08 Jan 2024

Alexandra Palt, the CEO of L’Oreal Foundation, is not your ordinary kind of woman who can meet in the street any day.

 

She is a powerful women leading one of the well-known international billion dollar cosmetics companies in the world. Doing her make-up is no ordinary feat and it is done by experienced artists who have been in the industry for years.

 

However,  Jessica Molefe, a local professional makeup artist with only eight years experience in the field is one of those who can raise their hands to have done Palt’s make-up.

 

It was a dream come true for Molefe, who has gained recognition in the industry as a skilled makeup artist.

 

In an interview, Jessie as she is fondly known in the beauty industry, said her skill and charismatic personality has opened doors for her. 

 

Molefe began her career in the makeup business almost a decade ago and has rapidly established a strong presence in the industry.

 

She said her passion and commitment to her craft has led to fame and partnerships with well-known brands such as Milk Makeup, Dark and Lovely, Wet n Wild and Dischem, and that the collaborations have not only elevated her profile, but also accorded her valuable experiences and exposure.

 

Jessie credits her continuous growth and development to refining her makeup skills and engaging in public speaking. She said she has a story to tell and to inspire others and has been invited to various prestigious events such as Women Evolve and ELIS to speak.

 

She said her journey in the beauty industry has not only been about making people beautiful on the outside, but also empowering and motivating them from within.

 

The makeup guru said her natural ability to connect with people has opened doors to exciting opportunities. With her infectious energy and unwavering determination, she said she was aiming to make an even bigger mark in the industry and inspire others along the way.

 

She said Botswana’s beauty industry has experienced significant growth and that even men were in the business of looking beautiful. 

 

She believes that the beauty of life lies in the fact that people never stop learning, and that it was easy to keep up with the latest trends because of the Internet and technology. In addition to her experience, she has also enrolled in a few online courses to enhance her skill.

 

One of the greatest challenges she faces as a makeup artist is people treating her profession as a mere hobby. 

 

He said some clients do not expect her to charge appropriately for her services. She said she took into consideration her clients’ preferences and personalities, but that clients who were more outspoken tended to prefer daring and bold makeup looks. 

 

She said over the years there has been a shift on how makeup brands marketed their products, and that traditional marketing methods were no longer enough. She said brands more and more relied on people like her who had a strong presence on social media to promote their brands, and that they were referred to as beauty influencers.

 

“Art has no limits and thrives in an open-minded and authentic environment,” said Molefe, adding that being authentic was natural for her. 

 

Molefe said she was looking forward to doing makeup for Palt and other high profile individuals over the years, and that there was great potential in Botswana for makeup artists especially for weddings, corporate events, modeling and pageantry contests.

 

“I envision owning a makeup school and creating my own makeup products,”she said. Ends