Our correspondent talks to the Chairperson of the Pakistan Beauty Alliance. Mona J’s name is not unheard of as far as beauticians go. A very popular spa and salon owner in Karachi, she has built up her PR with not only her dynamic persona but also expertise in the field. She has established herself well with a solid reputation in the beauty business and is currently heading the Pakistan Beauty Alliance where all the beauticians of Pakistan are given a platform to connect and be a part of the community. Ever ready to receive you with her endearing smile and charming mannerism; we had a lovely talk about her work over coffee in her tastefully decorated office, which is attached to the main spa. How would you define yourself? Did you ask me as an artist or a beautician? I call myself an artist. I know that by definition I am a beautician and aesthetician. But I see myself much more than just somebody who cuts hair or does makeup. I feel this is an art on a high, very high level. I use makeup as an artist palette to create looks for the brides that come by. And hair is my main focus these days as my hair cuts over time have gained most popularity. What type of work do you do? My forte now is cutting hair, and it seems that is what people here love about me now. However, I started as a make-up artist and beautician. I believe in giving a complete process as far as self-care is concerned and that is how I developed my life’s work. My spa here offers several beauty treatments from rejuvenating body polishes to relaxing massages. It has a large patio with outdoor sofas and canopies to sit in a space for relaxation as one would in a proper spa internationally. I give them the full experience of a spa; a place that one would go to unwind and just enjoy their experience with us. How did I think of doing what I do? I started very simply doing makeup for friends for their social events. I was that friend people relied on years ago to do up their faces and groom and style them before their events. I got so popular that I started getting calls from people for social events. This was all through my friends and suddenly as my friends’ circle grew I started getting more social invitations. Weddings, parties, you name it, and the best part was that these people trusted me to make sure I was doing it well. Make-up for events is very commercial, but when a client puts their trust in you and books you specifically for such an important event of their lives, it becomes very personal as well. Then a few friends asked me if I would do this on a large scale professionally. Here I realised that I would need a certification or a course as I believe in doing things properly. So I took a course from MUDD and other certifications which even led me to travel abroad for weeks at a time. I opened my first salon 12 years ago and then finally my spa. Do you know, I started with Rs 2,500 only when I bought my makeup mirror with lights? I didn’t have proper lighting initially as it wasn’t a commercial venture then I just put that extra effort and bought things as I wanted to grow and specialise professionally. I knew I was starting, but I wanted that extra added touch for my clients. This was the first home-based makeup mirror where I sat hundreds of brides, and I would do this from a space I had made into my living room. I’m truly grateful I have come to this point today from a makeshift parlour to owning two establishments. In the Face of Challenges I managed! I don’t look at anything in my life as negative. Even in the competition, I don’t see things in that manner. One only goes forward while doing their work professionally. I had children, and I had a house to run and I wanted a career so I managed and took care of everybody. I created a personal space which is personal and more likened to a home, that is separate and it also connects to my salon. And my children can sit here and relax and be with me, this is separate enough so they can have their privacy and I can give time to both. And of course, evenings are with my entire family. It is a special thing to manage and balance family and work, but it can be done! If you have the drive to do something then I wouldn’t hold back and all of my work, my passion, my family, they are what makes me going. Pakistan and the Beauty Industry and PBA (Pakistan Beauty Alliance) Seeing the beauty industry boom, we set up the Pakistan Beauty Alliance. I am the Chairperson presiding over this. This is a platform given to all beauticians, aestheticians, and salon owners throughout Pakistan to come together. With newer entrants, we give specialised training, courses, consultation and of course a lot of advice. This initiative brings us all together sharing resources helping each other grow together. I would like to add the immense role we play as salon owners. There are over one hundred thousand salons in Pakistan. Each salon owner is hiring nearly 10 assistants. Imagine the number of jobs that this industry has provided simultaneously with the growth of the commerce that is done in buying and utilising beauty products. My family – My people My biggest support has been my mother and my sister. They have been there for me throughout as guiding forces behind me, my brand and my creative process. My husband played a constant role here supporting my venture and my education and not just financially but also by travelling and being by my side whenever I needed to take my courses abroad; we all travelled and stayed together as a family! The Reward in this game The smile, the contentment on a client’s face. It doesn’t matter who I work with. Whether it’s a first-time walk-in client or even a celeb. They are all important to me. Each person I work upon, I want to understand their personality and give them the maker-over that suits them. And the reward is their satisfaction and joy. The look on their faces, their smiles. It’s something that makes me feel content that I made somebody else feel good through my work. I want to get to know whoever sits in the chair in front of me. If I get a glimpse of their personality, I can work better as an artist. If I give somebody a make-over which doesn’t suit them, in the end, they just won’t be able to carry it off. I need that personal touch to go with the way they are and who they are and I think that connection is a key process for every artist. The writer is known for her articles on topics with a socio-cultural impact