The African makeup industry has evolved significantly over the years, coming from an Era where drawing a straight line over your shaved brows counted for “On Fleek eyebrows”. Today African MUAs can easily stand side by side with the world’s best makeup artist with perfection in world class throbbing, highlighting, sandbagging techniques. These MUA, celebrities in their own right, have loyal Instagram followers the size of a small city and distinguished as a brand to be associated with by the rich and famous in the society.
1 SAM FINE – @iamsamfine
Sam Fine is an African American makeup artist, and one of the highest paid makeup artists. Fine has done the faces of supermodels like Tyra Banks, Iman, Naomi Campbell, and Celebrities like Vanessa Williams, Queen Latifah and Patti Labelle. Fashion Fair Cosmetics company which is known for producing cosmetic products for women of colour appointed him the creative makeup director.
Sam who also has extensive experience working with African American celebrities, supermodels, singers, and actresses, uses his experience and his involvement with Fashion Fair Cosmetics to help bolster the company’s aim to provide shades of foundation and powder that would work great with any skin tone. He recognises the fact that there are a variety and diverse range of skin tones in the different ethnic communities
He is also the first hired African-American spokesperson for Revlon; he has truly broken the colour barrier.
2 BIMPE ONAKOYA – @bimpeonakoya
Bimpe Onakoya is an award-winning African based international makeup artist, who has worked alongside some of the most influential African fashion designers models, photographers. She’s the Artistic Director of Maybelline New York Nigeria, a dynamic and creative Makeup Artist with over eleven years of industry experience. Her experience cut across television, print, editorial shoots, advertising campaigns, bridal beauty, fashion shows and events
Bimpe Onakoya was the lead makeup artist at Arise Fashion week 2011 and one of the team leaders in 2012, she has worked at NYFW with top designers like DKNY, Lacoste, J Mendel, Mara Hoffman, Suno, Theory. From the inception of MTN Lagos Design and Fashion week, she has been head of makeup, and she has also worked on high-profile Models like Alek Wek, Jourdan Dunn, Oluchi, Agbani Darego, as well as having numerous magazine covers to her credit including MANIA, Genevieve, TW. Her work has also been published in Vanity Fair Italia, Bimpe has an innate understanding of colour, great command of technique, flair and artistry, she is a true professional. She’s an icon in the Makeup Industry.
3 JOY ADENUGA – @joyadenuga
Joy Adenuga is a beauty expert, a Nigerian London-based makeup artist, who is specialised in fashion/editorial, commercial /advertising, TV/film, beauty, publications, red carpet, and weddings.
She is a freelance beauty coordinator with BlackHair magazine; she is in charge of creating and directing their popular 4-page beauty spreads. She has worked with global brands, top photographers, and creatives in the industry, celebrities, tv personalities and her work have been seen in many beauty and luxury magazines in the UK and other international magazines.
Joy Adenuga also a freelance Communist with black hair magazine as she was responsible for creating “how to” look for the everyday woman. Joy has an undeniable understanding of the woman’s skin and her skin tone; she knows what to use and when to, she has a natural ability with makeup and a good eye for details, these are a few reasons why she is the most sought after for celebrities, editorial, fashion and luxury.
4 BANKE MESHIDA LAWAL – @banksbmpro
Banke Meshida Lawal fondly called Banksbmspro is truly talented and a perfectionist when it comes to the art of makeup. In 2006 she launched a 14 product makeup line named BMPRO (BANKE MESHIDA PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP).
Banksbmpro has won several awards in her time, including:
1. Female achiever of the year 2002 (city people)
2. Makeup artist of the year 2005 (city people)
3. Entrepreneur of the year 2008 (future awards)
4. Makeup brand of the year 2009 (Eloy Awards)
5. Makeup artist of the year (wedding planner magazine)
6. Contributor of the year (University of Lagos)
7. Makeup artist of the year 2010. (FAB Magazine) e.t.c
She was also appointed the official makeup artist to the formal Nigerians first lady (Patience Jonathan), Banksbmpro continues to excel in the makeup industry.
5 KIM WINTERSCALE – www.kimwinterscale.com
Kim Winterscale is one of South Africa’s most recognized and respected makeup artists, having over 17 years of experience and working on numerous hit tv shows and photoshoots.
After Kim, qualifying at SA Beauty and Makeup Design School, she quickly became one of the most sought after makeup artists in the industry. Over the years, Kim has been responsible for making contestants and presenters look their best in front of millions of viewers on shows like Deal Or No Deal, Survivor, Miss SA, So You Think You Can Dance and Idols.
Kim has also worked on the likes of Westlife, Craig David, John Legend, Howie Mandell (From Deal or No Deal and America’s Got Talent), former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela, Il Divo and CSI New York’s Carmine Giovinazzo. Kim has spent many years on magazine shoots working on advertorials, editorials, lifestyle and fashion shoots. Some of South Africa’s most well-known celebrities insist on using her for their shoots. Kim also worked internationally in Italy, Germany, the UK, the USA, and China as well as being employed by the BBC in London and by ESPN for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
love love love Kim’s work… the Best in SA!! Never knew Nigerian MUA are this impressive.. Lux afrique please more like this. Closely related to my industry
Stay tuned for part two of the top 10. Please share, thank you!