From Self- Conscious to Sparkle: Carla's Confidence Glow-Up

Summary

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Next On Scene: The Human Behind The Brand

Episode: From Self-Conscious to Sparkle: Carla's Confidence Glow-Up

Host: Jaclyn Zukerman Delory (Jaclyn)
Guest: Carla Balzano, Creative Contour by Carla
Date: February 11, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode spotlights the transformative power of self-esteem and self-expression through beauty, centering on the journey of makeup artist and entrepreneur Carla Balzano, also known as Creative Contour by Carla. Host Jaclyn Zukerman Delory delves into Carla’s personal growth from self-doubt to radiance, discussing the deeper connection between inner confidence, visibility, and building a legacy. Listeners are treated to candid stories, industry insights, and uplifting advice for anyone seeking to shine brighter—in business, creativity, or everyday life.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Style as Self-Expression

[01:27]

• Opening icebreaker: Jaclyn comments on Carla's outfit—light pink (soft, loving), hot pink (fun), denim (rebellion).
  • “I feel like the combo speaks to Karla. So what inspired this look today?” – Jaclyn
• Carla’s explanation: Light pink has become her signature; hot pink brings boldness; denim reflects her quiet rebellious streak.
  • “Rebel is kind of quietly in my nature for sure. So how appropriate.” – Carla (01:52)

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Carla’s Journey Into Makeup

[02:25]

• Early curiosity: Carla recounts playful childhood experiences with her mom's old makeup, later supported with kids’ makeup kits.
• Career inspiration: Bobbi Brown and Kevyn Aucoin inspired her teenage dream.
• First steps: Became a licensed esthetician at 21.
  • “I've been essentially living with a shattered self-esteem… I had to rebuild it so I could help others feel their best.” – Carla (04:10)

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Self-Esteem, Vulnerability, and Visibility

[03:50-04:56]

• Personal journey: Carla opens up about battling low self-esteem and how that affected her ability to authentically support clients.
  • “I took this kind of intense personal journey, and I went through all of these building blocks to essentially rebuild shattered self-esteem.” – Carla (04:13)
  • “When you’re whole within, externally, everything just looks good… you’re going to be glowing from within.” – Carla (04:36)
• Host's reflection: Jaclyn expresses gratitude for Carla’s role in her personal milestones, highlighting the bond created through beauty.

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The Beauty Industry and Social Media Trends

[05:24-06:47]

• Challenging beauty rhetoric: Carla emphasizes using her platform to gently but persistently challenge harmful industry messages.
  • “Anybody who follows me on social media knows that I call that out very regularly in these teeny, tiny little ways.” – Carla (05:25)
• Advice on trends: Encourages experimentation but warns against blindly following social media trends; stresses individuality.
  • “Just because it works on somebody else doesn't mean it's going to work well for you and your unique needs. There's a lot of nonsense out there… Sometimes we have to turn off the social media.” – Carla (06:14, 06:31)

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Working with Clients and Teaching

[06:47-07:11]

• Current services: Carla does one-on-one client sessions and personalized makeup lessons.
  • “How do I work with clients right now? It’s one-on-ones… with makeup lessons as well.” – Carla (06:53)

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Music and Mindset

[07:11-07:33]

• Red carpet playlist: Carla's current anthem is “Pretty Girl Era,” reflecting her season of confidence.
  • “I don't care, I'm in my pretty girl era. That's so fitting for me.” – Carla (07:13)

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A Day In the Life of Carla

[07:42-09:18]

• Early starts: Makeup artists often rise before sunrise (4-5am).
  • “We’re usually up before the sun… I need to have my coffee. Do not talk to me until I've had my coffee.” – Carla (07:44)
• Routine: Morning coffee and breakfast, somatic exercises for mental prep, on-site sessions with clients, afternoon movement, cozy evening wind-down.

