Student
Sage Scott
Once homeless, 20-year-old Sage Scott is now a fashion entrepreneur and beauty professional who will begin studying at FIDM this fall.
Hometown: Bellingham, WA
Previous Schooling/Work: The Beauty Institute Schwarzkopf Professional, Bellingham WA: Cosmetology; Paul Mitchell The School, Costa Mesa CA: Esthetics; Co-owner of SugarCoat; Fashion Stylist for Tailor App.
FIDM Major: Beauty Marketing & Product Development (I plan to follow with a B.A. in Professional Studies with a specialization in Beauty Industry Management).
FIDM Campus and Start Date: San Diego, October 2018
Admissions Advisor: Vicki Saig
How did your advisor help with the process? Vicki helped me feel so welcomed and excited to be going to FIDM -- it was always a pleasure to chat with her. Vicki prioritized my application steps, and I really appreciated that. She was there for me at every turn and checked in with me during the whole process.
Tell us a bit about yourself. My mother and I started SugarCoat, an online company, when I was 15. We sell altered pre-owned clothing, repurposed accessories, and organic, homemade bath and beauty products. I’ve also been working as a freelance fashion and beauty stylist for more than five years. Recently, I’ve worked with UC Irvine’s Film Department, helping with wardrobe and beauty styling on-set. I currently work as an online stylist for an app called Tailor. We are a select group of professional stylists who give real-time advice and recommendations to people all around the world. I connect with app users and help them explore all things related to apparel and fashion, specifically tailored to their taste, region, and budget.
What are your proudest accomplishments so far? I am proud that, despite the hardships I have faced, my determination and faith in myself has pulled me through and pushed me towards success. I have never let any difficult circumstance stop me. I was raised by an amazing single mom, grew up on a small farm near the Canadian border, and I had all these big dreams of being in the urban world of art, beauty, and fashion. These plans of mine seemed unattainable, since my mother and I were experiencing instability and even homelessness, throughout my teen years. We were able to work our way to a better life, and I went on to finance my education by winning a Live Más Scholarship from Taco Bell. I’ll be a featured story in Taco Bell restaurants across the country.
Last year, I was honored to have an article published about me on Beautycon.com that highlighted the beauty programs I am creating to give back to communities all over the world. While studying at Paul Mitchell, I was able to speak with the school’s founder and co-owner, Winn Claybaugh, about my plans. It has been surreal and humbling for me for my life to shift so quickly in a span of just a few years. Being accepted into FIDM shows me how my perseverance has led me to the manifestation of my dreams.
What made FIDM right for you? FIDM has been my dream school since I was 14. I toured the San Francisco campus a few years ago and I felt that all the programs and creative energy of the institute were so stimulating, and a real match for what I was looking for. When I became a beauty professional at 19 years old, I wanted to push my career even further by combining my love of working with clients and learning more about the beauty business and product creation. FIDM combines these passions for me, and I’m thrilled to have chosen such a fulfilling industry.
What are your post-FIDM goals? It has always been my goal to have a career where I make inner and outer beauty transformations happen. I plan on creating multiple programs in collaboration with other companies to utilize and educate beauty professionals. One of the programs will be a partnership with cosmetology students who can help low income families and individuals by enhancing or creating their professional look. I would also like to develop another program that helps educate stylists to look for the signs of abuse in their clients and how to be a compassionate and discreet resource for them. Integrating a course that encompasses sensitivity training within the beauty school curriculum will be a tremendous opportunity for the beauty industry to become even more educated on interpersonal matters, and help make their client’s lives more beautiful; beyond appearance.
In addition, I will create my own skin, hair and beauty line that can cater to any skin type, condition and skin tone. I’d like to combine practices of global sustainability, naturally sourced ingredients, and holistic approaches that will be packaged with a refined and modern look. Being an esthetician, I know there is a struggle in finding products that are reasonably priced, while also treating difficult skin conditions. One of the goals for my company is to give back a percentage of profits to organizations and communities that help our planet thrive. Within the fashion and beauty industry, I see an unprecedented shift in values, materials, sources, clients, and demographics. Being part of that change motivates me to explore, learn, experiment, and create.
What do you expect to learn at FIDM? I believe FIDM will take my career and business plans to the next level by learning about product creation, campaigns, advertising, designing, marketing, forecasting, displays, communications, accounting, and much more. I am eager to bring my beauty knowledge to the table and learn how to navigate the business side of the industry. I want to be prepared to bring businesses and clients together in creating mutually beneficial programs to help my future company grow, and to help bring resources and programs to those who are struggling. I am ready for my FIDM journey to lead me more connections, creativity, and making a difference.
Categories: Beauty Marketing & Product Development Student
