From Sleeping in His Car to Kris Jenner's Makeup Artist ft. Etienne Ortega

In this episode of Similarly Different, I sat down with celebrity makeup artist and founder of Ortega Beauty, Etienne Ortega, and his story is one of those that genuinely reminds you that grit, vision, and showing up will always outlast talent alone. From doing his friends' makeup for $10 in high school, to working with Eva Longoria at 21, to being found by Kim Kardashian on Instagram — Etienne built one of the most respected careers in the beauty industry entirely on his own terms.We also get into things I didn't expect — his cancer diagnosis in 2022, the six years it took to launch Ortega Beauty, the investors that let him down, and why after all of it, he still showed up to work the day after chemo. This is not just a beauty episode. This is a conversation about legacy, identity, survival, and what it means to bet on yourself even when everything is working against you.If you've ever felt like you don't belong in the room, or you've been building something for years that nobody else can see yet — this one is for you.In this episode, we talk about:• Growing up Latino and navigating machismo in the beauty industry• How Etienne got his start and booked Eva Longoria at 21• How Kim Kardashian found him on Instagram• Imposter syndrome as a Latino immigrant in a celebrity world• His cancer diagnosis in 2022 and how he kept going• Six years of building Ortega Beauty through bad investors and setbacks• Why comfort is the killer of growth• What he wishes he knew before starting his brand• How to build a legacy in your own lane without comparing yourself to others📲 Etienne Ortega’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etienneortega🎓 This episode is sponsored by National University, to find out more information see here: https://bit.ly/4vJfyKQ🔔 Don't forget:✔️ Subscribe for weekly episodes✔️ Leave a rating & review (it helps more than you know!)✔️ Drop a comment — I always read them✔️ Tag me in your stories @similarlydifferentpod — I'll repost! 💬📲 Let's stay connected:Instagram: @similarlydifferentpodTikTok: @similarlydifferentpodSubmit a 'Similarly Curious' question: https://www.youandmemedia.co/similarlycurious