Today we’d like to introduce you to Momina Arfeen.
Momina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always been inclined towards activities and opportunities that helped me explore my creative side and provided me with the means of self-expression. Growing up, I developed a love for design and started a degree in the same field. Graduating as a Leather Accessories and Footwear designer provided me with great opportunities, which included working with some amazing brands and designers in Pakistan. My passion for creativity was not limited to one medium of expression; I realized that one of those forms was experimenting with makeup, which allowed me to learn various techniques and I felt the need to keep improving. I learned through videos and television because I felt a dire need to learn whatever the medium may be.
At one point, I realized that there was so much more that this art had to offer and that is when I decided to join makeup classes where I would interact with the experts on one on one basis so that my skills get further polished. I would spend summer breaks doing different short courses and diplomas, which further added to my skills and experience. When I migrated to the States, I realized how big the world is and how my skills and talent could take me places so I decided to enhance my expertise to be able to access better avenues for a bright future. So, I opted for a professional certification, which gave my professional journey a head start and that certification is what put me on the track that I am on. I wish to keep learning at every step of the way because that’s what keeps the spirit alive!
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?
As they say, nothing comes easy! It was never as simple as it sounds. Being a fresh immigrant with no social circle or contacts was a major barrier. I needed people to know me, my talent and what I have to offer to them. Making an identity in a foreign land is not only challenging but also exhausting at times because it takes all your energy to build an impression and a reputation that makes people want to associate with you. It’s hard to get people to trust you with their appearances in the world of today where your appearance defines who you are and it took a lot of patience, resilience and hard work for me to build a professional circle where I feel appreciated and trusted by my clients.
Nothing happened overnight, I took one step at a time and that required a lot of effort to convince people to work with me in the initial phase to eventually get my presence acknowledged. I even worked free of cost for the entire day and even on the weekends just to build a portfolio that could land me somewhere substantial. I would call it a struggle because it was after doing 10-12 unpaid shoots that I would get one client who would offer me minimal rates for my services so it wasn’t even rewarding at all times. Even right now, I sometimes feel that it takes a lot of hard work to be able to get a minimal remuneration, which obviously will improve with time. Having said that, I also know that the journey hasn’t ended, it’s still going on and I have a long way to go.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
My passion and determination to work as an entrepreneur gave birth to Makeupbymomina a year ago. Since then, I have been trying to provide the best of services to my clients.
From Bridal to Editorial and Glam to natural, I have all sorts of happy clients walking out with added confidence and satisfaction. To me, makeup is highly dependent on one’s personal preference and this is why I never take my client’s opinion lightly. A detailed discussion about their requirements and concerns is my road map to this journey with them. Other than hair and makeup services, in-person and online makeup classes are also something I proudly offer. Teaching with both theoretical and practical methods always proves to be a beneficial learning experience for my students. And nonetheless, My Instagram blog is also a great source of free learning for everyone who is interested. MakeupbyMomina is my brainchild and I’m extremely proud of it because I started with almost zero followings and it gradually grew. It’s still growing and I wish to see it growing even bigger and getting even better.
What were you like growing up?
I remember as a child, I would spend hours watching DIY videos and hours experimenting with new ideas. I would play around with different materials and try my hand at different crafts. Those activities ranged from candle making to painting to jewelry making and everything in between that gave my creativity a space to grow. For me, freedom of expression has always been the greatest of all opportunities and I still believe that to be the case till today.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 214-707-7273
- Email: momina.arfeen@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/makeup_by_momina
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mominaarfeenmakeupstudio
Image Credit:
Photographer : Model:
Replaythememories. Lizzi Gilbert
Madhusudan manna Kimberli
Madhusudan manna Karen
Charles Alfred Zoya
Mustafa Shahid Sonia Queezada
Tesh Patel Katie North
Nadia
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