St. Thomas senior Hannah Studee started off the school year by launching a Makeup Bar Happy Hour for her makeup business, Beauty by Studee.
On Saturdays, Studee hosts a makeup bar where she does makeup for students and offers complimentary snacks and drinks for those legally of age. Single clients are charged $40, but if they bring two friends they each get charged $30.
Studee first started doing other people’s makeup in high school for senior pictures after receiving praise for doing her own prom makeup.
“I remember thinking ‘This actually looks good!’ and my friends were like ‘Where did this come from?’” Studee said. “It became an obsession.”
Ever since she can remember, Studee has always been interested in art.
“I was an artist my whole life,” she said. “I loved art; that was what I wanted to do.”
Her interest in art sparked her interest in makeup.
“I bought my first eyebrow pencil and that was what I was known for in high school, I’d have my brows on. Even if I didn’t do anything else, I’d always have my brows on,” Studee said.
It wasn’t until college that she started calling herself a makeup artist and started her business.
“I saved up for a kit and then I (thought) ‘OK now I can try to make money.’ And I just built it up like that,” Studee said.
Despite her interest in art, Studee chose to study exercise science. A childhood love for gymnastics sparked her interest in pursuing a degree in exercise science. While beauty and makeup is Studee’s primary job, she coaches gymnastics on the side for fun.
“I love the art and exercise world equally, but I knew I wanted a future with options, and there were always more opportunities present in the exercise world for me,” she said. “Makeup has become the fulfilling form of art for me.”
Since starting her makeup business, Studee has shared her talents for multiple events. Depending on the time of the year, Studee splits her time between local fashion shows, weddings, prom or other school dances, and now, her makeup bar.
St. Thomas sophomore Ella Shuherk has known Studee since high school and has watched her business from the beginning.
“My junior year of prom…she pulled through and she was like ‘I can do your makeup.’ The next year, I feel like it was so hard to get an appointment with (her). She’s definitely grown a ton,” Shuherk said.
Studee runs her business mainly through her Instagram account, @beautybystudee. Initially, she was hesitant about starting an account showcasing her makeup clients, but her friends convinced her to start one.
“When I started this I was a lot more timid and shy,” Studee said. “I don’t even have that great of a page; I think word of mouth is what really pushed it.”
Studee’s beauty bar offers a unique experience that keeps clients coming in every week.
“It’s a really chill way to start your night; normally it’s always chaotic. If I could do this every single day, I would because it would be such an easier option,” Shuherk said.
As for the future, Studee wants to continue growing her business and pursuing makeup full time.
“This was my job this summer, that’s really cool to say. I never thought I was going to be able to do it,” Studee said. “Once you get something going, you want to keep doing it.”
Emilie Cleveland can be reached at clev5695@stthomas.edu.