ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Michelle Soto
This October, we celebrate Michelle Soto, international educator, judge and nail artist extraordinaire from Florida, USA.
Article by Alex Fox | Published in 2023
Stepping into the world of nails at the tender age of 12, Michelle Soto was spoiled for a year as her aunty used her to hand model for practice purposes. Later, after moving to Puerto Rico, Michelle made a point of manicuring her nails, mimicking what she’d picked up from her aunt. “My nails became a talking point and people asked me to do theirs, but I always said, ‘No, I only do them for myself’,” Michelle reflects. “However, after some consideration, I accepted my father’s proposal of going to nail school. Getting certified before I would groom anyone’s nails was really important to me. At that time in my life, being certified yet still not thinking it would end up becoming my career, was my mindset.”
On deciding to train in nails, Michelle enrolled at the Pierrette Academy in Puerto Rico, which later changed its name to Ema’s Beauty Academy. “I was offered to work at a well-known salon from the owner of the academy herself,” smiles Michelle. “I agreed and worked in it for a year, then I made the bold move to open my own salon; I was just 16 at the time.” Michelle continued to run nail salons for a number of years before changing her path to work more recently full-time with V Beauty Pure LLC in the USA. “I’ve tried many products throughout the years and one of my favorites is V beauty Pure,” she asserts.
With the onset of the global pandemic changing Michelle’s career course, she highlights, “Not being able to work for some time pushed me in a different direction; I had so much time to think about what I was doing and if it was the right pathway for me. I then changed my life completely. I‘ve always wanted to dedicate myself to teaching full-time while helping others achieve their goals, but I was always too busy to commit. The pandemic gave me the opportunity to make the jump.”Living by the principle to always give any endeavor her best shot, no matter what the circumstances, Michelle instils, “One must always be reliable, consistent and never forget to be humble in this life. In these challenging times, take this opportunity to focus in on yourself and your craft. Get prepared with all the knowledge and tools that will help you grow for when you are able to start working again and most importantly, keep posting content on social media platforms, don’t give up!”
1. Behind the Scenes - GlossaryLive Masterclass 2. Michelle Soto jugding at Nailympia Orlando 2023
Praising social media as an excellent source of inspiration for nail stylists, Michelle notes, “The artist in me sees nail art everywhere I go! Although, much of my inspiration tends to come at night, so I keep a sketch book on my night table, however, maybe just one percent of my ideas make it into the book itself.” On reflection, she also adds, “As an artist, being able to express myself through my nail work alongside the happiness that it brings to my clients, is a blessing. The ability to express the client’s emotions in the nail style is also extremely rewarding and now I take great pleasure in teaching all this while sharing my knowledge and experience with others to support their career journey.”
Appreciating that ‘Rome was not built in a day’, Michelle stays grounded and focused while optimistic about the future. “My advice to beginners is to keep an open mind, have lots of patience, make sure you practice and don’t give up! Always be reliable, consistent and never forget to be humble!” Moving onwards and upwards, Michelle is excited for a future with her goal being to coach students, “To hit the salon floor fully experienced and knowledgeable. Capable and ready to service!”
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