Today we’d like to introduce you to Dee Dee Cardenas.
Hi Dee Dee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It started with the gift of love for people at a really young age. It also started when I was introduced to the “beauty world” as a child in pageants. Creativity and artistic skill came naturally when asked to do makeup on my friends and family as a teenager.
It was unique to me because we could both benefit from it, “they felt good, which made me feel good.” It was both rewarding and gratifying.
I could never imagine something that came so natural to me would be the start of my calling, purpose, and mission!
And so it began, at 18, I attended cosmetology school. At 19, I became a MAC Artist. 10 years ago, at 21, I became the Official Makeup Artist for the Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cheerleaders. Go Bucs!!
At 22, I took a giant leap of faith and started freelancing as well as creating my own master classes for aspiring makeup artists, which was the start of the vision for D2Co, a Hair, Makeup and Styling Agency that was born in 2019.
I wouldn’t say I’m a self-made female entrepreneur because none of this would have been possible without my faith in God. I’m a walking testimony that regardless of the obstacles that may come your way anything is possible with him.
And here we are today, the founder of D2Co. Tampa’s elite glam squad for any occasion and on any given day you can probably find us on a production set near you!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. It’s been a bumpy and fiery road… even more so like a roller coaster.
At the age of 19, the very start of my career, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (UC). I was hospitalized and had to turn down a HUGE opportunity that was offered to me in Beverly Hills. I’ll never forget the feeling I had being on that hospital bed, heartbroken and discouraged.
Fast forward 2-3yrs, I was a full-time MAC Artist, contracted MUA for the Bucs Cheerleaders and a bridal makeup artist all at the same time. I had a UC flare that came back and this time it was more aggressive like never before.
The pain and suffering made me very depressed. I was faced with mental health. I was having thoughts that I never thought I’d have. My life was taking a turn, a downward spiral.
Not to scare anyone, but I literally died because of health complications for a few minutes on my 22nd birthday. Life-changing to say the least!
In order to heal and recover, I had to put my career, everything I had worked hard for on hold. I was in and out of the hospital for 8 months. I couldn’t do a thing. I was on a hiatus that I didn’t know my health and soul really needed.
After the road to recovery, right when I thought brighter days were ahead, I lost my marriage and was divorced at 24-years old from my first love.
I’ve lost a lot of friends during this journey- which I’ve come to realize, that I can’t please everyone, I can’t have expectations, people ARE going to fail you and not everyone is going to like you. Tough pill to swallow, but those experiences were teachers and have made me stronger and wiser.
Today, when a UC flare wants to come at me, I fight back and choose to be relentless.
We’ve been impressed with D2 & Company aka D2Co., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a full-service styling company specializing in makeup, hair, and wardrobe. Serving all of Tampa as well as traveling extensively throughout FL, the country, and internationally. We provide experiences that our clients will never forget!
At present, we are a team of 15 highly skilled professionals. Our clients range from Entertainment, TV production companies, to brides, events, and print advertising. Our gifts are all very unique but similar, with a “D2Co. signature” flair! We are focused on the team, community, and what we can accomplish together, with the utmost support and respect for each other. The beauty industry can be ugly and very competitive… however at D2Co, we are a family, together we are determined to live out our calling to better serve people with our passion and purpose. Our goal is to not only make our clients look good but to feel good both externally and internally.
We commit 10% of our profits to support education for underprivileged children, an organization called Schools for Haiti and support missionaries serving in Haiti as well, with plans to give back to other organizations as we expand.
What matters most to you?
What matters to me the most is to give glory to God for the gifts that he has given me to share with other people and the compassion for people… (1 Peter 4:10) because, you never know what people are battling or being faced with and it’s my mission and ministry to give light and spread the love of Jesus, and to me, that’s a beautiful thing.
One of the other things that matters to me the most is my family. The love and support we have for each other is unconditional and I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. That foundation is also embedded in my new family, D2Co., which is rooted with love!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.D2CoArtists.com
- Instagram: D2andCo
Image Credits:
Alvin Renz
Jorge Alvarez
Ryan Ketterman
