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We’re speaking to small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country to better understand how they’re adapting to stay open, how they’re keeping their community safe, and how we can support them now during this time, and beyond. We’re focused on keeping Australia open for business, even if doors are closed. #OpenWeStand
Ania Milczarczyk is a makeup artist that has painted some of the most beautiful faces in the world, including the wonderful Sarah Jessica Parker.
For Milczarczyk, the next few months are uncertain given that working on advertising campaigns and photoshoots has stopped completely.
“I see so much talk of supporting small business and can’t help but feel a little left out,” Milczarczyk told TheLatch—. “For people like me, the only way of supporting us at the moment is to show love on social media. ‘Like’ posts, repost images etc.”
While none of us really know what the future looks like, Milczarczyk doesn’t think the makeup industry will be changed for good.
“But I do think it will be very different for a long while,” she said.
“Brands will no longer have the same money they used to which means we will also be working to different budgets, I think work will get a lot more competitive as people will be desperate and there will be less jobs going on.”
For now, Milczarczyk is trying to focus on the good things.
“Right now the most beneficial thing I can do in terms of my work is to try and stay positive,” she said.
TheLatch— spoke to Ania Milczarczyk about how she thinks the beauty industry will look post-coronavirus and what she’s doing with her downtime.
Alexandra McCarthy: How did you get into the makeup industry?
Ania Milczarczyk: I started doing makeup around 2013, I got into it totally by accident and it was just a hobby for me in the beginning. I think it was around 2015 that I quit my ‘real job’ and started to really pursue the makeup thing.
AM: What are a few highlights you’ve experienced in your career?
AM: I have a number of highlights. They range from my first ever paid photoshoot (you work for free for AGES when first starting) all the way through to magazine covers, overseas trips and working with celebrities.
If I had to pick one I would say doing Sarah Jessica Parker’s makeup. Not only have I always been a Sex and the City fan but there’s always celebrities following or even liking and commenting on pics/getting me all excited but very few ever actually come to Australia and the ones that do, bring a glam squad.
It was a huge honour to me that she flew her hairstylist over and I was the only Aussie addition entrusted to the team.
AM: Talk me through your digital presence, how has having an online presence helped your business?
AM: Since I first started makeup I was lucky enough to build up a following on social media. I feel like models and personalities can easily amass large numbers of followers but it is much less common for creatives.
There wasn’t any one particular occasion which it stemmed from but sort of just developed over time. Back when Tumblr was more popular my work was reblogged a number of times by Kendall and Kylie Jenner.
Since then each model, team and brand you work with generally tags you and the exposure grows that way.
Having a social media presence has definitely helped with jobs — brands often choose models with followers because they pay the models extra to post from the shoot or to post the finished images which act as extra advertising but that’s not the case for the others on the team.
For me, it just means that more possible employers get to see my work.
“Having a social media presence has definitely helped with jobs.”
AM: When did your business first start to feel the effects of COVID-19?
AM: I first started to feel the effects of COVID-19 early on in February. I am a makeup artist who does work for advertising campaigns rather than personal or private makeup which means I rely on brands.
Fashion labels started to crumble as soon as the factories in China started to close. If brands aren’t getting their clothes made, there’s nothing to shoot which means there’s no models to glam.
It didn’t really improve and work eventually just fizzled out. I had a couple of super impromptu shoots in the last week before isolation began here because brands freaked out knowing they would have no content for social media but otherwise, I have gone from having a full calendar for March-April to not making a single dollar for weeks and having absolutely no idea when I will work next time at all.
Right now I was meant to be on my first music tour doing makeup for The Pussycat Dolls through the whole of Australia, NZ and Asia.
AM: What does it mean for you now?
AM: Right now it basically just means a lot of time spent with my dog [laughs]. This whole situation is out of my control so all I can do is wait.
I have spoken to a few of my regular clients and they all have no idea if their jobs are even secure let alone when they will be able to shoot again.
AM: What are you doing now that work has slowed down?
AM: My admin was all caught up on within the first few days of social distancing so in terms of ‘work’ there is nothing I can do besides post on social media and try to stay on top of people’s minds for when they start to consider shooting.
I was always hoping for time off to film some tutorials which I’ve been meaning to do forever but even that I cannot do. It’s been extremely hard doing nothing, I feel so hopeless having my job which I loved so much taken away from me.
Right now the most beneficial thing I can do in terms of my work is to try and stay positive.
“I feel so hopeless having my job which I loved so much taken away from me.”
AM: How can clients support your business in the short term?
AM: I see so much talk of supporting small business and can’t help but feel a little left out. For people like me, the only way of supporting us at the moment is to show love on social media. ‘Like’ posts, repost images etc.
For the near future when brands start to shoot they will obviously have smaller budgets and therefore most creatives I have spoken to realise that in order to start work again they will have to reduce their prices.
I just hope that clients can stay loyal and continue to support their previous teams by keeping a really honest line of communication open and discussing rates so that we can get through this together while maintaining the previous high quality of work we are all used to.
AM: Do you think the way you operate your business will be changed for good?
AM: I do not think my business will be changed for good but I do think it will be very different for a long while.
Brands will no longer have the same money they used to which means we will also be working to different budgets, I think work will get a lot more competitive as people will be desperate and there will be less jobs going on.
I have a feeling that travel will not be an option which not only rules out destination jobs but it will also limit models coming in etc.
On a positive note though I know I will appreciate and enjoy my work a lot more. Being without it for so long will give us time to reflect and be able to enjoy and appreciate the smaller things which normally would have gone unnoticed.
“I know I will appreciate and enjoy my work a lot more.”
AM: What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?
AM: My advice for other entrepreneurs is to keep their head up, to stay busy and try to fill their days doing something positive and good for their mental health.
Use this time wisely and do not let your creative juices stop flowing. Look for inspiration to plan new and exciting work you can do when everything goes back to normal.
Follow Ania Milczarczyk on Instagram and show her some love.
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