I was lucky enough to have been in contact with Karen through my twitter ,as i felt the most touched and inspired by the reasoning behind why she applied for the competition, as she has been battling with Acoustic Neuroma, I like the out look and take on life that it has given her. I asked her if I could ask her some questions about her experience with Illamasqua and her personal relationship with make up, I was reluctant to have gotten a response and I am eternally grateful! Thank you Karen!
'I will not become a watered down version of who I am'
I'm pretty much head over heels with the new collection by Illamasqua, not only have they produced amazing products as per, but they have also done something that normally wins brownie point in my books and that's by using REAL LIFE models. Yes the models you see in the adverts are real people, and not meaning in a nasty way, the people who you walk by every day and continue with your own life's stories. However the reason why I feel inspired by this collection is that each of these people have specific stories that relate both to the brand and to make up that help them in constructing who they are today.
Even though I think all of the stories that are presented on the website are great, I was drawn to Karen's story the most, I gave myself a little bit of homework to do and I researched this first time model who has hit the ground running may I say! I typed Karen Illamasqua into google and the first thing I was presented with was a whole article about her in the Liverpool Echo! I applaud the way that Karen approaches life, and how she does't like to do things by halves, which is what prompted her to enter the illamasqua competition. I can only imagine what winning the place to be apart of illamasqua's new campaign could have done to Karen's spirit as it is hard to understand in terms of what state of a mind a person who is dealing with a traumatic illness, having dealt with this second hand through my Mams Best friend and My aunty. However I admire women, and men for that fact who embrace life and live it to full. Which is exactly what Karen has done, especially on the shoot of the illamasqua campaign. We see Karen sporting a candy pink wig, and a face with beautifully applied make up that embraces both the spirit of Illamasqua's brand and Karen's own personal style.
To get Karen's look on the promo image, check out her page on illamasqua!
1. How were you approached to be a spokesperson so to speak for generation Q.
I entered their Beauty Before Age competition back in May of this year.
They were asking for REAL people who refuse to be a watered down version of their former selves once they have reached a certain age.
THIS IS ME !!!! I sent in 3 pics of myself, one with turquoise leopard print on
one side of my shaven head - this is created using their "Chasm"
pigment and sealing gel and then painted onto my hair and just washes out, the other was of one last
year in Ibiza when I glued glitter down the side of my face and over one eye in
gold and silver to match my dress when I was going to Amnesia to watch
Above and Beyond on my 44th Birthday. So, as you can probably tell by now ......
Im FAR
from watered down !!
2. What does make up mean to you personally? And has illamasqua played a part of this?
I entered their Beauty Before Age competition back in May of this year.
They were asking for REAL people who refuse to be a watered down version of their former selves once they have reached a certain age.
THIS IS ME !!!! I sent in 3 pics of myself, one with turquoise leopard print on
one side of my shaven head - this is created using their "Chasm"
pigment and sealing gel and then painted onto my hair and just washes out, the other was of one last
year in Ibiza when I glued glitter down the side of my face and over one eye in
gold and silver to match my dress when I was going to Amnesia to watch
Above and Beyond on my 44th Birthday. So, as you can probably tell by now ......
Im FAR
from watered down !!
 |
| Karen Used : Chasm Pigment and mixed it with Sealing gel to create the the leopard print pattern in hair. I LOVE IT! |
 |
| In terms of being watered down, Karen could probably be compared to double strength orange squash. Both style and make up are impeccable in this fabulous photograph! |
Make up cheers me up on the darkest of days, Im a very positive person and generally very upbeat, BUT everyone gets a little "fed up" at times and if I feel that way I slap on my colourful make up but especially really
bright glossy lips and then ..... smile and face the world !!! I went to another famous make up brand counter asking about a make-over
and said I was looking for bright bold lips and also distinctive smokey eyes and their
response was that I should do one or the other but not really both !!!
WHY ?? I love bright eyes and killer hot sexy lips and that is WHO I AM and WHO
I WANT TO BE !!! I moved on and spoke to Sophie on the Illamasqua counter in the
Traffford Centre who had Leopard print in her hair and I commented to her it was
stunning and was it "dyed" and she explained that is was their pigment and
sealer with a bit of black eyeliner to define the "spots". She painted the leopard
print in my hair there and then and I was HOOKED on Illamasqua ..... They want
you to express youself in whatever way makes you happy and I applaud them for
that. Now I ONLY EVER go to Illamasqua for my make up done for special occassions
as I am not a make up artist and have never had a make up lesson. I just have
a real PASSION for make up and Illamasqua positively encourage and help me
with any look I wish to achieve.
bright glossy lips and then ..... smile and face the world !!! I went to another famous make up brand counter asking about a make-over
and said I was looking for bright bold lips and also distinctive smokey eyes and their
response was that I should do one or the other but not really both !!!
