Beauty is in the eye of the (Be)holder… What I learned from working in a Pageant

July 30 and 31 were one of the best working weekend dates I had after coming from a long vacation. Remember the Inglot Polishing Workshop I wrote about before? While I only had 2 days to work with these lovely ladies, the rest of the United Makeup Artists of the Philippines (UMAP) artists had a month to bond with these beauties.  Saturday was for the “Mutya ng Pilipinas” Candidates 2016 and Sunday belonged to the Mr. and Miss Chinatown 2016.

Both events were sponsored by Inglot Cosmetics and by Cynos Hair products. Status Salon Manila provided the hair and makeup requirements while the rest of the team was composed of the UMAP members.

Here is what I learned from this gig:

1. Be prepared to wait.

Patience is a virtue you need to master, if you are a makeup artist.  Call times are usually early (like 7 am at the venue in this case). It was in Resorts World Manila Newport Theater and we considered ourselves lucky that we had ample time to set up.  Mirrors with lights and a table were provided, so we were thankful for any kind of help. Candidates showed up at 8:30 am and we began working on them between 9:00-9:30 am.  In between this,  all candidates are being called by the director for a technical rehearsal which lasts from 2 -6 hours depending on the amount they have to cover.  While waiting, we went through our pegs, makeup and saw to it everything had to be ready when the ladies came back.  Clean your tools, glue single lashes, tidy your work space were some of the things we did to while the time.

Selfie while waiting for the candidates to return from a technical rehearsal.
Selfie while waiting for the candidates to return from a technical rehearsal.

 

Our Working Tables
Our Working Tables

2. Be flexible in your expectations.

This is not about you but more importantly this is a test of character.  There are many things going on simultaneously from the floor and stage directors screaming. “Girls, you have 3 minutes to change” to Girls, you have to run! We’re starting the evening gown portion!” Mind you, these gowns are heavy and difficult to put on.  Part of the job is to be able to help these ladies move as fast as they can by helping them dress up, strap on their stilettos and sometimes be a fashion stylist like securing their gowns with a safety pin because the gown is simply a size smaller than expected.  Yes, you will be a multi-tasker in events like these, and you have to be OK with that.

Backstage, Prayer before the show
Backstage, Prayer before the show

 

Hazel anothet UMAP member is practicing the art of Zen in her touch up before the show.
Hazel anothet UMAP member is practicing the art of Zen in her touch up before the show.

3. Pageant Makeup is designed to be seen.  

Because of the Polishing Workshop we had to undergo with Inglot, pageant makeup is a glamourised version of the classic look, a bolder version of your traditional smokey eye.  Harsh lights can drown out the colours you’ve put on.  It is important to layer your makeup, and make sure it is still blended and well put together. Peg for all seasons, Pia Wurtzback, 2015 Miss Universe.

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Pageant Makeup Peg

 

Makeup Peg for Mutya
Photo from Xyrene Eugenio, Inglot makeup affiliate who spearheaded this event for UMAP. Onin Bolos UMAP Member also did the makeup here which we used as our peg for the makeup look.

4. Be a Jack of All trades

When we were all done with the candidates, our work did not end there.  We were assigned tasks to do last minute touch ups before the ladies were whisked away onto the stage.  Two artists were in charge of applying powder and blush, one was assigned to check the lashes and bring glue, and one was in charge of applying lipstick and gloss.  The hair team was also divided so they can do touch ups for the hair.  It didn’t end there: We were looking at the TV monitor to check the makeup to see if we needed to add or lessen the makeup.  We were required to always be on standby behind the wings for costume changes.

Mindset: You are the hired help for the day so leave your ego at home.

5. Makeup tips learned from the event

Ace of base was the Inglot HD foundation in shades 71, 73 and 77 to create that flawless “Cutis Porcelana” look.  No airbrush here, we layered this 2x and buffed it well into the skin,

Inglot hd_shade_chart
Kutis Porcelana

Blush Palette used were:

Inglot Blush #46
Coral Peach tones Inglot #46. Photo from Xyrene Eugenio

 

Inglot Blush #29
Inglot blush #29 another coral peach tone blush. Photo from Onin Bolos, another UMAP member

 

Inglot Blush #28
Inglot blush #28, a neutral pink blush. Photo from Xyrene Eugenio

To set the makeup and make it last longer, we used the baking technique.  We also had to use a lighter concealer to give the face a nice highlight.

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I just buffed the powder on my candidate. Check out the candidate on the left side. Maryann Obias is applying this technique on her candidate.  Photo from Michelle Viray UMAP Member

 

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Finished result on Aeryka Chu Candidate #7 for Mr and Miss Chinatown 2016

Contour does not need to be heavy but sculpted cheekbones were a must for this event to give depth to the face.  We used Inglot no. 505

Inglot 505 Contour
Inglot 505 was used to sculpt the cheeks and give the face depth.

Since the eyes needed to stand out, we were instructed to use fuller, wispy lashes to add drama.

