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Inspiring students one brush at a time

23rd February 2017
Fashion

Last week, we welcomed award-winning make-up artist and the man behind IMATS and Makeup Artist Magazine , Michael Key. The enriching and insightful talk saw a jam-packed room full of students from across a variety of courses, who each wanted to know the ins and outs of the industry and how to succeed in it.

We managed to catch up with Michael, who has always been passionate about encouraging fresh and emerging talent. He created competitions such as Battle of The Brushes, and events like IMATS, which give an opportunity to students from all over the world to show their skill, learn and be scouted by the biggest names in the field.

Michael, what is your top tip?

Connecting. Students need to connect and intern. Everyone is trying to succeed and it’s very competitive. You need to know people in order to do that. You don’t know where your big break is going to happen. Connecting on social media, as well as in person, is essential and reading as much as you can to learn more about the right people is crucial.

Solent has established a close relationship with Michael through the years as our make-up courses are tailored for students to be prepared to enter the working world...

michael-mua-insta

Michael, what do you make of Solent?

There’s no other institution like this one in the world. There’s such a high level of education and so much enthusiasm from a huge number of students who are engaged and ready. It’s our fourth year back and definitely not the last.

Third year makeup and hair design student Martina Baycheva was sat front row for the event and commented: “The talk was very engaging and inspiring. Every guest that comes to uni motivates me because you learn a lesson in every story. My course at Solent is helping me in many ways. We have teachers and technicians from the industry with hands on experience. In addition to that, there are guest lecturers and professionals like Michael constantly coming to visit and talk to us. I am definitely ready for the industry. I feel prepared to work as a make-up artist, hair stylist and creative director after graduation.”

Find out more about the fashion courses we offer at Solent here.