- What She Told City People A Few Months Back
- Speaks On 10 Years Of Her Business
The news of her death last week shocked many people in the Makeup industry. This is because they never thought, YEWANDE PEREGRINO would drop off so soon. She is seasoned MakeUp artiste who has built her brand BEYOND FACES into a big one. Yewande Peregrino is a popular make-up artiste, who has paid her dues. She started about 10 years ago and has been able to contribute her quota to the growth of the business. A few months back she spoke to City People Publisher SEYE KEHINDE. She spoke about how she established BEYOND FACES.    Â
Beyond Faces was 10 years last year. How did you celebrate it?
Hmmmm… Celebrate kee? We had no celebration per say, but just knowledge of how far I have come and kept thanking God because 10years is not 10months or 10days in spite of all the things in life thrown at us. We still tried making Lemonade out of the Lemons. It has been a true description of Sweet and Sour, but to the glory of God and mankind, still we are standing.
What has been your experience? How challenging was it?
It’s been more challenging especially in later years. I have heard clients/people say Old Make-up Artists would have lost track of ideas and they want the new trendy Make-up Artists. Some will say Old vendors would have seen it all and rather be egoistic, but some still prefer the ones with wealth of experience, which would have seen things coming and guide against it. What also puts a smile on my face is when I see many thriving businesses now making mention of Beyond Faces and what an inspiration we have been to their “starting up” Most wouldn’t have their success stories complete without us. All these are to the glory of God
How did you cope? How did you sail through?
It’s not easy being consistent all-the -way through to a decade. Sometimes, we get bored, got lost in the act, doing the same thing over and over again, but we are thankful for competition and inspiration here and there. Competition is actually healthy and educative as it’s challenging
Did You say sail through?
Have I really sailed through? I’m still in the game. Let me add that Passion-Persistence-Prayer have plenty roles to play when it comes to this.
How did your romance with the Make-up start?
I used to love Arts and this is a skill I took from my mum, I used to love drawing and crafts. I enrolled at House Of Tara Int’l in 2005 and I was there for close to 2months, which was unusual. But after I was through with my course I was still allowed to stay and I kept on going to fine-tune what I have learnt and building my knowledge, experience and know-how. I was privileged to go with Tara to attend to more than 2 brides during that time and by 2006 I was competent enough to stand on my own. As one of her best students, Tara got me a job with then newly launched Blackup. I was employed by Alali Hart at the 1st branch of BlackUp Store at the Palms Mall/Shoprite on Lekki, where much Discipline and Book Keeping knowledge were instilled in me. After a few months I left because it wasn’t easy juggling Clients/Brides with a demanding job and I had a target to meet.
Working at BlackUp really helped me build my confidence. I met many people. It opened my mind and eyes to many things and placed me on a good pedestal.
Was that what you studied in school?
I didn’t study it in school, but all I wanted and had in mind was to be my own boss and in control of my time.One of my friends then was asking me who I wanted to be making-up for and why that line of business out of many others. But today, she is eating her words in lumps….as she never had a complete event without my service.
Were you not afraid it was a new area of business then?
Funny enough, I was never afraid because I so much believed in myself, very focused and stayed far from anything that could get me derailed. And with one or two mentors I had, I was sure the sky was my springboard.
Who were the big names you met on the job?
I met Bolanle Okusanya Feyita, Bimpe Onakoya, Lola Maja, Segun Gele, Banke Meshida, Enitan Balogun, Tara Durotoye, Bamitale, Bunmi Oyeniyi and the late Adenike Ogungbe. Many of them are still in business and some have moved to another passionate line of business
In the future, which I think is now, I would like our government to introduce skills, such as Make-up Beauty, Arts, Event Planning, Photography and such skills to Secondary Schools and Colleges curricular. I have been nominated for awards such as -Sideview Mag Award, Eloy Award, Prestigious Future Awards, City People Awards, Fashion & Style Awards, Christmas In January Awards etc. We won some and lost others.
Why should women take their Make up seriously?
It should be taken seriously because everything else comes after”Self Confidence”and with that you can achieve much.
Makeup is a good “facelift and a Confidence booster” That is why people still make millions from it annually and the industry is getting bigger, day after day with new techniques, brands n products flooding the market.
Is it true you now have a new Makeup association?
Yes, we now have a body called Make-up Artist Guild of Nigeria (MAGN) I am one of them.
The body was set up and put together by a Beauty Artist, Omolola Faleye and the Creator & Host of the 1st and Bi-annual Lagos Make-up Fair and Make-up which holds in about 5states in Nigeria.
Many young entrepreneurs are always afraid to go into it. They think you need big money to take off. Is this true?