WHY ?? I love bright eyes and killer hot sexy lips and that is WHO I AM and WHO
I WANT TO BE !!! I moved on and spoke to Sophie on the Illamasqua counter in the
Traffford Centre who had Leopard print in her hair and I commented to her it was
stunning and was it "dyed" and she explained that is was their pigment and
sealer with a bit of black eyeliner to define the "spots". She painted the leopard
print in my hair there and then and I was HOOKED on Illamasqua ..... They want
you to express youself in whatever way makes you happy and I applaud them for
that. Now I ONLY EVER go to Illamasqua for my make up done for special occassions
as I am not a make up artist and have never had a make up lesson. I just have
a real PASSION for make up and Illamasqua positively encourage and help me
with any look I wish to achieve.
3. What would you say your own make up style is?
VERY colourful, experimental (if you dont try things how do you know if
you will like them), bold and FUN. I suppose if I had a signature part of my
make up I would say "glossy, sexy, vibrant lips"
VERY colourful, experimental (if you dont try things how do you know if
you will like them), bold and FUN. I suppose if I had a signature part of my
make up I would say "glossy, sexy, vibrant lips"
4. Compared to your normal day, how was it being surrounded by the professional team at illamasqua (getting your make up done, photoshoot etc)
My normal day, well at least my working day is the extreme OPPOSITE of
glamorous, I work outside at an Oil Refinery in bright orange overalls,
steel toecapped boots, hardhat, glasses, gloves etc !!!! FAR from glam, BUT I
ALWAYS try to bring a little bit of glamour by having bright glossy lips and
my make up
on - quite a shock when some men come onto site and see me working
along side all the men as an equal but just looking a little better !!! Alex Box
is totally inspiring both as a person and an incredible make up artist.
She treats your face as a "canvas" and she creates a MASTERPIECE !! So much time
and precision its breathtaking to watch and such a priviledge to have been
"Boxed" as I like to say !! When I turned around to face the mirror when my
make up was complete it was simply STUNNING !! So many times I have had make up
done for me and NEVER have I ever wanted to buy the foundation that they use
....... my skin looked so youthful and so flawless I was STUNNED ! I cant wait to buy
Gleam so that I can try to replicate the look of my skin that day. The whole
experience is such a wonderful, inspiring and uplifting experience that I will
keep in my heart with me forever. I have had one of the worst years of my life
and this is the balance for that, one of the best experiences of my life. Im so
excited and proud words truly cannot express. Im just a normal every day woman who
works in a "factory", no modelling experience at all, nowhere near "model size"
and yet there I will be on the internet, stands and booklet helping to
advertise Generation Q. Extremely proud of myself and what Illamasqua stand for
and for taking the chance on using everyday people in their campaigns.
glamorous, I work outside at an Oil Refinery in bright orange overalls,
steel toecapped boots, hardhat, glasses, gloves etc !!!! FAR from glam, BUT I
ALWAYS try to bring a little bit of glamour by having bright glossy lips and
my make up
on - quite a shock when some men come onto site and see me working
along side all the men as an equal but just looking a little better !!! Alex Box
is totally inspiring both as a person and an incredible make up artist.
She treats your face as a "canvas" and she creates a MASTERPIECE !! So much time
and precision its breathtaking to watch and such a priviledge to have been
"Boxed" as I like to say !! When I turned around to face the mirror when my
make up was complete it was simply STUNNING !! So many times I have had make up
done for me and NEVER have I ever wanted to buy the foundation that they use
....... my skin looked so youthful and so flawless I was STUNNED ! I cant wait to buy
Gleam so that I can try to replicate the look of my skin that day. The whole
experience is such a wonderful, inspiring and uplifting experience that I will
keep in my heart with me forever. I have had one of the worst years of my life
and this is the balance for that, one of the best experiences of my life. Im so
excited and proud words truly cannot express. Im just a normal every day woman who
works in a "factory", no modelling experience at all, nowhere near "model size"
and yet there I will be on the internet, stands and booklet helping to
advertise Generation Q. Extremely proud of myself and what Illamasqua stand for
and for taking the chance on using everyday people in their campaigns.
5. Do you think you'll always experiment and use make up?
ALWAYS !!!!! Nothing and no one will ever stop me expressing my
colourful, bold personality through my make up and clothes !!
ALWAYS !!!!! Nothing and no one will ever stop me expressing my
colourful, bold personality through my make up and clothes !!
I urge you to check out the Illamasqua's New collection, Illamasqua's S.O.P.H.I.E and massive thank you to Karen who is on her own personal mission of raising awareness of Acoustic Neuromas.
I AM...
I AM...
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