SHINING LIGHT

TALKING BEAUTY WITH BULELWA

Beauty was everywhere, Virginia Woolf once wrote in Mrs. Dalloway. The beauty industry is booming. Every generation has had its beauty standards and definitions. Is beauty important? And if it is, why? We explore this and more with our friend, South African makeup artist Bulelwa.

MW: Do you think beauty is a component of spirituality ?

BQ: I do think beauty is a component of spirituality. In my faith, I believe God is the ultimate creative who created the beautiful sea, sunsets, forests– the list is endless. We, as humans, all have God-given visions, purposes and destinies that come from the Creator, so I do believe beauty is a component of spirituality because being a makeup artist is a gift. It is my purpose and something God saw fit for me to do.

“In my faith, I believe God is the ultimate creative who created the beautiful sea, sunsets, forests– the list is endless.”

MW: What effect does spirituality have on creativity?

BQ: Spirituality has a huge effect on creativity. I say this because when you spend time building your spirit[ual] life, you as person grow in all aspects; your wellbeing, mindset, confidence, self-belief grows because now it’s not that you have faith in yourself but faith that the Creator God is the one who gave you this purpose, dream, passion, life, and He will fulfill all your needs in accomplishing your divine purpose.

MW: How can each person of faith make others feel beautiful?

BQ: Beauty starts within yourself, loving yourself, knowing who you are, knowing and being content with your identity. Each person of faith can start celebrating others, empowering others, loving others, being kind and sharing their light, not only within their faith but with all people.

“Beauty starts within yourself, loving yourself, knowing who you are, knowing and being content with your identity.”

MW: You are a makeup artist. What inspired you to get into this field?

BQ: My love for fashion and beauty inspired me to get into this field. I believe fashion and beauty are my God-given purpose and gift. Since I was young, I would always draw fashion figures and play with children’s makeup. It took me 6 years to realize that this was my purpose and that I loved making people feel beautiful and confident on the inside and outside.

MW: What does beauty mean to you?

BQ: Beauty is more than your physical appearance. Beauty means feeling beautiful inside out. Nurturing and caring for your wellbeing as a person: spiritually, your inner being and physically. When I think of beauty, I think of how I’m loving my skin using products I relate to that nourish my physical being.

“Beauty is more than your physical appearance.”

MW: How do you create beauty in your world, every day?

BQ: I am a makeup artist, so every time I have clients, shoots or styling, I create beauty by enhancing my clients natural beauty, features and style. I also create beauty by the words I speak. I speak life, joy and beauty into manifestation in my life.

“I also create beauty by the words I speak. I speak life, joy and beauty into manifestation in my life.”

About Bulelwa Qupe: She is a makeup artist, stylist and emerging fashion designer, but most importantly a creative. She is a South African, from the Xhosa tribe. She is a Christian believer and Christ follower. Check out her IGs at: @bulelwahcyt and @bulelwaqupe.