23-year-old Milly Umuhoza started out by applying makeup on her friends and family, but later turned her hobby into a career. The makeup artist has worked with many women, ranging from brides to TV personalities and musicians. She has also worked with RwandAir and Airtel for their photo shoots.The 23-year-old spoke to Women Today’s Sharon Kantengwa about the significance of makeup and making a living from the art.

Tell us about yourself

I am a professional Rwandan makeup artist and a visual painter. I studied art at Kigali International Arts School. I am single and the last born of five children.

Why did you choose to become a makeup artist?

I naturally love art, which is why I chose to join an arts school instead of university, and it is where my passion for makeup came from. I would help my friends and sisters to do their makeup, they appreciated my work and would post photos of my makeup effort on social media. I started receiving calls from people who wanted me to do their makeup, which inspired me to take it on as a job and earn a living from it. My family then helped me by providing financial capital. I am inspired by beauty ‘vlogger’ Ellarie.

Did you receive any training in this field?

No I didn’t. It is just a flair that I am so passionate about, although I do get some makeup skills from YouTube. My clients and friends recommend me to people because they love my work and that is how I get so many clients.

Who are some of your regular clients?

I have worked with different celebrities and musicians like Knowless, Aline Gahongayire, Charly and Nina, Fanny, Jojo, TV personalities like Josiane, Roberto and I also work with different projects like the Abby Project on RTV, as well as commercial and music videos. I also do make up for brides and in a week, I receive up to 45 clients.

What do you like about your job and would you recommend other girls to join this line of work?

Wearing makeup, especially when going to public places, makes you look and feel beautiful which is important because it makes you confident. It is a lucrative job and is fun for me to do because I get to meet many people. I love the fact that my clients trust my work. I am now financially independent and do not have to rely on my parents for money. This job, however, requires patience and kindness when dealing with clients because different clients have different demands.

How do you tell the kind of makeup suitable for a client?

I work closely with my clients and my work depends on their choice. I ask them whether they would want the makeup mild or bold, depending on the occasion, although I also have to offer advice at times. In some cases, like video shoots, and TV shows, I depend on the manager’s choice of makeup because he determines how they should look like in front of the camera.

Have you encountered any obstacles?

The biggest challenge is finding quality makeup around town. I have to travel to other countries or ask my sister to send it from abroad which is sometimes hectic and takes time. It is important for me to have good quality makeup so that it doesn’t have a negative impact on my clients. The other challenge I encounter is that I do not have working hours. I work any time of the day, night and during weekends.

What is your philosophy in life?

I love making people happy and listening to their needs. I love it when my clients feel more beautiful or appreciate my work every time they look in the mirror.

What are your dreams in regards to this profession?

I want to improve my skills by going for professional training in Kenya. I also hope to travel to other countries to build my brand.

Any advice you would like to pass on?

Follow your dreams because any job passionately done is a job well done. Work hard, dream big and let determination be your drive.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw