Bio/Resume
Margaret Kimura was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Being of a Japanese heritage seemed at first a stumbling block. In her insightful book, "Asian Beauty", she reveals, "Beauty is a subjective notion at best, but that doesn't seem to matter when you're an Asian-American teenager growing up in Southern California, where beauty is synonymous with long blond hair and blue eyes. Finding out where I fit into the beauty equation twenty years ago was difficult and painful at best. Yet from this conflict, she pushed on and taught herself about the world of cosmetics. " I've never set limits for myself. I'm self-taught, so I've always made my own rules instead of following someone else's. Maybe it's because I had to deal with issues of beauty when I was a teenager, and so I learned very early how to bring out the best in everyone I work with."
Since her father was a music producer, and her mother a television commercial producer, Margaret was raised steeped in the entertainment world. She first began working with makeup while most other girls her age were still playing with dolls. Margaret and her friends fell in love with the fashion industry, hoping one day to work as models or photographers. At the tender age of 12, they began copying fashion editorials, recreating the photographs they saw in magazines. Eventually, her close friend started working for the Wilhemna Agency as a model, and Margaret was the one who helped her shoot, style and put together her portfolio.
Wilhemna, impressed with the shots, began sending over models to be shot by Kimura, unaware of her young age. After graduating from high school at 15, she saved up her money and moved to Milan with a close family friend as her guardian. In Europe, she honed her craft under the tutelage of professionals, which caused her to form the opinion that the best way to learn is to be, taught by mentors, not instructors. "You can't learn makeup from a textbook." These teachers inspired her to, go way beyond [her] craft. Kimura takes this notion even further, by advising, "Become a role model and be an example. Be the person you want everyone to be."
For ten years she worked in fashion, spending time in Paris, Tokyo and New York and then returned home to Hollywood, where she used her skills in film, videos, commercials and fashion print. Some of her clientèle have included such celebrities as, Audrey Hepburn, Lisa Ling, Tom Hanks, Andie MacDowell, Snoop Dogg, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, and many others. Apart from this illustrious work, she also has obtained much success in the business world, working in marketing for a number of diverse companies as an image consultant. This modern-day Renaissance woman has also developed makeup lines for Estee Lauder and iNouvi.
Recently, she has started her own make-up line called Margaret Kimura Cosmetics and is the founder of the MKC Beauty Academy of Hollywood. Her first book "Asian Beauty," is a guide aimed specifically at women of Asian and mixed ethnicities. She felt that there was a high need for Asian women to learn about their beauty and have more examples to follow. When it comes to her career goals and achievements, she is most proud of, "the fact that I have been doing this for 27 years. I can mentor people. My greatest achievement is that I am a teacher."
Like every makeup artist, Margaret has her own unique and individual style. When asked what sets her apart from other artists, she answered, I think it is the fact that I focus on innovative style. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do makeup. Known best for her use of the "Shadows & Light Technique," she uses lighter tones to bring out one's best features and darker tones to downplay others. Kimura has been noted to say "I know how to cover up flaws, but not who they are." She also emphasizes on the importance of blending, a skill which is most definitely one of the reasons she has such a high male clientele.
Though she has the talent to work in every area of the makeup industry she claims her application style comes from her print background, which is her first passion. "There are many different elements to makeup. One is the creative aspect, which I see as an art form that I feel allows me to be very three dimensional with my creativity. It allows me to transform a pre-existing canvas."
The beauty and fashion industries can sometimes be touted as superficial and shallow. However, an artist of the likes of Margaret Kimura brings intelligence, honesty and reality into it. Her perceptions on society, beauty, and life are all outlooks I can relate to and connect with. For all her endeavors, she has already achieved her goal of leaving a positive mark in the beauty world. I chose to write this paper on her for those very reasons.
In my telephone interview with her, I was able to ask what advice she would give to aspiring makeup artists. Her reply was, "Believe in yourself, have faith in yourself, strive. Do not let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. Feel your passion and never, ever believe there is a cap to where you can take this. The sky is the limit."
