When I was 17, my dad said if I got a scholarship to university, he'd buy me a car. So I did what any young impressionable high school senior would... I applied and received an Air Force ROTC scholarship. Little did I know that meant actually serving as a military officer for years after graduation. 

military officer natalie

Marriage is relevant to my story because I wouldn't have made such life-altering decisions if I were single. I learned the power of relationship and compromise.

love & marriage

Kids weren't part of my life plan... especially not in the middle of a pretty promising career (turns out I was pretty good at the whole Air Force officer gig).

But there's never really a "good time" to have kids... and little did I know that my firstborn would give me the clarity & confidence to ultimately leave the military and pave my own path.

pregnant & confused!

grad school?

Yea, the whole marriage + having a kid + military officer career thing eventually came to a head when I was slated for an overseas deployment when my son was nine months old. 9 months!

I wasn't happy about "sacrificing" my career but I had no choice. I separated from active duty, continued my service in the Reserves, and started grad school full time (NCSU 🐺🤘🏼go 'Pack!).

We re-located to Monterey, CA for my husband's career. I thought I'd find a new career easy peasy. I had all this amazing training, education, and leadership skills... (google military spouse unemployment and you'll see what I mean). It sucked. 

I asked my best and closest friends what I should do... I'm a better mom when I work... they reminded me how amazing I was at doing makeup. And that it could be a fun side-hustle. 

So I did.

And I founded Setareh Beauty...

california dreaming

That little side-hustle was keeping me oh-so-busy! I kept booking clients, honing in on my craft, and well, I must've been doing something right.

It seems that as soon as I found my business sweet spot, my husband received orders for us to relocate to Georgia. (remember marriage?)

I "relocated" my business, welcomed baby number two to the brood, and shortly thereafter. we received orders to move to Germany! 

Georgia to germany

Moving my business across the country and across the pond in one year was rough.

Getting the business up and running, freakishly hard!

I started the Be Your Own Makeup Artist Podcast, founded the Makeup Reset Workshop Series (it flopped btw), set up my own in-home makeup studio, and established & and applied to lead Tuesdays Together-Wiesbaden.

international business owner

My entire website was copied and I felt utterly betrayed. (After I sulked, I realized I was being copied, I must've been doing something right.)

The Template Shop was born, full of my actual templates which are still available and sold today! I also began offering coaching services for makeup artists so that I could help others protect their businesses and stand-out.

I also invested in my first mastermind, re-launched my new website, and ended the year with some much needed confidence!

i wanted to quit

Recognized as 1 of 100 On The Rise entrepreneurs

Self-published my first book, Be Your Own Makeup Artist

First international client / paid air-travel! Yes!

Key Makeup Design for Frankfurt English Theatre Production

Public speaking requests galore

...need I say more!

had my best year ever!

First international campaign

Worldwide pandemic {almost} shut me down

Began teaching online classes, focusing on delivering world-class education, coaching other MUAs how to do the same!
 
Relaunched my website & business as a makeup coach

Here I am!

laser focus