My Story
Before the TV sets, before the red carpets… there was just an odd little girl who wanted to paint.
First of all… I must tell you some of my back story…
Back in the day… I never actually intended or planned to become a makeup artist. The career completely chose me…
As a young child, my dream when I grew up was to become a painter. I would practice oil painting and even drawing the nude figures from the art books…
However... inspired by my beautiful step mother at the time, Bronwyn, I abandoned that passion and changed course to the goal of becoming a fashion designer.
Bronwyn had taught me to sew from a very young child. She was a talented and successful Melbourne fashion designer, herself.
By age 14 I was selling my creations in the popular Greveille St in Melbourne’s fashion district.
My entire wardrobe was made by me and I convinced myself that fashion was my career path.
But with my love of beauty - along side the fashion - meant I was one of those teenagers who always got around wearing way too much makeup.
(Thank you loose parents)
I later sold makeup on the side - for extra money. I did them all… Avon, MaryKay - and later a beautiful and professional makeup brand called Pola - and working on the counters of Lancome in department stores.
At a very young age, I married and had my gorgeous son, Josh -so I had to hustle!
I began agreeing to do event and wedding makeups - you know… just for extra money…
Then a fellow artist - who knew I was a bit obsessed with makeup - asked me to help her on her first ever TV commercial. I agreed.
I did a few of those TV commercials “helping” my friend until one day she couldn’t do them anymore.
The director asked for me.
I went and did my first ever job on my own, making up an extremely well known Australian celebrity, at the time.
The camera man said “You’re really good! You should contact my agent!”
I laughed inside my head thinking “Agent?? As if an agent is going to want me!”
I went along to the appointment with the agent armed with photos of my work. And I'll never forget that they offered me a cup of tea and biscuits - and all I could think was “You’re offering me a cup of tea? Aren’t I meant to be grovelling to you right now?”
The agent said they’d “love” to have me and three months later I was heading the makeup department on a low-budget feature film - where I had to do blood, gore, broken bones, scratches…
From there I got head-hunted for one job after another, was picked up by several major networks, found myself making up and rubbing shoulders with Hollywood actors, international rock bands, world leaders, newsreaders, comedians, show hosts, sports commentators, high-end fashion and advertising, working as a master artist on the international runways, TV series’, high end fashion magazines, and much much more.
I remember saying to myself one day “I think I’m a makeup artist”.
Up until that point, it not occurred to me… as I had still been planning on becoming a fashion designer. Lol
But looking back, it’s completely in line with my original passion for painting and art.
So… that leads me to… (drum roll, please)...
The Branding of the Jacqueline Kalab Beauty Brand
My brand serves busy, elite women who live with purpose.
We are Mum’s (or USA “Mom’s”), career women, volunteers, celebrities, thought-leaders and the like….
This tied to my love and history in beauty, fashion, art, classic femininity and living an exciting life of purpose and serving others…
So my brand aims to lift women of purpose out of the busy selfless lives - and into her most beautiful, confident self and ooze femininity and living our most exciting and romantic life…
To serve others with radiance and inner glow.
Think 1960’s Bond girl crossed with Italian Vogue crossed with Thomas Crown Affair crossed with classic Paris fashion crossed with romance novel.
An ode to both my career and the women I serve
Like an espionage film - we can save the world and look and feel glamourous while we do it.
So that is what our brand imagery represents.
Yes, we know these images are inspirational and not “real”…
But so is a Hollywood movie.
We can dream and romanticise, can’t we?
So now when you see the branding and images, you can know that these characters in the branding movie, are you and me - living our best life…
I’d love to hear what you think.
Big love ❤︎
Jacqueline
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