Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Guillaume.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m from Montreal, Canada. Growing up, I was always drawn to art and pop culture . I was painting and drawing all the time, so creativity was just always part of who I was. Naturally, I became the person in my friend group who did everyone’s makeup for special occasions. Then one day, a friend of mine who was just starting out in photography asked me to do makeup for a few models she was shooting. We put the photos on Facebook and honestly, the rest is history.
After that I got hired for my first real photoshoot with a well-known photographer in my city and that’s truly where everything began. I taught myself everything about the craft and became a plateau artist, working on film sets, music videos, commercials, you name it.
Over the past ten years I’ve had the chance to work across so many different areas runway shows, editorial shoots, brand campaigns, music video productions. My clients range from everyday women who want to feel their best, to international artists like Wyclef Jean, Cardi B, Tory Lanez, Kranium, and Carmelita Jeter. My work has been featured in Clin d’Œil, Billie QC, Black Milk Women, and on TVA, TV5, Radio-Canada, and Télé-Québec.
One moment that will always stay with me is when I saw my work on a billboard and on television. I just stopped and thought okay, I have really accomplished something here. It felt like proof that the work was real and that it mattered.
Today I run Sparks Atelier, my studio here in Montreal, where we offer makeup services, permanent makeup, eyebrow care, and beauty training. Everything we do is built around one idea: enhancing each person’s natural beauty. The studio is the space I always dreamed of having — somewhere where artistry and technique come together in a way that feels personal and intentional.
Lately I’ve also been really excited about a new chapter I launched my ebook and my training programs, which have been an amazing way to share everything I’ve learned over the years with people who want to grow in this industry.
And I’m already thinking even bigger. I want to grow Sparks Atelier into a full beauty academy and an aesthetic distribution centre — a real hub where the next generation of artists can come to learn and build their careers.
As for the name Sparks people always ask me that! It comes from who I was in high school. I was always smiling, always the happy one, and I danced in a performance group. That spark just always stayed with me.
What inspires me? Life. The kindness of people. Music. Art. I can always find something beautiful in the world around me, even in the smallest things. I think as long as you stay curious and stay open, inspiration is everywhere.
I never followed a path into this industry I created my own. And that’s exactly what I want to help others do too.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Where I’m from, being a Black makeup artist in this industry wasn’t always easy. I’m part of the first generation that really pushed to be recognized in television and film in Quebec. That door wasn’t open,we had to push it open ourselves. And that takes a certain kind of courage and persistence that people don’t always see behind the finished work.
On top of that, I chose the freelance path. For ten years, I built this into a real career — not a side hustle, not a hobby, a career. And anyone who has walked that road knows it is not easy. There’s no guaranteed paycheque, no safety net. You have to be resourceful, you have to be adaptable, and you have to believe in yourself even on the days when the industry makes you feel invisible.
There were moments of doubt, moments where I had to work twice as hard just to be taken seriously. But every single one of those moments shaped who I am as an artist and as a businesswoman. I didn’t just survive those challenges — I used them as fuel.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change any of it. The road was hard, but it was mine.”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a professional makeup artist based in Montreal and the founder of Sparks Atelier. I specialize in plateau work — meaning film sets, television, music videos, and commercials but my work also spans editorial shoots, runway shows, brand campaigns, and personal services like bridal and event makeup. Through Sparks Atelier, I also offer permanent makeup, eyebrow care, and beauty training.
What I’m known for is my precision, my creativity, and my ability to work with all skin tones and skin types. I have a deep respect for natural beauty — my goal is never to cover someone up, but to bring out the best version of what’s already there. That philosophy runs through everything I do, whether I’m on a film set or in my studio with a one-on-one client.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible people — Wyclef Jean, Cardi B, Tory Lanez, Kranium, Carmelita Jeter — and my work has been featured in publications like Clin d’Œil, Billie QC, and Black Milk Women, as well as on TVA, TV5, Radio-Canada, and Télé-Québec. Lately I’ve also launched my ebook and training programs, which have been a really fulfilling way to give back to the next generation of artists.
What I’m most proud of? Honestly, the longevity. Ten years as a freelance artist in this industry, building something real from nothing, in a market where people like me weren’t always welcomed at the table. I’m proud that I stayed the course, kept my standards high, and built a name that people trust.
What sets me apart is that I bring both the technical precision and the artistic eye to every single job. I’m not just someone who applies makeup — I understand light, I understand skin, I understand the story that needs to be told in every image or production. And I bring that same level of intention whether I’m on a major set or sitting across from a client in my studio.
But beyond the skill, I think what truly sets me apart is that I built all of this on my own terms. I didn’t follow a path — I created one. And that mindset shows up in my work every single day.”
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy? Art, music, food, and the kindness of the people around me those things never fail to fill my cup. My circle, the people I love and who love me back, they are truly my foundation.
But if I’m being honest, one of the things that brings me the deepest sense of pride and joy is knowing that I built this career from absolutely nothing. From A to Z, every step, every client, every opportunity I created that. Nobody handed it to me. And when I look at where I started and where I am today, that is what makes me the happiest of all. It’s proof that when you stay true to yourself and keep going, something real can grow out of it
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sparksatelier.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparks_mua/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=sparks%20mua
Image Credits
Shot by RL – maison velaris
