PHOTOS BY TELLIER STUDIOS
And because she has such a sweet and giving heart, she wants you to have it all too.
Wife, mother, business woman, make-up artist and model are just a few of the hats she wears.
Jessica grew up in Prattsburgh, NY. From a very young age she’s had an interest all things beauty. In 2003 she graduated from Cosmetology School. Three years later she married her husband Chad. Together they are raising two boys, Colby, 9, and Max, 7.
“We also have a naughty but adorable Olde English bulldog named Blue,” she said.
She is also a former Mrs. New York 2015, a title she won right here in Henrietta, NY.
Her first reaction when approached to enter the competition was “thanks but no thanks.”
After careful consideration, she says “I decided it was an amazing chance for me to conquer my fears of public speaking and getting on stage in a bathing suit after a 70 lb weight loss, all while meeting remarkable women in our beautiful state and most importantly using it to stand up for a cause. “
As a contestant, she chose to promote the Ronald McDonald House. When one of her sons was treated for a rare disease called Kawasaki disease at Strong Hospital, she and her husband were able to shower, sleep and wash clothes there.
“We were so incredibly humbled and grateful that the Ronald McDonald house allowed us to stay there without a financial burden so we could be mere minutes away from our little guy during that scary and heartbreaking time. The Ronald McDonald House relies solely on volunteers and fundraisers to continue what they do for families with sick or injured children and it was my mission to recruit volunteers and raise funds to pay it forward and give back.”
She said she didn’t expect to win the pageant, and in fact had never even seen one before entering.
Jessica says “I was absolutely shocked to be crowned that day.”
She admits after winning the title, the hard work began.
“I’m so glad I looked fear in the face, and decided to compete. It was life changing.”
“I was able to work with people who are fighting the good fight every single day of their lives whether it be aid to veterans, support domestic violence victims, cancer research or support fundraisers, natural disaster fundraisers, makeovers to women who come from underprivileged communities, I could go on.
“Talk about humbling, eye opening, and wow, just a blessing to be given a voice just by wearing a crown. Sounds silly as a grown woman but people do take notice,” she said.
“The amount of support I had was overwhelming,” Jessica said. “I’m so grateful to all those who rallied to support the causes I stood for.”
Jessica went on to compete at the national Mrs. America Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I didn’t leave nationals with the crown but I won the next best, or perhaps best award, thanks to my gorgeous fellow competitors, the Mrs. Congeniality award. “
“The people I met that year, the people who supported me during that once in a lifetime experience truly left an imprint on my heart forever. I walked away a better me, inspired by the remarkable human beings this world has… every day heroes. There is a whole lot of good out there. I was blessed to witness it.”
Jessica and her husband Chad both do commercial modeling in upstate New York and are either owners or co-owners of multiple businesses ranging from climate controlled storage to party photo booth rentals.
She says her first passion is truly being a freelance makeup artist. She does one on one consultation’s, helping clients feel “confident and beautiful.”
“I have such an immense amount of love for and I enjoy being a makeup artist most. Being able to have the opportunity to help someone is truly a gift. I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love,” she says.
She also has her own beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel, “where I focus on teaching women different ways to apply makeup, share product reviews, and tips and tricks to help women feel less overwhelmed when it comes to applying makeup or shopping for makeup. “
“Creating this channel allows me to reach so many more people from all over who have questions like many of my clients.”
Her beauty advice for all women is to smile. “Have confidence. Don’t have it? Work on it. Find something you love about yourself and hold onto that. Beauty comes from within. Be kind, Kindness is beauty.
“As far as a beauty routine, wash off your makeup and moisturize every evening. Mascara would be my one go to makeup product if I had one so find a mascara you like and use it!”
With such a busy lifestyle, I asked her if she had a free day off how would she spend it?
“ I love the spa so spoiling myself at a spa and/or traveling and experiencing new and exciting places are my top two choices,” she says.
When asked how she measures success, she quotes George Sheehan. “Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.”
“ Working towards what we think our purpose on earth is…. not just career but the lives we touch a long the way… the relationships we build… the reward of experiences we are able to have because of the hard work we’ve put in to earn them… all after pushing through the barriers, obstacles, fears, and challenges to attain our goals and dreams. “
Asked what’s next on her plate, she replies “outside of being a mommy, wife, and working the business as well as modeling, I hope to focus more on traveling with my makeup career and continue building my new YouTube channel. I hope to help women of all ages see makeup as an outlet for creative play, helping them feel beautiful, and perhaps just have somewhere to go and watch a 10 minute video each week while sipping on their beverage of choice just to take a break from the every day to-do list.”
With all she has done and achieved, I had to ask what her proudest accomplishment is.
She states, “sounds cliché but bringing two amazing little human beings into this world was and always will be my greatest accomplishment. They gave me purpose I didn’t know I had. They’ve taught me that I’m stronger than I thought. “
My boys “made me realize by following my dreams, I’m showing them, they too can one day follow theirs. They’ve shown me a love so powerful, so priceless, so unconditional, and for that I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”
You can find Jessica at the YouTube URL: www.youtube.com/jessicaellebeautylifestyle or follow her on Instagram: @jessicaellebeauty. You can also contact her for a make-up consultation appointment on her website at www.jessicaellebeauty.com.
This is my beautiful niece! I’m so proud of her. She beautiful beyond what you see on the outside. She’s giving and never makes you feel less. I love her as I love my own.