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Rapid-Fire Game: Makeup & Lifestyle Edition

[09:55-11:12]

• Bold glam or soft natural glow?
  • “For me, I would wear a bold glam.” – Carla (10:18)
• Client playlist:
  • “I would say pop divas.” – Carla (10:29)
• Studio vs. on-location:
  • “On location experience.” – Carla (10:41)
• Winged liner dilemma:
  • “Redoing both eyes because one betrayed you.” – Carla (10:49)
• Coffee routine:
  • “In the morning, specifically, it’s a black hot coffee… I want caffeine in the morning.” – Carla (11:16)
• Night-out look:
  • “Probably pink. But if I can have sparkle and pink… then I’ll pick both.” – Carla (11:45)

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Reflections and Closing Thoughts

[12:03-12:39]

• Advice to her younger self:

  • “The things you want will happen and your dreams are achievable and go after them.” – Carla (12:03)

• Legacy:

  • “A kind, empathetic person who worked really hard and loved all her people.” – Carla (12:26)

• Staying connected: Listeners can follow Carla on social @Creative Contour by Carla.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When you’re whole within, externally everything just looks good… your makeup will always look your best because you’re going to be glowing from within.” – Carla (04:36)
• “There’s a lot of nonsense out there. So sometimes we have to turn off the social media and say, some of this is not for me. And that’s okay.” – Carla (06:31)
• “If I can sum it all up, I would say the things you want will happen and your dreams are achievable and go after them.” – Carla (12:03)
• “How do I want the world to remember Carla Balzano? I think as a kind, empathetic person who worked really hard and loved all her people.” – Carla (12:26)

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Timestamps for Essential Segments

• 01:27 — Style icebreaker: Carla’s signature look
• 02:25 — Carla’s journey into makeup and early inspiration
• 04:10 — Self-esteem, authenticity, and helping others
• 05:24 — Calling out harmful beauty rhetoric
• 06:14 — Navigating social media trends and personalization
• 06:53 — Client work and makeup lessons
• 07:13 — Carla’s empowering playlist pick
• 07:44 — A day in the life of a makeup artist
• 09:55 — Rapid-fire: beauty, coffee, and style
• 12:03 — Advice to her younger self and personal legacy

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Tone and Takeaway

The episode is warm, encouraging, and honest, with Jaclyn’s supportive energy fueling Carla’s openness. It’s a celebration of finding your own sparkle, challenging beauty standards, and trusting your personal path to confidence. Carla’s story is both relatable and empowering for listeners at any stage of their career or self-esteem journey.

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Transcript

[A]

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Launch your podcast on Podbean today. Today's red carpet moments are sponsored by Camarbre, a local Massachusetts for fashion brand. For all your luxury fashion needs, check out these amazing shoes and check out camarbre.com welcome to Next on Scene, the human behind the brand. I'm Jacqueline Zuckerman. Delory award winning publicist mom and media visionary. I believe visibility isn't just about being seen. It's about being of service. Each week we are going to uncover real stories behind success. The breakthroughs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that made you who you are. Because the truth is, the more we allow ourselves to be, the more powerful our impact becomes. This is where visibility meets legacy. This is next on Scene.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[A]

We are so excited to be here with the amazing creative contour by Carla, who is not only an amazing makeup concierge, but one of my bestest friends. Carla, welcome to next on Scene.

[C]

Thank you so much for having me. I don't get to normally be on this side of the camera. This is fun.

[A]

So fun. I'm so excited for you. So I want to talk about your outfit, because pink, first of all, we know is Carla's color, right? Anybody who knows Karla, but if you don't so hot pink is actually unapologetically fun. And I'm like, that is so on brand for Karla. But the light pink is very sweet and loving. The denim is actually rebellion, which I love that for you. So I feel like the combo speaks to Karla. So what inspired this look today?

[C]

That's a great question. I think the light pink is kind of in my signature lately, but I wanted to be a little bit different. And I was like, the hot pink definitely where that comes in. And rebel is kind of quietly in my nature for sure. So how appropriate.

[A]

Carla, come join us. Okay, let's do this. Carla, welcome to Nexon Scene, the human behind the brand who's been doing my makeup the entire time for this. But now we have brought you on, and I'm so honored and excited to have you.

[C]

Thank you so much for having me.

[A]

Of course. Okay, so let's talk about how you fell into the world of makeup.

[B]

So.

[A]

So how did Carly get into makeup?

