A Dumbarton makeup artist who only began working in the industry over lockdown has been nominated for two prestigious awards.
Amerz Hardy took the decision to move into hair and beauty despite her background being in accountancy, but saw the world turned upside down just after she qualified in March 2020.
However the 43-year-old refused to let that stand between her and her dreams - and has gone on to work at London Fashion Week as well as doing makeup on a short film shot in Ayr.
This Friday Amerz will attend a glittering ceremony in Birmingham, having been nominated for Best Bridal Individual (Makeup) and ‘Makeup Artist of the Year at the UK Hair and Beauty Awards.
Reflecting on the journey, Amerz said: “It was really difficult in 2020. I had undertaken three evening courses at City of Glasgow College covering skin care, day-to-day/evening and event looks (including fashion) and bridal. I was so excited to be able to start taking on client bookings but Covid came along and the world came to a halt.
“I started doing virtual sessions with clients, giving them the help and advice they needed in order to apply their own makeup. I ran a Beauty Bingo night once a month with my work colleagues from Strathclyde University, where I would do skincare and makeup demonstrations via Zoom.
“I set up Amerz Beauty Basics in April 2020 and, being virtual, I was able to work with clients from all over the world.
“The beauty nights became quite popular so I began offering them more widely.
“I joined an online academy, Girl Meets Brush, headed up by Lynne Mills in Edinburgh which really helped during lockdown and the months afterwards.
“Being a part of the academy meant I could still learn new skills and develop those I already had, all while being supported by other makeup artists who were in the same position due to not being able to treat clients in person because of Covid.
“I am a part-qualified accountant so this was a completely new industry to me. I did some modelling part-time and I was always really interested in the hair and makeup side of things of a shoot. I loved how an artist would arrive with all these wonderful products and perfect a transformation based on the individual brief.
“I was really keen to learn this side of the industry and my love for makeup began. My passion is giving others that feeling of empowerment, that they look and feel their best day to day or for a special occasion.”
Since those virtual sessions over Zoom, Amerz has gone on to work at huge fashion shows - and on client’s big days.
She explained: “It was a fantastic feeling to be able to do treatments in person for my clients. Meeting people and sharing an experience with them is really the best feeling.
“I was very lucky to win a place as Hair and Makeup Artist at London Fashion Week House of iKons Show in February 2022 through Girl Meets Brush.
“This was a huge achievement and set the foundation for my confidence as an artist.
“I was delighted to be back at the show again in September 2022, then in February 2023 I was senior HMUA, working with a team of three looking after 83 younger models at the show!
“An image of one of my models, Vivienne Monique, has been published in the May 23 edition of Tatler Magazine which is a huge achievement in my career.
“It’s a huge honour to be booked for someone’s wedding day too.
“My friend Terri (McCallum) and I teamed up to look after the bridal party hair and makeup.”
And Amerz, who is originally from Ireland, is incredibly proud to represent her adopted hometown at the ceremony.
She added: “I am really proud to represent Dumbarton at the event. I moved here in 2017 from London and being made so welcome by everyone I have made it my home.
“I am forever grateful and thankful to family, friends and all the wonderful creatives and personal clients who have booked me for various projects and events both in Dumbarton and in Scotland and the UK as a whole.”
