Se7en Magazine - Politics, Film, Music and Culture - Seven does business: Make Up Me interview

Seven does business: Make Up Me interview

Written by Sevencam
Thursday, 05 February 2009 00:00

Chivonne Williams and Marcella Cazley are proof that if you’ve got what it takes, you can achieve your dreams at an early age. Their successful business, Make Up Me, provides makeup services to major media and fashion industry names in the UK. Seven caught up with both of the ladies to see how it all began and discuss their plans for the future.

Seven: Tell us a bit about your business.

Based in London, Make Up Me is an accomplished company offering numerous makeup services such as bridal, fashion shows, photo shoots, one-on-one makeup and skin care consultations, makeup parties and much more to clients throughout London. We have passionate makeup artists and provide businesses, companies, individuals and people in industry with professional makeup service. The artists ensure clients see themselves at their most beautiful and the service is designed to be relaxing and enjoyable every time. We have been advised by people like Daniel Sandler, an editorial makeup artist with his own range in Harrods, and Make Up Me artists have attained their own skills to create their individual, innovative artistry.

Seven: How did you get into the fashion/makeup business?

We met at university where we had both chosen to study specialist hair and makeup. This course covered film and prosthetics, theatre and wigs, casualty makeup and fashion. We both choose the route of fashion and, when we graduated, rather than compete against each other we chose to work together.

Seven: I am obsessed with Twitter. Sell me your business in 140 characters.

Advised by the best: Caroline Barnes, Kylie Minogue’s artist, Ariane Poole, GMTV artist, Alex Babsky, Naomi Campbell’s artist and Firyal Arneil, editorial artist.

Seven: What made you set up the company?

Determination, I guess. It’s a tough industry to get into and failing was out of the question! So this seemed the best solution to enable us to succeed as we are both very passionate about what we do.

Seven: What do you see as your biggest gig to date?

London Fashion Week, Fall 2008.

Seven: What have been the best/worst moments so far?

The best moments are when people recognise the name Make Up Me even without having met us, but they may have seen our work somewhere, read about us or have even just been told about us.

The worst moments are some people’s reactions when they meet us for the first time as most accomplished make up artists are older, not 22 and 25! So we are sometimes judged and not taken seriously straight away which can be disheartening at times.

Seven: Have you worked with any famous people or have you got any famous fans?

Presenters, bands, models and reality stars, but no A-listers as of yet. I’m sure we have famous fans, we just don’t know about them yet!

Seven: What are your long-term ambitions for the company?

Long term ambitions are to travel a lot more with the business: Paris, Milan, Dubai, New York. We’d love to have a Make Up Me in all the fashion capitals of the world.

Seven: Is it easier having a business partner than going solo?

Yes. We work well together, so why not? We give support to one another and bounce ideas off each other; we have different strengths and this works well in the business.

Seven: Who are your heroes/inspirations in the industry?

Pat McGrath and Kevin Aucoin are our symbolic idols. Some of the make up artists on “America’s/Britain’s Next Top Model” are amazing as well.

Seven: What is your advice to other young people looking to go into the fashion industry?

Don’t give up. Be patient; you have to work for free for a while to prove yourself and you have to look hard to find your work, but if you persevere it will come to you.

Seven: Onto the race subject now: The UK press often implies that not enough young black people are getting into business and there aren't enough role models. But here you are, two young black women doing extremely well in the fashion industry. What are your thoughts on this? Are they right, or is it just another example of lazy journalism not bothering to look at the entrepreneurial nature of the black community?

There are plenty of young black entrepreneurs out there in our generation and the older generations. But, like all things, we as a nation thrive on reading and learning about negativity and misfortune. Therefore, we take in more of this when listening to the news and reading the papers than the positive things, especially that of young black people and their achievements. Also it’s never taught in schools in history, never seen on the runways of our fashion weeks or shows and often not taken seriously in jobs. We have role models; we have a lot of undiscovered talent especially in today’s generation as well (we may not have as many, but that’s because we are a minority), but press, schools and industry a lot of the time tend to dismiss this and would rather focus on the negative. Another new way press and television have started to target us is with reality TV, by always picking one black person to represent the whole ethnic minority. They always pick someone with no ambition, no drive, no common sense and no skills. The public will always remember this more than if they put in a young black entrepreneur on with aspirations. Unfortunately, to achieve anything and be noticed, we still have to work far harder to be taken seriously and to be given the help we need.