[C]

So it's kind of a funny story. So it started in childhood. And I used to play with my mom's old makeup as a child. I'm laughing about it now. Cause it's really funny, but. And then she started buying me. There used to be these, like, little kits that you could buy for, like, little girls to play with. And she started buying them for me for Christmas and birthday. And I've kind of just. She was fostering a love for it. And I don't think she initially understood that. Cause she was like, oh, like, she likes to play with them. Like, why not? You know? And then I think when I was in middle school, I had found out that makeup artist was a real career. You know, Bobbi Brown was kind of at her height in that kind of the early aughts, aging myself. Excuse me. But it was really cool and interesting. And I was so inspired by her and Kevin Aucoin, like the kind of those big name makeup artists. I was like, I wanna do that one day. And I think I was 21 years old when I finally kind of bit the bullet and I became a licensed esthetician. Jumped in after passing my exam. So it's exciting.

[A]

You go, girl. I'm so glad you did it, because I have a go to makeup artist now. For how many years? Like, seven, eight. Like, as long as you've been in business. Like, amazing. Like, what a gift. Carla did my wedding. She's done all the things. Even when I first had A.J. you did my makeup for my first family photo shoot. That was, like, really special. So thank you for being a part of my milestones. I'm really grateful for it.

[C]

You're the best.

[A]

I feel the same. So now I want to talk a little bit more about self esteem and around makeup, because I think makeup really helps people build their self esteem. And I know you have a personal journey connected to that, because visibility connects to vulnerability, and it really inspires others to take action and inspire them. So can we talk a little bit more about your personal journey around that?

[C]

Sure. So for one thing, for me in business, what I realized was, so I've always. I've been essentially living with a shattered self esteem. And so as I was growing in business, I was like, how can I be helping people feel their best in makeup if internally I don't feel my best? And so I took this kind of intense personal journey, and I went through all of these building blocks to essentially rebuild shattered self esteem. And it was really hard and really challenging. But what I learned from it was that when you're whole within, externally, everything just looks good. Your makeup will always look your best because you're gonna be glowing from within. So you're glowing on the outside.

[A]

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[C]

I think what it helped me do was have the confidence to call out some of the harmful rhetoric that the beauty industry is spewing. Anybody who follows me on social media knows that I call that out very regularly in these teeny, tiny little ways. And every time you sat in the chair and you're like, oh, my God, this, that, that, I'm like, don't even worry about it. Nope. Just don't listen to that. Don't listen to that voice. Don't listen to anybody telling you anything like that.

[A]

But even, even the trends you see constantly on social media, right. It just gets overwhelming almost, to be honest with you. Like, you saw them, like, you're wearing beautiful lashes today, but like now they have magnetic ones. Like, what is this? Tell me more about it.

[C]

What are your thoughts about magnetic lashes? No, no.

[A]

But your theory, like, is you probably. Are these like the stick ons. Like, what are they?

[C]

I glued mine on.

[A]

Yeah. Okay, so the glue. But what is your thought now that they're doing magnetic ones? They saw. They've clip ones now or like, there's.

[C]

A lot going on out there. And what I tell my clients and what I'm gonna tell you is it's okay to try different things sometimes. Just because it works on somebody else doesn't mean it's going to work well for you and your unique needs, your facial features. But there's a lot of nonsense out there. So sometimes we have to turn off the social media and say, ooh, take a deep breath and say, okay, some of this is not for me. And that's okay because we can find what is for you.

[A]

I love that. Thank you. And that also leads because I know you teach makeup classes and all the things. Right. So how do you work with clients now?

[C]

How do I work with clients right now? It's one on ones. So if you're sitting in the chair, usually individual folks and one on ones with makeup lessons as well.

[A]

I love that for you.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So good. So I'm also creating a red carpet playlist for all of my guests. So what song speaks to you in the season of life you're in right now?

[C]

What song speaks to me in this season of life I am in right now? I don't know the name of the artist, but she goes, I don't care. I'm in my pretty girl era. Like that's, you know, it's very. I feel like that's so fitting for me.

[A]

So good. Wait. But I don't. We'll have to look this up afterwards. That's one of my favorite songs too.

[C]

I love it. So relatable.

[A]

So. Okay, thank you for. First of all, thank you for opening up about the self esteem too. Cause I know like how powerful it is. So thank you for sharing that. So what is a day in the life of Carla?

