Know Your Neighbor:
Life in these parts is learning experience for Mercedes Traylor
Mercedes Traylor is a face that many see. Her cheerful demeanor is sure to win you over even though you are simply getting gas. The Paradise Quickstop cashier was born in Germany and raised there until she was 13 years old. She and her father moved back to the United States where they settled in DeKalb, Texas.
Moving to the U.S. wasn’t an easy transition for Mercedes.
“I wouldn’t want to talk to anybody,” she said. “There were so many people, and they all wanted to talk to me. They all spoke the same language and bombarded me.”
Mercedes just shut down. She found it was easier to talk to children who were younger than her than those her own age.
“My dad worked during the day, so he wasn’t there to translate for me, so it was hard to understand things sometimes,” she said.
Mercedes and her family moved to Texarkana when she was in high school. The transition began to get easier for her and she started to come out of her shell. Mercedes knew she would one day go to school to be a teacher or nurse because she has always wanted to help people. Then, one day it hit her like a ton of bricks. She realized just how happy it made her feel to do makeup.
She had always had a love of makeup and collected different types through out the years. It all began with a gift from her mother when she was a young girl living in Germany.
“My mom bought me this gigantic metal kit with make up in it,” she said.
Mercedes would watch others put on makeup and watch videos to learn new things or techniques.
“In high school I still loved makeup, but I only wore eyeliner,” Mercedes said. “I didn’t really put myself out there.”
Mercedes feels she truly shines when she is wearing makeup. She feels more confident and that translates directly to her job with the public. “It’s like I am doing art on my face,” she said.
She wants others to feel the same way when she helps them with their makeup, hair, or nails. She wants everyone to love themselves as they are and to have fun with makeup.
“I love to do hair, nails and makeup, but not just for myself. I love to do that for others, too,” Mercedes said. Last year she decided to pursue a cosmetology license.
Because of her slight language barrier, Mercedes found herself dependent on others to help in this endeavor. But she is still excited about where her talent and dedication will take her. “I would love to get my Cosmetology license and work at Ulta Beauty,” she said. “I feel like I can truly be myself there and be bold with my makeup. I feel like my bubbly personality would fit in there perfect.”
While continuing to learn more of the English language she maintains a positive outlook.
“You don’t need a lot of money to look great,” Mercedes said. “You don’t have to look like everyone else to feel beautiful. I am a big girl, but I am beautiful, and I can still make my dreams happen.”