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“My passion is to bring out the beauty in the everyday woman. I glow and grow with each smile my brushes draw, each eyeshadow revealing a hidden facet of my clients. This is no longer just a dream, it is my reality”

– Angelica Valentin.

« Ma passion est de faire ressortir la beauté de la femme de tous les jours. Je brille et grandis avec chaque sourire que mes pinceaux dessinent, chaque ombre à paupières révélant une facette cachée de mes clients. Ce n’est plus seulement un rêve, c’est ma réalité « 

– Angelica Valentin.

Her name is Angelica Valentin, born in the United States on January 20th, 1978. Angelica grew up in Haiti and currently resides in Port-au-Prince. She attended Union School for her secondary studies and obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Johnson & Wales University in Florida.

 

Angelica became interested in makeup at a very young age. She would always admire her mother get glammed up in the morning before she went out. “So, naturally I wanted to do the same as a teenager”, she says. After High school, as mentioned before, she pursued a career in the tourism industry. She worked at different hotels for about 4 years and then, she decided to move to Haiti with the plan to pursue her career in tourism. Unfortunately for Angelica, the country was undergoing some tough political instability and made it difficult for her to thrive in the field. She spent 12 years working as a manager of businesses and became a consultant to train people in the hotel and restaurant field. Throughout her journey, Angelica felt a void inside. And then it happened! In 2015, she became unemployed.

Becoming Makeup Artist

Devenir Maquilleuse

While being unemployed, Angelica turned to Makeup as a pastime. She began researching different techniques on the internet, and her interest in Makeup artistry started to grow. Angelica made a big decision to drop her career to embrace her passion. “At the time, I felt like if I did not invest in myself, then I would be stuck working for people for the rest of my life,” she tells us. Her family was not so fond of the idea but she convinced them that it was something that her heart desired. With her husband’s full support she spent 5 months at Florida Academy of Glam and obtain a certification in Makeup Artistry. It was a big sacrifice for Angelica and as she looks back, March 2018 makes it a year since she became a makeup artist.

After her makeup training, Angelica went back to Haiti to build a client base. She knew it would take a while before being known so she started to reach out to different people in the industry. “I would introduce myself and let them know I was available to collaborate even if it meant providing my services for free just so people would start knowing who I was” she admits. Although some people turned Angelica down, she never let that get in her way. And surely, by word of mouth, people started to call her for bookings. “ I can say I’ve accomplished so much in just one year!”

Experience

Expérience

When asked about her favorite models to work with, she began by stating: “An ideal model to me is one who is not only beautiful, but also down to earth, relatable, and intelligent. I believe being beautiful requires all these attributes”. She recently had the privilege of working with Raquel Pelissier and Kiki Barth who according to Angelica,  are two of Haiti’s best representatives on the international modeling scene.

To name a few people, Angelica has worked with: Raquel Pelissier- Miss Universe First Runner Up 2016, Kiki Barth (Fashion Model and Former Miss Haiti), Mikaben- Musician (Songwriter, Producer, Entertainer), Jean Claude Michel- Photographer, Jameson Thermithus- Photographer, Verdy Verna- Photographer, Rameces Sekoya Studios -Photographer and Videographer, Frederic Dupoux- Photographer.

Angelica’s Techniques

Les techniques d’Angelica

Before Angelica applies makeup on clients, she ensures that their face is properly moisturized. She primes their face based on skin type and ensures that she asks them about their preferences. She gives advice on products and colors to suit the client’s skin tone. She does research on a product before she uses them and invests in quality over quantity. She chooses carefully before she invests, regardless of the latest makeup trends. She does not emphasize trends because she tends to go more towards classic beauty techniques but she does enjoy highlighting and contouring on special occasions. “ It just adds that extra drama which I love!” The clients that she caters to are very conscious about what they put on their face. When asked about using Haitian cosmetics, Angelica is currently exploring and definitely loves the idea of supporting local products.

