In an exclusive interview with You! Angie Marshall talks about her journey from a shampoo girl to an accomplished beautician...
beauty
In an exclusive interview with You! Angie Marshall talks about her journey from a shampoo girl to an accomplished beautician...
Amakeup artist is someone who plays an integral part in bringing perfection to your face. It’s them who can achieve wonders in creating the right look - the look you have always desired for. One such makeup artist who creates magic with her hands is Angie Marshall.
With her impeccable hard work, Angie is greatly acclaimed both at the national and international level. She has bagged quite a few awards for her services rendered to the field of beauty and aesthetics. She won the outstanding performance trophy in 2003 in Singapore besides many media awards for best hair and makeup, and various awards over the last few years. She was one of the First 100 women of Ponds Miracle Journey and was recently awarded for not just promoting her mentee, but helping her realise her dream.
Angie has come a long way since her rookie days as a ‘shampoo girl’ in her mother’s salon. “It all started at my mum’s salon where my first job was as a shampoo girl. My mother used to go to the salon so it was only instinctive that I did too, straight from school. Gradually, I started doing manicure, pedicure and waxing, and was developing a clientele as well. I was greatly inspired by beauticians like Leslie, Shaheen Rahim and of course my mother,” recounts Angie about her initiation in the beauty business.
Being a good art student in school, Angie soon got interested in the art of makeup and had started working on brides. Once school finished, Angie had time before college commenced. Wanting to make the most of her spare time she started learning shorthand and typing and did a secretarial course as well.
She then worked at a couple of international firms as a secretary. Having worked at the salon and at various multinational firms, Angie now wanted to experience something different. “So I decided to join my parents in Sri Lanka who were already there because of my dad’s business. I got myself enrolled in a few hair and makeup courses. Besides that, I also took up flower-making classes and ended up taking up a job at Duty Free at the Lego store. I was young and exuberant and wanted to explore,” recalls Angie. However, after a year Angie felt restless and decided to go back to Pakistan. Once back, Angie told her mother that she wanted to do something of her own. And it was in the mid ’80s that she opened up Angie’s Salon in Defence Phase 5, Khadda market. “My parents helped me set up my salon. My dad got me stuff not being used at my mum’s salon,” she mirthfully shares.
Not one to be complacent, Angie now wanted to be equipped with the latest in the beauty business - hair and makeup. It was in 1981 that Angie went for her first training to England. By this time, she was already quite established and had managed to save some money.
“I told my parents to take me abroad as I wanted to take up some refresher and other courses. So off we went to London where I got myself enrolled at Vidal Sassoon. Next, I got my makeup skills honed at the Complexions London School of makeup. After six months of training I headed back... Ever since, there’s been no looking back - literally,” enthuses the beautician.
As soon as Angie was back, she felt the pressure from her parents to get married. “I was rejecting proposals left, right and centre until Mr Ken Marshall came along,” she smiles. After marriage, what followed next was a flurry of activity - a very busy salon interspersed by the frequent international refresher courses. “I believe in staying abreast of changing trends so I have ensured that I attend as many international courses as possible whenever I get a chance, even to date. I have been to Germany, Canada, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Dubai and England to name a few,” adds Angie.
After nine years of marriage, Angie and Ken were blessed with Nicholas - their bundle of joy. Life changed completely for her as she decided to take a back seat for a couple of years. Although, she was working throughout this time, she was taking things slow.
In 2003, she went to Singapore for Asia and Pacific Hair and Beauty Show and won a trophy for the most outstanding performer. Angie has been teaching makeup and styling as a free lance trainer for almost every leading and reputed brand throughout Pakistan. She also conducts grooming sessions for the corporate sector.
It was in 2011 that a surprise awaited Angie. Someone approached her saying they had heard great things about her professionalism, and they asked her if she would like to be a part of an international event - the Ms Universe pageant... “I was taken aback and initially did not actually believe it - I thought it was a prank. Then Mr Sajjad Naqvi CEO of Pharmako Pakistan met me and said that Farouk Systems USA, makers of (Chi and Biosilk) were looking for stylists from around the world for the upcoming pageant and wanted to see my work. I met them and the ball was set rolling. They loved what they saw. And the next thing I knew, I was on my way to Brazil. It was a good opportunity for me to show the world that Pakistani females are empowered, modern, educated and talented, she reminisces,” she shares.
Angie got to work with the creme de a creme at the Miss Universe pageant. “I had dressed up Miss Philippines, who was the third runners up - she was one of my favourites. Ms Sri Lanka, South Africa, in fact all the girls were a delight to work with as were the stylists,” shares the animated Angie.
In 2012 Angie was off to Delhi with TDAP as chief stylist for Lifestyle Pakistan - again, a very good experience representing Pakistan in a new environment.
Next was a trip to China, again with TDAP. “We did a show with 17 Chinese models, all dressed in Pakistani style. Although language was a huge barrier, yet we managed to understand each other using sign language,” she laughs.
Some of the other shows Angie has been a part of are IDEAS 2016 fashion show; Uroosul Bilat fashion show 2017; a fashion show in Manchester in 2018 and most recently IDEAS 2018 Arms for Peace gala dinner. Her recent accomplishment is the one day Makeup Master class at Regent Plaza and Pranzo, Karachi. The first one was with the professionals of the beauty industry and the other master class was with beauty enthusiasts, bloggers, housewives and women who want to pursue career in beauty. The master class at Pranzo appeared to be quite productive as it was interactive and very informative for aspiring makeup artists. It had three grooming sessions conducted by Angie and the makeup artists of Angie’s Salon. “It was an interactive session in which my team and I did three looks. The first one was a minimalistic one for a day or corporate event. The second was a party makeover and the third was a complete bridal makeup. Since Angie’s Salon is not about Angie only, my team also conducted two sessions in which I was explaining the techniques and they were doing the makeup. When you are having a master class, there is no mirror in front of you but for me, my audience is my mirror as they reflected with me on the techniques and shared their views as well. We also encouraged questions for the people who had any difficulty in understanding the steps,” concluded Angie.
