From Doubt to Devotion: Finding Confidence in My Craft
If you’d have told me in my twenties that one day I’d be flying coast to coast, country to country, holding a makeup brush in one hand and a champagne flute in the other, while being paid to be a part of the most luxurious and carefully curated weddings, I’d have laughed in your face. Not because it sounded impossible to me, but because back then, I hadn’t yet found the kind of confidence that allowed me to stand tall in my own artistry and call it my craft.
For years, I thought what I loved to do could only be considered a hobby — not a craft, not an art form, and certainly not a calling. I thought confidence would come from accolades, corporate praise, or success metrics that looked good on paper. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. Confidence came slowly, quietly, and sometimes uncomfortably — in the moments when I had to trust my intuition more than my insecurities. When I finally decided to trust in myself and make the leap into a career path I truly felt aligned with.
As the CEO of multiple brands (Cinderella Bridez, Luxx Escapes, Beauty CEO University.. and counting), a makeup artist, and destination wedding planner, my work is a delicate dance between creativity and control, art and logistics, luxury and intimacy. Each role feeds the other. Finding confidence in that multidimensional identity and in the artistry that underpins it all has been the real journey.
Here’s what I can tell you about confidence: it’s not a switch you flip. It’s a relationship you build with your craft — one brushstroke, one bride, one breathtaking sunset at a time. Trust in yourself and your craft and the rest will always fall into place.
For industry tips: @beautyceouniversity
The Early Days: When I Mistook Perfection for Confidence
I started my career believing that the most confident people were confident because they had all the answers. They were the ones, in my mind, who never made mistakes. I obsessed over every detail, from the symmetry of a winged liner to the exact placement of a flower arch. My clients saw the polish; I saw the panic behind it.
Making your way in any creative field, and especially as a woman, there’s this unspoken pressure to prove yourself — to be flawless. I thought confidence meant walking into a bridal suite knowing exactly how to handle every skin type, every lighting condition, every unexpected rainstorm at a destination wedding. I thought I always had to have the answer, even if a situation was out of my control. The truth is; confidence means you’re okay not having all the answers and still trusting yourself to figure things out.
In the beginning, I relied on imitation. I studied what others were doing. I studied their makeup styles, their branding, even the way they addressed an audience. But I quickly realized that imitation doesn’t build confidence; it builds comparison and comparison is the silent killer of creativity.
What started to shift everything for me was the imperfect moments. The ones that taught me I can do this well even when things go awry. Earlier this year, I fell at a wedding, and this fall left me with a massive black eye. Rather than freaking out and canceling any public appearances for the foreseeable future, I turned it into an opportunity. I used my platform to share with others my experience and how they could solve this problem if it ever happened to them, and it ended up being one of my most successful posts to date on social media. This was a blessing in disguise and a reminder that even when things take a turn for the worse, I can take the reins back into my own hands and create something special.
This moment taught me that perfection isn’t the goal. Authenticity is. And authenticity requires confidence — the kind that doesn’t demand perfection but allows space for imperfection to be beautiful.
Confidence Looks Like Repetition (and Evolution)
There’s a misconception that confidence just arrives one day. We’ve all seen the movies, a sudden revelation and voila – here she is. Or even that it’s just something that comes naturally – you either have it or you don’t. But for me, it came through repetition. It came after years of doing the work, over and over, until it became muscle memory and a part of who I was day in and day out.
Makeup artistry is tactile. It’s sensory. There’s something meditative about blending foundation into skin or watching how light catches a bride’s cheekbone right before she walks down the aisle. Confidence came in those moments when I stopped second guessing and started trusting that my hands knew what they were doing.
But repetition alone isn’t enough. Confidence is also about evolution. As a CEO, I’ve had to evolve constantly as trends shift, client expectations rise, and the wedding industry itself transforms day to day, minute by minute.
I’ve learned to view evolution not as instability, but as a privilege. Confidence grows when you let yourself evolve without apology. When you allow your artistry to change, not because you’re chasing trends, but because you’re chasing truth.
The same brush that painted soft, romantic looks five years ago now creates bold editorial styles for modern brides. Those vibrant colors and sharp eyes have evolved with the new generation of brides to a clean, natural glam. It’s an honor to evolve as my brides do, and that they continue to trust me through the ever-changing eras and trends. That trust instills confidence in myself that lasts - and a confidence that is visible on their face as they walk down the aisle.
The CEO Mindset: Confidence as Strategy
Running a creative business is its own art form. And confidence, I’ve learned, is just as critical in a boardroom as it is in a bridal suite.
