Ho Ngoc Ha (L), Nguyen Hung

They are behind the scenes all the time, but they shape the face that is presented to the outside world.

Once totally out of the public eye and mind, make up artists have emerged as star experts in their own right, and the symbiotic relationship between the artists and the makeup expert is highlighted by some new trends in Vietnam.

Spending thousands of dollars to shine for just one night at the Oscar awards ceremony, or Cannes or Globe is the done thing for a Hollywood star. It is getting to be the done thing in Vietnam as well.

It is also getting to a stage where prominent makeup experts in the country are being vested in popular imagination with the magic wand that can transform the ordinary to the sublime – sublime enough to grace the front cover of fashion and glamour magazines.

Taking their cue from Hollywood, Vietnamese actors, singers and models have now begun to have exclusive makeup experts whose hands mold their public image.

Sometimes it is the makeup artist who finds and presents a new face to the public. Make-up artist Viet Hung is credited with transformations of Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy, Phuc Nguyen and up-and-coming model Truong Thi May, who recently withdrew from the Miss Earth 2009 competition because of an injured ankle.

More than makeup

Viet Hung told the The Thao & Van Hoa (Sport and Culture) newspaper recently that he became Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy’s manager because of the close relationship he enjoyed with her family.

Although Viet Hung and Thuy have parted ways now, people still insist that Thuy’s career as one of the nation’s beauty queens owes a lot to Viet Hung’s advice.

Another noted makeup artist, Nguyen Hung, and famous singer Ho Ngoc Ha are considered the first duo to have successfully married their professional and social lives. Close friends for about a decade, both decided to make transparent their arrangement (Hung gets a monthly salary) nearly five years ago.

Then, it was a novelty to have one’s own private makeup expert, but it was one of right moves that Ha made to advance her career. She is known as the country’s most successful and fashionable singer who looks fresh and beautiful anywhere at all times.

Hung now is not only Ha’s private makeup artist but also for model Thanh Hang, actress Kim Phuong and Vietnam’s representative at Miss World 2009, Huong Giang. To preserve the exclusivity, he chooses only one client in each profession.

Nguyen Hung said that his choice of client is not decided solely by the remuneration or the need for work, but by esteem and friendship.

“Of course, makeup is based on the face structure and the client’s style, but I also focus on creating a natural and friendly beauty. And when we look at them, despite knowing that they are dressed up carefully, we still feel comfortable and believe that they are truly beautiful.”

Hung said that the artist’s appearance plays an important role in boosting their career, not only in their main job, but also for landing lucrative advertising contracts and in their appearance at many other events.

Hung also said that sometimes, it is the conflict between the make up person and the artist that generates an unexpected, unique style.

“The conflicts arise from differences between the client’s wish and my idea. But as the make-up expert, I must try to figure out the most reasonable way to harmonize them. What do we see when we meet our stars in everyday life? Over 70 percent of the celeb’s beauty seen in fans’ eyes is created by makeup. We can conceal the blemishes of daily life on the face, but cannot erase their character and awareness.”

Big money

Nguyen Hung said he gets his main income still from bridal makeup.

“But there is a big difference when more and more brides come and want me to make them as beautiful as Ho Ngoc Ha. Beginning with the development of exclusive makeup contracts, the makeup profession in Vietnam has taken a new professional step. I think it is really a good sign.”

Actress Ly Nha Ky created a stir in Vietnamese showbiz at the beginning of this year when she announced the hiring of a makeup expert for US$10,000 a month. After participating in the film “Shanghai,” in which she starred alongside famous actress Gong Li, Ky insisted on having Thai makeup artist Kung BKK work for her exclusively.

And Ky has insisted it is money well spent. Her “cool and sexy” image has helped her get many more advertising contracts, she said.

However, renowned makeup expert Le Dung, who has received professional training overseas, and is one of makeup artists for the Mrs World Pageant in Vietnam, told Lao Dong (Labor) newspaper. “It is not only the expensive stuff that creates your value. Although good looks are very important now, I think the inner soul has its own power.”

Reported by Kim – Lan Anh