14 Sep 2017

With a career spanning six years in the cosmetic industry, Melissa Mpoloka has managed to turn her love and passion for makeup to become one of the well-known, respectable and professional makeup artist.

The young and talented woman, whose life motto is ‘let love lead’ never tires to express her love for the profession.

A certified make-up artist, Mpoloka received training from Shahnaz Botswana in 2011 to 2012 and worked for the renowned cosmetic brand, MAC Cosmetics as a retail artist. She parted ways with MAC last year and started her own business, Artistry by Lissa.

Netball Association president and Mascom Wireless chief communications and public relations officer, Tebogo Lebotse Sebego, former Yarona FM presenter, Sesame Mosweu, Botswana model and actor based in South Africa, Thabang Mmolotsi make the list of a clientele Mpoloka has worked with.

In an interview, Mpoloka said hers was a calling and she had been an artists from as far as she could remember, and engaging in painting and drawing as a child and singing hence the name Artistry By Lissa.

“My inspiration is derived from breaking down the walls of insecurity and paving the way for confidence for my clients,” she said.

She said she drew most of her inspiration from her mother and remembered that as a child, her mother had a vanity set packed with makeup, and which she never missed the opportunity to explore and have with. She said she was inspired by her surroundings and things in it such as texture, colour and real life stories.

“I have intentions to grow my business into an international brand associated with social causes such as women empowerment while making an impact in the lives of disadvantaged women,” she said. Mpoloka preferred to be tight lipped about the future and would rather let her work speak for itself, but assured that we would hear from her as she had events lined up and was to collaborate and partner with local and international artists.

She said the industry was saturated and required one to think outside the box for one to be recognised, adding that she was putting together a two year strategic plan while reinvesting in the business.

Besides being a wife and a mother of two, Mpoloka is also a professional singer currently trying to find her way back into the music industry. She said she has a love for interior design which she intends to study further.

This year she said she would be venturing into social community working with vulnerable women and children to play her part in making the world a better place. BOPA