EFIWE INTERVIEW: Beauty Varies From One Person To Another, It's Much On The Inside Which Then Radiates To The Outside - Chibuzor Debora Ojini, CEO C.D.O Beauty House

byBloggerWeyDeyAppreciate •April 05, 2016

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I came across this Exclusive Interview With University Of Ibadan's Make - Over Queen, Chibuzor Debora Ojini, CEO of C.D.O Beauty House so I decided to share it with You guys.

LETS MEET YOU?

My names are Chibuzor Debora Ojini I happen to be the last child from a family of two (2) children of Mr and Mrs Ojini, I had my primary school education at Nitel staff school oshodi Lagos State and my secondary education was at command secondary school Ikeja. I love colors, that is everything colorful, beautiful, which made me become a beautician. My best color is purple, also my best food is Akpu and Ogbona soup with lots of fish.

I am a Sociologist, a 400 level student of faculty of the social sciences University of Ibadan. Formerly I was in veterinary medicine, I have an elder brother who graduated from University of Lagos after a successful study in banking and finance, and also he is a fashion designer and the owner of Benjahmeen stitches.

TELL US WHAT YOU DO?

I am a make-up artist, hair-stylist, beautician, I also do make up for photo shoot, I do face painting, nail fixing, I am a beauty consultant as well, I am also a marketing lead for Mozilla Firefox student ambassador.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE BEAUTY?

Beauty is personified, it varies from one person to the other. That is, what beauty means to me is different from what it means to the next person. Beauty is how I view things, how I see things from within. It goes beyond the features , make ups and so on, it is how you treat people, talk, respect, your opinions, how you see things positively, anything that keeps you in a good vibe or positive vibe, always having positive things to say to people, making people happy, you can talk deep things to people.

Like I said earlier, beauty varies from one person to the other, it is much on the inside which then radiates to the outside. You might not wear make-up but things you do make you beautiful. I tell my clients , you are what you wear, what you say, you having a lifted spirit makes you more beautiful.

HOW DID ALL THIS START?

It all started when I was in secondary school precisely senior secondary school 1 (ss1), I went for an aunts wedding where I saw the make up on her face, she was looking so beautiful, mind you my aunt is naturally beautiful but when I saw that make up on that day it was so unique and she looked more beautiful, after the wedding I told my parents I would like to become a make up artist but I did not get a positive response , I was shunned.

But when I got into the University in year 2012, that gave me a chance to do what I have long waited for, I was the deputy governor of our CBN lecture theatre, then I only do make up for friends, one day a friend of mine Debola suggested that I go into make up professionally so she said since I am the one student union excos usually meet whenever they want to address student that I should approach them and tell them I will like to be the SU make up artist for the SU week, it’s not for the money but just for me to do something.

So I did as she advised but unfortunately they told me they already have one but if I could be an assistant that is ok, that gave me so much joy and I accepted to be the assistant, but with time the main artist was busy so I had to take on most of the jobs which gave me a platform to develop. I was not supported by my parents in the beginning but my boss saw the passion I have for the work which made her assist me, I collect 10,000 Naira from home as allowance out of this I would keep 8,000.

Every money I collect was saved with my boss which I used in paying her and getting my first box. It was not easy at all, I went to places where I was not appreciated where what I do was not given full recognition because I am a student. The following year (2013) I became the official student union week beauty artist , also in 2014 I still became the official make up artist, but there was one thing I always remember and that is “I started as an assistant”.

I handled the opening carnival, boot camp, and did make up for Mr and Mrs UI in 2013, I got an opportunity for the Ibadan style and fashion week artist another big breakthrough was the first Fayrouz L’Original competition season 1 where my team was the only team picked from the Oyo region and we made it to the semi-finals , it was really challenging because our task was to recreate “The Great Gatsby” giving it a 90’s look which got us into the competition, top 10 in Nigeria.

WHAT ARE THE WORKS YOU HAVE DONE?

In 2013/2014 I got into the movie industry where I was the make up artist for a Yoruba movie with an English title Crack in the wall, also I was a make up artist for the movie swindle, as a make up artist I have worked with house of Twitch, Mr and Mrs Teen of Nigeria, I have also handled face painting for faculties like the social sciences, Agric and Education, also for Unilag carnival night I handled the artistic work.

I have also collected job’s personally from various individuals. PICTURES:

WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE IDEA OF YOU BEING A MAKE UP ARTIST?

Basically the idea came when I saw the make up done on my aunts face, that was where and when the idea of me being a make up artist started.

WHEN YOU WORK FOR PEOPLE, WHAT IS THEIR REACTION LIKE?

As a make up artist, not everyone you work for will appreciate what you have done, well as for me I don’t get appreciation all the time, as you know, most of my clients are women, and we women can be sometimes touchy, when women are on their period it affects the way they relate with people.

People’s mood sometimes affect the work you have done for them. Most times peoples mood prevent them from seeing the good work you have done even when the whole world is saying it is beautiful they still do not believe.

I tell people that make up sits well on you when you have the right attitude, when people carry the make up well it prevents people from seeing whatever flaw that might be there.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE?

The fact that am still a student brings so many challenges, one is that people feel because am still a student, I don”t know what am doing , another challenge is time where I have to travel for jobs and at the same time face academics, also money is a challenge because I earn money and also spend money on campus, I buy weave on to resell.

Money is not coming constantly, the country’s economy is not encouraging as well and clients don’t want to know that things are expensive the make up materials are expensive and I do not patronize fake products no matter the price I don’t compromise.

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE YOU LOOK UP TO IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY?

The c.e.o of Made faces studio is one of the people I look up to, she is a Nigerian doing well for herself ,I also have an international artist I look up to and that is make up by Jackie.

BEING A STUDENT AND AN ENTREPRENEUR HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR TIME?

If you are a good person, you will attract good people who will help you. I have being able to surround myself with good friends, I have discussion groups where knowledge is shared, when I come back from jobs I read at night because that is my time to cover whatever I missed during the day, I make sure my notes are up to date anyone I miss I make sure I get a copy of it.

I use textbooks as reference points, also I consult past questions, I relate with older one’s in higher levels to get materials that guide my study.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN?

I sleep. At times I watch movies, I love action movies, I watch make up videos at my free time because I believe I can always get better at what I do. I love laughing and going to comedy shows I like people who make me laugh.

WHAT HAVE BEING YOUR ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?

I have being fulfilled, even despite the obstacles I never gave up. At times I don’t get allowance from home which I have to help with what I make from my work. I was scolded severally but that did not stop me. At first people might not support or see your dream but when you stick to your gun it helps you achieve what you want to achieve.

I still want to see myself on the international scene, as a human right activist Dr .j. Odumakin is my model.

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE FOR YOUTHS WHO HAVE THIS DREAM BE?

Though we believe in God but we still have a role to play. First you believe in yourself which will propel you to do what you want, when people see your passion they are either too amazed to counter you or you make them see no reason to counter you.

Stay true to yourself, we need to know that whatever we make out of life is what we become too, we should also pray that God bless what we do as long as it is not negative to the society.

It is good to work hard but trust in God propels your hard work into success and never you be proud, always remember God brought you where you are.

see more of Chibuzor Debora Ojini’s work below: