Name: Gigi Hendrix
What I currently do: Esthetician Student/Beauty Entrepreneur
About me: I am a 24 year old student slowly but surely entering the beauty industry and finding my purpose.
Personal story:
My journey is an ongoing process. I was diagnosed with depression at 15. I attended various schools for a psychology degree, but i knew my heart was not in it. I did not know what I wanted to do, but i felt i had to graduate from a university because that was societal expectations. I went through a long period of self doubt, not feeling smart enough. I would often ask myself “why can't i just graduate?” My heart was not in it anymore. I have always been a beauty lover. I became interested in skin care in 2013 after I cleared my skin from acne and discoloration on my own through research and trial and error. Throughout 2013 - early 2017, I would randomly Google search about Aesthetics and pursuing skin care therapy. It sounded like something I could pursue, but my thinking was limit to the amount of income I would make and thought there’s no way I could make a living wage from it. In late 2017, I left the university and enrolled in an Aesthetics class in December. It was the scariest, yet fulfilling decision of my young life. Finally, I felt “this is my purpose”. However, I quickly lost the drive due to my mental health. I would frequently experience periods of blissful euphoria, then periods where all I thought about was suicide (TW: SHOULD I CHANGE THIS?) Throughout the years, starting when I was first diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, I went to dozens of therapists and doctors until one day I googled mental health professionals in my area and found my current therapist. As a result of this, she referred me to me to my current Psychiatrist. It was here where I was diagnosed as Bipolar II at 24 years old. It has only been a month since I’ve been diagnosed and started a new medication regimen, but the improvement on my mood and outlook in life has been significantly positive. This is why I want to raise awareness about mental health in the black community, especially to young women. We have to be strong and care for everyone, but when do we take the time to care for ourselves? It was this self- realization that I discovered the need for self care, skin care in particular. Taking care of your skin’s health improves your self confidence, because when you look good, you feel good. It is still a work in progress, but I am in the process of creating a mental wellbeing and clean beauty blog, an organic skin care line, and becoming a life coach for these two specific things. As you can see, I have a lot of goals I want to achieve in the beauty industry.
What category I fall under?: I am still searching for my purpose but I feel like each day I am one step closer. I feel my purpose is to help women discover their confidence to pursue their passions. I did not have the self confidence until I was at my lowest point in life. Change does not happen during the good moments, it happens when you are at your wits end.
My personal mission is to provide the necessary resources and guidance to young women to help them identify their goals and pursue their passions through clean beauty and holistic mental wellbeing.
My current biggest achievement was advancing into working on actual clients at school, as I thought this day would never come due to self doubt with my mental illness. To my younger self: there will be significant setbacks, but keep pushing, as each day is a day to pursue what you love.
Advice to women: you cannot pour from an empty glass, put your wellbeing first.
What I admire most about myself: my resilience, because there still are days where I so badly wanted to give up. But I have to keep working toward my goals to truly live my best life.
Woman Crush Wednesday: the entrepreneur Rihanna of course!
Where to find me: @groovynmoody (personal) and @glossybygigi (business) on Instagram
