Chances are you have seen Sue Wokabi on TV talking about her beauty line which she is very fond off. And to demonstrate how good her products are, she applies make up to model and voila…her products work magic.
Hers has been a long journey which has seen her develop the region’s first cosmetic line for African Women. Her beauty line SB (Suzie Beauty) has brought a revolution on how women in Kenya apply make up to enhance their beauty.
But did she always know this is what she wanted to do with her life? Let’s find out.
What did she study?
She studied International Relations at United States International University (USIU) in Nairobi before proceeding to USIU, San Diego, to complete her final year.
How did she find herself in the beauty industry?
In an interview with Passion magazine, Suzie reveals that she always wanted to know why beauty in general made so much news which made her become interested to find out more. “Then I discovered that the beauty industry supported a lot of people. I was encouraged to dive in and carve out a career from it,” Suzie says.
What was her first job in the beauty industry?
She got a job with MAC Cosmetics which is an eye-wear company in New York City.
What did she do to perfect her skills?
Sue enrolled with MAC Cosmetics for initial training which led to further studies at a make-up school in Los Angeles.
Did she ever regret pursuing International Relations at USIU?
“Sometimes I wondered why I had studied so rigorously for a degree that was clearly not going to be part to what I was pursuing,” Sue says.
What was her first job in the beauty industry?
Her first job title at the eye-wear company was Showroom Manager. This did not deter her from pursuing her passion. She started working with MAC Cosmetics on part-time basis. She worked for a whole year without pay.
What did she learn in that course of time?
“Being in close contact with professional models and photographers helped me perfect my skills and build a strong portfolio. I did that for a whole year without any pay at all,” she reveals.
When she came back to Kenya, what projects did she pertake?
She worked as a beauty expert in various TV shows such as Idols’08, Face of Africa ’09,Tusker Project Fame 2010 and Patricia Amira show.
What did she learn from these projects?
She realised there was a real need for products that are made for our colour and texture of skin. She decided to develop her own cosmetic line and then tried out her products on people during her work for magazines and films.
What are some of the challenges did she face?
“Financing, though has been a major challenge,” she admits. For her to get her product out in the market, it will cost millions of shillings that she is yet to secure. “Starting a new business requires passion, but you also need to come up with the money to transform your dream and hard work to reality,” she told Passion Magazine.
Who has been of the greatest motivation to her?
Her greatest motivator in the industry was the late Kevyn Aucoin (pro¬nounced Kevin Okwan) whom she describes as an amazing artiste of all time.
Whom does she admire the most?
She has great admiration too for the founders of MAC Cosmetics especially on the marketing front. “They never advertised but chose to test products on colleagues and close acquaintances. They are now multi-billionaires,” she reveals.
What is her advice to people who wants to venture in this line business?
“Humility is extremely important. Don’t take your customers for granted,” she says. “This is not an everyday career. Be passionate, humble and willing to pay your dues in order to get that much-coveted success.”
Courtesy: Passion Magazine
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