Delphine Umuhoza, 26, is one of the very few special-effects artists in Rwanda. Being a makeup artist was a childhood dream, and she has seen that dream grow from near abolition to recreating some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster art.
People’s Joan Mbabazi had a chat with her about inspiration, challenges, and experience.
What inspired you into doing makeup?
Honestly speaking, I was inspired by my own curiosity. I remember when I was a teenager, I was very inquisitive and felt the need to know how someone can apply different makeup on dissimilar areas of the face. I found that difficult and challenging and I loved arduous things as they forced me out of my comfort zone. But because my mother doesn’t use makeup, she despised it. She believed makeup was for ‘spoiled girls’.
She had even forbidden me to apply makeup until I was 18 years old. But with that, I got more inquisitive, and fell in love with makeup. I started learning and saving some small amount of money to buy eye pencils and lipstick, of course without mother’s notice. When I joined secondary school, I started applying makeup on my classmates and roommates. Their reactions kept me moving. I was the famous girl who cut everyone’s eyebrows perfectly, this was my inspiration.
I now own a makeup company dubbed, ‘Ibaba Maquillage’.
Did you pursue any course in makeup?
I took some online classes including Bobby Brown online classes, Sephora online classes and Lamke Academy online makeup classes.
What kind of makeup do you do exactly?
Based on my learning, I do bridal makeup, evening makeup, natural makeup, gothic makeup, anti-ageing makeup, celebrity makeup and special effects makeup. I use prosthetic skin, body ink, moulding techniques and other scriptures of art to change a person into a certain personality, for instance, those used in films, different art videos and other illustrations. In Rwanda, most of my clients prefer bridal makeup and natural makeup appearance. I use men as models for my makeup because I want to show that men are good models and have perfect skin since they are not usually familiar with makeup. This makes them perfect to work with.
Movie special effects experts in Rwanda are rare, why so?
Yes, it is a rare profession because we are still learning to use this kind of art in our local movies. However, I challenged myself to learn it. Some of my art is a recreation of international projects, for instance, ‘Joker’, a 2019 American psychological thriller film, Steven King’s ‘IT’ movie, ‘IDK’ movie, among others.
Some of the art she recreated from the movie ‘Joker’. Photo/ Courtesy
I worked with other beauty-based companies like Kasha Rwanda, and many artists. I collaborated with photographers and videographers to do many photoshoots and video shoots.
When did you start doing makeup?
I started doing makeup in 2007 when I was still learning and applying it on my colleagues, but professionally, it was in 2013.
Who is your role model?
In the makeup field my role model is Val Garland. She is L’Oréal Paris Global makeup director.
Tell us about your experience in this field.
I started my career in 2013 while still at university. I did make up for brides in Huye District because that time, they weren’t makeup artists in the city. Later, I got an opportunity to work with Kigali brides, and worked in a beauty salon during the weekends where I was paid 20 per cent of the money I made. I gained profits and more clients, that’s when I decided to come live in Kigali. I needed more skills, which is why I took on online courses.
When did you come up with the idea of starting your company and why?
Visualising my own company started while I was working at a local TV station. I was the one who did makeup for TV presentations, shoots and special events. I knew I was ready to start something of my own considering I had experience in wedding makeup application, fashion show makeup and product promotional makeovers. Most of my clients wanted a location, so I believe it was the right time to move.
I am more experienced in shaping eyebrows, that’s what my clients like the most about me. I am good with colours too, eye shadow is my thing and all makeup that involves drawing, especially in special effects makeup.
Tell us more about yourself.
Besides being a makeup artist, I am a journalist at B&B FM. I am married and my dream is to have my own makeup brand here in Rwanda and sell internationally. My favourite makeup brand is NYX.
What beauty tips can you give to women?
Women should invest in their mind, body and soul. Shoes come and go, but their skins require more than a yearly check-up. Invest in a good regular facial and nurture yourself with massages, good skincare and silent rest from time-to-time.
What are some of the challenges you have encountered?
People don’t understand the concept of makeup due to religious beliefs. When it comes to special effects makeup, people think sometimes that I am crazy but we try to explain more about makeup through what we do and some people have started embracing it. My goal is to make people express themselves and heal through makeup.
How long does it take you to complete makeup for one person?
Special effects makeup that doesn’t involve prosthetic skin takes between 30 minutes to an hour and working on prosthetic skin takes more than two hours because it requires many techniques.