Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Bonilla.
Hi Bryan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Boyacá Colombia and ever since I can remember I have always had a passion for beauty. At the age of 14, I had an opportunity to move to Bogota, the capital of Colombia, where my dream career began at a beauty academy. Having acquired the basic skills and knowledge, I was able to start working as a hairdresser assistant to a very recognized and prestigious hairdresser and makeup artist in Colombia. A few years later, given my discipline and hard efforts, I became his right-hand man and I had the chance to work in many fashion shows, beauty pageants and weddings. Having then the experience with hair styling and makeup, it allowed me to get international recognition and job offers in countries such as Peru, Panama and Ecuador in which I resided and at the end of four years, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to work in New York City.
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?
My career in the beauty world has not been easy. Growing up in a very humble family I did not have the financial means to afford many of the necessary basic tools needed and in many instances, my finances would slow me from continuing my path but I was lucky enough to be given opportunities just by working hard and showing my talent. Another struggle throughout my career has been to acquire recognition in this very competitive industry as is the beauty world.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work with national and international beauty queens specializing in glam. I was called in to do a tryout with MUBA Cosmetics’ glam team for miss universe and was fortunately selected out of 400 contestants to be part of the hair and make-up team of Miss Universe 2020 and 2021 in which I was lucky enough to be given the chance to do makeup for the winner Andrea Meza who took the crown to Mexico in 2020. This gave my name and talent recognition in the beauty world. My biggest accomplishment in life has been to be given an opportunity to be part of such a prestigious event as is miss universe being a Latin immigrant.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
During the pandemic, I was let go of at the beauty salon where I worked for many years in New York and was jobless until my clients started reaching out for me and being that no salons were hiring I begin taking appointments in my own living room for about a year.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @bryannbonilla
