LADY OF THE MONTH – ANNE MAGADIA – Ladies Who Online

I’ve known Anne for a very long time (probably two decades), and through the years, I have seen her rise from the ranks – from being a video editor to now a Certified Makeup Artist and Hairstylist. When she was starting her makeup portfolio in 2008, she asked me and my boyfriend (now husband) to model for her nuptial set. As she was preparing my bridal look, she excitedly asked if she could do mine when I get married. And she did, eight years later. Anne has been to a lot of my milestones – from doing my makeup for graduation to job interviews. I’ve learned so much from her, and I’m sure you will, too.

Anne is a Certified Makeup Artist and Hairstylist who trained in the Philippines and abroad. She’s also the owner and Head HMU of Makeup by Anne Magadia. Her love for water also ignited her interest to learn scuba diving, which earned her a license later on. She also does freediving whenever she has the time, as she considers it is one of the best physical exercises. For her, being underwater calms and rejuvenates her the most. Apart from being a HMUA and diver, she is also proud to announce her newest achievement in life – becoming a new mom to her adorable son, River. 

The Filipina HMUA who lives in the Philippines loves to cook Filipino dishes like Caldereta, Kare-Kare, and Sisig (her specialties). She shared, “I got my enthusiasm in cooking from my mama. If I am not in the beauty industry, I would probably work in the kitchen as a cook in a dive resort.” Also friendly by nature, Anne can’t help but be friends with almost everyone she meets. They say that if you have a lot of friends, only a few of them are real. Well, this doesn’t apply to her, as she has over ten real friends. “I believe that it’s a gift. Most of my friends say I have a sunny disposition in life that makes me easy to like,” she added.

Anne is also very much a fan of inner beauty. She quoted, “beauty has nothing to do with looks. But it has everything to do with how you are as a person and how you make others feel about themselves.”

INSPIRATIONS | When Anne was a kid, she looked to her family as her inspiration to work hard. “I started working at the very young age of nine. I used to rent comics and sell sugarcane in front of our house. I sometimes work in the onion fields, too. The thought of improving our lives was instilled in my head. I always wanted to provide and help them to be, at least, a little bit comfortable in life. Later on, I was inspired even more by my significant other. I think he is the most hardworking person I have ever met. He inspired me that no time will be wasted if you work hard,” she shared.

Anne came from a broken family and was strapped financially growing up. They always had to move apartments because they couldn’t pay the rent. They also struggled in school and couldn’t take their exams as they failed to pay their tuition on time. But her dream as a little girl, however simple it was, was to have food on their plates, a roof over their heads, clothes to wear and to finish their education (the toughest challenge for her). But her trials in life inspired her to do more and to be more for her family, which helped fuel her passion in life. “As I got older, it was when I started dreaming of becoming this and that. Then I held a brush and some makeup. It’s when I realized that makeup artistry is my passion,” Anne shared. 

WORK-LIFE BALANCE | Before motherhood, Anne was the spontaneous type. She wasn’t much of a planner, but she still went with the rules and tried her best to stick to them. “Since most of my work/shoot/gigs are during weekends, I book nothing recreational during this time, as I always reserve these days to make a living. I usually allot Friday preparing my tools and myself for the busy weekend ahead. I also make sure I have the energy and knowledge to do my job well. And when I’m done, I take a rest every Monday to sleep the entire day so I can recover; and then allot my Tuesdays for cleaning/disinfecting my tools and cosmetics. Now I dedicate the rest of the week to other matters like putting in time for my family, doing household chores, attending to obligations, and spending fun activities like malling, meeting friends, diving in the ocean, and watching movies. But sometimes, I also break my rules when needed,” Anne shared.

SUCCESS HABITS | Anne has had to work extra harder on mastering her craft and was never afraid of failing. “My failures made me bolder and wiser. For me, failure is crafted solely for you so that you can turn into something bigger. Most of my clients compliment me for being a professional because I arrive on time, and I am always well prepared. I have back-ups and can always answer their questions. And if I do not know the answer, I make sure to do the necessary research and return to them with the best response. I never stop learning. I keep reading books to learn more. And I keep myself presentable all the time,” she shared. 

She finds that she’s even more successful in life because she makes time for sleep. For her, having enough sleep makes her function better daily. She also loves to get up early because she doesn’t like wasting time. Indeed, the early bird catches the worm. “I always happen to book and get projects because I reply right away. And I get to do all of this because I wake up early,” Anne said. She also exercises and does yoga and diving to help her from feeling burned out.

Anne is also grateful for how far she’s gone in the industry. After all, she sought the wisdom of her elders because experienced people know the tricks of life the most. “But most importantly, I pray. Prayer is still the most powerful tool to help you achieve something and to send our gratefulness to our Heavenly Father,” Anne said.

A STRONG FEMALE LEADER | “The makeup industry used to be ruled by the gay community. They used to be more favored, but not anymore because most women now prefer to hire female makeup artists.”

The beauty industry may also have this stigma that makeup artists who have celebrities for clients are already the best ones and with the most number of clientele. But for Anne, she proved that she didn’t need to be a celebrity makeup artist to be successful in her chosen field. For her, her passion is more than enough to fuel everything in her career. She shared, “I may not be painting the faces of our famous local celebrities, but I surely made hundreds of brides and women truly pleased. I am also happy and proud that I was able to place as a key makeup artist in one of the recent Indie films in Hollywood.”

LEARNING FROM MISTAKES AND HAVING NO REGRETS | The hardest thing she’s ever had to do in her career was finally going solo. Anne ventured into the makeup industry with a business partner by her side. But leaving that partnership years later was a leap of faith for her, and she’s grateful that she made the right choice.

As a businesswoman, she’s also made a lot of mistakes along the way like pleasing people even if she wasn’t happy anymore, sacrificing her peace and happiness for the sake of others, and forgiving and hiring people back again who repeatedly wronged her at work. “I used to have a soft heart. But I learned how to deal with people better. I try not to commit the same mistakes twice,” she shared.
WORDS OF WISDOM | Anne wants the next generation of young women to succeed in the workplace or business and imparts some great advice for all the ladies who are dreamers and achievers like her. “You will encounter unpleasant workmates and clients along the way, but try not to mind them. You may not be able to control your emotions, but you can control your reaction. Just deliver what you are supposed to do and be polite and professional. Now there is also an upside to this, as you will meet your future role models and mentors as you go along. Keep them in your heart, and you will surely learn from them. And when it comes to business, don’t be afraid to showcase your talent. It’s okay to start doing pro bono work because sooner or later, you’ll find yourself closing a deal every week. Also, stay humble. Don’t be rude. Always be thankful to those who are helping you. In return, help those who are just starting their businesses, too.”

Love and light, Mai