Lashes for Pageants
Photo from Xyrene Eugenio. She used these wispy babies. Notice the full stack but they were still light when applied.

 

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Photo from Michelle Viray. Like a surgeon, Maryann OBias  skilfully applies the lashes.

Neutral palette was used on the eyes.  No blue, green, pink or lavender colours here, just earthy brown tones.  No glitters or frost as this looks dirty on camera.

 

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I doubled up on my lashes. Since I had fairly light ones, sometimes I glued 3 thin lashes to get the desired effect.

 

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Mr and Miss Chinatown Candidate # 9 Shireen Rosales.

 

Male grooming should be simple and natural.  Bronzer was used to warm up the face.  Skin tone was evened out with a light application of foundation, concealer when needed and loose powder o set the makeup.  A touch of lip balm was applied to make the lips soft.

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Mr and Miss Chinatown 2016 Candidate no. 11 Richmond Balila

Contact lens were used by the candidates to make the eyes stand out in front of the camera.

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Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga 2016 Candidate no. 11 Rhancoise Mayangitan

 

Rhancoise Mayangitan #11
Photo taken from Rhancoise Mayangitan. Credit belongs to owner

 

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Mutya ng Pilipinas Batangas 2016 Candidate # 22 Rianne Kalaw

 

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Mutya ng Pilipinas Japan 2016 Candidate # 13 Mayu Murakami.

 

Mayu made it to the Top 10! Candidate #13 is her lucky number!
Mayu made it to the Top 10! Candidate #13 is her lucky number!

Scenes from the 2 events

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Shireen Rosales Candidate #9 Mr and Miss Chinatown 2016 won Best in Talent. Photo courtesy of Michelle Viray

 

Shireen # 9 Best in Talent
Photo courtesy of Joselito Caleon

 

Richard Balila no 11
Photo courtesy from Joselito Caleon. Candidate #11 Richmond Balila

 

 

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A quick photo before heading out to the stage for their opening number. Candidates of Mr and Miss Chinatown 2016

 

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Feathers and Boas for the opening number of Mutya ng Pilipinas Candidate # 11

 

At a days end actually it was 10:30 pm. We were a tired but happy bunch. L-R Pilita Guadines, Onin Bolos, Charisma Vergara, Maryann Obias and Acie Fores
At a days end actually it was 10:30 pm. We were a tired but happy bunch. L-R Pilita Guadines, Onin Bolos, Charisma Vergara, Maryann Obias and Acie Fores

 

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Another shot of the working group, From L-R, Michelle Viray, Amy Villatuya, Charisma Vergara, Onin Bolos, Pilita Guadines, Marjorie Divina, Maryann Obias, Acie Fores and Xyrene Eugenio

 

Bulaga of the night, Selfie with Makeup artist to the stars, RB Chanco backstage. Thrilled to the max!
Bulaga of the night, Selfie with Makeup artist to the stars, RB Chanco backstage. Thrilled to the max!

Being on the other end of this event, pageants are definitely hard work both for the candidates and for us hair and makeup artists.  It is a stepping stone for most of them and while they pursue their dreams of becoming ambassadors of change or tourism, for us makeup artists, we are glad to share in their experience on their path to success and hope.

  1. I can only imagine how chaotic it is inside the room where all the contestants are there also. It kind of gave me the vibe like that of a speed car race. All teams are prepared to fix the car as it goes to the pitstop. Same goes here.

    As a wedding photographer,I’ve already seen how crowded and chaotic is the bride’s room. What more in this pageant. Right?

  2. Thank you for sharing the makeup tips. I’m pretty new to it and plan on becoming somewhat good at it, so I can do my makeup on occasions instead of running to the parlor! Beauty does lie in the eyes of the beholder, and all the people in your pics look drop-dead gorgeous 🙂
    Wonderful learnings from your experience!

  3. Must be very tiring but if it’s your passion, why not! Make up artists are really the one that can either make of break the look of the person so I can only imagine the work done here. These kind of events must be really stressful but the end product will always be worth it. 😉

    1. Hi Maaya! Hair and makeup artists are part of the creative team, I failed to mention that Designers are also responsible for the total look of the candidate. Some of them were also in a state of panic specially when the gown is not a right fit or when they need to sew it on the spot to make it work.

  4. It’s pretty amazing. Seeing people getting dolled up by artists like you, it makes me feel like they’re dolls. Just waiting for their turn to be dressed up, fixed and walk on stage and do their stuff. It’s not only the outside appearance but also on how they pull it off. So amazing!

  5. This is cool! I am not into make ups but I love watching beauty contests I love how each of the candidates show their confidence and grace. If given a chance to be judge them, oh that would give me head aches since whenever I watch I think all of them are great. Things would just differ during q&a.

    1. Judging is difficult particularly when the candidates exude confidence, smarts and of course beauty. Its not easy to single them out. All of them have their unique personality, I would not want to be a judge either. 😀

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