This is an article I wrote for Emel magazine (April 09).
All girls love make-up, but to Zukreat Duaa Majeed it was more than something to put on before a night out. In her own words, “I’m an artist, to me make-up might as well be my paint, and the face my canvas”.
As a child she regarded make-up as ‘a work of art on someone’s face’. She was amazed at the transformation that can be made to a person’s appearance by the clever use of lipsticks and coloured powder.
Growing up, in school she excelled at art, achieving an A at A-level. However her parents wanted her to pursue academics, and convinced Zukreat to enrol for a science degree. But as we all know if fate has a calling, it doesn’t matter which route we take, we’ll always arrive at the same destination.
During university, Zukreat landed herself many part time jobs, but always with a well known cosmetics company, such as MAC, Dior, YSL and Chanel. In all these vocations, her employers saw her strength as a make-up artist and consequently sent her on courses to learn the tricks of the trade. On the job Zukreat was doing endless make-over’s for customers and inevitably gained firsthand, valuable experience that most students at a professional make-up school yearn for!
Needless to say by the time she had graduated Zukreat realised she was an expert with the make-up brush, she wouldn’t be going down the science route, and she was absolutely determined to find her niche in make-up.
So in January 2008, Zukreat set up her own beauty enterprise, -‘Bridal Memories’. Under this umbrella she offered bridal make over services, make up courses, and photo shoot make-up services.
The group caught the eye of creative director Marcus Fleming, a notorious figure in the modelling world.
Fleming remarkably impressed with Zukreat’s gallery, signed her up for her first fashion shoot. He also brought on board renowned photographer Rashmi Gill, and in no time the trio were making headlines in fashion magazines. The doors of opportunities had opened!
During the next few months, further glamorous, big contracts literally landed on Zukreat’s doorstep; Fleming put her in touch with Neena Kent who at the time was launching ‘Henna’, a British Asian magazine. She needed a make-up artist for the model on the front cover, and Zukreat perfectly fit the bill! This contract was particularly important as it was the catalyst for her future work. She narrates “Every where I drove my car, I would see bill boards with the Henna front cover on it, and I would think ‘Wow’, I did that make-up!”
Fleming at the same time was launching an online magazine called ‘Flair’ and Zukreat was employed to do her second front cover. A shoot was arranged and Zukreat painted a 1960’s MOD cross punk conceptual style using only 3 colours on the model. If you want to get your name noticed, there’s no better way than to make a statement like this!
A few months later, Zukreat was appointed official make-up artist for ‘Ghazals Couture’, by designer Ghazal Asif’ and Omar Mansoor’s collection, for London fashion week. Throughout 2008 she continued to receive contracts for fashion shoots, and was fully booked by brides to do their make-up for their big day.
A challenge always anticipated by Zukreat, but one that incredibly never materialised was that expected of being a covered Muslima, working in a flesh baring industry. Their occupation involves displaying their physical beauty which is in conflict to a Muslim woman’s intention to hide hers.
The modelling world and professional make-up artist club is new territory for a ‘hijaabi’, but so far Zukreat has never faced any form of prejudice; she has been recruited on the merits of her artistic flare, clearly evident in the contracts she obtained. Being a practising Muslim, there are scenarios where she felt she must draw the line, for example saying no to make-up for singers and models in music videos.
Financially, her £500 investment paid off very early into the venture, and the business has been able to successfully solely rely on organic growth, but this form of growth of re-investing profits into the business meant Zukreat was left out of pocket, and it was hard for her to not be earning a salary during the early months.
Going forward, arrangements have been made to expand the brand ‘Bridal Memories’, by strategically placing a make-up artist trained by Zukreat in every major UK city.
A training academy has been set up due to the overwhelming response from girls wanting to learn Zukreat’s specialist skills.
Also, Zukreat has received her first request to travel overseas to Las Vegas all expenses paid, to make a brides’ day! Despite the credit crunch, the future for Zukreat is not grey and gloomy, but ‘Orange’, – and red, or yellow, or blue, or whatever colour the make- up artist chooses to use!
Zukreat’s top 5 tips:
1) Find your biggest passion and something you are great at. Then find a way to turn it into a lucrative business with the least possible costs.
2) Stay focused and stick to one ‘GREAT’ idea. Being full of ideas is great, but don’t run the risk of taking on too much at once, it will hinder the progress of your business and affect its success.
3) Take calculated risks, being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean you take big risks. Instead weigh everything up to make sure that even when you lose you still gain!
4) Enjoy yourself! Remember one very important factor in being your own boss and starting your own business is to have time to yourself, family and friends. Don’t lose sight of other important things in your life. You might find yourself so engrossed in your new business venture that you forget to make time for yourself or for others, so always strive to find a balance!
5) Stick at it and don’t give up, perseverance is the mark of a true entrepreneur. There will be moments where all you want to do is pack it all in and give up…Don’t! No one said it would be easy, and if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Just keep in mind once you overcome the obstacles you’ll find everything else gets easier!
Zukreat’s facebook page: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10527661594
Zukreat’s Webpage: http://www.bridalmemories.co.uk/
Salam
It is good to know that Zukreat was capable of pursuing her dream & I wish her all the best
However, the following paragraph is rather irrelevant:
“The modeling world and professional make-up artist club is new territory for a ‘hijaabi’, but so far Zukreat has never faced any form of prejudice; she has been recruited on the merits of her artistic flare, clearly evident in the contracts she obtained. Being a practicing Muslim, there are scenarios where she felt she must draw the line, for example saying no to make-up for singers and models in music videos.”
What if the singer was a decent & respectful individual? What if the models in a music video are not doing anything that will raise red flags? There are few photos, which are inappropriate & provocative, where Zukreat was the makeup artist, where does she draw the line when it comes to photo shoots? In today’s world, some Muslims have double standards & contradict themselves & the lines that tend to be draw are rather thin or an illusion.
My comment is not an attack on the artist; it is simply constructive criticism & I know she is a wonderful artist mashAllah
Thank you for your time