Nadia Shalini 

Growing up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, my mom was a hairstylist. One of my favorite memories was watching her do drag hair and makeup on Sunday afternoons, while doing my homework. My first jobs were working with her as a receptionist in salons. The beauty industry was all around, yet I was in no rush to join it.

In 2002 I moved to Las Vegas to go to grad school to become a teacher. Education being my first passion. Before starting school I had a few months and decided that I would go to esthetician school, the original plan was to support myself through school as a facialist, being someone who has had skin issues my whole life, my first obsession with beauty industry was and is the Skin.

After finishing esthetician school a friend had recommend I work for MAC.  Although I had done makeup before in Minnesota, I had never considered myself and artist or thought about a career as a makeup artist. I’ve been truly blessed to have found a career that allows me to grow in so many ways while sharing my talent and knowledge of this industry with other aspiring artist and clients. 

After less than a year working for MAC I was recruited to work for Cristophe Salon at the MGM Hotel in Las Vegas and from there have never looked back.  I moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to continue my makeup education at MUD and began freelancing as a makeup artist.

Freelance allows me to work on all types of projects ranging  South Asian Weddings, red carpet events, TV, movies, commercials and editorial photo shoots.