Exactly one week before I was to graduate esthetician school, I forced myself to roll out of bed even though it was raining on a freezing December morning. You know, one of those mornings where the warmth of the bed felt like a day at the beach and all I wanted to do was sleep in! One more week and I was done doing countless makeup applications, facials, and waxing God knows what. So I got up with a pep in my step because I was closer to my license.
I remember that day clearly. Many students didn’t show up or were late to class because of the weather (or the pull of their cozy beds). In order to graduate, you had to do so many procedures such as facials, chemical peels,waxing, and makeup applications. Everyone in my class knew that I loved doing makeup because I carried around a huge tackle box full of makeup and that’s all I talked about. So when a fellow student approached me and asked me if I wanted to apply makeup on her facial client, I was super happy to do it.
I approached our makeup room with a huge smile on my face. (I was thinking, “I’m outta here in a week! I’m going to be a makeup artist–somewhere.”) When I got to my station, there were 2 ladies. One was standing, she looked to be in her 30’s and the other lady, possibly in her late 50’s was sitting in the makeup chair. The woman standing said, “This is my mother, can you do her makeup? Are you any good?” I didn’t take any offense at all of her asking me if I was a good makeup artist. I was very confident. “Her skin is so pretty that she will make me look like I was a good makeup artist, even if I wasn’t!” They both laughed and the lady in the chair warmed up to me quickly, trusting everything I did. But the daughter, she drilled me with questions with a curt tone as I was doing her mother’s makeup. And I replied with a nice tone and a genuine smile on my face and even educated her on some products. Her last question was “Why are you using that taupe shadow for her eyebrows?” I told her because it would match her “natural” highlights perfectly. They liked that answer. I was trying to be witty instead of saying to match her gray hair. When I finished, they both were pleased and the stern looking daughter really smiled at me for the first time.
I felt good as I was packing up. As they were leaving, the daughter asked me when I was graduating and I told her in a week. She said, “You know, I was testing you… I wanted to see how you would handle a picky and difficult client. You were very professional,” she said. She handed me her business card and my jaw dropped to the floor. Her name was Njeri. She was CNN’s News Production Supervisor and the Makeup Department Manager! I did not hide my excitement. I exclaimed, “Do you know that this is my dream job? I’ve always wanted to work there, but I didn’t know how”….I rambled on…..”I almost didn’t come to school today”…..”I’m so glad I did”….”You made my day!…..Thank you for the encouragement!” Njeri kept nodding her head and smiled at my excitement and told me to call her for an interview next week.
She hired me as an intern until I received my license. Immediately after passing my state board exam I enrolled in cosmetology school to pursue a master cosmetology license. I came to work early with a grateful attitude and learned how to style hair from the full time artists at CNN. After one month I was hired as a freelance makeup artist. After a full year and after I passed my cosmetology exam, I was offered a full time position. I worked for CNN for 10 years. I’ve worked with fantastic and creative people, including countless celebrities and even the President of the United States!
I will always be grateful for Njeri for giving me my big break in to the media world. I also recognize that anyone can learn to be a “good makeup artist” but it takes a professional, positive attitude with a sincere and diligent work ethic to keep the job. I resigned in 2010 to follow my husband’s career to the Middle East. You can read about how I became a photographer in the Middle East in my next blog post.
My studio also provides makeup lessons in addition to makeovers and photo shoots. Send us a line and we’ll send you a quote.