Today we’d like to introduce you to Oxana Americana
Oxana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2011 I started off with makeup courses, a little after realized how important it is to be able to create full looks on clients and models so studied hairstyling.
One of my first jobs was at MAC Cosmetics, where I gained a lot of experience and opportunities to work at fashion shows. Later I started working at one of Moscow’s top beauty salons. In the free time I was building my portfolio at photoshoots which most of them were just for the idea, creativity, so unpaid. Back than I knew how important it was to build a good portfolio as well to meet photographers to get my name out there.
After a couple years thanks to those photoshoots I met photographers that gave me the chances to work with local celebrities.
One of the biggest ones was when I got to work with top blogger Sasha Spilberg at her music video shoot in France. After our collaboration I became her personal makeup artist which gave me a huge “push”.
I was able to open up my first little beauty studio in Moscow where I worked with my clients and educated makeup and hairstyles.
More than 10 years passed, and I’m very thankful to all of these opportunities. Until this day I’m very grateful to Sasha and all of the photographers, as well as MAC Cosmetics. This year I moved back to the States and continuing my career here, working through wedding agencies with brides and providing makeup and hairstyling lessons. I continue my education always, to keep up with new techniques and trends.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course not. I’ve had my good and bad days. The less experience I had the harder it was, especially working with celebrities. I always felt I was not good enough and needed to keep studying. My timing for services was also a bit slow in the beginning, for instance when a model was late to a photoshoot and I just had a half an hour for a complex makeup and hairstyle.. So I worked on at doing everything faster without lacking the quality of services.
When I started conducting master classes in front of a crowd I would get way too nervous. But the years of experience improved everything. Timing, techniques, confidence which took away the stress and made me fully enjoy creating and educating beauty.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I provide professional makeup and hairstyling services for weddings, events, private and commercial photo and videoshoots. As well makeup and hairstyling master classes for companies, professionals and private education.
I have a large experience in editorial photography, commercials, music videos, fashion shows and masterclasses for beauty brands such as Givenchy, MAC Cosmetics, Kevin Murphy, Jane Iredale, Sensai, Kiko Milano and many others. In 2016 I became the winner of the Givenchy Beauty Club competition.
Clients express immense satisfaction with the attention to detail, professionalism, personalized service in a friendly atmosphere that I provide. When it gets to working at special events, I prefer to enhance the beauty, therefore my work is closer to natural elegance.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
You won’t believe it but I was quite shy. Living in two different countries and having to be bilingual played that big role. But that’s what gave me that big push to be outgoing when I continued growing up. I knew if I wanted to be out there I had to get out of the shell eventually.
Since elementary school my favorite were art classes. Being in the marching band also brought love to music and creativity. The rest of the classes were not too interesting, except math, but that came very handy now that I have to create contracts haha.
I grew up in a big family, being one of the oldest siblings helped me become more independent and mature faster. I’m very thankful to my parents for instilling in me strong moral values and emphasizing honesty.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oamericana.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxana_americana
Image Credits
Ilona Shevchenko, Eugeniya Sinkevich, Natali Solnechnaya, Irina Anisina.