Today we’d like to introduce you to the cosmopolitan Mai Kato.
Mai Kato is a Makeup Artist, Licensed Cosmetologist, Image Consultant, Skincare Specialist, and Fashion and Lifestyle Writer. Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, she has lived in the US more than half her life. Mai has led makeup and skincare presentations at cosmetics events in the United States, Canada, and Japan, for thousands of women. Mai contributes to several fashion magazines and websites, and her work has been written up in Vogue Magazine. She trained as an Image Consultant with Celebrity Image Consultant, Carla Mathis, and she was certified as a Makeup Artist at the Make-Up Designory in Los Angeles. Mai also graduated with a BFA in Fashion Design from Savanna College of Arts and Design.
Mai’s specialty is using makeup to bring out each woman’s unique beauty, and giving them the knowledge of how to have flawless and radiant skin for the rest of their lives. Her professional makeup skills include Bridal, Film, Music Video, Fashion Show, and Editorial. Mai works out of Orange County and Los Angeles, and is available for travel.
Mai, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Tokyo, Japan. I have always loved fashion and I wanted to live in another country because I wanted to see things through a bigger vision. I become a high school exchange student in the US, then went to art college to major in fashion design. I am a Japanese blogger and I feel passionate about helping people. I realized that when people feel confident they are beautiful. Every woman is beautiful in her own way, so I want to bring out that beauty for her.
I also went to an image consultant training course taught by celebrity image consultant, Carla Mathis, at MUD. This is a makeup school in Burbank. I am a beauty magazine writer for a Japanese fashion magazine and website. I also teach makeup in cities all over the US, Canada, and Tokyo, Japan.
Has it been a smooth road?
Everyone experiences life in different ways. Some people prefer lighter skin, while some people do not. And every woman takes care of her skin differently. The skin of the face is like a canvas for makeup. If women don’t take care of their skin, it’s more difficult for me to do my work. I think flawless base makeup is most important. And I always try to teach women how to take care of their skin.
Tell us about your childhood, what were you like growing up?
When I was 13 I visited Hawaii and realized that I wanted to see all of the US. So, when I was 14 I kept asking my parents to send me to junior high school in the US, until they agreed. My parents let me stay with an American family outside of Chico, CA, so I could experience living in the US by myself.
When I went to Disneyland in Anaheim and saw fireworks, I felt intuition that I would eventually live here. When I was 16 my parents finally let me go to high school alone. Even as a kid I wanted to see things globally, as I hated to be small minded, even though I grew up in the biggest city in the world, Tokyo.
I have always wanted to help people. I have wanted to be creative and free, and never judge people. I have always drawn fashion sketches with different kinds of makeup since kindergarten school. I have felt the energy from being fashionable and confident since I was a kid. But I didn’t want to wear or buy the same things the other kids wore, so my mom used to take me for shopping at the London and NYC imported stores.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My dad let me choose everything. They couldn’t have kids and tried for 10 years, until they finally had me. So, they let me choose and they love my taste. They have showed me real things since I was a kid. Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Picasso, Renoir—those paintings were so familiar to me since I was in elementary school. And viewing my favorite painters would inspire me to visit all the Japanese historical temples and shrines. My mom used to do a fashion show at home every week. She’d teach me how important it was to dress, have the right attitude, how you breathe, and assume your posture. I have always been interested in different cultures too, from Indian dances to Bali’s face masks—everything interests me. I want to be open-minded just like art. I don’t want to judge people. While I think my mom naturally taught me how to be an image consultant, I remain open-minded just like an artist is.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to help people with how they look, express themselves, how they feel, and how people see them. An attractive woman is beautiful inside and out, but she also knows who she is. I want to help people by doing makeup, and also by consulting with people to help their image. I believe every woman is beautiful, so I hope I can do something to influence people by using my makeup and fashion skills.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.makeupbymai.com www.maikato.net
- Phone: 714-404-6195
- Email: maikatomai@gmail.com
