A Day in The Life of M.A.C Senior Artist Vimi Joshi

Backstage buzz, models and performers scrambling to get ready, make-up artists working at a frenetic pace, TV crews streaming in and out, and tables spilling over with bottles, jars and brushes. Hina Oomer-Ahmed experiences a day in the life of Vimi Joshi, senior make-up artist for M.A.C cosmetics at the recent IIFA awards in Bangkok

At 6 pm, the night of the IIFA Fashion extravaganza, Dubai-based senior make-up artiste, Vimi Joshi’s day has barely just begun. A bundle of high-voltage energy, the reporter asked her how she manages to keep on her feet for so many hours and still look like she could go on for another day. “Pure adrenaline” she answers. M.A.C was the official make-up sponsor of the recently held International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) in Bangkok, and heading this endeavor is no easy job, but Vimi manages to make it look effortless, like it’s all in a day’s work. For the IIFA, she leads an entire team of more than 20 talented make-up artists who have come together from all over the world. The models are still doing technical rehearsals, which means less time for Vimi and the team to get more than 30 models flawlessly made up and ready to hit the ramp. But the team is well briefed and prepared for all the chaos. In the end, all the planning of the previous weeks pays off.
However, the real challenge is the day of the IIFA awards where M.A.C does the make-up for Shiamak Davar’s dance troupe which is going to play an integral part in all the performances. Vimi’s team has to create exclusive backstage make-up for 35 performers and 40 presenters at the IIFA Award ceremony to be held at Siam Niramit. Vimi has a long list of award show credentials and is adept at balancing several inputs at once. Her skills are put to good test as she runs out of interview time and we only get to really talk in the van on the way to the event venue. To add to the madness, she needs to run back to the Dusit Thani Hotel in an hour as Deepika Padukone insists that only Vimi do her make up for the big show.
In the few minutes we have to chat, Vimi and I talk about M.A.C’s presence in India, her experiences working with Indian celebrities and the wonders of M.A.C Studio Fix (a powder-based concealer that can cover up virtually anything).
An avid watcher of make-up trends and preferences in India, Vimi notices that, “of late, Indian women have been opening up to doing make-up more natural as opposed to layered and pancake like. They are also agreeable to using softer shades in lip and eye color.”

Recently, Vimi has been working with many young Bollywood stars. “Much of the younger actresses are experimenting with their looks. Sonam Kapoor and I worked closely to come up with a fresh look for her and the feedback she got for it was incredible.”
How is working in the Indian industry different from working in any other part if the world? “Even though I was fully trained, I had to adapt myself to the climactic conditions and learn new ways to make make-up look good in the heat and humidity,” says Vimi.

“In India, we are also working very hard to create awareness about the importance of skincare, the use of moisturizers and the right products to keep the skin hydrated. Mickey Contractor and I have created two foundation shades especially formulated for Indian skin.” As we reach the venue for the big show, Vimi is back to being the ringleader and getting her team ready for the busy evening ahead. She leaves me with the same first and last impression of her – a bundle of boundless energy.