The past few years have seen an astronomic rise in makeup artistry, with new talent using platforms like YouTube and Instagram to showcase their impressive skills - and we love it. With so many talented upstarts out there, it's hard to know where to look first. That's where we come in. Every week, we're scoping out the brightest stars and delving deeper into what makes them unique, what inspires them and how they do what they do so well. Moving on from last week's MUA Carlise Robinson, we've had the pleasure of chatting with Latvian artist Amuna Davis (@amunadavis), winner of 2017's NYX Face Awards Baltics.
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Amuna's Instagram feed serves up some serious looks, going beyond everyday glam to straight-out fantasy. The 26-year-old is a professional makeup and hairstylist from Riga, Latvia. "In the day time I am just a simple boy," says Amuna. "But at night, I'm a fierce queen." Makeup has always been a staple in the life of the on-the-rise star, who fondly recalls stealing his mother's cosmetics to play as a child.
He admits that it hasn't always been easy to pursue his dreams, coming from a country that isn't quite as accepting as others. "It's hard to be different in Latvia, especially if a dude is doing makeup. You need to have a lot of courage to do it, and I'm so proud that I did it," says Amuna. "I inspired myself to do makeup because I love it so much, but I never believed I could do it. Now, here I am, the first drag queen in Latvia and winner of NYX Face Awards Baltics. Who's laughing now?"
It's difficult to pick out a favorite look when scrolling through Amuna's Instagram feed, with so many wild and colorful creations to choose from. It was his nature themed entry for NYX's Face Awards 2017 that swayed the judges though, edging him into the top 20 before he eventually took the title. "It took me more than 16 hours to make," he explains. "I love how it came out." The makeup was a breeze for Amuna, but there were other more human challenges involved. "The most challenging was that it took me so much time without eating or going to the WC!" We can all relate to that one.
One thing is for certain, great things are on the horizon for this beauty. Amuna's message is just as gorgeous. "Just keep doing what you love. Be who you want to be and stay safe."
You can keep up to date with all of Amuna's next moves on his Instagram page and YouTube channel.
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