If you’ve ever spent a few minutes scrolling through Jessa Jaguar Beauty’s page, you’ve already felt it.
She’s a builder of safe spaces. A long-standing beauty professional. A fierce advocate for true representation in glam.
In this week’s Community Spotlight, we’re honoured to share the story behind the brush. One rooted in intention, advocacy, and nearly two decades of experience. Jessa’s journey from performance makeup in high school to building an inclusive beauty brand wasn’t just a career move. It was a calling.
We spoke to her about how makeup became her medium, what true inclusivity really looks like, and why her clients aren’t just clients. They’re seen, celebrated, and centered.
A Journey That Started on Stage
“I actually started doing performance makeup nearly 20 years ago, in high school,” Jessa told us. “Back then, I was just fascinated by how makeup could shift not just someone’s look, but their energy. How they carried themselves on stage. How they expressed their story. That transformation? It stuck with me.”
From those early stages to now, Jessa Jaguar’s journey has never been linear. Jessa spent years balancing her artistry with a career in the medical field. But the more she worked behind the scenes in beauty, the more she noticed what was missing.
“So many clients were being excluded, misrepresented, or made to feel like an afterthought,” she said. “I knew I wanted to change the narrative, and that’s why I started my business.”
Today, Jessa blends her scientific knowledge with her creative eye to create makeup that honors every kind of face, especially the ones most often left out.
“I’m not just here to make people ‘look good.’ I’m here to make people feel seen, respected, and celebrated in every detail.”
What Inclusivity Really Looks Like
One thing became clear in our conversation. Jessa doesn’t play when it comes to inclusion.
“Inclusivity isn’t a buzzword. It’s the baseline,” she said. “It means knowing how to match foundation for dark skin, understanding sensitive skin, hormonal changes, or gender dysphoria. It means showing up for Black women, queer clients, disabled clients, trans folks. Everyone who’s ever sat in a chair and felt like they had to settle or explain themselves.”
She’s seen too many artists claim inclusivity because they carry a broad shade range. But for Jessa, that isn’t even close to enough.
“True inclusivity goes deeper,” she said. “It’s about understanding undertones, eye shapes, facial structure, skin conditions. It’s how you prep the skin. It’s how you speak to the client. It’s the details. That’s where the dignity lives.”
Undoing the Harm
Some of the most powerful moments from our chat were the stories Jessa shared. Stories about the quiet, emotional harm that beauty spaces can sometimes inflict.
“I’ve had Black clients told their skin is ‘too hard’ to work with. Queer clients misgendered. People with facial scarring or disabilities made to feel like they didn’t belong in glam,” she told us. “By the time they get to me, I can see the walls they’ve built.”
So how does she change that? With intention, professionalism, and zero assumptions.
“I ask the right questions. I center hygiene. I don’t treat makeup as something I do to people. I create with them. I’m constantly learning, testing products, improving my understanding. Because my clients deserve more than the bare minimum.”
To Aspiring Beautypreneurs: “Check Your Ego at the Door”
When we asked Jessa what advice she had for beautypreneurs who want to build truly inclusive spaces, her answer was firm.
“Know your why, and check your ego at the door,” she said. “True inclusivity isn’t about a trending post or having ‘diverse’ models on your page. It’s about doing the work. Listening. Unlearning. Diversifying your education, your kit, your policies.”
She paused for a moment before continuing.
“It’s okay not to know everything. But if you say you’re inclusive, you have to practice that even when it’s inconvenient.”
Because at the end of the day, she said, inclusive clients are often the most loyal, the most engaged, the most community-rooted people you’ll ever meet.
“Respect them, and you’ll build something powerful.”
What’s Next for the Beauty Industry?
We wrapped up our conversation with a look toward the future. Where beauty is going, and where it needs to go.
“Yes, we’re seeing more representation. More color. More gender diversity. More inclusive campaigns. But real inclusion starts at the formulation table,” Jessa said. “It’s about who’s creating the products, who’s testing them, and who’s being considered from the start.”
She used foundation as an example.
“A brand can launch 50 shades and still not be inclusive. If you’re not accounting for undertones like true neutrals or olive complexions, you’re just stretching the same spectrum wider. That’s not real inclusion.”
With her medical background and artistry combined, Jessa is deeply invested in that formulation-level shift.
“That’s why I study the science of skin. That’s why I care about product chemistry. Because that’s what allows me to serve my clients fully—weddings, editorial, or on camera.”
Her final words left us thinking.
“I believe the future of beauty isn’t just diverse. It’s intentional, educated, and radically inclusive.”
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