Guyanese makeup artist (MUA) Susan Ibrahim of SAKS Makeup Artistry was earlier this week announced as winner of the Caribbean Style and Culture (CSC) 2020 Award of Excellence for Makeup and Aesthetics.
Susan, Guyana’s representative in the make-up and aesthetics category, competed against a number of other MUAs from across the Caribbean. “I didn’t expect it because I never really won an award before. It took a while to sink in, I’m still overwhelmed. I am extremely happy and honoured,” gushed Susan.
The competition is part of the Caribbean Style and Culture Runway Showcase that has been held annually since June 2009 in Washington DC in commemoration of National Caribbean American Heritage Month. The showcase aims to award and give recognition to MUAs, models, designers, and photographers for their contribution to the art industry in the Caribbean.
Susan, who has been an MUA for almost seven years, was contacted by organizers of the event last August, who were interested in having her participate. She put together her portfolio as well as a mini biography. Then on February 13, she received a letter informing her that she had made the list of finalists.
What she has taken from this experience is, “don’t give up. It takes time to get to the level you want to be. Perfect your craft, it takes a lot of courses and practice before you can build your own niche,” the makeup artist said.
This is not the first time Guyana has won one of the categories at the showcase. In 2019, MUA Renee Chester had also won the makeup and aesthetics category and Jasoda Ramlagan was the People’s Choice Model for that same year. Natasha Harper was named Runway Model of the Year 2017 and Niketa Barker, Model of the Year 2014. In the design category Carol Fraser, Andrew Harris, Ryan Berkeley, Patricia Coates, Olympia Small Sonaram, Michelle Cole, Frank James, Keisha Edwards, Nadia Thomas Winter, Sidney Francois, and Roger Gary have also won.
