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Blanche Macdonald Makeup Graduate, Timothy Hung : Living La Dolce Vita.

It’s a long way from Vancouver to Milan, but it’s a journey Timothy Hung is very familiar with. As a freelance makeup artist with deep roots in the fashion industry, he feels perfectly at home working in Italy’s style Mecca. He should do. He spent three years studying fashion in the city, sandwiched around a year shining on the Makeup Program at the Blanche Macdonald Centre. 

Actually, there’s very little Timothy doesn’t shine at. He’s a brilliant makeup artist and an award-winning fashion designer. He’s also an accomplished pianist and composer, and a budding movie production designer. He has a cracking sense of humour too. 

“I’m a crazy perfectionist,” he laughs. “I always try to exceed people’s expectations. I either motivated my classmates or drove them insane!”

If Timothy set a high standard for his colleagues at Blanche Macdonald, it was only because that’s the standard he set for himself. Although, ironically, it was an unlucky break that brought him to Canada’s top makeup school to begin with.

A Winning Weekend: Blanche Macdonald's Makeup Students and Artists create the 'Wow Factor' at Vancouver's International Makeup Tradeshow.

The first ever International Makeup Artist Trade Show (IMATS) to be held in Vancouver was a triumph for Canada’s top makeup school this April. Under the watchful eyes of many of the World’s leading makeup artists, students and graduates from the Blanche Macdonald Centre shone over two days of incredible creativity.

Two of the weekend’s highlights were a pair of competitions, Fashion/Fantasy and Character/Prosthetics, open to makeup students from across the globe. Out of thousands of entries from students and makeup schools around the world, no less than six Blanche Macdonald students were selected to compete in these finals.

“The fact that the IMATS has come to Vancouver speaks volumes about how big this city’s makeup industry has become,” explains Blanche Macdonald’s Makeup Program Director Karen Esprez. “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be a makeup artist in Vancouver. From beauty to fashion to special effects, the IMATS demonstrated that’s there’s an incredible amount of talent in this city.”

Blanche Macdonald Makeup Graduate Teslin Ward: From Ballroom to Beauty

Calgary’s Teslin Ward didn’t grow up with a passion for makeup. Her young heart was elsewhere. On the dance floor to be precise.

“I used to be a competitive ballroom dancer,” explains the Blanche Macdonald makeup graduate. “I did Latin dancing. When my partner moved back to Montreal, I stopped, which was just around the time shows like Dancing with the Stars started to catch on. I’m still dancing, but not competitively anymore.”

Teslin can laugh now she’s one of the busiest up-and-coming makeup artists for Calgary’s fashion and print industries. Because if it weren’t for her time on the dance floor, she might never have made her way to Canada’s top makeup school.

Pro Hair Graduate Chelsea Kapiniak Keeps it Cool in Saskatoon

There’s no such thing as too much education. Saskatoon’s Chelsea Kapiniak enjoyed studying at the Blanche Macdonald Centre so much, as soon as she graduated the Makeup Artistry program, she signed up for the Pro Hair program.

That commitment to learning paid off. Now she’s a star at The Cutting Café, one her hometown’s most acclaimed hair and beauty salons, wowing Saskatonians (that’s really what they’re called) with her hair and makeup skills.

So what was Chelsea’s prime motivation through her two years of study at Blanche Macdonald? Long-held career goals? Academic achievement? Apparently, the answer was ‘fun’.

“I’ve spoken to people who studied in makeup and hair colleges in Saskatchewan who couldn’t wait to get out of school,” explains Chelsea. “That’s totally not like how it was for me. I was so sad to leave. I loved every day at Blanche Macdonald. Every day I was in such a good mood.”

That mood began with the Makeup Diploma, where the girl in love with movie glamour became infatuated with the darker side of makeup.

“I loved the special effects and the gory stuff when I was at Blanche Macdonald,” she admits. “I didn’t think I was interested in that before I started.”

She found herself drawn to Blanche Macdonald’s Hair department, especially after hearing reviews from students enjoying their time on the course.

Olympic moments: Blanche Macdonald gives Vancouver a Golden Glow

The sights and excitement of the 2010 Olympics will be forever seared into the memory of anyone lucky enough to have been in Vancouver during the Games. The two weeks were awash with unforgettable highlights: spectacular ceremonies, incredible performances, dancing in the streets and many, many Canadian gold medals.

The Blanche Macdonald Centre had its own share of Olympic glory, with instructors, graduates and students seizing the unique opportunity to play their part in ensuring the Games looked great from beginning to end.

“Blanche Macdonald was the only makeup school contacted by MAC and VANOC to assist on the Opening and Closing Ceremonies,” explains Blanche Macdonald’s Makeup Program Director Karen Esprez, “Associate Makeup Director, Jennifer Powell and I worked with MAC’s Pro Makeup Artist Caitlin Callahan to determine who would assist the MAC Makeup team. With the entire world watching, it was an incredible vote of confidence from MAC in the quality of makeup artist we’re producing at Blanche Macdonald.”

Makeup Graduate Lily Lin Triumphs in Taiwan

Lily Lin is as modest as they come. Ask about her successes as one of Taiwan’s top makeup artists, and she barely mentions that she’s worked with model/actress superstars like Jaline Yeh, Andréa Chen and Elana Tsai, and fashion lines including Issey Miyake.

