"It is easy to paint a face and do avant-garde and creative looks, but exquisite beauty make-up requires skills in blending and subtlety in procedure," says make-up guru Ephraim Hunte, who created a sensation at the recent Hair and Beauty Trade Show 2012, which took place at the San Fernando room at the Crowne Plaza. The design of the student make-up competition which was held on Saturday 28th April was unrivalled in execution by Hunte (who was also the coordinator and co-sponsor).
His beautiful assistants in black laid out tables with cotton swab holders, trays and tissues. Each contestant's table had a place card which included their photograph, their number and the sponsors of the event. As the judges entered, the finalists were also ushered to their competition tables to awaiting supporters.
Moderator Charis Sieunarine then introduced the judges who were chosen from business, cultural and beauty industries in Trinidad and Tobago. They included Tisha Lee - Group Corporate Communications Manager at Republic Bank; Kathy Rogers - Celebrity make-up artist and Aesthetician; Melissa Ngui - Brand Manager for Maybelline New York, Bryden Pi Limited; Michael Salickram - leader and founder of the Bmobile Shiv Shakti Dance group and Celebrity Judge of Digicel Rising Stars show (and Chaconia medal awardee) and Nigel Brown - Assistant Manager in Scotia Bank and Human Resource Manager for Shiv Shakti Dance Company. The make-up artists were fiercely competitive as they used their Maybelline New York products to complete their interpretation of the competition theme "Beautiful Woman 2012" and the first prize worth over TT $60,000. The winner of the make-up competition was Candice Roopchand from YTEPP South who received a scholarship from Ephraim Hunte International Makeup Academy, an Ephraim Hunte Trophy sponsored by Republic Bank, a first place plaque, a complete cosmetics kit and a one year work contract as a make-up artist courtesy Maybelline New York.
The second prize was conferred upon Danah Joseph of YTEPP Maloney, who received a plaque and cosmetics hamper from Maybelline New York and the third place plaque and cosmetics hamper was given to Nikesha Salvary of New Beginning Hair and Beauty Salon and School, Port- of- Spain. All in all, a new hope was offered to young make-up artists generated by Ephraim Hunte, who has indeed made make-up artistry a worthy career within Trinidad and Tobago and by extension, the Caribbean.