My Journey From A Company Secretary To An Independent Makeup Artist

Sitting in front of the office desktop, hurrying to complete the day’s tasks, my mind would often wander to this alternate universe where I saw myself out in the open, travelling from point A to point B, doing something that I love, something which was dynamic, which made me smile and laugh, where life was exciting and full of creative challenges. And then the sound of my boss asking me ‘if the management note has been prepared’ would bring me back to this boring mundane job that had become my life.

The Not-So-Easy Decision

The decision to leave everything behind and follow my passion didn’t happen in a day. I was a Company Secretary by profession and I had worked extremely hard to get to where I was - imagine years of classes and tuitions, fat books to mug up, studies extending till wee hours of the morning, recurring exams, assignments and long internships. I had a good job, standard working hours, monthly salary credits to my account and a bright future in the field. But in spite of it all, I knew I wasn’t happy. Something was amiss.

Every day was turning into a struggle to wake up and go to work, to follow the same routine, to do an ordinary job, to lead a dull work life and then, somehow I knew I had to do something about it.

The Leap Of Faith

It happened in May 2017. I made my decision to quit CS for good and join the beauty industry. It was a jar of mixed reactions. My father being a typical fauji and having no idea whatsoever about the world of makeup, was pretty unhappy about my decision but my mother was quite supportive. My sister was playing it neutral and told me that it’s not going to be easy to which I said, “Nothing in life is easy. Becoming a CS wasn’t easy and yet I did it, and if this is something I really like and enjoy doing, I’ll put in all my efforts, no matter how difficult it could be.” My friends and the love of my life, on the other hand, were super cool about the whole thing and told me to follow my heart.

How & Why A Make-Up Artist?

I used to see my mother dressing up when I was young - her impeccable chiffon sarees, blow dried hair and high heels. I would sit next to her while she would put on her makeup, admiring the way she would apply her lip liner first and then her lipstick. I used to be in awe as to how beautiful it made her look. I think that’s where the liking for makeup, and everything related to it, started.

Having those memories etched in my mind, I enrolled myself at the Lakme Academy in New Delhi for a professional makeup artistry course. By October 2017, I was a certified Makeup Artist, ready to take on the world with a set of new hopes and dreams.

As I began this new journey, a little voice in my head encouraged me to be more than just a regular makeup artist. I didn’t want to limit myself to just doing makeup on people and be done with it. I wanted to expand my horizon and do more with what I had learnt at the academy. To give back in some way, to reach out and help out, and that’s when the idea of Beautiful Me was created.

Beautiful Me

I wanted to go with a concept which was personal and could strike the right cord with people. I wanted people to identify the brand not with me or anybody else, but with themselves. And hence, the seed of Beautiful Me was sown.

Beauty can be pretty superficial if it doesn’t have a soul and hence, my brand encompasses makeup and lifestyle in such a way, that not only do you look beautiful but you feel beautiful too.

It’s an aim to make you fall in love with yourself, to give you a confidence that makes you shine from within. With this notion, I created my online profiles on various platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. It gave me an opportunity to showcase my work to the world-wide audience through photos, videos on tips and tricks to look and feel your best in under a minute, a beginner’s guide to makeup and related topics, freelance photo and video shoots for brands and companies, personal makeup lessons for all those who wanted to learn makeup for themselves and lots more.

The Journey So Far

If I could sum it up in one word, it would be - challenging! I was prepared for it though. I knew that the second I would take the decision to plunge myself into this unknown territory, leaving the ever so familiar path behind, I would be facing a lot of challenges not just professionally but also personally. A risk so great for me, that the idea of not doing well in it was enough to give me sleepless nights, but at the same time a risk where the idea of doing well would provide me abundant happiness. And I guess that’s what everyone wants at the end of the day - to be happy, to be satisfied and to feel proud of who they are and what they do.

Every day is still a struggle for me because my journey has just begun. Success doesn’t come your way that easily, but it’s a struggle that I enjoy and face with a beaming smile because I love what I do and I work hard at what I do. I put my heart and soul into it and I never say no to an opportunity, no matter how nervous or scared it makes me feel. I appreciate myself for a job well done and I improve myself from the mistakes I commit. There’s a lot more to be done, to be achieved. I’m working hard on it, towards it, every single day with a belief that,

With the right kind of conviction, you have the power to make your dreams come true - no matter how big or small they are.

This personal narrative is written by Chandini Wig, Founder of  Beautiful Me. Her story is a part of our ‘Women Entrepreneurs’ series. Catch Chandini today and tomorrow as the guest moderator for our Beauty & Make Up community, wherein she will help answer all your beauty related questions.