MEMBER FOCUS: Kim Thompson
Kim Thompson hasn’t taken a direct path through life, but she always ends up in the right places. The cosmetic queen of Chattanooga’s Southside has wound her way through many cities, countries, and pivotal moments in life. “I call myself a child of the world,” says Kim.
Her father served in the Air Force, so the nomadic lifestyle has always felt natural to her. In fact, she spent enough years of her early childhood in England that she developed a British accent. But when her family moved stateside, some of her high school classmates wouldn’t stop teasing her for it. Eventually, Kim begged her father for vocal lessons to un-learn her accent and fit in better.
So, how did this former Brit find her way to the Scenic City, running a successful non-intrusive med spa? “That’s a crooked road, too,” she says. “But I feel like crooked roads are what most people live.” A major mile marker on her road was following in her father’s footsteps and joining the Air Force, where she served as a dental surgical assistant and hygienist. That experience sparked something inside Kim.
After her military service, she began working in high-end dental cosmetic offices. It was rewarding work getting to help with full-mouth makeovers and give patients a totally new smile. “What I loved most about it,” remembers Kim, “was handing the patient a mirror. When they saw their smile for the first time they just couldn’t believe it.”
The crooked road took Kim through a slight detour into software sales. She loved it and was quite good at it, but it was too transactional. And Kim Thompson is a relational human being. She missed working one on one with people and helping them see their true beauty.
This led Kim to build The Curated Arch from the ground up. “It is truly created off of my love of really making people feel good about themselves, men or women,” she says. The beauty of her boutique is that she’s able to help clients achieve their goals through a variety of techniques and offerings. Kim specializes in permanent makeup for all skin types, from powder brows and microblading to lash lifts, brow lamination, and everything in between. Clients also come to her for bodyscultping through innovative cryotherapy and microchanneling technologies.
Being a constant traveler, Kim has a gift for forming relationships on the fly. Common House has been a great way for her to meet more people and create authentic connections. Soon after relocating her The Curated Arch from Birmingham, Ala., to Chattanooga in late 2020, she became a member. “I’m excited about Common House. I think this community, Chattanooga, couldn’t be more ready for something like this.” Kim does admit, “I’m always antsy and I don’t stay too long.” But, perhaps she’s found enough reasons to put down roots here.
*The Curated Arch is one of our great house perks, offering discounts to Common House members on permanent makeup solutions. You’ll also have the chance to meet Kim and learn more about her amazing services at an upcoming demo she’s hosting at Common House on November 17.