Happy December! This month's spotlight belongs to the one and only, Nicki Hala! She is such a talent and I'm thrilled to have her as part of the collaboration group. Meet Nicki!
My name is Nicki Hala and I am a wife, mother, and hair/makeup artist. I didn’t discover my passion for makeup at an early age like most artists. I was not the little girl playing with pretend lipstick and blush in front of my toy vanity. Because I am a first generation Indian American, my life was very different!
My parents and my family as a whole fit the bill of the stereotypical Indian family when we were younger. My sisters and I had strict parents whose sole focus was to give us good education and make sure our transcripts showed we were well-rounded students. I spent most of my time studying, but I also played tennis, spoke Spanish, and spent my free time with the marching band playing the trumpet and baritone to check mark all the necessary skills I needed to get into a good college. I dabbled in hair when I was in junior high and high school, doing hairstyles on my mom, aunts, and cousins for weddings we were guests at, but I never thought I could or would make a career out of it. When I got to college, I started doing makeup on my friends and I use to glam up all my girlfriends before a night out or for their wedding day. Even then, I did not see myself being a professional hair or makeup artist.
You see, growing up we were always told we needed to study and get a good education in order to succeed. My dad came from a poor upbringing in India and because of his education, hard work, and determination he was able to immigrate to the U.S. and make a good life for his family. Growing up, I never questioned his motto because he was the “American Dream.” I went on to get, not only my Bachelors, but also my Masters in Biomedical Engineering. I know…not what you were thinking, right?!? I spent 10-12 years researching drugs to prevent cancer to performing cardiac arrest in mice. It just wasn't enough for me. It was during that time that my passion for doing makeup grew, but it wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my first child that I decided to take the plunge and become a professional makeup artist. It was the best decision I ever made. In the 5 years since I’ve started my bridal business, it has been growing every year and I couldn’t ask for a better job! I now have three kids and get to spend all week with them and then go to “work” on the weekends. My husband and my kids are my hugest fans. The girls love seeing all the "makeups" and my husband continues to encourage me to reach my dream. The biggest surprise of all is that my parents support me 100% and are proud of how much I've accomplished in these short 5 years. It is a dream come true, that’s for sure!
A little over a year ago, I was introduced to Motives Cosmetics. I am now a Custom Blend Formulator and a Skincare Consultant with Motives. It has expanded my range of services and has gotten me out of my comfort zone to achieve another successful business.
If you are in the Chicagoland area, please contact me! I love what I do and I’m really good at it! :)