How I deal with discrimination as make-up artist – Franklin

Nineteen-year-old Franklin Kelechukwu Okoro is the CEO/Creative Director of Unusual Light Up, a makeup brand in Lagos. The Imo-state born artist is determined to make success out of the profession, despite the discrimination he has been subjected to. How did you come about this Make up Profession? I have loved Makeup since I was a […]

Nineteen-year-old Franklin Kelechukwu Okoro is the CEO/Creative Director of Unusual Light Up, a makeup brand in Lagos. The Imo-state born artist is determined to make success out of the profession, despite the discrimination he has been subjected to.

How did you come about this Make up Profession?

I have loved Makeup since I was a child. Whenever I see a lady apply good makeup on her face, I would find myself staring at the lady. I would stare from head to toe. At age seven, I used to make myself up. I would take some of my mum’s kits then and apply makeup on my face. After my Secondary education, I told my mum that I wanted to take professional makeup courses. My mum refused saying that that was not the kind of profession she wanted for me. My Aunt also begged my mum to let me take up the profession but my mum still refused me, telling me to go look for a job.

After I wrote my SSCE, I kept pressurizing my mum to allow me take up the profession but she still refused. After many pleas, my mum agreed and she supported me.

What was your learning experience?

My boss told me to come during weekdays from 10am to 6pm. I remember the first day of school; I woke up very early, finished my house chores on time and ran to my school. It was very odd for me at first, I felt very shy but I was very dedicated and eager to learn. My teacher loved my zeal. I kept practicing everything I was taught. I knew what I wanted; I kept begging my female friends to let me make them up. At one point, I started beating my own face. Whenever people came into our studio and saw me, they would say hurtful things about me being a male makeup artist but I didn’t mind. Some said I was behaving like a woman.

What inspired your brand name, Unusual Light Up?

I started my own brand on 21 December, 2020 when I took my first job at FESTAC. One thing about me is that I like doing extra. I talked to my sister about creating a name for myself, I told her about the name I had in mind: Unusual.  She said it was good and asked me to pray over it which I did. The name suits me, suits my personality and what I hope to achieve with my brand.

What are the challenges you face in the cause of your profession?

Discrimination is my major challenge. I get hurtful words thrown at me regularly for being a male makeup artist. Some say I have turned completely into a woman; some say I should have not come as a man; some say I am a disgrace. Even while I was still learning, when some clients came to our shop, they never let me work on their face because I am a boy and they felt I won’t do justice to it. Funding is another challenge for me, I remember when I was learning, I didn’t have money to purchase original products, I could not even afford a makeup box.

Apart from being a makeup artist, what else do you do?

I work in Alaba International Market as a sales boy. I am working so that I can save up money to open my own studio. I want to be fully independent by next year.

Do you have plans to further your education?

I want to go to school. By next year I will write my JAMB. I intend to go to National Open University (NOUN). That way, I would attend lectures on a part time basis and still be promoting my makeup brand.

What is your advice for teenagers who are into this?

I advise them to stay focused and true in whatever they are doing. Ignore the discrimination, look at the positive side and move on. Dream big and try as much as possible to achieve their dreams.