Lily doesn’t feel the need to proclaim her triumphs to the world. Instead, the Blanche Macdonald Makeup grad has the quiet confidence that comes from knowing she’s taken bold steps to create an amazing career for herself. A year out of Canada’s top makeup school and eager to immerse herself in the fashion industry, Lily decided to move back to her native Taiwan after thirteen happy years living and studying in Vancouver.

“I felt that there was more opportunity for me in fashion in Taiwan,” she explains during one of her regular visits to Vancouver. “That’s why I moved back. There’s a big fashion industry and lots of fashion magazines there.”

Fashion Merchandising Graduate Nicole Dennis Durnin Puts Vancouver Style on the World Stage at LYNNsteven Boutique

We think LYNNsteven Boutique in Vancouver’s trendy Gastown is fabulous. But then again, we’re biased. Its owner, Nicole Dennis Durnin, graduated Blanche Macdonald’s Fashion Merchandising Program in 2003. That makes her family.

We’re not alone though. The International Interior Design Association agrees. This global organisation of Designers and Architects named LYNNsteven the World’s ‘Best Retail Space’ and 'Best in Show' in their 2010 Awards. The experts have spoken. And they think LYNNsteven is fabulous too.

Nicole didn’t become the owner of an award-winning boutique overnight. It’s the end result of a lifetime love affair with fashion, 18 years experience in retail and a Fashion Merchandising Certificate from the Blanche Macdonald Centre.

“Fashion has always been a huge passion for me,” she reveals. “I knew I had to work in fashion. My mother could tell you stories. Apparently I was dressing myself from the time I was two or three.”

Nicole had already found a job in the industry when she decided to further her career with some formal fashion training.

Esthetics Graduate Simona Gozner: From Dreams to Director

Hollywood doesn’t make biopics on estheticians yet. There are still a few athletes, revolutionaries and rock stars to tick off the list first. When they do get to estheticians however, they’ll probably begin with Blanche Macdonald graduate Simona Gozner.

Twenty years ago she was a refugee in a foreign land. Now, after a triumphal career, topped with two years as Western Canada’s Business Development Manager for Nordic Selfcare Institute, Simona is returning to the school as Director of Esthetics.

Simona’s incredible story begins in 1989 in her native Romania with the violent overthrow of the dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu.

“I was working for a fashion company, drawing patterns and helping with the collections,” she recalls. “I wanted to be a doctor but when the revolution happened everything changed. I went to Switzerland as a refugee in 1990. I had to learn German. I did odd jobs. It wasn’t easy, but it makes you stronger. In January 1993 my refugee status was declined and I had to go back to Romania.”

Two years later, married and mother to a nine month-old son, Simona braced herself for another momentous upheaval. Her family’s immigration papers had come through, and they were moving to Vancouver, Canada.

Esthetics Graduate Jessica Rouse, salon owner, waxes Montana's Wilderness at The Grizzly Bare

Think of the American state of Montana. You’re most likely conjuring up images of rugged mountains and rugged people with fishing rods and hunting rifles in their hands, enjoying the outdoor life in one of the United States’ few remaining wildernesses.

They may breed people rough and ready in Montana, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like feeling good about themselves. That’s the logic that’s turning Blanche Macdonald esthetics graduate Jessica Rouse’s waxing salon, The Grizzly Bare, into a success story in the cosmopolitan town of Missoula, home of the University of Montana.

"Missoula is a lot like Kamloops, British Columbia, which is where I grew up,” explains Jessica. “So it wasn’t that big of a change for me to move here. Montana is very much like BC. Snow in winter and hot in the summer, and we are surrounded by mountains. People are very freethinking and artistic here. It’s a very community-orientated place. And everybody is so friendly."

Jessica moved to the US to be with her American husband, but there will always be a small part of her heart in Vancouver, the city she loved even before she came to the Blanche Macdonald Centre.

“I moved to Vancouver five years before I went to Blanche Macdonald,” she explains. “I’d studied Fine Art at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, then I moved to Vancouver to take a photography course.”

Jessica grew up with two great passions – art and skincare. The opportunity to combine both brought her to Blanche Macdonald, Canada’s top Esthetics School.

Esthetics Graduate Kristie Thomas, Owner/Entrepreneur, Tastes the Fruits of Success at Cranberries Spa

It’s easy to miss Cranberries Spa. Tucked onto Robson Street directly opposite Vancouver’s colossal Central Library, it’s not a storefront that shouts about itself. It doesn’t have to. Cranberries is a spot Vancouverites in the know like to keep quiet about. They want it all for themselves. Because when the moment comes to take a break from Downtown Vancouver’s urban mania, they head to Cranberries and its owner, Blanche Macdonald Esthetics Graduate Kristie Thomas.

As a young entrepreneur running her own spa in the heart of Vancouver’s commercial district for the past five years, Kristie has had to rely on more than her skills as an esthetician. She’s needed to trust her business acumen too. Thankfully, she’s been blessed with both.

“I worked full time for four years before I opened Cranberries,” explains Kristie. “I worked in hair salons, a corporate spa and then this opportunity presented itself. Five years ago I was looking to move my career forward and heard there was a little spa for sale. I actually lived in this building, so I popped my head around the door, met the owner, and a few weeks later it was mine. It seemed like a really good idea.”

Opportunity knocked, Kristie answered and invited it in for an herbal tea and a manicure. That wouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone that knew her. Kristie’s never been afraid to make strong decisions based on good advice and self-confidence. It’s what brought her to Canada’s top esthetics school in the first place.