compromise and that’s my integrity and my respect for God.” – Joyua Gibson
Women are goddesses. Our unique genetic makeup is miraculous in itself, but at times it’s hard to notice the beauty outwardly when we don’t feel as glamourous on the inside. Not every woman feels the need to adorn themselves in colors that stretch from one end of the spectrum to another or embraces all the natural tones of the earth and there’s nothing wrong with that.
On the other, there’s something magnificent about enhancing the glow that already dwells inside you with a few strokes of a brush, a little shine to those lips, a bit of definition around the eyes and a dash of blush across your cheeks.
From the beginning of time, makeup was used in the form of oils, chalk, rice powder, minerals and even copper and lead. The use of cosmetics in nearly every culture throughout time was meant to enhance natural beauty, promote good health and of course religious rituals.
As time evolved so did cosmetics. Next time you see a beautifully “painted” or what’s that we say now… “beat” face, you’re adoring thousands of years of cosmetic revolution. Cosmetics is now a booming business for everyday women, entertainment, fashion, and self-expression.
Today there are countless makeup artists and all have very different meanings of enhancing beauty, but Joyua Gibson, her philosophy runs deeper than that top layer of skin.
Makeup just takes you to another level. It’s like getting your hair done. When you look good, you feel good and one thing I just fall in love with every time, is making someone feel good. It’s an instant gratification.
I believe whatever makes you happy, you should do that! But, I also believe that we all are uniquely and wonderfully made. So no mistakes were created. We must embrace what we were blessed to have or in some cases not have. People need to find peace within themselves and if altering is your peace, then so be it.
Now let me tell you about this woman. I met Joyua eons ago in the Peoria, IL Tri-County Urban League’s TSTM program in high school. Oversized shirts, baggy jeans, glasses, sneakers or what I used to call… tennis shoes and absolutely no makeup… not even a little mascara. Makeup was the last thing she was concerned about.
LOL! You are correct, makeup was the farthest thing from my mind in high school. I was something like a tomboy then but my interest was sparked when I moved to Atlanta. With Atlanta being the center of “Black Hollywood”, you see a lot of glamour. Ladies walk through the grocery store with a beat face and some heels on, hunny.
So, constantly seeing that makes you inquisitive, makes you want to see what the hype is all about. It made me want to step my game up.
And step up her game she did. Joyua used herself as a muse daily trying out the basics, like her eyebrows and lashes and then moving on to experimenting with colors, and contouring. You can say there was a bit of a buzz when she begin posting her photos on MySpace. A photographer, Calvin Evans, saw those photos and soon invited her to sit in on his photoshoots…
I saw how the makeup artists were a big part of the shoots. I instantly fell in love with the art of enhancing faces. I began doing my own makeup and people loved it. I practiced on family and friends and from that, the brand “Be Simply Stunning” was birthed.
Starting a business in an area already saturated with makeup artists didn’t stop her from stepping out on faith. She had found passion in her work and realized her talent was much more than that, it became her ministry.
One thing I’ve always admired about Joyua is her persistence. I’m sure like you, she heard “no” a few times especially being fresh on the scene with no prior experience to back her up. Just a makeup bag and some faith.
I kept pushing myself. I try not to get distracted by all the other artists around because there will always be newer and better artists, but I try to keep a tunnel vision of only what makes me and my brand better. I learn from some of the greats in the area, but continue to stay true to my form of naturally enhanced makeup application.
And networking- I attended and still do attend beauty related events, as much as I can. Believe it or not, Atlanta is not that big. The more people see you at the same type of events, the more you make a name for yourself. You support others, they’ll support you.
Be Simply Stunning could be the i.e under the word Faith in the dictionary. LOL! But no for real, faith is the foundation of my brand. I’m a freelance makeup artist and right now I don’t have a retainer nor am I contracted with any big companies. So every day for Be Simply Stunning I’m going off the faith that God will have my gift make room for me. When building a brand, you don’t know who’s really watching unless they say something to you, so you have to consistently put forth your best and pray that it attracts the likes of people who will eventually want to be serviced by you.
