LAU meets the natural beauty queen
Inspired by magazines, moody, self confident and artistic Hala Ajam is now one the most famous Lebanese make up artists; she studied the art of make up in Beirut and in Hollywood. She worked in a studio in LA then came back to Beirut, Lebanon, to work in the city in which she was born, the city she loves. Ajam was one of the first artists to introduce special effects on TV in Lebanon (at the times when Lebanese make up artists still used ordinary make up pens to create the effect).
After her successful career in TV and magazines, she opened her own studio (located in Starco, Downtown Beirut), and is now known by her big name and special techniques.
On Monday October 13th, 2014, Hala visited LAU, specifically our social media class, and we were given the chance to ask her questions;
here are some of the questions that we asked her.
I started working in 1993, for Future TV; they were auditioning TV presenters so I did the makeup for the first one, then did the makeup for the second one, then the third. After that, they asked me to come back the day after and do the same for the rest of the women who are auditioning, so I asked them if I got the job and they said yes. I left after a year.
Reaching the stars started with Queen Rania. She saw my makeup on a magazine and asked about the makeup artist who did it, so Elie Saab told her to try me, and she did; after that, pictures of her makeup were posted on magazines, and so the story went on.
In LA, if you were really talented and good at what you do, they directly use you, they want you, and they build something around you. I know about that because I got the offer but I didn't take it so that I stay in Lebanon.
As for the work environment in Lebanon, you have to sacrifice a lot in order to achieve your goal; you could also climb the stairs step by step and it will take you a long time to arrive, but you eventually will, and that is what I did.
Studying in LA gave me more confidence, because I knew that what I have studied was right.
Of course it is; the difference comes within the taste and the time.
When I came to Lebanon, my makeup was rejected; at the time, LBC presenters still had brown lip liner and light lipstick colors and I wanted to change that. I was young and everyone was against me; it took patience and time to change their style.
Some of the westerners are hard; all Arabs are hard. That is because, the Arab artist might give you a picture and tell you that she wants the same, while westerners leaves you, as an artist, to create something.
At the time, I used to work in magazines, and they believed that my work was different, so they chose me to do her makeup.
Social media helped me 100%. In 6 to 7 years, I made a big name for myself through social media, even though most of the material I use on social media are old.
That is the offer I received in the States 5 to 6 years ago, and I didn't take it, because to start something like that, you need to have lots of money, a big partnership, and too much advertising. But now, with the help of Bobolink and their encouragement for me to do more things, I am calmer and I put the project on pending.
We ended our meeting with an act of support for the breast cancer awareness campaign Pink stands 4:
Last but not least, Hala advices future makeup artists to study it well and to not follow online makeup geeks.
For more about our meeting with @halaajam , check this video!
Know more about Hala Ajam by visiting www.halaajam.com Know more about Pink Stands 4 by visiting www.pinkstands4.com