When I first stepped into the role of CEO, I felt a strange kind of imposter syndrome. Getting my career start in corporate America had me feeling like being a businesswoman meant putting on a suit of armor — being serious, stoic, maybe even a little detached. That approach never felt authentic for me. I had to step outside of what I was used to and shape my business MY way. This redefined what leadership looked like for me. I built a company culture rooted in artistry, empathy, and empowerment. One that valued creative expression as much as profit margins. Since then, no matter how hard I’m working, I always feel aligned and honestly in love with what I’ve built.
Confidence in your craft fuels confidence in your business. When you trust your artistry, you make better decisions. You attract the right clients. You set boundaries. You price your work according to its value, not your fears. And perhaps most importantly, you stop chasing every opportunity and start curating the right ones. Confidence is the quiet ability to say, “This isn’t aligned,” and walk away without apology.
Destination Confidence: Lessons from the Road
Since being in this industry, I’ve always viewed destination weddings as having a special type of magic. The way love transcends geography, the way a new setting challenges your creativity. But if I’m honest, destination work also tests your confidence in ways nothing else does.
You’re working with unfamiliar climates, time zones, cultures, and sometimes languages. You’re handling logistics that could rival an Olympic event. There’s luggage complications and restrictions, flight delays, early calls, jet lag, an unfamiliarity of location. And yet, amid the chaos, you’re expected and more so depended on to deliver artistry that looks effortless on one of the most important days of your client’s life.
Over the years, I’ve learned to find confidence not in the absence of uncertainty, but in my ability to adapt. Whether I’m doing bridal makeup under the sweltering Moroccan sun or orchestrating a last-minute haul because my luggage was lost with my makeup kit inside, I’ve learned that confidence lives in flexibility.
It’s that deep breath you take before the ceremony starts knowing that you got there in the end and even if the plan changes, your craft won’t fail you.
The Emotional Side of Confidence
For me, confidence presents itself in many ways, but there’s one way that doesn’t get enough recognition and that’s the emotional one. In my line of work, I’m constantly invited into some of the most intimate moments of people’s lives. I’ve held brides’ hands as they fought back tears, fixed veils trembling from nerves, adjusted for the perfect fit of their magical Sabyasachi gowns, and listened to love stories whispered through laughter and lipstick touch-ups.
These moments remind me that confidence isn’t loud. It doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes, it’s a calming steadiness. It’s holding space for someone when you’re familiar with the journey. It’s the trust your clients have in you even in things beyond your scope of practice, like a word of marital advice or a look for reassurance. These small moments solidify my confidence by being little reminders that this IS where I have always belonged.
See more moments like this one here: @cinderellabridez
How I Continue to Cultivate Confidence
Even now, after years of building a brand, leading a team, and creating art for brides all across the world, I still view confidence as a living, breathing thing, it’s something that needs to be constantly nurtured.
Here’s how I keep mine alive:
Invest in education. Confidence grows when you keep learning. Whether it’s a new makeup technique, a leadership workshop, a social media platform or exploring local artistry in a new country, knowledge always reignites passion. One of my favorite podcasts is The CEO School Podcast – I learn so much and I can do it on my morning walk or while doing the dishes. Low effort, high impact!
Surrounding myself with people who inspire me. Confidence thrives in good company — with collaborators, mentors, team members and even clients who value what you do and push you to go further.
I honor rest. In the world of weddings, business and marketing, hustle is glorified. But true confidence requires clarity, and clarity requires rest. The opportunity for rest is rare, but it does happen, and I always make sure to prioritize time for myself and my family. One of the best, easy ways to unwind is with a good face mask or a glass of wine in the bath. Be it 5 days or 5 minutes, take time for yourself or you’ll end up burnt out and unproductive anyway.
I celebrate progress, not just perfection. Every satisfied bride, every seamless event, the small wins are the building blocks of true confidence.
Remember my ‘why.’ At the heart of everything — the spreadsheets, the 3AM wake up calls, the flawless makeup looks — my purpose is to make people feel beautiful, seen, and celebrated. Confidence blooms when you stay rooted in that purpose.
A Final Reflection
Finding confidence in my craft hasn’t been a straight line. It’s been a mosaic built from moments of doubt, discovery, and delight.
There are still times when I feel like that young woman just starting out in her career, wondering if I’m good enough. But then I step into a bridal suite, brush in hand, and I’m reminded: confidence isn’t something I find; it’s something I create. Through presence, through practice, and through the privilege of doing what I love.
To every creative, entrepreneur, or artist reading this: your confidence will come. Not all at once, and not without effort. But if you stay curious, stay authentic, and trust your evolution, it will find you — often in the quiet moments between the chaos. The most important thing is that you keep going.
Confidence, much like beauty, isn’t just something you see. It’s something you feel. Share with me the ways you find confidence, and if any of my tips helped you with your confidence mindset. To follow along on my confidence journey, and for more entrepreneurial advice and tips, follow me on Instagram and Tiktok.
