Category: Diversity
Roots and Branches
Jillian Haun
119 E 5th street
Kansas City 64106 USA
5304144209
jillianroseprofessional@gmail.com
Story
Some stories start in the beginning, for The Beauty Project we can start it about 5-6 years ago just to give some reference and then I will share what I did last year which is the story that I would like to enter for this award.
I had been doing hair for a couple of years at this point and I found myself at a roadblock. The roadblock was that the beauty industry felt like it was divided and had missing pieces that were surprising to me as a young cosmetologist. Though, I was aware there were going to be challenges anywhere I went, there were some parts of the industry that I felt I valued very much and, perhaps I wasn't looking in the right places, but it felt like many people didn't have the same values. Which began to feel lonely, frustrating, and disappointing.
I felt like beauty was not just an exterior thing. No, I actually knew, deep in my heart that it was an embodied experience inside and out — no matter how cheesy that could look. I knew that there was more to discover about beauty than just what was on the surface of the beauty industry. And whether or not the world was ready for me to explore those parts, I began to start exploring.
In 2017- 2018 I interviewed fifty people about what beauty is and what it is that makes them beautiful. It was a challenging and powerful project in which I gained more knowledge, compassion, strength and passion for humans, the beauty industry and the beauty in, out, and all over.
I took a break from this project to focus on my clientele, travel and to take what I learned and to apply it to real life. For that time, I am very grateful because what happened next is what brings this story to be able to be submitted to this award…
In the midst of the shutdown, riots, chaos, and unknown I decided to resurrect The Beauty Project but this time I was going to focus on the people that work in the beauty industry– salon owners, nail techs, hair stylists, anyone that had time and space to sit down and talk with me over Zoom to talk about their love for the beauty industry, why they chose it from the beginning, what keeps them saying yes to it, the challenges and the rewards.
I interviewed nine people about this, recorded it on Zoom, made a podcast, youtube channel and wrote a blog on what I gained from each conversation. (Though each of these recordings seem a little "rough" as they are not professionally edited, they were edited by me, which was a great opportunity for me to learn something new. )
These interviews are valuable because they are real people living real life of the beauty industry. There are a million and one ways to show up in this industry, and I really enjoyed talking with these people to give them a platform to share their story and their journey. A place to be heard and seen.
I would love to share these stories with you.
Attached are a few of them. For my blog, beauty statements more information about what I was up to with this season of The Beauty Project please visit https://thebeautyproject.info/exploring-beauty-2020
For the most up to date project I'm working on please visit my instagram @thebeautyprojectexplores
Thank you all for what you are doing for giving people a chance to share the cool stuff that we are up to!
Thank you!
All videos (uploaded by Rasmus): https://access.kevinmurphy.com.au/transfer/974ed09d82b5062df77301d3ad8147e5e76671b86131671c67e898cad711c385
Timing
This version of The Beauty Project took place from June 2020 to September 2020
213.32.243.21 | 16/08/2021