Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Wilson
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was obsessed with beauty, art, and fashion at a young age. Stealing my mom’s makeup, painting, and getting lost in grade school drawling gowns. I set my mind to becoming a makeup artist at 13. I began at 15 doing makeup for friends date night, prom, and school pageants. Following graduation I went to Dallas to CMC. Makeup academy and became certified. I then completed my Business associates degree while working in cosmetics and working weddings and pageants prior to relocating to Florida in late 2014. I focused on growing my freelance business and brand and finally got my foot in with weddings in Florida. My first being in Sarasota, then relocating to Tampa. Prior to COVID I added my YTT certification for Yoga while also teaching kids yoga. During the pandemic I went full time freelance with my new rebrand of my business to incorporate Yoga teaching, I Also had my son in 2021 following COVID and had to tread carefully at how I accepted clients for childcare sake. I had a few teams bring me on their for freelance, which has helped me with my family and work balance. Over the years, I’ve been gifted many amazing opportunities in my career. From production with Tony Dungy, working L’Oreal’s women of worth campaign in 2019. Having a Disney bride of mine get to wear the 50th anniversary gown for her wedding week, having a wedding in the Bahamas and soon Pureto Rico, Being invited multiple times to work international runway, getting to go to Dubai for Runway. And international again soon. And having my creative designs shown for three years now at Naples Scene to be Seen shows, as well as being invited to showcase at other shows around Florida. Finding balance is key which is where my business was born, Bella Balanced, Beauty Balanced both internally and externally. I have more goals to achieve in my career and I believe following your dreams and focusing on goals and the balance you would like to achieve in your personal life and on your journey is the key to accomplishing those goals. The support I’ve received along the way in those who trust and believe in me is what has helped me with my internal balance in work and life, I have always believed we are what we reflect. Being genuine and focused are what has assisted me in keeping that mindset.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve had to battle along the way for sure, having a rougher childhood did not help, but having amazing grandparents and uncles to assist in my upbringing. Although they did not see my goals as being attainable growing up in Arkansas. I saw my vision. I stopped sports at 16 and focused on working to begin building the income I needed to get to my goals, I had great support from my friends growing up. Relocating to Florida and essentially not knowing many people was a huge wake up call, putting me in environments and situations that were not ideal for myself or goals, it took a toll on my mental health, but I remained focused, meeting my husband to be in 2015 and the relationship also not being what it should have been, but not realizing the trauma I was developing. In 2017 I began diving back into my dreams, relocating with my partner to Tampa, getting engaged early 2020 marrying late 2020 and becoming parents in 2021, realizing in. 2022 I had to leave the relationship to truly be happy and give my son and husky the happiness and life they deserved, but the trauma held me back. I finally was able to file and begin that process, focusing on my babies and goals. My career and being passionate about what I do is what kept me sane. Along with the amazing support I’ve recieved from my community and within my career. Everyone’s journey is different and people will always have life easier or harder than you and the best thing we can do as individuals is focus on our own and pray for the rest, I pray a lot. My marriage is not what I expected in life, but I know god has goals for me and mine, and I am grateful for each day. I am grateful for the life I have and the way I get to give back to the world.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in Beauty Makeup for bridal, events, runway, and production. I work alongside some amazing reputable teams for weddings and events. I am also certified and do spray tanning for pageants, Weddings, and events. I’ve also previously done competition tanning for men and women, I do bridal hair as well, and I love when I do special effects makeup for events with some body painting and kids face painting parties as well, I do creative design in my free time for charity shows. And I am now getting back into being able to teach yoga, but with a goal to focus on children’s yoga as I was blessed to see kids prior who were being medicated due to hyperactivity and finding their way through meditation and yoga with me being able to stop medication thanks to meditation. Our children are our future, and how we nurture them counts more than many know, helping them find their way and what works for them in todays world is what will develop into their future as well as our future, so it is new for me to get back into yoga as I had many health issues following having my son along with the troubles at home that kept me from keeping up with that part of my career and life. But I have goals and I am a strong believer that nothing is too small to be achieved and I already have some fun things in the works for that area of my life as well.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Being genuine and reputable has brought back my repeat clients, determination has kept me focused. And loving who I am and have become and am becoming,
I believe many skills can help develop you. But being genuine, determined, and focused are what’s going to get you where you need to go, Along with enjoying the journey and accepting lessons and continuing education along the way,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bellabalancedbw.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bb.brides
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellabakancedbw
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/bellabalancedbw
Image Credits
photography by Debra Snyder
Photography by Julia Chew
Summer Gustavo photography
