STARTING OVER, WITHOUT LOSING HERSELF
Moving from Kerala to Dubai meant building everything again. This is the conversation of finding confidence, creating a new space and continuing to grow.
Can you tell us a little about your background and what led you towards the world of beauty and makeup?
My journey into beauty actually began with fashion. I have a B.Sc. in Fashion, and before becoming a full-time makeup artist, I was designing bridal outfits and working closely with brides. Being around brides made me realise how much makeup and styling could transform not just how a woman looks, but also how she feels about herself.
I started my professional makeup journey in 2016, and what began as an interest slowly became something I genuinely fell in love with.
Today, makeup has become much more than a profession for me
It is a huge part of who I am.
What was the turning point that made you realise makeup was the path you wanted to pursue professionally?
The biggest turning point was seeing the reaction of my clients after I finished their makeup. I realised that I wasn’t simply applying makeup
I was helping women feel confident and beautiful on some of the most important days of their lives.
I was particular in creating skin that looked beautiful and natural rather than heavily made up. That became a signature of my work
the idea of enhancing someone’s features instead of changing who they are. Once I realised how much I enjoyed that process, I knew I wanted to take makeup seriously as a career.
Your husband played an important role in encouraging you to follow this path. How did that support influence the beginning of your career?
When you are starting something of your own, especially in the beginning, having someone believe in you can make a huge difference. My husband was one of the people who encouraged me to take my passion seriously and believe that I could actually build something of my own.
There were obviously doubts and challenges along the way, but his encouragement gave me the confidence to take that first step. Sometimes you just need one person to tell you, “You can do this,” before you start believing it yourself.
Building your own identity in the beauty industry takes time and dedication. What helped you gain confidence and earn the trust of your clients?
For me, it was consistency. I never wanted my work to be about simply following trends. I wanted people to recognise my work and understand what they could expect from me.
I focused a lot on skin, detail and creating a look that still felt like the person underneath the makeup. And I always listened to my clients. Every bride is different, and understanding what makes them comfortable is just as important as the technical side of makeup.
Over time, the trust came through the work itself, through word of mouth, repeat clients and the relationships I built with people. That trust gave me confidence more than anything else.
You successfully built your career and studio in Kerala before moving to Dubai. How did you handle the challenge of starting again in a new place?
Oh my god !!
Starting again in Dubai was definitely one of the biggest challenges of my career. I had already built a name, a studio and a client base in Kerala, so moving meant leaving behind something I had worked very hard to establish.
But I also looked at it as an opportunity rather than starting from zero. I had the experience, the skills and the confidence I had built over the years. What I needed to build again was the network and the trust.
Dubai taught me to be patient and to put myself out there again. I had to introduce my work to a completely new audience, understand the market and constantly adapt while still staying true to my identity.
Moving countries while preparing to welcome your second child was a major life transition. What did that period teach you about yourself?
That period taught me that women are capable of handling much more than they sometimes realise.
I was going through a huge personal transition while also trying to rebuild professionally in a new country. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed, but looking back, I think that phase made me much stronger and more independent.
It taught me that life doesn’t always happen according to the perfect plan. Sometimes you have to keep moving forward even when everything around you is changing. And I think that resilience has become a very important part of who I am today.
After rebuilding your career in Dubai, what have been some of the moments that made you feel proud of your growth as a makeup artist?
There have been many little moments that mean a lot to me. Working with established brands, getting opportunities to work with celebrities and being trusted with important campaigns and bridal projects have all been milestones.
But honestly, one of the things I am most proud of is rebuilding my identity in Dubai after having already established myself in Kerala.
When someone who has never met me before tells me that they have followed my work, trusted me with their bridal look or travelled to work with me, that means a lot.
The awards and recognitions are definitely special, but the trust people place in my work is what makes me the proudest.
You have worked with well-known brands and celebrities. How do you approach creating a look that reflects each client’s personality and individuality?
I don’t believe makeup should make everyone look the same. My first step is always understanding the person sitting in front of me their personality, their comfort level, their features and what they want to feel like. I talk a lot maybe that’s a plus or negative but i get to closely understand the person sitting infront of me and infact making them very comfy with the process !!
With celebrities and editorial work, there is often a bigger creative direction involved, so I work within that concept while still making sure the makeup complements the person.
With brides, it is even more personal. I want them to look like the best version of themselves, not like someone else. For me, individuality is always more important than simply following a trend.
Beyond makeup, you also train and inspire other women through your classes. What inspired you to share your knowledge with others?
When I started, I learnt so much through experience through practice, mistakes, experimenting with products and constantly improving myself.
Over time, I realised that there are so many women who have the passion but don’t know where to begin. I wanted to make that beginning easier for them.
Teaching is also very different from doing makeup. When you see a student who was initially nervous suddenly understand a technique and become confident enough to do it herself, that is incredibly rewarding.
I love the idea of women learning a skill that can give them confidence, independence and potentially even their own career.
The beauty industry is constantly evolving. What changes have you noticed, and what do you think makes a makeup artist stand out today?
The industry has changed tremendously. Clients today are much more informed. They know products, techniques and trends because of social media, and they have access to so much inspiration.
I think the biggest change is that people are moving towards more personalised beauty. The heavy, one-look-fits-all approach is slowly making way for skin-focused, individualised makeup.
To stand out today, I think you need more than just technical skills. You need your own identity, consistency, professionalism and the ability to keep learning. Trends will change, but your understanding of faces, skin and people will always matter.
As a mother, wife, and entrepreneur, how do you balance your personal life with your professional goals?
I don’t think I have ever had a perfect balance. I think I have learnt to create a balance that works for the particular phase of life I am in.
There are periods when work needs more of me and periods when my family needs more of me. Being a mother has actually made me much more organised with my time because I know I have responsibilities beyond my career.
I have also learnt that being ambitious doesn’t make you a less present mother, and being a mother doesn’t mean you have to stop dreaming for yourself. I want my children to grow up seeing their mother work hard, build something of her own and continue to chase her goals.
Looking ahead, what dreams or goals would you like to achieve in the next chapter of your career?
I want to continue growing beyond being just a makeup artist. I want to build a strong fashion brand around my name as well, expand my educational side, and create more opportunities for other women who want to enter this industry.
I would also love to work on bigger international projects, travel as much, and continue collaborating with leading beauty and fashion brands.
But more than anything, I want to build something that lasts a name and a legacy that my children can look back at and feel proud of.
I started with a passion for beauty, and today I have a much bigger vision. I want the next chapter to be about growth, impact, and creating something that goes beyond just me.
