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By Zena Mccarthy 30 Sep, 2023
Life can take a turn at any stage…
By Zena Mccarthy 30 Sep, 2023
So what now? My world had opened up, and I was eager and excited to explore. I took a 2 week holiday to Thailand with 2 friends I had made in Japan, then it was back to the UK. I had been back for 12 days when I was packing my bag again. I had been introduced to a woman running beauty salons on ocean liners. We had a conversation, she put me through for a telephone interview with this man in Greece, he offered me the job there and then. 2 days later my contract and flight details were delivered to me. My mum took me to the airport and I was off on a plane to Athens, where i would join the boat in Piraeus. Arriving in Athens I was suddenly aware at how busy and loud the city was. The constant noise of car horns and people seem to be screaming at each other. I was scared and feeling unsure. Until I boarded the ship and shown my cabin, which would be home for 6 months. I realised life was for living, and I honestly had the best time, meeting so many amazing people, as we sailed around the Med. Every Saturday I was in Venice. Where I saw the elaborately painted masks, which pushed my creative buttons. I saw them as art, back on the ship I would beg my colleagues to let me recreate the same on there faces. Every Thursday I was in Croatia, Dubrovnik where I feel in love with the calmness and the people. Sunday – Thursday we were in Italy and Greece. Eating delicious salads and fresh fish. I was a regular in the crew bar and midnight buffet, thankfully being in my 20’s and full of zest for life and excitement, it didn’t hit my waist line. Once again I made some amazing friends , who I still talk too today (20 years on). But 6 months was enough for me. As I was eager to get to the one place I really wanted to explore, Australia.
By Zena Mccarthy 18 Aug, 2023
Hi, and thank you for checking out my page, I really appreciate it. So, here I am a complete newbie in the world of Blogging. Lots of people, who I admire and trust have generously given me there words of wisdom, guidelines to follow and information, on how to get started…..Which of course I totally over thought the whole thing, and suddenly I am standing at the foot of my mountain worthy of Everest. So today, I woke up and thought, get over your dam self, just get started, and see what happens…..so here goes! Lets start at the beginning, with the story of how I became a makeup artist. I hope you are sitting comfortable and have a warm coffee/tea to sip as you read. ….. Part one Imagine if you will, a slightly chubby 13 year old girl with a crazy mop of red hair, and the confidence of a gnat, trying to recover and find her feet from the latest upheaval of family life. Someone gave me an eyeshadow pallet, full of beautiful hues in blue, green, pink, and gray (it was the 80’s!). This is my second memory that I can recall, where I felt the excitement stirring in my belly, as too the pleasures makeup unlocks for me. So my story, started in the bathroom mirror, armed with my precious pallet and copies of Jacky and Just Seventeen, (do any of you remember these magazines?), recreating what I saw. It wasn’t long before my Mum and her friends were asking me to do there eyeshadow before they went out. That was it, there was no stopping me! Unfortunately my makeup career had to be put on hold before it really started. When I told my career advisor that my choice was between being a Makeup Artist and a Bond Girl. ( Yep I really thought I had the option to be a bond girl!). Without even a smile she promptly nudged me towards being a Beauty Therapist. After talking to my Mum and Dad, this is the road I took. 16 years old I started the beauty therapist YTS 2 year course. (giving away my age, haha). We did have a makeup module , which I excelled at. After completing the course I worked in salons and was always promoted as being there inhouse makeup artist for brides.  At 25 years old my life changed massively, and that’s where I will leave it for now. I will be back soon with the next installment! Have a fabulous day/evening.
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