Follow What You Like To Do Instead Of Trying To Work In What You Have Graduated For

It’s about loving and practicing the hair and make up and about putting yourself out there. Doing as many shoots as you can and not giving up when results are not as expected.

1. Tell us about your background and journey

I was born in Armenia and my parents moved to Germany when I was 8 years old. I grew up in Germany for 20 years, have a master degree in textiles engineering but I wanted to travel the world and become a successful hair and make up artist.

So, I combined these two things and started traveling and working on my experiences as a make up artist wherever I was going. Until I reached India, where my career took off and stayed there for the last 7years.

2.What made you to choose this as your profession?

I was a dancer since i was a child and when I was in my twenties I was dancing in different dance companies where we had big choreographed shows for opening events etc. I was doing the hair and make up for our dance shows and also always getting friends hair and make up ready before going out.

So, I realized that I have a big talent for that and I enjoyed doing it...So I decided to follow what I like to do instead of trying to work in what I have graduated in/have a degree for.

3. As a Ted speaker, which is your favourite talk and how did it change your life?

Although I love speaking in public and have no fear of interviews, it was such a challenge for me to do my TEDxTALK. I always looked up to all these TED Speakers and I had put so much pressure on myself to speak on stage there, especially because I only confirmed my attendance such last minute and there for I didn’t have much time to prepare my speech but I am super honored to have been chosen to be a TedxSpeaker and that my story inspires others maybe with some of my words and experiences.

4. What has been the greatest achievement in your life?

To just go to a country that I don’t know and being able to bring myself in and make a living there with all it needs from having a home, to successful work and beautiful friends and experiences.

I have done this now multiple times and each time it was a full success. I did this first time in Cape Town, then Dubai and then India. Therefore I know I can do this anywhere and that I am not scared to just go to a place I don’t know and build my home and life there.

When it comes in achievements in career, I think one big moment for me was to receive the Vogue Beauty awards for best make up of the industry. This was one of my goals for my make up career.

5. How can one become a successful make up artist according to you?

It’s about loving and practicing the hair and make up and about putting yourself out there. Doing as many shoots as you can (because this is where you gain the most experience...while working) and not giving up when results are not as expected.

Keep doing and working on yourself, growing and keep collaborating with others from the industry.

6. Which is your favourite book and why?

To be honest I haven’t read since such a long time. I miss it even nowadays there is always so much to do and work on that although it seems we have so much time it feels like there is still not enough time. But one book I remember and recently recommended was

'Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus'

I love that book. It describes so nicely and easy way to read the differences between men and women and how it leads so often to so many misunderstandings and Misexpectations .

I think everyone should read this book, it will help to understand this differences so much better and start treating each other differently and not expect the things

as men and women are so different from each other.

Of course you can’t generalize all in those categories but in most cases it really fits and is so nicely and easy to read described.