Celebrities:
Lisa Ling Kristen Durnst Jennifer Love Hewitt Andie MacDowell Arnold Schwartzenegger Tom Hanks Mel Gibson Jim Carey Tim Allen Joan Chen Lawrence Fishburn Elizabeth Shue Diane Lane Audrey Hepburn Jennifer Tilly Alyssa Milano Geena Davis Richard Gere Michael Jordan Elton John Xhang Xhi Winona Ryder Garth Brooks Billy Bob Thorton Madonna Jimmy Conners Andre Aggasi Kevin Bacon Johnny Depp Taylor Dayne Ella Fitzgerald Carmen McCrae Whoopie Goldberg Lela Rochon Billy Crystal Kevin Costner Paul Mccartney Ringo Starr George Harisson Martin Landau Anthony Hopkins
Debra Harry Cuba Gooding Jr. Pierce Brosnon Jenna Elfman Kim Raver Pecabo Street Charles Barkley Gabriel Reece Patti La Belle Dr.Dre Snoop Doggy Dogg Magic Johnson Damon Waynans Keenan Ivory Waynans Kim Waynans Tim Curry Esther Williams Linda Hamilton Ray Charles Carrie Fisher Dennis Miller George Forman Dean Cain Paula Abdul Jerry Seinfeld Julie Louis Dreyfuss Jared Leto Jason Alexander Mariel Hemingway Mathew Perry Sandra Bernhardt James Caan Kareem Abdul Jabbar Dennis Quaid
Advertising, Print & Commercials:
Nike Estee Lauder Clariol Pepsi Ross Audi Taco Bell Dodge MCI KFC AT&T Fed-Ex i nuovi cosmetics Kinkos Zenith Oakley Sunglasses Sony Isuzu Kitchen Aid BMW Apple Chevrolet Wella Revlon Jaguar Gatorade Mazda Range Rover Frito Lay Nissan Mercedes Suntory GE Miller Beer John Hancock KIA Plymouth Power Bar Kellogg Oscar Mayer Sun Products Kodak Anne Cole Beverly Center ReeBok Nordstroms Macy's Saturn Budwiser Gallo Winery Tatinger
Editorial:
Marie Claire Cosmopolitan Vogue (USA,Italy,France) Self RollingStone Harper's Bazaar (USA, Itay) GQ Vanity Fair People US MAX Life Teen Shape YM Donna Entertainment Weekly Glamour TV Guide Seventeen Time Amica Elle American Film Sports Illustrated Movieline Details Maxim Interview Allure
Directors & Photographers:
Ron Howard Albert Brooks Mel Brooks Oliver Stone Penny Marshall James Cameron Eric Saarinem Joe Pytka Herb Ritts Mathew Ralston Greg Gorman Irving Penn Walter Chin Richard Corman Douglas Keeve Annie Leibowitz Richard Marchewka Dennis Keeley Wayne Maser Peggy Sirota Mark Seliger Michael Haber Robert Tractenberrg Stepahn Danelian
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877-798-1785
Margaret Kimura
Makeup Artist
I NUOVI PRO USA
MKC Academy of Fashion, Beauty & Print
Biography & Resume
Biography
Like every makeup artist, Margaret has her own unique and individual style. When asked what sets her apart from other artists, she answered, I think it is the fact that I focus on innovative style. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do makeup. Known best for her use of the "Shadows & Light Technique," she uses lighter tones to bring out one's best features and darker tones to downplay others. Kimura has been noted to say "I know how to cover up flaws, but not who they are." She also emphasizes on the importance of blending, a skill which is most definitely one of the reasons she has such a high male clientele. Though she has the talent to work in every area of the makeup industry she claims her application style comes from her print background, which is her first passion. "There are many different elements to makeup. One is the creative aspect, which I see as an art form that I feel allows me to be very three dimensional with my creativity. It allows me to transform a pre-existing canvas."
The beauty and fashion industries can sometimes be touted as superficial and shallow. However, an artist of the likes of Margaret Kimura brings intelligence, honesty and reality into it. Her perceptions on society, beauty, and life are all outlooks I can relate to and connect with. For all her endeavors, she has already achieved her goal of leaving a positive mark in the beauty world. I chose to write this paper on her for those very reasons. In my telephone interview with her, I was able to ask what advice she would give to aspiring makeup artists. Her reply was, "Believe in yourself, have faith in yourself, strive. Do not let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. Feel your passion and never, ever believe there is a cap to where you can take this. The sky is the limit."
Resume
Lisa Ling Kristen Durnst Jennifer Love Hewitt Andie MacDowell Arnold Schwartzenegger Tom Hanks Mel Gibson Jim Carey Tim Allen Joan Chen Lawrence Fishburn Elizabeth Shue Diane Lane Audrey Hepburn Jennifer Tilly Alyssa Milano Geena Davis Richard Gere Michael Jordan Elton John Xhang Xhi Winona Ryder Garth Brooks Billy Bob Thorton Madonna Jimmy Conners Andre Aggasi Kevin Bacon Johnny Depp Taylor Dayne Ella Fitzgerald Carmen McCrae Whoopie Goldberg Lela Rochon Billy Crystal Kevin Costner Paul Mccartney Ringo Starr George Harisson Martin Landau Anthony Hopkins Debra Harry Cuba Gooding Jr. Pierce Brosnon Jenna Elfman Kim Raver Pecabo Street Charles Barkley Gabriel Reece Patti La Belle Dr.Dre Snoop Doggy Dogg Magic Johnson Damon Waynans Keenan Ivory Waynans Kim Waynans Tim Curry Esther Williams Linda Hamilton Ray Charles Carrie Fisher Dennis Miller George Forman Dean Cain Paula Abdul Jerry Seinfeld Julie Louis Dreyfuss Jared Leto Jason Alexander Mariel Hemingway Mathew Perry Sandra Bernhardt James Caan Kareem Abdul Jabbar Dennis Quaid
