My life’s journey so far can best be described as one of death and rebirth: purposeful destruction and careful reconstruction. If you’re into astrology, you can attribute this cyclical chaos to my being a Scorpio rising. If you’re into psychology, my combination of ADHD and autism is at least partially to blame. Whatever the reason, my various identities have finally converged into something meaningful that I can fully live and grow in, but first, some backstory!
College Years
I have always been a writer, so I knew that was a key part of who I am and what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t really sure how. At some point, I also wanted to be a “professional” cosplayer, and I combined my passion for the pen with my love of making costumes by writing about the cosplay community. This got me my first writing gig as a Huffington Post contributor way back in 2016.
I was also in college during this time, and changed my major 3 times or so. I was originally accepted into a graphic design program at one school, but I switched to early childhood education at a different school. Although I respect teachers, I realized I did not want to be one. I then switched to a digital media program, but eventually realized I could actually do more of everything I enjoyed in a communications program, so I finally graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication & Media Studies after several years of figuring myself out.
Careers
My first job out of college was as an entertainment writer, and I put cosplay on the back burner to focus on it. Although it was fun and I was honestly really good at it, I walked away from my entertainment writing gig when I was told I was one of the best writers they had, but that they wanted to switch me from hourly pay to 8 cents per word because I was not fast enough (lowkey some BS, but that’s a story for another time) at writing the detailed and engaging articles that I poured my soul into—and also the content mill styled “listicles” that I still did a great job on, but that did not deserve bits of my soul.
After walking away from that job, I became the marketing director of a small psychedelic wellness startup that specialized in ketamine therapy. The people were nice, but I was never actually given an advertising budget or any real direction. Still, I did my best until the company literally ran out of money. Then I was once again without a job, freelancing here and there until I decided to pursue a career in the beauty industry.
Beauty School
In 2025, I enrolled in cosmetology school to become a nail technician. It seemed like a natural transition because I have always loved beauty, even when I was in my “not like other girls” phase, pretending not to care about makeup, fashion, or nail art.
For a long time, particularly in my adolescence, I could not reconcile being the bookish, gaming nerd that I was with the makeup-loving, avant-garde fashionista that I was ashamed to show. Much of the media that existed when I was growing up helped reinforce this false dichotomy of “smart girl” vs “pretty girl,” so I hid and downplayed my love of beauty. I wanted to be seen as smart, so I could not look like I put effort into being pretty.
Getting into cosplay in my early 20s is one of the things that helped me fully shake off that extremely limited and foolish way of thinking. It allowed me to experiment with makeup and engage with my own femininity in a way I never had before. I started wearing fun eyeshadow looks outside of cosplay, and even began going to the salon to get my nails done. I didn’t fear being perceived as vapid or foolish the way I would have in high school. Instead, I felt confident and excited about being able to wear art in so many different ways. I eventually started doing my own nails when everything shut down for a bit due to the COVID pandemic, and I found that I truly enjoyed the process as a creative outlet.
Beauty Era
Fast forward several years and career shifts later, and you now understand why I became a licensed nail tech in October 2025. Now, I’m working on building up my clientele, running my custom press-on nail business, and marrying the writer and beauty lover within me by shifting the focus of my beloved blog to beauty content.
While I would love to find a gig as a beauty writer, it seems as though every publication wants 3 years of experience within that field, and so I must forge my own path, as I always have. I will be writing about nail trends, the nail industry, makeup, and, among other things, why I think the US is stuck in the Stone Age when it comes to acrylic nails. That’s all for now. Welcome to the beauty era of DeLa-Doll.com.
DeLa Doll is a multifaceted artist, writer, and creator with a passion for bold self-expression. With a background in professional writing, nail artistry, and makeup, she brings a unique perspective to beauty, creativity, and storytelling. As the driving force behind DeLa Doll, she blends artistry with authenticity, sharing her journey of entrepreneurship, self-discovery, and growth. Whether crafting luxury press-on nails, exploring media through a critical and creative lens, or documenting her evolving artistic vision, DeLa Doll invites her audience into a world where imagination meets intention.
