Today we’d like to introduce you to Alia Ghaffar.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been a creative person all my life but had no idea what I wanted to do. So I applied to a beauty school. After graduating from the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, I began my career as a makeup artist. Soon after, fate brought me to Dallas, Texas where I started working for MAC Cosmetics at the Stonebriar Mall, where I was the top-selling employee for 2 years. I learned that people admired my style, which was not cookie cutter, but a customized look for each customer based on their skin tone and features.
I was struggling, working full-time retail and trying to juggle raising my two young children, One day, a customer hired me as a makeup artist for her Pakistani wedding, which was several days long and required several different looks. She was very pleased with the outcome, and from there, I began building my network, and started my makeup business. I also began working with local photographers, doing makeup and hair for professional boudoir and portfolio pictures, which opened up a window for creativity and to experiment with new looks. I was then hired by Neiman Marcus as a top makeup artist for luxury brands like Chanel and Dior. As I gained more recognition as a makeup artist outside my regular retail job, I was getting hired to do more wedding and professional photography makeup. I was also lucky enough to work with celebrities. I officially launched my business in 2013 as “Beauty Dazzled”, which offers professional makeup and hair services on and off location. I will now be approaching my fifth year as a business owner.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest challenge has been not having a mentor and I had to take ownership of my career without any help. In other words, I had to build everything from scratch myself. I had to learn not only the artistry side but also the business aspect. In the beginning, many times I didn’t get paid for my services. Due to my lack of experience in the business side of things, sometimes clients would attempt to take advantage of me and bully me into giving them free services or products.
Also, people would hire me for events and give me an immense load of work for a small payment. But in order to prove my abilities as a makeup artist and to build my portfolio and connections, I had to struggle through it, and learn from these experiences. In addition, being a Pakistani-American, people would sometimes question if I was skilled enough to do their makeup. Other challenges as a makeup artist were having to book my own clients, advertise my own services, create and negotiate my own contracts. However, I believed in myself and had passion for my craft, which pushed me to pursue a career as a makeup artist and entrepreneur.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Beauty Dazzled – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We at “Beauty Dazzled” specialize in South Asian (Indian and Pakistani) and Middle Eastern bridal makeup, high-definition photography and special occasion makeup and hair services.
I am not only a makeup artist, but also an image consultant and a beauty advisor for helping women incorporate makeup in everyday life, to boost their self-image and confidence, because I believe you are as beautiful as you feel. Beauty is an attitude to take on; it reflects in your personality.
As a company, we are most proud of our customer experience – how our customers feel at the end of their makeover is the “aha” moment for us. We are also proud of the reputation we have established, a reputation of reliability and excellence, which shows in our returning customers.
My diverse background, education, product knowledge, techniques, and only using high quality products set me apart. In addition, it is important to never stop learning and improving upon classic trends, and to keep up with the new trends.
I am very passionate about makeup, and plan on launching my own line of makeup products. I feel the need for a makeup line that caters to all ethnicities, skin tones, and complexions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beautydazzleddiva.com
- Phone: 972-805-6190
- Email: beautydazzled@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/aliagmakeupartist
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/aliagmakeupartist
Image Credit:
Amna Bilal
YS Studios
Yellow Jacket Studios
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