SOMETIMES we forget that art is more than just a drawing on a piece of paper and is instead expressed differently through music, dance, drama and even makeup.

Like any other artistic skill, doing makeup requires skill and practice. Twenty-one-year-old, Decarla Hodge has graduated from practising her skill of makeup artistry on herself and probably friends and family, to becoming a professional who has used her skill to start a career.

The professional makeup artist said doing makeup is her passion and she will continue to find ways of becoming better at what she does.
“I am a lover of art and fashion; it is a great combination. Ever since growing up, I’d always be the one with a book and pencil or my mom’s eyeshadow palette, playing dress up”, said Hodge.

It was evident that she favoured colours and beauty from a young age but she found her love for the art about three years ago when she became a professional.
“I realised I loved doing this when I collaborated with a photographer, Keno George, on our first project called ‘Melanin and Honey’ which was a success”, said the makeup artist, adding that while preparing for that project, she challenged herself to do her best because failure or shortfalls were not an option.

The project and challenge made her realise how much she loved doing makeup and more so she even got a chance to showcase her creative side to the public. Everything about the experience was new and exciting to her, mostly because the feedback and recognition were “unbelievable”.

That project even got her one step closer to her aspiration which is to inspire people, especially the new and young makeup artists who idolise her.

“I just want to be a better person and a good example to the people out there; I also want to remind them to never give up and don’t let negativity get to any part of them”, she said, noting that it is important to strive for what you want but always remember that prayers are also important.

She believes that once someone wants to achieve something they just need to try hard because it is already there with their name written on it, they just have to go get it and be humble in the process.