Sophie Sunuwar is Nepal’s first transgender makeup artist. She prefers to call herself a dreamer. “I dream, I don’t plan,” she says. “Having a plan entails hard work and pursuit. If it falters, people become sad and get depressed.”
One of Sophie’s early dreams was to become a role model for transgender individuals. The dream, which she had seen two decades ago, has now been realized. As a professional makeup artist, she has become a beacon of inspiration for many fellow transgender people. Following her footsteps, many transgenders have taken up makeup as their career.
Neelam Paudel, a transgender makeup artist, is one of them. “Indeed, she’s my role model,” Nilam said in a recent interview.
Encouraged by Sophie’s journey, many transgender individuals like Nilam have undertaken beautician training. Sophie herself has taken on the mantle of mentor, imparting knowledge to many in the transgender community.
Reflecting on her formative years, Sophie recollects, “When I was in the struggle phase, I had no one to look to. There was no guiding light whatsoever. I aspired to be a role model to fill this void.”
During those days, the first thing that would come to people’s minds when they think of transgender was the streets of Thamel where transgenders were seen as sex workers. “I never believed in making easy money. I always believed in hard work,” she shares.
As a professional makeup artist, Sophie has become a beacon of inspiration for many fellow transgender people. Following her footsteps, many transgenders have taken up makeup as their career.
But she had no idea where to channel her efforts, how to proceed, and what steps to take. There was nobody to guide her in hear early 20s. However, a meeting with Sunil Babu Pant, the founder of Blue Diamond Society, turned into a pivotal moment in her carer. “I told him that I wanted to be a makeup artist,” she recollected.
This was in 2005. A few days later, a Belgian makeup artist came to Nepal. Pant invited Sophine to attend a dinner with the Belgian artist. After listening to Sophie, the Belgian makeup artist asked Sophie to form a group of 15-20 trainees.
She was naturally excited, but it was difficult to convince others to join the training. After the training, Sophie felt that she had found a way. Over the ensuing weeks, she diligently honed her skills. “I used to try to learn by looking at photographs of celebrities published in newspapers,” she added.
Subsequently, Sophie came to know about a beauty pageant being held in Kathmandu. news of a beauty pageant reached Sophie’s ears. To participate in the pageant, participants were required to send their before and after makeup photographs. A friend introduced her to photographer Rajeev Shrestha who was involved in the pageant. Rajeev liked Sophie’s skills and work and selected her.
Rajeev, adept in beauty, fashion, and lifestyle photography, introduced Sophie to a number of publications and studios. Sophie gradually started working as a makeup artist for newspaper photoshoots. “Initially, I was happy to see my name alongside photographs of models. When they started paying me for my work, my happiness knew no bounds,” she shared.
She gradually started getting offers and her income also started increasing. Financial stability empowered her to open her own makeup studio in Naxal.
Sophie also worked as a makeup artist in three Miss Nepal beauty pageants from 2015 to 2017. “It was a turning point of my career,” she asserted.
Sophie has been working as a makeup artist in New York for 10 months now.
Again, Sophine carved her way to Nepal’s largest beauty pageant on her own. “An acquaintance from my village was in the Miss Nepal team. I asked her to give me an opportunity,” she shared. The acquaintance was convinced by Sophie’s skills and determination to her work and welcomed her aboard.
She worked as an official makeup artist for Miss Nepal for three years. Miss Nepal pageant opened a door of opportunity for the young makeup artist. Her popularity started growing. She started getting offers from abroad too. “People would ask me to come to a foreign country saying that makeup artists make a lot of money there. But I was determined to do something in Nepal,” she shared.
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, changed everything. “I was helpless. Neither could I seek relief, nor was in a position to help others,” Sophie said. “I felt what would happen to me if I contracted COVID.”
After the effects of COVID subsided, she discussed with her friends and family and decided that it would be best for her to ply her trade abroad. Subsequently, she left for the US. She has been practicing as a makeup artist in New York for 10 months now.
“It is naturally difficult in foreign countries. But if you have the required skills, you can turn challenges into opportunities,” she said. “That’s why I don’t make plans. I rejoice in whatever life bestows.”
Sophie, whose achievements have been covered in the ‘Successful Women’ series by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), says she is happy with her work and achievement. “Doing makeup isn’t work for me, it’s a meditation,” she said.
She shared that Nepali society’s attitude towards transgender has not changed completely. “You can change society’s perspective only by improving your skills and abilities and becoming successful in your work,” she opined.
