Katie Kemp is an aesthetician and owner of Opal Beauty + Wellness in Madison. The luxury beauty studio specializes in custom skin treatments, brows, lashes and makeup services. Learn about Katie Kemp…
Follow at: @opalbeautymadison
Hometown: Roscoe, IL
First job: I served ice cream as my very first job.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in WI: Outdoors! Hiking at Devil’s Lake, enjoying a good restaurant patio or at the terrace.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Opening my own business. I wanted to be my own boss for so long, and it wasn’t an easy journey to get here but so rewarding!
The biggest obstacle you overcame: Gut and hormone issues that doctors couldn’t figure out and being an advocate for my own health issues. Which has led me to incorporating more wellness into my aesthetics practice. You know your body best; be an advocate for your own health issues even if it is a long journey.
Someone who inspires you and why: Kellian Jacobs, owner of the Barrecode Madison. A great friend, business owner, momma and all-around great human. She has a great mindset around working out and has built an amazing community at the Barrecode. She is real and raw about juggling it all and is an inspiration to so many!
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Work for others first! It is easy to want to be independent in the industry but I recommend figuring out what you like and dislike in the industry, learning from peers and what you want your business to look like in the future. Not to mention building a clientele first will make the transition much easier!
Favorite quote: “No one is you and that is your superpower.”
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: That I wanted to be an interior designer growing up.
What makes someone fabulous: Their heart! Spreading kindness, happiness and sharing who you are makes the world a better place. It is easy to lose sight of those things these days.