Since moving to Guyana from Venezuela four years ago, 26-year-old makeup artist and hairstylist Miguel Ram has been creating quite the buzz through his work.
Though he has been a hairstylist for seven years, Miguel explained that for three of those years he spent most of his time training to perfect his skill. He first practiced on a cousin.
One of five sons, Miguel was born in the Spanish-speaking country. His parents had moved to
Venezuela where they met and got married. He said his parents brought them to Guyana every two years in August on vacation, until when they could not travel for a number of years owing to his mother being sick. She eventually passed away.
Then four years ago, he received an invitation to attend the wedding of a cousin living in Guyana and decided to stay. He styled the bride’s hair and did her makeup. Those who witnessed the bride’s transformation or learnt of it, encouraged Miguel to continue and asked him to do their makeup also. At first, everyone got free makeovers but once he began stepping up his game, he knew he should attach a cost to his service.
To perfect his skills, Miguel enrolled into makeup artistry classes provided by local artist Sueann Charles, one of his top five inspirations in the glitz and glam industry. The other four are former president of the Miss/Mister Venezuela Pageant Organisation Osmel Sousa, Dayana Mendoza (Miss Universe 2008 who hails from Venezuela and is an entrepreneur and motivational speaker for youths), Ninoska Vasquez (Miss Tourism Universe 2014 and Miss Earth Venezuela 2017 as well as a top model), and Renan Ferrari, an international hairstylist.
While attending classes, Miguel worked part time. With each new client, he posted pictures of his work on his Facebook page. By his second year here, Miguel landed a job with Truvanie Persaud, a former contestant for the Miss India Guyana 2017 Pageant. Along with the Miss Congeniality and the Best Catwalk awards, she also took home the award for Best Hair, which Miguel was responsible for.
The following year, he worked with another Miss India Guyana contestant, Sharona Haniff who finished as second runner-up and Miss Bollywood 2018. Last year, Miguel worked with fellow
Venezuelan Annessa Van Sluytman, who was competing in the Miss Earth Guyana pageant. She also finished in third place and carted off awards for Best Costume and Best Catwalk. He also worked his magic in makeup and hairstyle on all five of the contestants in the Divya Jyoti
Association Sari Queen 2019.
Despite the pandemic, Miguel is preparing to provide all the necessary glitz and glam for another stunning beauty, Cintiana Harry, who will be representing Guyana at the Miss Earth virtual pageant later this year.
Speaking of his art, Miguel said, “Makeup is really about enhancing your own beauty. It’s not about looking like someone else but about enhancing your own natural beauty.”
As a makeup artist who dabbles in colours every day, Miguel is most fascinated by playing with nude looks. “It’s a day and night look. With nude, you can go simple or intense,” he shared.
But it is never always subtle looks. Miguel can go bold too. He recalled a new client who showed up hoping for subtle look for a birthday party she was attending. Miguel thought a bold look would be the way to go, but his client was skeptical about it. Nonetheless, she decided to let him have his way. As he applied the makeup, Miguel recalled, the client questioned each bit. However, by the end of it, she was astonished and was happy that she was opened to a unique look.
“A lot of guys in Guyana consider it a women’s job. But, I’ve changed a lot of men’s mentality with my work,” said Miguel.
“You need a lot of patience to do this. Many of the guys come with their girlfriends and sit through. This has [led] the guys to be more supportive. I remember I had a wedding to do where I did makeup for the bride. The groom had asked whether guys had their makeup done too and I told him yes. I did a bit of foundation, concealer, powder, and an eyeliner look, and he liked it.”
This wedding was one of many in which Miguel was hired as a hairstylist and makeup artist. There were times when he was hired for two weddings in one day and this included the entire bridal party.
For all of his faces, Samantha Persaud is his go-to source for all the top brand name makeup products.
The best part of what he does, the artist excitedly shared, especially for someone who considers himself outgoing, is just meeting new people and this includes teaming up with organisations to be put to work as an artist for them.
Miguel currently works at Jessica’s Beauty Salon at the Regent Multiplex Mall. Other than looking forward to enhancing the looks of his clients, he also anticipates eating empanadas from his
favourite Venezuelan vendor. While right now he works along with another makeup artist, he
eagerly looks forward to the day he gets to open his own salon, a place everyone can feel welcome and afford a makeover even if they are earning a low income salary.
Miguel can be followed on Facebook and Instagram at Miguel’s Beauty Creation.
