We recently had the chance to connect with Elisha Angelique and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Elisha, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
That’s such a great question.
Here’s a little about me:
I am a Believer of Jesus Christ, a Makeup Artist, Hairstylist, Friend, Sister, Daughter—the list continues to grow as I continue to grow. But to really understand who I am now, you have to know where I came from.
I grew up in foster care. I was a young girl who couldn’t see a future for herself; because no one had ever painted one for me outside of negativity. I was surrounded and consumed by rejection, trauma, and self-doubt. I knew what it felt like to be overlooked, unheard, and unseen. And for a long time, I believed that success, purpose, and impact were meant for other people but not for me.
Now, I find myself being called into spaces I once thought were off-limits. I’m being called to lead, to create, to speak, to share my story, and to walk confidently in my calling; not just as a beauty professional, but as a vessel for Jesus. That was scary. Not because I didn’t want it, but because for so long, I didn’t feel worthy of it.
The career I have, the people I’ve been blessed to impact, and the rooms I’ve been invited into…I used to be afraid of all of it. I could picture a life of success, but I didn’t know it could actually be mine. I was afraid of succeeding because I didn’t know how to hold something I had never seen modeled before. But God is showing me that I don’t have to have it all figured out, I just have to be willing.
To the young people reading this (and anyone else who this might minister to) :
If you’ve ever felt like you’re not enough, like your past disqualifies you, or like you’re not equipped for what’s in your heart, I want you to know that’s a lie. You don’t have to come from a picture-perfect background to have a powerful future. You just have to be open to healing, open to growth, and open to letting God use you!
Spoiler alert: Especially in the areas where you once felt the most broken.
I’m still becoming. I’m still learning. And yes, I’m still a little afraid sometimes. But now, I choose to do it anyway. Because someone needs what I carry, and someone needs what you carry too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Elisha. I’m a licensed cosmetologist, makeup artist, writer, and faith-filled creative based in Memphis. I specialize in helping people not just look beautiful, but feel beautiful inside and out.
What makes my journey unique is the story behind it. I grew up in foster care, surrounded by rejection, trauma, and uncertainty. For years, I struggled with self-worth and didn’t believe I had a future. But through God’s grace, I’ve turned my pain into purpose. Now, I use my hands, my voice, and my platform to help others see themselves the way God sees them; worthy, valuable, and full of potential.
Whether I’m behind the chair doing hair and makeup, creating content, or writing, my heart is to uplift others; especially young women who may feel unseen or unsure of their path. I believe beauty is more than appearance; it’s about being a daughter of a King, identity, healing, confidence.
Right now, I’m focused on building my brand, expanding my clientele, and working on a memoir that walks readers through my journey from brokenness to boldness. My goal is to inspire others to embrace their story and step fully into who they were created to be.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that I wasn’t wanted. That I was just someone to be passed around. I believed that love had to be earned, and that if I wasn’t perfect, I’d be left behind. I thought my voice didn’t matter, that my story was too messy to be meaningful, and that success was for people with “better” beginnings.
Now, I know none of that is true.
I’ve learned that being chosen by God outweighs any rejection I’ve experienced. I’ve learned that love, real love, isn’t something I have to perform for. I’ve learned that my voice does matter, and my story carries weight, not despite my past but because of it.
I no longer believe I have to shrink to be accepted. I no longer believe that where I come from defines where I’m going. And most of all, I no longer believe that I’m unworthy of the life I’m building.
Today, I believe in redemption. I believe in beauty from ashes. And I believe that no matter how your story starts, God can still write something powerful with your life.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me who I really am, beneath the titles, gifts, and accomplishments. It taught me to depend on God when nothing made sense, to find peace in chaos, and to cling to hope even when I thought I had every reason to give up.
Success can show you what you’re capable of, but suffering reveals your foundation. It stripped away my pride, my need for control, and the belief that I had to have it all together. It taught me compassion, endurance, and the beauty of grace.
Suffering showed me that being broken doesn’t disqualify you. In fact, it qualifies you to reach people in a deeper way. It gave me a message, not just a platform. And it taught me that even in the darkest places, God is near, molding, pruning, and preparing you for more than you imagined.
Success gave me a voice. Suffering gave me something to say.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That beauty is only about what’s on the outside.
In the beauty industry, there’s so much emphasis on perfection; flawless skin, laid hair, sculpted faces, and filtered images. And while there’s nothing wrong with enhancing or celebrating your appearance, the lie is that outer beauty is enough to make you feel worthy or whole.
The truth is, you can look your best and still feel broken if you don’t know who you are. I’ve met so many women who are stunning on the outside but silently struggling on the inside. I’ve been that woman/young girl myself.
True beauty starts within. It’s found in identity, healing, confidence, and peace. And most of all, it’s found in God. When you know who you are in Him, loved, chosen, seen, and set apart, it changes everything.
In God, beauty is not about perfection. It is about reflection. Reflecting His love, His light, and His truth in everything you do. That kind of beauty doesn’t fade, and it can’t be bought. It comes from the inside out. That’s the kind of beauty I strive to carry, and the kind I pray others come to know for themselves.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I stripped away the titles people know me by…
If I walked away from the professional roles I walk in; hairstylist, makeup artist, entrepreneur…
If I let go of the things I’ve worked hard to earn; my tools, my wardrobe, platforms, accolades…
What would remain is me; the raw, unfiltered version.
The woman God created before the world called me anything.
What would remain is my heart.
My character.
My worship.
My faith.
The light I carry.
The oil I’ve pressed for.
The prayers I’ve sown.
The healing I’ve fought for.
The purpose that’s rooted deeper than any platform or possession.
Without the applause, I’m still anointed.
Without the audience, I’m still chosen.
Without the glam, I’m still glory-bearing.
So yes, even if I laid it all down, what would remain is the truest version of me;
the daughter, the vessel, the woman after God’s heart.
And that… is more than enough and worth far more than any name, role, and possession.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elishaangelique.as.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elishaashfordd?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BZszEgz5o/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
QuenLee Photography
