We were lucky to catch up with Mehnaz Ranmal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mehnaz, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I began my journey as an aspiring mehndi artist at a very young age. Back in the day mehndi was applied with a simple needle. A much more tedious process as you can imagine. But that never held me back. I truly believe this was something I was born to do. Like many artists have mentioned – art can truly become a form of meditation. And that’s what it always was for me. A place to practice my creativity – that just so happened to also become my very own business.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am originally from Pakistan. As an immigrant, I have been working my whole life. Coming here and being able to turn my passion into my work has been a privilege to say the least. I do mehndi for more than the outcome..or income it provides. It is my form of art. And I’m grateful to say I have been able to commit to this form of art for over 30 years. I think what sets me apart is my willingness to grow. I love a good challenge and am committed to meeting my customers needs. I do mehndi for all types of events: weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, private events – and the list goes on.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I knew of the networking and growth opportunities when I first began. Over the years I have been able to attend many workshops and make many connections. This would have been very helpful in order to grow in my younger years.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think the best support is respect. We struggle to find value in art sometimes and that can impact the way artists/creatives are treated/valued.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: meenasmehndi