Having spent years of his life serving the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), a 43-year-old Malaysian man is now helping brides and grooms serve looks at their weddings!
Changing careers isn’t something unusual among Malaysians, especially when there’s a need for it. But for Mohamad Shahirul Shahidan, his choice to become a make-up artist and stylist after retiring from the army hits closer to home.
Prior to his recruitment into the army at 19-years-old, Mohamad Shahirul had already been exposed to make-up artistry at 18-years-old. Deciding to join the army as he did not want to sit around without a job, he brought his make-up skills with him to the military barracks.
“I’ve been interested in make-up for a long time… (I wasn’t) interested in going into the military field or just sitting in my hometown without a job, I thought it would be better to try and apply to become military personnel,”
“Occasionally, I also had the opportunity to hold a make-up brush and help make-up the faces of military personnel, usually when there is a dinner party. So, I managed to hone my skills and after retiring in December 2023, I met an old friend at a bridal boutique and asked if there was a job vacancy,” he said.
At that time, His friend offered him a job setting up and taking down wedding stages. Though, by January 2024, he had started working on his own as a make-up artist and stylist for brides and grooms.
Utilising TikTok as a promotional platform, he ultimately gained the recognition and trust of customers, who were very surprised to find out that he had a background in the military.
“Customers know that I am a retired military man because I share videos on social media. Upon meeting them, they’d ask what my character was like when I served. People are usually surprised, I am used to such reactions because they may not think that even a former soldier would have a talent for make-up,” he added.
Secure a livelihood
For Mohamad Shahirul, being a make-up artist and stylist isn’t just a hobby. It’s a career and a means to earn a living not just for himself, but also for his wife and 4 children.
“My intention is just to earn a living with the skills I have, and try to provide comfort for my children since they are still in school.”
You can check out Mohamad Shahirul Shahidan on TikTok here.
Source: Harian Metro
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