Pursuit 365 Day 328: Joey Roo

Joey Roo (They/Them) is an Indgenous Two-Spirit Makeup Artist, Model, Influencer and Public Speaker. Originally from Kamloops,BC, Joey moved to Victoria, BC after leaving their full time job as a drywall labourer to pursue Makeup Artistry full time. Under the guidance of fellow Co-Author Missy Mackintosh, Joey has expanded their portfolio with projects featuring internationally acclaimed fashion designers Aylelum, Giggy’s Beads Boutique and Indigenous Modelling Agency Supernatural Models.

Question: If you could give your past self some advice, what would you tell yourself?

Answer: If i could give my past self some advice i would tell myself to listen to my mom more, she is very smart and usually right!

Question: When you first started your career how did you know you were ready to take the next step?

Answer: I actually didn’t know i was ready to take the next step until \i met Missy, she has a way of believing in you and supporting you that you can’t help but feel confident and empowered

Question: What do you love most about what you do?

Answer: What I love most about my job is the empowerment that i am able to give my clients after a session with me. Sometimes clients come in having had bad past experiences in the makeup world whether it was rude employees, non inclusive makeup brands or external trauma. I love being able to show them it’s not all bad

I also love the awareness I am able to bring to important issues with my modelling such as LGBTQ+ issues and Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and Two-spirit individuals.

Question: Do you have any Mantras/Phrases you live by?

Answer: I have a couple Mantras I like to live by “Good Things Happen” is something ive said for years and its very true! I even have it tattooed across my chest. Another one is “It’ll all come out in the wash.”

Question: What keeps you motivated on a daily basis?

Answer: What keeps me motivated on a daily basis would definitely have to be my younger self, everyday I strive to be the queer indigenous person I needed and never saw growing up.