From “Me” to “We”: My Journey Inspired by ‘Wicked’ and Ariana Grande’s “Popular”
Watching Wicked and hearing Ariana Grande’s rendition of Popular recently hit a note (pun intended) that resonated deeply with my own story. As someone who’s built a career and a life around helping people discover a better version of themselves, I couldn’t help but feel like Glinda in the mirror of my own journey.
“When someone needs a makeover, I simply have to take over.”
Those words? They might as well be my anthem. I’ve always been the go-to friend when it comes to beauty and style: “Which color suits me better?” “What should I wear?” So when I stumbled upon color analysis, it felt like the perfect fit—a natural evolution of what I already did, but on a larger, more impactful scale.
(Alethea, 19)
An Aha Moment in Korea
Interestingly, this entire journey started when I stumbled upon a personal color analysis service as a customer in Korea. It was such a simple idea but so impactful—it brought together all the things I love: Korean culture, fashion, beauty, and connection. For me, it wasn’t about having an innate passion for colors, but what’s not to like about it? That was the day I realized, “This is it. This is what I want to do.” I figured that I could channel my eye for detail and sense of style to help others.
(Alethea, 18)
From Change-Maker to Game-Changer
If there’s one thing about my journey, it’s that I’ve never been afraid to challenge conventions—not just for clients but within myself and my work. While I respect the traditional methods I learned from other color analysts, I’ve also made it a point to refine what didn’t sit right with me. Whether it’s adapting techniques to better suit my clients or adding layers of analysis for greater accuracy, I’ve always believed in pushing boundaries to create something even better. I refined, adapted, and enhanced what I learned, pushing to create a system that wasn’t just effective but tailored and exceptional.
I’ve gone beyond seasonal stereotypes to offer a deeper, more personalized approach, ensuring my clients don’t just fit into a category but truly shine as individuals. This isn’t just about following a formula—it’s about innovating, growing, and delivering the best. This commitment to innovation and quality has shaped the services we offer.
My target customer? Honestly, it’s someone like me—someone who demands value, quality, authenticity, and intentional choices.
A Frank Analysis That Changed Everything
“Don’t be afraid of my frank analysis.”
That lyric from Popular sums up my approach perfectly. The goal is always growth—for everyone. My journey has evolved beyond just consulting. What excites me now is the opportunity to build a team where others can experience the same joy and fulfillment I’ve found.
More Than Meets the Eye
One of the most striking lessons from Wicked—and life—is that being “popular” isn’t about how you look on paper. My approach to image consultancy goes beyond swatches and stereotypes—it’s about translating colors into something real and beautiful for every client.
I always emphasize to the team that precision in color analysis goes beyond matching swatches to skin tones. It requires a nuanced understanding of elements such as hair, makeup, the essence of seasonal palettes, and considerations for professions, gender, personality types, and age groups. These factors enable us to visualize colors on clients with greater clarity and accuracy. It’s not just about identifying a drape or swatch that brightens someone’s face but about crafting analyses that are precise, tailored, and truly reflective of the individual.
It’s about finding what makes you shine and leaning into it. Or, being aware of what doesn’t work, yet still choosing it with full intention—like my orange hair, which I knew might not be the most flattering after having my colours analysed, or my daily choice of wearing white, even though I understood it might make me appear paler as compared to black. And that’s exactly what I hope to help others do—whether they’re my clients, my team members, or anyone who crosses my path.
Your Whole Life Is Going to Change…
And mine did too. Each client, project, and challenge has shaped me as much as I hope I’ve helped shape others. My work is more than just a service. From refining analysis techniques to building a supportive team, launching code.d have been equal parts terrifying and rewarding. Even when decisions felt risky—affirmation from clients or even the team proved I was on the right path. We are on a mission to inspire confidence, and individuality, plus deliver results and create moments of clarity for others.
So here’s to stepping boldly, brightly, and beautifully into the world—together. Because whether you’re a client, a collaborator, part of the team, or simply someone reading this, you’re part of this journey. And I can’t wait to see where it takes us next.
Let’s keep making magic happen. ✨
