In beauty lies her calling

Sridevi Ramesh has been selected as Mrs. Asia India representing south India in the Ms. Top of the World Plus Size International pageant to be held November 5 to 10 in Ukraine.

Sridevi is a Chennai based International make-up artiste and hairstylist with 15 years of experience in the field of makeup and beauty. Her desire to become an internationally recognised makeup artiste has been her motivation. She strongly feels that her zest for makeup has made her look for opportunities to develop herself as a professional artiste, which in turn helped her to become the entrepreneur she is today.

Sridevi also admits that being a mother, an entrepreneur and a respected makeup artiste is her personal victory. “Right from battling self-esteem issues to establishing a successful career in the industry, I’ve built my own empire and I’m proud to say that I’m the first female entrepreneur in my family”, says Sridevi.

She got married at the age of 18 with only a diploma in Home Science. She then moved to Muscat with her husband in 1992. Sridevi, explains, “As a child, I would spend hours in front of the mirror trying out new looks and I was a very creative person who loves to try new things. I love to be independent.”

Sridevi enrolled in international diploma programs in the US, UK, Singapore, and Malaysia. She had just completed her diplomas when they had to shift to India in 2000. Her first assignment was with her friend in 2002. She had done make-up for models for a photoshoot. That’s when her career began as a freelance make-up artiste. While practicing, Sridevi got an opportunity to travel to many cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Ahmedabad.

“It’s been a great 18-year journey. I’ve worked with many celebrity photographers and also modelled for many social causes. I was also introduced to professionals and mentors from the LGBT community who excelled in their work”, relishes, Sridevi.

Modelling was something new and it changed my perspective towards myself. Sridevi says she got an opportunity in 2017 to take part in Mrs. India beauty pageant. She feels that it was totally different experience for someone who has never worn heels until then and that’s when she bagged the first runner up title ‘Dazzle Mrs. India Universe’. She believes an efficient artiste should possess profound knowledge about makeup, the skill to work with products that are safe, and the ability to cater the best look possible to showcase the person’s beauty.

Future plans? “I wanted to do a big show in Chennai for plus size women and zero size models too. I feel there is not much scope for the Sound Indian plus size and zero size models so I want to bring awareness about it.”