[C]

A day in the life of Carla, I would say. So let's talk about work days first because everyone's gonna say, whoa. If anybody doesn't know this, makeup artists get up really early in the morning. We're usually up before the sun. So anybody who's not up before the sun, I'm so sorry. We're usually up around four or five o' clock in the morning to get ready. And that's the truth. Like, I need some time to have, I need to have my coffee. I always tell people, do not talk to me until I've had my coffee. That's who I am as a person. So I always have my coffee and breakfast.

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[C]

And then I always make it my business a few days a week to do my somatic exercises. And that's just something that helps me kind of process mentally for the day. Work days, I'm on site seeing clients, depending on how many in one day. Sometimes it's one, sometimes it's two, that's three. And then I always try to find some kind of of physical movement for health. So yoga, Pilates, walking outside, something like that. And then at the end of the day, I like to wind down. I like to hang out in my jammies and be warm under my blanket. That's a day of life. Perfect.

[A]

Sounds perfect and relaxing. I love this for you. We're gonna play some game time, Carla.

[C]

Oh, gosh. Okay.

[A]

No, these are really, really fun. Okay, so we're gonna do game time. Rapid fire, kind of combination of both. Okay. Bold glam or soft natural glow.

[C]

This is for me specifically.

[A]

No, just in general. What sticks out to you first, I guess. Yeah, I guess it would be for you.

[C]

Okay. For me, I would wear a bold glam.

[A]

I figured.

[C]

I figured. Okay.

[A]

Client getting ready playlist would be pop divas or chill R and B. Oh, wow.

[C]

That's a tough one. I would say pop divas.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I love that for you. I think that's on right in studio glam session or on location experience?

[C]

On location experience.

[A]

I see that for you. I love that. Fixing your winged liner once or redoing both eyes because one betrayed you?

[C]

Redoing both eyes because one betrayed you.

[A]

100%.

[C]

I could do that with my eyes closed. I love that on other people.

[B]

It's okay.

[A]

So good. Hold on. I had another one too. I wanted to ask you. Lost some of my questions, I think. I feel like I had one more. And this is me being Jackie.

[C]

That's okay. I had one more.

[A]

Oh, okay. So Carla's coffee in the morning. What is Carla's go to coffee in the morning?

[C]

Okay. In the morning, specifically, it's a black hot coffee.

[A]

Black hot coffee. So no milk, Nothing?

[C]

Nope. I want caffeine in the morning.

[A]

How many drink. How many glass of coffee do you have a day, would you say?

[C]

Right now? I've been sticking to the one, but if I have a second one, it's a decaf. And I will have hot or iced with some milk and sugar in it.

[A]

I love this. Okay. I thought of my other question too. Okay. Night out for Carla. What is she wearing? Is she wearing pink or is she wearing sparkles but a different color?

[C]

Oh, I have to pick one of. Wow. Oh, my gosh. Probably pink. But if I can have sparkle and pink, you know, then I'll pick both.

[A]

I love that for you. Love that. So what would you tell your younger self today?

[C]

What would I tell my younger self today? There's a lot of things I would tell her, I think. But I think if I can sum it all up, I would say the things you want will happen and your dreams are achievable and go after them.

[A]

I love that. Thank you for the inspiration. And how do you want the world to remember Carla Belzano?

[C]

Wow. How do I want the world to remember Carla Balzano? I think as a kind, empathetic person who worked really hard and loved all her people.

[A]

Very true for you. I love that for you. Well said. Thank you. Thank you for joining us today. You are amazing. How can people follow you on socials and see stay up to date?

[C]

Sure, they can. Look me up at Creative Contour by Carla.

[A]

I love that. Thank you. And thank you everyone for tuning in to Next on Scene, the human behind the brand. And stay tuned for who's next on Scene. Today's red carpet moments are sponsored by Camarbre, a local Massachusetts fashion brand. For all your luxury fashion needs, check out these amazing shoes and check out kamarbre.com I'm here to give you your red carpet moment. So follow us on all our podcast channels on any stream from iheartradio Spotify. If you just type in next on Scene, the human behind the brand. Or you can also follow us on all our social media channels at Next on Scene. Can we come on this journey with us? Your say is very impactful as an audience member. So come along for the ride and we are going to all evolve together and we can't wait for you to see who's next on scene.

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