Conversations with Maxine Christians

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maxine Christians.

Hi Maxine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Kimberley, South Africa and always dreamed of moving to Los Angeles and becoming a makeup artist. Luckily for me my family moved out here when I was 13. I went to makeup school right after High School but didn’t fully know how to break into the industry. I didn’t know any Makeup Artists or anyone with a foot in the door. I worked in retail doing makeup while shooting for trade on my days off. Shooting with anyone who was willing to shoot with me to build a portfolio. My sister was a model and introduced me to a photographer friend who played and still is a huge part of my career. We did one test shoot together and became friends and shoot together to this day. I worked on student films for pretty much nothing but gained a lot of experience and met amazing people that I still work with. I then started interning at a makeup agency. I worked in the office but eventually started assisting some of their major makeup artists. That’s how the ball started rolling for me. Just never stopping and taking every single job I could.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It’s always hard trying to get into an industry that you’re so new to with nobody guiding you or showing you the ropes. So for me, it was always tough to try to get in the door, to be taken seriously and to not get despondent and quit. Finding people who genuinely cared about my career and were in my corner was very important. Comparing yourself to anyone else’s success or path is a dark road! Don’t do it!!!! I did, and it didn’t help me in any way. It distracts you and creates a dispirited sense of self. There’s room for everyone. Other people’s success is not your demise.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I started out doing FX makeup and slowly gravitated towards beauty. I love makeup! But nothing makes me happier than a natural makeup look. Don’t get me wrong, I live for the drama and playing with cool, creative looks. But there’s something about bringing out and enhancing each individual’s beauty with less makeup. I am a true believer of less is more. I’m a red lip girl. I’ll pretty much wear nothing and add a red lip. Not anymore since I’m masked up all day. It’s hard to choose what I’m most proud of because I seriously love all my work. But I did an editorial in Paris a couple of years ago, and my luggage never came. I landed and had to run around finding makeup before the shoot started. I had the panics, but it ended up being the coolest shoot and came out beautifully. I have luggage PTSD to say the least.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is my family. My friends. And treating everyone with love and respect. We could all use so much more of this right now. It would create a ripple effect and in turn bring more love and respect back to us.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.maxinechristians.com
• Instagram: maxine_christians