REACHING FOR THE STARS
MAKE-UP ARTIST ASHLEI MAJOR IS MAKING A NAME FOR HERSELF IN THE WORLD OF HIGH FASHION
Drawing inspiration from her culture and heritage has been a gamechanger for Ashlei Major. The 23-year-old Waluwarra woman, who also has Greek heritage, is making waves on the global beauty stage as an in-demand make-up artist.
The Townsville-based artist is even collaborating with one of the world’s most well-known pop stars, Rihanna, with her fasion label Fenty Beauty.
Fenty Beauty was launched in 2017 by Rihanna as her personal project, and is known for its inclusivity across skin tones and gender.
“It’s just incredible that I can forge that sort of relationship without even leaving Queensland,” Townsville-based Ashlei explains.
“I was shocked when they reached out to me but my dream is to showcase my talents on the world stage, so this is such a huge opportunity.
“Hopefully it leads to more collaborations.”
Ashlei also does work with Mecca and Adore Beauty on social media.
“I was first contacted by Mecca to be on their public relations list and I’m also currently working with Adore Beauty on creating content on Tik Tok (@itsashleimajor), IGTV (@ashlei_major) and YouTube (youtu.be/p0X5Rg8Dtss). I’ve also worked with (Australian-made skincare range) Frank Body,” she says.
“I’m still on cloud nine about both of these amazing opportunities. During a time where there is so much hardship, I’ve found a career I believe I gel into so well.”
Despite being a make-up artist for only four years, Ashlei and her artistic talents have already amassed a following on social media through TikTok and Instagram.
She has built up 20,000 followers on TikTok and more than 2000 on Instagram.
Her videos on TikTok receive hundreds of thousands of views.
The young talent has a global market in the palm of her hand.
“North Queensland’s not really known for fashion and beauty but there’s a lot of talented make-up artists coming out of here,” she says.
“With international travel shut down, everyone’s turning to social media to show off their work so it doesn’t really matter where in the world you are these days.
“I think it’s pretty cool that I can have a global reach while living in a regional centre of Australia. In this digital age, it’s fantastic that people don’t need to move to a major city to achieve their career goals.”
One of the artist’s most viewed works on
social media generated nearly one million views.
“It was inspired by my connection with my late Nanna and I created the body-art look based on my connection with her and my connection spiritually,” she says.
Another post that was inspired by not only Ashlei’s heritage but from the concept of isolation netted 200,000 views.
When Ashlei was completing a Diploma of Screen and Media, specialising in make-up services at TAFE in Pimlico, she was asked to create a body-art look based on how isolation has affected the community.
“The content that I created from this challenge is actually what opened up the work I’m now doing,” she says.
“The whole look was designed to look like my model, who is a proud Gangula and Barunggam woman, was walking through the painting, being one with the journey and being one with her ancestors.”
Ashlei, who works at The Make-Up Mirror, says that while growing up she didn’t really know much about her Aboriginal culture.
“But I’ve always been a proud Aboriginal woman,” she says. “I always will be.
“When my nan passed away and during Sorry Time it became really clear that finding out who I am, culturally and spiritually, had to become a priority in my life.
“I was happy I can take inspiration from my culture and put it into my life’s work. I like incorporating my Aboriginal heritage in my make-up looks.”
Although Ashlei has only a few years of
make-up experience under her belt, she has had a lifelong passion and talent for art.
“My creative background is drawing and painting, specialising in realistic portraits,” Ashlei says.
“I have been drawing and painting my whole life, so it wasn’t a major jump to move into make-up design.”
Ashlei has her eye on working for film and television productions.
“I really love doing what I am doing at the moment, working with e-commerce but down the track I’d like to do special effects
make-up. I like doing special effects make-up like what is needed for any gory scenes or in horror movies.
“Things like designing fake injuries and other body injuries take a lot of skill and time to do, and doing that is so much fun.”
But Ahslei says she also loves doing glamour make-up.
“I enjoy the transformation process when it comes to make-up artistry,” she says. “I so love seeing the reaction of people when they see themselves after a makeover.
“The correct application of make-up can completely transform someone, and seeing the look of joy on someone’s face after they see themselves in the mirror for the first time after I’ve done their make-up is very rewarding.
“I love that every face is so unique, so every day is so unique when it comes to applying make-up to my clients.
“I really feel so happy to be making a living in this industry.”
The St Margaret Mary’s College graduate says she is grateful to have the opportunity to gain formal qualifications in make-up design.
Huxley make-up school has been running out of TAFE Queensland’s Pimlico campus for two years and Ashlei is one of its graduates.
Huxley founder Michael Huxley says he is passionate about unearthing regional talent in fashion.
“North Queensland has some of the best make-up artists I’ve ever seen,” he says.
“Ashlei absolutely is a success story. Her work with Fenty Beauty is proof of that.”
Michael says he wants to see more regional Queenslanders in the beauty industry, believing there’s a lot of untapped talent outside of the big capital cities.
“I’m actually sending some of my Gold Coast based trainers to Townsville to help my students there continue their study,” he says.
“With the make-up school in Townsville, there’s now a clear career path for Townsville residents wanting to make their mark in make-up.
“I’m really passionate about unearthing regional talent in fashion and North Queensland has some of the best make-up artists I’ve ever seen.”