Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Welechuk Kowski.
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 fell in love with makeup at the age of 14 when my mom took me to Nordstrom to have my makeup professionally done; that’s when I realized that’s what I wanted to do. Life took me in a different direction, and I went to school for business and marketing and worked as a marketing director for a large corporate mortgage servicer. Although my job was great and took me all over the country, it wasn’t my passion. I switched gears and found beauty again. I have since been in the beauty industry for over 20 years working as a beauty educator for Chanel, a celebrity personal travel artist, a corporate and personal stylist for Microsoft, a General Manager and Lead Artist for Salon Maison in Seattle, WA, and in Orange County, CA, as well as in various other scopes of the industry. I have had the great opportunity to work with the industry’s finest while always enjoying the space to grow and perfect my skills. My passion is always on the one-on-one interaction with each client and helping them reflect their inner self in all its beauty. I believe beauty and style is about self-expression, a way to communicate on a visual plane a personal story. I take a holistic approach to one’s outward beauty, knowing that your true glow comes from the inside. After relocating in 2018 with the love of my life, I founded Alea Beauty as a way to offer a more personal and specialized beauty experience that focuses on your own unique attributes and doesn’t try to change you into a look alike of someone else or copy any fads.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely not! Lol. The beauty industry can be quite cut-throat. It’s easy to get caught up in the rat race of it with everyone trying to be “the next big thing”! I had to take myself out of the comparison/competition mindset and really just keep my vision hyper-focused on my own goals and my client’s interests. It’s like putting blinders on a horse for a race, just keep your head down and eyes ahead. I’ve always struggled with anxiety and imposter syndrome, so some days are more challenging. I’ve found inspiration in artists like Val Garland and Vincent Ford, who have both found reawakenings later in life. I plan to keep learning and keep growing while staying sharply focused on staying true to myself. I realized that working with the everyday person is much more fulfilling than trying to get some type of fame or notoriety. I’ve loved my experiences working with celebrity or public figures, but it’s not where my passion lies. To me, the most fulfilling moment is when a person gets to actual see themselves and how beautiful they are, sometimes realizing for the first time what others have seen in them all along.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I formed Alea Beauty in 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. We are now in Columbus, Ohio, and Boston, MA, and plan to open our third location in Pheonix, AZ this fall! In 2020 I took a master airbrush makeup and spray tanning training in Las Vegas and brought those services to our company in 2021. We are also opening a beauty studio in Dublin, Ohio as of September 1st!
We are known for natural yet elevated beauty, focusing on each individuals own unique perspective. Inclusivity is very important to us and we work with everyone regardless of race, gender, or sexuality. I believe what makes us different is that we aren’t caught up in social trends. We really want to highlight who each person is as an individual rather than trying to copy the latest fad.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Just be yourself! As a young artist it is really easy to get caught up in fads and the desire to be “popular”, However, the best most recognized artists are the ones who have stayed true to themselves and brought a new and unique perspective. Comparison is toxic. It will eat at you. You have to be humble and realize they’ll always be someone who appears to be bigger, better, and more popular, and that’s ok. We all have our own parts to play. Make sure you are playing yours to the best of your availability.
My other piece of advice is to invest in yourself. Take the class, get the training, buy the right tools, do the self-work and self-care needed to be the best version of yourself so you can conquer your goals with confidence.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aleabeauty.co
- Instagram: @aleabeauty.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aleabeautyco
Image Credits
Melissa Chu Photography
Ashley West Photography
Roberta Maura Photograpy
Joy In Photos
Makayla Lynn Photography
Gabriella Sutherland Photography
Vibe Garden Images
Kara Webster Photography
Sugar Plum Creative
