Swatcher Spotlight: Nicole Perez

I’ve decided that once a month I want to do a Swatcher Spotlight focusing in on an awesome swatcher in the nail community because without them we would be stuck deciding between the red holo and the red holo.

You may know her as @Notoriousnickysnails on IG but behind the highly sought after swatcher, you’ll find a very kind, sweet, humble women, wife and mother. So here she is, Nicole Perez (insert clapping here 🙂 )

photo provided courtesy of Nicole Perez

Name: Nicole Perez
Age: 39
Location: Danbury, CT

I reached out to Nicole and asked if she would do me a favor and help get my blog off on the right foot by answering a few questions that I could use as an “interview” on my blog. I was ready for, “I’m not interested,” or “I’m too busy,” but that’s not what I got at all. Instead, she was willing, excited and agreed without hesitation. I am so super stoked that she did since now we have a chance to know more about our friend with the beautiful swatches.

I started off asking Nicole some general questions about herself and she was open and candid in her responses.

Q: Kids?
A: “Yes, 3 beautiful blessings from God. Alyssa is 14 and my miracle twins Jayla and Jayden are 8. We had 2 miscarriages before they were born and were not gonna try again but so glad we did.”

Q: Marital Status?
A: “Married to my soulmate. My husband Angel and I have been together 22 years and married for 17 years. Definite ups and downs (we even separated for 6 months) but we finally came to our senses and reconciled….and that is where the twins come in…lol”

Q: Birthday:
A: “June 2nd (Gemini)”

Q: Pets?
A: “No pets! I am super OCD and would hate cleaning up after a pet but I do want a dog sooo bad. Once we move and have no carpets we are definitely getting one.”

Ok, ok, now that we have the pleasantries out of the way, it’s time to have some fun with Nicole. See what she said when I asked her some fun facts!

Q: Tea or Coffee?
A: “I adore spanish coffee it is strong and keeps me on the go all day but it also messes up my tummy. So I do alternate between coffee and tea. I love oolong tea and all flavor green teas.”

Q: Beach or Mountains?
A: “Mountains for sure! I swear I am the only one in my culture sometimes that loves cold weather and mountains lol they may revoke my Puerto Rican card someday but I can’t help it. I love sitting by a fire and the crisp cold snap the air has in it in fall and winter.”

Q: Best gift received?
A: “The gold rose ring my grandma left me when she passed away because of how much it meant to her and me. She was without a doubt the best friend I ever and will ever have. Our relationship was such a blessing in my life and she gave me so many gifts that I will cherish everyday of my life. The ring signifies so much more than just gold and value it was something she treasured and so will I.”

Q: Favorite pastime? (besides nails)
A: “Spending time with my kids, I know I must sound like a broken record lol but I don’t care. They are funny and honest and sponges they soak it all in and never give me a chance to be sad. Oh and shopping, makeup and reading 😉”

Q: Favorite food?
A: “Chinese Food, Japanese Food, Gyros, and Cupcakes lol I cannot pass up a cupcake evah!!!”

Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Oohhh this is hard! Alice in Wonderland, The Notebook, Scarface, Pretty Woman, The Devil Wears Prada….the list goes on and on….like seriously I love movies but hate going to the actual theatre lol I like pausing and snack breaks and being able to potty and not miss anything.”

Q: Favorite season?
A: “Fall and Winter are my absolute favorites. I love the fashion and that crispness in the air. Apple picking, s’mores by our fireplace and snow falling in the winter. Makes me happy just thinking about it!”

Now it was time to get down to business and talk nails because after all this blog is about nails.

Q: What got you started doing your nails?
A: “My nails were so short and in bad shape after acrylics for soo many years and I wanted my hands to be pretty. My hands are so brown and wrinkly and sausage like lol and I wanted my own long nails so when I got on IG I started seeing all these posts of nail art and then indie brands and I never looked back. If I show you my first IG mani you would laugh soo hard…I do lol”

Q: What was the first brand you swatched for?
A: “Bad Bitch Polish and I still swatch for Brittany. She is a sweetheart and I was so grateful for the opportunity. And then my friend Gretchen offered my name up to Hella Holo Customs and from then on it was full steam ahead. And from then on it was so flattering to be asked by more than one indie. I felt wanted and kinda special. That is what swatching does for me, it makes me feel pretty and when my nail community likes my swatches I feel amazing. It is hard work, lol it’s not just painting your nails it is so so much more than that and I am grateful to be able to do it.”

Q: What is your ‘go to’ cuticle oil?
A: “I love Anonymous Lacquer cuticle oil, the applicator is amazing to me and no one else that I know has it. I also love Vibrant Vinyls cuticle oil pens and Baroness X matte cuticle balm in Pistacho Macaroon and a Pumpkin that I think may be seasonal but I can’t get enough of it!”

Q: You’re going on vacation for 2 weeks and can only take 3 bottles of polish (not included base or top coat). What do you take?
A: “Oh sweet Jesus you cannot ask me that!!! Lol no way I could choose just 3. If I could only take 3 then I don’t need to go lol”

Q: What tips would you give an aspiring swatcher?
A: “Not to let anyone make you feel like your swatches are less than. I mean you can get advice from other swatchers and that is most definitely appreciated but snide, rude comments are not okay. Also you will get better as time goes on so do not quit if it is something you really wanna do it is competitive out there lol there are sooo many amazing swatchers but if you love it don’t stop.”

Q: What’s one nail related item you can’t live without?
A: “My cuticle oils lol my cuticles can get so dry with washing clothes, dishes, housework. I would be lost without my oils.”

Q: If you were to start an indie line of polish what would you name it and what would the first collection be inspired by?
A: “This is a tough question hmm….honestly I don’t know because the name would have to be perfect and that may take me a few weeks to decide lol but there are so many awesome established brands out there and so many great new ones coming out all the time so lucky me I never need to start one 😉”

Well there you have it folks, you read it here, directly from Nicole Perez.

If you enjoyed this time with Nicole and would like to read more Swatcher Spotlights, let me know. Also, comment down below if you or someone you know is a swatcher that should have the spotlight on them!

Well that’s all for now!

Stay Polished,
Queen of Nails 83

Disclosure: The questions above were sent to the featured swatcher (FS) for review and response. The FS was advised they could omit responses from any question they were not comfortable with answering. The responses are directly from the FS and have not be altered in any way, shape or form. The comments and responses expressed in this interview are those of the FS and the FS alone.

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