Joyua describes her brand as class, elegance, simplicity and jaw dropping; also qualities she sees in herself…
I aim to always be a woman of class and elegance. My looks have a simple but jaw-dropping presentation, so yes I would say Be Simply Stunning very much embodies who I am personally.
Like all new entrepreneurs finding out what doesn’t work and applying what you’ve learned and overcoming obstacles is what makes businesses grow and create strength within its foundation. Joyua took her faith and pumped non-stop determination into Be Simply Stunning.
When there’s adversity, that’s my sign that I’m headed in the right direction. So I often accept adversity because it builds character. It helps me to understand myself and if success for my brand is really what I want and can handle; when it comes, I work through it. It actually makes me work harder.
In this business you won’t go far being realistic. You have to walk by faith and not by sight. You have to invest in yourself, when you really don’t have it. You have to believe that your hard work will pay off. You have to get out of your own way. The beginning stages are the hardest for any business. I’ve wanted to say “forget it all” so many times. Matter of fact, I believe I have said it a couple of times. LOL! But you have to be crazy enough to keep going.
You know word travels fast. Her work and zeal for her passion spread like the wind across Atlanta and even in her hometown, Peoria where she begin hosting annual events, The M.U.A. Experience Expo. Doing it all for the love of it, Joyua told me she could use the funds put on those annual events for other things, but she does it willingly to work on making her dream a reality. She believes wholeheartedly that soon The M.U.A. Experience will catch the eye and pockets of investors and sponsors to truly bring the dream to life.
Remember when I mentioned her business becoming her ministry? As she painted the faces of women for whatever occasion, she was also inspiring them.
You know, I didn’t realize I was inspiring people until recently, but it really gives me a sense of purpose. It helps me to understand that this is what it’s all about. I love helping others realize that it’s ok to stand out amongst a crowd, it’s ok to be beautiful and to be dope and don’t apologize for it! It truly encourages me to encourage and uplift others. Women are so dope!
Makeup should enhance not cover up. You have to get your skin in order so that your makeup application can have a flawless finish. My dermatologist was a life saver LOL!
You must own who YOU are. If you don’t love you, no one else can. Find you something about yourself that you just know is the absolute BOMB and own it! Confidence wins over looks. Everyone has some type of insecurities. You’re not alone. If you were to ask the most beautiful woman you know, “What is it that you do not like about yourself?” I’m sure she’ll have at least, one thing. And that one thing could be the very thing that is the most beautiful thing to someone else. So accept yourself FLAWS AND ALL!
I concur! Even when you’re walking in purpose and the work that you’re doing is inspiring and uplifting someone else, the pressure can weigh so heavy. At that moment that’s when you have to refuel yourself. Joyua take so much care in her work that she finds strength and rejuvenation in a “good rest nights,” and these simple, yet powerful words…
“The Next thing God does for me is going to be BIG.”
I’m really inspired by others success. I love to see other women getting it, running businesses, accomplishing goals and living life to the fullest. It makes me want to push that harder for myself.
Just as those few words above motivate her at every crossroads, daily meditation, and pushing herself, keep that tunnel vision with her eyes set on success, I truly believe there’s no stopping her.
My perseverance is insane!!! When I want something, I go for it. It may not come right away, but I keep working at it until it happens. I look back at things I’ve accomplished and say “WOW” to myself. Like, “Girl you really did that!!!!”
Now on a not so good note, because we all know it’s not always good, I’m my worst critic. People look at me like I’m crazy when I vent to them about something I did that I may feel was not top notch. People tell me often I’m too hard on myself. I just aim for excellence in all I do, so that’s why I am. I’m working on it though.
The greatest gift we have is to share our purpose and passion with the world. I’m certain that not only has Joyua’s obedience to the fire inside her to make women look and feel amazing have inspired those women, she has is the fruit of an ever bearing promise that when you trust God, keep your faith and build on a solid foundation all things are possible. To know her is to love her and now to see her walking in her own right and upholding her truths and values within her brand is something to be proud of.
To me Be Simply Stunning is not just a business or a brand, it’s a calling for all women to claim their inner beauty and allow it to shine like rays on the outside.
So I present to you the beautiful and talented Joyua Gibson, owner of soon to be internationally, Be Simply Stunning.
– LSherie
