Meet Kéla Wong

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kéla Wong.

Kéla, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Born and raised in Montreal, Canada. I always wanted to become a plastic surgeon, but couldn’t stand the sight of blood. At the early age of 14, I was introduced to the art of hairdressing and trained at The Vidal Sassoon Academy in London, England. The first hair salon I worked at was Soul Scissors, it was there that I was fortunate to be taught how to work with afro-textured hair. As time went by, I went to work with other well-known salons.

I was later introduced to an owner and agent of a prestigious modeling agency, who represented me as a freelance hairdresser to work with models for fashion magazines, print work and advertising campaigns. As my career started to get off the ground, I learned to do makeup and also studied photography full time at school during the evenings. Although photography was an amazing experience, and broadened up my vision to be able to view colors in shades of gray, as well as being able to understand angles and different perspectives within face shapes… it was not a career mean’t for me.

Makeup quickly became my passion, although clients thought I was equally passionate and talented in hair. While living abroad in Sydney, Australia it was fate that I was given the opportunity to meet and work alongside 2 very renowned fashion/celebrity photographers, Tony Duran and Carlotta Moye. Working on numerous photoshoots for Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle and Marie-Claire, has helped build my reputation in my industry and among my peers. During my move live in NYC, I got to work with Alicia Keys, Sandra Bullock, and Celine Dion. When I made the difficult decision to leave everything behind in the Big Apple and to start fresh in Los Angeles, I did not know how to drive, didn’t know Sunset Blvd from Santa Monica, couldn’t tell which way was home, despite people telling me to look for the hills…. well the hills are everywhere in LA, and knew only two friends here.

My big break came when I worked with Jennifer Lopez, Rene Russo, Catherine Zeta-Jones, followed by Robert Pattinson, Ronda Rousey, Boy George, Kourtney Kardashian, Victoria’s Secret and Kaia Gerber to name a few. There are so many talented artists here and it was my clients who actually pointed out my niche. I am known best for my style of uber-sexy looks, ultra-luminous glowing skin and glistening bronzed body makeup. Clients who want to look their sexiest at any age, push the envelope, that want to have that “Look at me” wow factor, yet look like I was naturally born this way. I absolutely love transforming someone, customizing each individual’s look, from cutting their hair, or coloring them platinum blond, to looking unforgettable at any special occasion…. to see their inner and outer smile, is so humbling and gives me the utmost gratification.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When people say you are so lucky to work with all these celebrities…. I’ve paid my dues working extremely in the early hrs, and equally very long late nights, studied, trained, starved, knocked on many closed doors, force myself to go out to events and try to network when you just want to go home and crawl under a rock at times. Always learning, keeping up with the trends and perfecting my craft…. my mother always ingrained into my work ethics… “do it quicker and better each time, till you can perfect it with your eyes closed”.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am available for makeup or hair or both.

Celebrity, socialites, model clientele… and you.

Let me bring out the model in you.

My signature look is uber-sexy yet fashionably chic, ultra-luminous skin, smoldering eyes, and glistening bronzed skin and beachy, tousled, windblown looking hair.

Uptown chic meets Downtown edgy.

I am very calm by nature, a perfectionist and happily cater to discerning clients. Always keeping an open mind to each individual’s personal taste and needs.

Available to travel globally and specialize in destination weddings.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I am a city girl who dreamt of just seeing her work show up in a hair salon magazine, that one would choose their hairstyle back in the day. This year when I went to the movie theater and saw my name among the list of credits on the big screen… in the film “Avengers Endgame”. Working in Scotland with actress Rene Russo was a dream come true… To this day, I still pinch myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kelawong.com
• Phone: 323-469-8888
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @kelawong

Image Credit:
Tony Duran – JLO, Treats, Rene Russo
Brian Bowen Smith- K Kardashian, Kaia Gerber

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