Canberra’s international beauty squad

Posted on 6 June, 2017

Four women who call the ACT home are proof you don’t have to live in a city that never sleeps, to make your dreams come true.

FASHFEST makeup director Diana Cheetham and makeup artist Jacqui Scott were handpicked to go to Fiji Fashion Week. For both of them, it was their first international fashion show.

Fellow makeup artist and the head of Global Hair & Makeup Liz Bomben has just completed a stint in Monaco at the Formula One while hairdresser Kath Ilijoski spent time in the Big Apple in February for New York Fashion Week.

These women might have been doing their thing in different places on the map, but their opportunities came exactly the same way.

Liz said making it in bigger cities comes through dedication and hard work.

Liz Bomben

During her stay, Liz rubbed shoulders with royalty, doing makeup for runway shows, models, VIPs and even the F1 drivers.

“Monaco came through a desire to do something special. Lots of research, dogged persistence and believing nothing was impossible,” she says.

It was a similar story for Kath from 121 Hair who has owned her own business for 11 years, honing her craft and taking every opportunity that came her way.

Kath Ilijoski

“I have dedicated any spare time and days off to assist backstage, on runways and shoots in Sydney,” she explains.

“By doing this I have created amazing relationships and networked with companies and my hair idols.”

As these women achieve their goals, they all say it proves anyone can too.

For Liz, talent is talent.

“It doesn’t matter where you live, talent will always shine through but you have to be prepared to invest in yourself and be determined,” she explains.

“In the last 12 months, I have taken 39 makeup and hairstylists around the world with me to shows. The majority of these artists do not come from large cities but they all believe they have talent.”

Diana Cheetham

Diana, however, belives that your dreams live where you live.

“Fight for what you want, travel where you can for experience, work your butt off and volunteer to build your expertise,” she says.

For, Kath it’s all about being willing to learn.

“Respect your teachers, bosses and mentors and the skills they share with you, take every skill on board that you learn.”

While for Jacqui it’s about love and creating your own opportunities.

“I organise my own shoots, getting creatives together from hair stylists to stylists, photographers and models. I am the creative director and love making my visions come to life.”

“No one is paying you to do these projects. It’s a love job.”

What’s exciting for us in Canberra, is while these ladies continue their quest for world domination, they come home and are armed with brand new skills.

“I am always learning and I love that this experience is something new to immerse myself in and that I have a platform to share my knowledge with people wanting to break into the industry,” Jacqui explains.

“I have so many new ideas and am so inspired to take my creativity to the next level,” says Kath.

And here’s what the ladies picked up from their time abroad when it comes to beauty trends this winter.

Diana says the trend is “peach, peach peach.”

“Place a dewy blush to the apple of your cheeks and blend up and out toward the hairline,” she recommends. “Then add a soft pearl finished eye shadow to the eyes for a subtle but polished look for day or night. Finish off with a dripping of gloss in high shine like Harlotte Cosmetics Lipshine.”

Jacqui advises that “glitter eyes, neon lips, metallic and gloss” are making a comeback while in Europe, Liz says she saw two main trends: “Either eyeliner or a minimal makeup. No contouring and clean skin.”

“Trends come and go and winter is a time for a ‘less is more’ approach but with a touch of plums, golds or bronzes – the colours that make you feel warm and rich.”

And for our hair, we have options.

“For styling it’s volume blow waves with the French like waves, a long bob and why not add a thick curtain fringe?” Kath says.

“Colour work is very individual and colours change through different seasons but we are using a lot of cool browns with beige tones, and warm blondes.”

Feature image: Jacqui Scott via Facebook