Ayrshire teen, 19, once ‘too embarrassed to admit makeup artist dream’ bags seal of approval and £4k kit from billion dollar company Anastasia Beverly Hills…and she’s still in college
Shanyn Boax, from Kilmarnock, is only in her second year of makeup artistry at Kilwinning College but has already made the US brand's coveted 'PR List'
AN AYRSHIRE teenager once too embarrassed to admit her dream of becoming a makeup artist has bagged the ultimate seal of approval on her work - from a billion dollar cosmetics company.
Shanyn Boax, 19, is only in her second year of makeup artistry at Kilwinning College.
But she's already grabbed the attention of US-based Anastasia Beverly Hills with her flawless online makeovers.
It comes after the company's brand president Claudia Soare, known as Norvina, spied her colourful eye makeup looks on social media.
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Impressed with her work, Norvina reached out to the talented teen, sent her a £4,300 kit rammed with free goodies and popped her on their coveted PR List.
Shanyn has since become a viral sensation after posting news of her makeup haul on Twitter.
Sharing a snap of the kit, she said: “Can’t believe a couple of years ago I was too embarrassed to tell people I wanted to be a makeup artist as I was told it wasn’t a well respected job.
“Today I received a PR package worth £4,300 from Anastasia Beverly Hills.
“Who’d of thought Shanyn from Killie would manage that?”
The tweet has already racked up more than 3,000 likes as social media users applaud her achievement.
One said: "This just shows you are capable of doing ANYTHING you want.
"Don't let people tell you different nor don't follow your dreams just because people talk down to you about it."
Another added: "Bloooooody LOOOOOVE this."
And Shanyn admitted she bawled her eyes out when she received the personal message from Norvina - daughter of Anastasia Beverly Hills founder Anastasia Soare.
She told the Scottish Sun: “I was going to keep it to myself but I was just so excited. When I told my lecturer she came over and gave me a big hug. The whole class was so supportive.
“I honestly couldn’t believe it. I was bawling my eyes out for two days.
"This incredible company have been my favourite brand for several years, and to have them support and believe in me is unworldly."
The Ayrshire student developed a love for makeup at school after battling acne as a younger teen.
Cosmetics made her less self-conscious of her blemished skin - and she wants to help others feel the same.
But she almost missed her calling as a makeup artist for an ill-suited future studying history instead.
She said: “At school my friends all wanted to go to uni but I didn’t have a clue what to do.
“I’ve always been creative and loved art, but ended up considering doing history at uni because I thought I had to do something academic.
“But I opened up to my guidance counsellor at a meeting and told her I was interested in makeup. She told me there was nothing to be embarrassed about and to go for it.
"I’m so glad she gave me that push or who knows what I would be doing right now.
Still so early into her career, Shanyn is enjoying the hard work of the makeup craft and no longer feels embarrassed about her chosen path.
“People at school, and on social media, always belittled makeup artistry. It was never taken seriously or considered as a proper job.
“But it’s not just sitting putting on eye shadow. It’s hard work.
When I’m not at college learning about makeup I’m doing looks for my Instagram.
She added: "I’m really trying to build up my portfolio and working on my skills.
“I want to work on films, catwalks and see the world. No two days will ever be the same, it’s so exciting.”
MORE BEAUTY NEWS
Romanian-born beauty entrepreneur Anastasia Soare launched her namesake brand with a Beverly Hills flagship salon in 1997 and the company’s first product line in 2000.
The brand is renowned for its eyebrow products and bespoke brow-shaping service - the Golden Ratio Eyebrow Shaping Method.
In 2018 the company was reported to be worth $3 billion (£2.3 billion), with more than $200million (£150million) in operating income.
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