You don’t need Big Money to start anything in life. Your success is highly dependent on your Potential; Find the giver of this potential, God. Moreover, start now, start out small, start smart, start with what you have and from where you are. I remember my humble beginning. Hmmmm with little or no social media awareness. Many things have really happened in 10years. A whole lot of change. I started out by meeting with my clients. Most of them were Brides-to-be at eateries especially Mr Biggs outlets, then There weren’t so many eateries, as now and we have a branch in most areas in Lagos.
Adverts in papers and Magazines really put me fast in the”limelight”and after, they reach out to me, I remember meeting them up at weekends with “hard copy photographs of my past brides, which I would have collected from their photographers, just to prove my competence because there wasn’t Social Media as it is now or we set-up a”trial session”to try out makeup on their faces, what and what they do not like or what they are sensitive about or just general interactive meeting and some so much have strong belief in the person that referred you so much that they need no more conviction. Just discover your gift and start deploying it and never ever have it in mind to be patronised and more appreciated by friends and family members. There will never be a perfect time to get things started. If you don’t start, someone else will play your part.
Nobody ever starts from the top. After I left “Blackup” I started working on my own for about 2years before i opened my studio on my 30th birthday. Even if I pretended not to know I have gone thus far, some events and occasions keep reminding you. Some clients I’ve done their 30th and 40th birthdays and some I made up on their child’s christening and the child is now celebrating his/her 10year birthday and I also attended 2 of my brides’ 10th anniversary last year. One of them told me that she could still remember the way I was ooozing confidence on her wedding day and hardly could she believe she was my first bride… I laughed.
Beyond Faces is one name that is associated with a lot of notable bridals. How were you able to achieve that?
Mostly, I think it’s my job that speaks for me, because so many prominent jobs I have done is through referrals, maybe you come to a wedding and I made up the bride, from there, people got interested in the make-up and from there they ask for my contact and all that. So basically, I think it’s my job that speaks for me, and also God’s favour too because it’s not as if I’m using something different from others. But I’m always up and doing and always on my heels. I think I have achieved a certain level in the industry that my name has become an authority, I don’t think that there is anything that will be done in the industry that Beyond Faces will not be involved. I engage myself in seminars, workshops and others and that in a way is making things work for me too.
So how would you describe your love for the Make-Up industry?
I’ll say Make-up has always been a passion and getting into the industry and going public has been so challenging and for now, Beyond Faces is here to stay and as time goes on, I believe there is going to be an improvement.
But what would you say is your motivating drive to achieve all these?
I get my drive from God, because it’s not only me alone, and also because the love I have for make-up has always been motivating me.
What then is your own unique attributes that make you excel above others?
I think I have been able to maintain a very good relationship with my clients even after the wedding. And also my works has its own touch of uniqueness, I know how to the face and matte it up. My Gele is also something that stands me out, there is a way I tie my Gele in front which everybody will always like.
Most of the time, people say you are a combination of Tara and Banke. Where do you get your greatest inspiration from out of these two professional gurus. Is it Tara or Banke?
I get my inspiration from the two of them. Tara is my mentor, I respect her for her contributions to the industry and also for paving the way for others to follow. I also admire Banke a lot too and I used some of her products mostly, for my jobs and I love her person.
Yes, I’m travelling to go to South Africa anytime soon and after that, England.
What about Competition. How have you been able to handle that, due to the upsurge?
I don’t think I’m in a competition with anybody, I just do my own thing to suit me and whoever I’m dealing with. I don’t see myself competing with anybody.
Do you have any friend in the industry?
Of course! (Laughs).
I have been able to maintain a relationship with everybody, we talk like sister-to-sister, I have been on a good relationship with all the make-up artists, there is no-one I cannot pick up my phone and talk to at any particular time.
The way you tie your Gele is another thing that stands you out. Where did you learn it from or is it a family trait?
I think it’s just love and creativity. I always have this love for fashion and that’s what really motivated me to know how to tie Gele.
It will be interesting to know that man in your life and how he feels about your fast rising success?
I don’t think I have one. God has been the man in my life.
But why is it so, is it that the men are blind?
I believe God’s time is the best. You know when you’re going public, people like to over-rate you, so I think in a way, that might want to scare away some potential suitors but I believe very soon the bell will ring.
So what are the qualities you want in your Mr. Right?
As long as he has good personalities, any other thing can come in.
Like money and all that?
(Laughs) I’m not in the group of the lady that believes men should be doing all things, I believe we should work hand-in-hand. I know I’ll be a good wife and mother.
Any make-up tips for women who want to look good?
I will advice that they should always work on their brows regularly and should not forget to have facials at least once a month.
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