Meet Camille Johnson | Owner of Painted Faces, Painted Cosmetics & CamilleClaudelle

We had the good fortune of connecting with Camille Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Camille, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?My thought process behind starting my own business was making sure I was able to provide “Better” service to people of colored and to provide a space where they are wanted, respected and appreciated.

2.)Do you have a budget? How do you think about your personal finances and how do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?
– I do have a ever changing budget. My current 9-5 supports my business. I always let people know if you have $1 or $20 you can start your business. Your business always starts with the thought which is your mind and then the action! My lifestyle and spending decisions on based on mainly needs and not wants. Always balancing out how much is coming in and home much expenses will be coming out each month.
3.)Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?
-Risk taking is exactly what it’s called; Risk Taking. It is 100% ok to take risks. In any journey to having a successful business there will be risks taken and some will fall and some will stand and grow. Taking risks in my business has shown me that not only does it keeps you accountable for the growth of your business but it also shows you that whatever you put your mind to you can do it!!!
4.)Where are you from and how did your background and upbringing impact who you are today?
-I am from Houston Texas born and raised in 3rd Ward Texas. My background and upbringing taught me that nothing in life is free and to always work hard for what I want. Always stay humble and treat everyone the same from the janitor to the CEO. Always be respectful. I was raised to be very independent because in life we will hear no but hearing no does not mean stop it just means not right now. I believe that we all want to make our parents proud so making my mother proud has always been a mission of mine and I can now say that mission is complete.
5.)What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?
-The most important factor behind the success of the my brand is my overall customer service. The customer service that your business exudes says a lot about what your company stands for.
6.)What value or principle matters most to you?
Why?
-What value matters most is always giving my clients/customers exceptional customer service and an amazing experience. The reason being there are always places where people of colored cannot shop and are not wanted. There are also places and brands that just want the black dollar and my brand is based around it’s not about the money it’s about the service and experience.
7.)Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?
-Work life balance is tough due to high demands of how society make it hard for entrepreneurs to manager their business on a day to day. Staying true to the for of why you started your business will always keep you on the right track.
8.)What’s the end goal? Where do you want to be professionally by the end of your career?
– The end goal “will be” #1 Happy customers and clients, my brand being a house hold name, having stand alone store, having a warehouse/fulfillment center and the list goes on.
9.)Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?
-I pursued a creative career because it allows you to be authentically you! Your business is uniquely you and no one else is like you nor your business and that’s special.
10.)Tell us about a book you’ve read and why you like it / what impact it had on you.
– I’m currently reading Manifestation for Black Women: The Ultimate Guide to Manifesting Your Dream Life Using the Law of Attraction. I like this book because it opens your mind of how to take control of your life, your mind and yourself. The impact that it had on me is that it made me more aware of me in both my mind, body and spirit.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the owner of Painted Faces, Painted Cosmetics and CamilleClaudelle. My business are makeup and beauty services/products and also my luxury handbag brand. What sets me apart from other brands is my customer service. My customers come first. I believe in always running a special and always providing a coupon or special deal for my customers and clients.
I got to where I am business wise by taking risks and just believing in my business. It was not easy and there were a lot of sleepless nights.
What I want the world to know about my brand and story is that my brand is one for all and all for one. My brand is not looking to drain your money. My brand is here to provide you with exceptional customer service and a great shopping experience. It’s not about the money for us and we truly appreciate every dollar that is spent because that is our customers and clients hard earned money and we appreciate them for shopping with us and choosing my brand to service them. As you read I used mainly “us” and “our” because it takes a team to win and we are all a team including our customers and clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Even though I’m A home body I do enjoy going to Grand Lux Cafe and then going to Thirty’s to get a strawberry banana smoothie.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to recognize my mother Charlotte Shepherd who has truly been my inspiration and blue print. She was a single mother of 3 and she was definitely super woman; working 2-3 jobs making sure we were always good. Having a great example like her makes me truly lucky to have a mother like her. She has instilled in us to work hard, to always believe in ourselves and to always be our very best and to always do our very best. She is my forever Queen and she deserves all of my gratitude and praise. We only get one mother in this thing called life. Thank you mommy and I love you!

Instagram: Incognito_beauty

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@PaintedFacesTV?si=4QQoF1m40r0sXT1-

Other: Instagram: CamilleClaudelleOfficial Instagram:PaintedFacesBusiness