ESTHER MORALES

By Esther Morales

Thinking back to when I first started to learn more about Sara Stoy, we had already had a class together for a full semester. I couldn’t believe it when she announced to our ASL102 class that she was going to be on television as a contestant on “American Beauty Star” and told us all to add her on Instagram. At that point only at a still impressive 5k following, I was both ecstatic for her and never more intrigued and curious how the seemingly quiet girl managed to fly under my radar for so long. 

After all, there was not one class she came to wearing makeup. When I met to sit down to talk about her life, however, she had a flawless full-face, smoky eye look, confidence radiating off her.

Straight out of Hamilton, NJ, 22-year-old, Sara Stoy explores her passion for beauty with her Instagram and Youtube followers. She regularly creates short social media tutorial videos showing how to create new looks, testing out new products, and unboxing PR packages. Since her success on the show, Stoy has done multiple partnerships with beauty brands such as Pixi, Too Face, and Rimmel for sponsored videos and Instagram posts. When “American Beauty Star” came around again for season 2 casting, she ended up submitting a video that included a makeup tutorial and bit about herself and her passion for beauty. Stoy would soon gain an experience she would have never imagined. After the first episode of “American Beauty Star” aired, she experienced a surge of new followers bringing the total from 5k, to 9k and only continuing to grow to now 13.3k. She also shares her tutorials, tips, and makeup not only with her 3k Youtube subscribers all while being a full-time college student.

Thankfully, she didn’t overthink applying to be on the show and almost forgot she did until she got a call from the show’s producer a few months later.

“I Skyped with the producer and that day they called to tell me I was officially a contestant on season 2 of American Beauty Star, I couldn’t even believe it,” Stoy said.

Each season the show follows 14 hair and makeup artists over 13 episodes, competing for a $100,000 cash prize, a spread in Cosmopolitan, and a consulting beauty contract with Revlon. Each challenge, similar to a Project Runway, comes with a new theme whether it’s a look for a night out on the town or a red carpet event but each episode always ends in an elimination. The show is filmed in Los Angeles, California, and season 2 filmed during the summer of 2018 and aired in January of 2019.

As the youngest contestant on the show, the pressure was on being surrounded by all the talented makeup artists, lights, and the cameras. It was a bit daunting at times. Reminding herself to stay true to who she was helped her to keep pushing. Although Stoy’s journey ended in episode three, the immersive experience was only something she could take away and learn from.

Given the amazing opportunity of being on “American Beauty Star”, she struck gold as it helped her launch her personal brand and gained her even more exposure.

“I never thought in a million years I would ever do something like that. Although it didn’t turn out how I would’ve liked, I don’t regret anything from that experience. I learned to stick to who you are no matter what! Yes, I went home but do I regret the look I did that sent me home? Absolutely not, because it was true to me as a makeup artist, and that’s something I will never forget,” she said.

As a young beauty influencer, she finds herself trying to balance brand partnerships, audience engagement and content creation with school work. Stoy is currently obtaining her Bachelor's degree from William Paterson University, after graduating from Mercer County Community College with an Associate degree in Education. She continued on at William Paterson University to continue studying early childhood education.

As she continues to prepare herself for the future, she also reflects back on her journey of becoming a beauty influencer. It was only four years ago that she started her Instagram and YouTube channel even though her love of makeup started in middle school. As a 14-year-old, she always had a fascination with makeup, always finding herself getting into her mother’s cosmetics.

Through high school, she continued to hone her skills by buying her own makeup supplies and practicing creating new looks whenever she could. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in cosmetology school, where she received her hairstylist license. Even though styling hair was a bit different from makeup, Stoy’s curiosity couldn’t stop her from exploring different beautician practices. She worked at several salons before concluding doing hair as a career path wasn’t for her.

But, her confidence began to blossom even more when she began freelancing as a makeup artist for weddings and proms while also planning on pursuing higher education. Each video she did was carefully planned, produced, and edited, something she has taught herself to do.

“I posted a few videos here and there, not thinking anyone would really watch. People began to follow and subscribe to me, and that’s how it all begins,” Stoy said. She began seeing her channel growth after just a few months. 

Home in New Jersey now, Stoy finds herself caught between balancing being a beauty influencer with her other passion for teaching. As she continues to partner with brands and create videos, she said she also can’t help but hear her parent’s voice in her head telling her to get a job that can be beneficial long term when she is older and starts her own family. While she is interested in education and loves children, she wonders if she is playing it safe. Looking at her bold makeup and confident style, I don’t perceive her as a person who likes to play it safe.

“I always loved working with kids, especially early childhood. I always had a passion for and knew at a young age that I wanted to have my own classroom. I want to be one of the people that the kids look up to, and remember, even when they’re our age.”

Being a full-time college student and balancing her influencer duties can get difficult but school does come first she says. Despite her different passions, she proves to be someone who has her own priorities set. Videos and posts and production planning are saved for weekends.

It is in her free time that she is always thinking of ideas for new makeup looks. “I follow many different makeup artists, and always look to others to inspire me, especially when I want to step out of my comfort zone with bright colors, or something crazy,” she adds. But even as creative as makeup artists are, they can get uninspired from time to time. Stoy finds that she always feels at home when creating a sexy, sultry makeup look that can make anyone feel confident.

As she was sharing her paths to follow both her passions of beauty and teaching, I asked Stoy where she saw herself in 5 years. Like most college students, Stoy isn’t quite sure where she sees herself other than married. She has been dating her current boyfriend for 8 years and can’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him.

Stoy also hopes to have finished her degree and been teaching elementary school for a few years but stressed that she will continue to film makeup tutorial videos. “No matter where life takes me, I know that beauty will always be something I am passionate about and I hope I never lose sight of that.”