SOMETIMES, AS WE GO through life, we often think of what could be, never exploring the possibilities that exist and never grabbing the opportunities that present themselves even when the thought of doing what we love threatens to consume us.
This will not be Ashley Greene’s story.
What her story will be is while honing her love for theatre and film at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill campus, she will explore the possibility of getting certified in make-up artistry.
Ashley’s love for theatre and performing started when she was a little girl but she also has a passion for make-up and its application which was honed while she was studying theatre arts at the Barbados Community College (BCC).
Her love for both theatre and make-up has not waned and she is thinking of pursuing studies in the latter.
“At BCC, what they wanted to do was show us that not all of the time we go on stage there will be a make-up artist back there to help. For instance, if you have to play the role of an older lady, or as a female you have to play the role of a man you have to be able to disguise yourself, if there is no make-up artist or that person happens to be late you can’t be back stage hoping or waiting the make-up artist shows up,” she told EASY magazine.
It was a comment from her aunt and Ashley’s mother that led her to start wearing powder. After that day, the former tomboy never left home without powdering her face.
Before that, Ashley had no thoughts at all about wearing powder or eye shadow, let alone lipstick.
“I just got hooked” and she started watching make-up tutorials on YouTube. For her sixteenth birthday, she received her first MAC make-up powder and brush and “two or three lip glosses”.
She recalled with a laugh, that she stole her mother’s eyeliner, “saw something that looked like concealer” but wasn’t sure if she knew it was and proceeded to watch the YouTube make-up guru fill in her eyebrows. She paused the video each time the girl did something different with her eyebrows and tried to do the same. She kept trying for the entire day until she got her eyebrows “perfected”. Ashley then blended eyeshadow.
“I liked how my face looked and, as the young people would say my eyebrows were on fleek. So I was just taken by it ever since and even now nobody can come between me and my make-up,” she said chuckling.
The young make-up artist is usually called on to use her skills by family and friends at different times during the year but Crop Over is a busy period for her.
“Around Crop Over I usually work with Chrystal Cummins-Beckles backstage with her juniors. I kind of help with their mentoring and since I’m in theatre, I would help vocally train them, help them relax their bodies. I guess because some of them know I’m in theatre and I like make-up so much and the fact that Chrystal is not able to make contact with them so much once she’s on stage because she’s a band member, I’m the one to be back stage with them.
“So before the season starts, before the first tent, Chrystal and I would be at those meetings to tell them what to invest in so they won’t go on stage with a bland looking face,” she said.
This year she had about five faces to do for both Junior Monarch tents, semi-finals and finals and as the season progressed it was a different face for each night.
“Crop Over was my busiest time and this year I ended up doing Chrystal’s make-up for a photo shoot she had for the EASY magazine. I did make-up as well for a couple tents she had. Then, a friend called and I did make-up for her and four others,” Ashley added.
As to her future, she said she is heavily invested in pursing make-up as a career.
“I’ve considered doing it when I finish UWI because I grew up thinking theatre is the only thing that I truly want to do but I realise that’s not so. I actually do nails as well . . . . So my thing is what’s the next option, what else is out there that I like more than theatre and I realise it is make-up so I’ve been looking into six-month make-up courses outside of the island, in New York and in Canada. That’s my plan . . .,” she said.
She is not giving up on her theatre aspirations, though.
“ . . . . I just want to be part of the industry because it is basically who I am; it’s in my blood . . . . Make-up is not just make-up,” she explained and despite the fact that “it is hard” because there are so many things she has to be aware of, including skin conditions, colours and a plethora of products, she will continue with it and find a way to work with both her loves.
Another love she has is teaching and she will be adding that to her “to do list”.
“I would like to get back into the field of teaching. I used to teach at West Terrace Primary School for a term and I truly enjoyed it because it showed me that I am good with children and I can actually give back and not be selfish and take all the knowledge I have learnt and keep it for myself.
“It made me feel good knowing that I have shared what I’ve learnt, not only giving back to younger children but to people my age or to adults.”
So look out, world, for Ashely Greene’s name in lights as the credits roll or as the make-up artist who creates fabulous faces for just about anyone. (Green Bananas Media)