Interview Transcript

Transcribe Interview

Kassandra: My first question is why did you begin makeup and how did you start?

Kristina: Well, I began, I was 16 years old, and it was new years and I wanted to look different and feel different about myself. And my mom, being a hair stylist, and she was known in the beauty industry, she place a impact on me and how I want to look and that’s when I started to look at YouTube videos and learning how to apply makeup and eyebrows and all that. And then that’s when I started to feel empowered I guess you can say, like I feel well put together when I wear makeup. Especially, if its helping me get ready for an interview and all that. The main reason why I started is because I wanted to look different and feel different about myself. I wanted to look all put together in public and what not. And also being I am growing up and I want to be able to enhance my features, you know with the art of makeup, and that’s what makeup is about, enhancing your features.

Kassandra: Okay, why do you think people have problems with people using makeup in today’s society?

Kristina: Umm…people like who?

Kassandra: Like..

Kristina: Men?

Kassandra: Yeah, I think men are the most tedious about makeup. Men feel like if women are ugly without makeup and you’re always wearing makeup..

Kristina: They are considered catfish..

Kassandra: Right, right

Kristina: So, well that’s one factor men they feel like “oh makeup is this thing to hide all your flaws and what not”, which it is

*laughs*

Kristina: It is because I have flaws too and I use makeup to hide it. But I mean as a women, that’s what I feel like it’s a problem with society. Women feel like you know, they have to put on makeup, because men be always say “oh she looks better with makeup on, and she doesn’t look good” and that’s why it puts pressure on us women that we have to look good for society. And I feel like I don’t care. Like I puty on makeup for my personal reasons because I feel like I look good myself. So once women feel good about themselves and you that self-affirmation I feel like it doesn’t matter other people think, you know? I feel like men are the basically the problem.

*laughs*

Kristina: But some men don’t think that. The think women are beautiful with or without makeup, but before hand I knew makeup was a problem amongst men. Especially because they think “Oh, she wears makeup so she’s catfish” there is always someone who’s going to love you for who you are no matter if you wear makeup or not.

Kassandra: Right, okay, my next question is in estimation, how much do you spend on makeup in a year?

Kristina: Oh lord,

*laughs*

Kristina: Umm, oh my gosh, in a year?

Kassandra: Yes a whole year.

Kristina: Wow.. okay. I’m not that bad, like some people are much more worst than me. But I would say at least $2,000

Kassandra: OMG, on makeup?

Kristina: That’s a whole year! You have to think about…okay listen, I have a business too. I have to keep reordering up on stuff.

Kassandra: Okay, so are there any other reasons why a person might use makeup other than for attractive purposes?

Kristina: Um yes, I feel so. I mean of course makeup enhances your beauty, and makes you look well put together, um, but I mean people use makeup to teach others. So, that’s like the whole YouTube aspect. You know, people use makeup to teach us girls how to put it on, or sometimes they just like to play in makeup. You know play with the different color, try different looks. Makeup is actually an art. People seem to like underestimate that, like you can do so much with makeup. It’s not only about putting on foundation and eyeshadow. You can actually make looks, you can draw with like makeup. Its just a whole lot you can do with makeup. It’s not only just to look attractive.

Kassandra: Do you know why the use of makeup is so popular today? You know, when makeup first came out, not everyone was using it. But now, it’s so popular, did you think people used it because everyone else was or..

Kristina: Like I said before, now today’s society, everyone wants to look different, they want to feel like a new person. So like makeup is like the first step to get into that route. When you want to go out, you want to look good. So makeup is like the first route, it all starts when you wear makeup to prom, and you see how you like, and you think you look beautiful. So, also social media has a play on it. As you can see, beauty bloggers blog everyday about the beauty industry. They have an influence on girls because us girls think when they say “this makeup is the best” and of course we are going to want to try it and see if I can get the same effect she has. So, I feel like makeup has an impact on society. People are buying it because there are people who are reviewing products and testing things out and they want to look more put together and you know some people just use it for art, like I mentioned before. That’s their way of expressing themselves.

Kassandra: Do you think makeup hurt self-esteem?

Kristina: Oh lord, umm.. it can. Like, for example, I know of a friend who wears makeup because she feels insecure about her looks. She wakes up really early in the morning to put on makeup. And I would always tell her you have to have that “I don’t care” attitude about what people say about you. People are going to say something at the end of the day and you, yourself, have to know that “I’m beautiful, and I love myself” it’s that self-affirmation you have to say to yourself everyday. Even if you have to write it down, put it on your mirror, for you to have something to look at.