Avant qu’Angelica ne maquille les clients, elle s’assure que leurs visages soient bien hydratés. Elle prépare le visage en fonction du type de la peau et leur pose des questions sur leurs préférences. Elle donne des conseils sur les produits et les couleurs pour convenir au teint de la peau du client. Elle fait des recherches sur un produit avant de l’utiliser et investit dans la qualité plutôt que dans la quantité. Elle choisit soigneusement avant d’investir, indépendamment des dernières tendances de maquillage. Elle ne met pas l’accent sur les tendances, car elle a tendance à aller plus vers les techniques de beauté classiques, mais elle aime souligner et contourner lors des occasions spéciales. « Cela ajoute juste ce drame supplémentaire que j’aime! » Les clients auxquels elle s’adresse sont très conscients de ce qu’ils mettent sur leurs visages. Interrogée sur l’utilisation des cosmétiques haïtiens, Angelica explore actuellement et aime définitivement l’idée de soutenir les produits locaux.

Fashion/ Makeup Artistry in Haiti ( Angelica’s Views)

Art de la mode et du maquillage en Haïti (Point de vue de Angelica)

Being a makeup artist in Haiti is rewarding according to Angelica, although it has its challenges. “You just need to have a goal, go for it, be patient and have faith that you will succeed”, she advises. Angelica sees a lot of young talented individuals in Haiti but she would also love to see more fashion-related events that focus on creativity in the industry. Also, according to Angelica, there is an evolution in our fashion industry. There is a growing demand for sophisticated and refined clothing. “Social Media has contributed a lot to this evolution”, she says.

Être maquilleuse en Haïti est gratifiant selon Angelica, même si elle a ses défis. « Vous avez juste besoin d’avoir un but, allez-y, soyez patient et ayez la foi que vous allez réussir », conseille-t-elle. Angelica voit beaucoup de jeunes talents en Haïti, mais elle aimerait aussi voir plus d’événements liés à la mode qui mettent l’accent sur la créativité dans l’industrie. En outre, selon Angelica, il y a une évolution dans notre industrie de la mode. Il y a une demande croissante de vêtements sophistiqués et raffinés. « Les médias sociaux ont beaucoup contribué à cette évolution », dit-elle.

Haiti’s fashion industry is evolving, and young people are now becoming more interested in it. Many young people are choosing a career in fashion, specifically makeup artistry, and modeling. “I think it’s great”, she says. “One can venture into retail makeup, special events makeup, bridal makeup, airbrush, body painting, special effects, fashion-editorial makeup, video, film, television, and theater”, she continued. And when it comes to competition, Angelica thinks it’s a good thing. In her own words, “Competition stimulates growth and creativity. Without it, one cannot thrive to do better”.

L’industrie de la mode en Haïti évolue et les jeunes s’y intéressent de plus en plus. Beaucoup de jeunes choisissent une carrière dans la mode, en particulier l’art du maquillage, et le mannequinat. « Je pense que c’est génial », dit-elle. «On peut se lancer dans le maquillage au détail, le maquillage des événements spéciaux, le maquillage nuptial, l’aérographie, la peinture corporelle, les effets spéciaux, le maquillage éditorial, la vidéographie, le cinéma, la télévision et le théâtre». Et quand il s’agit de compétition, Angelica pense que c’est une bonne chose. Dans ses propres mots, «La concurrence stimule la croissance et la créativité. Sans cela on ne peut pas prospérer pour faire mieux « .

When we asked Angelica about her bad experiences in the industry she replied “Hah Hah! I won’t tell!”. Instead, she told us the following, “You will eventually run into a challenge or a bad experience with a client in some way or another. It is how you handle the situation that allows you to redeem yourself and maintain a good relationship.” She says. She makes sure she provides her services all while being kind, cordial and selfless as possible.

Lorsque nous avons interrogé Angelica sur ses mauvaises expériences dans l’industrie, elle a répondu « Hah Hah! Je ne le dirai »  suit: «Vous finirez par faire face à un défi ou une mauvaise expérience avec un client dans certains cas, d’une façon ou d’une autre. C’est la façon que vous gérez la situation qui vous permet de vous racheter et de maintenir une bonne relation. »Elle dit. Elle s’assure qu’elle offre ses services tout en étant gentille, cordiale et altruiste que possible.

What is your advice for upcoming Haitian MUAS?

Quel est votre conseil pour les prochains MUAS haïtiens?

« Your ambition and determination to learn the trade alone can take you very far by doing the research, learning from someone else, and practice, practice, practice while evolving with what is trending worldwide and being open to being versatile. The secret! Be relatable, network; always look your best while giving 110% always! »