Calgary Herald

Creations attract fans from around the globe

Paint and special techniques transform makeup pro

- DARKO VOJINOVIC

It took Mirjana SMEDEREVO, SERBIA Milosevic less than an hour to transform into a zombie. The Serbian makeup artist also can turn into a skeleton or a genie and make body parts disappear.

Milosevic, 36, has attracted fans around the world for the illusions she creates on and with her own body. She records the whole process and posts videos on YouTube and social networks under the profession­al name Kika.

Milosevic creates her videos, which have earned her millions of views, in a studio in her home in the central Serbian town of Sme- derevo. There, in front of a dressing table and surrounded by mirrors, she picks the tools that will immerse her in a new role.

With makeup pencils, brushes and face paints, Milosevic slowly creates an image that completely changes her appearance. Flawless black lines appear as contours, then symbols resembling neck tattoos. An outline coloured in with white becomes a mask that reveals hollowed-out and sharp teeth.

A zombie is born.

Her signature skin illusions take longer, Milosevic says. She puts in days of contemplat­ion and planning, followed by hours and hours of work, to put a hollow in her stomach or to appear without a head.

The artist says she always liked to draw, but never on paper. As a young girl, Milosevic drew on walls and tables, as well as her legs and arms.

“My parents say I learned to draw before I could walk,” Milosevic said.

Milosevic says her favourite selfimpose­d illusion is the Wooden Puppet Doll — a blue-haired doll with a string for a stomach and wood body parts — that in 2016 won her an award sponsored by makeup brand NYX and opened doors.

“The wooden puppet changed my life,” she said.

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 ?? PHOTOS: DARKO VOJINOVIC/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Mirjana Milosevic, a Serbian makeup artist also known as Kika, creates signature skin illusions that attract fans from around the globe.
PHOTOS: DARKO VOJINOVIC/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Mirjana Milosevic, a Serbian makeup artist also known as Kika, creates signature skin illusions that attract fans from around the globe.
 ??  ?? With makeup brushes and face paints, Milosevic gradually fills in the lines.
With makeup brushes and face paints, Milosevic gradually fills in the lines.
 ??  ?? Milosevic begins her transforma­tion in her home studio in the Serbian town of Smederevo.
Milosevic begins her transforma­tion in her home studio in the Serbian town of Smederevo.
 ??  ?? She draws strategic lines on her face with a makeup pencil.
She draws strategic lines on her face with a makeup pencil.
 ??  ?? She finishes her dramatic look by applying makeup on her teeth.
She finishes her dramatic look by applying makeup on her teeth.

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