Wedding Experience Inspires Make-up Artist
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday December 19, 2016 13:14
Divas Make-up Studio, aka DMS, is a brand that came as an inspiration when Makabe was doing her own make-up when she tied the knot to her husband Ernest Makabe.
DMS is located in Monarch Industrial but its headquarters are in Mogoditshane.
Makabe told Business Monitor that her interest in the beauty industry started on the day of her wedding day when she applied her own make-up.
“I applied a unique make-up during my union and people were amused by my talent. Some of my family members encouraged me to open my own make-up studio. Back then, I saw the potential that I had and believed that I can sustain a living using cosmetics for exclusive make-up techniques,” she said.
She disclosed that she started her now lucrative business in 2014 with the mandate of closing the gap of the industry in the northern part of the country.
She added that she provides her services and products during baby showers, birthday parties, anniversaries, and weddings to mention but a few.
Makabe further said that she does not have the qualifications, but rather gained the skills and techniques of make-up from her friends in Johannesburg and enhanced her abilities through U-tube make-up tutorials.“I only did my Form 5, but managed to penetrate the make-up business because of the support I got from my loving husband and friends,” she said.
The talented artist looks up to a Jamaican make-up artist Lyric Rochester and U-Tube make-up sensational tutor Nellie Robert because the duo has influenced multitudes of make-up artists and individuals across the globe. She disclosed that the difficult task in running her business is being a breast-feeding mother of an 18-months-old infant.
“My baby often distracts me from the business because she still needs a lot of my attention,” she said.
She added that whenever she is making over a client, she is given just a few minutes to create an intricate makeover, which she finds difficult, but it is those challenges that motivate her to improve her repertoire .
Makabe indicated that her competitors are beauticians in saloons and other make-up artists in the country.
She further said that she purchases cosmetics of high quality from a leading local retail outlet, which makes her services and products differ from her competitors.
She noted that she also offers affordable prices for different special packages, which attract more consumers.
Makabe said that she did not sit on her talent but instead decided to embrace the oppo,rtunity of working full time on what she loved the most in order to make her dreams turn into reality.
She revealed that she advertises her business on Facebook, and by branding of merchandise and distributing flyers.
She disclosed that she loves the fact that beautifying people makes them look good and feel confident about themselves.
“My dream is to be able to make dozens of brides look radiant and glowing on one of the most memorable days of their lives which is a privilege.”
She encouraged upcoming make-up artist to network and attend training sessions on the latest make-up trends, products and new looks so that they can develop their businesses.
Makabe advised the youth to be focused and passionate about their businesses in order to excel. “Most of the youth are after money and fancy things, which makes their business to fail. They should work hard and stay focused so that they can be successful,” she said.