Srinagar, February 27: Iqra Firdous, 33, a resident of Srinagar runs the first makeup academy in the valley under the name ‘Magic Hands Makeup Academy’ where she provides makeup lessons and training in henna, makeup and hair styling.

Iqra said that all the courses are certified and in the future she will introduce some other courses like cutting and sewing.

Speaking about her struggle, she said, “I got my first job in 2007 as a counselor in an education consultancy firm and my first salary was just Rs 2,200. My family was not happy because it was a private job. I have also worked in different Multinationals like HDFC BANK, Metlife India Insurance Max Life Insurance, Sun Birla and my family did not support me.

Later, Iqra launched network marketing (multi-level marketing) in 2013.

“After working for several years at different places in 2017, I started my own salon-cum academy ‘Magic Hands Makeup Academy’ which is so far the only academy in Kashmir Valley,” she said. added.

Talking about the challenges, she said, “It was not easy for me to start my own business, this time again I faced a lot of negativities from my family, relatives and society. But this time I didn’t give up because my husband is my biggest moral support, I kept moving forward.

Iqra has had her makeup lessons from Lakme Academy and Moulana Azad Foundation, Urban Color (sister company of Color Bar) and PMKVY.

“Magic Hands Makeup Academy not only trains students, but also gives our students the opportunity to work in different fields,” she added,

“In Kashmir, bridal makeup is the only preference, but our students work as makeup artists in pre-wedding shoots, music album songs, Bollywood movies, commercial shoots, portfolio shoots and more again.

We had worked with Zee Music Company on “JATE ​​JATE” music album and also worked on PINJRA music album with Abhishek Kapur and Charlie Chauhan as makeup artists. One of our students also worked in this Pinjra Soliha Rafiq.

Ashvin Chwala who runs Chawala Balaji studio from Rishi kesh, Wedding Tasveer Rahul Punjabi from Jaipur provided us pre-wedding shoot in which we worked as makeup artist and many more.

Sharing upcoming projects, “there are many we will be working with but one of our current projects which will start soon Vibrant Kashmir which features Mumbai based production house Samar Productions.”

“I would like to contribute to my society in such a way that I win and not many people have the chance to win with me because Kashmiri youth need opportunities to work as we know we have limited choice to choose our career and I work for it without disturbing our social principles. And especially it is for those who are not highly qualified, ”she added.