(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Cuttin’ Up Cosmetologist Sunny Breeland.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Raceland, La., May 30, 1987.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended Salem High School and West Marion High School, then I went to Pearl River Community College.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I am a cosmetologist at Cuttin’ Up Hair Salon. We take walk-ins all the time for haircuts, colors, eyebrow waxes, ladies’ cuts, men’s cuts and kids’ cuts. We do a lot of kids.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I always liked playing with hair and makeup when I was kid, making people feel beautiful.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: The interaction with people and getting to meet new people. I like being able to be with the public.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: The most challenging would be trying to please everybody. It can be challenging making sure you know exactly what the client is talking about because they don’t really know what kind of haircut they want all the time. You try to lead them in the right direction and give them ideas.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: You never stop learning.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to be a nurse, but I realized I couldn’t handle blood and guts.
Q: What was your first job?
A: I worked at Barrett’s Garden Center. It was my first and only other job.
Q: Who are the people who have been most influential in your life?
A: My mom, Rhonda Star, and my grandma, Earline Williams, because they’ve always been there and have always tried to help and lead me in the right direction.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Jason. He works offshore and works part-time for the sheriff’s department.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have four children. Daniel Herrera is 18; Dakota Breeland is 14; Kinsley Breeland is 8; and Ryder Breeland is 6.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: It would have to be crawfish.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I would go to Italy. I’ve just always wanted to go there. All of the old, historical buildings and such fascinate me.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I don’t get a whole of spare time, but I coach my kids’ baseball and softball teams. That’s basically what I do in my spare time. I just run my kids everywhere.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: I like the small-town atmosphere and that everybody knows everybody and everybody is good to everybody.
Q: What clubs or organizations are you involved with? Where do you go to church?
A: I go to Church on Main.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: My grandpa, Paul Williams, because I miss him. He’s been gone since I was 9 years old. He was a father figure in my life. I’d want to talk to him about everything — everything I’ve accomplished in my life and my children.
Q: What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
A: It would have to be shopping. I do a lot of online shopping.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: Becoming a mother. It changed everything. Nothing was about me anymore; it was always about them.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: I’d probably never do it, but I want to go skydiving just to say I’ve done it and the adrenaline rush you get from it.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three defining characteristics?
A: Caring, helpful and sweet.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I want to be remembered as someone who was always there for everybody, who loved everybody and who did her best to be the best person she could be.
— Joshua Campbell
